Communications bladed panel systems

• US 8,934,253 B2
• Filed: 02/11/2011
• Issued: 01/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Anderson, Chad, Coffey, Joseph C., Kostecka, Ryan, Stone, David, Wentworth, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Wagner, Jenny L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wu, Jerry
• Application Number:
  US13/025,737
• Publication Number:
  US 20120133524A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,432 Days
• Field of Search: 36167931-6794, 36167955-6796, 361724-727, 361/683, 361/684, 361/685, 361/686, 439/157, 439/60, 439152-153, 439/327, 439/328, 439/331
• US Class Current: 361/727
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3897 Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards G02B6/44528 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/428 containing printed circuit boards [PCB]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4292 the light guide being disconnectable from the opto-electronic element, e.g. mutually self aligning arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4452 Distribution frames
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4453 Cassettes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/409 Mechanical coupling back panels H05K7/1438
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/023 using sliding mechanisms for accessing the interior of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/03 Power distribution arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/06 Cable ducts or mountings specially adapted for exchange installations
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/08 Frames or mounting racks for relays; Accessories therefor
• 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 1/155 characterised by connection features
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0026 provided with connectors and printed circuit boards [PCB], e.g. automotive electronic control units
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0204 Mounting supporting structures on the outside of casings
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0217 Mechanical details of casings covers, lids, hoods or members for covering apertures H05K5/03
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/14 Mounting supporting structure in casing or on frame or rack
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1401 comprising clamping or extracting means H05K7/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1487 Blade assemblies, e.g. blade cases or inner arrangements within a blade
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1489 characterized by the mounting of blades therein, e.g. brackets, rails, trays H05K7/1491 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1491 : having cable management arrangements management of optical cables G02B6/444; in telecommunication cabinets H04Q1/06
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 : Electrical device making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 : Assembling or joining

Abstract

A fiber panel system includes a chassis including a backplane; and at least a first blade configured to mount to the chassis. The first blade is moveable relative to the chassis between a refracted (closed) position and at least one extended position. The first blade includes a coupler arrangement for connecting together media segments. Each blade includes a blade processor and a plurality of smart couplers. A chassis processor is electrically coupled to a processor port of the chassis backplane.

Claims

1. A bladed panel system comprising:

a chassis including a chassis housing defining an interior accessible through an open front, the chassis also including a backplane at a rear of the chassis, the backplane including a plurality of blade ports facing the interior of the chassis and a processor port facing an exterior of the chassis;

a plurality of blades coupled to the chassis, each blade being separately moveable relative to the chassis between a closed position and at least a first extended position, each blade being configured to connect to one of the blade ports of the backplane, each blade including a blade processor and a plurality of smart couplers that define front ports configured to receive media segments, the blade processor being configured to manage the smart couplers to obtain physical layer information from the media segments received at the front ports, the blade processor being isolated from data signals propagated over the media segments; and

a chassis processor electrically coupled to the processor port of the chassis backplane, the chassis processor being electrically connected to each of the blade processors via the backplane, the chassis processor being configured to manage the blade processors.

2. The bladed panel system of claim 1, wherein each blade includes at least one rear port configured to receive a media segment.

3. The bladed panel system of claim 2, wherein the rear port has a media reading interface configured to obtain physical layer information from the media segment received at the rear port.

4. The bladed panel system of claim 1, wherein each blade processor is a slave processor and the chassis processor is a master processor.

5. The bladed panel system of claim 1, wherein the chassis processor defines a network port configured to receive a data cable connected to a data network, the chassis processor being configured to communicate data obtained from the smart couplers to the data network.

6. The bladed panel system of claim 1, further comprising a status board configured to be received in the chassis, the status board being configured to connect to a port on the backplane.

7. The bladed panel system of claim 6, wherein the status board is configured to slide along guides defined within the chassis.

8. The bladed panel system of claim 6, wherein the status board includes a fascia attached to a printed circuit board that is configured to plug into the port on the backplane, the fascia including at least one cable port.

9. The bladed panel system of claim 8, wherein the status board includes indicators that provide a status of the bladed chassis.

10. The bladed panel system of claim 9, wherein the indicators include light emitting diodes.

11. The bladed panel system of claim 1, wherein the front ports of each blade are separated into a first group and a second group, and wherein the respective blade processor is positioned between the first and second groups of front ports.

12. The bladed panel system of claim 11, further comprising a status board configured to be received at a top of the chassis, the status board being configured to plug into the backplane of the chassis.

13. The bladed panel system of claim 12, wherein the blade processor of each blade is sufficiently short to accommodate the status board if the blade is positioned at the top of the chassis beneath the status board.

14. The bladed panel system of claim 1, wherein each of the front ports of at least one blade is configured to receive an MPO-type optical connector.

15. The bladed panel system of claim 1, wherein each of the front ports of at least one blade is configured to receive an LC-type optical connector.

16. The bladed panel system of claim 15, wherein the blade includes a rear port that is configured to receive an MPO-type optical connector.

17. The bladed panel system of claim 15, wherein the blade includes a rear port that is configured to receive an LC-type optical connector.

18. The bladed panel system of claim 1, further comprising a rear cover that is configured to releasably couple to the rear of the chassis, the cover at least partially enclosing the rear of the chassis housing.

19. The bladed panel system of claim 18, wherein the rear cover includes sidewalls extending between a top and a bottom of the rear cover, the rear cover also including a rear wall extending between the sidewalls.

20. The bladed panel system of claim 19, wherein an exterior of the rear wall defines a plurality of cable ties locations.