Adapter configured with both optical and electrical connections for providing both optical and electrical communications capabilities

摘要

An adapter is provided that has both an electrical coupling configuration that complies with the RJ-45 wiring standard for electrical communications and an optical coupling configuration for optical communications. The adapter is configured as an interface for at least two modular connector assemblies to enable the modular connector assemblies to communicate with each other either optically or electrically, depending on whether the plugs of the assemblies are configured to have optical or electrical communications capabilities.

主权项

1. An adapter having both optical and electrical communications capabilities, the adapter comprising:
an adapter housing, the adapter housing having first and second jacks formed therein and a shared partitioning member that partitions the first and second jacks from each other, the first jack comprising:
a first plug opening formed in a first end of the adapter, the first plug opening being configured to receive a first plug; anda first electrical contact configuration that complies with a registered jack (RJ)-45 wiring standard; the second jack comprising:
a second plug opening formed in a second end of the adapter, the second plug opening being configured to receive a second plug; anda second electrical contact configuration that complies with a RJ-45 wiring standard; an optical coupling system formed in or secured to the shared partitioning member of the adapter housing for optically coupling optical signals between a first side of the shared partitioning member and a second side of the shared partitioning member; and an electrical conductor configuration interconnecting the first and second electrical contact configurations for electrically coupling electrical signals between the first and second electrical contact configurations, wherein the first plug opening has at least first and second locking features located therein for engaging the first plug, wherein when the first locking feature located in the first plug opening is engaged with the first plug, the first plug is interlocked with the first jack in a first interlocking position, and wherein when the second locking feature located in the first plug opening is engaged with the first plug, the first plug is interlocked with the first jack in a second interlocking position.