High density optical fiber distribution frame with modules

• US 20050232566A1
• Filed: 06/13/2005
• Published: 10/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Rapp, David E., Miller, Heidi L., Bolster, Kristofer J., Haataja, Timothy J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,142,765 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/135
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4452 Distribution frames
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44524 with frame parts or auxiliary devices mounted on the frame and collectively not covering a whole width of the frame or rack cassettes G02B6/4453
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44526 Panels or rackmounts covering a whole width of the frame or rack
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4453 Cassettes

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.

Claims

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.

2. The fiber optic termination module of claim 1, wherein the first side includes a vertical array of extensions for supporting cables extending toward the front opening.

3. The fiber optic termination module of claim 1, wherein the open front is positioned at a non-perpendicular angle relative to the rear, the sides positioned at a generally perpendicular angle relative to the rear.

4. The fiber optic termination module of claim 1, wherein the longitudinal guides are configured to receive planar flanges of the fiber optic modules.

5. The fiber optic termination module of claim 1, wherein the retention mechanism includes a spring biased ball plunger.

6. The fiber optic termination module of claim 1, further comprising an opening in the housing for each fiber optic module for receiving a latch for locking each fiber optic module to the housing.

7. A fiber optic module adapted to be held by a frame, the fiber optic module comprising:

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.

8. The fiber optic module of claim 7, further comprising front flanges on opposite ends of the front end, one of front flanges including a latch for latching the front end of the housing to the frame.

9. The fiber optic module of claim 7, wherein one of the major sides defines first and second planar flanges extending beyond the minor sides.

10. The fiber optic module of claim 7, wherein one of the minor sides includes first and second round openings, the first opening positioned further from the rear end than the second opening, each of the first and second openings sized to receive a ball end of a spring loaded ball plunger.

11. The fiber optic module of claim 10, wherein the first opening is smaller than the second opening.

12. A fiber optic module adapted to be held by a frame, the fiber optic module comprising:

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.

13. The fiber optic module of claim 12, further comprising:

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;

a fiber optic coupler mounted within the housing;

cables connecting the fiber optic adapters and the fiber optic couplers.

14. The fiber optic module of claim 12, wherein a first one of the major sides includes a cover portion defining the two side flanges, wherein the first major side further includes a front extension separate from the cover portion which defines the plurality of apertures at the front end, wherein a second one of the major sides and the two minor sides are formed of a single housing construction, and further comprising fasteners for connecting the front extension and the cover portion to the single housing construction.

15. The fiber optic module of claim 14, wherein the front extension is adjustably mounted by the fasteners to the single housing construction, wherein a spacing between the front extension and the second major side is variable.

16. A fiber distribution frame comprising:

(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.

17. The frame of claim 16, wherein the panels are each positioned at a non-perpendicular angle relative to a vertical plane defined by the front of the rack, a first panel angled toward the left side of the rack, a second panel angled toward the right side of the rack.

18. The frame of claim 16, wherein the a first termination module includes a first vertical array of extensions positioned adjacent to the side access of the left vertical cable guide, and wherein a second termination module includes a second vertical array of extensions positioned adjacent to the side access of the right vertical cable guide, an extension in each of the first and second vertical arrays of extensions being provided for each row of termination locations of the respective first and second areas.

19-24. -24. (canceled)