WDM systems and methods

• US 20060051044A1
• Filed: 09/09/2004
• Published: 03/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Miller, Jennifer L., Swam, Steven M., Dorenkamp, James A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,302,149 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/134
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4452 Distribution frames
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44526 Panels or rackmounts covering a whole width of the frame or rack
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44528 Patch-cords; Connector arrangements in the system or in the box routing arrangements H04Q1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4453 Cassettes
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/02 Wavelength-division multiplex systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/023 using sliding mechanisms for accessing the interior of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/062 vertical management arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/064 horizontal management arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2201/10 Housing details
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2201/12 Printed circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2201/804 in optical transmission systems

Abstract

A WDM optical system including a media converter module including a plurality of converter cards, each converter card being configured to convert a native signal into an optical signal. The system also includes a panel bracket having an opening and a plurality of fingers, and a cable management panel including a drawer having an interior space. The cable management panel includes a splitter/combiner module mounted in the interior space, and the cable management panel is positioned in the opening of the panel bracket so that a space is defined between the cable management panel and the media converter module.

Claims

1. A WDM optical system comprising:

a media converter module including a plurality of converter cards, each converter card being configured to convert a native signal into an optical signal;

a panel bracket defining an opening and a plurality of fingers; and

a cable management panel including a drawer defining an interior space, wherein the cable management panel includes a splitter/combiner module mounted in the interior space, and wherein the cable management panel is positioned in the opening of the panel bracket so that a space is defined between the cable management panel and the media converter module.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the drawer includes at least one take-up mechanism.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein cables coupling the media converter module to the splitter/combiner module to extend vertically downward through the fingers, horizontally across a top surface of the cable management panel, and into the drawer through the take-up mechanisms.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising two brackets configured to couple the media converter module to a rack in a horizontally offset position.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the opening is defined in approximately a central portion of a main body of the panel bracket.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the panel bracket has a height of approximately two rack units, and the opening has a height of approximately one rack unit.

7. A WDM optical system comprising:

a media converter module including a plurality of converter cards, each converter card being configured to convert a native signal into an optical signal;

a panel bracket defining an opening and a plurality of fingers; and

a cable management panel including a drawer defining an interior space, wherein the cable management panel includes a splitter/combiner module mounted in the interior space, wherein the cable management panel is positioned in the opening of the panel bracket so that a space is defined between the cable management panel and the media converter module, and wherein the drawer includes at least one take-up mechanism;

wherein cables coupling the media converter module to the splitter/combiner module extend vertically downward through the fingers, horizontally across a top surface of the cable management panel, and into the drawer through the take-up mechanisms.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising two brackets configured to couple the media converter module to a rack in a horizontally offset position.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the opening is defined in approximately a central portion of a main body of the panel bracket.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the panel bracket has a height of approximately two rack units, and the opening has a height of approximately one rack unit.

11. A system comprising:

a rack;

first and second WDM systems coupled to the rack, each WDM system including;

a media converter module including a plurality of converter cards, each converter card being configured to convert a native signal into an optical signal;

a panel bracket defining an opening and a plurality of fingers; and

a cable management panel including a drawer defining an interior space, wherein the cable management panel includes a splitter/combiner module mounted in the interior space, and wherein the cable management panel is positioned in the opening of the panel bracket so that a space is defined between the cable management panel and the media converter module;

wherein the cable management panel of the first WDM system is spaced apart from the media converter module of the second WDM system.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein each drawer of the first and second WDM systems includes at least one take-up mechanism.

13. The system of claim 11, further comprising two brackets for each of the first and second systems configured to couple the media converter module of each of the first and second systems to the rack in a horizontally offset position.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the opening in the panel bracket of each of the first and second systems is defined in approximately a central portion of a main body of the panel bracket.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the panel bracket of each of the first and second systems has a height of approximately two rack units, and the opening has a height of approximately one rack unit.

16. A WDM optical system, comprising:

a media converter module including a plurality of converter cards, each converter card being configured to convert a native signal into an optical signal;

a panel bracket defining a plurality of fingers; and

a cable management panel including a drawer defining an interior space, wherein the cable management panel includes a splitter/combiner module mounted in the interior space, and wherein the cable management panel is positioned so that a space is defined between the cable management panel and the media converter module.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the panel bracket defines an opening, and the cable management panel is positioned to extend through the opening.

18. A bracket, comprising:

a main body defining an opening and first and second ends configured to be coupled to a rack; and

a plurality of cable management fingers positioned above the opening in the main body.

19. The bracket of claim 18, wherein the cable management fingers including a first group angled in a first direction and a second group angled in a second direction.

20. The bracket of claim 19, wherein the first direction extends generally towards the first end of the main body, and the second direction extends generally towards the second end of the main body.

21. A cable management system, comprising:

a bracket including a main body defining an opening, first and second ends configured to be coupled with a rack, and a plurality of cable management fingers positioned about the opening in the main body; and

a cable management panel including a drawer, the panel being positioned to extend through the opening of the bracket.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the cable management fingers are positioned above a portion of the panel extending through the opening, and wherein the cable management fingers include a first group angled at a first direction and a second group angled in a second direction.

23. A media converter module, comprising:

a main chassis defining a plurality of slots and a front surface;

a plurality of converter cards configured to slid into and out of the slots such that ports on the converter cards generally align with the front surface of the chassis, the converter cards being configured to convert native signals into optical signals;

a backplane configured to be coupled to each of the converter cards;

a power supply to supply power to each of the converter cards through the backplane; and

at least two brackets coupled to the chassis, wherein the brackets offset the media converter module such that the brackets extend beyond the front surface of the chassis.