Abstract:
A power and communications assembly including a housing removably mountable to a worksurface, at least one electrical power receptacle at least partially contained in the housing and an optical splitting device configured to split one optical bi-directional signal into a plurality of additional optical bi-directional signals, the optical splitting device substantially within the housing.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This is a non-provisional application based upon U.S. provisional patent application serial No. 60/368,063, entitled “WORKSURFACE POWER MODULE WITH FIBER OPTICS CAPABILITIES”, filed Mar. 27, 2002. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention relates to a power module mountable on a worksurface and more particularly, to a power module with communications ports mountable to a worksurface.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0005]    Personal computers have been developed for many applications in many fields, such as medical care, business, education and industry. Due to the diverse applications, there are many peripheral devices, which are developed to cooperate with the personal computer to achieve particular functions. Some of the peripheral devices are connected with the personal computer by way of cables. Some connections utilize Universal Serial Bus (USB) cables, which are becoming quite popular.  
           [0006]    As the capability and speed of computers has increased the demand for faster communication has increased accordingly. The desire for higher speed internet connections has led to satellite connections as a solution. Fiber optics allow high speed broadband communications and are exemplified by passive optical networks, which facilitate the coexistence of broadband available services including cable television, telephone operations and data communication. Ethernet passive optical networks provide full communications services including access to networks that deliver converged data, video and voice over a single optical access system. With transmission data rates having been demonstrated of more than 10 trillion bits per second, optical transmissions will inevitably become a major consideration in the planning of inter-office communications. High capacity transmission systems are in demand not only for internet access but as all forms of communication in offices and homes.  
           [0007]    A problem with fiber optic cable is that a sharp bend attenuates or even disables the transmission of the signal.  
           [0008]    Power strips came into popular use along with the personal computer. Power strips typically have multiple power outlets and a switch to turn at least a portion of the electrical receptacles on and off.  
           [0009]    What is needed in the art is a device for providing power and fiber optic receptacles in an easily relocatable and attachable configuration.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0010]    The present invention provides a portable power module with a built-in communication port.  
           [0011]    The invention comprises, in one form thereof, a power and communications assembly including a housing removably mountable to a worksurface, at least one electrical power receptacle at least partially contained in the housing and an optical splitting device configured to split one optical bidirectional signal into a plurality of additional optical bidirectional signals, the optical splitting device substantially within the housing.  
           [0012]    An advantage of the present invention is that it provides convenient fiber optic connection ports.  
           [0013]    Another advantage of the present invention is that it makes fiber optic connection points easily accessible by placing them in a location on a worksurface rather than behind a CPU, on a wall or floor distribution port.  
           [0014]    Yet another advantage of the present invention is that electrical power and fiber optic connections are available in the same device. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]    The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a power module with a built-in fiber optic capability mounted on a work center according to one form of the invention;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 2 is a perspective exploded view of the power module with a built in fiber optic capability of FIG. 1; and  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 3 is a partial cross-section view of the power module with a built in fiber optic capability of FIGS. 1 and 2 mounted to a worksurface. 
     
    
       [0019]    Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplification set out herein illustrates one preferred embodiment of the invention, in one form, and such exemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0020]    Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown a work center  10  having a support  12  and a worksurface  14 . Power/communications module  16  is mounted upon worksurface  14 . Now, additionally referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, there is shown power/communications module  16  having housing  18 , a power/communications assembly  20  and a clamping device  22 . Housing  18  includes a face plate  24 , a cover  26  and a lower housing  28 . Face plate  24 , cover  26  and lower housing  28  are snapped together or held together with fasteners.  
         [0021]    Face plate  24  includes power distribution openings  30 , communication connection openings  32  and contoured surface  34 . Power distribution openings  30  accommodate a power receptacle to thereby allow a power plug to be plugged into and through power distribution openings  30  into an electrical receptacle. Communication connection openings  32  are positioned and sized to accommodate communications connectors that may be snapped into place therethrough. Contoured surface  34  is shaped to interface with cover  26 .  
         [0022]    Cover  26  includes contoured surface  36  and cord notch  38 . Contoured surface  36  is shaped to coact with contoured surface  34  to enclose housing  18  and to prevent unintentional contact with electrical power contained therein. Cord notch  38 , in the back of cover  26 , allows a power cord to egress from the interior of housing  18 .  
         [0023]    Lower housing  28  includes communication connection opening  40 , a clamp interface  42  and a grommet mount hole  44 . Communication connection opening  40  allows a communication connector to be snapped into place for access to a fiber optic communications cable (not shown). Clamp interface  42  interacts with clamping device  22  to detachably clamp power/communications module  16  to worksurface  14 . Grommet mount hole  44  accommodates an alternative mounting method of power/communications module  16  to worksurface  14  by way of placing a hole in worksurface  14  and clamping power/communications module  16  thereto, through grommet mount hole  44 .  
         [0024]    Power/communications assembly  20  includes power plug  46 , conductors  48 , a duplex receptacle  50 , an optical splitter assembly  52 , an entrance connector  54 , interface connectors  56  and optical elements  58 . Power plug  46  is electrically connected to conductors  48  thereby powering duplex receptacle  50  and optical splitter assembly  52 . Duplex receptacle  50  is fastened to the back side of face plate  24  and aligned such that the power terminals cooperate with power distribution openings  30  to thereby allow a plug to be inserted into power distribution openings  30  and to make electrical contact with duplex outlet  50 . Optic elements  58 , such as fiber optic cable  58  benefit from being bent as little as possible. A fiber optic cable should normally not be bent sharper than a two inch radius, to preclude damage thereto and to reduce signal attenuation. When routing fiber optic cable  58  within power module  16  connector  54  is directed to connection opening  40  on the back of power module  16  and connectors  56  are directed to openings  32  on an opposite side of power module  16 . Additionally, contour  36  of cover  26  allows for sweeping bends if needed in routing fiber optic cables  58 . If a fiber optic connection is directed through hole  44  the contours of cover  26  and lower housing  28  work together to allow the fiber optic cable to be routed in power module  16  to connect with optical splitter assembly  52 . This advantageously reduces the amount of bending of fiber optic cable  58  in power module  16 .  
         [0025]    Optical splitter assembly  52  is a signal splitting device that is connected to a bidirectional optic data signal and it splits the signal into multiple bi-directional optic signals. Each of those signals may be further split by other splitter assemblies  52 . Optical splitter assembly  52  is passive in nature not requiring power. However, active amplification of signals in optical splitter assembly  52  is also contemplated and to power the amplification, conductors  48  are routed thereto. Optical splitter assembly  52  is mounted to lower housing  28  and positioned so that optical elements  58  are routed to allow connectors  54  and  56  to be, respectively, snapped into communication connection opening  40  and communication connection openings  32 . Fiber optic cables connect to entrance connectors  54  also known as ports  54 . The bi-directional data signals are transferred by way of ports  54  and  56 . Optical splitter assembly  52  functions as a signal concentrator, as well as a splitter, in that it communicates information to/from multiple devices that are connected by way of ports  54  and  56 . Port  56  connects to an optic signal receiver/transmitter in a computer or to another optical splitter assembly hub  52 . Each optical splitter assembly  52  converts a single attachment port into multiple ports, thereby functioning as an optical hub and effectively supporting the concatenation of multiple hubs.  
         [0026]    Clamping device  22  includes L-shaped bracket  60 , a clamping bracket  62  and fastener  64 . L-shaped bracket  60  interacts with clamp interface  42  to connect clamping device  22  to lower housing  28 . Clamping bracket  62  is slidably positioned along L-shaped bracket  60  by way of slot  66 . Fastener  64  tightens clamping bracket  62  against L-shaped bracket  60  as a surface of clamping bracket  62  contacts a lower surface of worksurface  14 .  
         [0027]    Power/communications module  16  is mounted to a worksurface  14  of work center  10  by using clamping device  22 . Plug  46  is connected to an electrical outlet, thereby providing power to power/communications module  16 . A fiber optic cable (not shown) is connected to entrance connector  54  on the back side of power/communications module  16 . The other end of the fiber optic cable is connected to a host or personal computer. Optical splitter assembly  52  provides multiple fiber optics ports on the surface of face plate  24 , thereby providing easy access to a user of work center  10  to fiber optic ports  54 . Optical splitter assembly  52  expands the number of connections that are available to thereby allow a user the ability to connect multiple optical communications, video, and data devices to the optical system. Power/communications module  16  can be relocated by loosening of clamping device  22  and repositioning of power/communications module  16  on worksurface  14 . Alternatively, clamping device  22  may be omitted and power/communications module  16  positioned in any convenient location.  
         [0028]    While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.