High density optical fiber distribution frame with modules
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A fiber optic termination module comprising:
- a housing having first and second spaced apart ends, and first and second spaced apart sides extending between the ends, the housing including a rear extending between the first and second ends and the first and second sides to define an interior, the housing defining an open front, the first and second ends extending generally horizontally when the termination module is mounted to a telecommunications rack, the first and second sides extending generally vertically when the termination module is mounted to the telecommunications rack;
a plurality of longitudinal guides positioned in the interior of the housing for slideably receiving a plurality of fiber optic modules through the open front;
a retention mechanism for retaining each fiber optic module with the housing when each fiber optic module is partially removed from the interior of the housing through the open front.
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Abstract
A fiber optic telecommunications frame is provided including termination modules positioned on left and right sides of the frame. The frame further includes left and right vertical cable guides. The frame includes a horizontal passage linking the left and right panels and the cable guides. The termination modules hold fiber optic modules with front termination locations. The fiber optic modules can house couplers, such as splitters, combiners, and wave length division multiplexers. A retention mechanism retains each fiber optic module in a partially removed position from the termination module.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A fiber optic termination module comprising:
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a housing having first and second spaced apart ends, and first and second spaced apart sides extending between the ends, the housing including a rear extending between the first and second ends and the first and second sides to define an interior, the housing defining an open front, the first and second ends extending generally horizontally when the termination module is mounted to a telecommunications rack, the first and second sides extending generally vertically when the termination module is mounted to the telecommunications rack;
a plurality of longitudinal guides positioned in the interior of the housing for slideably receiving a plurality of fiber optic modules through the open front;
a retention mechanism for retaining each fiber optic module with the housing when each fiber optic module is partially removed from the interior of the housing through the open front. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A fiber optic module adapted to be held by a frame, the fiber optic module comprising:
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a housing including two spaced-apart major sides extending parallel to one another, the major sides interconnected by two spaced-apart minor sides, extending parallel to one another, the major and minor sides extending between front and rear ends of the housing, the front end being open and defined by edges of the two major and minor sides, each of the major sides including a plurality of apertures at the front end;
a plurality of fiber optic adapters mounted to the front end, each adapter including two projections, each projection received in one of the apertures in each of the major sides;
fiber optic circuitry within the housing connecting the fiber optic adapters. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A fiber optic module adapted to be held by a frame, the fiber optic module comprising:
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a housing including two spaced-apart major sides extending parallel to one another, the major sides interconnected by two spaced-apart minor sides, extending parallel to one another, the major and minor sides extending between front and rear ends of the housing, the front end being open and defined by edges of the two major and minor sides, each of the major sides including a plurality of apertures at the front end;
front flanges on opposite ends of the front end, one of the front flanges including a latch for latching the front end of the housing to the frame;
two side flanges extending in opposite directions from one of the major sides. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A fiber distribution frame comprising:
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(a) a rack extending vertically from a bottom to a top, the rack defining a left side, a right side, a front, and a rear;
(b) a left vertical cable guide with a side access, the left vertical cable guide positioned on the left side of the rack, and a right vertical cable guide with a side access, the right vertical cable guide positioned on the right side of the rack;
(c) a cable termination area positioned on the rack including;
(1) a first area defining an array of termination locations on a front portion, the first area positioned on the left side of the rack adjacent to the left vertical cable guide, each array including a plurality of rows and columns of the termination locations;
(2) a second area defining an array of termination locations on a front portion, the second area positioned on the right side of the rack adjacent to the right vertical cable guide, each array including a plurality of rows and columns of the termination locations;
(d) wherein the first and second areas are each defined by at least one termination module mounted to the rack, each termination module including;
(1) a housing having first and second spaced-apart ends, and first and second spaced-apart sides extending between the ends, the housing including a rear extending between the first and second ends and the first and second sides to define an interior, the housing defining an open front, with the first and second ends extending horizontally, and the first and second sides extending generally vertically;
(2) a plurality of panels mounted so as to close the open front, each panel including at least one opening arranged and sized for holding at least one adapter to define the termination locations, the adapters being sized for mounting to cable connectors;
(3) wherein the housing includes a plurality of panel holders, and wherein each of the panels further include a plurality of front adapters, a fiber optic coupler, and cables connecting the front adapters to the fiber optic coupler;
(4) wherein the panels each include a longitudinal guide, and wherein the panel holders include a vertical array of mating longitudinal guides for receiving the longitudinal guides of the panels. (e) a horizontal passageway positioned on the rack extending between the right vertical cable guide, and the left vertical cable guide;
(f) wherein the panels are selectively, partially removable from the respective termination module;
(g) a retention mechanism for retaining the panels when each panel is partially removed from the respective termination module. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19-24. -24. (canceled)
Specification