Hybrid fiber/copper connector system and method

US8678666B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• ADC Telecommunications, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Jarrod Scadden · Waconia, US
• M'hamed Anis Khemakhem · Minnetonka, US
• Jeffrey Louis Peters · Eagan, US
• Wayne M. Kachmar · North Bennington, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 19, 2011
• Grant date: Mar 25, 2014
• Expiry date: Dec 19, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G02B6/44528
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A hybrid fiber/copper connector assembly which permits repair of damaged fibers or copper conductors carried by a hybrid fiber/copper cable without requiring replacement of the entire connector assembly or the cable is disclosed. The hybrid fiber/copper connector assembly disclosed also allows individual hybrid fiber/copper connectors of the assembly to be converted from one gender to a different gender. The hybrid fiber/copper connectors of the assembly include removable keying members mountable to housings of the connectors. The removable keying members allow gender conversion and proper mating and orientation. The hybrid fiber/copper connector assembly also allows the individual connectors of the assembly to be converted from being hybrid fiber/copper connectors to being only fiber connectors or only copper connectors.