Abstract:
A communication interface module is disclosed, wherein the module may include a circuit board having an electronic communication interface and an optical communication interface; a light source disposed on the circuit board, wherein the light source is indicative of a status of at least one operational condition of the module; a module cover coupled to the circuit board; and a light path extending from the light source on the circuit board to a portion of the module cover visible to a human operator.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates in general to indicating the status of the operation of a communication system and in particular to the indication of the operational status of an optical communication system. 
         [0002]    The ability to indicate the status of one or more activities within a communication and/or processing system is helpful in managing and controlling the communication system. In traditional data processing systems, signals indicative of the operation of a system, including fault conditions, could be transmitted, using electronic digital data transmission, to a data processing system capable of appropriately storing such data, curing any reported problem, and/or notifying another entity of a reported fault condition. Likewise, optical communication systems may be operated so as to transmit operational status information, such as a fault condition, to a data processing system using electronic digital data transmission. 
         [0003]    However, in some instances it may be convenient to provide a notification of the operational status of a communication system, including fault conditions, that is visible to a human operator in the location where the fault or other condition occurs. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for improved methods and apparatus for indicating the operational status of communication devices including optical communication devices. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    According to one aspect, the invention is directed to a communication interface module that may include a circuit board having an electronic communication interface and an optical communication interface; a light source disposed on the circuit board, wherein the light source is indicative of a status of at least one operational condition of the module; a module cover coupled to the circuit board; and a light path extending from the light source on the circuit board to a portion of the module cover visible to a human operator. 
         [0005]    Other aspects, features, advantages, etc. will become apparent to one skilled in the art when the description of the preferred embodiments of the invention herein is taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    For the purposes of illustrating the various aspects of the invention, there are shown in the drawings forms that are presently preferred, it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a communication interface module in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a partially sectional and partially perspective view of a portion of the module of  FIG. 1  showing a light source and a light path suitable for illustrating an operational condition of a system, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a portion of the module of  FIG. 1  illustrating a circuit board and a condition-indicator light path of the module, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the cover of the module of  FIG. 1  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is another perspective view of the cover of the module of  FIG. 1  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is schematic representation of a status indicator light path from an LED light source to a termination point of the light path; 
           [0013]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  are schematic plan views of the fluctuation of exemplary light paths as a function of variation in the relative location of a light pipe with respect to a light source, along an X axis, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIGS. 8A and 8B  are schematic elevational views of the fluctuation of exemplary light paths as a function of variation in the relative location of a light pipe with respect to a light source along a Y axis, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0015]      FIGS. 9A and 9B  are schematic elevational views of the fluctuation of exemplary light paths with variation in the relative location of a light pipe with respect to a light source, along a Z axis, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0016]    In the following description, for purposes of explanation, specific numbers, materials and configurations are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. It will be apparent, however, to one having ordinary skill in the art that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known features may be omitted or simplified so as not to obscure the present invention. Furthermore, reference in the specification to phrases such as “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of phrases such as “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places in the specification do not necessarily all refer to the same embodiment. 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a communication interface module  100 .  FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a portion of the module  100  showing a light source  310  and a light path  220  suitable for illustrating an operational status of the module  100 . And,  FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a portion of the module of  FIG. 1  illustrating a circuit board and a light path of the module, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Reference is made to  FIGS. 1-3  in the following. 
         [0018]    Module  100  may include cover  200  and/or circuit board  300 . Circuit board  300  may include light source  310  and/or computer data interface  320 . Module  100  may include additional panels and structural members needed to form a secure mechanical assembly. However, for the sake of brevity the structure of such additional parts are not discussed in detail herein. Cover  200  may include groove  260  leading to through hole  262  ( FIG. 4 ). Light path  220  may include first light path segment  222 , second light path segment  224 , and/or termination point  226 . Second light path segment  224  may be a light pipe  250  ( FIGS. 6-9 ) which may include a reflector  230 . In an alternative embodiment, reflector  230  may form part of cover  200 . 
         [0019]    In one embodiment, module  100  is operable to inform a human operator of the operational condition of module  100 . For example, in the event of a fault condition, light source  310  may be activated to indicate the fault condition or other condition. Light path  220  (which may include two or more segments  222 ,  224  that may intersect and form a substantially right-angled junction as shown in  FIG. 3 ) may conduct light from light source  310  along the length of light path  220  to light path termination point  226 . Preferably, light path termination point  226  provides illumination that is readily viewable and noticeable by a human operator. In this manner, module  100  is operable to notify an operator of a fault condition, or other operating condition. Moreover, directing the light in the manner disclosed herein may provide a visual indication of a fault or other operating condition in a more convenient and/or more accessible location than the location of light source  310  itself. 
         [0020]    Computer data interface  320  is preferably a conventional digital computer data communication interface. Light source  310  may be a conventional surface mounted (SMT) Light Emitting Diode (LED) that may be mounted on circuit board  300 . In one embodiment, the LED used may receive a supply current that is 20 milliamperes (mA) or less, and which uses 70 milliwatts (mW) or less. However, in other embodiments, current in excess of 20 mA and/or power in excess of 70 mW may be supplied to light source  310 . 
         [0021]    Herein, the light path  220  preferably corresponds to the entirety of the light path in between light source  310  and the point (preferably termination point  226 ) that is illuminated for viewing by an operator. Various different structural entities may form one or more portions of light path  220 , which may include a first segment  222 , a second segment  224 , optional additional segments if desired (not shown), and a termination point  226 . In one embodiment, light source  310  directs light along a first segment  222  that is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the surface of circuit board  300 . Light transmission along first segment  222  may occur through free space. However, in alternative embodiments, a light guide could be implemented to conduct light along first segment  222 . 
         [0022]    In this embodiment, light traveling along first segment  222  could be reflected at reflector  230  and through light pipe  250  ( FIGS. 6-9 ) which may be employed for second segment  224  of light path  220 . Light pipe  250  may extend from reflector  230  to termination point  226  of light path  220 . Thus, in this embodiment, light travels through free space in first segment  222 , and through solid material in second segment  224 . In this embodiment, reflector  230  of light pipe  250  may be configured to accommodate a 90 degree angular separation between first segment  222  and second segment  224  of light path  220 . However, other angular separations between the two light path  200  segments  222 ,  224  may be employed. Moreover, in other embodiments, three or more light path  220  segments may be employed if desired. 
         [0023]    In other embodiments, any combination of free space light transmission and solid light guide light transmission may be employed. Thus, first segment  222  could employ either free space light transmission or solid-light-guide light transmission or a combination of the two approaches. Correspondingly, the second segment  224  could also employ either free-space light transmission or solid-light-guide light transmission, or a combination of the two approaches. 
         [0024]    The light pipe  220  and/or the lens on light source  310  may be composed of polycarbonate and/or polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) materials. In other embodiments, light guides other than the above-discussed light pipes may be employed. In some embodiments, light path  220  may be implemented in free space, using suitable materials along the interior of an evacuated passage within cover  200  that leads toward termination point  226 . Various specific implementations of light path  220  are described below. 
         [0025]    Module  100  may also include conventional optical equipment  400  which may include photo-detector  410  and/or laser  420  ( FIG. 3 ). For the sake of brevity, these optical components are not discussed further herein. Having described the overall function of module  100 , attention is now directed the structure of cover  200  in greater detail in connection with  FIGS. 4-5  below. 
         [0026]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the cover  200  of module  100  of  FIG. 1  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 5  is another perspective view of cover  200 .  FIGS. 4-5  provide perspective views of cover  200  that are upside down in relation to the orientation of cover  200  as shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . 
         [0027]    A portion of light path  220  is shown that includes groove  260  that extends through hole  262 , shown at the lower left of  FIG. 4 . Groove  260  may be operable to house a light pipe  250  ( FIGS. 6-9 ) for conveying light along the second segment  224  of light path  220  to termination point  226  of light path  220 . There may be a single continuous opening from groove  260  to through hole  262 . However, the cross-sectional geometry of this opening is not necessarily constant, and may vary as needed along the length of groove  260 . Thus, the cross-sectional dimensions of the groove  260  and the through hole  262  need not be the same. 
         [0028]    In one embodiment, through hole  262  may be about 1.65 millimeters (mm) high and about 1.05 mm wide. Through hole  262  may receive a rectangular bar (not shown) that may have a height of 1.60 mm±0.02 mm and a width of 1.00 mm±0.02 mm. The above-described rectangular may serve as a light guide forming one segment of light path  220 . In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 4-5 , it may be seen that a portion of light path  220  may be formed through a combination of grooves within cover  200 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 6  is schematic side view of a status indicator light path  220  from an LED light source  310  to a termination point  226  of the light path  220 . In this embodiment, light source  310 , which may be an LED, directs light upward from a circuit board  300  (not shown in  FIG. 6 ) along first segment  222  of light path  220 . The light eventually reaches reflector  230  and is directed along second segment  224  of light path  220 , in the rightward direction in the view of  FIG. 6 . The light travels along second segment  224  and ultimately reaches termination point  226 . In some embodiments, one or more devices may be placed at termination point  226  to provide optimal visibility of the end of light path  220  by a human operator and/or by a machine capable of detecting the illumination present at termination point  226 . In this embodiment, second segment  224  may be a light pipe  250  that includes reflector  230 . 
         [0030]    Reflector  230  is preferably a part of light pipe  250 . In an alternative embodiment, reflector  230  may be a separate part and be secured in proximity to light pipe  250 . Either way, in this embodiment, the plane of the reflection surface of reflector  230  is preferably oriented at forty-five degrees with respect to the light transmission direction along the first segment  222  of light path  220 . In this embodiment, the second segment  224  is preferably oriented at ninety degrees with respect to the first segment  222  of light path  220 . However, in other embodiments, other orientations of reflector  230  and/or of second segment  224  with respect to the light transmission direction of first segment  222  may be implemented. 
         [0031]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  are plan views of fluctuations of light flow patterns as a function of variation in the relative locations of light source  310  and a light path structure along an X axis of an X-Y-Z coordinate system. The X axis is the direction into and out of the page in  FIGS. 8A ,  8 B,  9 A, and  9 B. The X axis corresponds to the up and down direction in the view of  FIGS. 7A and 7B . 
         [0032]      FIG. 7  illustrates the effects of mislocating light pipe  250  with respect to light source  310  along the X axis.  FIG. 7A  shows the effect of mislocating the light pipe  250  by +3 mm along the X axis (upward in the view of  FIG. 7A ) with respect to a location properly centered with respect to light source  310 .  FIG. 7B  shows the effect of mislocating the light pipe  250  by −3 mm along the X axis (downward in the view of  FIG. 7B ) with respect to a location properly centered with respect to light source  310 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 8  illustrates the effects of mislocating light pipe  250  with respect to light source  310  along the Y axis.  FIG. 8A  shows the effect of mislocating the light pipe  250  by +3 mm along the Y axis (leftward in the view of  FIG. 8A ) with respect to a location properly centered with respect to light source  310 .  FIG. 8B  shows the effect of mislocating the light pipe  250  by −3 mm along the Y axis (rightward in the view of  FIG. 8B ) with respect to a location properly centered with respect to light source  310 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 9  illustrates the effects of mislocating light pipe  250  with respect to light source  310  along the Z axis.  FIG. 9A  shows the effect of mislocating the light pipe  250  by +4 mm along the Z axis (upward in the view of  FIG. 9A ) with respect to a reference Z-axis light-pipe location in relation to light source  310 .  FIG. 9B  shows the effect of mislocating the light pipe  250  by −2 mm along the Z axis (downward in the view of  FIG. 9B ) with respect to a reference Z-axis light-pipe position in relation to light source  310 . The illustrations in  FIGS. 7-9  generally illustrate that various embodiments of the present invention provide tolerance for imperfect placement of light pipe  250  with respect to light source  310 . 
         [0035]    As indicated best at  FIGS. 2-3 , the indicator is preferably installed nearby the latch  250  on such modules and between the locations  195  and  198  of the connection ports used to receive and transmit optical communications signals. The front portion  177  is preferably curvilinear, as best indicated in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0036]    Although the invention herein has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present invention. It is therefore to be understood that numerous modifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.