High-density multi-port-module patch panel system

• US 6,974,348 B2
• Filed: 03/04/2004
• Issued: 12/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CommScope Inc. (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Commscope Solutions Properties LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bentley, Darrell
• Primary Examiner(s): Gilman, Alex
• Application Number:
  US10/791,812
• Publication Number:
  US 20050197005A1
• Time in Patent Office: 649 Days
• Field of Search: 439/540.1, 439/541.5, 439/716, 439/701, 439/142, 439/715, 439/676, 439/215, 385/135, 385/136, 385/153, 385/134, 206/565, 206/557, 174/99.R, 174/48, 174/101
• US Class Current: 439/540.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/066 arranged on the front side
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/13 Patch panels for monitoring, interconnecting or testing circuits, e.g. patch bay, patch field or jack field; Patching modules

Abstract

A high-density multi-port-module patch panel system includes angled multi-port modules. The system accommodates a high density of cable connections, while also providing effective cable management without increasing the maintenance costs or sacrificing the network performance. The angled multi-port modules exert less stress on the connectors and portions of the cabling adjacent to the connectors. Further, the angled arrangement provides a neater arrangement, and better facilitates maintenance and service procedures by providing improved visibility of labeling surfaces.

Claims

1. A high-density multi-port-module patch panel system, comprising:

a rack having a first rail and a second rail;

a patch panel frame mounted to the rack, the patch panel frame having a front face substantially residing in a first plane;

a first plurality of multi-port modules mounted to the patch panel frame, the ports of the first plurality of multi-port modules opening in a direction which is at a first angle, relative to a normal line extending away from the first plane, such that the ports of the first plurality of multi-port modules open toward the first rail of the rack; and

a second plurality of multi-port modules mounted to the patch panel frame, the ports of the second plurality of multi-port modules opening in a direction which is at a second angle, relative to a normal line extending away from the first plane, such that the ports of the second plurality of multi-port modules open toward the second rail of the rack, wherein the patch panel frame comprises slots configured at a third angle and a fourth angle to accommodate the first and the second plurality of multi-port modules, respectively.

2. The high-density multi-port-module patch panel system of claim 1, wherein each of the first and the second plurality of multi-port modules have plural ports for accepting an electrical connector.

3. The high-density multi-port-module patch panel system of claim 1, wherein each of the first and the second plurality of multi-port modules have plural ports for accepting an optical connector.

4. The high-density multi-port-module patch panel system of claim 1, wherein each of the first and the second plurality of multi-port modules have plural ports arrayed in a vertical column.

5. The high-density multi-port-module patch panel system of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of multi-port modules are located side-by-side in the patch panel frame, and the second plurality of multi-port modules are located side-by-side in the patch panel frame.

6. The high-density multi-port-module patch panel system of claim 1, wherein the patch panel frame includes a centrally located reinforcement bar, and the first plurality of multi-port modules are positioned between the reinforcement bar and the first rail, and the second plurality of multi-port modules are positioned between the reinforcement bar and the second rail.

7. The high-density multi-port-module patch panel system of claim 1, wherein the first plane is co-planer with a second plane containing the first and the second rails of the rack.

8. The high-density multi-port-module patch panel system of claim 1, wherein each of the multi-port modules has a plurality of ports and a plurality of label surfaces adjacent to the plurality of ports.

9. The high-density multi-port-module patch panel system of claim 1, wherein the slots are configured to allow only one-way insertion of the multi-port modules.

10. The high-density multi-port-module patch panel system of claim 1, wherein the patch panel frame comprises openings adjacent to the slots to lock the multi-port modules to the patch panel frame after the multi-port modules are fully inserted in the slots.

11. The high-density multi-port-module patch panel system of claim 1, wherein the patch panel frame is formed of sheet metal.

12. The high-density multi-port-module patch panel system of claim 1, wherein the third angle is the same as the first angle of the first plurality of multi-port modules, and the fourth angle is the same as the second angle of the second plurality of multi-port modules.

13. The high-density multi-port-module patch panel system of claim 1, further comprising:

a first cable manager on the first rail of the rack and a second cable manager on the second rail of the rack, the first and the second cable managers holding cables connected to the first and the second plurality of multi-port modules, respectively.

14. The high-density multi-port-module patch panel system of claim 13, wherein the first vertical cable manager and the second vertical cable manager are spools.

15. A high-density multi-port-module patch panel for attachment to a rack having at least first and second rails, the patch panel comprising:

a patch panel frame having a front face substantially residing in a first plane;

a first plurality of multi-port modules mounted to the patch panel frame, the ports of the first plurality of multi-port modules opening in a direction which is at a first angle, relative to a normal line extending away from the first plane, such that the ports of the first plurality of multi-port modules would open toward the first rail of the rack when the patch panel frame is attached to the rack; and

a second plurality of multi-port modules mounted to the patch panel frame, the ports of the second plurality of multi-port modules opening in a direction which is at a second angle, relative to a normal line extending away from the first plane, such that the ports of the second plurality of multi-port modules would open toward the second rail of the rack when the patch panel is attached to the rack, wherein the patch panel frame comprises slots configured at a third angle and a fourth angle to accommodate the first and the second plurality of multi-port modules, respectively.

16. The high-density multi-port-module patch panel of claim 15, wherein each of the multi-port modules has a plurality of ports and a plurality of label surfaces adjacent to the plurality of ports.

17. The high-density multi-port-module patch panel of claim 15, wherein the slots are configured to allow only one-way insertion of the multi-port modules.

18. The high-density multi-port-module patch panel of claim 15, wherein the patch panel frame comprises openings adjacent to the slots to lock the multi-port modules to the patch panel frame after the multi-port modules are fully inserted in the slots.

19. The high-density multi-port-module patch panel of claim 15, wherein the third angle is the same as the first angle of the first plurality of multi-port modules, and the fourth angle is the same as the second angle of the second plurality of multi-port modules.

20. A method of organizing cabling in a high-density multi-port-module patch panel system, comprising the steps of:

providing a rack, the rack having a first rail and a second rail;

attaching a patch panel frame to the rack, the patch panel frame having a front face substantially residing in a first plane;

attaching a first plurality of multi-port modules to the patch panel frame, ports of the first plurality of multi-port modules opening in a direction which is at a first angle, relative to a normal line extending away from the first plane, such that the ports of the first plurality of multi-port modules open toward the first rail of the rack;

connecting a first cable to a port of the first plurality of multi-port modules;

attaching a second plurality of multi-port modules to the patch panel frame, the ports of the second plurality of multi-port modules opening in a direction which is at a second angle, relative to the normal line extending away from the first plane such that the ports of the second plurality of multi-port modules open toward the second rail of the rack; and

connecting a second cable to a port of the second plurality of multi-port modules, wherein said steps of attaching the first and second plurality of multi-port modules to the patch panel frame include inserting the first and second plurality of multi-port modules into slots formed in the patch panel frame, wherein the slots are configured at third angles and fourth angles to accommodate the first and the second plurality of multi-port modules, respectively.

21. The method of organizing cabling in a high-density multi-port-module patch panel system of claim 20, further comprising the step of:

providing a first cable manager on the first rail of the rack; and

routing the first cable over the first cable manager.

22. The method of organizing cabling in a high-density multi-port-module patch panel system of claim 21, further comprising the step of:

providing a second cable manager on the second rail of the rack; and

routing the second cable over the second cable manager.

23. The method of organizing cabling in a high-density multi-port-module patch panel system of claim 20, wherein the third angle is the same as the first angle of the first plurality of multi-port modules, and the fourth angle is the same as the second angle of the second plurality of multi-port modules.