Optical waveguides – With disengagable mechanical connector – Structure surrounding optical fiber-to-fiber connection
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-31
2002-10-01
Nguyen, Khiem (Department: 2839)
Optical waveguides
With disengagable mechanical connector
Structure surrounding optical fiber-to-fiber connection
C439S577000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06457874
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to mixed media outlets that permit connection to optical and, in at least some embodiments, electrical networks and, more particularly, to a wall-mountable mixed media outlet.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is desirable in many applications to transmit signals optically, as opposed to electrically, in view of the increased bandwidth and decreased attenuation offered by optical transmission. For example, it would be desirable to interconnect computers by an optical network since computers oftentimes transmit relatively large quantities of data at a fairly quick rate, which rate would be disadvantageously slowed if the data were instead transmitted via an electrical network. As such, increasingly larger portions of many communication networks are being converted to optical networks. By way of example, the introduction of optical fibers into network architectures has gradually moved from the curb, to the home or office building and now toward the desk.
In those networks in which optical fibers extend to the desk, a conversion must take place to allow a computer or other electronic device (hereinafter generally referenced as a computer) to communicate with the optical network since computers are typically designed to transmit and receive electrical signals. In this regard, most computers include a network interface card through which the computer transmits and receives electrical signals. In computer networks in which optical fibers extend to the desk, however, the conventional network interface card may be replaced by an optical network interface card that converts the electrical signals with which the computer communicates internally to optical signals for transmission via an optical network. Likewise, an optical network interface card converts optical signals that are received by the computer to electrical signals within the computer.
Since most computers are originally constructed to have a network interface card designed to transmit and receive electrical signals, a computer must typically be opened in order to remove the original network interface card and to insert an optical network interface card. Not only is this reconfiguration process somewhat costly and time-consuming, but many network administrators or computer owners do not desire to open their computer for fear of damaging other components of the computer or of voiding the computer's warranty. In addition, most conventional laptop computers do not have a port that would support an optical connection such that it would be physically difficult, if not impossible, to connect most laptop computers to an optical fiber even if an optical network interface card were installed within the laptop computer.
In order to avoid opening computers in order to install an optical network interface card and to accommodate laptop computers that do not generally have a port that would support optical communications, external media converters are utilized to convert between electrical and optical signals. Media converters typically reside between the wall outlet and the computer. As such, the optical network can extend to the wall outlet and can then be optically connected to the media converter by means of a fiber optic jumper. On the other hand, the computer can be connected to the media converter by means of an electrical cable or the like. The media converter then serves to convert optical signals to electrical signals for presentation to the computer and, conversely, to convert electrical signals provided by the computer to optical signals for transmission via the optical network.
Since most media converters reside between the wall outlet and the computer, however, media converters can be somewhat unsightly and may be disadvantageously underfoot. In this regard, media converters typically lie on the floor between the wall outlet and the computer. As such, media converters can be a trip hazard and can otherwise just add to the jumble of wires extending between the computer and various wall outlets. As such, it would be desirable to have an optical network extend as close to a desk as practical without requiring the computer to be opened in order to install an optical network interface card and without requiring an external media converter that resides between the wall outlet and the computer.
While the computer networks within many office buildings are quickly being converted to optical networks, the telephone networks within the same office buildings more commonly remain as electrical networks, i.e., copper networks. In addition to the cost associated with replacing these legacy copper networks with optical networks, the voice signals transmitted by a telephone system do not generally require the bandwidth or the speed demanded by the data signals transmitted via a computer network. As such, most offices have separate outlets for connecting the telephone with the telephone network and for connecting the computer with the computer network. In addition to requiring additional hardware in order to construct the different outlets, an office having a number of different outlets can oftentimes have a rather unsightly appearance as a result of the number of wires and cables connected to the various outlets. As such, it would also be desirable to decrease the number of outlets required to interconnect a telephone and a computer with their respective networks, even in instances in which the telephone network is an electrical network and the computer network is an optical network. In addition, it would be desirable for the outlet to be positioned within an office in such a manner as to be both convenient and only minimally obtrusive.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A mixed media outlet is therefore provided that is capable of being mounted upon a wall and that includes ports that are generally designed to provide separate access to an electrical network and to an optical network. As such, the same wall mounted outlet can permit a telephone to be connected to the electrical network, and a computer to be connected to the optical network. In some embodiments, however, the mixed media outlet can instead connect the telephone to an optical network. In addition, the mixed media outlet of the present invention includes an electro-optic converter for converting between electrical and optical signals. As such, a computer that is designed to transmit and receive electrical signals, such as a computer that includes a standard electrical network interface card, can communicate, via the outlet and, in particular, the electro-optic converter, with the optical network without having any type of external media converter interposed between the outlet and the computer.
The mixed media outlet includes a housing adapted to be wall mounted and first and second ports that are disposed within an opening defined by the housing. According to one advantageous embodiment, each port includes a plurality of electrically conductive elements and is designed to receive respective electrical connectors. For example, the first port can be a data port for establishing an electrical connection with a conductive element capable of transmitting data signals, such as for establishing an electrical connection with a computer. In addition, the second port can be a voice port that typically electrically connects conductive elements located within and outside of the wall for transmitting voice signals therebetween. In this regard, the voice port can electrically connect a telephone with a telephone network in order to transmit voice signals therebetween.
The mixed media outlet permits connections to both an electrical network and an optical network as a result of the electro-optic converter. In particular, the electro-optic converter is disposed in the housing in electrical communication with at least some of the electrically conductive elements of the first port, typically the data port. The electro-optic converter can therefore convert electrical signals presented at the first port to corresponding optical signals for tr
Baker Steven R.
Clapp, Jr. Donnie R.
Dagley Mark R.
Giebel Markus A.
Morgan Kevin L.
LandOfFree
Wall mountable mixed media outlet does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Wall mountable mixed media outlet, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Wall mountable mixed media outlet will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2967381