Telecommunications patching system with patching modules

• US 7,672,561 B1
• Filed: 11/21/2008
• Issued: 03/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Commscope Inc of North Carolina (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Commscope Inc of North Carolina (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Choudhury, Golam Mabud, Conorich, Theodore Alan, Choi-Feng, Chin, Keith, Scott Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Healy; Brian M
• Application Number:
  US12/275,457
• Time in Patent Office: 466 Days
• Field of Search: 385/53, 385/55, 385/56, 385/58, 385/59, 385/70, 385/71, 385/77, 385/78, 385/88, 385/89, 385/92, 385/134, 385/135, 385/136, 385/137, 385/139, 398/50, 398/56, 398/139, 398/141
• US Class Current: 385/135
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3897 Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards G02B6/44528 takes precedence
• 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: H04Q 1/023 using sliding mechanisms for accessing the interior of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/06 Cable ducts or mountings specially adapted for exchange installations
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2201/04 Modular construction

Abstract

A telecommunications patching system includes: a rear panel, the rear panel including a plurality of cutout areas; a series of central compartments mounted to the rear panel, the central compartments being disposed in adjacent, vertically stacked relationship in at least one column, the rear ends of the central compartments being aligned with at least one of the cutout areas; and at least one series of lateral compartments mounted to the rear panel, the lateral compartments being disposed in spaced apart, vertically stacked relationship and laterally positioned from the central compartments, the rear ends of the lateral compartments being aligned with at least one of the cutout areas. The system also includes at least one central patching module with a plurality of connectors, the central patching module residing in one of the central compartments, the plurality of connectors being oriented to receive a communications cable from a lateral direction, a rear end of the central patching module extending rearwardly through a respective one of the cutout areas; and at least one lateral patching module with a plurality of connectors, the lateral patching module residing in one of the lateral compartments, the plurality of connectors being oriented to receive a communication cable from a lateral direction, a rear end of the lateral patching module extending rearwardly through a respective one of the cutout areas.

Claims

1. A telecommunications patching module mounting bay, comprising:

a rear panel, the rear panel including a plurality of cutout areas;

a series of central compartments mounted to the rear panel, the central compartments being disposed in adjacent, vertically stacked relationship in at least one column, the rear ends of the central compartments being aligned with the cutout areas; and

two series of lateral compartments mounted to the rear panel, one series of lateral compartments on each side of the central compartments, the lateral compartments being disposed in spaced apart, vertically stacked relationship and laterally positioned from the central compartments, the rear ends of the lateral compartments being aligned with the cutout areas, gaps being present between adjacent lateral compartments.

2. The mounting bay defined in claim 1, wherein each of the central compartments includes a longitudinal recess.

3. The mounting bay defined in claim 1, wherein the central compartments are arranged in two columns, and wherein horizontally adjacent central compartments are divided by a central wall.

4. The mounting bay defined in claim 3, wherein each of the central compartments includes a longitudinal recess in the central wall.

5. The mounting bay defined in claim 4, wherein recesses of horizontally adjacent central compartments are in vertically stacked relationship.

6. A telecommunications patching system, comprising:

a rear panel, the rear panel including a plurality of cutout areas;

a series of central compartments mounted to the rear panel, the central compartments being disposed in adjacent, vertically stacked relationship in at least one column, the rear ends of the central compartments being aligned with at least one of the cutout areas; and

at least one series of lateral compartments mounted to the rear panel, the lateral compartments being disposed in spaced apart, vertically stacked relationship and laterally positioned from the central compartments, the rear ends of the lateral compartments being aligned with at least one of the cutout areas;

at least one central patching module with a plurality of connectors, the central patching module residing in one of the central compartments, the plurality of connectors being oriented to receive a communications cable from a lateral direction, a rear end of the central patching module extending rearwardly through a respective one of the cutout areas; and

at least one lateral patching module with a plurality of connectors, the lateral patching module residing in one of the lateral compartments, the plurality of connectors being oriented to receive a communication cable from a lateral direction, a rear end of the lateral patching module extending rearwardly through a respective one of the cutout areas;

wherein the central patching module is slidably mounted in its corresponding central compartment and is slidable to a forward access position, in which the plurality of connectors are positioned in front of the central compartments; and

wherein the lateral patching module is slidably mounted in its corresponding lateral compartment.

7. The system defined in claim 6, wherein each of the central compartments includes a longitudinal recess, and wherein each of the central patching modules includes a longitudinal guide that fits within a respective recess.

8. The system defined in claim 6, wherein the central patching module includes fiber guide features.

9. The system defined in claim 6, wherein the connectors of the central patching module are aligned in a longitudinal row.

10. The system defined in claim 6, wherein the connectors of the lateral patching module are aligned in a longitudinal row.

11. The system defined in claim 6, wherein each of the central patching modules includes a front surface suitable for labeling.

12. The system defined in claim 6, wherein the central compartments are arranged in two columns, and wherein horizontally adjacent central compartments are divided by a central wall.

13. The system defined in claim 12, wherein each of the central compartments includes a longitudinal recess in the central wall, and wherein each of the central patching modules includes a longitudinal guide that fits within the recess.

14. The system defined in claim 13, wherein recesses of horizontally adjacent central compartments are in vertically stacked relationship.

15. A telecommunications assembly, comprising:

a mounting rack; and

at least one telecommunications patching system, comprising;

a rear panel, the rear panel including a plurality of cutout areas;

a series of central compartments mounted to the rear panel, the central compartments being disposed in adjacent, vertically stacked relationship in at least one column, the rear ends of the central compartments being aligned with the cutout areas; and

at least one series of lateral compartments mounted to the rear panel, the lateral compartments being disposed in spaced apart, vertically stacked relationship and laterally positioned from the central compartments, the rear ends of the lateral compartments being aligned with the cutout areas;

at least one central patching module with a plurality of connectors, the central patching module residing in one of the central compartments, the central patching module having a plurality of connectors oriented to receive a communications cable from a lateral direction, a rear end of the central patching module extending rearwardly through the cutout area;

at least one lateral patching module with a plurality of connectors, the lateral patching module residing in one of the lateral compartments, the lateral patching module having a plurality of connectors oriented to receive a communication cable from a lateral direction, a rear end of the lateral patching module extending rearwardly through the cutout area; and

patch cords connected with the connectors of the central patching module, the patch cords being routed between two adjacent lateral compartments.

16. The assembly defined in claim 15, further comprising cables routed from the connectors through the cutout area corresponding to the central patching module.

17. The assembly defined in claim 15, wherein the central patching module is slidably mounted in its corresponding central compartment and is slidable to a forward access position, in which the plurality of connectors are positioned in front of the central compartments.

18. The assembly defined in claim 15, wherein the lateral patching module is slidably mounted in its corresponding lateral compartment.

19. The assembly defined in claim 15, wherein each of the central compartments includes a longitudinal recess, and wherein each of the central patching modules includes a longitudinal guide that fits within the recess.

20. The assembly defined in claim 15, wherein the central patching module includes fiber guide features.

21. The assembly defined in claim 15, wherein the connectors of the central patching module are aligned in a longitudinal row.

22. The assembly defined in claim 15, wherein the connectors of the lateral patching module are aligned in a longitudinal row.

23. The assembly defined in claim 15, wherein each of the central patching modules includes a front surface suitable for labeling.

24. The assembly defined in claim 15, wherein the central compartments are arranged in two columns, and wherein horizontally adjacent central compartments are divided by a central wall.

25. The assembly defined in claim 24, wherein each of the central compartments includes a longitudinal recess in the central wall, and wherein each of the central patching modules includes a longitudinal guide that fits within the recess.

26. The assembly defined in claim 25, wherein recesses of horizontally adjacent central compartments are in vertically stacked relationship.

27. A telecommunications patching system, comprising:

a first vertical stack of patching modules, wherein each of the patching modules include a plurality of connectors on a first lateral side thereof; and

a second vertical stack of patching modules positioned laterally from the first side of the first vertical stack of patching modules, wherein the vertical distance between at least some adjacent patching modules of the second vertical stack of patching modules exceeds the vertical distance between adjacent patching modules of the first vertical stack of patching modules.