Patent Publication Number: US-2023152527-A1

Title: Fiber optic/electrical connection system

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a continuation of U.S. Pat. Application No. 17/068,911, filed Oct. 13, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S. Pat. Application No. 16/421,545, filed May 24, 2019, now U.S.Pat. No. 10,838,151, issued Nov. 17, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S. Pat. Application No. 15/996,962, filed Jun. 4, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,345,531, issued Jul. 9, 2019, which is a continuation of U.S. Pat. Application No. 15/282,165, filed Sep. 30, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No 9,989,707, issued Jun. 5, 2018, which is a continuation of U.S. Pat. Application No. 14/822,170, filed Aug. 10, 2015, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,459,411, issued Oct. 4, 2016, which is a continuation of U.S. Pat. Application No. 14/552,210, filed Nov. 24, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,104,001, issued Aug. 11, 2015, which is a continuation of U.S. Pat. Application No. 13/936,499, filed Jul. 8, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,894,300, issued Nov. 25, 2014, which is a continuation of U.S. Pat. Application No. 13/021,416, filed Feb. 4, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,480,312, issued Jul. 9, 2013, which claims the benefit of Provisional Patent Application No. 61/301,460, filed Feb. 4, 2010, which applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. The present application is related to U.S. Provisional Pat. Application No. 61/007,222, filed Dec. 11, 2007; U.S. Provisional Pat. Application No. 61/029,524, filed Feb. 18, 2008; and to the following U.S. Pat. Application Publications, all filed on Sep. 3, 2008 and published Jun. 11, 2009: Pub. No. 2009/0148101, entitled “Hardened Fiber Optic Connection System with Multiple Configurations”, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,744,286, issued Jun. 29, 2010; Pub. No. 2009/0148102, entitled “Hardened Fiber Optic Connector Compatible with Hardened and Non-Hardened Fiber Optic Adapters”, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,744,288, issued Jun. 29, 2010; Pub. No. 2009/0148103, entitled “Hardened Fiber Optic Connector and Cable Assembly with Multiple Configurations”, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,942,590, issued May 17, 2011; and Pub. No. 2009/0148104, entitled “Hardened Fiber Optic Connection System”, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,762,726, issued Jul. 27, 2010, which applications and publications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to fiber optic and electrical connection systems, and more particularly to connection systems that simultaneously connect both optical and electrical circuits. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Fiber optic cables are widely used to transmit light signals for high speed data transmission. A fiber optic cable typically includes: (1) an optical fiber or optical fibers; (2) a buffer or buffers that surrounds the fiber or fibers; (3) a strength layer and/or strength members that surrounds the buffer or buffers; and (4) an outer jacket. Optical fibers function to carry optical signals. A typical optical fiber includes an inner core surrounded by a cladding that is covered by a coating. Buffers (e.g., loose or tight buffer tubes) typically function to surround and protect coated optical fibers. Strength layers and/or strength members add mechanical strength to fiber optic cables to protect the internal optical fibers against stresses applied to the cables during installation and thereafter. Example strength layers/strength members include aramid yarn, steel, glass-reinforced plastic (GRP), and epoxy reinforced glass roving. Outer j ackets provide protection against damage caused by crushing, abrasions, and other physical damage. Outer jackets also provide protection against chemical damage (e.g., ozone, alkali, acids). 
     Fiber optic cable connection systems are used to facilitate connecting and disconnecting fiber optic cables in the field without requiring a splice. A typical fiber optic cable connection system for interconnecting two fiber optic cables includes fiber optic connectors mounted at the ends of the fiber optic cables, and an adapter for mechanically and optically coupling the fiber optic connectors together. Fiber optic connectors generally include ferrules that support the ends of the optical fibers of the fiber optic cables. The end faces of the ferrules are typically polished and are often angled. The adapter includes co-axially aligned ports (i.e., receptacles) for receiving the fiber optic connectors desired to be interconnected. The adapter includes an internal sleeve that receives and aligns the ferrules of the fiber optic connectors when the connectors are inserted within the ports of the adapter. With the ferrules and their associated fibers aligned within the sleeve of the adapter, a fiber optic signal can pass from one fiber to the next. The adapter also typically has a mechanical fastening arrangement (e.g., a snap-fit arrangement) for mechanically retaining the fiber optic connectors within the adapter. One example of an existing fiber optic connection system is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,579,014, 6,648,520, and 6,899,467. 
     SUMMARY 
     One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a fiber optic and electrical connection system that includes a fiber optic cable, a ruggedized fiber optic connector, and a ruggedized fiber optic adapter. 
     The fiber optic cable includes first and second strength members that are electrically conductive, an optical fiber, and a cable jacket that is positioned around the first and the second strength members and the optical fiber. The ruggedized fiber optic connector terminates an end of the fiber optic cable and includes a connector housing with a first end for receiving the first and the second strength members and a second opposite end with a plug portion. A ferrule is mounted to the plug portion and terminates the optical fiber of the fiber optic cable. The ruggedized fiber optic connector includes a first electrical conductor and a second electrical conductor. The first electrical conductor is electrically connected with the first strength member, and the second electrical conductor is electrically connected with the second strength member. A coupling nut is rotatably mounted around the connector housing, and a sealing member is mounted around the connector housing between the coupling nut and the second end of the connector housing. The ruggedized fiber optic adapter includes an adapter housing with a first end that defines a ruggedized port and an opposite second end that defines a non-ruggedized port. A ferrule sleeve within the adapter housing is adapted to receive the ferrule of the ruggedized fiber optic connector and is accessible from both the ruggedized and the non-ruggedized ports. The ruggedized fiber optic adapter includes a third electrical conductor and a fourth electrical conductor. The third electrical conductor includes a first contact that is accessible from the ruggedized port and a second contact that is positioned outside the adapter housing. The fourth electrical conductor includes a third contact that is accessible from the ruggedized port and a fourth contact that is positioned outside the adapter housing. 
     The ruggedized port of the ruggedized fiber optic adapter is configured to receive the plug portion of the ruggedized fiber optic connector. The ruggedized port includes internal threads that threadingly receive external threads of the coupling nut, and the ruggedized port includes a sealing surface that engages the sealing member of the ruggedized fiber optic connector when the ruggedized fiber optic connector is fully connected to the ruggedized fiber optic adapter. The first contact of the third electrical conductor of the ruggedized fiber optic adapter electrically contacts the first electrical conductor of the ruggedized fiber optic connector and the second contact of the fourth electrical conductor of the ruggedized fiber optic adapter electrically contacts the second electrical conductor of the ruggedized fiber optic connector when the ruggedized fiber optic connector is fully connected to the ruggedized fiber optic adapter. 
     The first and the second strength members of the fiber optic cable can be electrically insulated from each other. The first and the second electrical conductors of the ruggedized fiber optic connector can be electrically insulated from each other. And, the third and the fourth electrical conductors of the ruggedized fiber optic adapter can be electrically insulated from each other. 
     The first and the second strength members can include a glass reinforced plastic clad by a conductive material. The connector housing of the ruggedized fiber optic connector can include a first channel for receiving the first strength member and a second channel for receiving the second strength member of the fiber optic cable. The first electrical conductor can include a first lug at least partially between the first strength member and a wall of the first channel, and the second electrical conductor can include a second lug at least partially between the second strength member and a wall of the second channel. The first lug electrically connects the first electrical conductor to the first strength member, and the second lug electrically connects the second electrical conductor to the second strength member. The first lug can be bonded to the first strength member, and the second lug can be bonded to the second strength member by an electrically conducting material. 
     The plug portion of the connector housing of the ruggedized fiber optic connector can include a first detent positioned opposite from a second detent. The first detent can expose a contacting portion of the first electrical conductor, and the second detent can expose a contacting portion of the second electrical conductor. The ferrule sleeve of the ruggedized fiber optic adapter can define a central longitudinal axis. The first contact of the third electrical conductor can be spring-loaded toward the longitudinal axis, and the second contact of the fourth electrical conductor can be spring-loaded toward the longitudinal axis. The first and the second contacts can initially spread apart from each other upon insertion of the plug portion of the connector housing into the ruggedized port of the ruggedized fiber optic adapter. The first contact can press into the first detent and the second contact can press into the second detent when the ruggedized fiber optic connector is fully connected to the ruggedized fiber optic adapter. The first contact can electrically contact the contacting portion of the first electrical conductor and the second contact can electrically contact the contacting portion of the second electrical conductor when the ruggedized fiber optic connector is fully connected to the ruggedized fiber optic adapter. 
     The adapter housing of the ruggedized fiber optic adapter can include first and second slots between the first and the second ends of the adapter housing. The first and the second slots can extend through a wall of the adapter housing from the ruggedized port to an exterior of the adapter housing. 
     A variety of additional inventive aspects will be set forth in the description that follows. The inventive aspects can relate to individual features and to combinations of features. It is to be understood that both the forgoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the broad inventive concepts upon which the embodiments disclosed herein are based. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a cut-away perspective view of an optical/electrical cable terminated by an optical/electrical connector with the optical/electrical connector connected to an optical/electrical adapter and electrical conductors of the optical/electrical connector and the optical/electrical adapter vertically exploded above the connector and the adapter; 
         FIG.  2    is the cut-away perspective view of  FIG.  1    but with the uncut electrical conductors of  FIG.  1    unexploded; 
         FIG.  3    is a cross-sectional perspective view of the optical/electrical adapter of  FIG.  1    with the electrical conductors of the optical/electrical adapter removed; 
         FIG.  4    is the cross-sectional perspective view of  FIG.  3    but with the electrical conductors shown; 
         FIG.  5    is a cross-sectional perspective view of the optical/electrical connector of  FIG.  1    with the electrical conductors of the optical/electrical connector removed; 
         FIG.  6    is the cross-sectional perspective view of  FIG.  5    but with the electrical conductors shown; 
         FIG.  7    is a perspective view of the electrical conductor of the optical/electrical adapter of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  8    is a side elevation view of the electrical conductor of the optical/electrical adapter of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  9    is a perspective view of the electrical conductor of the optical/electrical connector of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  10    is a rear elevation view of the electrical conductor of the optical/electrical connector of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  11    is a partial perspective view of a cabinet with six of the optical/electrical adapters of  FIG.  1    mounted in openings of a cabinet panel of the cabinet and three of the optical/electrical connectors of  FIG.  1    connected to three of the adapters and one of the adapter-connector pairs shown in horizontal cross-section; 
         FIG.  12    is the partial perspective view of  FIG.  11    but with only the cabinet panel shown; 
         FIG.  13    is the partial perspective view of  FIG.  11    but with the cabinet panel removed thereby more fully revealing adapter-to-adapter electrical conductors within the cabinet; 
         FIG.  14    is the partial perspective view of  FIG.  11    but with the cabinet panel removed and portions of the adapters and the connectors cut away thereby more fully revealing the adapter-to-adapter electrical conductors of  FIG.  13   ; 
         FIG.  15    is the partial perspective view of  FIG.  11    but with only one of the adapter-to-adapter electrical conductors of  FIG.  13    shown; 
         FIG.  16    is the partial perspective view of  FIG.  11    but with only another of the adapter-to-adapter electrical conductors of  FIG.  13    shown; 
         FIG.  17    is an enlarged portion of an upper-left corner of  FIG.  14   ; 
         FIG.  18    is the enlarged portion of  FIG.  17    but with the optical/electrical connector of  FIG.  1    removed; and 
         FIG.  19    is similar to the view of  FIG.  14    but with a multi-adapter electrical conductor replacing the adapter-to-adapter electrical conductors of  FIG.  13   , only two of the optical/electrical connectors of  FIG.  1    inserted into the six optical/electrical adapters of  FIG.  1   , three left-side adapters having an inverted orientation, and one of the adapters shown in horizontal cross-section. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present disclosure involves fiber optic cable connection systems and components that connect both optical paths and electrical paths. In particular, a fiber optic cable includes at least one optical fiber and at least one electrical conductor. The fiber optic cable is terminated and connected to hardware such as telecommunications and/or computer hardware. Upon connection, the optical fiber is optically connected and the electrical conductor is electrically connected to the hardware via the termination. The hardware can include an adapter, and the adapter can connect the fiber optic cable to a second optical cable and/or a second electrical conductor. 
     As depicted, a fiber optic cable  20  includes two electrical conductors,  224 A and  224 B. In particular, the fiber optic cable  20  includes a first strength member  224 A and a second strength member  224 B that are electrically conductive and function as the electrical conductors  224 A,  224 B (see  FIGS.  1  and  2   ). Example strength members  224 A,  224 B can be made of aramid yarn, steel, glass-reinforced plastic (GRP), and/or epoxy reinforced glass roving. The strength members  224 A,  224 B can include a conductive metallic coating such as an aluminum or a copper coating over otherwise non-conducting or poorly conducting material. The strength members  224 A,  224 B can include conductive metallic strands such as aluminum or copper strands, and the strands can be mixed with otherwise non-conducting or poorly conducting material of the strength members  224 A,  224 B. In other embodiments, the electrical conductors  224 A and  224 B can be separate from the strength members. The example fiber optic cable  20  further includes an optical fiber  500 , a buffer layer  220  (see  FIGS.  5  and  6   ), and a cable jacket  226 . 
     As depicted, the fiber optic cable  20  is terminated by a fiber optic connector  32 . The fiber optic connector  32  can be a ruggedized fiber optic connector and is depicted as such. The fiber optic connector  32  includes similarities to fiber optic connectors illustrated at U.S. Pat. Application Publications 2009/0148101, 2009/0148102, 2009/0148103, and 2009/0148104, incorporated by reference above. The fiber optic connector  32  includes a connector housing  39  (see  FIG.  5   ) that extends between a proximal end  54  (see  FIG.  1   ) and a distal end  52  (see  FIG.  5   ). The distal end  52  includes a plug portion  56 , and the proximal end  54  is mechanically connected to the fiber optic cable  20 . A coupling nut  40  with external threads  75  can be placed over and/or rotatably mounted on the connector housing  39 . A sealing member  49  can be placed around the connector housing  39  between the coupling nut  40  and the distal end  52 . A ferrule  100  is mounted to the plug portion  56  and terminates the optical fiber  500  of the fiber optic cable  20 . The ferrule  100  defines a central longitudinal axis A 1  of the fiber optic connector  32  (see  FIGS.  5  and  6   ). 
     The fiber optic connector  32  includes a first electrical conductor  391 A and a second electrical conductor  391 B. The first electrical conductor  391 A is electrically connected with the first strength member  224 A, and the second electrical conductor  391 B is electrically connected with the second strength member  224 B (see  FIG.  6   ). As depicted, the connector housing  39  includes a first pathway  396 A and a second pathway  396 B that extend at least partially within the connector housing  39  (see  FIG.  5   ). The first and the second pathways  396 A,  396 B extend within a circumference of the sealing member  49  and thus do not interfere or compromise functionality of the sealing member  49 . The first and the second pathways  396 A,  396 B extend within an interior of the coupling nut  40  and thus do not interfere or compromise functionality of the coupling nut  40 . Likewise, the first and the second pathways  396 A,  396 B extend within various other features of the connector housing  39 , as illustrated at  FIG.  5   . As depicted, the first and the second pathways  396 A,  396 B distally emerge at detents  55 A and  55 B of the connector housing  39  respectively, and the pathways  396 A,  396 B proximally emerge within the connector  32  near ends  225 A,  225 B of the strength members  224 A,  224 B. The detents  55 A,  55 B can be positioned at the plug portion  56  of the connector housing  39 . As depicted, the first electrical conductor  391 A is positioned partially within the first pathway  396 A, and the second electrical conductor  391 B is positioned partially within the second pathway  396 B. 
     The first electrical conductor  391 A of the fiber optic connector  32  includes a contacting portion  381 A at or near its distal end, and the second electrical conductor  391 B of the fiber optic connector  32  includes a contacting portion  381 B at or near its distal end (see  FIG.  6   ). The contacting portion  381 A is exposed within the detent  55 A, and the contacting portion  381 B is exposed within the detent  55 B. The first electrical conductor  391 A of the fiber optic connector  32  includes a lug  371 A at or near its proximal end, and the second electrical conductor  391 B of the fiber optic connector  32  includes a lug  371 B at or near its distal end (see  FIGS.  1  and  2   ). The lugs  371 A,  371 B are adapted to be mechanically and electrically connected with the strength members  224 A,  224 B. The electrical conductors  391 A,  391 B thereby electrically connect the strength members  224 B,  224 A to the plug portion  56  of the fiber optic connector  32 . As depicted, the contacting portions  381 A,  381 B face laterally outward from the plug portion  56 . 
     As depicted, the fiber optic connector  32  can be received by and connected to a fiber optic adapter  34 . The fiber optic adapter  34  can be a ruggedized fiber optic adapter and is depicted as such. The fiber optic adapter  34  includes similarities to fiber optic adapters illustrated at U.S. Pat. Application Publications 2009/0148101, 2009/0148102, 2009/0148103, and 2009/0148104, incorporated by reference above. The fiber optic adapter  34  includes a housing  44  (see  FIG.  3   ) that extends between a first end  70  and a second end  72 . As depicted, the housing  44  includes a first housing piece  45  and a second housing piece  47  that snap together. The first end  70  of the housing  44  includes a port  35 , and the second end  72  includes a port  37 . As depicted, the port  35  is a ruggedized port and the port  37  is a non-ruggedized port. The ruggedized port  35  includes internal threads  76  and a sealing surface  74  (see  FIG.  4   ) that are included in the first housing piece  45 . An adapter mounting nut  46  can be placed over external threads  66  of the first housing piece  45  of the adapter housing  44 . The first housing piece  45  can include a mounting flange  48  for use in conjunction with the adapter mounting nut  46 . A sealing member  17  can be placed around the adapter housing  44  between the adapter mounting nut  46  and the mounting flange  48 . Ruggedization functions, including sealing by the sealing member  17  and the sealing surface  74 , adapter  34  mounting by the mounting flange  48  and the mounting nut  46 , and connector  32  attachment by the internal threads  76  are thus accomplished and/or accommodated by the first housing piece  45  of the adapter housing  44 . A ferrule holding and alignment sleeve  202  is mounted within the fiber optic adapter  34  and is accessible from both the ports  35  and  37 . The alignment sleeve  202  defines an axis A 2  of the fiber optic adapter  34 . 
     The fiber optic adapter  34  includes a first electrical conductor  323 A and a second electrical conductor  323 B. The first and second electrical conductors  323 A,  323 B can be substantially identical to each other and be collectively referred to as an electrical conductor  323  (see  FIGS.  7  and  8   ). In certain embodiments, the electrical conductor  323  is made of a material with flexible and/or spring-like properties. The first electrical conductor  323 A is electrically connected with the first electrical conductor  391 A and the second electrical conductor  323 B is electrically connected with the second electrical conductor  391 B when the fiber optic connector  32  is fully received by the fiber optic adapter  34  (see  FIGS.  1  and  2   ). As depicted, the second housing piece  47  of the adapter housing  44  includes a first slot  343 A and a second slot  343 B that extend through a wall  50  of the second housing piece  47  (see  FIG.  3   ). The first and the second slots  343 A,  343 B extend through the wall  50  of the second housing piece  47  of the housing  44  between the sealing member  17  and the non-ruggedized port  37  and thus do not interfere or compromise functionality of the sealing member  17 , the sealing surface  74 , and/or other ruggedized features of the ruggedized fiber optic adapter  34 . The first and the second slots  343 A,  343 B extend within an interior of the adapter housing  44 . As depicted, the first electrical conductor  323 A is positioned partially within the first slot  343 A, and the second electrical conductor  323 B is positioned partially within the second slot  343 B (see  FIGS.  3  and  4   ). 
     The first electrical conductor  323 A of the fiber optic adapter  34  includes a contacting portion  383 A at or near an exterior of the adapter housing  44 , and the second electrical conductor  323 B includes a contacting portion  383 B at or near the exterior of the adapter housing  44  (see  FIG.  4   ). As depicted, the contacting portions  383 A,  383 B face normal to the central longitudinal axis A 2  of the fiber optic adapter  34 . The first electrical conductor  323 A of the fiber optic adapter  34  includes a contact  331 A at or near the interior of the adapter housing  44 , and the second electrical conductor  323 B includes a contact  331 B at or near the interior of the adapter housing  44  (see  FIG.  4   ). The contacts  331 A,  331 B are biased inwardly within the adapter housing  44  and are adapted to be mechanically and electrically connected with the contacting portions  381 A,  381 B of the electrical conductors  391 A,  391 B of the fiber optic connector  32  when the fiber optic connector  32  is fully inserted into the first port  35  of the fiber optic adapter  34 . The contacts  331 A,  331 B include a ramp and/or a rounded portion  332  (see  FIGS.  7  and  8   ). As depicted, the electrical conductor  323  includes a cantilevered arm  333  that urges the contacts  331 A,  331 B inward toward the axis A 2  of the fiber optic adapter  34  when the electrical conductors  323  are in an installed position, as shown at  FIG.  4   . 
     When the fiber optic connector  32  is inserted into the port  35  of the fiber optic adapter  34 , the plug portion  56  can flex the contacts  331 A,  331 B of the electrical conductors  323 A,  323 B outward. As the insertion continues, the contacts  331 A,  331 B reach the detents  55 A,  55 B of the connector housing  39  and thereby un-flex into the detents  55 A,  55 B. When the contacts  331 A,  331 B un-flex, they establish electrical contact with the contacting portions  381 A,  381 B of the electrical conductors  391 A,  391 B of the fiber optic connector  32 . The electrical conductors  323 A,  323 B thereby electrically connect the fiber optic connector  32  to the exterior of the fiber optic adapter  34 . 
     A path of electrical continuity that respectively includes the strength members  224 A,  224 B of the fiber optic cable  20 , the conductors  391 A,  391 B of the fiber optic connector  32 , and the conductors  323 A,  323 B of the fiber optic adapter  34  can continue within a enclosure  19  (e.g., a cabinet, a fiber distribution hub, a drop terminal, etc.) or other piece of optical-electrical hardware (see  FIGS.  11 ,  13 ,  14 , and  17 - 19   ). An example drop terminal is described at U.S. Pat. Application Publication No. 2008/0138025, published Jun. 12, 2008, and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. The enclosure  19  includes one or more openings  22  (see  FIG.  12   ) that are adapted to mount the fiber optic adapter  34 . An example electrical conductor  260  can be included within the enclosure  19  that makes electrical contact with the contacting portions  383 A,  383 B of the electrical conductors  323 A,  323 B (see  FIG.  14   ). The path of electrical continuity can transmit electricity for the purpose of electrical power and/or electrical signals between the fiber optic cable  20  and the enclosure  19 . 
     The electrical conductor  260  can be included on and held by a circuit board  250  or other suitable means.  FIGS.  11  and  13 - 19    illustrate several circuit boards that are collectively referred to as the circuit boards  250 . The circuit boards  250  include several electrical conductors that are collectively referred to as the electrical conductors  260 . 
     The electrical conductors  323  include a valley  328  and a peak  329 . The circuit boards  250  can be held in operational position by mounting them on one or more of the electrical conductors  323 . In particular, the circuit boards  250  include one or more openings  222  (see  FIGS.  15  and  16   ). The openings  222  of the circuit boards  250  can be held within a pair of opposed valleys  328  of the electrical conductors  323  of the fiber optic adapters  34 . The circuit boards  250  can be snapped on and snapped off from around the fiber optic adapters  34  by pressing them over the peaks  329  of the electrical conductors  323  of the fiber optic adapters  34 . The peaks  329  can elastically and/or plastically deform when the circuit board  250  is snapped on and off. 
     The circuit boards  250  or other mountings for the electrical conductors  260  within the enclosure  19  can be mechanically supported by the enclosure  19  and/or other structure within the enclosure  19 . This allows the electrical conductors  323  of the adapter  34  to be electrically connected with the conductors  260  of the circuit board  250  when the adapter  34  is inserted through the opening  22  of the enclosure  19 . As described above but with the circuit board  250  remaining stationary, the adapter  34  can be snapped in and snapped out of the opening  222  of the circuit board  250 . 
       FIGS.  11  and  13 - 19    illustrate the various circuit boards  250 . In particular,  FIGS.  11  and  13 - 18    illustrate a crossed connection circuit board  250 C and a straight connection circuit board  250 S. The circuit boards  250 C and  250 S can transmit signals and/or power between a first fiber optic cable  20 A and a second fiber optic cable  20 B. The crossed connection circuit board  250 C results in electrical connection between the first strength member  224 A of the first fiber optic cable  20 A and the second strength member  224 B of the second fiber optic cable  20 B. The crossed connection circuit board  250 C also results in electrical connection between the second strength member  224 B of the first fiber optic cable  20 A and the first strength member  224 A of the second fiber optic cable  20 B (see  FIG.  13   ). The straight connection circuit board  250 S results in electrical connection between the first strength member  224 A of the first fiber optic cable  20 A and the first strength member  224 A of the second fiber optic cable  20 B. The straight connection circuit board  250 S also results in electrical connection between the second strength member  224 B of the first fiber optic cable  20 A and the second strength member  224 B of the second fiber optic cable  20 B. 
     The circuit boards  250 C and  250 S and the paths of electrical continuity that they are part of can be used, for example, to bring electrical power from a dwelling of an end user to a fiber optic enclosure (e.g., the cabinet, the fiber distribution hub, the drop terminal, etc.). The electrical power can be transferred by the fiber optic cables  20 A,  20 B and used within the fiber optic enclosure to provide power to active optical components within the enclosure. One of the cables  20 A,  20 B can be connected to the dwelling of the end user and receive electrical power from the dwelling. 
       FIG.  19    illustrates a circuit board  250 P that includes an electrical plug  252 . The circuit board  250 P and the paths of electrical continuity that it is a part of can be used, for example, to bring electrical power from a power supply within a fiber optic enclosure to one or more of the fiber optic cables  20  that are connected to the fiber optic enclosure. Similarly, the circuit board  250 P and the paths of electrical continuity can be used to transmit an electrical signal to, from, and/or through the fiber optic enclosure that mounts the circuit board  250 P. 
     From the forgoing detailed description, it will be evident that modifications and variations can be made in the devices of the disclosure without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.