Managed fiber connectivity systems
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A fiber optic adapter module comprising:
- a housing extending from a first end to a second end, the housing including opposing major surfaces extending between opposing minor surfaces and between the first and second ends, the housing defining at least one passageway extending between the first and second ends of the housing to define first and second ports at the first and second ends, respectively, the housing being configured to retain a fiber optic connector at each port, the housing also defining at least a first opening extending through a first of the major surfaces, the first opening leading from an exterior of the housing to the passageway, the first opening being divided into a plurality of slots by intermediate walls; and
a media reading interface positioned in the housing, the media reading interface including a plurality of contact members each having at least a first contact location and a second contact location, each contact member being disposed in one of the slots, the media reading interface being configured so that the second contact location is accessible from within the passageway and the first contact location is configured to extend through the first opening defined in the first major surface of the housing to be accessible from the exterior of the housing.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A communications connection system includes a fiber optic adapter module configured to receive multiple fiber optic connectors. The fiber optic adapter module includes one or more media reading interfaces. Each media reading interface is configured to read physical layer information stored on one of the fiber optic connectors received at the adapter module. Certain types of media reading interfaces extend between an internal passage of the adapter module and an external surface of the adapter module.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. A fiber optic adapter module comprising:
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a housing extending from a first end to a second end, the housing including opposing major surfaces extending between opposing minor surfaces and between the first and second ends, the housing defining at least one passageway extending between the first and second ends of the housing to define first and second ports at the first and second ends, respectively, the housing being configured to retain a fiber optic connector at each port, the housing also defining at least a first opening extending through a first of the major surfaces, the first opening leading from an exterior of the housing to the passageway, the first opening being divided into a plurality of slots by intermediate walls; and a media reading interface positioned in the housing, the media reading interface including a plurality of contact members each having at least a first contact location and a second contact location, each contact member being disposed in one of the slots, the media reading interface being configured so that the second contact location is accessible from within the passageway and the first contact location is configured to extend through the first opening defined in the first major surface of the housing to be accessible from the exterior of the housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A fiber optic coupler module comprising:
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a housing defining at least a first passageway extending between first and second ends of the housing, the housing also defining at least a first opening extending between the first passageway and an exterior of the housing; a first circuit board coupled to the housing, the circuit board defining first and second contact pads positioned at the first opening of the housing even when the first passageway of the housing is empty; and a first media reading interface positioned in the first opening of the housing, the first media reading interface having a first contact surface configured to engage the first contact pad of the first circuit board through the first opening, a second contact surface extending toward the first passageway, and a third contact surface configured to selectively engage the second contact pad of the first circuit board through the first opening. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A method of obtaining physical layer information from a fiber optic connector at a coupler assembly having a media reading interface including at least one contact element, the coupler assembly being coupled to a processor, the method comprising:
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providing a fiber optic connector having a storage device including memory on which the physical layer information is provided, the storage device having at least one contact pad in electrical contact with the memory; inserting the fiber optic connector into the coupler assembly including sliding a key of the fiber optic connector through a passage defined by the coupler assembly; pressing the key of the fiber optic connector against a first portion of each contact element to deflect the first portion away from the passage; and flexing a second portion of the contact element against a circuit board to enable electrical communication between the memory of the storage device and the processor via the contact element and the circuit board. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38)
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39. A fiber optic adapter module comprising:
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a housing extending from a first end to a second end, the housing including opposing major surfaces extending between opposing minor surfaces and between the first and second ends, the housing defining at least one passageway extending between the first and second ends of the housing to define first and second ports at the first and second ends, respectively, the housing being configured to retain a fiber optic connector at each port, the housing also defining at least a first opening in a first of the major surfaces, the first opening leading to the passageway; a first circuit board coupled to the housing so that a first contact location contacts the first circuit board through the first opening defined in the first major surface; a media reading interface positioned in the housing, the media reading interface having at least the first contact location and a second contact location, the media reading interface being configured so that the second contact location is accessible from within the passageway and the first contact location is accessible through the first opening defined in the first major surface of the housing; a second media reading interface positioned in the housing, the second media reading interface having at least a first contact location and a second contact location, the second media reading interface being configured so that the second contact location of the second media reading interface is accessible from within the passageway and the first contact location of the second media reading interface is accessible through an opening defined in a second of the major surfaces of the housing; a second circuit board coupled to the housing at the second major surface, the second circuit board being configured to interact with the first contact location of the second media reading interface when the first contact location of the second media reading interface extends through the second major surface of the housing; and a first connector arrangement received at the first port, the first connector arrangement including a storage device having a contact surface that is contacted by the second contact location of the media reading interface to electrically connect the storage device to the first circuit board.
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40. A fiber optic coupler module comprising:
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a housing defining at least a first passageway extending between first and second ends of the housing, the housing also defining at least a first opening extending between the first passageway and an exterior of the housing; a first circuit board coupled to the housing, the circuit board defining first and second contact pads positioned at the first opening of the housing; a second circuit board coupled to the housing, the second circuit board defining first and second contact pads positioned at a second opening defined in the housing; a first media reading interface positioned in the first opening of the housing, the first media reading interface having a first contact surface configured to engage the first contact pad of the first circuit board through the first opening, a second contact surface extending toward the first passageway, and a third contact surface configured to selectively engage the second contact pad of the first circuit board through the first opening; a second media reading interface positioned in the second opening of the housing, the second media reading interface having a first contact surface configured to engage the first contact pad of the second circuit board through the second opening, a second contact surface extending toward the first passageway, and a third contact surface configured to selectively engage the second contact pad of the second circuit board through the second opening; and an MPO-type optical connector received at the housing, the MPO-type optical connector including a ferrule extending into the first passageway and a connector body housing the ferrule, the connector body also including a storage device having a contact surface that is aligned with the second contact surface of the first media reading interface.
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41. A fiber optic adapter module comprising:
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a housing extending from a first end to a second end, the housing including opposing major surfaces extending between opposing minor surfaces and between the first and second ends, the housing defining at least one passageway extending between the first and second ends of the housing to define first and second ports at the first and second ends, respectively, the housing being configured to retain a fiber optic connector at each port, the housing also defining at least a first opening extending through a first of the major surfaces, the first opening leading from an exterior of the housing to the passageway; a media reading interface positioned in the housing, the media reading interface having at least a first contact location and a second contact location, the media reading interface being configured so that the second contact location is accessible from within the passageway and the first contact location is configured to extend through the first opening defined in the first major surface of the housing to be accessible from the exterior of the housing; a first circuit board coupled to the housing so that the first contact location contacts the first circuit board through the first opening defined in the first major surface; and a first connector arrangement received at the first port, the first connector arrangement including a storage device having a contact surface that is contacted by the second contact location of the media reading interface to electrically connect the storage device to the first circuit board.
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Specification