Managed connectivity in electrical systems and methods thereof

• US 9,769,939 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2016
• Issued: 09/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Coffey, Joseph C., Mattson, Loren J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Tulsidas C
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHAMBERS, TRAVIS SLOAN
• Application Number:
  US15/195,533
• Publication Number:
  US 20160381816A1
• Time in Patent Office: 448 Days
• Field of Search: 439761, 439 761, 439676, 439709, 439922, 439955, 439488-490
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/70 Coupling devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/518 for holding or embracing several coupling parts, e.g. frames
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/641 by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6658 on printed circuit board H01R13/6666 - H01R13/6691 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2107/00 Four or more poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/04 for network, e.g. LAN connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/60 Contacts spaced along planar side wall transverse to longitudinal axis of engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/64 for high frequency, e.g. RJ 45
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/006 the coupling part being secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. duplex wall receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/13 Patch panels for monitoring, interconnecting or testing circuits, e.g. patch bay, patch field or jack field; Patching modules
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0017 with operator interface units
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0026 provided with connectors and printed circuit boards [PCB], e.g. automotive electronic control units
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/955 including electronic identifier or coding means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49147 Assembling terminal to base

Abstract

An electrical connector arrangement includes a storage device coupled to a connector housing. The storage device is configured to store physical layer information pertaining to the electrical connector arrangement. The storage device also has contacts that enable the physical layer information to be read from the storage device by a media reading interface. A connector assembly includes at least one receptacle assembly; a printed circuit board; and a media reading interface.

Claims

1. A patch panel comprising:

a frame having a front face and a rear face opposite the front face, the frame defining apertures extending between the front and rear faces;

a fascia coupled to the front face of the frame, the fascia defining port openings that align with the apertures defined by the frame;

a circuit board coupled to the frame, the circuit board having first and second major surfaces extending parallel with the front and rear faces of the frame;

a plurality of media reading interfaces operably coupled to the circuit board, each media reading interface being aligned with one of the apertures of the frame;

a plurality of jacks coupled to the frame and extending rearwardly of the frame, each of the jacks including plug contacts that are electrically isolated from the media reading interfaces; and

a network connector disposed at the second major surface of the circuit board.

2. The patch panel of claim 1, further comprising a processor module mounted to the second major surface of the circuit board at the network connector, the processor module including a housing holding a processor, the processor module defining a network port at an opposite side of the processor module from the network connector.

3. The patch panel of claim 1, wherein the media reading interfaces are offset from the port openings and the frame apertures, wherein portions of the media reading interfaces are deflected away from the port openings and the frame apertures by insertion of a plug through the port openings and the frame apertures.

4. The patch panel of claim 1, wherein the media reading interfaces are disposed at the second major surface of the circuit board.

5. The patch panel of claim 1, wherein the media reading interfaces are disposed at the first major surface of the circuit board.

6. The patch panel of claim 1, further comprising a plate member including forwardly extending arms that mount to a rear of the frame, the plate member having major surfaces extending perpendicular to the major surfaces of the circuit board, the major surfaces defining pairs of apertures therein.

8. The patch panel of claim 1, wherein each media reading interface includes an electrically conductive contact member.

9. The patch panel of claim 8, wherein each media reading interface includes a plurality of electrically conductive contact members.

10. The patch panel of claim 9, wherein each media reading interface includes three electrically conductive contact members.

11. The patch panel of claim 9, wherein each media reading interface includes four electrically conductive contact members.

7. A patch panel comprising:

a forward portion having a forward-facing port face that defines a row of ports, the forward portion including a fascia;

a rearward portion configured to mount at a rear of the forward portion, the rearward portion carrying a plurality of jacks, each jack having a plurality of plug contacts accessible through sockets, the rearward portion positioning the jacks in alignment with the ports of the forward portion when the rearward portion mounts to the forward portion so that each socket is accessible through one of the ports, the rearward portion defining a cutout section; and

a circuit board disposed between the forward and rearward portions, the circuit board having first and second major surfaces that are parallel to the forward-facing port face of the forward portion, the circuit board carrying a plurality of media reading interfaces, each media reading interface being aligned with one of the jacks, the media reading interfaces being isolated from the plug contacts of the jacks, the circuit board including a network connector extending rearwardly from the second major surface through the cutout section defined by the rearward portion.

12. The patch panel of claim 7, further comprising a processor module electrically connected to the network connector of the circuit board, the processor module including a housing holding a processor, the processor module defining a network port at an opposite side of the processor module from the network connector.

13. The patch panel of claim 12, wherein the rearward portion includes a frame that defines a row of apertures that align with the row of ports of the forward portion.

14. The patch panel of claim 12, wherein the media reading interfaces are disposed at the second major surface of the circuit board.

15. The patch panel of claim 12, wherein the media reading interfaces are disposed at the first major surface of the circuit board.

16. The patch panel of claim 12, wherein the fascia is removable from the frame.

17. The patch panel of claim 12, wherein each media reading interface includes an electrically conductive contact member.

18. The patch panel of claim 17, wherein each media reading interface includes a plurality of electrically conductive contact members.

19. The patch panel of claim 18, wherein each media reading interface includes three electrically conductive contact members.

20. The patch panel of claim 18, wherein each media reading interface includes four electrically conductive contact members.