Abstract:
A method is provided for utilization of previously unusable space within an optical fiber distribution frame for electrical fuses, power, ground, and electrical communications and control for optical fiber management. These components as well as optical fiber installation tools, maintenance tools, and spare parts are housed within spaces defined by upper and lower raceways.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to optical fiber handling systems, and more particularly to optical fiber distribution frames having integral intelligent elements. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Many telecommunications applications utilize an optical fiber network of interconnected optical fiber cables to enable optical communications between network locations. Ordinarily, a unique fiber routing will be required to transmit light pulses between network locations. Over this unique route, light pulses may be propagated across several different fibers. At each transition from one fiber to another, individual fibers are connected, thereby enabling light pulses to be carried between a first fiber and a second fiber. In many cases, such as at a central office for the communications system, large numbers of fiber connections must be made and a fiber administration system is employed to manage the various connections. 
     In many fiber administration systems, as the optical fibers in a network enter the central office, they are directed into an optical fiber distribution frame (FDF) where the individual optical fibers are terminated in an organized manner. Such fiber administration systems are exemplified by the LGX® fiber administration system that is currently manufactured by Lucent Technologies of Murray Hill, N.J., the assignee herein. 
     The FDF accommodates the placement and management of optical jumpers for interconnecting or cross connecting optical transmission equipment and outside plant (OSP) fibers. The FDF typically includes an upright structural framework or support member, a space or bay within the support member to hold racks or shelves of terminal equipment, a pair of distribution rings adjacent each shelf to convey fibers vertically, and an upper and lower raceway, each having space to convey fibers horizontally to the terminal equipment. The upper raceway further includes an arcuate support member at each end for supporting the optical fibers and guiding them through a minimum radius in transition from vertical to horizontal. That minimum radius corresponds to the minimum bend radius for the fiber (a radius determined to avoid damage to, or light leakage from a fiber which can occur with a bend in the fiber exceeding that radius). A minimum bend radius of at least two inches is generally considered safe, and is typical. 
     Heretofore, FDF frames comprised passive optical jumpers with few if any electrical components. Recent practice has been to manage the OSP by including test modules containing active electrical components, or intelligent elements, within the FDF frame. Such test modules may include one or more optical switches, a remote test unit, a monitor, a writing shelf and keyboard, a test system control, a modem, and a printer. To support the intelligent elements within the FDF, it is now necessary to provide power, ground, and electrical communications. 
     The trend in recent years has been to pack ever increasing numbers of optical fibers into a FDF raceway. The resulting high fiber density has made it very difficult to locate test or support modules in the portion of the FDF occupied by the fiber distribution shelves because the cable density makes severely limits access to such modules. Moreover, open space for intelligent elements is highly limited. 
     Accordingly, there is a need to provide an optical fiber distribution frame having integral intelligent elements within the physical envelope of the FDF. 
     There is a further need to provide an optical fiber distribution frame of the type described and that includes space for the intelligent elements while maintaining accessibility for installing and removing optical fiber jumpers; and 
     There is a yet further need to provide an optical fiber distribution frame of the type described and that includes power, ground, and electrical communications for the intelligent elements. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a fiber distribution frame comprising an upright support member having opposite upper and lower ends, and opposite left and right sides. An upper raceway is located adjacent the upright support member upper end. The upper raceway has opposite left and right ends adjacent the upright support member left and right ends respectively. The upper raceway also has opposite left and right arcuate support members adjacent the upper raceway left and right ends respectively, for supporting and guiding optical fibers. The arcuate support members each have a predetermined radius. The upper raceway and the arcuate support members together define a first space that is adapted to receive at least one active electrical component. 
     In a further embodiment, a lower raceway is provided adjacent the upright support member lower end. The lower raceway has opposite left and right ends adjacent the upright support member left and right ends respectively. The lower raceway defines a second space that may also be adapted to receive at least one active electrical component. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     A more complete understanding of the present invention may be obtained from consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of an optical fiber distribution frame with an integral fuse panel and controller constructed in accordance with the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an isometric, partially cut-away view of the upper raceway of the optical fiber distribution frame of FIG.  1 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     As explained in the Background section, the upper raceway of the FDF (and, as well, a lower raceway) includes an arcuate support member at each end for supporting the optical fibers and guiding them through a minimum radius in transition from vertical to horizontal. That minimum radius is typically on the order of two inches, leaving open space beneath the raceway and between the arcuate members. According to the invention, that open space may be adapted for receiving an electrical component. 
     Referring now to the drawings, and especially to FIG. 1, an FDF is shown at  10 , and features OSP management test modules including an optical switch  12 , a remote test unit  14 , a monitor  16 , a writing shelf  18 , a keyboard  20 , a test system control  22 , a modem  24 , and a printer  26 . Distribution rings  27  are shown adjacent to the optical switch  12 , and the remote test unit  14 . Optical fibers have been omitted from FIG. 1 for clarity. 
     Considering FIG. 2 along with FIG. 1, the FDF includes an upright support member  28  having opposite upper  30  and lower  32  ends, and opposite left  34  and right  36  sides. An upper raceway  38  is disposed adjacent the upright support member upper end  30 . The upper raceway  38  is a trough comprised of a front panel  40 , a rear panel  42 , and a floor panel  44 . The upper raceway  38  has opposite left  46  and right  48  ends adjacent the upright support member left  34  and right  36  sides respectively. The upper raceway  38  has opposite left  50  (not shown) and right  52  arcuate support members adjacent the upper raceway left  46  and right  48  ends respectively, for supporting and guiding optical fibers  54 . The arcuate support members  50  and  52  each have a predetermined radius. The upper raceway  38  and the arcuate support members  50  and  52  together define a first space  56 . 
     A lower raceway  58  is disposed adjacent the upright support member lower end  32 . The lower raceway  58  has opposite left  60  and right  62  ends adjacent the upright support member left  34  and right  36  sides respectively. The lower raceway  58  has a front panel  59  and a rear panel  61 . The lower raceway  58  defines a second space  64 . 
     At least one active electrical component, and typically several components, are housed within at least one of the first  56  and second  64  spaces. FIG. 2 depicts a fuse panel  66  having a plurality of electrical fuses  68 , and electrical communication and control apparatus  70  having active electrical components  72 , mounted within the first space  56 . This novel arrangement allows efficient use of the hitherto unused first space  56  for optical fiber management. 
     An electrical AC outlet  74  and a ground connection  76  may be housed within at least one of the first  56  and second  64  spaces, along with optical fiber installation and maintenance tools  78 , and spare parts  80 . 
     According to the invention, a method is disclosed for integrating active electronic components within an optical fiber distribution frame. The method comprises the steps of: providing an upright support member  28  on the optical fiber distribution frame  10 ; extending an upper raceway  38  between opposite left  46  and right  48  ends; locating the upper raceway  38  adjacent an upper end  30  of the upright support member  28 ; juxtaposing a left arcuate support member  50  adjacent the left end  46  of the upper raceway  38 ; juxtaposing a right arcuate support member  52  adjacent the right end  48  of the upper raceway  38 ; defining a first space  56  within the upper raceway  38  and the arcuate support members  50  and  52 ; extending a lower raceway  58  between opposite left  60  and right  62  ends; locating the lower raceway  58  adjacent a lower end  32  of the upright support member  28 ; defining a second space  64  within the lower raceway  58 ; and housing at least one active electrical component  72  within at least one of the first  56  and second  64  spaces. 
     In a further embodiment, the method of the invention includes housing an electrical fuse panel  66  within at least one of the first  56  and second  64  spaces. 
     In a still further embodiment, the method of the invention includes housing an electrical AC outlet  74  and a ground connection  76  within at least one of the first  56  and second  64  spaces. 
     For a yet further embodiment, the method of the invention includes housing electrical communication and control components  70  within at least one of the first  56  and second  64  spaces, for optical fiber management. 
     In another embodiment, the method of the invention includes housing optical fiber installation tools  78 , maintenance tools  78 , and spare parts  80  within at least one of the first  56  and second  64  spaces. 
     Numerous modifications and alternative embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing description. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the best mode of carrying out the invention. Details of the structure may be varied substantially without departing from the spirit of the invention and the exclusive use of all modifications which will come within the scope of the appended claims is reserved.