Managed fiber connectivity systems

• US 9,798,096 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2015
• Issued: 10/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Connectivity UK Limited (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Original Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.), CommScope Connectivity UK Limited (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Ogren, Bruce, Schoenfelder, Rod, Taylor, Christopher Charles, Brandt, Steven J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bedtelyon, John M
• Application Number:
  US14/611,924
• Publication Number:
  US 20150226926A1
• Time in Patent Office: 995 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3825 with an intermediate part, e.g. adapter, receptacle, linking two plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3831 comprising a keying element on the plug or adapter, e.g. to forbid wrong connection keying element on the ferrule G02B6/3851; keying element for electrical coupling H01R13/64
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3895 identification of connection, e.g. right plug to the right socket or full engagement of the mating parts keying element on the plug or adapter G02B6/3831; keying element on the ferrule G02B6/3851; keying element for electrical connection H01R13/64

Abstract

An adapter block assembly includes at least one adapter block; a circuit board; a first contact set; and a second contact set. The contact sets are disposed at apertures defined in the adapter block and rotated 180° from each other. Each adapter block includes first and second latching arrangements that retain separately manufactured alignment arrangements against movement along the passages. The first latching arrangements include latching arms disposed at the apertures. The second latching arms include ramps and stops disposed opposite the apertures. Optical connectors suitable for plugging into the adapter block include an outer housing having an area of increased thickness of hold a storage device and an inner housing with a channel to accommodate the area of increased thickness of the outer housing.

Claims

1. An adapter assembly comprising:

at least a first adapter block having a first side and a second side, the first adapter block defining at least a first passage, each passage extending between a front port and a rear port, the first side of the first adapter block defining at least a first aperture providing access between the first passage and an exterior of the first adapter block;

a circuit board disposed at the first side of the first adapter block so that the circuit board extends across the first aperture;

a first contact set disposed in the first aperture, the first contact set having a first orientation; and

a second contact set disposed in the first aperture, the second contact set having a second orientation that is rotated 180°

from the first orientation.

2. The adapter assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second contact set has an identical configuration to the first contact set.

3. The adapter assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein each contact set has a first width at a first longitudinal point and a second width at a second longitudinal point spaced from the first longitudinal point, the second width being less than the first width.

4. The adapter assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first longitudinal point of the first contact set is laterally aligned with the second longitudinal point of the second contact set when the contact sets are disposed at the first aperture.

5. The adapter assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second contact sets each include multiple contact members.

6. The adapter assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first aperture has a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end, and wherein at least a portion of each longitudinal end defines a slotted region including ribs defining separate contact member receiving spaces.

7. The adapter assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first aperture has a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end, and wherein at least a portion of each longitudinal end defines a single slot.

8. The adapter assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first adapter block defines a plurality of additional passages, the first side of the first adapter block defining a plurality of additional apertures, each additional aperture providing access between one of the additional passages and the exterior of the first adapter block;

wherein the circuit board extends across the additional apertures; and

wherein the adapter assembly further comprises additional first contact sets disposed at the additional apertures, the additional first contact sets having first orientations; and

additional second contact sets disposed at the additional apertures, the additional second contact sets having second orientations that are rotated 180°

from the first orientations of the additional first contact sets.

9. The adapter assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

at least a second adapter block having a first side and a second side, the second adapter block defining at least a first passage, each passage extending between a front port and a rear port, the first side of the second adapter block defining at least a first aperture providing access between the first passage and an exterior of the second adapter block;

a third contact set disposed at the first aperture of the second adapter block, the third contact set having a first orientation; and

a fourth contact set disposed at the first aperture of the second adapter block, the fourth contact set having a second orientation that is rotated 180°

from the first orientation of the third contact set.

10. The adapter assembly as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a second circuit board disposed over the second adapter block.

11. The adapter assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first circuit board extends over the second adapter block.