FIBER OPTIC MODULE AND CHASSIS

• US 20110019964A1
• Filed: 01/15/2010
• Published: 01/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bison Patent Licensing, LLC
• Original Assignee: Tyco Electronics Services GmbH (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Inventors: Zimmel, Steven C., Nhep, Ponharith
• Granted Patent: US 8,494,329 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/135
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2006/4297 having protection means, e.g. protecting humans against accidental exposure to harmful laser radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3825 with an intermediate part, e.g. adapter, receptacle, linking two plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3897 Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards G02B6/44528 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4453 Cassettes

Abstract

A telecommunications assembly includes a chassis with a top wall, a bottom wall, a front opening, a rear opening, and first and second transverse sidewalls extending between the front and rear openings, the top wall and bottom walls defining slots. Upper mounting guides defining upper key slots between adjacent upper guides and lower mounting guides defining lower key slots between adjacent lower guides are mounted to the top and bottom walls. The upper and lower guides define snap-fit structures inserted into the slots defined on the top and bottom walls for mounting the upper and lower guides to the chassis. At least one of the upper and the lower mounting guides defines adapter mounts for slidably receiving fiber optic adapters through the rear opening. Fiber optic modules are slidably received within the chassis through the front opening and each module is slidably inserted into the upper and lower key slots of the chassis, each module removable from the chassis through the front opening. A fiber optic adapter that is separate from the module may be slidably received within the chassis through the rear opening into one of the adapter mounts, the fiber optic adapter removable through the rear opening. The module may include at least one connector that protrudes from the module that is adapted to be inserted into the adapter when the module is inserted into the chassis.

Claims

1. A telecommunications assembly, comprising:

a chassis including a first wall, an opposing second wall, a front opening, a rear opening, and first and second transverse sidewalls extending between the front and rear openings, the first wall and the second wall defining a plurality of slots;

a plurality of first mounting guides mounted to the first wall of the chassis and a plurality of second mounting guides mounted to the second wall of the chassis, the first mounting guides defining elongate first key slots between adjacent first mounting guides, the second mounting guides defining elongate second key slots between adjacent second mounting guides, the first key slots being parallel to and aligned with the second key slots, the first and the second mounting guides defining snap-fit structures inserted into the slots defined on the first and second walls, respectively, for mounting the first and second mounting guides to the chassis with a snap-fit interlock, at least one of the first mounting guides and the second mounting guides defining a plurality of adapter mounts for slidably receiving fiber optic adapters through the rear opening;

a module configured to be slidably received within the chassis through the front opening, the module slidably inserted into the elongate first and second key slots defined by the first and second mounting guides of the chassis, the module removable from the chassis through the front opening; and

a fiber optic adapter that is separate from the module, the fiber optic adapter slidably received within the chassis through the rear opening into one of the adapter mounts, the fiber optic adapter removable from the chassis through the rear opening;

the module including at least one connector that protrudes from the module that is adapted to be inserted into the fiber optic adapter when the module is inserted into the chassis.

2. A telecommunications assembly according to claim 1, wherein each adapter mount defines a guide track and a main body of the adapter defines a longitudinal guide for slidable insertion into the guide track, the adapter main body further including a catch configured to fit within a slot located on the adapter mount for snap-fitting the adapter into the adapter mount.

3. A telecommunications assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first mounting guide includes a removably mounted flexible shield for blocking light off a front end of the adapter, the shield movable between an operating position and a non-operating position, the shield configured to be moved from the operating position to the non-operating position by the module when the module is slidably inserted within the chassis.

4. A telecommunications assembly according to claim 1, wherein each of the first mounting guides includes a latch slot adjacent the front opening of the chassis, the latch slot configured to receive a portion of a flexible latch of the module for forming a snap fit interlock with the module for retaining the module within the chassis.

5. A telecommunications assembly according to claim 1, wherein the chassis is configured to accommodate twelve modules and twelve adapters.

6. A telecommunications assembly according to claim 1, wherein the chassis is configured to accommodate forty modules and forty adapters in a side-by-side configuration when mounted within a standard 19-inch telecommunications rack.

7. A telecommunications assembly according to claim 1, wherein the module includes a fiber optic splitter within the module, the fiber optic splitter configured to split a single signal incoming into the module through the connector into a plurality of same outgoing signals through an exit of the module.

8. A telecommunications assembly, comprising:

a chassis including a first wall, a second opposing wall, a front opening, a rear opening, and first and second transverse sidewalls extending between the front and rear openings, the first wall and the second wall defining a plurality of slots;

a plurality of first mounting guides mounted to the first wall of the chassis and a plurality of second mounting guides mounted to the second wall of the chassis, the first mounting guides defining elongate first key slots between adjacent first mounting guides, the second mounting guides defining elongate second key slots between adjacent second mounting guides, the first key slots being parallel to and aligned with the second key slots, the first and the second mounting guides defining snap-fit structures inserted into the slots defined on the first and second walls, respectively, for mounting the first and second mounting guides to the chassis with a snap-fit interlock; and

a module configured to be slidably received within the chassis through the front opening, the module slidably inserted into the elongate first and second key slots defined by the first and second mounting guides of the chassis, the module removable from the chassis through the front opening, the module including at least one optical component within the module, wherein each of the first mounting guides includes a latch slot adjacent the front opening of the chassis, the latch slot of the first mounting guide configured to receive a portion of a flexible latch of the module for forming a snap fit interlock for retaining the module within the chassis.

9. A telecommunications assembly according to claim 8, wherein the optical component is a fiber optic splitter configured to split a single signal incoming into the module into a plurality of same outgoing signals.

10. A telecommunications assembly according to claim 8, wherein the chassis is configured to accommodate twelve modules in a side-by-side configuration.

11. A telecommunications assembly according to claim 8, wherein the chassis is configured to accommodate forty modules in a side-by-side configuration when mounted within a standard 19-inch telecommunications rack.

12. A telecommunications chassis, comprising:

a first wall, an opposing second wall, a front opening, a rear opening, and first and second transverse sidewalls extending between the front and rear openings, the first wall and the second wall defining a plurality of slots, a height of the chassis defined between the first wall and the second wall, the height of the chassis occupying one standard unit (RU) of rack space within a standard telecommunications rack;

a plurality of first mounting guides mounted to the first wall and a plurality of second mounting guides mounted to the second wall, wherein the first and the second mounting guides define snap-fit structures inserted into the slots defined on the first and second walls, respectively, for mounting the first and second mounting guides with a snap-fit interlock, the first mounting guides defining elongate first key slots between adjacent first mounting guides, the second mounting guides defining elongate second key slots between adjacent second mounting guides, the first key slots being parallel to and aligned with the second key slots, the first and the second key slots configured to receive first and second opposing flanges, respectively, of a fiber optic module for slidably guiding the module into the chassis, at least one of the first mounting guides and the second mounting guides defining a plurality of adapter mounts for slidably receiving fiber optic adapters through the rear opening.

13. A telecommunications chassis according to claim 12, wherein the chassis is configured to accommodate forty fiber optic modules and fiber optic adapters in a side-by-side configuration when mounted within a standard 19-inch telecommunications rack.

14. A telecommunications module comprising:

a housing including a main housing portion and a removable cover cooperatively defining an interior, the main housing portion defining a first sidewall, a front wall, a rear wall, a first wall, and an opposing second wall, the cover defining a second sidewall of the housing when mounted on the main housing portion to close off the interior, a height of the telecommunications module defined between the first wall and the second wall, the height being between 2 and 3 inches and configured to fit within one standard unit (RU) of rack space in a standard telecommunications rack;

the main housing including at least one signal output location defined on the front wall;

an optical component located within the interior, the optical component configured to receive a fiber optic input signal coming in from a signal input location of the housing and output a fiber optic output signal going toward the signal output location defined on the front wall of the main housing, wherein the telecommunications module is configured such that the signal input location can be selected to be on either the front wall or the rear wall of the main housing;

the cover defining a protrusion extending from the second sidewall toward the main housing portion, the protrusion received within a recess defined on the front wall of the main housing portion when the cover is mounted on the main housing portion;

wherein, if the signal input location is desired to be on the front wall, the protrusion is selectively breakable to expose the recess defined on the front wall of the main housing portion, the recess defining one of the optional signal input locations.

15. A telecommunications module according to claim 14, wherein the protrusion includes two breakable portions separated by a break line, the breakable portions include a base portion and a tip portion, wherein, if one input cable carrying a fiber optic input signal is desired to enter the main housing, the tip portion is adapted to be selectively broken off and if two input cables carrying fiber optic input signals are desired to enter the main housing, the protrusion is selectively broken off at the base portion to remove the entire protrusion.

16. A telecommunications module according to claim 14, wherein, when the signal input location is selected to be on the rear wall of the housing, the signal input location is defined by at least one fiber optic connector extending from the rear wall of the main housing toward an exterior of the housing.

17. A telecommunications module according to claim 14, wherein the optical component is a fiber optic splitter that splits the fiber optic input signal into a plurality of the fiber optic output signals.

18. A telecommunications module according to claim 14, wherein the main housing includes a flexible cantilever arm extending from the front wall of the main housing for providing a snap fit connection with a piece of telecommunications equipment.

19. A telecommunications module according to claim 14, wherein the main housing portion includes a cable exit projecting outwardly from the housing, the cable exit defining the signal output location.

20. A telecommunications module according to claim 14, wherein the main housing portion includes a cable management structure in the form of a spool for guiding a cable carrying the fiber optic output signal toward the signal output location.

21. A fiber optic adapter, comprising:

a main body with a first wall, an opposing second wall, a front end, a rear end, a longitudinal opening extending between the front end and the rear end, the main body configured to receive a first fiber optic connector into the longitudinal opening through the front end and a second fiber optic connector into the longitudinal opening through the rear end, the main body further including a side opening between the front end and the rear end and communicating with the longitudinal opening, the side opening configured to receive a ferrule alignment sleeve and inner housing halves for aligning the first fiber optic connector with the second fiber optic connector; and

a panel closing off the side opening for holding the ferrule alignment sleeve and the inner housing halves within the main body, wherein the main body includes a first longitudinal guide defined on the first wall and a second longitudinal guide defined on the second wall, the first and second guides being for slidably guiding the adapter into a piece of telecommunications equipment;

the first longitudinal guide including a catch with a ramped portion and a square portion, the catch for providing a snap-fit interlock with the piece of telecommunications equipment;

a handle protruding past the rear end of the main housing, the handle configured for slidably pulling/pushing the adapter with respect to the telecommunications equipment.

22. A telecommunications module comprising:

a housing including a main housing portion and a removable cover cooperatively defining an interior, the main housing portion defining a first sidewall, a front wall, a rear wall, a first wall, and an opposing second wall, the cover defining a second sidewall of the housing when mounted on the main housing portion to close off the interior, a height of the telecommunications module defined between the first wall and the second wall, the height being between 2 and 3 inches and configured to fit within one standard unit (RU) of rack space in a standard telecommunications rack;

the main housing including at least one signal output location defined on the front wall;

an optical component located within the interior, the optical component configured to receive a fiber optic input signal coming in from a signal input location of the housing and output a fiber optic output signal going toward the signal output location defined on the front wall of the main housing, wherein the telecommunications module is configured such that the signal input location can be selected to be on either the front wall or the rear wall of the main housing;

a clamp structure located within the interior for removably mounting the optical component to the main housing;

the cover defining a protrusion extending from the second sidewall toward the main housing portion, the protrusion received within a recess defined on the front wall of the main housing portion when the cover is mounted on the main housing portion;

wherein the protrusion is selectively breakable to expose the recess defined on the front wall of the main housing portion.