FIBER OPTIC CONNECTOR ADAPTER MODULE MODULES AND METHODS

• US 20140241688A1
• Filed: 03/11/2013
• Published: 08/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Inventors: Isenhour, Micah Colen, Knecht, Dennis Michael, Luther, James Phillip
• Granted Patent: US 8,827,568 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/135
• 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: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

Fiber optic connector adapter module assemblies employing an engagement technique to install a fiber optic connector adapter module in an enclosure without tools are disclosed. In one embodiment, a fiber optic connector adapter module assembly includes a fiber optic connector adapter module having a plurality of first ports, and an adapter mount having an adapter opening. The adapter opening includes an insertion region and an installation region, wherein the insertion region and the installation region are shaped such that the insertion region is larger than the installation region. The fiber optic connector adapter module assembly may further include at least one retention mechanism coupled to the adapter mount. The installation region of the adapter mount and the retention mechanism cooperate to releasably lock the fiber optic connector adapter module in the insertion region upon rotation of the fiber optic connector adapter module into the installation region of the adapter opening.

Claims

1. A fiber optic connector adapter module assembly comprising:

a fiber optic connector adapter module comprising a plurality of fiber optic connector adapters, wherein each of the fiber optic connector adapters of the array has a first port; and

an adapter mount comprising an adapter opening, the adapter opening comprising an insertion region and an installation region, wherein the insertion region and the installation region are shaped such that the insertion region is larger than the installation region, and the insertion region is configured to receive the fiber optic connector adapter module; and

at least one retention mechanism coupled to the adapter mount, wherein the installation region of the adapter mount and the at least one retention mechanism cooperate to releasably lock the fiber optic connector adapter module in the insertion region upon rotation of the fiber optic connector adapter module from the insertion region into the installation region of the adapter opening, the at least one retention mechanism comprising;

a first spring clip coupled to a second surface of the adapter mount at a location proximate a first end of the adapter opening, wherein the first spring clip forces a first end of the fiber optic connector adapter module against the second surface of the adapter mount when the fiber optic connector adapter module is positioned within the installation region; and

a second spring clip coupled to the second surface of the adapter mount at a location proximate a second end of the adapter opening, wherein the second spring clip forces a second end of the fiber optic connector adapter module against the second surface of the adapter mount when the fiber optic connector adapter module is positioned within the installation region.

8. The fiber optic connector adapter module assembly of claim 1, wherein a ferrule element is disposed within each first port and is configured to mate with at least a fiber optic connector inserted into the first port.

9. The fiber optic connector adapter module assembly of claim 1, wherein the insertion region is angled with respect to the installation region.

2-7. -7. (canceled)

10. (canceled)

11. A fiber optic connector adapter module assembly comprising:

a fiber optic connector adapter module comprising;

a first end;

a second end;

an array of fiber optic connector adapters, wherein each of the fiber optic connector adapters of the array has a first port;

at least one first engagement feature extending from the first end of the fiber optic connector adapter module; and

at least one second engagement feature extending from the second end of the fiber optic connector adapter module;

an adapter mount comprising;

a first surface;

a second surface that is opposite from the first surface;

an adapter opening comprising;

an insertion region shaped to accept the fiber optic connector adapter module such that the at least one first engagement feature and the at least one second engagement feature may pass through the adapter opening;

an installation region shaped such that the at least one first engagement feature and the at least one second engagement feature contact the second surface of the adapter mount when the fiber optic connector adapter module is positioned within the installation region, thereby preventing the fiber optic connector adapter module from passing through the adapter opening; and

at least one retention mechanism configured to retain the fiber optic connector adapter module in the installation region of the adapter mount, the at least one retention mechanism comprising;

a first spring clip coupled to the second surface of the adapter mount at a location proximate a first end of the adapter opening, wherein the first spring clip forces the at least one first engagement feature against the second surface of the adapter mount when the fiber optic connector adapter module is positioned within the installation region; and

a second spring clip coupled to the second surface of the adapter mount at a location proximate a second end of the adapter opening, wherein the second spring clip forces the at least one second engagement feature against the second surface of the adapter mount when the fiber optic connector adapter module is positioned within the installation region.

12. (canceled)

13. (canceled)

14. A fiber optic connector adapter module assembly comprising:

a fiber optic connector adapter module comprising;

a first end;

a second end;

an array of fiber optic connector adapters, wherein each of the fiber optic connector adapters of the array has a first port;

at least one first engagement feature extending from the first end of the fiber optic connector adapter module; and

at least one second engagement feature extending from the second end of the fiber optic connector adapter module;

an adapter mount comprising;

a first surface;

a second surface that is opposite from the first surface;

an adapter opening comprising;

an insertion region shaped to accept the fiber optic connector adapter module such that the at least one first engagement feature and the at least one second engagement feature may pass through the adapter opening;

an installation region shaped such that the at least one first engagement feature and the at least one second engagement feature contact the second surface of the adapter mount when the fiber optic connector adapter module is positioned within the installation region, thereby preventing the fiber optic connector adapter module from passing through the adapter opening; and

at least one retention mechanism configured to retain the fiber optic connector adapter module in the installation region of the adapter mount;

wherein;

the at least one first engagement feature comprises a first tab extending from the first end of the fiber optic connector adapter module proximate a first edge of the fiber optic connector adapter module and a second tab extending from the first end of the fiber optic connector adapter module proximate a second edge of the fiber optic connector adapter module;

the at least one second engagement feature comprises a third tab extending from the second end of the fiber optic connector adapter module proximate the first edge of the fiber optic connector adapter module and a fourth tab extending from the second end of the fiber optic connector adapter module proximate the second edge of the fiber optic connector adapter module; and

the adapter opening comprises;

a first notch located to receive the first tab of the fiber optic connector adapter module when the fiber optic connector adapter module is positioned in the insertion region;

a second notch located to receive the second tab of the fiber optic connector adapter module when the fiber optic connector adapter module is positioned in the insertion region;

a third notch located to receive the third tab of the fiber optic connector adapter module when the fiber optic connector adapter module is positioned in the insertion region; and

a fourth notch located to receive the fourth tab of the fiber optic connector adapter module when the fiber optic connector adapter module is positioned in the insertion region.

15. The fiber optic connector adapter module assembly of claim 14, wherein the at least one retention mechanism comprises:

a first spring clip coupled to the second surface of the adapter mount at a location proximate the first notch of the adapter opening, wherein the first spring clip forces the first tab against the second surface of the adapter mount when the fiber optic connector adapter module is positioned within the installation region; and

a second spring clip coupled to the second surface of the adapter mount at a location proximate the fourth notch of the adapter opening, wherein the second spring clip forces the fourth tab against the second surface of the adapter mount when the fiber optic connector adapter module is positioned within the installation region.

16-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A method of installing a fiber optic connector adapter module in a data center enclosure, the fiber optic connector adapter module comprising an array of fiber optic connector adapters, and the method comprising:

positioning the fiber optic connector adapter module into an insertion region of an adapter opening provided in an adapter mount within the data center enclosure, wherein the insertion region of the adapter opening is larger than an area of the fiber optic connector adapter module;

moving the fiber optic connector adapter module within the adapter opening to transition the fiber optic connector adapter module from the insertion region of the adapter opening to an installation region of the adapter opening, wherein the installation region is smaller than the area defined by the area of the fiber optic connector adapter module; and

engaging at least a portion of the fiber optic connector adapter module with at least one retention mechanism that releasably retains the fiber optic connector adapter module in the installation region of the adapter opening, wherein the at least one retention mechanism comprises;

a first spring clip coupled to a second surface of the adapter mount at a location proximate a first end of the adapter opening, wherein the first spring clip forces a first end of the fiber optic connector adapter module against the second surface of the adapter mount when the fiber optic connector adapter module is positioned within the installation region; and

a second spring clip coupled to the second surface of the adapter mount at a location proximate a second end of the adapter opening, wherein the second spring clip forces a second end of the fiber optic connector adapter module against the second surface of the adapter mount when the fiber optic connector adapter module is positioned within the installation region.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein moving the fiber optic connector adapter module comprises rotating the fiber optic connector adapter module from the insertion region of the adapter opening to the installation region of the adapter opening.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein moving the fiber optic connector adapter module comprises linearly translating the fiber optic connector adapter module from the insertion region of the adapter opening to the installation region of the adapter opening.

24-25. -25. (canceled)