Optical assemblies with managed connectivity

• US 9,423,570 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2014
• Issued: 08/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Connectivity UK Limited (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Original Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Petersen, Cyle D., Ogren, Bruce, Sievers, Scott C., Marcouiller, Thomas, Taylor, Chris Charles, Meredith, Mark, Eberle, James Joseph Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): PENG, CHARLIE YU
• Application Number:
  US14/170,157
• Publication Number:
  US 20140219615A1
• Time in Patent Office: 935 Days
• Field of Search: 385/135
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3817 containing optical and electrical conductors cables including electrical and optical conductors H01B11/22; G02B6/3816 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3825 with an intermediate part, e.g. adapter, receptacle, linking two plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3874 using tubes, sleeves to align ferrules
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3885 Multicore or multichannel optical connectors, i.e. one single ferrule containing more than one fibre, e.g. ribbon type optical ribbon cable G02B6/4403, G02B6/448
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3895 identification of connection, e.g. right plug to the right socket or full engagement of the mating parts keying element on the plug or adapter G02B6/3831; keying element on the ferrule G02B6/3851; keying element for electrical connection H01R13/64
• 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 6/43 Arrangements comprising a plurality of opto-electronic elements and associated optical interconnections
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4452 Distribution frames
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44524 with frame parts or auxiliary devices mounted on the frame and collectively not covering a whole width of the frame or rack cassettes G02B6/4453
• 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: H04Q 1/023 using sliding mechanisms for accessing the interior of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/06 Cable ducts or mountings specially adapted for exchange installations

Abstract

An adapter assembly includes a single-piece or two-piece multi-fiber adapter defining a recess at which a contact assembly is disposed. The adapter assemblies can be disposed within adapter block assemblies or cassettes, which can be mounted to moveable trays. Both ports of the adapters disposed within adapter block assemblies are accessible. Only one port of each adapter disposed within the cassettes are accessible. Circuit boards can be mounted within the block assemblies or cassettes to provide communication between the contact assemblies and a data network.

Claims

1. A cassette comprising:

a cassette body defining an interior and including a connection section having a first port end and an opposite second port end, the cassette body also including a first fiber management chamber extending outwardly from the first port end of the connection section at a first side of the cassette body, a second fiber management section chamber extending outwardly from the first port end of the connection section at towards a second side of the cassette body, the second fiber management chamber being separate from the first fiber management chamber, and a third fiber management section chamber extending outwardly from the second port end of the connection section cassette body, the first and second management chambers being separated by a gap, and the third fiber management chamber being aligned with the gap;

a plurality of ports disposed in the connection section and each configured to receive an optical connector from an exterior of the cassette body, the plurality of ports including at least a first port disposed at the first port end of the connection section between the first and second fiber management chambers, at least one second port disposed at the second port end of the connection section towards the first side of the cassette body, and at least one third port disposed at the second port end of the connection section towards the second side of the cassette body; and

an optical fiber arrangement disposed within the cassette body, the optical fiber arrangement optically coupling the first port with the second port.

2. The cassette of claim 1, wherein the optical fiber arrangement optically couples the first port with a plurality of second ports.

3. The cassette of claim 1, wherein the plurality of ports further comprises a fourth port disposed at the first port end of the connection section between the first and second fiber management chambers;

wherein the optical fiber arrangement optically couples the fourth port with the third port.

4. The cassette of claim 3, wherein the optical fiber arrangement optically couples the fourth port with a plurality of third ports.

5. The cassette of claim 1, wherein the ports are defined by optical adapters.

6. The cassette of claim 5, wherein the ports are defined by MPO adapters.

7. The cassette of claim 1, wherein the ports are defined by half-adapters.

8. The cassette of claim 1, further comprising:

a circuit board disposed within the connection section of the cassette body;

a plurality of contact assemblies electrically coupled to the circuit board, each contact assembly aligning with one of the ports.

9. The cassette of claim 1, wherein the fiber arrangement includes loose optical fibers.

10. The cassette of claim 1, wherein the fiber arrangement includes optical fibers disposed on a flexible substrate.

11. The cassette of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of management spools disposed within the management chambers, each management spool including a bend radius limiter and retention flanges extending outwardly from the bend radius limiter.

12. The cassette of claim 11, wherein each management spool has a height of no more than about 0.07 inches.

13. The cassette of claim 11, wherein a sidewall of the cassette body aids in defining a fiber routing path around the management spools.

14. The cassette of claim 1, further comprising cable routing arrangement extending outwardly from the cassette body.

15. The cassette of claim 14, wherein the cable routing arrangement extends outwardly from the third fiber management chamber.

16. The cassette of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the cassette body includes a light transmissible material that enables light emitted from light indicators on the circuit board to be visible from an exterior of the cassette.

17. The cassette of claim 1, wherein the ports disposed in the connection section include two ports disposed at the first port end including the first port.

18. The cassette of claim 17, wherein the ports disposed in the connection section include six ports, the six ports including the second and third port.

19. The cassette of claim 1, wherein the cassette body includes a top member and a bottom member that cooperate to enclose the optical fiber arrangement.

20. The cassette of claim 1, wherein the fiber management chambers are thinner than the connection section.