Abstract:
Technologies are described for a fiber optic equipment chassis. The chassis may have a bottom plate and a top plate positioned such that the plates form a front chassis access and a rear chassis access. The chassis may include five module guides each having module guide channels for insertion and removal of fiber optic modules. The modules have two guide rails and movable tabs arranged in tab pairs to the front and to the rear. A tab catch on each of the tabs is configured to engage with guide catches and disengage when either tab pair is compressed toward a centerline of the module. The geometry of the modules provide a smaller total width than a distance between adjacent module guides while either pair of tabs is compressed. The smaller width can support removal of the fiber optic module from both the front access and the rear access.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No. 62/232,156, filed on Sep. 24, 2015, entitled “Fiber Optic Equipment Chassis And Modules,” which is expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     SUMMARY 
       [0002]    Technologies are described herein for a fiber optic equipment chassis. The chassis may have a bottom plate and a top plate positioned such that the plates form a front chassis access and a rear chassis access. The chassis may include five module guides each having module guide channels for insertion and removal of fiber optic modules. The modules have two guide rails and movable tabs arranged in tab pairs to the front and to the rear. A tab catch on each of the tabs is configured to engage with guide catches and disengage when either tab pair is compressed toward a centerline of the module. The geometry of the modules provide a smaller total width than a distance between adjacent module guides while either pair of tabs is compressed. The smaller width can support removal of the fiber optic module from both the front access and the rear access. 
         [0003]    It should be appreciated that the above-described subject matter may also be implemented as an apparatus, a system, an installation process, a manufacturing process, or as an article of manufacture. These and various other features will be apparent from a reading of the following Detailed Description and a review of the associated drawings. 
         [0004]    This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended that this Summary be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any or all disadvantages noted in any part of this disclosure. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a perspective-view drawing illustrating a fiber optic equipment chassis according to one or more embodiments presented herein; 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a perspective-view drawing illustrating a fiber optic equipment chassis populated with fiber optic modules according to one or more embodiments presented herein; 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a perspective-view drawing illustrating module guides within a fiber optic equipment chassis populated with a fiber optic module according to one or more embodiments presented herein; 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a perspective-view drawing illustrating module guides for supporting fiber optic modules according to one or more embodiments presented herein; 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is a perspective-view drawing illustrating a fiber optic equipment chassis according to one or more embodiments presented herein; 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is a perspective-view drawing illustrating a fiber optic equipment chassis according to one or more embodiments presented herein; 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  is a perspective-view drawing illustrating a fiber optic equipment chassis populated with fifty-two fiber optic modules according to one or more embodiments presented herein; 
           [0012]      FIG. 8  is perspective-view drawing illustrating a fiber optic equipment chassis comprising a rear cable management platform according to one or more embodiments presented herein; 
           [0013]      FIG. 9  is a perspective-view drawing illustrating a fiber optic equipment chassis comprising a rear cable management platform supporting furcation modules according to one or more embodiments presented herein; 
           [0014]      FIG. 10  is a perspective-view drawing illustrating a fiber optic module according to one or more embodiments presented herein; 
           [0015]      FIG. 11  is a perspective-view drawing illustrating a fiber optic module without forward fiber optical couplers according to one or more embodiments presented herein; 
           [0016]      FIG. 12  is a perspective-view drawing illustrating a rear-view of a fiber optic module according to one or more embodiments presented herein; 
           [0017]      FIG. 13  is a perspective-view drawing illustrating a rear-view of a fiber optic module without a rear fiber optical coupler according to one or more embodiments presented herein; 
           [0018]      FIG. 14  is a perspective-view drawing illustrating a bottom-view of a fiber optic module according to one or more embodiments presented herein; 
           [0019]      FIG. 15  is an exploded-view drawing illustrating an interior of a fiber optic module according to one or more embodiments presented herein; 
           [0020]      FIG. 16  is a top-view drawing illustrating two fiber optic modules engaged with a cut away portion of a module guide according to one or more embodiments presented herein; 
           [0021]      FIG. 17  is a detail-view drawing illustrating module tab catches associated with module tabs engaging with corresponding module guide catches associated with module guides according to one or more embodiments presented herein; 
           [0022]      FIG. 18  is a perspective-view drawing illustrating a fiber optic module configured to support fiber patching according to one or more embodiments presented herein; 
           [0023]      FIG. 19  is a top-view drawing illustrating a fiber optic module configured to support fiber patching according to one or more embodiments presented herein; 
           [0024]      FIG. 20  is a rear-view drawing illustrating a fiber optic module configured to support fiber patching with a closed relief gripper according to one or more embodiments presented herein; and 
           [0025]      FIG. 21  is a rear-view drawing illustrating a fiber optic module configured to support fiber patching with an open relief gripper according to one or more embodiments presented herein. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0026]    The following description is directed to technologies for fiber optic chassis and modules. In the following detailed description, references are made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments or examples. Referring now to the drawings, in which like numerals represent like, but not necessarily identical, elements through the several figures, aspects of head-mounted personal privacy solutions will be presented. 
         [0027]    Turning first to  FIG. 1 , a perspective-view drawing illustrates a fiber optic equipment chassis  100  according to one or more embodiments of the technology presented herein. The fiber optic equipment chassis  100  may comprise a bottom plate  110  and a top plate  130  separated by module guides  150 . The fiber optic equipment chassis  100  may comprise side panels  120 . The module guides  150  can support fiber optic modules. The fiber optic equipment chassis  100  may be one rack unit (1U) high. The fiber optic equipment chassis  100  may support up to twelve (12) fiber optic modules. The fiber optic equipment chassis  100  may comprise a front access door  140  movably affixed to the one or more of the bottom plate  110 , top plate  130 , or side panels  120 . 
         [0028]    It should be appreciated that a height of the module guides  150  may be provided, in a modular fashion, such that the fiber optic equipment chassis  100  has a height of one rack unit (1U), two rack units (2U), three rack units (3U), or four rack units (4U). 
         [0029]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a perspective-view drawing illustrates a fiber optic equipment chassis  100  populated with fiber optic modules  200  according to one or more embodiments of the technology presented herein. 
         [0030]    The fiber optic modules  200  may be inserted and/or removed from the front side of the fiber optic equipment chassis  100  (through the front access door  140 ). The fiber optic modules  200  may be inserted and/or removed from the rear side of the fiber optic equipment chassis  100  (opposite the front access door  140 ). The fiber optic modules  200  may be inserted right side up or upside down. Tabs, guides and locking features associated with the fiber optic modules  200  may all operate in the same manner or function regardless of orientation of the respective fiber optic module  200 . 
         [0031]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a perspective-view drawing illustrates module guides  150  within a fiber optic equipment chassis  100  populated with a fiber optic module  200  according to one or more embodiments of the technology presented herein. 
         [0032]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a perspective-view drawing illustrates module guides  150  for supporting fiber optic modules  200  according to one or more embodiments of the technology presented herein. 
         [0033]    Mounting holes  420 A- 420 C and alignment pins  430 A- 430 B may be used to align and affix the module guide  150  within the fiber optic equipment chassis  100 . 
         [0034]    The channels  410 A- 410 C may receive rails along the edge of the fiber optic modules  200  in order to support the fiber optic modules  200 . The plane  400  lies within the upper channel  410 A. 
         [0035]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a perspective-view drawing illustrates a fiber optic equipment chassis  100  according to one or more embodiments of the technology presented herein. The fiber optic equipment chassis  100  may be two rack units (2U) high. The fiber optic equipment chassis  100  may support up to twenty-four (24) fiber optic modules  200 . The fiber optic equipment chassis  100  may be modularly reconfigured between 1U and 2U configurations by changing the module guides  150 , side panels  120 , and the front access door  140 . 
         [0036]    Referring now to  FIG. 6 , a perspective-view drawing illustrates a fiber optic equipment chassis  100  according to one or more embodiments of the technology presented herein. The fiber optic equipment chassis  100  may be four rack units (4U) high. The fiber optic equipment chassis  100  may support up to fifty-two (52) fiber optic modules  200 . The fiber optic equipment chassis  100  may be modularly reconfigured between 1U, 2U, and 4U configurations by changing the module guides  150 , side panels  120 , and the front access door  140 . It should be appreciated that each column of fiber optic modules  200  within the fiber optic equipment chassis  100  can accommodate thirteen (13) fiber optic modules  200 . 
         [0037]    Referring now to  FIG. 7 , a perspective-view drawing illustrates a fiber optic equipment chassis  100  populated with fifty-two (52) fiber optic modules  200  according to one or more embodiments of the technology presented herein. 
         [0038]    It should be appreciated that the fiber optic modules  200  may alternatively be mounted vertically (sideways) within the fiber optic equipment chassis  100 . 
         [0039]    Referring now to  FIG. 8 , a perspective-view drawing illustrates a fiber optic equipment chassis  100  comprising a rear cable management platform  810  according to one or more embodiments of the technology presented herein. The rear cable management platform  810  may include mounting holes  820 . The mounting holes  820  may be configured to support cable ties, cable supports, cable furcation modules, or other cable management structures. 
         [0040]    Referring now to  FIG. 9 , a perspective-view drawing illustrates a fiber optic equipment chassis  100  comprising a rear cable management platform  810  supporting furcation modules  910  according to one or more embodiments of the technology presented herein. 
         [0041]    Referring now to  FIG. 10 , a perspective-view drawing illustrates a fiber optic module  200  according to one or more embodiments of the technology presented herein. 
         [0042]    The fiber optic module  200  may include integrated guide rails  1040 , front tabs  1010 A, and rear tabs  1010 B. The guide rails  1040  can run substantially the full length of the fiber optic module  200 . The guide rails  1040  can slide within the channels  410 A- 410 C located within the module guides  150  in order to support the fiber optic module  200 . The front tabs  1010 A and the rear tabs  1010 B may extend out from the front or rear of the fiber of the fiber optic module  200 . To unlock and remove the fiber optic module  200  from the channels  410  the tabs  1010  may be pressed inward to deactivate a module tab catch  1030  from a mating channel catch within the channels  410  of the module guides  150 . The optic module  200  can be installed right side up, upside down, from front, or from the rear. The guide rails  1040  and the tabs  1010  may be integrated into a unibody housing associated with the fiber optic module  200 . For example, the unibody housing may be molded or machined as a single element. 
         [0043]    The fiber optic module  200  can house a fiber optical assembly that couples fiber optical wave guides between one or more rear fiber optical couplers  1050  and one or more forward fiber optical couplers  1020 . For example, the fiber optic module  200  may comprise a single rear fiber optical coupler  1050  that is a multi-fiber connector such as those using multi-fiber push on (MPO) or MTP technology. For example, the multi-fiber connector may include twelve (12) or more fiber optic waveguides within a single connector. The internal fiber optical assembly may then break the twelve (12) or more fiber optic waveguides out to the separate forward fiber optical couplers  1020 , which in the illustrated example may be twelve (12) LC couplers. 
         [0044]    The forward fiber optical couplers  1020  and rear fiber optical couplers  1050  may also be referred to as adapters, connectors, guides, or other fiber optic waveguide coupling terminology. The forward fiber optical couplers  1020  and rear fiber optical couplers  1050  may support various type of fiber optical connectors, such as MTP, MPO, SFF, LC, MT-RJ, ST, SC, FC, and so forth. The connectors may also be any combination of simplex or duplex arrangements. 
         [0045]    Referring now to  FIG. 11 , a perspective-view drawing illustrates a fiber optic module  200  without forward fiber optical couplers  1020  according to one or more embodiments of the technology presented herein. The openings  1110  within the front surface of the fiber optic module  200  can support the installation of up to three (3) forward fiber optical couplers  1020 . The openings  1110  within the front surface of the fiber optic module  200  may be referred to as rear ports. 
         [0046]    Referring now to  FIG. 12 , a perspective-view drawing illustrates a rear-view of a fiber optic module  200  according to one or more embodiments of the technology presented herein. 
         [0047]    Referring now to  FIG. 13 , a perspective-view drawing illustrates a rear-view of a fiber optic module  200  without a rear fiber optical coupler  1050  according to one or more embodiments of the technology presented herein. The opening  1310  within the rear surface of the fiber optic module  200  can support the installation of a rear fiber optical coupler  1050 . The opening  1310  within the rear surface of the fiber optic module  200  may be referred to as a rear port. 
         [0048]    Referring now to  FIG. 14 , a perspective-view drawing illustrates a bottom-view of a fiber optic module  200  according to one or more embodiments of the technology presented herein. 
         [0049]    The housing of the fiber optic module  200  can be molded as a module housing element  1410  that incorporates the module guides  150 , the front tabs  1010 A, the rear tabs  1010 B, and the associated module tab catches  1030 . A module cover  1420  may be attached to the module housing element  1410  to enclose the fiber optic module  200  and protect the fiber optical assembly within. The module cover  1420  may be attached to the module housing element  1410  using screws (as illustrated), rivets, snaps, adhesive, welding, pressure fitting, or so forth. 
         [0050]    Referring now to  FIG. 15 , an exploded-view drawing illustrates an interior of a fiber optic module  200  according to one or more embodiments of the technology presented herein. 
         [0051]    A fiber optical assembly  1530  within the fiber optic module  200  may be used to couple fiber optical waveguides between one or more rear fiber optical couplers  1050  and one or more forward fiber optical couplers  1020 . 
         [0052]    Forward coupler retainers  1510  may provide pockets for retaining tabs protruding from the sides of the forward fiber optical couplers  1020 . The forward coupler retainers  1510  may have the shape of an “I beam” to provide a pocket on each side for simultaneously retaining two forward fiber optical couplers  1020 . The forward coupler retainers  1510  may be molded as part of the module housing element  1410 . The forward fiber optical couplers  1020  may float within the forward coupler retainers  1510  such that the forward fiber optical couplers  1020  are retained into pockets of the forward coupler retainers  1510  once the module cover  1420  is attached to the module housing element  1410 . 
         [0053]    A rear coupler retainer  1540  may provide pockets for retaining tabs protruding from the sides of the rear fiber optical coupler  1050 . The rear coupler retainer  1540  may have a substantially C-shape to provide pockets on each side for retaining the rear fiber optical coupler  1050 . The rear coupler retainer  1540  may be molded as part of the module housing element  1410 . The rear fiber optical coupler  1050  may float within the rear coupler retainer  1540  such that the rear fiber optical coupler  1050  is retained into the pockets of the rear coupler retainer  1540  once the module cover  1420  is attached to the module housing element  1410 . 
         [0054]    Alternatively, the outer portion of the forward fiber optical couplers  1020  and/or the rear fiber optical coupler  1050  may be molded as part of the module housing element  1410 . Fiber ferule alignment sleeves, similar to those in traditional couplers (such as  1020  and/or  1050 ) may be installed within the mold integrated couplers of the module housing element  1410 . 
         [0055]    Referring now to  FIG. 16 , a top-view drawing illustrates two fiber optic modules  200  engaged with a cut away portion of a module guide  150  according to one or more embodiments of the technology presented herein. The cut away view is located along plane  400  within a channel  410  of the module guide  150  for supporting the fiber optic modules  200 . 
         [0056]    The fiber optic modules  200  may be extracted through the front side or the rear side with respect to the module guides  150  within the fiber optic equipment chassis  100 . To unlock and remove the fiber optic module  200  from the channels  410 , the tabs  1010  may be pressed inward to deactivate a module tab catch  1030  from a mating channel catch within the channels  410  of the module guides  150 . 
         [0057]    To support pass-through extraction of the fiber optic module  200  through either the front side or the rear side of the fiber optic equipment chassis  100 , the guide rails  1040  and the module tab catch  1030  on the interior of the tabs  1010  are all within the linear path of the channels  410  located within the module guides  150 . The tabs are also out of the way of the module guides  150  and the fiber optic modules  200  above and below, such that the tabs  1010  on the opposite side of the fiber optic module  200  can pass through the space previously occupied by the fiber optic module  200  while it is being extracted. 
         [0058]    Referring now to  FIG. 17 , a detail-view drawing illustrates module tab catches  1030  associated with module tabs  1010  engaging with corresponding module guide catches  1710  associated with module guides  150  according to one or more embodiments of the technology presented herein. 
         [0059]    Referring now to  FIG. 18 , a perspective-view drawing illustrates a fiber optic module  200  configured to support fiber patching according to one or more embodiments of the technology presented herein. 
         [0060]    According to the fiber patch (or fiber pass-through) configuration of the fiber optic module  200 , rear entry fibers  1820  may pass through from the rear of the fiber optic module  200  to the forward fiber optical couplers  1020  for attachment. In such a configuration, the rear entry fibers  1820  may be held into place at the rear of the fiber optic module  200  by a relief gripper  1810  instead of coupling into a rear fiber optical coupler  1050 . Such a configuration can reduce the cost and the coupling loss associated with the rear fiber optical coupler  1050 . 
         [0061]    The forward fiber optical couplers  1020  could support any type of fiber optical couplers including up to six (6) MTP connectors per fiber optic module  200 . With each of those MTP connector supporting up to 72 fiber optic waveguides, the density per module can be enormous. 
         [0062]    Referring now to  FIG. 19 , a top-view drawing illustrates a fiber optic module  200  configured to support fiber patching according to one or more embodiments of the technology presented herein. 
         [0063]    The rear entry fibers  1820  may be held into place at the rear of the fiber optic module  200  by a relief gripper  1810 . The relief gripper  1810  may be affixed by a gripper pivot  1910  on one side and a gripper latch  1920  on the other side. 
         [0064]    Referring now to  FIG. 20 , a rear-view drawing illustrates a fiber optic module  200  configured to support fiber patching with a closed relief gripper  1810  according to one or more embodiments of the technology presented herein. 
         [0065]    When closed, the relief gripper  1810  can engage with a lower gripper frame  2010  to press an upper gripper jaw  2020  against a lower gripper jaw  2030 . The upper gripper jaw  2020  and/or the lower gripper jaw  2030  may include one or more gripper channels  2040  through which the rear entry fibers  1820  may pass through while their jackets are gently gripped into position. Alternatively, the upper gripper jaw  2020  and/or the lower gripper jaw  2030  may comprise soft or deformable material (such as foam or rubber) to allow the rear entry fibers  1820  to pass through while being gently gripped into position. 
         [0066]    Referring now to  FIG. 21 , a rear-view drawing illustrates a fiber optic module  200  configured to support fiber patching with an open relief gripper  1810  according to one or more embodiments of the technology presented herein. The relief gripper  1810  may be affixed by a gripper pivot  1910  on one side and a gripper latch  1920  on the other side. According to certain embodiments the gripper latch  1920  may comprise a resealable snap closure. 
         [0067]    Based on the foregoing, it should be appreciated that technologies for fiber optic chassis and modules are presented herein. Although the subject matter presented herein has been described in specific language related to structural features or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described herein. Rather, the specific features and acts are disclosed as example forms of implementation. 
         [0068]    The subject matter described above is provided by way of illustration only and should not be construed as limiting. Various modifications and changes may be made to the subject matter described herein without following the example embodiments and applications illustrated and described, and without departing from the true spirit and scope of the present invention, which is set forth in the following claims.