Fiber distribution frame arrangement having a centralized controller which universally controls and monitors access to fiber distribution frames

• US 7,024,089 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2004
• Issued: 04/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sbc Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
• Original Assignee: Sbc Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
• Inventors: Weinert, Stephen J., Yeilding, Michael L., Langley, Jeffrey Lynn
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, John D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stein, James D.
• Application Number:
  US10/898,851
• Publication Number:
  US 20060018618A1
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• Field of Search: 385134-135, 385/147, 340/542, 312/215
• 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

Abstract

A fiber distribution frame arrangement includes a fiber distribution frame. Fiber optic component panels are housed within the fiber distribution frame at respective positions. Doors are connected to the fiber distribution frame for the doors to open and close relative to the fiber distribution frame. Each door corresponds to one of the fiber optic component panels such that the door opens and closes relative to the corresponding fiber optic component panel when the door opens and closes relative to the fiber distribution frame. Actuators corresponding to the doors are positioned on the corresponding doors in order to lock the corresponding door to the fiber distribution frame upon actuation when the corresponding door is closed. A cable extends between each actuator for connecting the actuators together. A controller communicates with the actuators via the cable in order to control actuation of the actuators and monitor actuation status of the actuators.

Claims

1. A fiber distribution frame arrangement, the arrangement comprising:

a fiber distribution frame for housing a plurality of fiber optic components therein;

a plurality of fiber optic component panels housed within the fiber distribution frame at respective positions;

a plurality of doors connected to the fiber distribution frame, wherein each door opens and closes relative to a corresponding one of the panels when the door opens and closes relative to the fiber distribution frame;

a plurality of actuators, each actuator having a complementary actuator element, wherein each actuator is positioned on a corresponding one of the doors and its complementary actuator element is positioned on the panel which corresponds to the door, wherein each actuator and its complementary actuator element engage one another upon the actuator being actuated to lock the corresponding door to the fiber distribution frame when the corresponding door is closed relative to the fiber distribution frame; and

a controller operable to communicate with the actuators in order to control actuation of the actuators and monitor the actuation status of the actuators.

2. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein:

the controller transmits an electrical current signal to the actuators via the cable in order to actuate the actuators.

3. The arrangement of claim 2 wherein:

the controller cuts off the electrical current signal transmitted to the actuators via the cable in order to un-actuate the actuators.

4. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein:

each actuator has a serving address;

wherein the controller uses the serving addresses of the actuators in order to transmit control signals to selected ones of the actuators via the cable.

5. The arrangement of claim 4 wherein:

the actuators communicate status signals regarding the actuation status of the actuators to the controller via the cable, the status signals communicated by the actuators including the serving addresses of the actuators;

wherein the controller determines the actuation status of actuators in response to the status signals and identifies which actuators are actuated and un-actuated by using the serving addresses contained in the status signals.

6. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein:

the controller monitors actuation status of the actuators to determine if any of the doors are opened when the corresponding actuators have been actuated.

7. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein:

the controller and the actuators are connected together in a daisy chain arrangement.

8. A fiber distribution frame arrangement, the arrangement comprising:

a fiber distribution frame;

a plurality of fiber optic component panels housed within the fiber distribution frame at respective positions;

a plurality of doors connected to the fiber distribution frame for the doors to open and close relative to the fiber distribution frame, each door corresponding to one of the fiber optic component panels such that the door opens and closes relative to the corresponding fiber optic component panel when the door opens and closes relative to the fiber distribution frame;

a plurality of actuators, each actuator corresponding to one of the doors and being positioned on the corresponding door in order to lock the corresponding door to the fiber distribution frame upon actuation when the corresponding door is closed;

a cable extending from actuator to actuator for connecting the actuators together; and

a controller connected to the cable, the controller being operable to communicate with the actuators via the cable in order to control actuation of the actuators and monitor actuation status of the actuators;

wherein each actuator includes a complementary actuator element, wherein the complementary actuator element of each actuator is positioned on the fiber optic component panel corresponding to the door which corresponds with the fiber optic component panel, wherein the complementary actuator element of each actuator is operable with the actuator to lock the corresponding door to the corresponding fiber optic component panel upon actuation when the corresponding door is closed in order to lock the corresponding door to the fiber distribution frame.

9. The arrangement of claim 8 wherein:

the actuators are electro-magnetic actuators.

10. The arrangement of claim 9 wherein:

the controller transmits an electrical signal to the actuators via the cable in order to actuate the actuators.

11. The arrangement of claim 10 wherein:

the controller cuts off the electrical signal transmitted to the actuators via the cable in order to un-actuate the actuators.

12. The arrangement of claim 8 wherein:

each actuator has a serving address;

wherein the controller uses the serving addresses of the actuators in order to transmit control signals to selected ones of the actuators via the cable.

13. The arrangement of claim 12 wherein:

the actuators communicate status signals regarding the actuation status of the actuators to the controller via the cable, the status signals communicated by the actuators including the serving addresses of the actuators;

wherein the controller determines the actuation status of actuators in response to the status signals and identifies which actuators are actuated and un-actuated by using the serving addresses contained in the status signals.

14. The arrangement of claim 13 wherein:

the controller includes an alarm for generating an alert when an actuator which is intended to be actuated has an un-actuated status.

15. The arrangement of claim 14 wherein:

the alarm is a lamp for generating a visual alert for human personnel to see.

16. The arrangement of claim 14 wherein:

the alarm is a speaker for generating an audible alert for human personnel to hear.

17. The arrangement of claim 14 wherein:

the controller remotely transmits alerts to an operation support system.

18. The arrangement of claim 8 wherein:

the controller monitors actuation status of the actuators to determine if any of the doors are opened when the corresponding actuators have been actuated.

19. The arrangement of claim 8 wherein:

the controller and the actuators are connected together in a daisy chain arrangement.

20. A fiber distribution frame arrangement comprising:

a fiber distribution frame;

a fiber optic component panel housed within the fiber distribution frame;

a door connected to the fiber distribution frame, wherein the door opens and closes relative to the panel when the door opens and closes relative to the fiber distribution frame;

an actuator having a complementary actuator element, wherin the actuator is positioned on the door and the complementary actuator element is positioned on the panel, wherein the actuator and the complementary actuator element engage one another upon the actuator being actuated to lock the door to the fiber distribution frame when the door is closed relative to the fiber distribution frame; and

a controller operable to communicate with the actuator to control actuation of the actuator.