Wavelength division multiplexing module

• US 7,885,505 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2008
• Issued: 02/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2007
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): Doan; Jennifer
• Application Number:
  US12/058,152
• Publication Number:
  US 20100278498A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,047 Days
• Field of Search: 385/134, 385/135
• US Class Current: 385/135
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/2938 for multiplexing or demultiplexing, i.e. combining or separating wavelengths, e.g. 1xN, NxM
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/29382 including at least adding or dropping a signal, i.e. passing the majority of signals
• 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 6/4444 Seals
• 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 6/44528 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 6/4457 Bobbins; Reels
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4471 Terminating devices demountable connectors G02B6/3807; Cable clamps
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44715 Fan-out devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4472 Manifolds

Abstract

A telecommunications module includes a main housing portion and a cover, the main housing portion defining a first sidewall, a front wall, a rear wall, a top wall, and a bottom wall, the cover defining a second sidewall when mounted on the main housing portion. An optical component located within the module receives an input signal from a signal input location of the housing and outputs an output signal toward a signal output location on the front wall. The telecommunications module is configured such that the signal input location can be selected to be either on the front wall or the rear wall of the main housing. The cover defines a protrusion extending from the second sidewall toward the main housing portion, the protrusion being selectively breakable to expose a recess on the front wall of the main housing portion that defines a signal input location.

Claims

1. A telecommunications module comprising:

a housing including a main housing portion and a removable cover cooperatively defining an interior, the main housing portion defining a first sidewall, a front wall, a rear wall, a top wall, and a bottom wall, the cover defining a second sidewall of the housing when mounted on the main housing portion to close off the interior;

the main housing including at least one signal output location defined on the front wall;

an optical component located within the interior, the optical component configured to receive a fiber optic input signal coming in from a signal input location of the housing and output a fiber optic output signal going toward the signal output location defined on the front wall of the main housing, wherein the telecommunications module is configured such that the signal input location can be selected to be on either the front wall or the rear wall of the main housing;

the cover defining a protrusion extending from the second sidewall toward the main housing portion, the protrusion received within a recess defined on the front wall of the main housing portion when the cover is mounted on the main housing portion;

wherein, if the signal input location is desired to be on the front wall, the protrusion is selectively breakable to expose the recess defined on the front wall of the main housing portion, the recess defining a signal input location.

2. A telecommunications module according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion includes two breakable portions separated by a break line, the breakable portions include a base portion and a tip portion, wherein, if one input cable carrying a fiber optic input signal is desired to enter the main housing, the tip portion is adapted to be selectively broken off and if two input cables carrying fiber optic input signals are desired to enter the main housing, the protrusion is selectively broken off at the base portion to remove the entire protrusion.

3. A telecommunications module according to claim 1, wherein, when the signal input location is selected to be on the rear wall of the housing, the signal input location is defined by at least one fiber optic connector extending from the rear wall of the main housing toward an exterior of the housing.

4. A telecommunications module according to claim 1, wherein the optical component is a fiber optic splitter that splits the fiber optic input signal into a plurality of the fiber optic output signals.

5. A telecommunications module according to claim 1, wherein the optical component is an optical wavelength division multiplexer/demultiplexer.

6. A telecommunications module according to claim 1, wherein the main housing includes a flexible cantilever arm extending from the front wall of the main housing for providing a snap fit connection with a piece of telecommunications equipment.

7. A telecommunications module according to claim 1, wherein the main housing portion includes two cable exits projecting outwardly from the housing, the two cable exits defining signal output locations.

8. A telecommunications module according to claim 1, wherein the main housing portion includes a cable management structure in the form of a spool for guiding a cable carrying the fiber optic output signal toward the signal output location.

9. A telecommunications module comprising:

a housing including a main housing portion and a removable cover cooperatively defining an interior, the main housing portion defining a first sidewall, a front wall, a rear wall, a top wall, and a bottom wall, the cover defining a second sidewall of the housing when mounted on the main housing portion to close off the interior;

the main housing including at least one cable exit positioned on the front wall of the main housing portion, the cable exit including an outer extension beyond the front wall;

at least one fiber optic connector that protrudes from rear wall of the main housing portion, the fiber optic connector adapted to be inserted into a fiber optic adapter when the module is inserted into a piece of telecommunications equipment;

an optical component located within the interior, the optical component configured to receive a fiber optic input signal coming in through the fiber optic connector located at the rear wall and output a fiber optic output signal toward the cable exit located on the front wall of the main housing; and

the cover defining a protrusion extending from the second sidewall toward the main housing portion, the protrusion received within a recess defined on the front wall of the main housing portion adjacent the cable exit when the cover is mounted on the main housing portion.

10. A telecommunications module according to claim 9, wherein the protrusion of the cover is selectively breakable to expose the recess defined on the front wall of the main housing, wherein the recess is selectively usable as a signal input location if the at least one fiber optic connector located on the rear wall is not used as a signal input location.

11. A telecommunications module according to claim 9, wherein the optical component is a fiber optic splitter that splits the fiber optic input signal into a plurality of the fiber optic output signals.

12. A telecommunications module according to claim 9, wherein the optical component is an optical wavelength division multiplexer/demultiplexer.

13. A telecommunications module according to claim 9, wherein the main housing includes a flexible cantilever arm extending from the front wall of the main housing for providing a snap fit connection with the piece of telecommunications equipment.

14. A telecommunications module according to claim 9, wherein the module includes two fiber optic connectors protruding from rear wall of the main housing portion.

15. A telecommunications module according to claim 9, wherein the main housing portion includes a cable management structure in the form of a spool for guiding a cable carrying the fiber optic output signal toward the cable exit.

16. A method of using a telecommunications module comprising:

providing a module housing including a main housing portion and a removable cover cooperatively defining an interior, the main housing portion defining a first sidewall, a front wall, a rear wall, a top wall, and a bottom wall, the cover defining a second sidewall of the housing when mounted on the main housing portion to close off the interior;

providing a signal output location defined on the front wall;

inserting an optical component into the housing, the optical component configured to receive a fiber optic input signal coming in from a signal input location of the housing and output a fiber optic output signal going toward the signal output location defined on the front wall of the main housing;

providing a protrusion on the cover, the protrusion extending from the second sidewall toward the main housing portion, the protrusion configured to be received within a recess defined on the front wall of the main housing portion when the cover is mounted on the main housing portion, the recess defining the signal input location;

breaking at least a portion of the protrusion on the cover such that the protrusion does not completely cover the recess when the cover is mounted on the main housing portion.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein the protrusion includes two breakable portions separated by a break line, the breakable portions include a base portion and a tip portion, wherein the method further comprises breaking the tip portion if one input cable carrying a fiber optic input signal is desired to enter the main housing or breaking the protrusion at its base to expose the entire recess if two input cables carrying fiber optic input signals are desired to enter the main housing.

18. A method according to claim 16, wherein the optical component is a fiber optic splitter that splits the fiber optic input signal into a plurality of the fiber optic output signals.

19. A method according to claim 16, wherein the optical component is an optical wavelength division multiplexer/demultiplexer.

20. A method according to claim 16, wherein the main housing portion includes a cable management structure in the form of a spool for guiding a cable carrying the fiber optic output signal toward the signal output location.