TELECOMMUNICATIONS DISTRIBUTION ELEMENTS

• US 20190278039A1
• Filed: 09/08/2017
• Published: 09/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Commscope Connectivity Belgium BVBA (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Commscope Connectivity Belgium BVBA (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: GEENS, Johan, VASTMANS, Kristof, VERMEULEN, Pieter, KEUSTERMANS, Eric Marcel M.
• Granted Patent: US 10,705,306 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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
• 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 6/4455 characterised by the way of extraction or insertion of the cassette in the distribution frame, e.g. pivoting, sliding, rotating or gliding

Abstract

A fiber optic telecommunications device (2302/2402/2502) includes a first fiber optic connection location (2308) defined on the telecommunications device (2302/2402/2502), wherein a plurality of optical fibers (2307) extends into the telecommunications device (2302/2402/2502) from the first fiber optic connection location (2308). A plurality of second fiber optic connection locations (2309) are movably disposed on the telecommunications device (2302/2402/2502). A flexible substrate (2306/2506) is positioned between the first fiber optic connection location (2308) and the plurality of second fiber optic connection locations (2309), the flexible substrate (2306/2506) rigidly supporting the plurality of optical fibers (2307) and relaying the plurality of fibers (2307) from the first fiber optic connection location (2308) to each of the second fiber optic connection locations (2309).

Claims

1. ) A fiber optic telecommunications device comprising:

a first fiber optic connection location defined on the telecommunications device, wherein a plurality of optical fibers extend into the telecommunications device from the first fiber optic connection location;

a plurality of second fiber optic connection locations, wherein the second fiber optic connection locations are movably disposed on the telecommunications device; and

a flexible substrate positioned between the first fiber optic connection location and the plurality of second fiber optic connection locations, the flexible substrate rigidly supporting the plurality of optical fibers and relaying the plurality of fibers from the first fiber optic connection location to each of the second fiber optic connection locations.

2. ) The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of second fiber optic connection locations are provided in a stacked arrangement to form an array, the array hingedly mounted to the telecommunications device so as to pivot with respect to the device.

3. ) The device of claim 2, wherein the array is configured to pivot along a plane parallel to a stacking direction of the array.

4. ) The device of claim 2, wherein the array is configured to pivot along a plane perpendicular to a stacking direction of the array.

5. ) The device of claim 1, wherein the first connection location is defined by an MPO adapter that is configured to receive an MPO connector terminating the plurality of optical fibers supported by the substrate.

6. ) The device of claim 1, wherein the second fiber optic connection locations are defined by fiber optic adapters configured to receive fiber optic connectors terminating the optical fibers extending from the substrate.

7. ) The device of claim 6, wherein the fiber optic connectors are simplex or duplex connectors.

8. ) The device of claim 6, wherein each of the fiber optic adapters are configured to mate a conventional fiber optic connector with a non-conventional fiber optic connector, the non-conventional connector including a ferrule and a ferrule hub supporting the ferrule.

9. ) The device of claim 8, wherein the conventional fiber optic connector is an LC connector.

10. ) The device of claim 1, wherein the telecommunications device defines a part of a sliding tray that is configured for mounting to a telecommunications drawer.

11. ) The device of claim 10, wherein the telecommunications device includes at least one hinge for hingedly mounting to the sliding tray.

12. ) The device of claim 1, further comprising two of the first fiber optic connection locations and a plurality of movable second fiber optic connection locations corresponding to each of the first fiber optic connection locations the device further comprising a flexible substrate positioned between each of the first fiber optic connection locations and corresponding plurality of movable second fiber optic connection locations, each flexible substrate rigidly supporting the plurality of optical fibers and relaying the plurality of fibers from the first fiber optic connection locations to each of the corresponding second fiber optic connection locations.

13. ) The device of claim 12, wherein portions of the two flexible substrates overlap each other in relaying the fibers.

14. ) A telecommunications drawer comprising:

a chassis and a movable tray slidably disposed with respect to the chassis, the tray movable between a closed position and an open position relative to the chassis, the tray defining a first fiber optic connection location wherein a plurality of optical fibers extend into the tray from the first fiber optic connection location the tray defining a plurality of second fiber optic connection locations, wherein the second fiber optic connection locations are movably disposed with respect to the tray, the tray further including a flexible substrate positioned between the first fiber optic connection location and the plurality of second fiber optic connection locations, the flexible substrate rigidly supporting the plurality of optical fibers and relaying the plurality of fibers from the first fiber optic connection location to each of the second fiber optic connection locations.

15. ) An optical fiber distribution rack comprising:

a plurality of telecommunications drawers in a stacked arrangement, each drawer further comprising;

a chassis and a movable tray slidably disposed with respect to the chassis, the tray movable between a closed position and an open position relative to the chassis, the tray defining a first fiber optic connection location wherein a plurality of optical fibers extend into the tray from the first fiber optic connection location, the tray defining a plurality of second fiber optic connection locations, wherein the second fiber optic connection locations are movably disposed with respect to the tray, the tray further including a flexible substrate positioned between the first fiber optic connection location and the plurality of second fiber optic connection locations, the flexible substrate rigidly supporting the plurality of optical fibers and relaying the plurality of fibers from the first fiber optic connection location to each of the second fiber optic connection locations.