Fiber optic module for high density supply of patching and splicing

• US 5,701,380 A
• Filed: 06/24/1996
• Issued: 12/23/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Telect Incorporated (Amphenol Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Telect Incorporated (Amphenol Corporation)
• Inventors: Larson, Glen M., Mayberry, Terry R.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGO, HUNG NHAT
• Application Number:
  US08/669,083
• Time in Patent Office: 547 Days
• Field of Search: 385/134, 385/135, 385/138, 385/139
• US Class Current: 385/134
• 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 6/4452 Distribution frames
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4454 with splices
• 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

Disclosed is a modular fiber optic cable management system which includes a tray module housing, a plurality of tray modules in slidable relation to the tray module housing and which isolates the fiber optic cables for maintenance and access such that the displacement and disturbance to surrounding fiber cables is minimized. Each tray module including an entrance and an exit through which fiber optic cable may be routed and one to four adapters for connection to fiber optic cables.

Claims

1. A modular fiber optic cable management panel, comprising:

a. a tray module housing;

b. a plurality of tray modules in slidable relation to the tray module housing, each tray module including an integral front tray module opening for routing one to four fiber optic cables and an integral rear tray module opening for routing one to four fiber optic cables, wherein the front tray module and the rear tray module prevent the fibers from being bent in an arc having a radius of curvature that is less than a prescribed value; and

c. one to four fiber optic adapters mounted on at least one of the tray modules.

2. A modular fiber optic management panel as recited in claim 1, and in which one of the fiber optic adapters in a tray module attaches to connectors for a receive fiber optic cable and the remaining fiber optic adapter attaches to connectors for a transmit fiber optic cable.

3. A modular fiber optic management panel as recited in claim 1, and in which the ratio of fiber optic adapters to square inches of frontage area of the management panel is greater than fifty adapters per one hundred square inches.

4. A modular fiber optic management panel as recited in claim 1, and in which the tray modules can be slid out of the tray module housing to target a particular fiber cable, while-only displacing one to three other fiber cables.

5. A modular fiber optic management panel as recited in claim 1, and in which the tray module housing is less than twenty inches wide.

6. A modular fiber optic management panel as recited in claim 1, and in which two to four tray module housings can be mounted in an industry standard fiber optic distribution rack measuring approximately twenty three inches wide.

7. A modular fiber optic management panel framework, comprising:

a. a tray module housing;

b. a plurality of tray modules in slidable relation to the tray module housing, each tray module including an integral front tray module opening for routing one to four fiber optic cables and an integral rear tray module opening for routing one to four fiber optic cables, wherein the front tray module and the rear tray module prevent the fibers from being bent in an arc having a radius of curvature that is less than a prescribed value;

c. one to four fiber optic adapters mounted on at least one of the tray modules;

d. an auxiliary housing connected to the tray module housing; and

e. one or more auxiliary trays in slidable relation to the auxiliary housing.

8. A modular fiber optic management panel as recited in claim 7, and in which the ratio of fiber optic adapters to square inches of frontage area of the management panel is greater than fifty adapters per one hundred square inches.

9. A modular fiber optic management panel framework as recited in claim 7, and which further comprises a fiber cable wrap post mounted to the auxiliary housing adjacent to the tray module housing.

10. A modular fiber optic management panel framework, comprising:

a. a fiber optic management panel framework;

b. a tray module housing attached to the panel framework;

b. a plurality of tray modules in slidable relation to the tray module housing, each tray module including an integral front tray module opening for routing one to four fiber optic cables and an integral rear tray module opening for routing one to four fiber optic cables, wherein the front tray module and the rear tray module prevent the fibers from being bent in an arc having a radius of curvature that is less than a prescribed value;

d. one to four fiber optic adapters mounted on at least one of the tray modules;

e. an auxiliary housing connected to the panel framework; and

f. one or more auxiliary trays in slidable relation to the auxiliary housing.

11. A modular fiber optic management panel framework as recited in claim 10, and which further comprises a fiber cable wrap post mounted to the panel framework adjacent to the tray module housing.

12. A modular fiber optic distribution system as recited in claim 10, and which further comprises one or more retaining brackets mounted to the panel framework adjacent to the tray module housing.

13. A modular fiber optic management panel as recited in claim 10, and in which the ratio of fiber optic adapters to square inches of frontage area of the management panel is greater than fifty adapters per one hundred square inches.

14. A fiber optic cable management process, comprising the following steps:

a. providing a tray module housing;

b. providing a plurality of tray modules in slidable relation to the tray module housing, each tray module including an integral front tray module opening for routing one to four fiber optic cables and an integral rear tray module opening for routing one to four fiber optic cables, wherein the front tray module and the rear tray module prevent the fibers from being ban in an arc having a radius of curvature that is less than a prescribed value;

c. sliding one of the tray modules frontward from the housing;

d. connecting a first signal transmission fiber cable to one of the fiber optic adapter connectors; and

e. connecting a second signal transmission fiber cable to the same fiber optic adapter connector.