Abstract: A thermophotovoltaic panel assembly including a heat sink and a plurality of thermophotovoltaic modules mounted on the heat sink. Each thermophotovoltaic module includes a photovoltaic element separated from an emitter assembly by a gap. The emitter assembly includes an emitter and applies force towards the photovoltaic element to maintain the gap. The thermophotovoltaic panel assembly may also utilize a force application layer on the emitter and be bolted in place. A housing can be used for protection and to transfer energy to the emitter. The heat sink cantilevers into the housing to define a space between the thermophotovoltaic modules and the inner surface of the housing. Preferably, the housing maintains a vacuum and, in turn, the gap is evacuated. The heat sink can be monolithic and cooled with fluid pumped therethrough. The emitter may be transparent or at least partially transmissive.

Abstract: A converter module comprises a housing; a fiber optic connector integrated with the housing, wherein the fiber optic connector is configured to mount directly to a fiber optic connector in a service terminal; a single electrical connector configured to couple to a metallic medium; and an optical-to-electrical (O/E) converter located in the housing and coupled to the fiber optic connector and the single electrical connector, the O/E converter configured to convert between optical frames communicated via the fiber optic connector and electrical signals communicated via the metallic medium.

Abstract: A converter module comprises a housing; a fiber optic connector integrated with the housing, wherein the fiber optic connector is configured to mount directly to a fiber optic connector in a service terminal; a single electrical connector configured to couple to a metallic medium; and an optical-to-electrical (O/E) converter located in the housing and coupled to the fiber optic connector and the single electrical connector, the O/E converter configured to convert between optical frames communicated via the fiber optic connector and electrical signals communicated via the metallic medium.

Abstract: A single line converter module comprises a housing; an environmentally hardened fiber optic connector located in the housing and configured to be optically coupled to a service terminal for receiving downstream optical frames; a single electrical connector located in the housing and coupled over a metallic medium to a network terminal providing a service to respective customer premise equipment (CPE); and an optical-to-electrical (O/E) converter located in the housing and configured to convert the downstream optical frames to an electrical signal for transmission over the metallic medium to the network terminal.

Abstract: A single line converter module comprises a housing; an environmentally hardened fiber optic connector located in the housing and configured to be optically coupled to a service terminal for receiving downstream optical frames; a single electrical connector located in the housing and coupled over a metallic medium to a network terminal providing a service to respective customer premise equipment (CPE); and an optical-to-electrical (O/E) converter located in the housing and configured to convert the downstream optical frames to an electrical signal for transmission over the metallic medium to the network terminal.

Abstract: A connection assembly (100) includes a base structure (110); a backplane (120) coupled to the base structure (110), the backplane (120) including a first circuit board (122); and a tray module (140) configured to couple to the backplane (120). The tray module (140) includes a tray body (160) including a second circuit board (162); and a bridge member (150) to which the tray body (160) is moveably coupled. The tray body (160) moves relative to the backplane (120) while the bridge member (150) remains stationary relative to the backplane (120). Managed connectivity components (250) on the second circuit board (162) remain connected to the first circuit board (122) even while the tray body (160) is pivoting relative to the backplane (120).

Abstract: A single line converter module comprises a housing; an environmentally hardened fiber optic connector located in the housing and configured to be optically coupled to a service terminal for receiving downstream optical frames; a single electrical connector located in the housing and coupled over a metallic medium to a network terminal providing a service to respective customer premise equipment (CPE); and an optical-to-electrical (O/E) converter located in the housing and configured to convert the downstream optical frames to an electrical signal for transmission over the metallic medium to the network terminal.

Abstract: A single line converter module comprises a housing; an environmentally hardened fiber optic connector located in the housing and configured to be optically coupled to a service terminal for receiving downstream optical frames; a single electrical connector located in the housing and coupled over a metallic medium to a network terminal providing a service to respective customer premise equipment (CPE); and an optical-to-electrical (O/E) converter located in the housing and configured to convert the downstream optical frames to an electrical signal for transmission over the metallic medium to the network terminal.

Abstract: A single line converter module comprises a housing; an environmentally hardened fiber optic connector located in the housing and configured to be optically coupled to a service terminal for receiving downstream optical frames; a single electrical connector located in the housing and coupled over a metallic medium to a network terminal providing a service to respective customer premise equipment (CPE); and an optical-to-electrical (O/E) converter located in the housing and configured to convert the downstream optical frames to an electrical signal for transmission over the metallic medium to the network terminal.

Abstract: A hybrid service terminal for use in a passive fiber optic network comprises a plurality of optical fiber connectors, each coupled to a respective optical fiber for receiving downstream optical frames from an Optical Line Terminal (OLT); a plurality of hybrid fiber/copper connectors, each of the hybrid fiber/copper connectors coupled to a respective one of the plurality of optical fiber connectors; and a plurality of electrical connectors configured to receive electrical signals from a multi-line converter module over a respective one of a plurality of electrical conductors. One of the plurality of hybrid fiber/copper connectors is configured to provide the downstream optical frames to the multi-line converter module for conversion to the electrical signals.

Abstract: One embodiment is directed to a tray for use in a subrack of a rack. The tray comprises a printed circuit board configured so that a plurality of connections can be made at a plurality of positions on the printed circuit board, each of the plurality of connections involving at least one connector positioned on a patch side of the plurality of positions and the least one connector having a device associated therewith in which information is stored. The tray is configured so that either side of the positions can be used as the patch side. The tray is configured so that the devices associated with the connectors involved in making the connections at the patch side can be read via the tray. The devices associated with the connections can be implemented, for example, using RFID tags or connection point identifier (CPID) storage devices (such as EEPROMs).

Abstract: A photovoltaic panel assembly including a heat sink and a plurality of photovoltaic modules mounted on the heat sink. Each photovoltaic module includes a photovoltaic element separated from an emitter assembly by a gap. The emitter assembly includes an emitter and applies force towards the photovoltaic element to maintain the gap. The photovoltaic panel assembly may also utilize a force application layer on the emitter and be bolted in place. A housing can be used for protection and to transfer energy to the emitter. The heat sink cantilevers into the housing to define a space between the photovoltaic modules and the inner surface of the housing. Preferably, the housing maintains a vacuum and, in turn, the gap is evacuated. The heat sink can be monolithic and cooled with fluid pumped therethrough. The emitter may be transparent or at least partially transmissive.

Abstract: One embodiment is directed to a method of reading RFID tags in an interconnection system comprising at least one port. The method comprises initiating a localized read transaction to read any RFID tag attached to a first connector and any RFID tag attached to a second connector inserted into the port. The method further comprises, as a part of the localized read transaction, reading any RFID tag configured to respond to a first type of RFID interrogation signal, wherein the first connector comprises an attached RFID tag that is configured to respond to the first type of RFID interrogation signal; and, as a part of the localized read transaction, reading any RFID tag configured to respond to a second type of RFID interrogation signal, wherein the second connector comprises an attached RFID tag that is configured to respond to the second type of RFID interrogation signal. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A connection assembly (100) includes a base structure (110); a backplane (120) coupled to the base structure (110), the backplane (120) including a first circuit board (122); and a tray module (140) configured to couple to the backplane (120). The tray module (140) includes a tray body (160) including a second circuit board (162); and a bridge member (150) to which the tray body (160) is moveably coupled. The tray body (160) moves relative to the backplane (120) while the bridge member (150) remains stationary relative to the backplane (120). Managed connectivity components (250) on the second circuit board (162) remain connected to the first circuit board (122) even while the tray body (160) is pivoting relative to the backplane (120).

Abstract: A single line converter module comprises a housing; an environmentally hardened fiber optic connector located in the housing and configured to be optically coupled to a service terminal for receiving downstream optical frames; a single electrical connector located in the housing and coupled over a metallic medium to a network terminal providing a service to respective customer premise equipment (CPE); and an optical-to-electrical (O/E) converter located in the housing and configured to convert the downstream optical frames to an electrical signal for transmission over the metallic medium to the network terminal.

Abstract: A hybrid service terminal for use in a passive fiber optic network comprises a plurality of optical fiber connectors, each coupled to a respective optical fiber for receiving downstream optical frames from an Optical Line Terminal (OLT); a plurality of hybrid fiber/copper connectors, each of the hybrid fiber/copper connectors coupled to a respective one of the plurality of optical fiber connectors; and a plurality of electrical connectors configured to receive electrical signals from a multi-line converter module over a respective one of a plurality of electrical conductors. One of the plurality of hybrid fiber/copper connectors is configured to provide the downstream optical frames to the multi-line converter module for conversion to the electrical signals.

Abstract: One embodiment is directed to a subrack comprising a backplate and at least one tray configured so that a plurality of connections can be made at a plurality of positions on the tray. Each of the plurality of connections involves at least one connector having information stored in a device associated therewith that can be read. The backplate and the tray are configured so that the tray can be selectively attached and removed from the backplate. The backplate and the tray are configured so that the devices associated with the connectors involved in making the connections can be read via the tray. The devices associated with the connections can be implemented, for example, using RFID tags or connection point identifier (CPID) storage devices (such as EEPROMs).

Abstract: One embodiment is directed to an adapter comprising a coupling circuit configured so that a portable RFID reader can be positioned near a first part of the coupling circuit associated with a first side of the adapter in order to perform a localized read of both an RFID tag attached to a first connector inserted into a first jack of the adapter and an RFID tag attached to a second connector inserted into a second jack of the adapter, wherein the coupling circuit is used to enhance a read range of the portable RFID reader when performing the localized read. These embodiments can be used in the outside plant of a telecommunications network. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: One embodiment is directed to a tray for use in a subrack of a rack, the tray comprising a printed circuit board configured so that a plurality of connections can be made at a plurality of positions on the printed circuit board. Each of the plurality of connections involves at least one connector having an RFID tag associated therewith. The tray further comprises a plurality of RFID antennas integrated into the printed circuit board, each the RFID antennas associated with a respective one of the positions. The printed circuit board is configured to localize a field emitted from each RFID antenna so that only the RFID tag associated with that RFID antenna is energized and read.

Abstract: One embodiment is directed to a interconnection system comprising at least one port at which an interconnection between at least two cables can be made, an RFID reader configured to read an RFID tag attached to at least one of the cables interconnected at the port, and an interface to connect a removable module to the system. The removable module comprises a rechargeable battery to power the system. The removable module is configured to provide a communication link to communicate data read by the RFID reader to a device outside of the interconnection system. Other embodiments are disclosed.