Granted Patent B2

US 7,194,183 · App. 10/737,652 · Granted Mar 20, 2007

Abstract

Claims (172)

1. A stacked, multi-receptacle modular RJ-XX interface with integral optical indication, the interface comprising:

a plurality of modular plugs having leading and trailing portions fabricated from an optically transmissive material;

a assembly having first and second rows of stacked receptacles;

the stacked receptacles defined by wall portions extending from a front plane to an end wall;

the assembly being superposed with a circuit board to define a footprint thereon;

the receptacles each sized and shaped to releasably receive the leading portion of a modular plug therein;

a plurality of light pipes extending from a proximal end coupled to each receptacle, to a distal end coupled to a light source;

light pipes coupled to the second row of receptacles, at least one of the light pipes being disposed entirely within the footprint of the assembly;

the proximal end of each light pipe being disposed to radiate light onto the leading portion of a plug disposed in the receptacle;

the plug being configured to transmit the light from the leading portion to the trailing portion, wherein the trailing portion serves as an integral optical indicator; and

an actuator configured to selectively operate the light pipes.

2. The interface of claim 1 , wherein proximal ends are coupled to the end walls of the first row of receptacles; and

proximal ends are coupled to a wall portion of the second row of receptacles.

3. The interface of claim 1 , wherein the light pipes are free of the front plane.

4. A modular receptacle assembly having integral optical indication, the receptacle assembly comprising:

a module having a receptacle disposed therein;

the receptacle sized and shaped to releasably receive, in an insertion direction, a leading portion of a modular plug therein;

the receptacle having a footprint in a plane parallel to the insertion direction;

a light pipe having a proximal end and a distal end;

the light pipe being disposed entirely in the footprint of the receptacle;

the proximal end coupled to the receptacle;

the distal end coupled to a light source;

the proximal end configured to radiate light onto the leading portion of a plug disposed within said receptacle; and

an actuator configured to selectively operate the light pipe.

5. The receptacle assembly of claim 4 , wherein the module comprises a plurality of receptacles.

6. The receptacle assembly of claim 5 , wherein the module comprises a plurality of stacked receptacles.

7. The receptacle assembly of claim 6 , wherein the module is superposed with the circuit board.

8. The receptacle assembly of claim 6 , wherein the stacked receptacles are disposed in first and second rows.

9. The receptacle assembly of claim 8 , wherein light pipes coupled to the first row are disposed within the footprint of the module.

10. The receptacle assembly of claim 9 , wherein light pipes coupled to the second row are disposed within the footprint of the module.

11. The receptacle assembly of claim 5 , comprising a plurality of light pipes.

12. The receptacle assembly of claim 5 , comprising a plurality of light sources.

13. The receptacle assembly of claim 4 , wherein the light pipe is free of the front plane.

14. The receptacle assembly of claim 4 , wherein the light source is disposed within the footprint.

15. The receptacle assembly of claim 4 , comprising a plurality of light pipes.

16. The receptacle assembly of claim 15 , wherein said receptacle comprises an RJ-XX receptacle.

17. The receptacle assembly of claim 16 , comprising a plurality of stacked RJ-XX receptacles.

18. The receptacle assembly of claim 4 , wherein the module is superposed with a circuit board, and the light pipe is disposed between the module and the circuit board.

19. The receptacle assembly of claim 4 , comprising a plug disposed within the receptacle.

20. The receptacle assembly of claim 19 , wherein a trailing portion of the plug is configured for being illuminated by the light radiated onto the leading portion thereof.

21. The receptacle assembly of claim 20 , wherein the plug composes a light guide.

22. The receptacle assembly of claim 21 , wherein the plug is optically transmissive.

23. The receptacle assembly of claim 22 , wherein the plug is optically translucent.

24. The receptacle assembly of claim 20 , wherein the light pipe is configured to convey status information, and the trailing portion of the plug comprises an integral optical indicator.

25. A modular receptacle assembly having integral optical indication, the receptacle assembly comprising:

a module having a receptacle disposed therein;

the receptacle sized and shaped to releasably receive, in an insertion direction, a leading portion of a modular plug therein;

the module having a footprint in a plane parallel to the insertion direction;

a light pipe having a proximal end and a distal end;

the light pipe being disposed in the footprint of the module;

the proximal end coupled to the receptacle;

the distal end coupled to a light source;

the proximal end configured to radiate light onto the leading portion of a plug disposed within said receptacle; and

an actuator configured to selectively operate the light pipe;

wherein the light pipes comprise a multi-fiber, fiber optic cable.

26. The receptacle assembly of claim 4 , wherein said proximal end is optically coupled to the receptacle.

27. A modular receptacle assembly having integral optical indication, the receptacle assembly comprising:

a module having a receptacle disposed therein;

the receptacle sized and shaped to releasably receive, in an insertion direction, a leading portion of a modular plug therein;

the module having a footprint in a plane parallel to the insertion direction;

a light pipe having a proximal end and a distal end;

the light pipe being disposed in the footprint of the module;

the proximal end coupled to the receptacle;

the distal end coupled to a light source;

the proximal end configured to radiate light onto the leading portion of a plug disposed within said receptacle;

an actuator configured to selectively operate the light pipe;

wherein said proximal end is optically coupled to the receptacle; and

wherein said proximal end is coupled to the receptacle by at least one reflective surface disposed optically between said proximal end and said receptacle.

28. A modular receptacle assembly with integral optical indication, comprising:

a plurality of stacked rows of receptacles each sized and shaped to releasably receive a leading portion of a modular plug therein, the plurality of stacked rows of receptacles having a footprint;

at least one light pipe having a proximal end and a distal end;

the proximal end being coupled to the receptacle;

the distal end extending from the receptacle to a light source;

the light pipe being free of the front plane;

the proximal end being disposed to radiate light into the receptical; and

wherein the light pipe is disposed entirely within the footprint.

29. The receptacle assembly of claim 28 , wherein the proximal end is disposed to radiate light onto the leading portion of a plug disposed within the receptacle.

30. The receptacle assembly of claim 29 , comprising the plug.

31. The receptacle assembly of claim 30 , wherein a trailing portion of the plug is configured for being illuminated by the light radiated onto the leading portion thereof.

32. The receptacle assembly of claim 31 , wherein the light pipe is configured to convey status information, and the trailing portion of the plug comprises an integral optical indicator.

33. The receptacle assembly of claim 28 , further comprising an actuator configured to selectively actuate the light pipes.

34. A receptacle assembly having integral optical indication, the receptacle assembly comprising:

a module having a receptacle disposed therein;

the receptacle sized and shaped to releasably receive, in an insertion direction, a leading portion of a modular plug therein, the receptacle having a footprint;

a light pipe having at least one proximal end, at least one distal end, and a junction configured to alternately aggregate and distribute light being transmitted therethrough;

the proximal end coupled to the receptacle;

the distal end coupled to a light source;

the proximal end configured to radiate light onto the leading portion of a plug disposed therein;

the light pipe being disposed entirely in the footprint; and

an actuator configured to selectively operate the light pipe.

35. A receptacle assembly having integral optical indication, the receptacle assembly comprising:

a module having a receptacle disposed therein;

the receptacle sized and shaped to releasably receive, in an insertion direction, a leading portion of a modular plug therein;

a light pipe having at least one proximal end, at least one distal end, and a junction configured to alternately aggregate and distribute light being transmitted therethrough;

the proximal end coupled to the receptacle;

the distal end coupled to a light source;

the proximal end configured to radiate light onto the leading portion of a plug disposed therein;

an actuator configured to selectively operate the light pipe; and

wherein the junction comprises a frusto-conical portion.

36. The receptacle of claim 34 , wherein said junction is configured to optically couple a plurality of light sources to a receptacle.

37. The receptacle of claim 34 , wherein said module comprises a plurality of receptacles.

38. A receptacle assembly having integral optical indication, the receptacle assembly comprising:

a module having a receptacle disposed therein;

the receptacle sized and shaped to releasably receive, in an insertion direction, a leading portion of a modular plug therein;

a light pipe having at least one proximal end, at least one distal end, and a junction configured to alternately aggregate and distribute light being transmitted therethrough;

the proximal end coupled to the receptacle;

the distal end coupled to a light source;

the proximal end configured to radiate light onto the leading portion of a plug disposed therein;

an actuator configured to selectively operate the light pipe;

wherein said module comprises a plurality of receptacles; and

wherein said junction is configured to optically couple a single light source to said plurality of receptacles.

39. A receptacle assembly having integral optical indication, the receptacle assembly comprising:

a module having a receptacle disposed therein;

the receptacle sized and shaped to releasably receive, in an insertion direction, a leading portion of a modular plug therein;

a light pipe having at least one proximal end, at least one distal end, and a junction configured to alternately aggregate and distribute light being transmitted therethrough;

the proximal end coupled to the receptacle;

the distal end coupled to a light source;

the proximal end configured to radiate light onto the leading portion of a plug disposed therein;

an actuator configured to selectively operate the light pipe; and

wherein the junction comprises a furcation.

40. A receptacle assembly having integral optical indication, the receptacle assembly comprising:

a receptacle disposed therein;

the receptacle sized and shaped to releasably receive a leading portion of a plug therein, the receptacle having a footprint;

the receptacle having a pin field including a plurality of information-transmissive pin connectors disposed in spaced relation therein;

a light pipe having a proximal end and a distal end;

the proximal end disposed within said pin field;

the distal end coupled to a light source;

the proximal end configured to radiate light onto the leading portion of a plug disposed within said receptacle;

wherein said proximal end and said distal end are both disposed within the footprint: and

an actuator configured to selectively operate the light pipe.

41. A receptacle assembly having integral optical indication, the receptacle assembly comprising:

a receptacle disposed therein;

the receptacle sized and shaped to releasably receive a leading portion of a plug therein;

the receptacle having a pin field including a plurality of information-transmissive pin connectors disposed in spaced relation therein;

a light pipe having a proximal end and a distal end;

the proximal end disposed within said pin field;

the distal end coupled to a light source;

the proximal end configured to radiate light onto the leading portion of a plug disposed within said receptacle;

an actuator configured to selectively operate the light pipe; and

wherein the light pipe is disposed in place of one of said pin connectors.

42. The receptacle assembly of claim 40 , wherein the receptacle comprises a DSUB receptacle.

43. A receptacle assembly having integral optical indication, the receptacle assembly comprising:

a receptacle disposed therein;

the receptacle sized and shaped to releasably receive a leading portion of a plug therein;

the receptacle having a pin field including a plurality of information-transmissive pin connectors disposed in spaced relation therein;

a light pipe having a proximal end and a distal end;

the proximal end disposed within said pin field;

the distal end coupled to a light source;

the proximal end configured to radiate light onto the leading portion of a plug disposed within said receptacle;

an actuator configured to selectively operate the light pipe; and

wherein the light pipe is interposed between said pin connectors.

44. A stacked, multi-receptacle modular receptacle assembly having integral optical indication, the receptacle assembly comprising:

a plurality of stacked receptacles;

the stacked receptacles being superposed with a circuit board;

the stacked receptacles each sized and shaped to releasably receive a leading portion of a modular plug therein;

a plurality of light pipes each having a proximal end and a distal end;

the proximal ends each being coupled to a receptacle;

the distal ends coupled to at least one light source;

each proximal end being configured to radiate light onto the leading portion of a plug disposed therein;

at least one of the light pipes disposed entirely between the stacked receptacles and the circuit board; and

an actuator configured to selectively operate the light pipes.

45. A method of providing status indication for a modular receptacle assembly, the method comprising:

(a) providing a plurality of modular plugs having leading and trailing portions fabricated from an optically transmissive material;

(b) providing a plurality stacked receptacles each sized and shaped to releasably receive the leading portion of a modular plug therein, said plurality of receptacles having a footprint in a plane parallel to an insertion direction;

(c) utilizing a plurality of light pipes each having a proximal end and a distal end;

(d) coupling at least one of the proximal ends to each receptacle;

(e) extending the distal ends to a light source;

(f) maintaining the light pipes free of the front plane;

(g) disposing the light pipes entirely within the footprint of the plurality of receptacles;

(h) disposing each proximal end to radiate light onto the leading portion of a plug disposed therein;

(i) disposing an actuator to selectively operate the light pipes;

wherein light is selectively transmitted from the leading portion to the trailing portion, so that the trailing portion serves as an integral optical indicator.

Assignments (9)