Wall mountable mixed media outlet

Abstract

A mixed media outlet is provided that is capable of being mounted upon a wall and that includes ports that are typically designed to provide separate access to an electrical network and to an optical network. The wall mounted outlet can therefore permit a telephone to be connected to the electrical network, and a computer to be connected to the optical network. Alternatively, the outlet can permit a telephone to also be connected to either the same or a different optical network than the computer. The mixed media outlet includes a housing adapted to be wall mounted and first and second ports that are disposed within openings defined by the housing, such as a data port and a voice port. The mixed media outlet also includes an electro-optic converter connected to the first port for converting between electrical and optical signals such that electrical signals presented at the first port are converted to corresponding optical signals for transmission to an optical network and optical signals delivered by an optical fiber are converted to electrical signals for transmission via the first port to a computer, for example. The mixed media outlet can also include a fiber port for optically interfacing the optical fiber and the electro-optic converter in order to permit optical communication therebetween. While the fiber port can be in the same plane as the data and voice ports, the fiber port can lie in a different plane in some embodiments. Further, the mixed media outlet can include a protective subhousing covering at least the electro-optic converter for protecting the electro-optic converter from electromagnetic interference.