IP Library Granted Patent US 11,327,248
Granted Patent B2
US 11,327,248 · App. 16/995,219 · Granted May 10, 2022

Optical assemblies with managed connectivity

Inventors: Thomas Marcouiller (Shakopee, MN); Christopher Charles Taylor (Cheltenham Glos, GB); John T. Pfarr (Le Sueur, MN); Kristofer Bolster (Jordan, MN); Oscar Fernando Bran de Leon (Belle Plaine, MN); Loren J. Mattson (Richfield, MN)
Assignee: CommScope Technologies LLC
G02B6/3879G02B6/3817G02B6/3825G02B6/3895G02B6/428G02B6/4261G02B6/4452H01R12/728H01R24/64Y10T29/49826
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,327,248
App. No.
16/995,219
Filed
Aug 17, 2020
Granted
May 10, 2022
Kind
B2
Examiner
PAK, SUNG H
Art Unit
2874
USPC
385/89
Abstract

An adapter block assembly includes an adapter block, a circuit board arrangement, and a cover attached to the adapter block so that the circuit board arrangement is held to the adapter block by the cover. Contact assemblies can be disposed between the adapter block and the circuit board arrangement. The cover can be latched, heat staked, or otherwise secured to the adapter block. Each component of the adapter block assembly can include one or more parts (e.g., multiple adapter blocks, multiple circuit boards, and/or multiple cover pieces).

Claims (31)

1. An optical adapter block assembly comprising:

(a) an adapter block extending along a length between opposite first and second ends, along a height between a top and a bottom, and along a depth between a front and a rear, the adapter block defining a plurality of front ports at the front, the top of the adapter block including a top surface that extends along the length of the adapter block and along the depth of the adapter block, the top surface defining a plurality of apertures, each aperture being aligned with one of the front ports;

(b) first and second engagement members disposed at the first and second ends, respectively, of the adapter block;

(c) a circuit board extending over the top surface of the adapter block to cover the apertures, the circuit board having opposite first and second major sides, the first major side facing the apertures and carrying a plurality of presence sensing arrangements, each presence sensing arrangement protruding into one of the apertures of the adapter block; and

(d) a cover mounted over the second major side of the circuit board, the cover being mechanically attached to the adapter block to sandwich at least a portion of the circuit board therebetween, the cover having a height that is smaller than the height of the adapter block.

2. The optical adapter block assembly of claim 1 , wherein the adapter block is a first adapter block, and wherein the optical adapter block assembly further comprises:

(e) a second adapter block coupled to the first adapter block, the second adapter block being identical to the first adapter block; and

(f) a second cover mechanically attached to the second adapter block to sandwich another portion of the circuit board therebetween.

3. The optical adapter block assembly of claim 2 , further comprising a joining member coupling together the first and second adapter blocks.

4. The optical adapter block assembly of claim 3 , wherein the joining member couples to the second engagement member of the first adapter block and to the first engagement member of the second adapter block.

5. The optical adapter block assembly of claim 3 , wherein the joining member includes a shroud through which a circuit board connector extends from the first major side of the circuit board.

6. The optical adapter block assembly of claim 1 , wherein the front ports are disposed in a row extending along the length of the adapter block.

7. The optical adapter block assembly of claim 1 , wherein the front ports are disposed in first and second rows extending along the length of the adapter block, the first row being disposed forwardly of the second row.

8. The optical adapter block assembly of claim 1 , wherein the adapter block defines a plurality of rear ports aligned with the front ports.

9. The optical adapter block assembly of claim 1 , wherein the optical adapter block assembly is mounted to a blade to slidably mount within a chassis.

10. The optical adapter block assembly of claim 1 , wherein the front ports include LC ports.

11. The optical adapter block assembly of claim 1 , wherein the front ports include twelve front ports.

12. The optical adapter block assembly of claim 1 , wherein the front ports include twenty-four front ports.

13. The optical adapter block assembly of claim 1 , wherein the presence sensing arrangements each include a deflectable portion extending through the respective aperture into an interior of the adapter block.

14. The optical adapter block assembly of claim 13 , wherein the presence sensing arrangements each include first and second contacts configured to short together when actuated.

15. The optical adapter block assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cover is latched to the adapter block.

16. The optical adapter block assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cover is heat staked to the adapter block.

17. An optical adapter block assembly comprising:

(a) a first adapter block extending along a length between opposite first and second ends, the first end of the first adapter block carrying a first engagement member and the second end of the first adapter block carrying a second engagement member, the first adapter block defining a first plurality of front ports;

(b) a second adapter block extending along a length between opposite first and second ends, the first end of the second adapter block carrying a first engagement member and the second end of the second adapter block carrying a second engagement member, the second adapter block defining a second plurality of front ports;

(c) a joining member coupled to the second engagement member of the first adapter block and to the first engagement member of the second adapter block;

(d) a circuit board extending over the first adapter block, the joining member, and the second adapter block, the circuit board carrying a plurality of presence sensing arrangements; and

(d) a cover arrangement mechanically attached to the first and second adapter blocks to sandwich the circuit board therebetween.

18. The optical adapter block assembly of claim 17 , wherein each presence sensing arrangement protrudes into one of the first and second adapter blocks.

19. The optical adapter block assembly of claim 17 , wherein each presence sensing arrangement includes a deflectable portion extending through a respective aperture into an interior of one of the first and second adapter blocks.

20. The optical adapter block assembly of claim 17 , wherein each of the first and second pluralities of front ports includes twelve front ports.

Assignments (6)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL/FRAME 058843/0712 Recorded Jan 12, 2026
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; COMMSCOPE NORTH CAROLINA, LLC (F/K/A COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA); COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC
Reel/Frame 074591/0389 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL/FRAME 058875/0449 Recorded Dec 19, 2024
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC (F/K/A ARRIS ENTERPRISES, INC.); COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC
Reel/Frame 069743/0057 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 17, 2024
From: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; COMMSCOPE INC., OF NORTH CAROLINA; OUTDOOR WIRELESS NETWORKS LLC; RUCKUS IP HOLDINGS LLC
To: APOLLO ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY LLC
Reel/Frame 069889/0114 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 19, 2021
From: ARRIS SOLUTIONS, INC.; ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA; RUCKUS WIRELESS, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST
Reel/Frame 060752/0001 →
ABL SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 15, 2021
From: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 058843/0712 →
TERM LOAN SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 15, 2021
From: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 058875/0449 →
Continuity (7)
Continuation 16388983 · Apr 19, 2019
Continuation 15722648 · Oct 2, 2017
Continuation 15065338 · Mar 9, 2016
Continuation 14169912 · Jan 31, 2014
Provisional Application 61843718 · Jul 8, 2013
Provisional Application 61761034 · Feb 5, 2013
Related Publication 20210033801A1 · Feb 4, 2021
Cited By (3)
US 12,517,310 US 12,601,886 US 12,693,485