Optical fiber distribution frame with connector modules

• US 6,535,682 B1
• Filed: 05/02/2000
• Issued: 03/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Veitenheimer, Troy Anthony, Dusterhoft, Gary E., Rapp, David E., Holmberg, Matthew J., Tinucci, Thomas C., Puetz, Curtis Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Sanghavi, Hemang
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROJAS, OMAR R
• Application Number:
  US09/563,210
• Time in Patent Office: 1,050 Days
• Field of Search: 385/134-137, 385/139
• US Class Current: 385/135
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4452 Distribution frames
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44524 with frame parts or auxiliary devices mounted on the frame and collectively not covering a whole width of the frame or rack cassettes G02B6/4453
• 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 6/4454 with splices
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/06 Cable ducts or mountings specially adapted for exchange installations
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/062 vertical management arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/064 horizontal management arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/14 Distribution frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2201/08 Pivotable parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2201/804 in optical transmission systems

Abstract

A fiber optic telecommunications frame is provided including panels having front and rear termination locations, the panels positioned on left and right sides of the frame. The frame includes vertical access for the rear cables. The frame further includes left and right vertical cable guides for the front patch cables. The frame further includes cable storage spools for the patch cables. The frame includes a horizontal passage linking the left and right panels and the cable guides. A lower portion of the frame defines splice tray holders and a central passage from the splice tray holders to the rear sides of the left and right panels. From a front of each panel, access to a rear of the panel is provided by the hinged panels. Alternatively, the panels can form connector modules with front termination locations and rear connection locations for connecting to the rear cables. The modules can house couplers, such as splitters, combiners, and wave division multiplexers.

Claims

1. A fiber optic termination module comprising:

a housing having first and second spaced apart ends, and first and second spaced apart sides extending between the ends, the housing including a rear extending between the first and second ends and the first and second sides to define an interior, the housing defining an open front, the first and second ends extending generally horizontally when the termination module is mounted to a telecommunications rack, the first and second sides extending generally vertically when the termination module is mounted to the telecommunications rack, the housing including a cable access opening for accessing the interior through one of the ends or sides;

a main panel mounted to the open front, the main panel including an array of openings arranged and sized for holding adapters, the adapters being sized for mounting to cable connectors, wherein the main panel is positioned at a non-perpendicular angle relative to the rear, the sides positioned at a generally perpendicular angle relative to the rear;

a cable guide for guiding a cable entering the housing at the cable access opening.

2. The module of claim 1, wherein the main panel includes a vertical array of extensions for supporting cables connected to the cable connectors.

3. The module of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of adapters, each adapter mounted to one of the openings in the main panel.

4. The module of claim 3, further comprising an angled retainer mounting the adapters to the main panel.

5. The module of claim 1, wherein the array of openings defines a plurality of rows and columns of individual openings, each sized for one adapter.

6. The module of claim 1, wherein the main panel includes a plurality of sub-panels mounted so as to close the open front, each sub-panel including at least one opening arranged and sized for holding at least one adapter to define the termination locations.

7. The module of claim 6, wherein the housing includes a plurality of spaced-apart interior shelves, and wherein each of the sub-panels further include a plurality of front adapters and a rear housing, each rear housing including a side panel including a plurality of adapters, a fiber optic coupler mounted within the rear housing, and cables connecting the front adapters to the side adapters.

8. The module of claim 7, further comprising an angled retainer mounting the adapters to the sub-panels.

27. The module of claim 6, wherein the housing includes a plurality of sub-panel holders, and wherein each of the sub-panels further include a plurality of front adapters and a rear housing, each rear housing including a side panel including a plurality of adapters, a fiber optic coupler mounted within the rear housing, and cables connecting the front adapters to the side adapters.

28. The module of claim 27, wherein the sub-panels each include a longitudinal guide, wherein the open front of the housing includes a vertical array of notches for receiving the longitudinal guides.

9. A fiber optic module adapted to be held by a frame, the fiber optic module comprising:

a housing including two spaced-apart major sides extending parallel to one another, the major sides interconnected by two spaced-apart minor sides, extending parallel to one another, the major side the major and minor sides extending between front and rear ends of the housing, the front end of the housing defining front cable termination locations, the housing further including a rear notch extending between one of the minor sides and the rear end, the notch including a side segment defining an array of rear cable termination locations;

a fiber optic coupler mounted within the housing;

cables connecting the front and rear cable termination locations and the fiber optic couplers; and

the front end defining an angled surface positioned at a non-perpendicular angle to the minor sides.

10. The fiber optic module of claim 9, wherein the side segment and the minor side associated with the notch are parallel surfaces.

11. The fiber optic module of claim 9, further comprising front flanges on opposite ends of the front end, each front flange including a fastener for fastening the front end of the housing to the frame.

12. The fiber optic module of claim 9, further comprising a side flange extending from one of the major sides adjacent to the minor side associated with the notch.

13. The fiber optic module of claim 9, further comprising a plurality of adapters, each adapter mounted to one of the front end or the side segment to define the front and rear cable termination locations.

14. The fiber optic module of claim 13, further comprising an angled retainer mounting the adapters to the front end.

15. A fiber optic termination module comprising:

a housing having first and second spaced apart ends, and first and second spaced apart sides extending between the ends, the housing including a rear extending between the first and second ends and the first and second sides to define an interior, the housing defining an open front bounded by the first and second ends and the first and second sides, the first and second ends extending generally horizontally when the termination module is mounted to a telecommunications rack, the first and second sides extending generally vertically when the termination module is mounted to the telecommunications rack, the housing including a cable access opening for accessing the interior through one of the ends or sides;

a main panel mounted to the open front, the main panel including an array of openings arranged and sized for holding adapters, the adapters being sized for mounting to cable connectors, wherein the main panel is positioned at a non-perpendicular angle relative to the rear, the sides positioned at a generally perpendicular angle relative to the rear.

16. The module of claim 15, wherein the main panel includes a vertical array of extensions for supporting cables connected to the cable connectors.

17. The module of claim 15, further comprising a plurality of adapters, each adapter mounted to one of the openings in the main panel.

18. The module of claim 17, further comprising an angled retainer mounting the adapters to the main panel.

19. The module of claim 15, wherein the array of openings defines a plurality of rows and columns of individual openings, each sized for one adapter.

20. The module of claim 15, wherein the main panel includes a plurality of sub-panels mounted so as to close the open front, each sub-panel including at least one opening arranged and sized for holding at least one adapter to define the termination locations.

21. The module of claim 20, wherein the housing includes a plurality of spaced-apart interior shelves, and wherein each of the sub-panels further include a plurality of front adapters and a rear housing, each rear housing including a side panel including a plurality of adapters, a fiber optic coupler mounted within the rear housing, and cables connecting the front adapters to the side adapters.

22. The module of claim 21, further comprising an angled retainer mounting the adapters to the sub-panels.

29. The module of claim 20, wherein the housing includes a plurality of sub-panel holders, and wherein each of the sub-panels further include a plurality of front adapters and a rear housing, each rear housing including a side panel including a plurality of adapters, a fiber optic coupler mounted within the rear housing, and cables connecting the front adapters to the side adapters.

30. The module of claim 29, wherein the sub-panels each include a longitudinal guide, wherein the open front of the housing includes a vertical array of notches for receiving the longitudinal guides.

23. A fiber optic module adapted to be held by a frame, the fiber optic module comprising:

a housing including two spaced-apart major sides extending parallel to one another, the major sides interconnected by two spaced-apart minor sides, extending parallel to one another, the major side the major and minor sides extending between front and rear ends of the housing, the front end of the housing defining front cable termination locations, the housing further including a rear notch extending between one of the minor sides and the rear end, the notch including a side segment defining an array of rear cable termination locations;

wherein the side segment and the minor side associated with the notch are parallel surfaces;

wherein the front end defines an angled surface positioned at a non-perpendicular angle to the minor sides;

front flanges on opposite ends of the front end, each front flange including a fastener for fastening the front end of the housing to the frame;

a side flange extending from one of the major sides adjacent to the minor side associated with the notch.

24. The fiber optic module of claim 23, further comprising:

a fiber optic coupler mounted within the housing;

cables connecting the front and rear cable termination locations and the fiber optic couplers.

25. The fiber optic module of claim 24, further comprising a plurality of adapters, each adapter mounted to one of the front end or the side segment to define the front and rear cable termination locations.

26. The fiber optic module of claim 25, further comprising an angled retainer mounting the adapters to the front end.

31. A fiber optic termination module comprising:

a housing having first and second spaced apart ends, and first and second spaced apart sides extending between the ends, the housing including a rear extending between the first and second ends and the first and second sides to define an interior, the housing defining an open front, the first and second ends extending generally horizontally when the termination module is mounted to a telecommunications rack, the first and second sides extending generally vertically when the termination module is mounted to the telecommunications rack, the housing including a cable access opening for accessing the interior through one of the ends or sides;

a main panel mounted to the open front, the main panel including an array of openings arranged and sized for holding adapters, the adapters being sized for mounting to cable connectors, wherein the main panel includes a plurality of sub-panels mounted so as to close the open front, each sub-panel including at least one opening arranged and sized for holding at least one adapter to define the termination locations, wherein the housing includes a plurality of spaced-apart interior shelves, and wherein each of the sub-panels further include a plurality of front adapters and a rear housing, each rear housing including a side panel including a plurality of adapters, a fiber optic coupler mounted within the rear housing, and cables connecting the front adapters to the side adapters;

a cable guide for guiding a cable entering the housing at the cable access opening.

32. The module of claim 31, wherein the main panel is positioned at a non-perpendicular angle relative to the rear, the sides positioned at a generally perpendicular angle relative to the rear.

33. The module of claim 31, wherein the main panel includes a vertical array of extensions for supporting cables connected to the cable connectors.

34. The module of claim 31, further comprising an angled retainer mounting the adapters to the sub-panels.