Fiber patch panel

• US 7,676,135 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2007
• Issued: 03/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Chen, David Z.
• Primary Examiner(s): Font; Frank G
• Assistant Examiner(s): El Shammaa; Mary A
• Application Number:
  US11/748,737
• Publication Number:
  US 20080285932A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,029 Days
• Field of Search: 385/135
• US Class Current: 385/135
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3807 Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
• 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 6/444 Systems or boxes with surplus lengths
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44528 Patch-cords; Connector arrangements in the system or in the box routing arrangements H04Q1/00

Abstract

A system may include a housing and a patch panel located within the housing. The patch panel may include a connection plate, and a matrix of fiber connectors connected to the connection plate and arranged to receive optical fibers in a vertical direction.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a housing; and

a plurality of patch panels located within the housing, each of the plurality of patch panels comprising;

a connection plate including a matrix of slot pairs, each of the slot pairs including two through-holes, and

a matrix of fiber connectors connected to the connection plate, where one of the fiber connectors includes;

a connector housing to receive and mate two optical fibers in a vertical direction,

a first handler connected to a first side of the connector housing, and associated with a first spring to apply force to the first side of the connector housing, and

a second handler connected to a second side of the connector housing, and associated with a second spring to apply force to the second side of the connector housing, where

a portion of the one fiber connector is to be inserted through the connection plate via the two through-holes, and, where

a first one of the plurality of patch panels rotatably connects to the housing and is rotatable to a first position that conceals a second one of the patch panels and is rotatable to a second position that exposes the second one of the plurality of patch panels.

2. The system of claim 1, where each of the first handler and the second handler includes:

a tip to be inserted through the connection plate and securely seat the one of the fiber connectors to the connection plate.

3. The system of claim 1, where each of the plurality of patch panels has a vertical length that is smaller than a vertical length of the housing to create a free space in the housing.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising:

a splice tray or drawer to occupy the free space in the housing.

5. A patch panel, comprising:

a connection plate; and

a matrix of fiber connectors connected to the connection plate and arranged to receive optical fibers in a vertical direction, where at least one of the fiber connectors further includes;

a connector housing to mate two optical fibers,

a spring-biased first handler connected to a first side of the connector housing, where a first spring biasing the first handler is to apply force to the first side of the connector housing, and

a spring-biased second handler connected to a second side of the connector housing, where a second spring biasing the second handler is to apply force to the second side of the connector housing.

6. The patch panel of claim 5, where the connection plate includes a matrix of slot pairs, each of the slot pairs including two through-holes.

7. The patch panel of claim 6, where the at least one of the fiber connectors includes a portion to be inserted through the connection plate via the two through-holes.

8. The patch panel of claim 5, where each of the first handler and the second handler includes:

a tip to be inserted through the connection plate and securely seat the one of the fiber connectors to the connection plate.

9. A fiber connector, comprising:

a connector housing to mate two optical fibers;

a first handler connected to a first side of the connector housing, the first handler including a first spring to apply force to the first side of the connector housing; and

a second handler connected to a second, opposite side of the connector housing, the second handler including a second spring to apply force to the second side of the connector housing, where

the first handler and the second handler connect to the connector housing so that when a first end of the first handler and the second handler are pressed together, a second end of the first handler and the second handler separate apart.

10. The fiber connector of claim 9, where each of the first handler and the second handler includes:

a tip to be inserted through a connection plate and securely seat the fiber connector to the connection plate.

11. The fiber connector of claim 10, where the tip includes an angular protrusion portion.

12. A system, comprising:

a housing;

a first patch panel rotatably connected to the housing comprising;

a first connection plate including a first matrix of slot pairs, each of the first slot pairs including a first set of two through-holes, rotatably connected to the housing, and

a first matrix of first fiber connectors connected to the first connection plate, where one of the first fiber connectors includes;

a first connector housing to receive and mate a first set of optical fibers in a vertical direction,

a first handler, connected to a first side of the first connector housing, and associated with a first spring to apply force to the first side of the first connector housing, and

a second handler, connected to a second side of the first connector housing, and associated with a second spring to apply force to the second side of the first connector housing, where

a first portion of the one of the first fiber connectors is to be inserted through the first connection plate via the first set of two through-holes; and

a second patch panel comprising;

a second connection plate, including a second matrix of second slot pairs, each of the second slot pairs including a second set of two through-holes, connected to the housing, and

a second matrix of second fiber connectors connected to the second connection plate, where one of the second fiber connectors includes;

a second connector housing to receive and mate a second set of optical fibers in a vertical direction,

a third handler, connected to a first side of the second connector housing, and associated with a first spring to apply force to the first side of the first connector housing, and

a fourth handler, connected to a second side of the second connector housing, and associated with a second spring to apply force to the second side of the second connector housing, where

a first portion of the one of the second fiber connectors is to be inserted through the second connection plate via the second set of two through-holes.