Managed connectivity in fiber optic systems and methods thereof

• US 9,810,860 B2
• Filed: 11/02/2015
• Issued: 11/07/2017
• 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: Smrha, Mark, Schroeder, Michael D., Gunderson, Michael, Loch, Vern
• Primary Examiner(s): PENG, CHARLIE YU
• Application Number:
  US14/930,067
• Publication Number:
  US 20160054528A1
• Time in Patent Office: 736 Days
• Field of Search: 385135, 211 26
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3825 with an intermediate part, e.g. adapter, receptacle, linking two plugs
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3897 Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards G02B6/44528 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4452 Distribution frames
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4455 characterised by the way of extraction or insertion of the cassette in the distribution frame, e.g. pivoting, sliding, rotating or gliding

Abstract

A fiber optic connector arrangement includes a printed circuit board coupled to a connector housing. The printed circuit board includes a memory storage device that is configured to store physical layer information pertaining to the fiber optic connector arrangement. The printed circuit board also defines contacts that are electrically coupled to the memory storage device to enable the physical layer information to be read from the memory storage device by a media reading interface. A connector assembly includes at least one adapter assembly; a printed circuit board; and a media reading interface. The connector assembly also may include a tactile pressure sensor. The adapter assembly defines at least a first port and a second port that are configured to connect optical fibers of two connector arrangements. One or more connector assemblies can be mounted to a fiber panel system.

Claims

1. A fiber optic module comprising:

an optical adapter arrangement that defines a plurality of front ports and a plurality of rear ports, each of the rear ports aligning with one of the front ports along a respective insertion axis, each of the front and rear ports being configured to receive a respective optical connector along the respective insertion axis, at least some of the front ports being offset from others of the front ports along a plane that is orthogonal to the insertion axes of the front ports;

a circuit board having a first side and an opposite second side, the first side of the circuit board seated on the optical adapter arrangement;

a plurality of media reading interfaces disposed at the circuit board so that each media reading interface aligns with one of the front ports, each media reading interface including a plurality of leads; and

a cover mounted over the second side of the circuit board.

2. The fiber optic module of claim 1, wherein the optical adapter arrangement includes a first adapter assembly and a second adapter assembly.

3. The fiber optic module of claim 2, wherein the first and second adapter assemblies are coupled together by a separate piece.

4. The fiber optic module of claim 2, wherein each adapter assembly defines a plurality of the front ports and a plurality of the rear ports of the optical adapter arrangement.

5. The fiber optic module of claim 2, wherein the first adapter assembly is laterally spaced from the second adapter assembly.

6. The fiber optic module of claim 1, wherein the insertion axes of the optical adapter arrangement define a single plane.

7. The fiber module of claim 1, wherein the circuit board has a network interface configured to communicatively couple the media reading interfaces to a physical layer management network.

8. The fiber module of claim 7, wherein the network interface is accessible from an exterior of the module.

9. The fiber module of claim 1, further comprising a securement assembly disposed at opposite ends of the module to facilitate mounting the module to a support frame.

10. The fiber module of claim 9, wherein the securement assembly includes a guide arrangement and a latching arrangement.

11. A fiber optic module comprising:

a base defining a plurality of front ports and a plurality of rear ports, the base including a first piece, a second piece, and a third piece, the first piece defining some of the front ports and some of the rear ports, each of the rear ports of the first piece aligning with one of the front ports of the first piece along a respective first insertion axis, the second piece defining another plurality of the front ports and another plurality of the rear ports, each of the rear ports of the second piece aligning with one of the front ports of the second piece along a respective second insertion axis, the third piece coupling the first piece to the second piece in a laterally spaced configuration so that the front ports of the first and second pieces are aligned in a row;

a circuit board having a first side and an opposite second side, the first side of the circuit board seated on the base;

a plurality of media reading interfaces disposed at the circuit board so that each media reading interface aligns with one of the front ports, each media reading interface including a plurality of leads accessible from within the respective front port; and

a cover mounted over the second side of the circuit board and secured to the base.

12. The fiber optic module of claim 11, wherein at least some of the front ports of the base are offset from others of the front ports of the base along a plane that is orthogonal to the insertion axes of the front ports.

13. The fiber module of claim 11, wherein the circuit board has a network interface configured to communicatively couple the media reading interfaces to a physical layer management network.

14. The fiber module of claim 13, wherein the network interface is accessible from an exterior of the module.

15. The fiber module of claim 11, further comprising a securement assembly disposed at opposite ends of the module to facilitate mounting the module to a support frame.

16. The fiber module of claim 15, wherein the securement assembly includes a guide arrangement and a latching arrangement.

17. A fiber optic module comprising:

a base defining a plurality of front ports and a plurality of rear ports, each of the rear ports aligning with one of the front ports along a respective insertion axis, each of the front and rear ports being configured to receive a respective optical connector along the respective insertion axis, at least some of the front ports being offset from others of the front ports along a plane that is orthogonal to the insertion axes of the front ports;

a circuit board seated on the base;

a plurality of first media reading interfaces disposed at the circuit board so that each first media reading interface aligns with one of the front ports, each first media reading interface including a plurality of leads;

a plurality of second media reading interfaces disposed at the circuit board so that each second media reading interface aligns with one of the rear ports, each second media reading interface including a plurality of leads; and

a cover mounted to the base to sandwich the circuit board, the first media reading interfaces, and the second media reading interfaces therebetween.

18. The fiber optic module of claim 17, wherein the front ports are configured to receive LC plug connectors.

19. The fiber optic module of claim 17, wherein a first plurality of the front ports of the base are laterally spaced along a gap from a second plurality of the front ports of the base.