FIBER OPTIC ASSEMBLIES WITH A FIBER OPTIC CABLE MOVABLE BETWEEN CABLE OPENINGS

Fiber optic assemblies, including cassettes, with a fiber optic cable movable between cable openings, and related components, systems, and methods, are disclosed. A fiber optic assembly comprises a housing having a front end and a rear end and defining an interior space therein. The fiber optic assembly includes a plurality of cable openings in the housing. Each cable opening is configured to route a fiber optic cable connected to one of a plurality of adapters out of the interior space of the housing. The fiber optic assembly is configured to allow the fiber optic cable to be moved from one of the cable openings to another of the cable openings when one or both panels are moved into the open position.

BACKGROUND

The technology of the disclosure relates to fiber optic modules provided in fiber optic equipment to support fiber optic connections, and in particular fiber optic assemblies, including cassettes, with a fiber optic cable movable between cable openings, and related components, systems, and methods.

Benefits of optical fiber use include extremely wide bandwidth and low noise operation. Because of these advantages, optical fiber is increasingly being used for a variety of applications, including but not limited to broadband voice, video, and data transmission. Fiber optic networks employing optical fiber are being developed and used to deliver voice, video, and data transmissions to subscribers over both private and public networks. These fiber optic networks often include separated connection points at which it is necessary to link optical fibers in order to provide “live fiber” from one connection point to another connection point. In this regard, fiber optic equipment is located in data distribution centers or central offices to support interconnections.

The fiber optic equipment is customized based on the application need. The fiber optic equipment is typically included in housings that are mounted in equipment racks to maximize space. One example of such fiber optic equipment is a fiber optic module. A fiber optic module is designed to provide cable-to-cable fiber optic connections and manage the polarity of fiber optic cable connections. The fiber optic module is typically mounted to a chassis which is then mounted inside an equipment rack or housing. The chassis may be provided in the form of a tray that is extendable from the equipment rack like a drawer. This allows a technician access to fiber optic adapters disposed in the fiber optic module and any fiber optic cables connected to the fiber optic adapters without removing the fiber optic module from the equipment rack.

Even with advancements in access to fiber optic modules, the labor associated with installing fiber optic modules and making optical connections is significant. For example, for a field technician to install a new fiber optic module, the field technician typically loads trunk cables in the rear section of a fiber optic equipment rack. The field technician then feeds the connectorized fanout legs from the trunk cable to the front of the equipment rack. The field technician then walks around to the front of the equipment rack to connect the fanout legs to a fiber optic module. Because data distribution centers are typically large facilities with significant numbers of equipment racks, walking back and forth from the rear section to the front section of the equipment rack during an installation can take significant time. Alternatively, a second technician may work in tandem with the first technician, where the first technician manages loading of fiber optic cables in the rear section of the equipment rack. The second technician remains in the front of the rack to install the fiber optic modules and establish optical connections between the fiber optic cables and the fiber optic modules. In either scenario, fiber optic cables are installed in the rear section of the equipment rack and the fiber optic modules and connections are installed from the front of the equipment rack thereby requiring extensive labor.

SUMMARY

Fiber optic assemblies, including cassettes, with a fiber optic cable movable between cable openings, and related components, systems, and methods, are disclosed herein. In an embodiment, a fiber optic assembly comprises a housing having a front end and a rear end. The housing defines an interior space therein, having one or more access openings, with one or more panels connected to the housing and movable between a closed position and an open position. In the closed position, each panel covers a part of the access opening, with the open position permitting access to the interior space of the housing. The fiber optic assembly also includes a plurality of adapters, each having a front and a rear disposed in the front end of the housing. The front of each adapter is accessible from the front end of the housing when the fiber optic assembly is mounted in a fiber optic chassis. The fiber optic assembly also includes a plurality of cable openings in the housing. Each cable opening is configured to route a fiber optic cable connected to the plurality of adapters out of the interior space of the housing. In this embodiment, cable openings may be disposed in the sides of the housing, at the rear end of the housing, or in the front end of the housing. The fiber optic assembly is configured to allow the fiber optic cable to be moved from one of the cable openings to another of the cable openings when one or both panels are moved into the open position. One benefit of this arrangement is that a portion of a fiber optic cable, such as a pigtail cable, may be moved between a number of differently located cable openings, thereby allowing more versatility in routing fiber optic cables in and out of the housing of the fiber optic assembly.

In an exemplary embodiment, a fiber optic assembly is disclosed. The fiber optic assembly comprises a housing having a front end and a rear end, the housing defining an interior space therein. The fiber optic assembly further comprises at least one access opening in the housing. The fiber optic assembly further comprises at least one panel connected to the housing and movable between a closed position removably covering at least part of the at least one access opening, and an open position. The fiber optic assembly further comprises a plurality of adapters each having a front end and a rear end disposed in the front end of the housing such that the front end of each of the plurality of adapters is accessible from the front end of the housing when the fiber optic assembly is mounted in a fiber optic chassis. The fiber optic assembly further comprises a plurality of cable openings in the housing configured to route at least one fiber optic cable connected to at least one of the plurality of adapters out of the housing. The fiber optic assembly is configured to allow at least one fiber optic cable connected to at least one of the plurality of adapters to be moved from one of the plurality of cable openings to another of the plurality of cable openings when the panel is moved into the open position.

In another exemplary embodiment, a fiber optic chassis is disclosed. The fiber optic chassis comprises a housing defining an interior. The fiber optic chassis further comprises at least one fiber optic assembly mounted in the interior of the chassis. Each fiber optic assembly comprises a housing having a front end and a rear end, the housing defining an interior space therein. Each fiber optic assembly further comprises at least one access opening in the housing. Each fiber optic assembly further comprises at least one panel connected to the housing and movable between a closed position removably covering at least part of the at least one access opening, and an open position. Each fiber optic assembly further comprises a plurality of adapters each having a front end and a rear end disposed in the front end of the housing such that the front end of each of the plurality of adapters is accessible from the front end of the housing when the fiber optic assembly is mounted in a fiber optic chassis. Each fiber optic assembly further comprises a plurality of cable openings in the housing configured to route at least one fiber optic cable connected to at least one of the plurality of adapters out of the housing. Each fiber optic assembly is configured to allow at least one fiber optic cable connected to at least one of the plurality of adapters to be moved from one of the plurality of cable openings to another of the plurality of cable openings when the panel is moved into the open position.

In another exemplary embodiment, a method of reconfiguring a fiber optic assembly, the fiber optic assembly having a front end and a rear end and defining an interior space therein is disclosed. The method comprises accessing the interior space of the fiber optic assembly via at least one access opening in the housing. The method further comprises removing a fiber optic cable extending from one or more adapters disposed in the front end of the housing to an exterior of the housing through a first cable opening in the housing. The method further comprises disposing the fiber optic cable through a second cable opening in the housing such that the fiber optic cable extends from the one or more adapters disposed in the front end of the housing to an exterior of the housing through the second cable opening in the housing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Fiber optic assemblies, including cassettes, with a fiber optic cable movable between cable openings, and related components, systems, and methods, are disclosed herein. In an embodiment, a fiber optic assembly comprises a housing having a front end and a rear end. The housing defines an interior space therein, having one or more access openings, with one or more panels connected to the housing and movable between a closed position and an open position. In the closed position, each panel covers a part of the access opening, with the open position permitting access to the interior space of the housing. The fiber optic assembly also includes a plurality of adapters, each having a front and a rear disposed in the front end of the housing. The front of each adapter is accessible from the front end of the housing when the fiber optic assembly is mounted in a fiber optic chassis. The fiber optic assembly also includes a plurality of cable openings in the housing. Each cable opening is configured to route a fiber optic cable connected to the plurality of adapters out of the interior space of the housing. In this embodiment, cable openings may be disposed in the sides of the housing, at the rear end of the housing, or in the front end of the housing. The fiber optic assembly is configured to allow the fiber optic cable to be moved from one of the cable openings to another of the cable openings when one or both panels are moved into the open position. One benefit of this arrangement is that a portion of a fiber optic cable, such as a pigtail cable, may be moved between a number of differently located cable openings, thereby allowing more versatility in routing fiber optic cables in and out of the housing of the fiber optic assembly.

As used herein, it is intended that the terms “fiber optic cable” and “optical cable” include all types of fiber optic cables and optical fibers including single mode and multi-mode light waveguides, and including one or more bare optical fibers, loose-tube optical fibers, tight-buffered optical fibers, ribbonized optical fibers, bend-insensitive optical fibers, or any other expedient of a medium for transmitting light signals, or as otherwise may be relevant to the specific context.

Embodiments of optical cable assemblies, such as cassettes, and systems and methods employing optical cable assemblies will now be described with reference to the figures. In this regard,FIGS. 1A and 1Billustrate a fiber optic assembly10. The fiber optic assembly10comprises a housing12having a front end14and a rear end16. The housing12defines an interior space18therein, having one or more access openings20(seeFIG. 1B). In this embodiment, a pair of panels22(seeFIG. 1B) is connected to the housing12and is movable between a closed position and an open position. In the closed position, each panel22covers a part of the access opening20, with the open position permitting access to the interior space18of the housing12.

The fiber optic assembly10also includes a plurality of fiber optic adapters24, each having a front26and a rear28disposed in the front end14of the housing12. The front26of each fiber optic adapter24is accessible from the front end14of the housing12when the fiber optic assembly10is mounted in a fiber optic chassis (not shown). The fiber optic assembly10also includes a plurality of cable openings30in the housing12. Each cable opening30is configured to route a fiber optic cable32connected to the plurality of fiber optic adapters24out of the interior space18of the housing12. In this embodiment, cable openings30may be disposed in the sides of the housing12(see cable opening30S), at the rear end16of the housing12(see cable opening30R), or in the front end14of the housing12(see cable opening30F″ shown inFIG. 9).

As will be described in detail below, the fiber optic assembly10is configured to allow the fiber optic cable32to be moved from one of the cable openings30to another of the cable openings30when one or both panels22are moved into the open position. One benefit of this arrangement is that a portion of a fiber optic cable, such as a pigtail cable, may be moved between a number of differently located cable openings, thereby allowing more versatility in routing fiber optic cables in and out of the housing12of fiber optic assembly10.

As shown inFIG. 1A, fiber optic cable32may include a plurality of optical fibers34terminated by a plurality of fiber optic connectors36. In this embodiment, the fiber optic connectors36are disposed in the rears28of a fiber optic adapters24, which are in turn retained in an adapters retention structure38located at the front end14of housing12. In addition, excess length of fiber optic cable32can be coiled and stored in a slack storage tray40disposed in the interior space18of housing12. In this embodiment, slack storage tray40includes a plurality of cable retaining members42and retention clips44for retaining and guiding the excess length of fiber optic cable32in the slack storage tray40. In addition, additional guide tabs46may also be used to guide individual optical fibers34between the slack storage tray40and the individual fiber optic adapters24.

In this embodiment as well, a removable cover48covers and encloses the top of the housing12, thus enclosing the fiber optic connectors36within the interior space18of the housing12. The other end of fiber optic cable32is routed through and may be retained by a cable opening30(cable opening30S in this embodiment) and terminates in a plurality of fiber optic connectors50in the opposite ends of the optical fibers34. It should be understood that this end of the fiber optic cable may alternatively use one or more multi-fiber connectors in place of or in addition to connectors50, or omit connectors50and be a non-terminated cable stub, which can then be spliced to another fiber optic cable or cables, as desired.

As another example of an additional feature, the fiber optic assembly10may include a drop handle52having a cable guide end54. The drop handle52may cover the adapter panel38when the adapter panel38is not in use, and may also protect connectors that are plugged into the adapter panel40when the adapter panel38is in use. In some embodiments, the drop handle52may include a pivot hinge (not shown) that allows the drop handle52to swing up or down to provide access to the adapter panel38. Cable guide end54is also configured to facilitate fiber optic connections at the front end14of the housing12, for example by guiding fiber optic cables and/or optical fibers towards and away from the adapter panel38at the front end14of the housing12. In addition, the housing12may include one or more guide rails56to facilitate guiding and aligning the fiber optic assembly10when the fiber optic assembly10is inserted into a fiber optic chassis.

Referring now toFIG. 1B, a bottom view of the fiber optic assembly10ofFIG. 1Ais illustrated. As discussed above, the bottom of housing12may include a pair of transparent movable panels22, each covering a portion of the access opening20of interior space18. The interior space18includes additional slack storage, with additional guide tabs58configured to guide and retain excess length of fiber optic cable32. As can be more clearly seen inFIG. 1B, fiber optic cable32is routed out of one of the cable openings30(cable opening30S in this example) and out of the housing12. As will be discussed below with respect toFIGS. 2A and 2B, by moving one or both of the panels22into their open position, the fiber optic cables32can be removed from cable opening30S and placed in any of the other cable openings30, such as cable openings30R, or a different cable opening30S. To avoid undesirable strain and bending on individual optical fibers34, in this embodiment, one or more curved cable guides60is disposed proximate to one or more of the cable openings30. Each curved cable guide60has a curved surface62having a sufficient radius of curvature to avoid bending one or more optical fibers34beyond an acceptable bend radius. In this manner, a fiber optic cable32may be coiled within the interior space18in either direction, while maintaining the ability to be routed through any of the plurality of cable openings30, regardless of the direction of approach to the cable opening30by the fiber optic cable32.

Referring now toFIGS. 2A and 2B, an exemplary method of reconfiguring fiber optic assembly10is illustrated. InFIG. 2A, the pair of panels22are moved to an open position to provide access to access opening20of interior space18. In this embodiment, the panels are rotatably connected to the housing12via hinges64. Once the interior space18is accessed, the fiber optic cable32may be removed from cable opening30S, and moved to another cable opening30, such as cable opening30R in this example. Referring now toFIG. 2B, the fiber optic cable32is now disposed through cable opening30R in the housing12such that the fiber optic cable32extends from the adapters disposed in the front end14of the housing12to the exterior of the housing12through the rear cable opening30R in the housing12.

Referring now toFIG. 2C, a top view of the reconfigured fiber optic assembly10is illustrated. In this example, the configuration of fiber optic assembly10is similar to the configuration illustrated byFIG. 1A, with the exception of fiber optic cable32extending from cable opening30R rather than cable opening30S, as inFIG. 1A. In this manner, fiber optic assembly10can be reconfigured to accommodate a number of fiber optic routing schemes.

The fiber optic assembly10in this embodiment is a fiber optic cassette. Exemplary fiber optic cassettes that may include additional features suitable for use with the fiber optic assembly10ofFIGS. 2A-2Care described in commonly-owned United States Patent Application Publication 2014/0348479, which is hereby incorporated by reference for describing similar features of fiber optic cassettes, such as splice cassettes. It should also be understood that other types of fiber optic assemblies may also employ features described herein, such as, without limitation, fiber optic modules or fiber optic adapter panels. As used herein, the term “cassette” refers to a fiber optic assembly having one or more fiber optic adapters disposed therein, and configured to facilitate connection of one or more fiber optic cables therein, for example, by splicing. As used herein, the term “module” refers to a fiber optic assembly having one or more fiber optic adapters disposed therein, and configured to facilitate optical connections between and among the plurality of adapters. It should also be noted that the terms “cassette” and “module” are not mutually exclusive and may refer to similar fiber optic assemblies.

Referring now to the additional structural details of the fiber optic assembly10ofFIGS. 2A-2C, the fiber optic assembly10may include a tray base66having a tray top surface68and a tray bottom surface70. The tray base66may include a transition passage72through which a slack cable can be routed from the tray top surface68to the tray bottom surface70. A tray-bottom substructure74may protrude from the tray bottom surface70and may have a substructure wall76between the tray-bottom substructure74and the tray bottom surface70. A continuous slack passage may be defined outwardly on the tray bottom surface70from the substructure wall76of the tray-bottom substructure74. The continuous slack passage may include a first slack region78A and a second slack region78B on opposite sides of the tray-bottom substructure74, which are covered by respective panels22.

In some embodiments, as shown inFIG. 2C, a tray center portion80may be defined on the tray top surface68inside a center-portion periphery82. A plurality of tray cable retaining members42such as periphery members84and outer members86may be arranged around or outside of the center-portion periphery82for either or both guiding and retaining optical cables around the center-portion periphery82. The tray center portion80may be a depression in the tray top surface68that corresponds with the tray-bottom substructure74on the tray bottom surface70(seeFIG. 2B).

In some embodiments, the tray cover48may be made of a transparent or translucent material that enables a technician to view connections and devices on the tray base66through the tray cover48. The tray base66may be made of a rigid material such as a plastic or polymer and may be made by any suitable technique such as molding or pressing, for example. In some embodiments, the tray center portion80of tray base66may be a depression in the center of the tray base66, such that the center-portion periphery82is defined by outer walls of the depression. In other embodiments, the tray top surface68, including the tray center portion80, may be substantially planar, such that the center-portion periphery82may be defined by one or more raised features connected to the tray top surface68.

The tray center portion80may be disposed within a plurality of tray cable retaining members42such as periphery members88arranged around the center-portion periphery82. The plurality of tray cable retaining members42may secure the fiber optic cable32running within the tray center portion80, within a cable track90outside the tray center portion80, or both. Cables running within the cable track90may also be secured by outer members86. The periphery members88and the outer members86may be any suitable structure that guides, catches, or secures optical cables, or that facilitates winding or wrapping of the fiber optic cable32along a predetermined pathway such as within the cable track90.

The tray base66may include a transition passage72through which the fiber optic cable32can be routed from the tray top surface68to the tray bottom surface70. The transition passage72may be any feature such as a notch or a hole in the tray base66configured such that slack cable that may be routed through the cable track90can be easily directed from the tray top surface68to the tray bottom surface70. In this embodiment, the rear cable openings30R, in addition to providing access for the fiber optic cable32out of the housing12, may also facilitate routing the fiber optic cable32in and out of the transition passage72. The tray bottom surface70may also contain features that allow the tray bottom surface70to be used to store a significant amount of slack cable that may be used by a technician during installation, repair, or replacement of the fiber optic assembly10. Features of the tray bottom surface70will now be described in greater detail.

Referring back toFIG. 2B, guidance of optical cables32around the continuous slack passage may be facilitated by slack-passage guidance members98positioned at bends of the continuous slack passage. Additional guidance and retaining of optical cables may be provided by retaining members42such as slack-passage overhead retaining member100.

The panels22may include corner securing members102that hold the each panel22in a closed position, such as during storage of the fiber optic assembly10. Each of the corner securing members102may be configured as snap hooks having a resilience that enables the snap hooks to lock into the tray base66when the panels22are closed. The corner securing members102may lock into corresponding cover tabs104on the tray base66.

Referring now toFIG. 3, a detailed view of the cable guide60is illustrated.FIG. 3illustrates how the fiber optic cable32is coiled in a clockwise pattern within slack regions78A,78B of the interior space18of the housing12. The fiber optic cable32can easily be routed out of the left-hand side cable opening30S(1) because the bend radius of the cable is not in danger of exceeding its bend radius parameters. However, if the fiber optic cable32is routed out of the right-hand cable opening30S(2), as shown byFIG. 3B, there is greater risk of excessive bending and damage to the optical fiber because the bend radius of the fiber optic cable32is significantly reduced compared to the bend radius of the slack regions78A,78B. To prevent this from occurring, portions of the housing12on both sides of the slack regions78A,78B include cable guides60having a curved surface62that curves toward the respective cable opening30S. Thus, even if the fiber optic cable is coiled in a direction that curves away from the respective cable opening30S, the fiber optic cable32can provide strain relief for the required direction change of the fiber optic cable32. When tension is applied to the fiber optic cable32, as shown by dashed line representation referred to as fiber optic cable32′, the fiber optic cable32′ is prevented from sharply bent by the curved surface62of cable guide60.

This versatility in routing fiber optic cable out of the fiber optic assembly10leads to added versatility when the fiber optic assembly10is disposed in a fiber optic chassis and/or rack configuration. In this regard,FIG. 4illustrates a fiber optic chassis112in which a plurality of fiber optic assemblies10are disposed. The fiber optic chassis112includes a chassis housing114having a top116, a bottom118, and two sides120. The sides120of chassis housing114also have mounting brackets122attached thereto. Each mounting bracket122in this embodiment includes a rack mounting flange124for mounting the fiber optic chassis112to a fiber optic rack (not shown).

In this embodiment, fiber optic chassis112also includes a rear adapter panel126attached to chassis housing114. The rear adapter panel126includes a plurality of openings128in which a plurality of fiber optic adapters130are disposed. The rear adapter panel126also includes a plurality of mounting holes132arranged on a pair of chassis mounting flanges134, to facilitate connection of the rear adapter panel126to the side120of chassis housing114. It should be understood that while the rear adapter panel126in this embodiment uses mounting holes132, such as screw holes, other mounting and/or fastening structures may be employed to attach rear adapter panel126to the chassis housing114.

Referring now toFIG. 5, a detailed view of rear adapter panel126is illustrated. As shown inFIG. 5, each adapter130has a first end136on one side of the adapter panel126and a second side138disposed on the other side of the adapter panel126. This arrangement allows fiber optic cables, such as the fiber optic cable32extending from the exemplary fiber optic assembly10, to be connected to one or more adapters130of rear adapter panel126. Additional fiber optic cables can then be connected directly to the stationary rear adapter panel126, as opposed to connecting to a loose fiber optic pigtail extending from one or more of the fiber optic assemblies10.

In another embodiment shown inFIG. 6, a front adapter panel140may instead be mounted to or approximate to a front side of chassis112. In this embodiment, front adapter panel140includes a plurality of angled flanges142, each having a plurality of openings144for receiving and retaining a plurality of fiber optic adapters146. Each fiber optic adapter146in this embodiment has a first side148angled vertically upward and a second side150angled vertically downward. One advantage of this arrangement is that the amount of horizontal space required for connectors connected to either end of a fiber optic adapter146is reduced, thereby allowing the connectors connected to the front adapter panel140to be fit into a smaller horizontal space.

Front adapter panel140may be configured to be attached to a fiber optic chassis or fiber optic rack via one or more mounting holes152disposed in a mounting flange154. Referring now toFIGS. 7A and 7B, a fiber optic rack156having a fiber optic chassis112mounted thereon is illustrated. In this embodiment, the fiber optic chassis112has a plurality of fiber optic assemblies10mounted therein. Fiber optic chassis112is also mounted to the fiber optic rack156via the rack mounting flanges124of the attached mounting brackets122(seeFIG. 4). Fiber optic rack156comprises a rigid rack frame158including a plurality of vertical rack rails160. In this embodiment, rack mounting flanges124may be removably attached to the vertical rack rails160.

In this embodiment as well, front adapter panel140is also attached to one of the vertical rack rails160proximate to one of the rack mounting flanges124of the chassis112. In this embodiment, the rack mounting124of fiber optic chassis112and the mounting flange154of the front adapter panel140are sandwiched together and may be attached to vertical rack rail160via common mounting holes, or, in other embodiments, may be separately and independently attached to the vertical rack rail160.

It should be understood that the additional configurations for the fiber optic assemblies described above are contemplated. In this regard,FIGS. 8A and 8Bare top schematic and rear perspective views of a fiber optic assembly10′ having a housing12′ with a plurality of multi-fiber adapters162mounted in the rear end16′ thereof, according to an alternative embodiment. In this embodiment, except where indicated, the fiber optic assembly10′ may include similar features described above with respect to the embodiment ofFIGS. 1A-2C. As with the embodiment ofFIGS. 1A-2C, the housing12′ of fiber optic assembly has a front end14′ and a rear end16′. The housing12′ defines an interior space18′ therein. The fiber optic assembly10′ also includes a plurality of fiber optic adapters24′, each having a front26′ and a rear28′ disposed in the front end14′ of the housing12′. The front26′ of each fiber optic adapter24′ is accessible from the front end14′ of the housing12′ when the fiber optic assembly10′ is mounted in a fiber optic chassis, such as fiber optic chassis112ofFIG. 4. The fiber optic assembly10′ also includes a plurality of cable openings30′ in the housing12′.

In the embodiment ofFIGS. 8A and 8B, one or more of the plurality of cable openings30′ are sized and adapted to receive and support one or more multi-fiber adapters162for receiving one or more multifiber connectors (not shown). In this embodiment, multi-fiber adapter162are mounted in rear cable opening30R′. Each multi-fiber adapter162has a front end164disposed inside the interior space18′ and a rear end164disposed outside the interior space18′. Thus, in this embodiment, connectorized cables (not shown) may be routed between and among the fiber optic adapters24′ and multi-fiber adapters162. Connectorized cables may also be moved and rerouted between and among the fiber optic adapters24′ and multi-fiber adapters162, in order to reconfigure the fiber optic assembly10′ as desired. In this manner, the fiber optic adapters24′ and multi-fiber adapters162may provide connection points for one or more fiber optic connectors at different points on the housing12′ of fiber optic assembly10′, in order to provide easier and more efficient access and reconfigurability to the fiber optic cabling therein.

It should be understood that multi-fiber adapters162may be disposed anywhere on the housing12′. In this regard,FIG. 9is a front perspective view of a fiber optic assembly10″ having a housing12″ with single fiber adapters24″ and multi-fiber adapters162″ mounted in the front end14″ thereof, according to an alternative embodiment. In this embodiment, as with the embodiment ofFIGS. 8A and 8B, the fiber optic assembly10″ may include similar features described above with respect to the embodiment ofFIGS. 1A-2C, except where indicated. As with the embodiment ofFIGS. 1A-2C, the housing12″ of fiber optic assembly has a front end14″ and a rear end16″. The housing12″ defines an interior space18″ therein. The fiber optic assembly10″ also includes a plurality of fiber optic adapters24″, each having a front26″ and a rear28″ disposed in the front end14″ of the housing12″. The front26″ of each fiber optic adapter24″ is accessible from the front end14″ of the housing12″ when the fiber optic assembly10″ is mounted in a fiber optic chassis, such as fiber optic chassis112ofFIG. 4. The fiber optic assembly10′ also includes a plurality of cable openings30″ in the housing12″.

In this embodiment, one or more multi-fiber adapters162″ are mounted in a front cable opening30F″ adjacent to the fiber optic adapters24″ disposed in the front end14″ of the housing12″. Each multi-fiber adapter162″ has a front end164″ disposed inside the interior space18″ and a rear end166″ disposed outside the interior space18′. Thus, in this embodiment, connectorized cables (not shown) may be routed between and among the fiber optic adapters24″ and multi-fiber adapters162″, similar to the embodiment ofFIGS. 8A and 8B.