Fiber optic module and system including rear connectors

• US 7,593,614 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2008
• Issued: 09/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Zimmel, Steven C., Smith, Trevor, Nhep, Ponharith
• Primary Examiner(s): Font; Frank G
• Assistant Examiner(s): WONG, ERIC K
• Application Number:
  US12/150,757
• Publication Number:
  US 20090016688A1
• Time in Patent Office: 511 Days
• Field of Search: 385134-137
• US Class Current: 385/135
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2476 Non-optical details, e.g. housings, mountings, supports
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/00 Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/36 Mechanical coupling means G02B6/255, G02B6/42 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3879 Linking of individual connector plugs to an overconnector, e.g. using clamps, clips, common housings comprising several individual connector plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3897 Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards G02B6/44528 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/444 Systems or boxes with surplus lengths
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4442 Cap coupling boxes
• 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 6/44528 Patch-cords; Connector arrangements in the system or in the box routing arrangements H04Q1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4453 Cassettes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4454 with splices
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4471 Terminating devices demountable connectors G02B6/3807; Cable clamps
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/46 Processes or apparatus adapted for installing or repairing optical fibres or optical cables installation of cables containing electric conductors and optical fibres H02G
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2201/10 Housing details
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2201/804 in optical transmission systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49817 with other than ancillary treating or assembling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A telecommunications assembly including a housing and a plurality of modules mounted within the housing. The modules includes a rear face in which is mounted at least one fiber optic connector. Within an interior of the housing are positioned at least one fiber optic adapters. Inserting the module through a front opening of the housing at a mounting location positions the connector of the module for insertion into and mating with the adapter of the housing. The adapters within the interior of the housing are mounted to a removable holder. A method of mounting a telecommunications module within a chassis.

Claims

1. A fiber optic telecommunications assembly comprising:

(a) a housing defining a first side, a second side, and at least one transverse side extending between the first and second sides, the housing defining an open front and a back opposite the open front, at least one mounting location defined by the housing to receive a telecommunications module inserted through the front of the housing, the telecommunications module generally oriented parallel to the transverse side when engaged with the housing;

(b) at least one fiber optic adapter mounted to the housing, the fiber optic adapter configured to mate with the telecommunications module inserted through the front of the housing, the fiber optic adapter including a front end and a rear end, each end of the fiber optic adapter configured to receive a mating fiber optic connector, the front end positioned to receive a mating fiber optic connector of the telecommunications module inserted through the front toward the back and generally parallel to the transverse side, the rear end positioned to receive a mating fiber optic connector of a fiber optic cable, the fiber optic adapter positioned at a location behind the open front and forward of the back of the housing; and

(c) a telecommunications module mounted to the housing, the telecommunications module including;

a module housing defining an interior and including first and second pairs of opposing sides, a front face, a rear face and a back spaced from the front face;

the rear face facing generally toward the back of the module housing;

the rear face including at least one fiber optic connector that protrudes from the rear face, the fiber optic connector of the telecommunications module having a longitudinal connector axis extending parallel to a module axis extending between the front face and the back of the telecommunications module, wherein an end of the fiber optic connector is disposed outside of the interior defined by the module housing;

the rear face of the module housing positioned at a location between the front face and the back in a recess defined by the module housing;

the front face including a cable exit location in communication with the interior defined by the module housing;

the module housing including a flexible latching tab extending adjacent to the front face, the flexible latching tab configured to form a snap-fit interlock with the housing when the telecommunications module is engaged with the housing, wherein the telecommunications module is mounted within the housing separately from the fiber optic adapter such that the fiber optic connector of the telecommunications module engages the fiber optic adapter mounted to the housing when the telecommunications module is engaged with the housing.

2. A fiber optic telecommunications assembly according to claim 1, wherein the flexible latching tab of the module housing includes a recessed area that engages an edge formed adjacent the front of the housing to form the snap-fit interlock between the telecommunications module and the housing.

3. A fiber optic telecommunications assembly according to claim 1, wherein the telecommunications module includes at least one optical component within the interior of the module housing, a first optical fiber cable within the interior extending from the fiber optic connector of the rear face to the optical component and at least one second optical fiber cable extending from the optical component to the cable exit location of the front face.

4. A fiber optic telecommunications assembly according to claim 3, wherein the optical component is an optical splitter, the first optical fiber cable includes a single strand of fiber and a plurality of second optical fiber cables extend from the optical component to the cable exit location of the front face.

5. A fiber optic telecommunications assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one fiber optic adapter is removably mounted to the housing.

6. A fiber optic telecommunications assembly according to claim 1, wherein the cable exit location of the telecommunications module includes a bell shaped outer extension beyond the front face to provide bend radius protection to fiber optic cables extending through the cable exit.

7. A fiber optic telecommunications assembly according to claim 1, wherein the telecommunications module includes a pair of cable exits on the front face.

8. A method of mounting a telecommunications module within a housing, the method comprising:

providing a housing defining a first side, a second side, and at least one transverse side extending between the first and second sides, the housing defining an open front and a back opposite the open front, at least one mounting location defined by the housing for receiving the telecommunications module inserted through the front of the housing;

providing at least one fiber optic adapter on the housing, the fiber optic adapter positioned at a location behind the open front and forward of the back of the housing, the fiber optic adapter including a front end and a rear end, each end of the fiber optic adapter configured to receive a mating fiber optic connector, the front end positioned to receive a mating fiber optic connector of the telecommunications module inserted through the front toward the back of the housing, the rear end positioned to receive a mating fiber optic connector of a fiber optic cable;

removably mounting the telecommunications module to the housing through the front toward the back, generally parallel to the transverse side of the housing, the telecommunications module including at least one fiber optic connector that protrudes from a rear face of the telecommunications module, the telecommunications module including a flexible latching tab extending adjacent a front face of the telecommunications module, the flexible latching tab configured to form a snap-fit interlock with the housing when the telecommunications module is mounted to the housing;

engaging the fiber optic adapter of the housing with the fiber optic connector of the telecommunications module; and

flexing the latching tab of the telecommunications module to snap-fit the telecommunications module to the housing.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the telecommunications module includes at least one optical component within the interior of the module housing, a first optical fiber cable within the interior extending from the fiber optic connector of the rear face to the optical component and at least one second optical fiber cable extending from the optical component to a cable exit location on the front face.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the optical component is an optical splitter, the first optical fiber cable includes a single strand of fiber and a plurality of second optical fiber cables extend from the optical component to the cable exit location on the front face.

11. A method according to claim 8, wherein the flexible latching tab of the telecommunications module includes a recessed area that engages an edge formed adjacent the front of the housing to form the snap-fit interlock between the telecommunications module and the housing.