Optical backplane extension modules, and related assemblies suitable for establishing optical connections to information processing modules disposed in equipment racks

• US 9,645,317 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2013
• Issued: 05/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Inventors: Isenhour, Micah Colen, Knecht, Dennis Michael, Luther, James Phillip
• Primary Examiner(s): Sanghavi, Hemang
• Application Number:
  US13/952,151
• Publication Number:
  US 20140029907A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,383 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/25 Preparing the ends of light guides for coupling, e.g. cutting
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/32 having lens focusing means positioned between opposed fibre ends with lens being an integral part of the single fibre end G02B6/262
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3644 the coupling means being through-holes or wall apertures
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3652 the additional structures being prepositioning mounting areas, allowing only movement in one dimension, e.g. grooves, trenches or vias in the microbench surface, i.e. self aligning supporting carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3672 with fibres arranged in a regular matrix array
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3825 with an intermediate part, e.g. adapter, receptacle, linking two plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3834 Means for centering or aligning the light guide within the ferrule
• 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 6/3853 Lens inside the ferrule lensed connectors G02B6/32
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3865 fabricated by using moulding techniques shaping techniques of plastic materials in general B29C; producing plastic optical fiber connectors B29D11/0075
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3869 Mounting ferrules to connector body, i.e. plugs
• 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 6/3897 Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards G02B6/44528 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/43 Arrangements comprising a plurality of opto-electronic elements and associated optical interconnections
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4447 with divided shells G02B6/4448 takes precedence
• 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 6/44526 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 6/4471 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 : Electrical device making

Abstract

Optical backplane extension modules and related assemblies suitable for establishing optical connections to information processing modules disposed in equipment racks are disclosed. In one embodiment, an optical backplane extension module is provided. The optical backplane extension module comprises an extension module housing comprising an interior space defined by a base, a left side disposed on a left end of the base, a right side disposed on a right end of the base opposite the left end, and a rear side disposed on a rear end of the base. A plurality of backplane fiber optic connectors are disposed through the rear side of the extension module housing and accessible through an exterior side of the rear side. The plurality of backplane fiber optic connectors configured to be directly optically connected to a plurality of blade fiber optic connectors disposed in a plurality of information processing modules disposed in a rack module housing.

Claims

1. An optical backplane extension module, comprising:

an extension module housing comprising an interior space defined by a base, a left side disposed on a left end of the base, a right side disposed on a right end of the base opposite the left end, and a rear side disposed on a rear end of the base;

a plurality of backplane fiber optic connectors disposed through the rear side of the extension module housing and accessible through an exterior side of the rear side, the plurality of backplane fiber optic connectors configured to be directly optically connected to a plurality of blade fiber optic connectors disposed in a plurality of information processing modules disposed in a rack module housing; and

at least one interconnection port disposed in the extension module housing, the at least one interconnection port configured to establish an optical connection with one or more of the plurality of backplane fiber optic connectors.

2. The optical backplane extension module of claim 1, wherein the extension module housing further comprises a door attached to a front end of the base, the door configured to be opened to allow access to the interior space.

3. The optical backplane extension module of claim 1, further comprising at least one alignment member disposed on the exterior side of the rear side of the extension module housing, the at least one alignment member configured to engage with a complementary alignment member disposed in an equipment rack to align the plurality of backplane fiber optic connectors with the plurality of blade fiber optic connectors.

4. The optical backplane extension module of claim 3, wherein the at least one alignment member is comprised of a non-planar surface.

5. The optical backplane extension module of claim 4, wherein the non-planar surface is comprised of a plurality of protrusions forming a plurality of grooves each formed between adjacent protrusions among the plurality of protrusions.

6. The optical backplane extension module of claim 1, wherein a height of the extension module housing is less than a height of the rack module housing.

7. The optical backplane extension module of claim 1, further comprising a non-planar top side disposed in the extension module housing.

8. The optical backplane extension module of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of backplane fiber optic connectors is comprised of a plurality of backplane fiber optic plugs configured to be directly optically connected to the plurality of blade fiber optic connectors comprised of a plurality of blade fiber optic receptacles disposed in the plurality of information processing modules.

9. The optical backplane extension module of claim 1, wherein the interior space is configured to provide a routing area inside the extension module housing for fiber optic cables optically connected to the plurality of backplane fiber optic connectors.

10. The optical backplane extension module of claim 1, wherein the plurality of backplane fiber optic connectors is comprised of at least one backplane fiber optic connector having a first height and at least one second backplane fiber optic connector having a second height.

11. The optical backplane extension module of claim 1, wherein the plurality of backplane fiber optic connectors are each configured to receive a plurality of backplane fiber optic ribbon ends.

12. The optical backplane extension module of claim 1, wherein the plurality of backplane fiber optic connectors are each comprised of backplane fiber optic connectors supporting at least one hundred twenty eight (128) optical fibers.

13. The optical backplane extension module of claim 1, wherein the plurality of backplane fiber optic connectors are aligned along a longitudinal axis of the rear side of the extension module housing.

14. A method of connecting an optical backplane extension module to a rack module housing, comprising:

providing an optical backplane extension module, comprising;

an extension module housing comprising an interior space defined by a base, a left side disposed on a left end of the base, a right side disposed on a right end of the base opposite the left end, and a rear side disposed on a rear end of the base;

a plurality of backplane fiber optic connectors disposed through the rear side of the extension module housing and accessible through an exterior side of the rear side; and

at least one interconnection port disposed in the extension module housing; and

directly optically connecting the plurality of backplane fiber optic connectors disposed through the rear side of the extension module housing to a plurality of blade fiber optic connectors disposed in a plurality of information processing modules disposed in a rack module housing; and

directly optically connecting at least one of the plurality of backplane fiber optic connectors to the at least one interconnection port.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising attaching the extension module housing to the rack module housing.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising engaging at least one alignment member disposed on the exterior side of the rear side of the extension module housing with a complementary alignment member disposed in an equipment rack to align the plurality of backplane fiber optic connectors with the plurality of blade fiber optic connectors.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one alignment member extends from the exterior side of the rear side of the extension module housing configured to be disposed in a rack module housing.

18. The method of claim 14, comprising directly optically connecting the plurality of backplane fiber optic connectors comprised of a plurality of first backplane fiber optic plugs, to the plurality of blade fiber optic connectors comprised of a plurality of blade fiber optic receptacles disposed in the plurality of information processing modules.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising connecting at least one backplane fiber optic cable from at least one of the plurality of backplane fiber optic connectors to at least one interconnection port disposed in the extension module housing.