Managed fiber connectivity systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9632255-B2
Application number	US-201414220190-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 20, 2014
Priority date	Feb 12, 2010
Publication date	Apr 25, 2017
Grant date	Apr 25, 2017

Abstract

A communications connection system includes an adapter module defining at least first and second ports and at least one media reading interface mounted at one of the ports. The first adapter module is configured to receive a fiber optic connector at each port. Some type of connectors may be formed as duplex connector arrangements. Some types of adapters may include ports without media reading interfaces. Some types of media reading interfaces include contact members having three contact sections.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An connection arrangement for optically coupling optical plug connectors, the connection arrangement comprising:
an adapter housing defining a first port leading to a first connector receiving region within the adapter housing and an opposite second port leading to a second connector receiving region within the adapter housing, the second connector receiving region being aligned with the first connector receiving region along a connector insertion axis, the adapter housing also defining a first aperture separate from the first and second ports, the first aperture leading to a recessed surface within the adapter housing, the first aperture also leading to the first connector receiving region; and
a media reading interface disposed in the adapter housing and seated on the recessed surface, the media reading interface being disposed in a first position when the first connector receiving region is vacant and the media reading interface being disposed in a second position when an optical plug connector is received at the first connector receiving region, the media reading interface having a first contact section and a second contact section, the first contact section extending outwardly through the first aperture at least when the media reading interface is disposed in the second position, the second contact section facing towards the first connector receiving region.

2. The connection arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the adapter housing defines a second aperture separate from the first aperture, the first port, and the second port, the second aperture leading to a second recessed surface within the adapter housing, the second aperture also leading to the second connector receiving region.

3. The connection arrangement of claim 2 , further comprising a second media reading interface disposed in the adapter housing and seated on the second recessed surface, the second media reading interface being disposed in a first position when the second connector receiving region is vacant and the second media reading interface being disposed in a second position when a second optical plug connector is received at the second connector receiving region, the second media reading interface having a first contact section and a second contact section, the first contact section extending outwardly through the second aperture at least when the second media reading interface is disposed in the second position, the second contact section facing towards the second connector receiving region.

4. The connection arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the first port is one of a plurality of first ports leading to respective first connector receiving regions within the adapter housing and wherein the second port is one of a plurality of second ports leading to respective second connector receiving regions within the adapter housing; wherein the first aperture is one of a plurality of first apertures that each lead to a respective recessed surface and to a respective one of the first connector receiving regions; and wherein the media reading interface disposed in the adapter housing is one of a plurality of first media reading interfaces disposed in the adapter housing and seated on a respective one of the recessed surfaces.

5. The connection arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the media reading interface includes a contact member that defines the first contact section and the second contact section, the first contact section being disposed within the first aperture when the media reading interface is disposed in the first position.

6. The connection arrangement of claim 5 , wherein the second contact section of the contact member is disposed between the first contact section and a resilient section.

7. The connection arrangement of claim 5 , wherein the media reading interface includes a body sized to fit in the first aperture and a plurality of contact members disposed in slots defined in the housing.

8. The connection arrangement of claim 5 , wherein the contact member extends across a majority of a depth of the adapter housing, wherein the depth is defined as extending between the first and second ports.

9. The connection arrangement of claim 5 , wherein the contact member includes a resilient section disposed between the first contact section and the second contact section.

10. The connection arrangement of claim 5 , wherein the contact member includes a resilient section that defines the second contact section.

11. The connection arrangement of claim 5 , wherein the media reading interface includes a plurality of contact members and a plurality of spacers disposed between adjacent ones of the contact members.

12. The connection arrangement of claim 11 , further comprising end pieces that hold together the contact members and the spacers.

13. The connection arrangement of claim 5 , wherein the media reading interface includes a body and a plurality of pin contact members disposed in the body.

14. The connection arrangement of claim 5 , further comprising presence sensing circuitry disposed external of the adapter housing, wherein the contact member also defines a third contact section that is movable through the first aperture to engage the presence sensing circuitry.

15. The connection arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the media reading interface includes a pair of contact members, wherein a first contact member of the pair is separated from a second contact member of the pair when the media reading interface is disposed in the first position, and wherein the first contact member touches the second contact member when the media reading interface is disposed in the second position.

16. The connection arrangement of claim 15 , wherein the first and second contact members of each pair include planar contact members.

17. The connection arrangement of claim 15 , wherein the first and second contact members of each pair include wire contact members.

18. The connection arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the first aperture is one of a plurality of first apertures leading to the recessed surface within the adapter housing and leading to the first connector receiving region, the first apertures being separate from the first and second ports, wherein the media reading interface is disposed within the first apertures.

19. The connection arrangement of claim 1 , further comprising an alignment member disposed between the first and second ports, wherein the alignment member does not float within the adapter housing, and wherein the alignment member has an annular inner surface that tapers outwardly at opposite ends of the alignment member.

20. The connection arrangement of claim 19 , wherein the alignment member is monolithically formed with the adapter housing.

21. The connection arrangement of claim 19 , wherein an exterior of the alignment member includes opposing shoulders that enable the alignment member to be snap-fit within the adapter housing.

22. A fiber optic adapter module comprising:
a housing extending from a front to a rear, the housing including opposing end walls extending between opposing side walls and between the front and rear, the housing defining at least one passageway extending between the front and the rear to define first and second ports at the front and the rear, 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 end walls, the first opening leading to the passageway;
a cover element h

Assignees

• Adc Telecommunications Inc
• Commscope Technologies Llc

Inventors

• Anderson John
• Brandt Steven J
• Coffey Joseph C
• Patel Kamlesh G
• Petersen Cyle D
• Schroeder Michael D
• Stasny John

Classifications

• G02B6/3807 Primary

  Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs · CPC title

• G02B6/3895

  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 title

• G02B6/3879

  Linking of individual connector plugs to an overconnector, e.g. using clamps, clips, common housings comprising several individual connector plugs · CPC title

• G02B6/403

  of the ferrule type, connecting a pair of ferrules · CPC title

• G02B6/3893

  Push-pull type, e.g. snap-in, push-on · CPC title