Abstract:
A fiber optic adapter module is disclosed. The fiber optic adapter module includes a molded one-piece housing including a first end and a second end, the housing including at least three openings extending from the first end to the second end, each opening defining a separate fiber optic adapter for interconnecting two cables terminated with fiber optic connectors. The housing is movably mounted on a fixture, wherein the module is movable relative to the fixture along a line of travel that is non-parallel to longitudinal axes of the openings. The fiber optic adapter also includes a sleeve mount mounted within each of the openings of the housing, the sleeve mount configured to be inserted into the opening in a direction extending from the first end to the second end, generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the opening.

Description:
FIELD  
       [0001]     The present invention relates generally to fiber optic telecommunications equipment. More specifically, the present invention relates to a fiber optic adapter module designed for high density applications.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     In telecommunications industry, the demand for added capacity is growing rapidly. This demand is being met in part by the increasing use and density of fiber optic transmission equipment. Even though fiber optic equipment permits higher levels of transmission in the same or smaller footprint than traditional copper transmission equipment, the demand requires even higher levels of fiber density. This has led to the development of high-density fiber handling equipment.  
         [0003]     An example of this type of equipment is found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,591,051 (the &#39;051 patent) assigned to ADC Telecommunications, Inc. This patent concerns a high-density fiber distribution frame and high-density fiber termination blocks (FTBs) which are mounted to the frame. Because of the large number of optical fibers passing into and out of the FTBs, the frame and blocks have a variety of structures to organize and manage the fibers. Some structures are used to aid the fibers entering the back of the frame and FTBs. Other structures are provided for managing the cables leaving the FTBs on the front. The FTBs also include structures for facilitating access to the densely packed terminations. One such structure is a slidable adapter module that is incorporated into the FTBs to allow selective access to the densely packed terminations inside the FTBs. Further development in such fiber termination systems is desired.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0004]     The present invention relates to a fiber optic telecommunications device. The telecommunications device is a fiber optic adapter module. The adapter module defines a generally one-piece block of adapters for optically connecting fiber optic cables terminated with connectors. The block defines a plurality of openings for forming an integral array of adapters.  
         [0005]     In one preferred embodiment, the openings forming the array of adapters are separated by walls that include slits allowing for the walls to be flexed out when sleeve mounts are being inserted within the openings. The slits allow two adjacent adapters to share a wall minimizing the overall length of the adapter array.  
         [0006]     According to one inventive aspect, the block is configured for slidable movement relative to a fixture to which it is mounted thereon for providing access to the array of adapters and connectors.  
         [0007]     According to another inventive aspect, the fiber optic adapter module includes a molded one-piece housing including a first end and a second end, the housing including at least three openings extending from the first end to the second end, each opening defining a separate fiber optic adapter for interconnecting two cables terminated with fiber optic connectors. The housing is movably mounted on a fixture, wherein the module is movable relative to the fixture along a line of travel that is non-parallel to longitudinal axes of the openings. The fiber optic adapter also includes a sleeve mount mounted within each of the openings of the housing, the sleeve mount configured to be inserted into the opening in a direction extending from the first end to the second end, generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the opening.  
         [0008]     A variety of additional inventive aspects will be set forth in the description that follows. The inventive aspects can relate to individual features and combinations of features. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the broad inventive concepts upon which the embodiments disclosed herein are based. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a high-density fiber distribution frame having features that are examples of inventive aspects in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure, the high-density fiber distribution frame shown with two fiber termination blocks mounted thereon, the fiber termination blocks having features that are examples of inventive aspects in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure;  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of one of the fiber termination blocks shown in  FIG. 1 , the fiber termination block shown with a cover open and with a sliding adapter module extended, the sliding adapter module having features that are examples of inventive aspects in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure;  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a top cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a fiber termination block having features that are examples of inventive aspects in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure, the fiber termination block including an alternative embodiment of a sliding adapter module having features that are examples of inventive aspects in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure;  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a wall constructed for mounting a sliding adapter module to the fiber termination block of  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the wall taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 ;  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the sliding adapter module of  FIG. 3 , the adapter module shown mounted on a pair of walls of  FIGS. 4-5 , the sliding adapter module shown in a retracted position relative to the walls and shown with a pair of fiber optic connectors connected thereto (only one visible);  
         [0015]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the sliding adapter module and the walls of  FIG. 6 , the sliding adapter module shown in a fully extended position relative to the walls and shown with the pair of fiber optic connectors connected thereto;  
         [0016]      FIG. 8  is a bottom perspective view of the sliding adapter module of  FIG. 3 , the adapter module shown with a pair of fiber optic connectors connected thereto;  
         [0017]      FIG. 9  is an exploded perspective view of the sliding adapter module of  FIG. 3 , showing the sleeve, the sleeve mount, and the pivoting handle of the adapter module removed from the sliding adapter module;  
         [0018]      FIG. 10  is a top perspective view of the sliding adapter module of  FIG. 9 , shown in a fully assembled configuration;  
         [0019]      FIG. 11  is a bottom perspective view of the sliding adapter module of  FIG. 9 , shown in a fully assembled configuration;  
         [0020]      FIG. 12  is a right side view of the sliding adapter module of  FIG. 9 ;  
         [0021]      FIG. 13  is a left side view of the sliding adapter module of  FIG. 9 ;  
         [0022]      FIG. 14  is a front view of the sliding adapter module of  FIG. 9 ;  
         [0023]      FIG. 15  is a back view of the sliding adapter module of  FIG. 9 ;  
         [0024]      FIG. 16  is a top view of the sliding adapter module of  FIG. 9 ;  
         [0025]      FIG. 17  is a bottom view of the sliding adapter module of  FIG. 9 ;  
         [0026]      FIG. 18  is a cross-sectional view of the sliding adapter module of  FIG. 9 , taken along line  18 - 18  of  FIG. 16 ; and  
         [0027]      FIG. 19  is an enlarged portion of the cross-sectional view of  FIG. 18 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0028]     Reference will now be made in detail to examples of inventive aspects of the present disclosure which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.  
         [0029]     A high-density distribution frame  11  and two high-density fiber termination blocks  101  having features that are examples of inventive aspects in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure are illustrated in  FIG. 1 . A similar high-density distribution frame  11  is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,591,051, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.  
         [0030]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the fiber distribution frame  11  is adapted to receive two vertical rows of six of the fiber termination blocks  101 , two of which are shown mounted in  FIG. 1 . Similar fiber termination blocks are also described in the &#39;051 patent. Located intermediately between these two rows of fiber termination blocks  101  is a jumper storage trough  21  that defines a series of spools  30  for organizing and storing excess slack in cross-connect cables used to link between optical fiber terminations inside the fiber termination blocks  101 .  
         [0031]     The fiber termination block  101  is illustrated in  FIG. 2 . The fiber termination block  101  includes a plurality of sliding adapter modules  116  having features that are examples of inventive aspects in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure. The sliding adapter modules  116  are configured to slide outwardly from the fiber termination block  101  to provide selective access to the connectors mounted therein. The adapter modules  116  slide in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axes A of the connectors mounted on the modules (see  FIG. 2 ).  
         [0032]      FIG. 3  illustrates another embodiment of a fiber termination block  300  having features that are examples of inventive aspects in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure. A fiber termination block that is similar to the fiber termination block  300  is also described in the &#39;051 patent. The fiber termination block  300  includes an alternative embodiment of a sliding adapter module  316  having features that are examples of inventive aspects in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure. The sliding adapter module  316  is similar to the sliding adaptor module  116  of  FIGS. 1-2  except that adapter module  316  is configured to slide at a non-perpendicular angle relative to the longitudinal axes A of the connectors mounted on the modules. As seen in  FIG. 3 , the adapter module  316  has a stepped configuration.  
         [0033]     The following discussion will focus on the angled sliding adapter modules  316 , it being understood that the following description is also fully applicable to the adapter module  116  shown in  FIGS. 1-2 .  
         [0034]     Referring still to  FIG. 3 , the slidable adapter module  316  is mounted to the fiber termination block  300  via walls  400 . Each wall  400  is designed to provide slidability for the adapter module  316 . In  FIGS. 4-5 , one of the walls  400  is shown in closer detail. Each wall  400  includes a guide edge  416  which defines a first notch  424  adjacent a first end  422  of the guide edge  416  and a second notch  426  adjacent the second end  428  of the guide edge. The second notch  426  is defined by a tab  430  that forms a shoulder  420  at the opposite side of the tab  430  from the second notch  426 . Referring to the cross-sectional view of the wall  400  in  FIG. 5 , the wall  400  also defines a pair of linear grooves  414  on opposite sides of the wall  400 . A groove  414  from one wall is configured to cooperate with an opposing groove  414  from an adjacent wall to provide a track for the sliding adapter module  316 , as will be described in further detail below. The walls  400  also include fastener openings  413  for mounting to a telecommunications device such as the fiber termination block  300  (see  FIG. 3 ).  
         [0035]     Referring now to  FIGS. 6-7 , the sliding adapter module  316  is shown slidably mounted on a pair of walls  400  that cooperatively form a track for the slidable adapter module  316 . In  FIG. 6 , the sliding adapter module  316  is shown in a retracted position relative to the walls  400 . In  FIG. 7 , the sliding adapter module  316  is shown in a fully extended position relative to the walls  400 .  
         [0036]     Referring now to  FIGS. 8-18 , the sliding adapter module  316  is illustrated. The adaptor module  316  includes a module housing  500  that forms a block of adapters  315 . The housing  500  defines a plurality of openings  502  that form an array of adapters  315  for receiving connectors. The openings  502  are separated by walls  504 . The housing  500  defines slits  526  through the separating walls  504  to allow for the radial outward flexing of the walls  504  during the insertion of the sleeve mount  506  into the openings as will be discussed in further detail below (see  FIG. 19 ). Each slit  526  separates the wall  504  into opposing wall sections, a first wall section  505  and a second wall section  507 .  
         [0037]     In the example shown in  FIGS. 8-18 , the housing  500  defines six openings  502  which define six integral adaptors  315 . It will be appreciated that any number of integral adapters may be formed in the housing  500  by varying the number of openings  502 . It should also be noted that although the illustrated adapters  315  are configured to receive SC-type connectors, the housing  500  can be designed to interconnect other types of connectors. In  FIGS. 6-8 , the sliding adapter module  316  is shown with a pair of SC-type connectors  318  mounted in one of the adapter openings  502  that are defined in the housing  500 .  
         [0038]     As mentioned above, the block of adapters  315  described herein is designed for SC-type connectors (referenced by  318  in  FIGS. 6-8 ). Therefore, the inner configuration of the adapter openings  502  including the structure of the separating walls  504  are designed to accommodate SC-type connectors. In  FIG. 9 , the internal components of the sliding adapter module  316  are shown. The internal components include a sleeve mount  506  and a ferrule sleeve  508  that is designed to be inserted within the sleeve mount  506 . The sleeve mount  506  is generally a one-piece design and is configured to receive an SC-type connector from each end for interconnection.  
         [0039]     The sleeve mount  506  includes latching noses  510 , latching hooks  512 , an axial bore  514 , and spacers  516 . The sleeve mount includes flexible arms  515  defined around the axial bore  514 . The sleeve  508  is configured to be received within the axial bore  514  of the sleeve mount  506  wherein the flexible arms  515  flex out radially to receive the sleeve  508  with a snap fit arrangement. The flexible arms  515  include inwardly extending fingers  517  for holding the sleeve  508  within the axial bore  514  once the sleeve  508  is received within the bore  514  (see  FIG. 19 ). The sleeve  508  can be inserted into the axial bore  514  from either end of the sleeve mount  506 . The sleeve  508  may also include a slit  509  for allowing the sleeve  508  to compress, elastically reducing its diameter during insertion into the axial bore  514 . The latching nose  510  is designed to provide a snap fit for the sleeve mount  506  within the adapter opening  502 . The latching nose  510  is generally rectangular in shape. The latching hooks  512  are used for latching the SC-type connectors  318  to the adapters  315 . The spacers  516  provide a guiding edge for guiding the sleeve mount  506  within the adapters openings  502  when the sleeve mount  506  is being inserted within the adapter openings  502 . The sleeve mounts  506  are inserted into the adapter openings  502  of the housing  500  from one end in a direction along the longitudinal axes A of the openings  502  (see  FIG. 9 ).  
         [0040]      FIG. 19  illustrates an enlarged cross-sectional view of the adapter module  316  showing the intermating structures of the sleeve mount  506  and the housing  500 . Within the adapter openings  502 , on each of the two opposing adapter walls  504  that form the adapter opening  502 , the housing  500  defines a latching tab  518  and a latching stop  520  that cooperate with the latching nose  510  of the sleeve mount  506 . The latching tab  518  includes a square face  522  and a ramped surface  524 . During the insertion of the sleeve mount  506 , the ramped surface  524  makes contact with the latching nose  510  of the sleeve mount  506  and causes the first wall section  505  of each opposing wall  504  to elastically flex out toward the second wall section  507  of each opposing wall  504 . Once the latching nose  510  clears the ramp  524 , the first wall section  505  flexes back in and the latching nose  510  is captured between the square face  522  of the latching tab  518  and the latching stop  520 . The slit  526  defined through the separating walls  504  allows for the outward flexing of the first wall sections  505  during the insertion of the sleeve mount  506  without interfering with an adjacent adapter opening  502 . In this manner, an array of adapters  315  may be formed wherein each adapter is lined up adjacent to the next adapter sharing a separating wall and with the sleeve mounts  506  being insertable from the ends of each of the adapter openings  502 . The slits  526  formed in the separating walls  504  makes it possible to provide the interlocking structures such as the latching tab  518  and the latching stop  520  on the separating walls  504  since the first wall sections  505  can flex toward the second walls sections  507  without the insertion of the sleeve mount  506  interfering with an adjacent adapter opening  502 . With an end-mount configuration such as the one described herein, the sleeve mount  506  can be inserted into the housing  500  after the manufacture of the housing  500 . Thus, a one piece housing  500  and a one-piece sleeve mount  506  can be used to form a block of SC adapters  315 . This facilitates assembly and reduces manufacturing costs compared to multi-piece housings and multi-piece sleeve mounts. Features of the interface between a one-piece housing and a sleeve mount are shown in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/513,207, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference. Furthermore, the overall length of the array of adapters can be reduced by providing a design where adjacent adapters share a separating wall that has a slit for allowing flexibility of the wall without interference with an adjacent adapter.  
         [0041]     For slidability, the adapter module housing  500  defines a pair of cooperating guide rails  530  for slidably mating with the grooves  414  formed on the wall  400 . The guide rails  530  include a guide extension  532  adjacent a back end  534  of the housing  500  for facilitating insertion of the housing  500  onto the grooves  414  of the wall  400 . The module  316  includes a pivoting handle  536  at a front end  538  of the housing  500 . The pivoting handle  536  is configured to pivot about hinge  540  in the direction of arrow E. The pivoting handle  536  includes a push/pull tab  542  and a lever tip  544 . The pivoting handle  536  is shown detached from the housing  500  in  FIG. 9 . A similar pivoting handle structure is described in the &#39;051 patent mentioned above.  
         [0042]     The module  316  also includes a rotating locking member  546  that is integrally formed with the housing  500  at the back end  534  of the housing  500 . The locking member  546  is molded to the housing  500  at a mid portion  548  of the locking member  546 , about which the locking member  546  can be elastically rotated. The locking member  546  includes a locking tab  550  and a releasing tab  552 .  
         [0043]     In the retracted position of the module  316  (see  FIG. 6 ), the lever tip  544  of the pivoting handle  536  rests against the shoulder  420  at the second end  428  of the wall  400  and the locking tab  550  of the locking member  546  rests within the first notch  424  at the first end  422  of the wall  400 . For releasing the housing  500  for slidable movement, when the handle  536  is pivoted in the direction of the arrow E, the lever tip  544  pushes against the shoulder  420  and moves the housing  500  forward, lifting the locking tab  550  of the locking member  546  out of the first notch  424  (by elastically rotating the locking member  546 ). After the housing  500  is released, the housing  500  can be manually pulled such that the guide rails  530  slide within the linear grooves  414  of the walls  400  until the locking tab  550  of the locking member  546  falls into the second notch  426  defined at the second end  428  of the walls  400 . As such, when the module  316  is in the fully extended position (see  FIG. 7 ), the module  316  is prevented from sliding off the walls  400 .  
         [0044]     If desired, at the fully extended position, the releasing tab  552  of the locking member  546  may be pressed in the direction of the arrow F to rotate the locking member  546  and move the locking tab  550  out of the second notch  426  to allow module  316  to be separated from walls  400  and the rest of the fiber termination block  300 , such as for repair or replacement of the adaptor module. The rotational configuration of the integral locking member  546  facilitates release of the module housing  500  because a person, while pressing on the release tab  552  can, at the same time, press on the pivoting handle  536  at the other end of the housing  500  to obtain leverage for a strong squeeze. The housing  500  and the integral rotating locking member  546  are preferably molded out of materials that are flexible and strong enough to allow for repeated elastic rotation to unlatch the sliding module  316  from the walls  400 . In certain embodiments, the housing  500  may be made from VALOX® PBT Resin.  
         [0045]     The module  316 , by being manufactured from a single-piece housing  500  defining an integral block of adapters  315 , can have reduced overall length, width, and height allowing for higher density of fiber terminations. For example, each adapter opening  502  includes a major dimension D 1  and a minor dimension D 2  wherein the major dimension D 1  is greater than the minor dimension D 2  (see  FIG. 10 ). The housing is configured such that openings  502  are lined up along their minor dimensions D 2  forming a length L 1  for the entire array of adapters  315  (see  FIG. 18 ). The major dimension D 1  is sized to generally correspond to the longer side of the rectangular face of an SC-type connector and the minor dimension D 2  is sized to generally correspond to the shorter side of the rectangular face of an SC-type connector, which are commonly known in the art. By aligning the minor dimensions D 2  of the adapters openings  502  to form the array of adapters, the overall length L 1  of the array of adapters can be reduced relative to separately mounted adapters. As discussed previously, the configuration of the adapter walls  504  with the slits  526  defined through each of the adapter walls  504  enables an adjacent adapter pair to share a common separating wall and the openings  502  to be lined up along their minor dimensions increasing the density of adapters  315 . In one embodiment, two adjacent connectors have a port center to port center dimension CC of about 0.364 inches (see  FIG. 19 ). In one embodiment that has six adapter openings, the adapter array has a length L 1  of about 2.185 inches.  
         [0046]     In one embodiment, the adapter module  316  has a total length LM (see  FIG. 18 ) of about 2.885 inches, a total height HM from the end of the push/pull tab  542  to the end of the guide extension  532  (see  FIG. 18 ) of about 2.65 inches, and width WM (see  FIG. 17 ) of about 0.5 inches.  
         [0047]     Although in the embodiments described herein, the module is configured for SC connectors only, since there are different types of SC connectors in the industry, the housing may include indentations for placing designation labels  560  (see  FIG. 12 ) for identification purposes. In the embodiments described herein, the module is configured for SC connectors only. However, other housings defining an integral array of various different kinds of adapters are also contemplated.  
         [0048]     It should be understood that the high-density distribution frame  11  and the fiber termination blocks  101 ,  300  of  FIGS. 1-3  are only a couple examples of the many different types of devices or fixtures where the sliding adapter modules  116 ,  316  described herein can be utilized. For example, the fixture can be in the form of a chassis with a movable drawer as in U.S. Pat. No. 6,504,988 and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0007767, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference.  
         [0049]     Having described the preferred aspects and embodiments of the present invention, modifications and equivalents of the disclosed concepts may readily occur to one skilled in the art. However, it is intended that such modifications and equivalents be included within the scope of the claims which are appended hereto.