Fiber optic module

• US 6,208,796 B1
• Filed: 07/21/1998
• Issued: 03/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Williams Vigliaturo, Shari Lynn
• Primary Examiner(s): HENRY, JON W
• Application Number:
  US09/121,066
• Time in Patent Office: 980 Days
• Field of Search: 385/134-137, 385/89, 324/66
• US Class Current: 385/135
• 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 6/4453 Cassettes

Abstract

A fiber optic module includes front adapters for connection to fiber optic connectors, and rear adapters for connection to fiber optic connectors. The module includes two circuits having passive optical couplers inside, and adapters exposed along the front and the rear of the module. The module is usable in cross-connect applications with itself or with other modules. The adapters are selectively connectable to fiber optic connectors. The front adapters of the module include two receive input ports and two transmit output ports. The front of the module also includes two visual indicators, one for each circuit. The visual indicators include a lens cap at least partially transparent to visual light in light communication with an optical fiber. The rear adapters of the module include two transmit input ports and two transmit output ports. Monitor ports are also located on the rear for both the transmit and receive signals. The receive monitor ports also function as the input ports for an identification signal sent in the reverse direction for illuminating the visual indicators along the front of the module or another module. Alternatively, separate identification signal input ports can be provided on the front as adapters.

Claims

1. A fiber optic module mountable to a chassis comprising:

a module housing having front and rear faces, opposed major sides, and opposed minor sides defining an enclosed interior, the front face including mounting flanges for mounting the module to the chassis;

a plurality of exposed first adapters along the front face, each of the plurality of first adapters connectable to a fiber optic connector external to the module;

a plurality of exposed second adapters along the rear face, each of the plurality of second adapters connectable to a fiber optic connector external to the module;

wherein the plurality of first adapters define;

a first signal transmit output port;

a first signal receive input port;

a first signal identification input port;

a second signal transmit output port;

a second signal receive input port; and

a second signal identification port;

wherein the plurality of second adapters define;

a first signal transmit input port;

a first signal receive output port;

a second signal transmit input port;

a second signal receive output port;

a first signal transmit monitor port;

a first signal receive monitor port;

a second signal transmit monitor port; and

a second signal receive monitor port;

wherein the front face further includes first and second visual indicators;

wherein the plurality of first adapters and the first and second visual indicators are positioned between the mounting flanges along the front face;

a first optical signal coupler disposed within the enclosed interior connecting the first signal transmit input port along the rear face to the first signal transmit monitor port along the rear face and the first signal transmit output port along the front face at a first wavelength, and wherein the first signal transmit output port is connected to the first visual indicator at a second wavelength;

a second optical coupler disposed within the enclosed interior connecting the first signal receive input port along the front face to the first signal receive output port along the rear face and the first signal receive monitor port along the rear face at a third wavelength, and wherein the first signal identification input port along the front face is connected to the first signal receive input port along the front face at a fourth wavelength;

a third optical signal coupler disposed within the enclosed interior connecting the second signal transmit input port along the rear face to the second signal transmit monitor port along the rear face and the second signal transmit output port along the front face at a fifth wavelength, and wherein the second signal transmit output port is connected to the second visual indicator at a sixth wavelength; and

a fourth optical coupler disposed within the enclosed interior connecting the second signal receive input port along the front face to the second signal receive output port along the rear face and the second signal receive monitor port along the rear face at a seventh wavelength, and wherein the second signal receive identification input port along the front face is connected to the second signal receive input port along the front face at an eighth wavelength.

2. The fiber optic module of claim 1, wherein the first, third, fifth, and seventh wavelengths are between approximately 1260 nanometers and approximately 1360 nanometers.

3. The fiber optic module of claim 1, wherein the first, third, fifth, and seventh wavelengths are between approximately 1430 nanometers and approximately 1580 nanometers.

4. The fiber optic module of claim 1, wherein the second, fourth, sixth and eighth wavelengths are between approximately 400 nanometers and approximately 700 nanometers.

5. The fiber optic module of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first adapters are disposed in a linear array.

6. The fiber optic module of claim 5, wherein the plurality of first adapters are at a non-perpendicular angle to a plane defined by the front face.

7. The fiber optic module of claim 1, wherein the rear face includes two linear segments, each segment positioned at a non-perpendicular angle to a plane defined by the front face.

8. The fiber optic module of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first and second adapters are mounted to the respective front and rear faces with releasable clips.

9. The fiber optic module of claim 8, wherein the releasable clips mounting the plurality of adapters to the front face are angled clips for holding the adapters at a non-perpendicular angle relative to the front face.

10. The fiber optic module of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first and second adapters are releasably connectable to fiber optic connectors disposed with the module housing.

11. The fiber optic module of claim 1, wherein the first and second visual indicators each include a lens cap at least partially transparent to visual light.

12. The fiber optic module of claim 11, wherein the first and second visual indicators each further include:

a nut mounted to the lens cap;

a sleeve threadably mountable to the nut;

a ferrule for holding an optical fiber, the ferrule mounted to the sleeve;

the nut and the sleeve threadably mountable together to trap a portion of the module housing therebetween.

13. The fiber optic module of claim 1, further comprising a releasable locking member mounted to each mounting flange for mounting the module to the chassis.

14. A fiber optic module mountable to a chassis comprising:

a module housing having front and rear faces, opposed major sides, and opposed minor sides defining an enclosed interior, the front face including mounting flanges for mounting the module to the chassis;

a plurality of exposed first adapters along the front face, each of the plurality of first adapters connectable to a fiber optic connector external to the module;

a plurality of exposed second adapters along the rear face, each of the plurality of second adapters connectable to a fiber optic connector external to the module;

wherein the plurality of first adapters define;

a first signal transmit output port;

a first signal receive input port;

a second signal transmit output port; and

a second signal receive input port;

wherein the plurality of second adapters define;

a first signal transmit input port;

a first signal receive output port;

a second signal transmit input port;

a second signal receive output port;

a first signal transmit monitor port;

a first signal receive monitor and identification input port;

a second signal transmit monitor port; and

a second signal receive monitor and identification input port;

wherein the front face further includes first and second visual indicators;

wherein the plurality of first adapters and the first and second visual indicators are positioned between the mounting flanges along the front face;

a first optical signal coupler disposed within the enclosed interior connecting the first signal transmit input port along the rear face to the first signal transmit monitor port along the rear face and the first signal transmit output port along the front face at a first wavelength, and wherein the first signal transmit output port is connected to the first visual indicator at a second wavelength;

a second optical coupler disposed within the enclosed interior connecting the first signal receive input port along the front face to the first signal receive output port along the rear face and the first signal receive monitor and identification input port along the rear face at a third wavelength, and wherein the first signal receive monitor and identification input port is connected to the first signal receive input port along the front face at a fourth wavelength;

a third optical signal coupler disposed within the enclosed interior connecting the second signal transmit input port along the rear face to the second signal transmit monitor port along the rear face and the second signal transmit output port along the front face at a fifth wavelength, and wherein the second signal transmit output port is connected to the second visual indicator at a sixth wavelength; and

a fourth optical coupler disposed within the enclosed interior connecting the second signal receive input port along the front face to the second signal receive output port along the rear face and the second signal receive monitor and identification input port along the rear face at a seventh wavelength, and wherein the second signal receive monitor and identification input port is connected to the second signal receive input port along the front face at an eighth wavelength.

26. The fiber optic module of claim 14, wherein the first, third, fifth, and seventh wavelengths are between approximately 1260 nanometers and approximately 1360 nanometers.

27. The fiber optic module of claim 14, wherein the first, third, fifth, and seventh wavelengths are between approximately 1430 nanometers and approximately 1580 nanometers.

28. The fiber optic module of claim 14, wherein the second, fourth, sixth and eighth wavelengths are between approximately 400 nanometers and approximately 700 nanometers.

29. The fiber optic module of claim 14, wherein the plurality of first adapters are disposed in a linear array.

30. The fiber optic module of claim 29, wherein the plurality of first adapters are at a non-perpendicular angle to a plane defined by the front face.

31. The fiber optic module of claim 14, wherein the rear face includes two linear segments, each segment positioned at a non-perpendicular angle to a plane defined by the front face.

32. The fiber optic module of claim 14, wherein the plurality of first and second adapters are mounted to the respective front and rear faces with releasable clips.

33. The fiber optic module of claim 32, wherein the releasable clips mounting the plurality of adapters to the front face are angled clips for holding the adapters at a non-perpendicular angle relative to the front face.

34. The fiber optic module of claim 14, wherein the plurality of first and second adapters are releasably connectable to fiber optic connectors disposed with the module housing.

35. The fiber optic module of claim 14, wherein the first and second visual indicators each include a lens cap at least partially transparent to visual light.

36. The fiber optic module of claim 35, wherein the first and second visual indicators each further include:

a nut mounted to the lens cap;

a sleeve threadably mountable to the nut;

a ferrule for holding an optical fiber, the ferrule mounted to the sleeve;

the nut and the sleeve threadably mountable together to trap a portion of the module housing therebetween.

37. The fiber optic module of claim 14, further comprising a releasable locking member mounted to each mounting flange for mounting the module to the chassis.

15. A fiber optic module mountable to a chassis comprising:

a module housing having front and rear faces, opposed major sides, and opposed minor sides defining an enclosed interior, the front face including mounting flanges for mounting the module to the chassis;

a plurality of adapters mounted along the front and rear faces;

two cross-connect circuits contained within the module housing, each circuit including a plurality of signal lines defining;

signal transmit input and signal transmit output lines;

signal receive input and signal receive output lines;

signal transmit and signal receive monitor lines;

a signal identification input line optically coupled to the signal receive input line;

wherein each of the signal lines is optically connected to one of the adapters;

wherein each circuit further includes a visual indicator optically coupled to the signal transmit output line of the circuit, each visual indicator configured and arranged to emit visual light upon receipt of a visual signal, each visual indicator positioned on the front face of the module housing.

16. The module of claim 15, wherein each visual indicator includes a lens at least partially transparent to visual light.

17. A fiber optic module mountable to a chassis comprising:

a module housing having front and rear faces, opposed major sides, and opposed minor sides defining an enclosed interior, the front face including mounting flanges for mounting the module to the chassis;

a plurality of adapters mounted along the front and rear faces;

two cross-connect circuits contained within the module housing, each circuit including a plurality of signal lines defining;

signal transmit input and signal transmit output lines;

signal receive input and signal receive output lines;

a signal transmit monitor line;

a signal receive monitor and identification signal input line;

wherein each of the signal lines is optically connected to one of the adapters;

wherein each circuit further includes a visual indicator optically coupled to the signal transmit output line of the circuit, each visual indicator configured and arranged to emit visual light upon receipt of a visual signal, each visual indicator positioned on the front face of the module housing.

18. The module of claim 17, wherein each visual indicator includes a lens at least partially transparent to visual light.

19. The module of claim 17, wherein each adapter optically connected to the respective signal receive monitor and identification signal input line is positioned on the rear face of the module housing.

20. A fiber optic module mountable to a chassis comprising:

a module housing having front and rear faces, opposed major sides, and opposed minor sides defining an enclosed interior, the front face including mounting flanges for mounting the module to the chassis;

a plurality of adapters mounted along the front and rear faces;

two cross-connect circuits contained within the module housing, each circuit including a plurality of signal lines defining;

signal transmit input and signal transmit output lines;

signal receive input and signal receive output lines;

a signal transmit monitor line;

a signal identification input line optically coupled to the signal receive input line;

wherein each of the signal lines is optically connected to one of the adapters;

wherein each circuit further includes a visual indicator optically coupled to the signal transmit output line of the circuit, each visual indicator configured and arranged to emit visual light upon receipt of a visual signal, each visual indicator positioned on the front face of the module housing.

21. The module of claim 20, wherein each visual indicator includes a lens at least partially transparent to visual light.

22. The module of claim 21, wherein the plurality of adapters define:

(a) two signal transmit input ports;

(b) two signal transmit output ports;

(c) two signal receive input ports;

(d) two signal receive output ports;

(e) two signal identification input ports;

(f) two signal transmit monitor ports.

23. The module of claim 22, wherein the plurality of signal lines define two signal receive monitor lines, and wherein two further adapters of the plurality of adapters define two signal receive monitor ports, each signal receive monitor port separate from the two signal identification input ports.

24. The module of claim 20, wherein the plurality of adapters define:

(a) two signal transmit input ports;

(b) two signal transmit output ports;

(c) two signal receive input ports;

(d) two signal receive output ports;

(e) two signal identification input ports;

(f) two signal transmit monitor ports.

25. The module of claim 24, wherein the plurality of signal lines define two signal receive monitor lines, and wherein two further adapters of the plurality of adapters define two signal receive monitor ports, each signal receive monitor port separate from the two signal identification input ports.