Power and optical fiber interface
AssigneeCommScope Technologies LLC
InventorsThomas P. Huegerich, Wayne M. Kachmar, Robert Charles Flaig, Dwight Bretz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A power and optical fiber interface system includes a housing having an interior. A cable inlet is configured to receive a hybrid cable having an electrical conductor and an optical fiber. An insulation displacement connector (IDC) is situated in the interior of the housing configured to electrically terminate the conductor, and a cable outlet is configured to receive an output cable that is connectable to the IDC and configured to output signals received via the optical fiber.
Claims28
A powered fiber optic system comprising:
- a first location including a power source and fiber optic network access;
- a plurality of active devices remotely positioned with respect to the first location;
- a plurality of hybrid cables routed from the first location toward the active devices, the hybrid cables including optical fibers for transmitting optical signals and electrical conductors for carrying power;
- and
- interface devices mounted adjacent to the active devices for providing interfaces between the hybrid cables and the active devices, the interface devices including electrical power management circuitry positioned within the closure for providing DC-to-DC voltage conversion within the closure, the interface devices also including circuit protection circuitry for providing current surge protection.
An interface device for providing an interface between a hybrid cable and an active device, the interface device comprising:
- a closure adapted for outside environmental use;
- a cable anchoring structure for securing a hybrid cable to the closure, the hybrid cable being configured to carry both electrical power and optical signals;
- electrical power management circuitry positioned within the closure for providing DC-to-DC voltage conversion within the closure, the electrical power management circuitry being customizable to output one of a plurality of different DC voltage levels such that the DC output level can be matched with a power requirement of the active device;
- electrical protection circuitry positioned within the closure;
- and
- an output configuration for outputting power and communications signals from the interface device to the active device, the output configuration having a format that is customizable and selectable from a plurality of formats that include all of the following formats:
- a) a power over Ethernet format or a power over Ethernet plus format;
- and b) a format including one or more optical fibers for the optical signals and separate electrical conductors for power.
A power and optical fiber interface system, comprising:
- a housing having an interior;
- a cable inlet configured to receive a hybrid cable having an electrical conductor and an optical fiber;
- an insulation displacement connector (IDC) situated in the interior of the housing configured to electrically terminate the conductor;
- and
- a cable outlet configured to receive an output cable that is connectable to the IDC and configured to output signals received via the optical fiber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.