Patent Publication Number: US-7587116-B2

Title: Normal through optical panel

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
   The present application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/826,152, filed on Apr. 16, 2004 and entitled “Normal Through Optical Panel,” the entirety of which is hereby incorporated. 
   TECHNICAL FIELD 
   The present application relates to fiber optic connection panels. 
   BACKGROUND 
   Fiber optic connection panels are known which connect various pieces of fiber optic equipment. The fiber optic connection panels include ports for connecting to fiber optic cables, to link the equipment. Various functions are useful in the fiber optic connection panels. One function is monitoring of the signal pathways. Another useful function is switching between equipment if a need arises without having to reconnect the equipment cables. Improvements are desired. 
   SUMMARY 
   Embodiments of the present invention provide a fiber optic connection panel with a normal through configuration to link optical equipment. Preferably, the panel has monitor access. The panel can preferably be reconfigured to change the circuit pathways, when desired. 
   Embodiments of the present invention relate to a fiber optic connection panel including a plurality of circuits. The circuits are accessed through termination locations or ports. Preferably, IN and OUT (or SOURCE and DESTINATION) termination locations are located on a first side of the panel during a normal through state. A switch included in the circuitry disconnects the IN and OUT termination locations, and connects each of the IN and OUT termination locations to further IN and OUT termination locations or ports, located on an opposite side of the panel in a patched state. Preferably, at least one of the circuit paths includes a monitor circuit and a termination location or port. 
   In one embodiment, a fiber optic connection panel includes a chassis, and a circuit module adapted to be mounted to the chassis. The circuit module includes a housing defining an interior, a plurality of adapters mounted on a front face and a rear face of the housing, a plurality of fiber optic connectors connected to interior ports defined by the adapters, an optical switch mounted to a printed circuit board positioned in the interior of the housing, a plurality of fiber optic cables connecting the fiber optic connectors to the optical switch, and a separator plate positioned to at least partially cover the printed circuit board. At least some of the fiber optic cables include slack to allow the fiber optic connectors coupled thereto to be removed from the circuit module, and the separator plate is positioned to separate the slack of the fiber optic cables from the printed circuit board. 
   In another embodiment, a normal through circuit module includes a housing defining an interior, a plurality of adapters mounted on a front face and a rear face of the housing, a plurality of fiber optic connectors connected to interior ports defined by the adapters, an optical switch mounted to a printed circuit board positioned in the interior of the housing, a plurality of fiber optic cables connecting the fiber optic connectors to the optical switch, and a separator plate positioned to at least partially cover the printed circuit board. At least some of the fiber optic cables include slack to allow the fiber optic connectors coupled thereto to be removed from the circuit module, and the separator plate is positioned to separate the slack of the fiber optic cables from the printed circuit board. 
   In yet another embodiment, a normal through circuit module includes a housing defining an interior, a plurality of adapters mounted on a front face and a rear face of the housing, a plurality of fiber optic connectors connected to interior ports defined by the adapters, an optical switch mounted to a printed circuit board positioned in the interior of the housing, a plurality of fiber optic cables connecting the fiber optic connectors to the optical switch, a connector edge defined by a portion of the printed circuit board, wherein the connector edge extends through an aperture defined by the rear face of the housing of the circuit module, and a bracket coupled to the rear face to protect the connector edge. 
   In another embodiment, a normal through circuit module includes a housing defining an interior, an optical switch mounted to a printed circuit board positioned in the interior of the housing, a connector edge defined by a portion of the printed circuit board, wherein the connector edge extends through an aperture defined by a rear of the housing of the circuit module, and a bracket coupled to the rear to protect the connector edge. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of a fiber optic connection panel in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a front elevational view of the connection panel of  FIG. 1  with the front cover removed. 
       FIG. 3  is a rear elevational view of the connection panel of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4  is a rear elevational view of the connection panel of  FIG. 1  with the rear cover removed. 
       FIG. 5  is a right side elevational view of the connection panel of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 6  is a front perspective view of the connection panel of  FIG. 1  with the front cover in the pivoted open position. 
       FIG. 7  is a rear perspective view of the connection panel of  FIG. 1  with the rear cover in the pivoted open position. 
       FIG. 8  is an exploded front perspective view of the connection panel of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 9  is an exploded rear perspective view of the connection panel of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 10  is a further exploded front perspective view of the connection panel of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 11  is a front perspective view of a circuit module from the connection panel of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 12  is a rear perspective view of the circuit module of  FIG. 11 . 
       FIG. 13  is a front elevational view of the circuit module of  FIG. 11 . 
       FIG. 14  is a rear elevational view of the circuit module of  FIG. 11 . 
       FIG. 15  is a side elevational view of the circuit module of  FIG. 11  with one side panel removed. 
       FIG. 16  is a circuit schematic for a portion of the circuitry within the circuit module of  FIG. 11 . 
       FIG. 17  is a schematic showing the normal through signal pathway through one of the circuits in the circuit module of  FIG. 11 . 
       FIG. 18  is a schematic showing the patched signal pathway through one of the circuits in the circuit module of  FIG. 11 . 
       FIG. 19  is another schematic showing the normal through signal pathways through the circuit module. 
       FIG. 20  is a schematic like  FIG. 19  showing the patched signal pathways through the circuit module. 
       FIG. 21  is an exploded perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a connection panel including splices. 
       FIG. 22  is a front perspective view of another embodiment of a fiber optic connection panel with the front cover removed and a power supply module and circuit module shown in exploded form in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 23  is a rear perspective view of the power supply module of  FIG. 22 . 
       FIG. 24  is a front elevational view of the circuit module of  FIG. 22 . 
       FIG. 25  is a rear elevational view of the circuit module of  FIG. 22 . 
       FIG. 26  is a front perspective view of the circuit module of  FIG. 22 . 
       FIG. 27  is a back perspective view of the circuit module of  FIG. 22 . 
       FIG. 28  is a perspective view of the circuit module of  FIG. 22  with the cover removed. 
       FIG. 29  is a top view of the circuit module of  FIG. 28 . 
       FIG. 30  is an exploded perspective view of the circuit module of  FIG. 22 . 
       FIG. 31  is a schematic showing the normal through signal pathway through one of the circuits of the circuit module of  FIG. 22 . 
       FIG. 32  is a schematic showing the patched signal pathway through one of the circuits of the circuit module of  FIG. 22 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 1-10 , a fiber optic communications panel  10  is shown. Panel  10  includes a chassis  12  with brackets  14  for mounting panel  10  to a rack, frame, cabinet, or other structure. Panel  10  includes circuitry that connects fiber optic cables and equipment. The circuitry includes a normal through state, and also a patched state for use in changing the connections between the equipment. The preferred circuitry also includes monitor functions for monitoring signals through panel  10 . 
   Panel  10  includes a front  16 , and an opposite rear  18 . A top  20 , an opposite bottom  22 , a left side  24 , and a right side  26  cooperate with front and back  16 ,  18  to define an interior  28  for holding the circuitry. Disposed within interior  28  is a bulkhead  32  that holds a plurality of circuit modules  34  containing the circuitry. 
   Panel  10  includes a pivoting front cover  36 , and a pivoting rear cover  38  for allowing selective access to interior  28  through front  16  or back  18 , respectively. Front and rear covers  36 ,  38  include hinges  46 , and latches  48  for selectively latching covers  36 ,  38  in the closed positions. 
   Panel  10  includes a front cable management arrangement  42  disposed between bulkhead  32  and front  16 . Behind bulkhead  32 , and modules  34 , panel  10  includes a rear cable management arrangement  44 . Both front and rear cable management arrangements  42 ,  44  are configured for managing cables extending to and from modules  34 . Front cable management arrangement  42  includes a plurality of front cable rings  50 . Cables extending to the fronts of modules  34  are managed by rings  50  and exit chassis  12  at openings  60  defined by the ends of front cover  36 . 
   Rear cable management arrangement  44  includes a plurality of rear cable rings  54 . Cable rings  54  are used for slack storage of cables extending into chassis  12  toward modules  34 . 
   Rear vertical radius limiters  52  define rear openings  58  for cables entering and exiting panel  10 . Fan out mounts  56  are also provided in rear cable management arrangement  44  for use in fanning out ribbon cables. Alternatively, rear cable management arrangement  44  includes splice trays for holding cable splices.  FIG. 21  shows an alternative panel  200  including a splice tray  202 . 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 10-15 , one of modules  34  is shown including a module housing  62  including a first side  64 , a second side  66 , a third side  68 , and a fourth side  70 . A front face  72 , and an opposite rear face  74  cooperate with sides  64 ,  66 ,  68 ,  70  to define an interior  75  for holding circuit elements. Front face  72  includes opposed flanges  76  for mounting to bulkhead  32  with fasteners  78 . 
   Rear face  74  of module  34  includes a plurality of termination locations or ports  80  for accessing the fiber optic circuitry contained within module housing  62 . Preferably each termination location  80  includes a fiber optic adapter  82 . The illustrated adapters  82  are SC type adapters. Each termination location in panel  10  defines a port for connecting to a fiber optic cable. A first port  84  defines a first IN port or input port. A second port  86  defines an OUT port or output port. Rear face  74  further includes a second IN port  88  and a second OUT port  90 . Rear face  74  also includes a power connector  92 . In normal operation, in the normal through state, port  84  is connected to port  86  and port  88  is connected to port  90 . 
   Front face  72  of module housing  62  includes a first IN port  94 , and a first OUT port  96 . Front face  72  further includes a second IN port  98 , and a second OUT port  100 . In the normal through operation, front ports  94 ,  96 ,  98 ,  100  are not connected to rear ports  84 ,  86 ,  88 ,  90 . In the patched operation, front port  94  is connected to rear port  86 . Further, front port  96  is connected to rear port  84 , front port  98  is connected to rear port  90 , and front port  100  is connected to rear port  88 . Front face  72  further includes two monitor ports  102 ,  104  for connecting to rear ports  86 ,  90 , respectively. 
   Switches  106 ,  108  on front face  72  control switching between the normal through and the patched configurations. First and second visual indicators  110 ,  112  indicate which state the switch is in. Switches  106 ,  108  are manually operated toggle switches. Other manually operated switches could be used, such as push buttons. Visual indicators  110 ,  112  are electrically powered LED&#39;s in the illustrated embodiment. The indicators are optional, since the position of the toggle switches  106 ,  108  can also indicate the state of the switching circuit. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 15 , interior  75  of module  34  includes a printed circuit board  114  including fiber to PC connectors  116  and circuitry  118 . The fiber to PC connectors  116  link ports  82 ,  84 ,  86 ,  88 ,  90 ,  94 ,  96 ,  98 ,  100  to PCB  114 . Circuitry  118  controls operation of the circuit conditions between the normal through state and the patched state. Circuitry  118  (see  FIG. 16 ) includes a power conversion circuit  122  for converting minus 48 VDC to plus 5 volts for operating a 2×2 optical switch  124 . Each toggle switch  106 ,  108  switches the respective optical switch  124  between states. LED&#39;s  110 ,  112  indicate to the operator the state of the 2×2 switch  124 . The monitor function is carried out by a splitter  126 , such as a 90/10 splitter. 
   With circuitry  118 , each module  34  can provide a transmit signal pathway and a receive signal pathway. Two modules  34  can be cross-connected together to cross-connect two pieces of equipment. 
   Module  34  includes two circuits, each with two input ports and two output ports in the normal through state and in the patched state. Module  34  can also be packaged each with a single circuit, if desired. By packaging two circuits in one module, a single 2×2 optical switch can be used to control the circuit states. In single circuit modules, a 1×2 switch would be needed for each module. With the dual circuit module, fewer switches are needed for the overall system. 
   While the illustrated embodiment of  FIGS. 1-20  uses adapters  82  on rear face  74  of module  34 , module  34  can be provided with pigtails which extend out from the interior of the module through an opening  204  in the module and connect to fiber optic cables, such as through a splice in a splice tray of the panel  200  (see  FIG. 21 ). Splice trays  202  can be used in rear cable management arrangement  44 , instead of the noted cable clips and fan out mounts as shown in  FIG. 21 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 22 , another fiber optic communications panel  300  is shown. Panel  300  includes many components that are similar to those described above for panel  10 . For example, panel  300  includes a chassis  312  with brackets  314  for mounting panel  300  to a rack, frame, cabinet, or other structure. 
   Panel  300  also includes an interior  328  for holding a plurality of circuit modules  334  (a single module  334  is shown in  FIG. 22 ) containing circuitry, and a power supply module  336 . Interior  328  includes rail guides  329  sized to accept fins  335   a  of modules  334 ,  336  to guide modules  334 ,  336  into chassis  312 . Modules  334 ,  336  also include similar fins  335   b  extending in an opposite direction to engage opposing rail guides (not shown) in interior  328 . 
   Interior  328  also includes a plurality of cable management structures including fingers  395  radius limiters  391 . Interior  328  also includes a power bus  350  and an electrical isolation wall  351 . Electrical isolation wall  351  and chassis  312  define therebetween a space through which electrical wires can be run to carry power from a rear of chassis  312  to connector  346 , described further below. Electrical isolation wall  351  functions to isolate the electrical wires running therethrough from the remaining components in interior  328 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 22 and 23 , power supply module  336  includes a front face  338  with a switch  339  that is used to turn the power supply module  336  on and off, A rear face  340  of the power supply module  336  includes a power connector  342  and a PCB connector  344 . When power supply module  336  is inserted into interior  328  of panel  300 , fin  335   a  is guided by rail guide  329   a  toward a rear of panel  300  until power connector  342  of power supply module  336  is connected to connector  346  mounted to chassis  312 . Connector  346  is, in turn, connected to a source of power such as, for example, an alternating current (AC) power source. 
   In addition, PCB connector  344  of power supply module  336  connects to connector  348  of bus  350  mounted in interior  328  of panel  300 . Bus  350  also includes a plurality of connectors  352  positioned along the bus  350  to provide power to modules  334 , as described below. In this configuration, power is provided from an AC source through connector  346  to power supply module  336 , and power supply module  336  provides power (e.g., 48 VDC) to connectors  352  of bus  350  through PCB connector  344  and connector  348 . 
   In the illustrated embodiment, power supply module  340  is accessible from a front  302  of panel  300 . In this configuration, power supply module  340  can be inserted into and removed from interior  328  of panel  300  from the front  302  of panel  300 . In one embodiment, power supply module  340  is “hot swappable,” meaning that power supply module  340  can be removed and/or inserted into panel  300  without turning off the AC power source to panel  300 . 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 24-30 , example module  334  is shown including a module housing  362  with a front face  372  and an opposite rear face  374 . Module housing  362  also includes a sidewall  373  and a cover  376 . Front and rear faces  372 ,  374 , sidewall  374 , and cover  376  together define an interior space interior  375  for circuit elements. More or fewer walls can also be used to form interior  375 . 
   Rear face  374  of module  334  includes a plurality of termination locations or ports  380  for accessing the fiber optic circuitry contained within module housing  362 . Each termination location  380  includes a fiber optic adapter  382  coupled to module  334  using a bracket  383 . See  FIG. 30 . Bracket  383  includes a tab  383   a  that can be accessed (depressed) from an outside of module  334  to allow bracket  383 , adapter  382 , and an associated fiber optic connector, such as connector  462  (described further below), to be removed from termination location  380 . A first port  384  defines a first source “S” port or input port. A second port  386  defines a destination “D” port or output port. Rear face  374  further includes a second source port  388  and a second destination port  390 . In normal operation, in the normal through state, port  384  is connected to port  386  and port  388  is connected to port  390 . See  FIG. 31 . 
   Rear face  374  also includes a PCB connector  392  extending through an aperture  498 . When module  334  is inserted into chassis  312 , PCB connector  392  connects to a respective one of the connectors  352  of bus  350  and power for module  334  is provided therethrough. In addition, a bracket  393  coupled to rear face  374  includes portions  393   a ,  393   b , and  393   c  that extend from rear face  374  to protect PCB connector  392 . (See also bracket  341  coupled to power supply module  336 .) In the example shown, portions  393   a ,  393   b , and  393   c  surround three sides of PCB connector  392  and extend beyond an end  392   a  of PCB connector  392  to protect PCB connector  392 . Portions  393   a ,  393   b ,  393   c  are also configured so that portions  393   a ,  393   b ,  393   c  do not interfere when PCB connector  392  is connected to connector  352  on bus  350 . 
   Front face  372  of module housing  362  includes a first source “S” port  394 , and a first destination “D” port  396 . Front face  372  further includes a second source port  398 , and a second destination port  400 . In the normal through operation, front ports  394 ,  396 ,  398 ,  400  are not connected to rear ports  384 ,  386 ,  388 ,  390 . See  FIG. 31 . In the patched operation, front port  394  is connected to rear port  386 . Further, front port  396  is connected to rear port  384 , front port  398  is connected to rear port  390 , and front port  400  is connected to rear port  388 . See  FIG. 32 . Front face  372  further includes two monitor ports  402 ,  404  for connecting to rear ports  386 ,  390 , respectively. 
   Switches  406 ,  408  on front face  372  control switching between the normal through and the patched configurations. First and second visual indicators  410 ,  412  indicate which state each switch is in (for example, green for normal through, red for patched). Switches  406 ,  408  are manually operated toggle switches. In the example shown, switches  406 ,  408  are momentary toggle switches. Other switches can be used, such as push buttons. Visual indicators  410 ,  412  are electrically powered LED&#39;s in the illustrated embodiment. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 28-30 , interior  375  of module  334  includes a PCB  414  coupled to sidewall  373  by screws inserted into mounts  494  of sidewall  373 . PCB  414  includes circuitry including optical switches  424 ,  426 . Each switch  406 ,  408  on front face  372  switches the respective optical switch  424 ,  426  between states. LED&#39;s  410 ,  412  indicate the state of each switch  424 ,  426 . PCB  414  also includes PCB connector  392  extending through aperture  498  of rear face  374  to provide power to PCB  414  and switches  424 ,  426 . In the example shown, PCB connector  392  is part of PCB  414 . For example, PCB connector  392  includes tracings that extend from PCB  414  to adjacent an end  392   a  of PCB connector  392  so that, when PCB connector  392  is connected to one of the connectors  352  of bus  350 , power is provided to PCB  414 . 
   Also included in interior  375  of module  334  is a separator plate  440  including legs  441  coupled to sidewall  373  by screws. A plurality of splitters  426   a ,  426   b ,  426   c ,  426   d  is coupled to a bracket  428  on separator plate  440 . In the example shown, splitters  426   a ,  426   b ,  426   c ,  426   d  are 90/10 splitters and perform the monitor function. In other embodiments, other splitters, such as 90/5 or 99/1 splitters, can be used. 
   In the example shown, separator plate  440  covers PCB  414  so that optical fibers in interior  375  are separated from PCB  414 , as described further below. See  FIG. 30 . 
   Referring again to  FIGS. 28-30 , fiber optic connectors, such as example connectors  427 ,  462 , are connected to interior-facing ports of adapters  382  of module  334  to couple adapters  382  to switches  424 ,  426  and splitters  426   a ,  426   b ,  426   c ,  426   d , respectively. For example, connector  462  is connected to adapter  382  associated with source port  384  on rear face  374 . In the example shown, connectors  427 ,  462  are SC-type connectors, although other types of connectors such as, for example, FC, ST, and LX.5 can also be used. (The other adapters  382  are shown with dust caps connected therein.) 
   Connector  462  includes an optical cable  464  running from connector  462  to optical switch  424 . Optical switch  424  is in turn connected to splitter  426   c  by cable  466 , and splitter  426   c  is connected to fiber optic connector  427  by cable  465  to complete the normal through route. Although only two connectors and associated cable are shown for purposes of clarity, connectors can be connected to each of the adapters of module  334 , and cables can be used to connect the connectors to the respective switches and splitters. 
   In the example shown, bracket  383 , adapter  382 , and connector  462  can be removed from rear face  374  (see, for example,  FIG. 30 ) so that connector  462  can be accessed by removing connector  462  from adapter  382 . Optical cable  464  is looped within interior  375  of module  334  so that slack is provided when connector  462  is removed. (Although only a single loop is shown for purposes of clarity, cable  464  can be looped multiple times to provide greater amounts of slack.) For example, in one embodiment slack in cable  464  is provided so that connector  462  can be pulled approximately six inches out of module  334  so that connector  462  can be cleaned or replaced. In other embodiments, more or less slack can be provided such as, for example, three inches, nine inches, or twelve inches. Cable  465  is similarly provided with slack so that connector  427  can be removed. Cables connected to the other adapters can also be provided with slack. 
   Separator plate  440  generally functions to cover PCB  414  and manage the slack in the cables (e.g., cables  464 ,  465 ) away from PCB  414 . In this manner, the slack in the cables is protected from contacting sharp edges or snagging on PCB  414  or any components mounted thereon. 
   In some embodiments, clips  470 ,  472  can be mounted to separator plate  440  to further manage the slack in the cables as the cables are looped within interior  375 . Further, in additional circular loops, slack in the cables can also be looped in “FIG.  8 ” configurations as well. These types of looping configurations allow the slack in the cables to be managed by separator plate  440  while maintaining the cables with proper bend radii. 
   The above specification, examples and data provide a complete description of the manufacture and use of the composition of the invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.