US 11,860,424 B2
Fiber optic/electrical connection system
Trevor D. Smith, Eden Prairie, MN (US); and Yu Lu, Eden Prairie, MN (US)
Assigned to CommScope Technologies LLC, Hickory, NC (US)
Filed by CommScope Technologies LLC, Hickory, NC (US)
Filed on Oct. 20, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/970,048.
Application 17/970,048 is a continuation of application No. 17/068,911, filed on Oct. 13, 2020, granted, now 11,500,161.
Application 17/068,911 is a continuation of application No. 16/421,545, filed on May 24, 2019, granted, now 10,838,151, issued on Nov. 17, 2020.
Application 16/421,545 is a continuation of application No. 15/996,962, filed on Jun. 4, 2018, granted, now 10,345,531, issued on Jul. 9, 2019.
Application 15/996,962 is a continuation of application No. 15/282,165, filed on Sep. 30, 2016, granted, now 9,989,707, issued on Jun. 5, 2018.
Application 15/282,165 is a continuation of application No. 14/822,170, filed on Aug. 10, 2015, granted, now 9,459,411, issued on Oct. 4, 2016.
Application 14/822,170 is a continuation of application No. 14/552,210, filed on Nov. 24, 2014, granted, now 9,104,001, issued on Aug. 11, 2015.
Application 14/552,210 is a continuation of application No. 13/936,499, filed on Jul. 8, 2013, granted, now 8,894,300, issued on Nov. 25, 2014.
Application 13/936,499 is a continuation of application No. 13/021,416, filed on Feb. 4, 2011, granted, now 8,480,312, issued on Jul. 9, 2013.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/301,460, filed on Feb. 4, 2010.
Prior Publication US 2023/0152527 A1, May 18, 2023
Int. Cl. G02B 6/36 (2006.01); G02B 6/38 (2006.01); G02B 6/44 (2006.01); G02B 6/42 (2006.01)
CPC G02B 6/3817 (2013.01) [G02B 6/3825 (2013.01); G02B 6/3874 (2013.01); G02B 6/3887 (2013.01); G02B 6/3894 (2013.01); G02B 6/3897 (2013.01); G02B 6/4293 (2013.01); G02B 6/4434 (2013.01); G02B 6/3888 (2021.05)] 30 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A fiber optic and electrical connection system comprising:
a fiber optic cable including first and second electrical conductors, an optical fiber, and a cable jacket positioned around the first and the second electrical conductors and the optical fiber;
a fiber optic connector terminating an end of the fiber optic cable, the fiber optic connector including a connector housing with a first end for receiving the first and the second electrical conductors of the fiber optic cable and a second opposite end with a plug portion, the connector housing further defining a longitudinally oriented cavity extending between the first end and the second opposite end, the fiber optic connector further including an insert portion received within the longitudinally oriented cavity carrying a ferrule terminating the optical fiber of the fiber optic cable, a first contacting portion included on an exterior of the plug portion, the first contacting portion electrically connected with the first electrical conductor of the fiber optic cable, and a second contacting portion included on the exterior of the plug portion, the second contacting portion electrically connected with the second electrical conductor of the fiber optic cable; and
a fiber optic adapter including an adapter housing with a first end defining a first port and an opposite second end defining a second port, a ferrule sleeve within the adapter housing adapted to receive the ferrule of the fiber optic connector and accessible from both the first and the second ports, a third contacting portion included in the first port electrically connected with a fourth contacting portion positioned on an exterior of the adapter housing, and a fifth contacting portion included in the first port electrically connected with a sixth contacting portion positioned on the exterior of the adapter housing;
wherein the first port of the fiber optic adapter is configured to receive the plug portion of the fiber optic connector; and
wherein the first contacting portion included on the exterior of the plug portion electrically contacts the third contacting portion included in the first port and the second contacting portion included on the exterior of the plug portion electrically contacts the fifth contacting portion included in the first port when the fiber optic connector is fully connected to the fiber optic adapter.