High density and bandwidth fiber optic apparatuses and related equipment and methods

• US 10,422,971 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2019
• Issued: 09/24/2019
• 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, Staber, Harley Joseph, Strause, Kevin Lee, Ugolini, Alan William
• Primary Examiner(s): Stahl, Michael
• Application Number:
  US16/376,542
• Publication Number:
  US 20190235191A1
• Time in Patent Office: 172 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4452 Distribution frames
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4453 Cassettes

Abstract

High-connection density and bandwidth fiber optic apparatuses and related equipment and methods are disclosed. In certain embodiments, fiber optic apparatuses are provided and comprise a chassis defining one or more U space fiber optic equipment units. At least one of the one or more U space fiber optic equipment units may be configured to support particular fiber optic connection densities and bandwidths in a given 1-U space. The fiber optic connection densities and bandwidths may be supported by one or more fiber optic components, including but not limited to fiber optic adapters and fiber optic connectors, including but not limited to simplex, duplex, and other multi-fiber fiber optic components. The fiber optic components may also be disposed in fiber optic modules, fiber optic patch panels, or other types of fiber optic equipment.

Claims

1. A fiber optic apparatus, comprising:

a chassis configured to be disposed in an equipment rack, the chassis comprising 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 plurality of fiber optic equipment trays supported by the chassis and extendable relative to the chassis in the longitudinal direction; and

a plurality of fiber optic modules configured to be installed in the plurality of fiber optic equipment trays, wherein each fiber optic module of the plurality of fiber optic modules comprises a front side, a rear side, an internal chamber, a plurality of first fiber optic adapters disposed through the front side, at least one second fiber optic adapter disposed through the rear side, and a plurality of optical fibers disposed within the internal chamber and extending from the at least one second fiber optic adapter to the plurality of first fiber optic adapters;

wherein for each fiber optic module of the plurality of fiber optic modules, the plurality of first fiber optic adapters comprises first and second groups of fiber optic adapters each comprising at least four fiber optic adapters, each fiber optic adapter within each of the first and second groups of fiber optic adapters comprises an edge-to-edge spacing relative to at least one adjacent fiber optic adapter of the respective first or second group of fiber optic adapters, an inter-group gap is provided between the first and second groups of fiber optic adapters, and the inter-group gap is larger than the edge-to-edge spacing;

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;

wherein the plurality of fiber optic equipment trays and the plurality of fiber optic modules are configured to support a fiber optic connection density of at least ninety-eight (98) fiber optic connections per U space of the chassis, based on using a simplex fiber optic adapter or a duplex fiber optic adapter as each fiber optic adapter of the plurality of first fiber optic adapters; and

wherein a U space comprises a height of 1.75 inches and comprises a width of 19 inches or 23 inches.

2. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first fiber optic adapters is disposed through at least eighty-five percent (85%) of a width of the front side of at least one fiber optic module of the plurality of fiber optic modules.

3. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 1, wherein for each fiber optic module of the plurality of fiber optic modules, the plurality of first fiber optic adapters comprises at least twelve (12) duplex fiber optic adapters or at least twenty-four (24) simplex fiber optic adapters.

4. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 3, wherein each fiber optic equipment tray of the plurality of fiber optic equipment trays is configured to receive a single row of multiple fiber optic modules of the plurality of fiber optic modules.

5. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 4, wherein each fiber optic equipment tray of the plurality of fiber optic equipment trays is configured to receive only two fiber optic modules of the plurality of fiber optic modules in a side-by-side configuration.

6. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 1, wherein each fiber optic module of the plurality of fiber optic modules is configured to be locked into place in a fiber optic equipment tray of the plurality of fiber optic equipment trays.

7. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the chassis is sized for more than one U space.

8. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of fiber optic equipment trays comprises three fiber optic equipment trays per U space of the chassis.

9. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

each fiber optic equipment tray of the plurality of fiber optic equipment trays comprises first, second, and third module guide members extending upward from a bottom of the fiber optic equipment tray; and

each fiber optic equipment tray of the plurality of fiber optic equipment trays is configured to receive a first fiber optic module of the plurality of fiber optic modules between the first and second module guide members, and the fiber optic equipment tray is configured to receive a second fiber optic module of the plurality of fiber optic modules between the second and third module guide members.

10. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 9, wherein for each fiber optic equipment tray of the plurality of fiber optic equipment trays, each module guide member of the first, second, and third module guide members comprises a locking feature configured to cooperate with a fiber optic module of the first or second fiber optic modules to prevent movement of the fiber optic module relative to the fiber optic equipment tray.

11. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

each fiber optic equipment tray comprises opposing first and second lateral edges, comprises at least four optical fiber routing guides extending forwardly from a front end of the fiber optic equipment tray, and is configured to receive first and second fiber optic modules of the plurality of fiber optic modules in a side-by-side configuration; and

for each fiber optic equipment tray, the at least four optical fiber routing guides comprise a first optical fiber routing guide aligned with the inter-group gap of the first fiber optic module, and a second optical fiber routing guide aligned with the inter-group gap of the second fiber optic module.

12. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 11, wherein for each fiber optic equipment tray, the at least four optical fiber routing guides comprise a third optical fiber routing guide proximate to the first lateral edge of the fiber optic equipment tray, and comprise a fourth optical fiber routing guide proximate to the second lateral edge of the fiber optic equipment tray.

13. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

each fiber optic equipment tray of the plurality of fiber optic equipment trays comprises a front end and a plurality of laterally spaced openings defined through the fiber optic equipment tray and positioned behind the front end of the fiber optic equipment tray; and

for each fiber optic module of the plurality of fiber optic modules received by a fiber optic equipment tray of the plurality of fiber optic equipment trays, each group of fiber optic adapters of the first and second groups of fiber optic adapters is arranged above a different opening of the plurality of laterally spaced openings.

14. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 1, wherein each fiber optic module of the plurality of fiber optic modules comprises a center axis extending between the first and second groups of fiber optic adapters, and comprises a channel that is registered with the center axis and that extends through at least a portion of the fiber optic module.

15. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 1, wherein each fiber optic module of the plurality of fiber optic modules is installable on a fiber optic equipment tray of the plurality of fiber optic equipment trays from both a front end and a rear end of the fiber optic equipment tray.

16. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 1, wherein each fiber optic adapter within each of the first and second groups of fiber optic adapters comprises a non-zero edge-to-edge spacing relative to at least one adjacent fiber optic adapter of the respective first or second group of fiber optic adapters.

17. A fiber optic apparatus, comprising:

a chassis configured to be disposed in an equipment rack, the chassis comprising 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 plurality of fiber optic equipment trays comprising three fiber optic equipment trays per U space of the chassis, wherein each fiber optic equipment tray of the plurality of fiber optic equipment trays is supported by the chassis and is extendable relative to the chassis in the longitudinal direction; and

a plurality of fiber optic modules configured to be installed in the plurality of fiber optic equipment trays, wherein each fiber optic module of the plurality of fiber optic modules comprises a front side, a rear side, an internal chamber, a plurality of first fiber optic adapters disposed through the front side, at least one second fiber optic adapter disposed through the rear side, and a plurality of optical fibers disposed within the internal chamber and extending from the at least one second fiber optic adapter to the plurality of first fiber optic adapters;

wherein for each fiber optic module of the plurality of fiber optic modules, the plurality of first fiber optic adapters comprises first and second groups of fiber optic adapters each comprising at least four fiber optic adapters, each fiber optic adapter within each of the first and second groups of fiber optic adapters comprises an edge-to-edge spacing relative to at least one adjacent fiber optic adapter of the respective first or second group of fiber optic adapters, an inter-group gap is provided between the first and second groups of fiber optic adapters, and the inter-group gap is larger than the edge-to-edge spacing;

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;

wherein the plurality of fiber optic equipment trays and the plurality of fiber optic modules are configured to support a fiber optic connection density of one hundred forty-four (144) fiber optic connections per U space of the chassis, based on using a simplex fiber optic adapter or a duplex fiber optic adapter as each fiber optic adapter of the plurality of first fiber optic adapters; and

wherein a U space comprises a height of 1.75 inches and comprises a width of 19 inches or 23 inches.

18. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 17, wherein the plurality of first fiber optic adapters is disposed through at least eighty-five percent (85%) of a width of the front side of at least one fiber optic module of the plurality of fiber optic modules.

19. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 17, wherein for each fiber optic module of the plurality of fiber optic modules, the plurality of first fiber optic adapters comprises at least twelve (12) duplex fiber optic adapters or at least twenty-four (24) simplex fiber optic adapters.

20. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 17, wherein each fiber optic equipment tray of the plurality of fiber optic equipment trays is configured to receive only two fiber optic modules of the plurality of fiber optic modules in a side-by-side configuration.

21. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 17, wherein each fiber optic module of the plurality of fiber optic modules is configured to be locked into place in a fiber optic equipment tray of the plurality of fiber optic equipment trays.

22. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 17, wherein the chassis is sized for more than one U space.

23. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 17, wherein:

each fiber optic equipment tray of the plurality of fiber optic equipment trays comprises first, second, and third module guide members extending upward from a bottom of the fiber optic equipment tray; and

each fiber optic equipment tray of the plurality of fiber optic equipment trays is configured to receive a first fiber optic module of the plurality of fiber optic modules between the first and second module guide members, and the fiber optic equipment tray is configured to receive a second fiber optic module of the plurality of fiber optic modules between the second and third module guide members.

24. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 23, wherein for each fiber optic equipment tray of the plurality of fiber optic equipment trays, each module guide member of the first, second, and third module guide members comprises a locking feature configured to cooperate with a fiber optic module of the first or second fiber optic modules to prevent movement of the fiber optic module relative to the fiber optic equipment tray.

25. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 17, wherein:

each fiber optic equipment tray comprises opposing first and second lateral edges, comprises at least four optical fiber routing guides extending forwardly from a front end of the fiber optic equipment tray, and is configured to receive first and second fiber optic modules of the plurality of fiber optic modules in a side-by-side configuration; and

for each fiber optic equipment tray, the at least four optical fiber routing guides comprise a first optical fiber routing guide aligned with the inter-group gap of the first fiber optic module, and a second optical fiber routing guide aligned with the inter-group gap of the second fiber optic module.

26. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 25, wherein for each fiber optic equipment tray, the at least four optical fiber routing guides comprise a third optical fiber routing guide proximate to the first lateral edge of the fiber optic equipment tray, and comprise a fourth optical fiber routing guide proximate to the second lateral edge of the fiber optic equipment tray.

27. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 17, wherein:

each fiber optic equipment tray of the plurality of fiber optic equipment trays comprises a front end and a plurality of laterally spaced openings defined through the fiber optic equipment tray and positioned behind the front end of the fiber optic equipment tray; and

for each fiber optic module of the plurality of fiber optic modules received by a fiber optic equipment tray of the plurality of fiber optic equipment trays, each group of fiber optic adapters of the first and second groups of fiber optic adapters is arranged above a different opening of the plurality of laterally spaced openings.

28. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 17, wherein each fiber optic module of the plurality of fiber optic modules comprises a center axis extending between the first and second groups of fiber optic adapters, and comprises a channel that is registered with the center axis and that extends through at least a portion of the fiber optic module.

29. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 17, wherein each fiber optic module of the plurality of fiber optic modules is installable on a fiber optic equipment tray of the plurality of fiber optic equipment trays from both a front end and a rear end of the fiber optic equipment tray.

30. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 17, wherein each fiber optic adapter within each of the first and second groups of fiber optic adapters comprises a non-zero edge-to-edge spacing relative to at least one adjacent fiber optic adapter of the respective first or second group of fiber optic adapters.