Fiber optic module for limited space applications having a partially sealed module sub-assembly

• US 9,279,951 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2011
• Issued: 03/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Inventors: McGranahan, Daniel Scott, Simonson, Kenneth Charles, Payne, Jason Cameron
• Primary Examiner(s): Lepisto, Ryan
• Assistant Examiner(s): ANDERSON, GUY G
• Application Number:
  US13/282,028
• Publication Number:
  US 20120106912A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,595 Days
• Field of Search: 385134-139
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 6/4441 Boxes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4452 Distribution frames
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4453 Cassettes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4471 Terminating devices demountable connectors G02B6/3807; Cable clamps
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4477 with means for strain-relieving to interior strengths element
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4478 Bending relief means
• 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 fiber optic module having a module housing and a module sub-assembly. The module housing defines at least an interior space, at least one adapter aperture and at least one input aperture. The module sub-assembly defines at least one fiber optic cable, for example, passing through the at least one input aperture, at least one multi-fiber connector on an end of the fiber optic cable, and at least one single fiber connector on an opposite end of the fiber optic cable, the multi-fiber connector being in optical communication with the at least one single fiber connector, the multi-fiber connector capable of flexing on the at least one fiber optic cable relative to the module housing.

Claims

1. A fiber optic module, comprising:

a module housing defining an interior space, the module housing further defining at least one adapter aperture and at least one input aperture; and

a module sub-assembly, the sub-assembly comprising at least one fiber optic cable passing through the at least one input aperture, at least one multi-fiber connector on an end of the fiber optic cable, and at least one single fiber connector on an opposite end of the fiber optic cable, the multi-fiber connector being in optical communication with the at least one single fiber connector, the at least one multi-fiber connector being disposed outside the interior space and the at least one single fiber connector being disposed within the interior space, the multi-fiber connector capable of flexing on the at least one fiber optic cable relative to the module housing;

a compression fitting associated with the at least one input aperture for securing the module assembly to the module housing, the fiber optic cable passing through the compression fitting and extending out of the interior space for a distance, the distance being adjustable from a first distance to a second distance.

2. The module of claim 1, the multi-fiber connector capable of flexing on the fiber optic cable relative to the module housing up to about 180 degrees.

3. The module of claim 1, the multi-fiber connector capable of transmitting a torsion to the fiber optic cable, twisting at least a portion of the fiber optic cable up to 90 degrees relative to the module housing.

4. The module of claim 1, the multi-fiber connector being a hardened multi-fiber connector.

5. The module of claim 4, the module sub-assembly having a sealed portion, the hardened multi-fiber connector being on one end of the sealed portion and a demarcation on an opposite end of the sealed portion, the demarcation including a sealant.

6. The module of claim 5, the sealed portion including a rugged fiber optic cable.

7. The module of claim 4, the module sub-assembly having an unsealed portion, the unsealed portion having the demarcation on one end of the unsealed portion and the single fiber connector on another end of the unsealed portion.

8. The module of claim 7, the unsealed portion further including a furcation for transitioning from the at least one multi-fiber ribbon to the at least one single fiber.

9. The module of claim 1, the module housing having a bottom and at least two walls extending from the bottom, the at least one connector adapter aperture and the at least one input aperture each being on different walls, the at least two walls being at an angle from zero to 90 degrees relative to each other.

10. The module of claim 1, the module defining a surface mountable module assembly, the module assembly including a side insertion mounting bracket for mounting at least one module to a mounting surface, the module engaging the side insertion mounting bracket substantially in alignment with the mounting surface, the mounting bracket including module mounting apertures on a first leg and mounting surface apertures on a second leg, the first leg and the second leg being orthogonal.

11. The module of claim 1, the module defining a surface mountable module assembly, the module assembly including an angular insertion mounting bracket for mounting at least one module to a mounting surface, the module engaging the angular insertion mounting bracket substantially at an angle to the mounting surface, the angle being less than 90 degrees, the angular mounting bracket including:

a wall mounting area, the wall mounting area including at least one wall mounting aperture;

a module mounting area, the module mounting area being at an angle to the wall mounting area and including module mounting apertures; and

at least one routing guide, the at least one cable routing guide being located in at least one routing guide aperture.

12. The module of claim 1, the module defining a surface mountable module assembly, the module assembly including an orthogonal insertion mounting bracket for mounting at least one module to a mounting surface, the module engaging the orthogonal insertion mounting bracket substantially perpendicular to the mounting surface, the orthogonal mounting bracket including:

a wall mounting area, the wall mounting area including at least one wall mounting aperture;

a module mounting area, the module mounting area being substantially perpendicular to the wall mounting area and including module mounting apertures; and

at least one routing guide, the at least one cable routing guide being located in at least one routing guide aperture.

13. The module of claim 1, the module defining a rack mountable module assembly, the module assembly including a shelf for mounting at least one module to a rack having at least two vertical support columns, the module engaging the shelf such that the at least one multi-fiber connector on an end of the fiber optic cable is pointed generally toward at least one of the vertical support columns.

14. The module of claim 1, the module being positioned in a base cabinet, the base cabinet being in communication with a remote radio head for a wireless communication system.

15. A module sub-assembly, comprising:

at least one fiber optic cable;

at least one multi-fiber connector on an end of the fiber optic cable;

at least one single fiber connector on an opposite end of the fiber optic cable, the multi-fiber connector being in optical communication with the at least one single fiber connector;

a demarcation;

a furcation, the demarcation being located along the at least one fiber optic cable between the multi-fiber connector and the furcation, the furcation being located along the at least one fiber optic cable between the demarcation and the at least one single fiber connector; and

a compression fitting, the compression fitting being about the at least one fiber optic cable between the demarcation and the multi-fiber connector.

16. The sub-assembly of claim 15, the multi-fiber connector being a hardened multi-fiber connector.

17. The sub-assembly of claim 16, the at least one fiber optic cable being a rugged fiber optic cable.

18. The sub-assembly of claim 17, the sub-assembly including a sealed portion, the sealed portion defined by the hardened multi-fiber connector, the demarcation and the rugged fiber optic cable, the demarcation including a sealant.

19. The sub-assembly of claim 15, the sub-assembly including an unsealed portion, the unsealed portion having the demarcation on one end of the unsealed portion and the single fiber connector on another end of the unsealed portion.

20. The sub-assembly of claim 15, the sub-assembly being positioned in a housing, the housing being a module housing, the module housing defining an interior space, the module housing further defining at least one adapter aperture and at least one input aperture, the at least one fiber optic cable passing through the at least one input aperture, the compression fitting being associated with the at least one input aperture, the at least one single fiber connector being associated with the at least one adapter aperture, and the multi-fiber connector capable of flexing on the at least one fiber optic cable relative to the module housing.

21. The sub-assembly of claim 15, the sub-assembly being positioned in a housing, the housing being a rack mountable shelf, the rack mountable shelf including a first wall and a second wall with a floor therebetween, the compression fitting being associated with the first wall, the demarcation and the furcation being associated with the floor, and the at least one single fiber connector being associated with the second wall, the at least one multi-fiber connector being disposed away from the rack mountable shelf opposite the at least one single fiber connector and capable of flexing on the at least one fiber optic cable relative to the rack mountable shelf.