Abstract:
A low profile fiber network interface device is disclosed including a housing enclosure having a front cover hinged to a rear fixed housing portion. An inner connection divider wall is also hingedly fixed to the enclosure which is rotatable between a position which the divider wall lies against the fixed housing portion, and to an open position where it lies adjacent to the open cover. The divider wall also includes a rotatable working tray which rotates to a substantial horizontal position, and the tray includes devices for retaining coiled fiber in position. The divider wall also includes an interface wall including a plurality of fiber optic connector headers whereby one side is accessible only from the back side of the divider wall, whereas the other header is accessible from the front of the divider wall. In this manner, when the divider wall is locked in the closed position, users cannot access the opposite side which is dedicated to the telecom service.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a network interface device usable with a fiber optic network. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     It is relatively common in the electronics industry, to transfer signals by way of an optical fiber due to a number of advantages that light transmission has over transmission of electrical signals, namely the very high transmission rate of signals and the insensitivity of light signals to electrical and magnetic fields. One common example of high-speed data transmission is in the field of telecommunications. 
     In this regard, it is common to provide a junction box for the connection of service. Such a junction box is commonly known as a Network Interface Device, and has an area restricted to the service company which can be locked off, and an area which is accessible to the user. In the case of fiber, there is no adequate Network Interface Device which provides proper cable management while at the same time providing for a relatively small volume enclosure. This is mainly due to the fact that the fiber cable cannot be severely twisted, or coiled tightly into small radii, otherwise it loses its optical transmission characteristics. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The above-mentioned shortcomings in the prior art have been rectified by this invention which provides a fiber optic interconnection enclosure, comprising a housing enclosure, and a fiber optic interconnection divider wall. The divider wall divides the housing enclosure into a telecom interconnection area and a system interconnection area, the interconnection divider wall having a connection interface to provide the interface between the telecom interconnection area and the system interconnection area. 
     In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the fiber optic interconnection divider wall is pivotal about a hinge in said housing enclosure. The housing enclosure is comprised of a first, housing portion having a back wall, and a second housing portion hinged to the first housing portion and movable relative thereto about the hinge. The fiber optic interconnection divider wall is also hinged relative to the first and second housing portions and rotatable relative thereto. Preferably, the first and second housing portions all rotate about the same pivot axis. 
     In the preferred version, the fiber optic interconnection divider wall includes an interface wall extending transversely of the pivot axis. The interface wall extends in a horizontal plane, and the connection interface comprises a fiber optic header. Preferably, the mating axis for the header is vertical. 
     In the preferred version, the fiber optic interconnection divider wall includes a rotatable work tray on the back side thereof, which pivots about a horizontal axis, whereby the fiber optic interconnection divider wall can be rotated to its fully open position, and the work tray rotated downwardly to a position adjacent to horizontal. Preferably, the work tray includes a fiber cable splice holder. Also preferably, the work tray includes a retaining area for holding coiled fiber cable. 
     In another embodiment of the invention, a fiber optic interconnection enclosure comprises a housing enclosure, a fiber optic interconnection divider wall dividing the housing enclosure into a telecom interconnection area and a system interconnection area. The fiber optic interconnection divider wall includes a rotatable work tray, which pivots about a horizontal axis, whereby the rotatable work tray can be rotated downwardly to a position adjacent to horizontal. 
     Preferably, the fiber optic interconnection divider wall is pivotal about a hinge in the housing enclosure. The housing enclosure is comprised of a first housing portion having a back wall, and a second housing portion hinged to the first housing portion and movable relative thereto about the hinge. The fiber optic interconnection divider wall is also hinged relative to the first and second housing portions and rotatable relative thereto. The fiber optic interconnection divider wall, and first and second housing portions, all rotate about the same pivot axis. The fiber optic interconnection divider wall includes an interface wall extending transversely of said pivot axis. 
     Also preferably, the fiber optic interconnection divider wall has a connection interface to provide the interface between the telecom interconnection area and the system interconnection area. The fiber optic interconnection divider wall extends in a horizontal plane, and said connection interface comprises a fiber optic header having header halves on opposite sides of the plane. The mating axis for the header is vertical. The rotatable work tray is positioned on the back side of the fiber optic interconnection divider wall and pivots about a horizontal axis, whereby the fiber optic interconnection divider wall can be rotated to its fully open position, and the work tray rotated downwardly to a position adjacent to horizontal. The work tray preferably includes a fiber cable splice holder. The work tray includes a retaining area for holding coiled fiber cable. 
     In yet another embodiment of the invention, a fiber optic interconnection enclosure comprises a housing enclosure, a connection interface defining an interface between a telecom interconnection and a system interconnection, and a rotatable work tray that pivots about a horizontal axis. The rotatable work tray can be rotated downwardly to a position adjacent to horizontal. 
     In the preferred version, the fiber optic interconnection enclosure further comprises a fiber optic fiber optic interconnection divider wall dividing the housing enclosure into a telecom interconnection area and a system interconnection area. Preferably, the rotatable work tray is positioned on a back side of the fiber optic interconnection divider wall and pivots about a horizontal axis, whereby the fiber optic interconnection divider wall can be rotated to its fully open position, and the work tray rotated downwardly to a position adjacent to horizontal. The fiber optic interconnection divider wall has a connection interface to provide the interface between the telecom interconnection area and the system interconnection area. The fiber optic interconnection divider wall includes an interface wall which extends in a horizontal plane, and the connection member comprises a fiber optic header having header halves mounted to the interface wall. 
     Preferably, the work tray includes a fiber cable splice holder. The work tray includes a retaining area for holding coiled fiber cable. 
    
    
     The preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of reference to the following drawings. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the Network Interface Device in the fully open position; 
     FIG. 2 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 showing the fiber optic interface wall removed; 
     FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the fiber optic interface wall; 
     FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the plug and jack assembly used in the FIG. 1, Network Interface Device; 
     FIG. 5 shows a cross sectional view through the axial centerline of the receptacle assembly of FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 6 is an isometric view showing a fiber optic interface wall in the closed position but with the lid of the housing enclosure still in the open position; 
     FIG. 7 is an isometric view showing the Network Interface Device in the assembled position with the fiber cables terminated; and 
     FIG. 8 is an isometric view similar to that of FIG. 6, showing the Network Interface Device in the assembled position. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference first to FIG. 1, a fiber optic interconnection enclosure is shown generally at  2  which generally includes an enclosure or housing member  4  and a fiber optic interconnection divider wall shown generally at  6 . The enclosure  4  includes a fixed housing portion  8  and a rotatable housing portion  10  that pivots generally about a hinge member  12  of the enclosure  4 . Finally, as shown in FIG. 1, a connection interface is shown generally as  14  which forms an interface between the telecom side and the user or system side as will be described herein. 
     With respect first to FIG. 2, the housing enclosure  4  is shown in the open position, without the divider wall  6 . The enclosure portion  8  is comprised of a back wall  16  which can be mounted flush to another surface, and includes mounting ears  18  having radiused surface  20  allowing the enclosure  4  to be alternatively mounted to a curved surface, such as a pole. The housing portion  8  further includes along a lower edge thereof, arcuately shaped cable receiving grooves  22  spanned by openings such as  24 , for receiving a cable tie for strain relief purposes. The housing portion  8  further includes two cylindrical hinge sections  26 , which lie in the same axis as hinge member  12 . The housing portion  8  further includes a perimetral wall at  28 , which defines a recessed portion at  30 , as will be described in greater detail herein. 
     As also shown in FIG. 2, housing portion  10  includes a perimetral wall at  32  defining a recessed surface at  34 , and a further inner recessed surface at  36  defining an inner cavity at  38 . The housing members  8  and  10  are latched together by way of cooperating latches  40  and  42 . Housing portions  8  and  10  also include locking members  44  and  46 , with an opening  48  aligned with threaded post  50  within compartment  52 , and opening  54  aligned with compartment  56 . Finally, sponge seal members  58  and  60  are disposed at the lower edges of the housing members  8 ,  10 , respectively. 
     With respect now to FIG. 3, divider wall  6  is shown in greater detail. As shown in FIG. 3, the fiber optic interconnection divider wall  6  includes a wall section  64  having a first side edge section  66  and a second side edge section  68  extending from the opposite side. The section  66  includes a cable-receiving channel at  70  which communicates with an opening at  72 . Extending from the channel section  70  is a hinge member  74  including two snap latches shown generally at  76 . Side edge section  68  includes ears  80  extending therefrom, each of which have threaded lugs shown generally at  82 . The fiber optic interconnection divider wall  6  is further comprised of a back wall section  84  having a top surface  86  having a cut-out at  88 , and side walls  90  and  92 . 
     With reference still to FIG. 3, wall  64  includes mounting ears  98 ,  100  which cooperate as trunnions for rotatable tray  102 . Tray  102  is comprised of a wall section  104  having mounting tabs  106 ,  108  which cooperate with ears  100 ,  98 , respectively, via rivets  110 . Tray  102  further includes inwardly curved wall sections  112 ,  114 ,  116 , and  120 , where flap portion  122  extends forwardly from wall  120  to cooperate within the opening  88  as described herein. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the rotatable tray  102  has three positions. The first position is a fully closed position where the tray  102  is rotated upwardly, such that wall  104  lies adjacent to wall  64 , The second position is shown in FIG. 3, where the wall is held in a substantially horizontal position. The third position is such that the wall  102  is rotated fully downwardly such that walls  64 ,  104  would be co-planar. This positioning could be accommodated in a number of ways, as appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art. For example, the wall portion  112  could have a rear wall portion  124  which abuts wall  124 , such that the tray  102  is held in the position of FIG. 3, yet still be rotated downwardly. Alternatively, the rivets or the associated members  98 ,  100 ,  106 ,  108  could be slotted so as to hold the tray  102  in a plurality of positions. Finally, a separate spring detent could be positioned between the walls  64 ,  104  which would allow for various positions. Finally, with respect to FIG. 6, interconnection interface  14  is mounted to wall  130  which in turn is removably mounted to divider wall  6  by way of pin rivets  132 . 
     With reference now to FIG. 4, a fiber optic plug assembly is shown generally at  140  which is insertable and latchably connected to the fiber optic connection interface  14 . This known fiber optic connector plug  140  is comprised of an inner plug body shown generally as  142  and an outer plug housing  144 . The plug assembly includes an inner ceramic ferrule  146 , which carries the fiber, and a polarizing lug  148  for alignment with the interface  14 . This connector assembly is available from the AMP Division of Tyco Electronics, and is known as the SC Series Fiber connector. This connector is also more fully described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,542,015, incorporated herein by reference. 
     With reference now to FIGS. 4 and 5, the connection interface  14  will be described in greater detail. The connection interface  14  is comprised of two identical halves  150  having flanges  152  which can be butted one to the other and fixed in place by such means as adhesive or ultrasonic welding. The connection interface  14  further includes two identical latch members  154  in each fiber connector port  155  which receive between them a fiber aligning ferrule  156 . The latch members  154  further include latch projections  158 , which retain the fiber plug assembly as is known in the art The connection interface  14  is held to the wall  130  by way of the rivets  132  as previously described. Finally, the identical halves  150  include polarizing slots  160  for receiving the polarizing lug  148  on the plug assembly  140 . 
     With reference now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the assembly of the device will be described. With reference first to FIG. 3, it should be appreciated that the divider wall  6  is insertable into the housing enclosure  4 , by rotating the tray  102  upwardly to a position where flap member  122  is within the recess  88 . The divider wall  6  can then be snapped in place by way of the individual latch members  76  being snapped in place against the cylindrical pins  26 . This places the tray wall  104  adjacent to the back wall  16  of housing portion  8 . Once snapped in place, the divider wall  6  can be rotated between the positions shown in FIGS. 1 and 6. It should also be appreciated that the divider wall  6  is also removable, for assembly purposes, as will be described herein. 
     With reference to FIG. 7, the fiber connections can be made as follows. First, an incoming fiber cable to be terminated is measured, by positioning the cable adjacent to the housing enclosure  4 , and then cutting the cable, leaving adequate length for the splice termination. At this point, the fiber optic interconnection divider wall  6  can be removed from the housing enclosure  4 , by unsnapping the hinges  74 , and taking the divider wall  6  to a splicing bench. The divider wall has two detented positions as described above, one which is approximately at a 90 degree angle, and one where the divider wall lay almost flat, that is at a 180 degree angle. The flat position allows for easy installation of the cable. 
     The fiber connectors  140  are also plugged into respective receptacles  14 , with the connectors  140 A having individual fiber cables such as  202  being accumulated within jacketed cables  204  and  206 . Meanwhile, pigtail  208  is positioned adjacent to the divider wall  6 , and cable tied thereto as described above. The individual cables  214  of the pigtail  208  and  202  of cables  204 ,  206  are positioned adjacent to each other, and are then spliced together, as is well known in the art. After splicing, the spliced cables are positioned in the splice holder  212 , as shown in FIG.  7 . It should be appreciated that after the splicing is completed, the divider wall and cables are returned to the housing enclosure  4  and snapped back in place. 
     As shown in FIG. 7, the cables are positioned within the housing enclosure such that the cables are coiled adjacent to wall  64  and then can turn to lie parallel and adjacent to wall  104 . The cables  204 ,  206  are positioned adjacent to wall  104 , such that the cable is coiled between the sections  112 ,  114 ,  116 , and  118 . In other words, the fiber coil is beneath each of the sections  112 ,  114 ,  116  and  120 . The tray  102  is now rotated upwardly to its fully closed position, and then the entire divider wall  6  is rotated to the fully closed position, such that the ears  80  lie adjacent to the corresponding portions  52 ,  56 . Individual plug connectors  140 B, viewed in FIG. 8, attached to cables  210 , are pluggably connected to the connection interface  14 . 
     It should be understood that, as shown in FIG. 1, the connector interface  14  defines a telecom service connection side  180 , whereas the user/service side is defined at  182 , as shown in FIG.  6 . It should be appreciated that the telecom side  180  should be locked off from the user such that, when in the position of FIG. 6, a special fastener can be positioned through the ear  80  and into threaded post  50  (FIG. 2) such that the user cannot access this side of the connection interface. Rather, the user can only open the housing portion  10  to access the user side  182  as shown in FIG.  6 . 
     Advantageously, the device described above defines a system which is both very space-conscious as well as versatile. The system having the rotatable tray  102  allows the tray  102  to be latched in a fully locked position within the Network Interface Device  4  and movable between locked positions and unlocked positions. In the unlocked position, the tray can be rotated downward to a first detented position where the tray is horizontal where a technician can operate on the fiber splices or test the connections therein. As mentioned above, for initial assembly, the entire rotatable tray  102  is removable for assembly of the fiber cable therein. In this mode, the rotatable tray  102  can be rotated to a fully rotated position where the walls  64  and  102  are substantially co-planar. In this position, the tray can be positioned on a workbench for splicing purposes. 
     Furthermore, as the receptacles  14  are disposed in a substantially vertical orientation, this allows for easy disposition and coiling of the fiber cable as discussed with reference to FIG.  7 . The vertical position also prevents dirt and other debris from collecting in receptacles  182  (FIG. 6) if a certain header is not occupied by a mating plug connector. The two sponge seals  58 ,  60  further prevent dirt and debris from collecting in the header  14 . 
     It should be appreciated that the preferred embodiment of the enclosure  4  is plastic. The divider wall  6  could be designed as a stamped and formal member of a sheet steel, or could also be made from a plastic material, with a living hinge.