High-Density Patch-Panel Assemblies for Optical Fiber Telecommunications

• US 20110085776A1
• Filed: 11/19/2010
• Published: 04/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Christopher P. Lewallen, Daniel S. Mcgranahan, Eric Biribuze, James P. Luther, Micah C. Isenhour
• Inventors: Biribuze, Eric, Lewallen, Christopher P., Isenhour, Micah C., McGranahan, Daniel S., Luther, James P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,331,752 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/135
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/02342 characterised by cladding features, i.e. light confining region
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3897 Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards G02B6/44528 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4452 Distribution frames

Abstract

Patch panel assemblies (150) that contain patch panel modules (50) for use in optical fiber telecommunication systems are disclosed. One of the patch panel assemblies includes a front mounting frame (210F) and at least one internal mounting frame (210I) that support a plurality of patch panel modules. The patch panel assembly also includes a hinge assembly (224) configured allow bend-insensitive fiber cables (70) to be routed therethrough. One of the patch panel assemblies includes a housing (152) with a drawer (270) that supports a plurality of patch panel modules. The patch panel modules employ bend-insensitive optical fibers (12C) to connect front and rear ports (92, 98) so that the patch panels have a reduced size as compared to conventional patch panel modules. The patch panel assemblies include a cable distribution box (300) that can store excess cable and that assists in routing bend-insensitive fiber optic cables within the patch panel assembly interior (200) in order to connect to select patch panel module jacks (90).

Claims

1. A patch panel module, comprising:

a substantially rectangular module housing that includes a front side having at least one angled facet, an opposing back side, opposing ends, and opposing sidewalls that define an interior region;

at least one jack arranged one the at least one angled facet, with the at least one jack defining one or more front-side ports;

at least one backside port operably connected to the at least one jack via at least one bend-insensitive cable fiber contained within the housing interior region; and

a lengthwise open channel formed in the backside of the module housing and sized to accommodate an external bend-insensitive optical cable.

2. The patch panel module of claim 1, comprising a plurality of angled facets each supporting a jack having one or two ports.

3. The patch panel module of claim 2, configured to receive a bend-insensitive optical fiber cable at the end of the housing from which the jacks are angled away.

4. The patch panel module of claim 1 having a height dimension (H4) as measured from the backside to the front side, wherein 0.75″

<

H4<

1.25″

.

14. A rack assembly comprising:

a rack frame configured to support a plurality of patch panel assemblies in a stacked fashion; and

one or more patch panel drawer assemblies according to claim 3 supported in the rack frame in a stacked fashion.

15. The rack assembly of claim 14, further comprising a main cable that carries a plurality of bend-insensitive fiber-optic cables that connect to one or more of the at least one patch panel modules within the housing.

5. A patch panel assembly for a telecommunication data center for providing optical connections using bend-insensitive optical fiber cables, comprising:

a rectangular, box-like housing having opposing side walls and a back panel that defines an interior, the housing sized to be operably supported by a standard telecommunications rack;

a drawer having a front end and a floor panel and configured to slide in and out of the housing interior, and configured to support an array of patch panel modules on the floor panel in a substantially horizontal configuration; and

at least one movable cable guide arranged in the housing and configured to guide at least one bend-resistant fiber optic cable and to move to accommodate the sliding of the drawer in and out of the housing.

6. The patch panel assembly according to claim 5, wherein the cable guide comprises two articulated guide members that fold in and reside at the housing back panel in a stacked fashion when drawer is closed, and that fold out and reside near the housing sidewalls when the drawer is opened.

7. The patch panel assembly according to claim 6, further comprising a cable distribution box arranged near a back end of the drawer immediately behind the patch panel modules and configured to receive a plurality of bend-resistant fiber optic cables and distribute them to one or more of the patch panel modules.

8. The patch panel assembly according to claim 7, wherein the cable distribution box defines at least one interior chamber and having an end with an aperture formed therein and that is open to the at least one interior chamber, and a front face having multiple apertures formed therein that are open to the at least one interior chamber, the cable distribution box arranged within the housing interior region and containing within the interior chamber at least a portion of the at least one bend-insensitive fiber optic cable.

9. The patch panel assembly according to claim 7, further comprising:

at least one aperture in at least one of the sidewalls, the at least one aperture sized to allow multiple bend-resistant optical fiber cables to pass therethrough; and

wherein each patch panel module is optically connected to a corresponding bend-resistant optical fiber cable that passes through the at least one aperture.

10. The patch panel assembly according to claim 5, wherein each patch-panel module has a backside wall arranged against the floor panel, wherein the patch panel modules are arranged in at least two rows, and wherein the backside wall has an open channel formed therein that runs the length of the backside wall and that is sized to accommodate one of the bend-resistance fiber optic cables so that one of the bend-insensitive fiber optic cables can pass beneath one patch panel module and be connected to a patch-panel module in a different row.

11. The patch panel assembly according to claim 5, further comprising a cover arranged to cover the array of patch panel modules.

12. The patch panel assembly according to claim 5, further comprising at least one jumper cable connected to at least one of the jacks.

13. The patch panel assembly according to claim 5, wherein the patch panel modules each have a height dimension (H₄) in the range from between about 0.75″

to about 1.25″

.