Independently translatable modules and fiber optic equipment trays in fiber optic equipment

• US 10,120,153 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2017
• Issued: 11/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Inventors: Cooke, Terry Lee, Dean, Jr., David Lee, Klavuhn, Tory Allen, Martinez, Juan Garcia, Juarez, Elmer Mariano, Lopez Sanchez, Manuel Alejandro, Gonzalez Covarrubias, Juan Miguel
• Primary Examiner(s): Chu, Chris
• Application Number:
  US15/412,900
• Publication Number:
  US 20170160505A1
• Time in Patent Office: 652 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3897 Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards G02B6/44528 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4452 Distribution frames
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4453 Cassettes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4455 characterised by the way of extraction or insertion of the cassette in the distribution frame, e.g. pivoting, sliding, rotating or gliding

Abstract

Fiber optic equipment that supports independently translatable fiber optic modules and/or fiber optic equipment trays containing one or more fiber optic modules is disclosed. In some embodiments, one or more fiber optic modules are disposed in a plurality of independently translatable fiber optic equipment trays which are received in a tray guide system. In this manner, each fiber optic equipment tray is independently translatable within the guide system. One or more fiber optic modules may also be disposed in one or more module guides disposed in the fiber optic equipment trays to allow each fiber optic module to translate independently of other fiber optic modules in the same fiber optic equipment tray. In other embodiments, a plurality of fiber optic modules are disposed in a module guide system disposed in the fiber optic equipment that translate independently of other fiber optic modules disposed within the module guide system.

Claims

1. A fiber optic apparatus, comprising:

a chassis configured to be disposed in an equipment rack, the chassis comprising opposite front and rear ends that are spaced apart from one another in a longitudinal direction, and comprising opposite first and second ends that are spaced apart from one another in a lateral direction that extends crosswise to the longitudinal direction;

a guide system configured to be disposed within the chassis;

at least one fiber optic equipment tray configured to slidably engage within the guide system, the at least one fiber optic equipment tray comprising a front end with at least one fiber optic routing element that comprises successive material sections extending frontward, upward, and rearward, respectively, to permit optical fibers to be routed to either left or right portions of the at least one fiber optic equipment tray toward the first and second ends of the chassis; and

a plurality of fiber optic modules configured to be received by the at least one fiber optic equipment tray, wherein each fiber optic module of the plurality of fiber optic modules is independently movable in the longitudinal direction relative to the at least one fiber optic equipment tray, and wherein each fiber optic module of the plurality of fiber optic modules comprises a front end, a rear end, an interior, a plurality of first fiber optic adapters disposed through the front end, at least one second fiber optic adapter disposed through the rear end, and at least one optical fiber disposed within the interior and establishing at least one optical connection between the at least one second fiber optic adapter and at least one first fiber optic adapter of the plurality of first fiber optic adapters.

2. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one fiber optic routing element comprises a substantially U-shaped fiber optic routing element.

3. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one fiber optic routing element comprises a fiber optic routing tray comprising an upper lip section.

4. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 1, wherein a number of adapters of the plurality of first fiber optic adapters exceeds a number of adapters of the at least one second fiber optic adapter.

5. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 1, wherein each fiber optic module of the plurality of fiber optic modules is configured to move by translation in the longitudinal direction.

6. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one fiber optic equipment tray comprises a plurality of fiber optic equipment trays.

7. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 6, wherein the plurality of fiber optic equipment trays comprises fiber optic equipment trays arranged in a stacked configuration.

8. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 6, wherein each fiber optic equipment tray of the plurality of fiber optic equipment trays is configured to receive multiple fiber optic modules of the plurality of fiber optic modules.

9. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 6, wherein:

each fiber optic equipment tray of the plurality of fiber optic equipment trays is configured to receive multiple fiber optic modules of the plurality of fiber optic modules; and

the plurality of fiber optic equipment trays and the plurality of fiber optic modules are configured to permit each fiber optic module of the plurality of fiber optic modules to be removable from a front of the plurality of fiber optic equipment trays, and releasably removable from a rear of the plurality of fiber optic equipment trays.

10. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one fiber optic equipment tray comprises a plurality of module guides, and each fiber optic module of the plurality of fiber optic modules is configured to move and be guided between a different pair of laterally spaced module guides of the plurality of module guides.

11. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 10, wherein at least one module guide of the plurality of module guides comprises a stop feature arranged to limit forward translation in the longitudinal direction of a fiber optic module of the plurality of fiber optic modules.

12. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 10, wherein the chassis comprises a rear section, and a rear portion of each module guide of the plurality of module guides defines at least one guide channel that is open on a rear end thereof to permit the plurality of fiber optic modules to be inserted into the plurality of module guides from the rear section of the chassis and to be guided toward the front end of the chassis.

13. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 10, wherein the at least one fiber optic equipment tray comprises at least one module locking feature disposed adjacent to a forward portion of the at least one fiber optic equipment tray, and the at least one module locking feature is configured to retain a fiber optic module of the plurality of fiber optic modules in the at least one fiber optic equipment tray when the fiber optic module is disposed adjacent to the forward portion of the at least one fiber optic equipment tray.

14. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 10, wherein each fiber optic module of the plurality of fiber optic modules comprises at least one laterally extending protrusion configured to cooperate with at least one module guide of the plurality of module guides.

15. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 10, wherein each fiber optic module of the plurality of fiber optic modules comprises a locking latch that is actuatable by a user from a rear of the fiber optic module, and the locking latch is configured to be actuated by the user pulling the locking latch inward toward a medial portion of the fiber optic module to permit disengagement of a lateral protrusion associated with the locking latch from at least one module guide of the plurality of module guides, thereby permitting release of the fiber optic module from the at least one fiber optic equipment tray.

16. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one fiber optic module of the plurality of fiber optic modules comprises a locking latch comprising a lateral protrusion configured to prevent the at least one fiber optic module from moving rearward relative to the at least one fiber optic equipment tray, the locking latch being actuatable by a user from a rear of the at least one fiber optic module to enable removal of the at least one fiber optic module from a rear of the at least one fiber optic equipment tray.

17. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 16, wherein the locking latch for the at least one fiber optic module of the plurality of fiber optic modules extends rearward beyond the rear end of the at least one fiber optic module.

18. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 16, wherein the locking latch for the at least one fiber optic module extends rearward from a lateral edge of the at least one fiber optic module.

19. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 16, wherein:

the at least one fiber optic equipment tray comprises a plurality of module guides, and each fiber optic module of the plurality of fiber optic modules is configured to move and be guided between a different pair of laterally spaced module guides of the plurality of module guides; and

the locking latch for the at least one fiber optic module is configured to be pulled inward toward a medial portion of the at least one fiber optic module to permit disengagement of the lateral protrusion from at least one module guide of the plurality of module guides.

20. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 1, wherein for at least one fiber optic module of the plurality of fiber optic modules, the at least one second fiber optic adapter comprises a higher connection density than each first fiber optic adapter of the plurality of first fiber optic adapters.

21. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 20, wherein for the at least one fiber optic module of the plurality of fiber optic modules, the plurality of first fiber optic adapters is configured to accept LC fiber optic connectors, and the at least one second fiber optic adapter comprises an MTP fiber optic adapter.

22. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 1, wherein each fiber optic module of the plurality of fiber optic modules comprises first and second lateral walls extending in the longitudinal direction and bounding the interior.

23. A fiber optic apparatus, comprising:

a chassis configured to be disposed in an equipment rack, the chassis comprising opposite front and rear ends that are spaced apart from one another in a longitudinal direction, and comprising opposite first and second ends that are spaced apart from one another in a lateral direction that extends crosswise to the longitudinal direction;

a guide system configured to be disposed within the chassis;

a plurality of fiber optic equipment trays arranged in a stacked configuration and configured to slidably engage within the guide system, wherein each fiber optic equipment tray of the plurality of fiber optic equipment trays comprises a front end with at least one fiber optic routing element that comprises successive material sections extending frontward, upward, and rearward, respectively, to permit optical fibers to be routed to either left or right portions of the plurality of fiber optic equipment trays toward the first and second ends of the chassis; and

a plurality of fiber optic modules configured to be received by the plurality of fiber optic equipment trays, wherein each fiber optic module of the plurality of fiber optic modules is independently movable in the longitudinal direction relative to each fiber optic equipment tray of the plurality of fiber optic equipment trays;

wherein each fiber optic module of the plurality of fiber optic modules comprises a front end, a rear end, an interior, a plurality of first fiber optic adapters disposed through the front end, at least one second fiber optic adapter disposed through the rear end, and at least one optical fiber disposed within the interior and establishing at least one optical connection between the at least one second fiber optic adapter and at least one first fiber optic adapter of the plurality of first fiber optic adapters;

wherein for at least one fiber optic module of the plurality of fiber optic modules, the at least one second fiber optic adapter comprises a higher connection density than each first fiber optic adapter of the plurality of first fiber optic adapters;

wherein each fiber optic equipment tray of the plurality of fiber optic equipment trays is configured to receive multiple fiber optic modules of the plurality of fiber optic modules; and

wherein the plurality of fiber optic equipment trays and the plurality of fiber optic modules are configured to permit the plurality of fiber optic modules to be removable from a front of the plurality of fiber optic equipment trays, and releasably removable from a rear of the plurality of fiber optic equipment trays.

24. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 23, wherein the at least one fiber optic routing element comprises a substantially U-shaped fiber optic routing element.

25. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 23, further comprising a plurality of module guides associated with the plurality of fiber optic equipment trays, wherein the chassis comprises a rear section, and a rear portion of each module guide of the plurality of module guides defines at least one guide channel that is open on a rear end thereof to permit the plurality of fiber optic modules to be inserted into the plurality of module guides from the rear section of the chassis and to be guided toward the front end of the chassis.

26. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 25, wherein each fiber optic module of the plurality of fiber optic modules comprises a locking latch that is configured to prevent the fiber optic module from moving rearward relative to a fiber optic equipment tray of the plurality of fiber optic equipment trays, and that is actuatable by a user from a rear of the fiber optic module to enable removal of the fiber optic module from the fiber optic equipment tray.

27. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 26, wherein the locking latch is configured to be actuated by the user pulling the locking latch inward toward a medial portion of the fiber optic module to permit disengagement of a lateral protrusion associated with the locking latch from at least one module guide of the plurality of module guides, thereby permitting release of the fiber optic module from the fiber optic equipment tray.

28. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 27, wherein each fiber optic module of the plurality of fiber optic modules comprises first and second lateral walls extending in the longitudinal direction and bounding the interior.

29. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 28, wherein for at least one fiber optic module of the plurality of fiber optic modules, the plurality of first fiber optic adapters is configured to accept LC fiber optic connectors, and the at least one second fiber optic adapter comprises an MTP fiber optic adapter.