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

• US 10,564,378 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2018
• Issued: 02/18/2020
• 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:
  US15/886,342
• Publication Number:
  US 20180156998A1
• Time in Patent Office: 747 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;

a fiber optic connection equipment provided in the chassis; and

a fiber optic equipment drawer disposed in the fiber optic connection equipment;

wherein the fiber optic connection equipment is configured to support, within the fiber optic equipment drawer, a fiber optic connection density of at least four hundred thirty-four (434) fiber optic connections per U space, based on using at least one multiple fiber component, wherein the at least one multiple fiber component comprises a twelve (12) fiber MPO fiber optic component or a twenty-four (24) fiber MPO fiber optic component.

2. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fiber optic connection equipment is configured to support a fiber optic connection density of at least five hundred seventy-six (576) fiber optic connections per U space.

3. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one multiple fiber component comprises at least one multiple fiber connector or at least one multiple fiber adapter.

4. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one multiple fiber component comprises a twelve (12) fiber MPO fiber optic component.

5. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one multiple fiber component is disposed in at least one fiber optic module received by the fiber optic equipment drawer;

and

wherein the at least one fiber optic module comprises a front side configured to support a plurality of first fiber optic components, a rear side configured to support at least one second fiber optic component, an internal chamber, and a plurality of optical fibers disposed within the internal chamber and arranged to establish optical connections between the at least one second fiber optic component and the plurality of first fiber optic components, with the at least one second fiber optic component comprising the at least one multiple fiber component.

13. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fiber optic connection equipment comprises a plurality of fiber optic modules that are independently translatable relative to the fiber optic equipment drawer, with each fiber optic module of the plurality of fiber optic modules comprising a front side configured to support a plurality of first fiber optic components, a rear side configured to support at least one second fiber optic component, an internal chamber, and a plurality of optical fibers disposed within the internal chamber and arranged to establish optical connections between the at least one second fiber optic component and the plurality of first fiber optic components.

14. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 13, wherein each fiber optic module of the plurality of fiber optic modules is installable on the fiber optic equipment drawer from both a front end and a rear end of the fiber optic equipment drawer.

15. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one multiple fiber component comprises a twenty-four (24) fiber MPO fiber optic component.

23. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fiber optic connection equipment is configured to support a fiber optic connection density in a range of four hundred thirty-four (434) to one thousand, one hundred fifty-two (1152) fiber optic connections per U space.

24. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 5, wherein the fiber optic connection equipment is configured to support a fiber optic connection density in a range of four hundred thirty-four (434) to one thousand, one hundred fifty-two (1152) fiber optic connections per U space.

6. A fiber optic apparatus, comprising:

a chassis; and

a fiber optic connection equipment provided in the chassis; and

a fiber optic equipment drawer disposed in the fiber optic connection equipment;

wherein the fiber optic connection equipment comprises a plurality of fiber optic modules that are independently translatable relative to the fiber optic equipment drawer, with each fiber optic module of the plurality of fiber optic modules comprising a front side configured to support a plurality of first fiber optic components, a rear side configured to support at least one second fiber optic component, an internal chamber, and a plurality of optical fibers disposed within the internal chamber and arranged to establish optical connections between the at least one second fiber optic component and the plurality of first fiber optic components; and

wherein the fiber optic connection equipment is configured to support a fiber optic connection density of at least eight hundred sixty-six (866) fiber optic connections per U space.

7. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 6, wherein the fiber optic connection density is based on using at least one multiple fiber component as the at least one second fiber optic component or a fiber optic component of the plurality of first fiber optic components.

8. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 7, wherein the at least one multiple fiber component comprises a twenty-four (24) fiber MPO fiber optic component.

9. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 8, wherein the twenty-four (24) fiber MPO fiber optic component comprises at least thirty-six (36) twenty-four (24) fiber MPO fiber optic components.

10. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 8, wherein the twenty-four (24) fiber MPO fiber optic component comprises at least forty-eight (48) twenty-four (24) fiber MPO fiber optic components.

11. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 7, wherein the at least one multiple fiber component comprises at least one multiple fiber connector or at least one multiple fiber adapter.

12. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 6, wherein the fiber optic connection equipment is configured to support a fiber optic connection density of at least one thousand one hundred fifty-two (1152) fiber optic connections per U space.

25. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 6, wherein the fiber optic connection equipment is configured to support a fiber optic connection density in a range of eight hundred sixty-six (866) to one thousand, one hundred fifty-two (1152) fiber optic connections per U space.

16. A fiber optic apparatus, comprising:

a chassis;

a fiber optic connection equipment provided in the chassis; and

a plurality of fiber optic equipment drawers disposed in the fiber optic connection equipment;

the fiber optic connection equipment configured to support, within the plurality of fiber optic equipment drawers, a fiber optic connection density of at least four hundred thirty-four (434) fiber optic connections per U space, based on using at least one multiple fiber component;

wherein the at least one multiple fiber component comprises a twelve (12) fiber MPO fiber optic component or a twenty-four (24) fiber MPO fiber optic component.

17. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 16, wherein the at least one multiple fiber component comprises at least one multiple fiber connector or at least one multiple fiber adapter.

18. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 16, wherein the at least one multiple fiber component comprises a twelve (12) fiber MPO fiber optic component.

19. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 16, wherein the at least one multiple fiber component comprises a twenty-four (24) fiber MPO fiber optic component.

20. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 16, wherein the at least one multiple fiber component is disposed in at least one fiber optic module.

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

the fiber optic connection equipment comprises a plurality of fiber optic modules that are independently translatable relative to the plurality of fiber optic equipment drawers;

each fiber optic module of the plurality of fiber optic modules comprises a front side configured to support a plurality of first fiber optic components, a rear side configured to support at least one second fiber optic component, an internal chamber, and a plurality of optical fibers disposed within the internal chamber and arranged to establish optical connections between the at least one second fiber optic component and the plurality of first fiber optic components; and

each fiber optic equipment drawer of the plurality of fiber optic equipment drawers is configured to receive multiple fiber optic modules of the plurality of fiber optic modules.

22. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 21, wherein each fiber optic equipment drawer of the plurality of fiber optic equipment drawers is configured to receive fiber optic modules of the plurality of fiber optic modules from both a front end and a rear end of the fiber optic equipment drawer for installation of the fiber optic modules in the fiber optic equipment drawer.

26. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 16, wherein the fiber optic connection equipment is configured to support a fiber optic connection density in a range of four hundred thirty-four (434) to one thousand, one hundred fifty-two (1152) fiber optic connections per U space.

27. The fiber optic apparatus of claim 21, wherein the fiber optic connection equipment is configured to support a fiber optic connection density in a range of four hundred thirty-four (434) to one thousand, one hundred fifty-two (1152) fiber optic connections per U space.