Optical interface identification system

• US 7,611,292 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2008
• Issued: 11/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Extreme Networks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Enterasys Networks Incorporated (Extreme Networks, Inc.)
• Inventors: Roese, John J., Graham, Richard W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Font, Frank G
• Assistant Examiner(s): WONG, ERIC K
• Application Number:
  US12/033,811
• Publication Number:
  US 20080138012A1
• Time in Patent Office: 623 Days
• Field of Search: 385/75, 385 88- 89
• US Class Current: 385/75
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3817 containing optical and electrical conductors cables including electrical and optical conductors H01B11/22; G02B6/3816 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3827 Wrap-back connectors, i.e. containing a fibre having an U shape
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3845 ferrules comprising functional elements, e.g. filters
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3894 Screw-lock type
• 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

A connector assembly, configured to releasably couple a socket assembly, includes zero or more data conductors. An optical pathway is configured to: receive an optical signal from an optical light source positioned within the socket assembly; and provide at least a portion of the optical signal to an optical light target positioned within the socket assembly.

Claims

1. A socket assembly comprising:

zero or more data conductors;

one or more optical light sources, associated with the socket assembly, configured to emit at least a portion of an optical signal to an optical pathway included within a connector assembly, wherein the optical pathway is independent of the zero or more data conductors; and

one or more optical light targets, associated with the socket assembly, configured to receive at least a portion of the optical signal from the optical pathway included within the connector assembly.

2. The socket assembly of claim 1 wherein the one or more optical light sources are a photo emitter.

3. The socket assembly of claim 1 wherein the one or more optical light targets are a photo detector.

4. The socket assembly of claim 1 wherein the one or more optical light targets are an optical conductor, and wherein the optical conductor is optically-coupled to a photo detector.

5. The socket assembly of claim 1 wherein at least one of the zero or more data conductors is an electrical data conductor.

6. The socket assembly of claim 1 wherein at least one of the zero or more data conductors is an optical data conductor.

7. The socket assembly of claim 1 wherein the optical signal includes optical energy within a defined optical spectrum, the optical pathway including an optical filter for filtering a portion of the defined optical spectrum.

8. The socket assembly of claim 1 wherein the connector assembly further comprises one or more additional optical pathways, wherein each additional optical pathway is configured to:

receive at least a portion of the optical signal from the one or more optical light sources associated with the socket assembly; and

provide at least a portion of the optical signal to the one or more optical light targets associated with the socket assembly.

9. The socket assembly of claim 1 wherein the optical pathway includes at least one optical conductor.

10. The socket assembly of claim 1 wherein the optical pathway includes at least one optical reflector.

11. The socket assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

an optical indicator assembly;

wherein the optical pathway is further configured to provide at least a portion of the optical signal to the optical indicator assembly; and

wherein the optical indicator assembly is configured to provide a visual indicator concerning a characteristic of the coupling of the socket assembly and the connector assembly in response to receiving the at least a portion of the optical signal.

12. The socket assembly of claim 2 wherein the one or more optical light sources include an optical conductor.

13. The socket assembly of claim 2 wherein the one or more optical light sources include an optical reflector.

14. The socket assembly of claim 2 wherein the one or more optical light sources include an optical filter.

15. The socket assembly of claim 3 wherein the one or more optical light targets include an optical conductor.

16. The socket assembly of claim 3 wherein the one or more optical light targets include an optical reflector.

17. The socket assembly of claim 3 wherein the one or more optical light targets include an optical filter.

18. The socket assembly of claim 1 wherein the optical pathway includes at least one optical splitter.

19. A method comprising:

emitting at least a portion of an optical signal by one or more optical light sources associated with a socket assembly, the optical signal configured to be received by one or more optical pathways included within a connector assembly, wherein the one or more optical pathways are independent of any data conductors;

receiving at least a portion of the optical signal from the one or more optical pathways by one or more optical light targets associated with the socket assembly; and

determining a connection based, at least in part, on at least a portion of the optical signal received by the one or more optical light targets.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the connection includes a connection type.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein the connection includes a connection characteristic.