Optical fiber enclosure system

• US 6,845,207 B2
• Filed: 02/12/2002
• Issued: 01/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Fiber Optic Network Solutions Corporation (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Schray, Steven John
• Primary Examiner(s): Bruce, David V.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Artman, Thomas R
• Application Number:
  US10/074,267
• Publication Number:
  US 20020150372A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,071 Days
• Field of Search: 385135-137
• US Class Current: 385/135
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/385 Accessories for testing or observation of connectors means for centering or aligning the light guide within the ferrule with auxiliary facilities for movably aligning or adjusting the fibre within its ferrule, measuring position, eccentricity G02B6/3843; mechanical features associated with the optical testing of optical fibres G01M11/088
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3897 Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards G02B6/44528 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3898 Tools, e.g. handheld; Tuning wrenches; Jigs used with connectors, e.g. for extracting, removing or inserting in a panel, for engaging or coupling connectors, for assembling or disassembling components within the connector, for applying clips to hold two connectors together or for crimping tools for cleaning, G02B6/3866; tools in general B25B
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4452 Distribution frames

Abstract

An optical fiber enclosure system includes a plurality of optical fiber cassettes and a splice module. The enclosure provides improved access and control of optical fiber management. The optical fiber cassette includes adapters, fiber optic connectors, front face, side wall, rear face, fanout devices and ribbon pigtails. The adapters are mounted to the front face of the cassette. The side wall is attached between the front face and the rear face to provide space for optical fiber management. The fanout devices are mounted to the rear face of the cassette and provide fanout of the ribbon pigtails to individual optical fibers that terminate at the fiber optic connectors. The fiber optic connectors are coupled to the adapters at the front face of the cassette. The splice module includes a management plate and a hingedly joined splice door. The splice door can include a removable splice tray for mounting optical fiber splices and for managing associated slack fiber loops around the splices.

Claims

1. An optical fiber cassette removably mountable in an enclosure for facilitating the coupling of optical signals, the cassette comprising:

a front face having a plurality of adapters mounted thereto, each of the plurality of adapters having a fiber optic connector associated therewith, the connector for allowing connection of optical fibers without requiring removal of the cassette from the enclosure;

a rear face opposedly facing the front face and having a plurality of rear connectors;

a side wall coupled to the optical fiber cassette;

a fanout mountable to the side wall and accessible without requiring disassembly of the optical fiber cassette or removal from the enclosure;

a pigtail having a proximate end and a distal end, the proximate end for connection to the fanout, the distal end for connection to an outgoing optical fiber; and

a plurality of optical fiber splices each having a first end and a second end, the first end for attachment to one of the plurality of rear connectors and the second end for attachment to the fanout, the optical fiber splices further configured to be accessible without having to open or disassemble the optical fiber cassette.

2. The optical fiber cassette of claim 1 further comprising side wall provided between the front face and the rear face to provide space for optical fiber management.

3. An optical fiber enclosure, comprising:

a housing having a front compartment, a rear compartment, a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side, a second side and a bulkhead mountable inside the enclosure;

a plurality of removable optical fiber cassettes, the cassettes for facilitating the connection and disconnection of fiber optic cables while mounted in the enclosure;

the front compartment having a first optical management system, the first optical management system having a front management plate, and at least one reversible fiber radius guide; and

the rear compartment having a second optical management system, the second optical management system having a rear management plate, and a plurality of ribbon fanout devices for routing management.

4. The optical fiber enclosure of claim 3 wherein at least one of the front and rear management plates is mounted on the top surface of the housing.

5. The optical fiber enclosure of claim 3 wherein at least one splice module is located in the rear compartment.