HIGH-DENSITY FIBER OPTIC MODULES AND MODULE HOUSINGS AND RELATED EQUIPMENT

• US 20100322579A1
• Filed: 04/30/2010
• Published: 12/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Inventors: Garcia, Marco A. Gonzalez, Sanchez, Manuel A. Lopez, Cooke, Terry L., Klavuhn, Tory A., Ugolini, Alan W., Dean, David L. JR., Davis, Gerald J., Rhoney, Brian K.
• Granted Patent: US 8,712,206 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/135
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/444 Systems or boxes with surplus lengths
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4452 Distribution frames
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4455 characterised by the way of extraction or insertion of the cassette in the distribution frame, e.g. pivoting, sliding, rotating or gliding

Abstract

High-density fiber optic modules and fiber optic module housings and related equipment are disclosed. In certain embodiments, a front opening of a fiber optic module and/or fiber optic module housing is configured to receive fiber optic components. The width and/or height of the front opening can be provided according to a designed relationship to a width and/or height, respectively, of a front side of a main body of the fiber optic module and/or fiber optic module housing. In this manner, a high density of fiber optic components and/or connections for a given space of the front side of the fiber optic module can be supported by the fiber optic module and/or fiber optic module housing. The fiber optic modules and fiber optic module housings disclosed herein can be disposed in fiber optic equipment including but not limited to a fiber optic chassis and a fiber optic equipment drawer.

Claims

1. A fiber optic module, comprising:

a main body defining an internal chamber disposed between a front side and a rear side;

a front opening disposed along a longitudinal axis in the front side; and

a plurality of fiber optic components disposed through the front opening;

wherein the width of the front opening is at least eighty-five percent (85%) of the width of the front side.

2. The fiber optic module of claim 1, wherein the width of the front opening is between ninety percent (90%) and ninety-nine percent (99%) of the width of the front side.

3. The fiber optic module of claim 1, wherein a height of the front opening is at least eighty-five percent (85%) of the height of the front side.

4. The fiber optic module of claim 1, wherein a height of the front opening is at least ninety-five percent (95%) of the height of the front side.

5. The fiber optic module of claim 1, further comprising at least one fiber optic component disposed through the rear side of the main body.

6. The fiber optic module of claim 1, wherein the plurality of fiber optic components is comprised of at least a plurality of fiber optic connectors and fiber optic adapters.

7. The fiber optic module of claim 1, wherein the plurality of fiber optic components is comprised of single fiber, fiber optic components.

8. The fiber optic module of claim 1, further comprising a fiber optic harness disposed in the internal chamber and connected to the plurality of fiber optic components.

10. The fiber optic module of claim 1, further comprising at least one rail disposed on the main body.

11. The fiber optic module of claim 10, further comprising at least one latch attached to the at least one rail and configured to engage the at least one rail.

12. The fiber optic module of claim 10 disposed in fiber optic equipment comprised from the group consisting of a fiber optic chassis and a fiber optic equipment drawer.

13. The fiber optic module of claim 1, further including a fiber guide.

9. The fiber optic module of claim 9, wherein the fiber optic harness is comprised of a plurality of optical fibers having a bend radius of 40 millimeters or less.

14. A fiber optic module, comprising:

a main body defining an internal chamber disposed between a front side and a rear side;

a front opening disposed along a longitudinal axis in the front side; and

a plurality of fiber optic components disposed through the front opening providing a fiber optic connection density of at least one fiber optic connection per 7.0 millimeters (mm) of width of the front opening.

15. The fiber optic module of claim 14, wherein the plurality of fiber optic components provides a fiber optic connection density of at least one fiber optic connection per 6.9 mm of width of the front opening.

16. The fiber optic module of claim 14, wherein the plurality of fiber optic components provides a fiber optic connection density of at least one fiber optic connection per 1.7 mm of width of the front opening.

17. The fiber optic module of claim 14, wherein the plurality of fiber optic components provides a fiber optic connection density of at least one fiber optic connection per 0.85 mm of width of the front opening.

18. The fiber optic module of claim 14, wherein the plurality of fiber optic components is comprised of at least a plurality of fiber optic connectors and fiber optic adapters.

19. The fiber optic module of claim 14, wherein the plurality of fiber optic components is comprised of single fiber, fiber optic components.

20. The fiber optic module of claim 14, further comprising a fiber optic harness disposed in the internal chamber and connected to the plurality of fiber optic components.

21. The fiber optic module of claim 20, wherein the fiber optic harness is comprised of a plurality of optical fibers having a bend radius of 40 millimeters or less.

22. The fiber optic module of claim 14, further comprising at least one rail disposed on the main body.

23. The fiber optic module of claim 22, further comprising at least one latch attached to the at least one rail and configured to engage the at least one rail.

24. The fiber optic module of claim 14 disposed in fiber optic equipment comprised from the group consisting of a fiber optic chassis and a fiber optic equipment drawer.

25. The fiber optic module of claim 14, further including a fiber guide.

26. A fiber optic module, comprising:

a main body defining an internal chamber disposed between a front side and a rear side;

a front opening disposed along a longitudinal axis in the front side; and

a plurality of fiber optic components disposed through the front opening providing at least twelve (12) fiber optic connections;

wherein the width of the front opening is 90 mm or less.

27. The fiber optic module of claim 26, wherein the width of the front opening is 85 mm or less.

28. The fiber optic module of claim 26, wherein the width of the front opening is 80 mm or less.

29. The fiber optic module of claim 26, wherein the height of the front opening is 12 mm or less.

30. The fiber optic module of claim 26, wherein the height of the front opening is 10 mm or less.

31. The fiber optic module of claim 26, wherein the plurality of fiber optic components provides at least forty-eight (48) fiber optic connections.

32. The fiber optic module of claim 26, wherein the plurality of fiber optic components provides at least ninety-six (96) fiber optic connections.

33. The fiber optic module of claim 26, wherein the plurality of fiber optic components is comprised of at least a plurality of fiber optic connectors and fiber optic adapters.

34. The fiber optic module of claim 26, wherein the plurality of fiber optic components is comprised of single fiber, fiber optic components.

35. The fiber optic module of claim 26, further comprising a fiber optic harness disposed in the internal chamber and connected to the plurality of fiber optic components.

36. The fiber optic module of claim 35, wherein the fiber optic harness is comprised of a plurality of optical fibers having a bend radius of 40 millimeters or less.

37. The fiber optic module of claim 26, further comprising at least one rail disposed on the main body.

38. The fiber optic module of claim 37, further comprising at least one latch attached to the at least one rail and configured to engage the at least one rail.

39. The fiber optic module of claim 26 disposed in fiber optic equipment comprised from the group consisting of a fiber optic chassis and a fiber optic equipment drawer.

40. The fiber optic module of claim 26, further including a fiber guide.

41. A fiber optic module housing, comprising:

a main body defining an internal chamber disposed between a front side and a rear side; and

a front opening disposed along a longitudinal axis in the front side and configured to receive a plurality of fiber optic components;

wherein the width of the front opening is at least eighty-five percent (85%) of the width of the front side.

42. The fiber optic module housing of claim 41, wherein the width of the front opening is between ninety percent (90%) and ninety-nine percent (99%) of the width of the front side.

43. The fiber optic module housing of claim 41, wherein the height of the front opening is at least eighty-five percent (85%) of the height of the front side.

44. The fiber optic module housing of claim 41, wherein the height of the front opening is at least ninety percent (90%) of the height of the front side.

45. The fiber optic module of claim 41, further including a fiber guide.

46. A fiber optic module housing, comprising:

a main body defining an internal chamber disposed between a front side and a rear side; and

a front opening disposed along a longitudinal axis in the front side and configured to support a fiber optic connection density of at least one fiber optic connection per 7.0 millimeters (mm) of width of the front opening.

47. The fiber optic module housing of claim 46, wherein the front opening supports a fiber optic connection density of at least one fiber optic connection per 6.9 mm of width of the front opening.

48. A fiber optic module housing, comprising:

a main body defining an internal chamber disposed between a front side and a rear side; and

a front opening disposed along a longitudinal axis in the front side and configured to support at least twelve (12) fiber optic connections;

wherein the width of the front opening is 90 mm or less.

49. The fiber optic module housing of claim 48, wherein the width of the front opening is 80 mm or less.

50. The fiber optic module housing of claim 48, wherein the height of the front opening is 12 mm or less.

51. The fiber optic module housing of claim 48, wherein the height of the front opening is 10 mm or less.