Fiber optic splitter module

• US 7,853,112 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2009
• Issued: 12/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• 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): HEALY, BRIAN
• Application Number:
  US12/557,937
• Publication Number:
  US 20100158464A1
• Time in Patent Office: 459 Days
• Field of Search: 385/42, 385/88, 385/89, 385/92, 385/93, 385/94, 385/134, 385/135, 385/136, 385/137, 385/138, 385/139, 385/52, 385/53, 385/76, 385/77, 385/78, 385/100
• US Class Current: 385/135
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/28 having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3849 using mechanical protective elements, e.g. caps, hoods, sealing membranes G02B6/3816 takes precedence; provisionally see H01R13/44
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3888 Protection from over-extension or over-compression
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3897 Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards G02B6/44528 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4446 Cable boxes, e.g. splicing boxes with two or more multi fibre cables
• 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 6/4453 Cassettes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4455 characterised by the way of extraction or insertion of the cassette in the distribution frame, e.g. pivoting, sliding, rotating or gliding
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4457 Bobbins; Reels
• 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

Abstract

A telecommunications assembly includes a chassis and a plurality of fiber optic splitter modules mounted within the chassis. Each splitter module includes at least one fiber optic connector. Within an interior of the chassis are positioned at least one fiber optic adapter. Inserting the splitter module through a front opening of the chassis at a mounting location positions the connector of the splitter module for insertion into and mating with the adapter of the chassis. The adapters mounted within the interior of the chassis are integrally formed as part of a removable adapter assembly. A method of mounting a fiber optic splitter module within a telecommunications chassis is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A fiber optic telecommunications chassis comprising:

a front opening and a rear opening opposite the front opening;

a plurality of mounting locations defined for telecommunications modules to be inserted through the front opening; and

each mounting location including an adapter assembly removably mounted within the chassis through the rear opening, each adapter assembly including a unitary body with a housing portion and a mounting portion that are formed as an integral unit, the unitary body defining a longitudinal axis, the housing portion defining at least one fiber optic adapter formed as an integral unit with the housing portion, the housing portion defining a top, a bottom, and first and second transverse sides extending between the top and the bottom, each fiber optic adapter of the housing portion including a front opening for receiving a first fiber optic connector projecting from one of the telecommunications modules to be inserted through the front opening of the chassis, a rear opening for receiving a second fiber optic connector adapted to mate with the first fiber optic connector, and a side opening for receiving a ferrule alignment sleeve and inner housing components, the housing portion including a panel closing off the side opening of at least one of the fiber optic adapters for holding the ferrule alignment sleeve and the inner housing components within the fiber optic adapter, the mounting portion configured to mount the unitary body to the chassis, the mounting portion including a mounting slide for slidably guiding the adapter assembly into the chassis, the mounting slide formed as an integral unit with the top of the housing portion and extending along the longitudinal axis of the unitary body, the mounting portion defining a flange that extends away from the mounting slide in a direction opposite the housing portion, the flange for mounting the adapter assembly to the chassis.

2. A fiber optic telecommunications chassis according to claim 1, wherein the chassis includes a plurality of the telecommunications modules mounted to the chassis, each module mounted at one of the mounting locations.

3. A fiber optic telecommunications chassis according to claim 1, wherein two fiber optic adapters are included in the housing portion.

4. A fiber optic telecommunications chassis according to claim 1, wherein the flange defines a face that extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

5. A fiber optic telecommunications chassis according to claim 1, wherein the flange includes a releasable fastener for mounting the adapter assembly to the chassis.

6. A fiber optic telecommunications chassis according to claim 5, wherein the releasable fastener is a thumbscrew captively held by the flange.

7. A fiber optic telecommunications chassis according to claim 1, wherein the chassis includes a first major side, a second major side, and a pair of opposing transverse sides extending between the major sides defining an interior communicating with the front opening and the rear opening, wherein the mounting locations are configured to orient the telecommunications modules inserted through the front opening generally parallel to one of the transverse sides.