Receptacle assembly having a light pipe assembly

• US 9,933,555 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2016
• Issued: 04/03/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2016
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TE Connectivity Solutions GmbH (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Original Assignee: TE Connectivity Corporation (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Inventors: Henry, Randall Robert, Phillips, Michael John, Matthews, Brandon Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Alavi, Ali
• Application Number:
  US15/069,234
• Publication Number:
  US 20170261674A1
• Time in Patent Office: 750 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0006 Coupling light into the fibre in general G02B6/4298
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0008 the light being emitted at the end of the fibre
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/008 of the partially overlapping type
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4277 Protection against electromagnetic interference [EMI], e.g. shielding means shielding of electric apparatus H05K9/00, of instruments G12B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4284 of optical modules with disconnectable electrical connectors latching arms for electrical connectors H01R13/627
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources

Abstract

A receptacle assembly includes a receptacle housing having panels defining a housing cavity receiving a pluggable module. The panels are conductive to provide electromagnetic interference shielding. The receptacle housing has a bottom mounted to a circuit board. A communication module is received in the housing cavity and mounted to the circuit board. The communication module includes a communication connector interfacing with the pluggable module. The receptacle assembly includes a light pipe assembly coupled to the receptacle housing having has a plurality of flexible light pipes each extending between a light-receiving end and a light-emitting end. The light-receiving end is positioned proximate to the bottom to receive light from a light-emitting device mounted to the circuit board. The light-emitting end is provided proximate to the front end of the receptacle housing for displaying a status indicator for the communication connector.

Claims

1. A receptacle assembly comprising:

a receptacle housing having a plurality of panels defining a housing cavity configured to receive a pluggable module through a front end of the receptacle housing, the panels being conductive to provide electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, the receptacle housing having a bottom being configured to be mounted to a circuit board;

a communication module received in the housing cavity and configured to be mounted to the circuit board, the communication module including a communication connector configured to interface with the pluggable module; and

a light pipe assembly coupled to the receptacle housing, the light pipe assembly having a plurality of flexible light pipes each having a light pipe body extending between a light-receiving end and a light-emitting end, the light pipe body being flexible such that each of the flexible light pipes are independently movable relative to each other, the light-receiving end being positioned proximate to the bottom to receive light from a light-emitting device mounted to the circuit board proximate the receptacle assembly, the light-emitting end being provided proximate to the front end of the receptacle housing for displaying a status indicator for the communication connector.

2. The receptacle assembly of claim 1, wherein each light pipe body comprises a flexible fiber optic conductor.

3. The receptacle assembly of claim 1, wherein the light pipes are routed along an exterior of the panels of the receptacle housing.

4. The receptacle assembly of claim 1, wherein the light pipe body is cut to length based on dimensions of the panels of the receptacle housing.

5. The receptacle assembly of claim 1, wherein the light-receiving ends are held in a circuit board support mounted to the receptacle housing proximate to the bottom for receiving light emitted from light-emitting devices mounted to the circuit board.

6. The receptacle assembly of claim 5, wherein the circuit board support includes a plurality of device cavities separated from each other by separating walls to contain the light emitted by the corresponding light-emitting devices, the circuit board support including a plurality of light pipe cavities open to corresponding device cavities, the light pipe cavities receiving corresponding light pipes and aligning the light pipes with the corresponding light-emitting devices.

7. The receptacle assembly of claim 1, wherein the light-emitting ends are held by a bezel support mounted to the receptacle housing proximate to the front end, the bezel support having a light pipe holder having light pipe channels receiving corresponding light pipes and holding the light pipes at predetermined positions for displaying the status indicators.

8. A receptacle assembly comprising:

a receptacle housing having a plurality of panels defining a housing cavity configured to receive a pluggable module through a front end of the receptacle housing at a bezel, the panels being conductive to provide electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, the panels define a back wall opposite the front end, a top wall opposite a bottom of the receptacle housing and side walls surrounding the housing cavity, the receptacle housing having a bottom being configured to be mounted to a circuit board;

a communication module received in the housing cavity and configured to be mounted to the circuit board, the communication module including a communication connector configured to interface with the pluggable module; and

a light pipe assembly coupled to the receptacle housing, the light pipe assembly having a circuit board support, a bezel support and a plurality of flexible light pipes extending between the circuit board support and the bezel support, the circuit board support being coupled to the receptacle housing proximate to the bottom for positioning near the circuit board, the bezel support being positioned proximate to the front end of the receptacle housing for positioning near the bezel, each light pipe having a light pipe body extending between a light-receiving end and a light-emitting end, the light pipe body being flexible, the light-receiving end being received in the circuit board support to receive light from a light-emitting device mounted to the circuit board proximate the receptacle assembly, the light-emitting end being held by the bezel support proximate to the front end of the receptacle housing for displaying a status indicator for the communication connector, wherein each of the light receiving ends of the flexible light pipes are independently movable relative to the circuit board support and wherein each of the light-emitting ends are independently movable relative to the bezel support.

9. The receptacle assembly of claim 8, wherein each light pipe body comprises a flexible fiber optic conductor.

10. The receptacle assembly of claim 8, wherein the light pipes are independently loaded into and removable from the circuit board support and the bezel support such that the light pipes are configured to be routed along an exterior of the panels of the receptacle housing between the circuit board support and the bezel support.

11. The receptacle assembly of claim 8, wherein the circuit board support is coupled to the back wall proximate to the bottom of the receptacle housing.

12. The receptacle assembly of claim 8, wherein the circuit board support includes a plurality of device cavities separated from each other by separating walls to contain the light emitted by the corresponding light-emitting devices.

13. The receptacle assembly of claim 8, wherein the circuit board support includes a plurality of light pipe cavities receiving corresponding light pipes and aligning the light pipes with the corresponding light-emitting devices.

14. The receptacle assembly of claim 8, wherein the circuit board support includes mounting features engaging the receptacle housing to secure the light pipe assembly to the receptacle housing.

15. The receptacle assembly of claim 8, wherein the bezel support includes a bracket mounted to the receptacle housing to secure the light pipe assembly to the receptacle housing, the bracket having airflow openings therethrough, the bracket being mounted to the receptacle housing such that the airflow openings of the bracket are aligned with corresponding airflow openings of the corresponding panel of the receptacle housing to allow airflow through the bracket and the panel.

16. The receptacle assembly of claim 8, wherein the bezel support is configured to be mounted to the bezel and held proximate to the front end by the bezel.

17. The receptacle assembly of claim 8, wherein the bezel support includes a light pipe holder having light pipe channels receiving corresponding light pipes and holding the light pipes at predetermined positions for displaying the status indicators.

18. The receptacle assembly of claim 17, wherein the light pipe holder includes lenses extending forward of corresponding light pipe channels, the lenses receiving light emitted from the light pipes to display the light forward of the receptacle housing.

19. The receptacle assembly of claim 17, wherein the light pipes extend entirely through the light pipe holder and are exposed forward of the light pipe holder such that the light-emitting ends are visible forward of the receptacle housing for displaying the status indicators.

20. A communication system comprising:

a circuit board having a mounting area and a plurality of light-emitting devices proximate the mounting area;

a bezel forward of the circuit board, the bezel having an opening; and

a receptacle assembly mounted to the mounting area and extending behind the opening in the bezel, the receptacle assembly comprising;

a receptacle housing having a plurality of panels defining a housing cavity aligned with the opening in the bezel, the housing cavity being configured to receive a pluggable module through a front end of the receptacle housing, the panels being conductive to provide electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, the panels define a back wall opposite the front end, a top wall opposite a bottom of the receptacle housing and side walls surrounding the housing cavity, the bottom of the receptacle housing being mounted to the circuit board;

a communication module received in the housing cavity and mounted to the circuit board, the communication module including a communication connector configured to interface with the pluggable module; and

a light pipe assembly coupled to the receptacle housing, the light pipe assembly having a circuit board support, a bezel support and a plurality of flexible light pipes extending between the circuit board support and the bezel support, the circuit board support being coupled to the receptacle housing proximate to the bottom for positioning near the circuit board, the bezel support being positioned proximate to the front end of the receptacle housing for positioning near the bezel, each light pipe having a light pipe body extending between a light-receiving end and a light-emitting end, the light pipe body being flexible, the light-receiving end being received in the circuit board support to receive light from the corresponding light-emitting device, the light-emitting end being held by the bezel support proximate to the front end of the receptacle housing for displaying a status indicator for the communication connector forward of the bezel.