Adapter block including connector storage

• US 20060228086A1
• Filed: 03/31/2005
• Published: 10/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Solheid, James J., Holmberg, Matthew
• Granted Patent: US 7,194,181 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 6/44528 Patch-cords; Connector arrangements in the system or in the box routing arrangements H04Q1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4472 Manifolds

Abstract

A fixture includes an adapter array with movable adapter modules and a storage panel. A housing of a connector holder includes a plurality of openings for receiving fiber optic connectors and protecting the polished end face of the connectors from damage while the connectors are stored within the storage panel. Each of the connectors are inserted within the openings in the connector holder for storage and protection until the cables need to be connected to a customer equipment cable in the adapter array. The fixture is used in a cabinet including fiber optic splitters. Offset vertical fingers are provided on the fixture for cable management.

Claims

1. A telecommunications connection cabinet comprising:

a top, a floor, a pair of opposing sides, a front and a rear defining an interior, the front including an opening for accessing the interior;

a fiber optic splitter receiving a first fiber optic cable and splitting an optical signal carried by the cable into a plurality of fiber distribution cables, each fiber distribution cable terminated by a fiber optic connector and a polished end face;

a first fiber connection panel including a plurality of fiber optic adapters and a second fiber storage panel including a plurality of openings, the second fiber storage panel having a front side and a rear side;

the adapters of the first panel configured to optically connect two optical fiber cables terminated with fiber optic connectors, one cable on a rear side of the adapter and one cable on a front side of the adapter, the adapters mounted in groups on modules, each module movably mounted on the first panel along a line of travel, the group of adapters on each module linearly disposed along the line of travel for each module;

at least one housing mounted within one of the openings of the second panel, the housing including a plurality of connector holder openings, each connector holder opening accessible through the front opening and configured to receive one of the fiber optic connectors and protect the polished end face of the connector from contamination, the housings adapted to be inserted into the openings of the second panel through the front side, and the openings of the housing accessible from a front side of the second panel, the second panel mounted to the first panel.

2. The telecommunications connection cabinet of claim 1, further comprising a first plurality of spools positioned vertically below the first fiber connection panel, the first plurality of spools defining a horizontal row of spools.

3. The telecommunications connection cabinet of claim 2, further comprising a second plurality of spools positioned within the interior of the cabinet, the second plurality of spools defining a vertical row of spools.

4. The telecommunications connection cabinet of claim 2, wherein the lines of travel of the modules are horizontal.

5. The telecommunications connection cabinet of claim 4, wherein a first plurality of the modules move horizontally toward one side of the cabinet, and a second plurality of the modules move horizontally toward the other side of the cabinet.

6. The telecommunications connection cabinet of claim 5, wherein the second panel includes a plurality of staggered sections, each section facing partially vertically downwardly.

7. The telecommunications connection cabinet of claim 6, wherein the second panel is mounted to a front of the first panel.

8. The telecommunications connection cabinet of claim 1, further comprising a vertical arrangement of cable management fingers positioned on the first fiber connection panel, the vertical arrangement including a first set of fingers and a second set of fingers horizontally offset from the first set of fingers to define two vertical columns for cables to be located, the two vertical columns offset in a direction from the front of the cabinet toward the rear.

9. A method of positioning a multi-strand fiber optic device within a telecommunications cabinet, the method comprising:

providing a first fiber optic splitter including an enclosure, a plurality of first fiber optic cables extending from the enclosure and a second fiber optic cable extending into the enclosure, the enclosure including an optical connection for connecting the second fiber optic cable to the first fiber optic cables, each of the first fiber optic cables terminated with a fiber optic connector at an end opposite the enclosure, and the plurality of first fiber optic cable connectors inserted within openings in a connector holder;

providing a telecommunications connection cabinet into which a plurality of fiber optic cables connecting to customer equipment are extended, each of the customer equipment cables inserted within a rear opening of one of a plurality of fiber optic adapters mounted within the cabinet, the cabinet including an equipment mounting area, a cable management structure, an adapter array within which the fiber optic adapters are mounted, and an excess fiber storage area with a mounting bulkhead including at least one mounting opening, the adapter array including a fixture and plurality of movably mounted modules, each module including a line of the adapters, the line of adapters arranged parallel to a line of travel of the respective module, the mounting bulkhead mounted to the fixture;

mounting the first fiber optic splitter within the equipment mounting area of the cabinet;

optically connecting the second fiber optic cable to an outside plant cable within the cabinet;

extending the plurality of first fiber optic cables from the equipment mounting area into the cable management structure and directing the first optical fiber cables and the connector holder to the excess fiber storage area; and

inserting and releasably mounting the housing with the plurality of connectors of the first cables into the mounting opening in the bulkhead, the housing being inserted into the opening from a front side of the bulkhead.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising moving a selected one of the modules of the adapter array from a retracted position to an extended position, removing one of the plurality of connectors of the first cables from the housing and inserting the connector within an opposing front opening of one of the adapters of the selected one of the modules of the adapter array wherein the corresponding first cable is optically connected to one of the customer premises cables, and moving the selected one of the modules to the retracted position.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of connectors inserted within the connector holder are sequentially removed from the connector openings of the housing and inserted into one of the plurality of adapters in the adapter array, until no more connectors of first cables are inserted within the connector holder, and further comprising removing the connector holder from the mounting opening in the bulkhead.

12. The method of claim 11, further providing a second fiber optic splitter, similarly configured to the first fiber optic splitter, and further comprising mounting the second fiber optic splitter in the equipment mounting area, directing the first plurality of fiber optic cables of the second fiber optic splitter through the cable management structure, and releasably mounting the connector holder of the second fiber optic splitter within the opening in the bulkhead of the excess cable storage area.

13. A telecommunications cable management system comprising:

a fixture having a front, a rear, a top, a bottom, and first and second opposite sides;

a plurality of modules mounted on the fixture with each of the modules movably mounted on the fixture for movement along a line of travel, each one of the modules including a plurality of adapters for holding a fiber optic connector, each adapter having opposite ends for coupling to a fiber optic cable connector, each one of the adapters movable with one of the modules along the line of travel, the plurality of adapters linearly disposed along the line of travel for each of the modules, the modules each having a longitudinal axis, the modules mounted on the fixture in side-by-side relation with the longitudinal axes generally parallel to the lines of travel, the plurality of adapters linearly disposed along the longitudinal axis;

a connector storage panel positioned adjacent to a front of the fixture, the connector storage panel defining a plurality of openings for receiving connectors for storage when not connected to adapters of the plurality of modules.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the modules are accessible from one of the first and second opposite sides of the fixture and the longitudinal axes are arranged horizontally.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the openings of the connector storage panel face at least partially in a direction of the front of the fixture.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the openings of the connector storage panel face at least partially in a direction of the bottom of the fixture.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the connector storage panel includes staggered segments, each staggered segment including at least one of the plurality of openings, each staggered segment angled with respect to the front and the bottom of the fixture.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein at least one of staggered segments includes a panel portion and a connector holder removably attached to the panel portion, the connector holder defining a plurality of the openings, each opening configured for receipt of a connector.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the adapters of the modules each define a longitudinal connector axis, the longitudinal connector axes extending in a direction from the front to the rear of the fixture.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein a first plurality of the modules is accessible from the first side of the fixture, and a second plurality of the modules is accessible from the second side of the fixture.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein a first plurality of the modules is accessible from the first side of the fixture, and a second plurality of the modules is accessible from the second side of the fixture.

22. The system of claim 13, wherein a first plurality of the modules is accessible from the first side of the fixture, and a second plurality of the modules is accessible from the second side of the fixture.

23. The system of claim 14, further comprising a vertical arrangement of cable management fingers positioned on the front of the fixture, the vertical arrangement including a first set of fingers and a second set of fingers horizontally offset from the first set to define two vertical columns for cables to be located, the two vertical columns offset in a direction from the front of the fixture toward the rear.

24. A telecommunications cable management system comprising:

a fixture having a front, a rear, a top, a bottom, and first and second opposite sides;

a plurality of modules mounted on the fixture with each of the modules movably mounted on the fixture for movement along a line of travel, each one of the modules including a plurality of adapters for holding a fiber optic connector, each adapter having opposite ends for coupling to a fiber optic cable connector, each one of the adapters movable with one of the modules along the line of travel, the plurality of adapters linearly disposed along the line of travel for each of the modules, the modules each having a longitudinal axis, the modules mounted on the fixture in side-by-side relation with the longitudinal axes generally parallel to the lines of travel, the plurality of adapters linearly disposed along the longitudinal axis;

a vertical arrangement of cable management fingers positioned on the front of the fixture, the vertical arrangement including a first set of fingers and a second set of fingers horizontally offset from the first set to define two vertical columns for cables to be located, the two vertical columns offset in a direction from the front of the fixture toward the rear.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the modules are accessible from one of the first and second opposite sides of the fixture and the longitudinal axes are arranged horizontally.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein the adapters of the modules each define a longitudinal connector axis, the longitudinal connector axes extending in a direction from the front to the rear of the fixture.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein a first plurality of the modules is accessible from the first side of the fixture, and a second plurality of the modules is accessible from the second side of the fixture.