Patent Publication Number: US-2023152546-A1

Title: Cable slack management apparatus for co-packaged opto-electrical devices

Description:
PRIORITY APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/050,895, filed Jul. 13, 2020, and International Application No. PCT/US2021/040405, filed Jul. 6, 2021. The content of each aforementioned priority application is relied upon and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     This disclosure generally pertains to cable routing, and more particularly to a cable slack management apparatus. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In fiber optic networks, fiber optic cables may be connected to various fiber optic assemblies (e.g., hardware, housings, enclosures, etc.). The fiber optic cables may include slack in addition to the cabling needed to make optical connections. This slack may enable the cable to be routed in the fiber optic assembly and/or enable removal of a portion of the cable from the fiber optic assembly, such as to facilitate optical connections, such as splicing and patching. Additionally, the slack may be used to facilitate repairs or reconfigurations in which a portion of the cable may be discarded. The slack may be stored inside the fiber optic assembly in one or more cable management solutions. 
     Various solutions for cable management and overlength management are available on the market. In most cases, a tray approach is used, which can be arranged and stacked inside the device. Routing functionalities and overlength-management may be realized by manual winding of single fibers around fixed integrated support structure. In some co-packaged optical solutions including high density small form factor switch deployments, cable management is performed by a “fiber shuffle”, however these fiber shuffles are highly sophisticated and specific to the switch design resulting in a high volume price and limiting serviceability. One fiber shuffle may connect to multiple input and output connections including multiple active alignment coupling processes. If a coupling fails, the entire fiber shuffle may require replacement. 
     SUMMARY 
     In an example embodiment, a cable manager is provided including a cable hub. The cable hub may include a slot into which a cable may be inserted. The cable hub may then be rotated to wind cable slack about the periphery of the cable hub to manage cable slack associated with a telecommunications assembly, such as a fiber optic assembly. The cable manager may also include a directional resistance element configured to allow rotation of the cable hub in a first direction, e.g. a cable winding direction, and resist rotation in a second directions, e.g. an unwinding direction. 
     In some embodiments, the directional resistance element may prevent or limit “spring back” or unwinding induced by the cable as it is wound about the cable hub. In an example embodiment, the directional resistance element may be a ratchet element. For example, the cable hub or a base may include one or more flexible fingers that cooperate with one or more resistance projections on other of the cable hub or base to prevent unwinding at incremental portions of a turn of the cable hub. 
     One or more fiber optic cables may be inserted into the cable slot, the cable hub is then rotated, winding the cable about the cable hub and taking up the cable slack in the fiber optic assembly. In some examples, the cable manager may include a lid, such as a slidable lid or hinged lid, configured to prevent or limit the cables from exiting the cable slot inadvertently. 
     The cable manager may also include one or more mounting features enabling a variety of configurations, such as to enable custom placement and/or stackability. For example, the base may include on or more magnets configured to mount to a metal housing of a fiber optic assembly. 
     In some example embodiments, the fiber optic assembly may include one or more trays configured to receive the cable manager. The trays may be pivotable to enable access to the fiber optic equipment within the fiber optic assembly and allow for an additional plane, above the fiber optic equipment, for cable management. The cables may be routed to the cable managers in either the open or closed position and the slack wound thereon. Additionally, the trays may include a layer switch feature enabling a cable to pass from a first face to a second face enabling further cable management flexibility. 
     Additional features and advantages will be set forth in the detailed description which follows, and in part will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the description or recognized by practicing the embodiments as described in the written description and claims hereof, as well as the appended drawings. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are merely exemplary, and are intended to provide an overview or framework to understand the nature and character of the claims. 
     The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings are illustrative of selected aspects of the present description, and together with the specification explain principles and operation of methods, products, and compositions embraced by the present description. Features shown in the drawing are illustrative of selected embodiments of the present description and are not necessarily depicted in proper scale. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter of the written description, it is believed that the specification will be better understood from the following written description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG.  1    is a schematic diagram of an exemplary FTTx network according to an example embodiment; 
         FIG.  2    illustrates an example fiber optic assembly according to an example embodiment; 
         FIG.  3    illustrates a perspective view of an example cable manager according to an example embodiment; 
         FIG.  4    illustrates cross-sectional view of the cable manager of  FIG.  3    according to an example embodiment; 
         FIG.  5    illustrates a bottom perspective view of the cable manager of  FIG.  3    according to an example embodiment; 
         FIG.  6    illustrates a perspective view of a base of the cable manager of  FIG.  3    according to an example embodiment; 
         FIG.  7    illustrates a top perspective view of a cable hub of the cable manager of  FIG.  3    according to an example embodiment; 
         FIG.  8    illustrates a bottom perspective view of a cable hub of the cable manager of  FIG.  3    according to an example embodiment; 
         FIG.  9    illustrates a top down view of an example cable manager including a plurality fiber optic cables according to an example embodiment; 
         FIG.  10    illustrates a perspective view of an example cable manager including a plurality fiber optic cables according to an example embodiment; 
         FIG.  11    illustrates perspective view of a fiber optic assembly including pivotable trays in a closed position according to an example embodiment; 
         FIG.  12    illustrates perspective view of the fiber optic assembly including pivotable trays in an open position according to an example embodiment; 
         FIGS.  13 A and  13 B  illustrate a cross-sectional view of a tray in the closed position and the open position, respectively, according to an example embodiment; 
         FIGS.  14 A and  14 B  illustrate a cross-sectional view of a tray including a tray mount in the closed position and the open position, respectively, according to an example embodiment; 
         FIG.  15    illustrate top view of a tray including a plurality of layer switch features according to an example embodiment; 
         FIG.  16    illustrates a perspective view of a fiber optic assembly including a plurality of trays having cable managers according to an example embodiment; 
         FIG.  17    illustrate top views of an example fiber optic assembly including cable managers on a tray and on a housing including a plurality of fiber optic cables according to an example embodiment; and 
         FIGS.  18  and  19    illustrates a top view of a tray having cable managers on the first face and second face, and including a plurality of optical fibers according to an example embodiment; 
     
    
    
     The embodiments set forth in the drawings are illustrative in nature and not intended to be limiting of the scope of the detailed description or claims. Whenever possible, the same reference numeral will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like features. The drawings are not necessarily to scale for ease of illustration an explanation. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Optical fibers are useful in a wide variety of applications, including the telecommunications industry for voice, video, and data transmissions. The benefits of optical fiber are well known and include higher signal-to-noise ratios and increased bandwidth compared to conventional copper-based transmission technologies. To meet modern demands for increased bandwidth and improved performance, telecommunication networks are increasingly providing optical fiber connectivity closer to end subscribers. These initiatives include fiber-to-the-node (FTTN), fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP), fiber-to-the-home (FTTH), and the like (generally described as FTTx). 
     In an FTTx network, fiber optic cables are used to carry optical signals to various distribution points and, in some cases, all the way to end subscribers. For example,  FIG.  1    is a schematic diagram of an exemplary FTTx network  10  that distributes optical signals generated at a switching point  12  (e.g., a central office of a network provider) to subscriber premises  14 . Optical line terminals (OLTs; not shown) at the switching point  12  convert electrical signals to optical signals. Fiber optic feeder cables  16  then carry the optical signals to various local convergence points  18 , which act as locations for splicing and making cross-connections and interconnections. The local convergence points  18  often include splitters to enable any given optical fiber in the fiber optic feeder cable  16  to serve multiple subscriber premises  14 . As a result, the optical signals are “branched out” from the optical fibers of the fiber optic feeder cables  16  to optical fibers of distribution cables  20  that exit the local convergence points  18 . 
     At network access points closer to the subscriber premises  14 , some or all of the optical fibers in the distribution cables  20  may be accessed to connect to one or more subscriber premises  14 . Drop cables  22  extend from the network access points to the subscriber premises  14 , which may be single-dwelling units (SDU), multi-dwelling units (MDU), businesses, and/or other facilities or buildings. A SDU or MDU terminal may be disposed at the subscriber premises  14 . A conversion of optical signals back to electrical signals may occur at the network access points or at the subscriber premises  14 . 
     There are many different network architectures, and the various tasks required to distribute optical signals (e.g., splitting, splicing, routing, connecting subscribers) can occur at several locations. Regardless of whether a location is considered a switching point, local convergence point, network access point, subscriber premise, or something else, fiber optic equipment is used to house components that carry out one or more of the tasks. The fiber optic equipment may be assemblies that include connectors, switches, splitters, splices, or the like. The term “fiber optic assembly” will be used in this disclosure to generically refer to such equipment (or at least portions thereof). In some instances such equipment is located at a switching point  12  in an FTTx network, although this disclosure is not limited to any particular intended use. Further, although an FTTx network  10  is shown in  FIG.  1   , the same considerations apply with respect to other types of telecommunication networks or environments, such data centers and other enterprise network environments. 
     With increasing needs for higher bandwidth in telecommunication or industrial applications, the number of optical inputs and outputs (I/O) rises drastically. A high I/O count has a resulting increase in optical fiber count inside opto-electronical devices, such as switching points  12 . Organization and management of single fibers up to high-density optical cable bundles becomes increasingly necessary as the optical fiber count increases. Fiber routing may be applied to ensure traceable, serviceable, and organized fiber management from optical input to the electronic device observing minimum bend radii. Cable overlength/surplus management may also be utilized because individual I/O routing trace-lengths vary from position to position and cable lengths may be mismatched. Managing high fiber count bundles, for example 92 fibers or 144 fibers, introduces additional challenges because the required fiber bending force is higher compared to individual fibers. Furthermore, optical fibers have a strong spring back tendency and try to straighten if possible, which makes a loose fiber routing difficult. 
     A cable manager, as described herein, enables overlength and cable routing management for high density cable bundles. The cable manager may include a rotatable cable hub and a directional resistance element, e.g. a fiber locking mechanism that may be locked at the desired rotation position. The cable manager may be configured to enable stacking of a plurality of cable managers, such that cable managers may be placed on top of one another. Additionally, a combination of two cable managers may be collocated to enable clockwise and counter clockwise cable slack management. 
     Turning to  FIG.  2    an example fiber optic assembly  100  is provided including a plurality of cable managers  200 . The depicted fiber optic assembly  100  is a switching point  12 , however it should be understood that the cable manager  200  may be used in any fiber optic assembly, such as LCPs, MDUs, or the like. 
     The depicted fiber optic assembly  100  is a co-packaged opto-electrical switching device including a  16  by  72  fiber electro optical converter. The fiber optic assembly  100  may include a housing having a base  102  and one or more sidewalls  104  extending from the base  102 . The fiber optic assembly  100  may also include an adaptor panel  106  configured to receive one or more optical adaptors, such as multi-fiber push-on / pull-off (MPO) adapters (e.g., according to IEC 61754-7). Each of the optical adaptors may be configured to receive a corresponding fiber optic connector. One or more input cables  108  or output cables  110  may extend from the fiber optic adaptors to a switch  120 . The switch  120  may include a switch application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC)  122  disposed on a circuit substrate. The circuit substrate may connect the switch ASIC  122  to one or more fiber array units (FAUs)  124 . The FAUs may include the terminal end of a plurality of optical fibers of the input cables  108  or output cables  110 . 
     The input cables  108  and/or output cables  110  may comprise a plurality of fiber optic cables disposed within a protective jacket, such as depicted input cables  108 , or may be a high density fiber bundle, such as the depicted output cables  110 . Additionally or alternatively, the cables may include one or more individual optical fibers or fiber ribbons. The input cables  108  and/or output cables  110  may be routed from the switch  120  to the adaptor panel  106  along the base  102 , sidewalls  104 , and/or a routing tray, as discussed below in reference to  FIGS.  11 - 18   . In some cases, the input cables  108  or output cables  110  may include a significant amount of excess length of cable slack. A cable manager  200  may be utilized to store the cable slack to enable a neater and more accessible fiber optic assembly  100 . Additionally, storage of the cable slack on a cable manager  200  may reduce or eliminate damage to an optical fiber due to shifting placement for access to components, heat, or the like. The cable manager  200  may be disposed on the base  102  the sidewall  104 , or on a routing tray. 
       FIGS.  3 - 8    illustrate an example embodiment of a cable manager  200 . The cable manager  200  may include a base  202  and a cable spool or cable hub  204 . The base  202  may be affixed to the base  102 , sidewall  104 , or routing tray of the fiber optic assembly  100 , or may be integral to the same. The cable hub  204  may be configured to rotate relative to the base  202 . For example, the base  202  may include spindle and the cable hub  204  may include a receiver, such that the cable hub  204  rotates about the spindle. In another embodiment, the cable hub  204  may include a plurality of hooks  206  configured to engage an aperture or socket  208  disposed in the base  202 . The hooks  206  may extend from the bottom of the cable hub  204  and flex to allow insertion into the socket  208 . The hooks  206  may be disposed in a generally circular configuration to enable rotation of the cable hub  204  relative to the base  202 . In some example embodiments, the socket  208  may include a lip to enable the hooks  206  to rotate in the socket  208  without extending beyond a plane defined by the bottom of the base  202 , enabling mounting the base  202  without interference by the hooks  206 . It should be understood that that although elements, such as the hooks  206 , socket  208 , spindle, and receiver, are shown and described in associated with the base  202  or the cable hub  204 , these are merely examples and the opposite configuration is also contemplated. 
     The cable hub  204  may include a cable slot  210  configured to receive one or more cables, such as individual optical fibers or fiber optic cables, ribbon cables, or the like. The cables  212  may be inserted to the cable slot  210  from the top of the cable hub  204 , such that when the cable hub  204  is rotated the cables  212  wind around the periphery of the cable hub  204 , as depicted in  FIGS.  9  and  10   . 
     As the cable is wound about the cable hub  204  a spring back pressure may be built up by the cables  212 . The cable manager  200  may include a directional resistance element configured to allow rotation of the cable hub  204  in a first direction, e.g. a winding direction, and resist rotation of the cable hub  204  in a second direction, e.g. an unwinding direction. The resistance element may limit or prevent unwinding of the cables  212  due to the spring back pressure. In an example embodiment, the directional resistance element may include a ratchet element configured resist rotation in the second direction in incremental portions of a turn of the cable hub  204 . For example, the ratchet element may include one or more fingers  214  extending from the cable hub  204  configured to engage one or resistance projections  216  disposed on the base  202 . The fingers  214  may be configured to flex or bend as the cable hub  204  is rotated, such that the fingers  214  will “snap over” the resistance projections  216 . In some examples, the resistance projections  216  may be tapered to enable rotation in the first direction. For example, a leading face may have a taper configured to encourage the fingers  214  to flex horizontally, e.g. in a plan parallel with the base  202 , and have a generally flat trailing face, which resists movement in the unwinding directions. Additionally or alternatively, the resistance projections  216  may include a taper, similar to a ramp, configured to cause the finger to flex vertically, e.g. in a plane perpendicular to the base  202 . It should be understood that although the configuration of the fingers  214  and resistance projections  216  is depicted and described in associated with the base  202  and the cable hub  204 , these are merely examples and other configurations including combinations and opposite configurations are also contemplated. 
     In some example embodiments, the base  202  may include one or more base cable hooks  220  configured to resist vertical movement of the cables  212 , e.g. away from the base  202  parallel to the axis of rotation A of the cable hub  204 . The base cable hooks  220  may include a first portion extending away from the base  202  and a second portion extending parallel to the base  202  and disposed at the distal end of the first portion. Alternatively, the base cable hooks  220  may include a curved structure or may be disposed at an angle relative to the base  202 . Additionally or alternatively, the cable hub  204  may include one or more hub cable hooks  222  that are configured to restrict vertical movement of the cables  212  away from the base  202 . In one such embodiment, the hub cable hooks  222  may comprise a projection extending from a distal end of the cable hub  204  generally parallel to the base  202 . 
     Turning to  FIG.  5   , the base  202  may include one or more mounting features  224 . The mounting features  224  may be configured to selectively mount the base  202  to the base  102  the sidewall  104 , or on a routing tray of the fiber optic assembly  100 . In an example embodiment, the mounting features  224  may include fastener apertures, or holes, configured to receive screws, quarter turn fasteners, or the like. In some embodiments, the mounting features  224  may include a magnet mould and a magnet disposed therein. The magnetic mounting feature may provide substantial flexibility in placement of the cable manager  200  in a fiber optic assembly, which may be especially advantageous when cable routing is unknow or variable. In some example embodiments such as when a cable routing has been determined for a particular fiber optic assembly  100 , an adhesive may be used to affix the cable manager  200  to the fiber optic assembly  100  in a desired position. In a further example, the mounting features  224  may be configured to connect to the top of a second cable manger  200 , e.g. enable stacking of cable managers  200 . The mounting features  224  may include opposing tabs, snap fits or the like. During installation an installer may wind the cable  212  about the cable hub  204  and then engage the cable manager  200  to another cable manager  200 . Alternatively, the cable manager  200  may be engaged with the second cable manager  200 , and the installer may hold a base  202  of the cable manager  202  being wound to prevent rotational torque from being applied to the other cable manager  200 . 
     In  FIGS.  7  and  8    an example cable hub  204  is depicted. The cable hub  204  includes a lid  226  configured to cover at least a portion of the cable slot  210  to limit of prevent inadvertent removal of cables  212  from the cable slot  210 . In the depicted embodiment, the lid  226  is a generally rectangular plastic element that engages with a plurality of retention tabs  228  disposed on a top face of the cable hub  204 . The retention tabs  228  may define a receiving space configured to slidably accept the lid  226 . In some embodiments, the lid  226  may be interference fit with the retention tabs  228 . In other embodiments, the lid  226  may comprise a hinged element attached to one side of the cable slot  210  that is folded over the cable slot  210 , when in use. The lid  226  may include snap features that engage complementary snap features, e.g. tabs, apertures, or the like, on the top face of the cable hub  204  to retain the lid  226  in a closed position. 
     In some example embodiments, the cable hub  204  may be configured to limit cable bend radii from exceeding a predetermined minimum radius, such as 14 mm, 12 mm, 10 mm, 8 mm, or the like. In an example embodiment, the periphery of the cable hub  204  may have a radius of approximately the predetermined radius. In the depicted embodiment, the cable slot  210  also includes bend radius protection, such that the cable hub  204  comprises two substantially cylindrical structures. The two substantially cylindrical structures of the cable hub  204  may each have a radius approximately the predetermined radius. 
     In some example embodiments, the space available inside the fiber optic assembly  100  may be very limited. Continuing with the switch example discussed in  FIG.  2   , the fiber optic assembly  100  may include cooling blocks and copper heat pipes and may need open space for air flow. Additionally, the plane of the base  102  may be populated by electronic components. In the example embodiments discussed in  FIGS.  11 - 18    one or more trays are provided to provide additional cable routing surfaces, e.g. a cable routing plane internal to a housing of the fiber optic assembly  100 , but out of the plane of fiber optic components. The input and output optical cable length may be managed to the desired length needed to access the ASIC printed circuit board assembly (outgoing cable) and face plate (incoming cable). The management of the cables can be done inside or outside the switch housing. If the cable management is performed outside the housing, a pre-loaded tray may be installed into the mount and the cables connected to the ASIC and faceplate. If the cable management is performed inside the switch housing, the cable connections may be made and the cables routed, then the cable slack may be would about a cable manager  200  on the tray. In this way, the overlength management ability of the cable managers and trays is flexible and various switch designs, or other fiber optic assemblies, may be served. 
     The management of the optical breakout cables may be performed individually and independent of other cables. This independent management enables rework or serviceability, e.g. removal and reinstallation of a cable, in case if defect during the connection step. Additionally, due to the overlength management capability the switch connectorization may be completed with a single or a small amount of different break-out cable lengths. The limited number of cable lengths may reduce product version.. 
       FIG.  11    illustrates an example fiber optic assembly  100 , here a switch point  12 , including pivotable trays  300 . The trays  300  may be substantially planar having a first face  302  and a second face  304 . The trays  300  may be formed from metal, such as sheet metal steel or aluminum, plastic, such as injection molded plastic, or other suitable material. The trays  300  may be pivotably mounted at a distal end of a sidewall  104 , such that the tray  300  allows access to the fiber optic assembly  100  in an open position (depicted in  FIG.  11   ) and limits access to the fiber optic assembly  100  in a closed position (depicted in  FIG.  12   ). One or more cable managers  200 , as described above in reference to  FIGS.  3 - 10    may be disposed on the first face  302  and or the second face  304  of the tray  300 , to enable management of cables  212  routed to various fiber optic components of the fiber optic assembly  100 . 
     In an example embodiment, the trays  300  may be disposed below a plane defined by the distal end of the sidewalls  104 , when in the closed position. By positioning the trays  300  below the plane of the sidewalls  104 , the cable managers  200  may be mounted to the first face  302  of the tray  300  without interfering with a fit or outer dimensions of a cover of the fiber optic assembly  100 . 
     Turning to  FIGS.  13 A- 14 B , the trays  300  may include a kink prevention or fiber protection feature  306 . The fiber protection feature may  306  be disposed between the sidewall  104  and a tray pivot  308 . The fiber protection feature  306  may be a rounded end of a tray  300 , such that end of the tray  300  is folded under itself, such that when the tray  300  is rotated to the closed position the tray  300  does not present a sharp edge to the cable  212 . The rounded or folded over edge of the tray  300  may be formed by injection molding, in the case of plastic tray material, or bending in the case of metal tray material. Additionally, the tray  300  may rotate about a pivot  308  mounted at a predetermine offset distance from the sidewall  104 . The predetermined offset distance may result in a gap being present between the sidewall  104  and the fiber protection feature  306  throughout the rotation of the tray  300  from the open position to the closed position. As depicted in  FIGS.  14 A and  14 B , a tray mount  310  may be provided to support the tray  300  and provide the pivot  308 . A proximal end of the tray mount  310  may be coupled to the sidewall  104 , such as by fasteners, snap fit, adhesive or the like. A distal end of the tray mount  310  may include the pivot  308 , such as a pin  312  or aperture  314 , corresponding to a complementary aperture or pin of the tray  300 , as depicted in  FIG.  14 B . In some embodiments, the tray  300  may be selectively mounted in the fiber optic assembly  100 , such that the tray  300  may be inserted pre-populated with cables  212 , or may be removed for repair or service. For example, the tray  300  may be flexible, such that flexion of the tray  300  may allow the pins  312  to withdraw from the apertures  314  and release of the flexion may cause the pins  312  to be inserted into the apertures  314 . Additionally or alternatively, the pins  312  may be biased toward an extended position, such as by a spring. The tray mount  310  and/or the tray  300  may include a tab or other element configured to compress the spring and thereby retract the pin  312 . In some example embodiments, the aperture  314  may include a plate to close the aperture  314 , which may be removed by rotation, sliding, or removal of fasteners. In some embodiments, the aperture  314  may be disposed on the tray mount  310  and be elongated, such that the pin  312 , and associated pivot  308 , may move toward and/or away from the sidewall  104 . Movement of the pivot  308  may enable an increased open angle of the open position of the tray  300 , resulting in increased access to the second face  304  of the tray  300 . 
     In some example embodiments, one or more of the trays  300  may include a layer switch feature  320  configured to enable a cable to pass from the first face  302  to the second face  304 , or from the second face  304  to the first face  302 . The layer switch feature  320  may include an aperture or a slot disposed through the tray  300 . The layer switch feature  320  may be disposed at an edge of the tray  300  or may be located elsewhere on the tray  300 . In the example depicted in  FIG.  15   , a layer switch features  320  are disposed at edge locations including one layer switch feature  320  disposed at a side edge and two layer switch features  320  disposed along a distal edge of the tray  300 , opposite the tray mount  310 . The layer switch features  320  comprise slots at the described edge locations. In some embodiments, slots may be preferable over apertures, due to the ease of installation and removal of the cable  212  laterally, instead of pull through. Lateral insertion of the cables  212  into the slots may reduce risk of damage to the cable, due to pull through. Details A and B of  FIG.  15    depict the cable  212  passing from the first face  302  of the tray  300  to the second face  304  of the tray  300 . The width W of the layer switch feature  320  may be sufficient to limit or prevent exceeding a minimum bend radius of a cable  212 , as the cable  212  passes from the first face  302  to the second face  304 . 
       FIG.  16    depicts an example embodiment of a fiber optic assembly  100  including a plurality of trays  300  disposed on a sidewall  104 . Each of the plurality of trays  300  having one or more cable managers  200 . The multiple trays  300  per sidewall  104  configuration may enable a lower cable count per tray  300  and reduce complexity of repair or service. In some embodiments, the tray  300  may include splice protection holder  322  in addition to the cable managers  200 . 
       FIGS.  17 - 19    illustrate an example fiber optic assembly  100  including a plurality of cable managers  200  disposed on the base  102  of the fiber optic assembly  100  and the first face  302  and second face  304  of a tray  300 . In  FIGS.  17  and  18   , the tray  300  is in the closed position. Cables  212  are routed through the gap between the tray  300  and the sidewall  104  to a plurality of cable managers  200  disposed on the first face  302  of the tray  300 . Additional cables  212  are routed from an adaptor panel  106  to the switch  120  and cable slack is disposed in a second plurality of cable managers  200  disposed on the base  102  of the fiber optic assembly  100 .  FIG.  19    depicts additional cable managers  200  deposed on the second face  304  of the tray  300 , that have not yet been populated. These additional cable managers  200  may be utilized as further connections are added to the fiber optic assembly  100 . 
     In an example embodiment, a cable manager is provided including a base, a cable hub configured to rotate relative to the base, and a directional resistance element configured to allow rotation of the cable hub in a first direction and resist rotation of the cable hub in a second direction, that is opposite the first direction. The cable hub comprises a cable slot configured to receive at least one cable, such that when the cable hub is rotated the at least one cable is wound about a periphery of the cable hub. 
     In an example embodiment, the directional resistance element includes a ratchet element. In some example embodiments, the ratchet element includes a plurality of fingers disposed on the base or the cable hub and a plurality of resistance projections disposed on the other of the base or the cable hub. In an example embodiment, the resistance projections are tapered to enable rotation in the first direction. In some example embodiments, the base includes a socket configured to receive a portion of the cable hub. In an example embodiment, the cable hub includes a plurality of hooks configured received in the socket, such that the cable hub is rotatably coupled to the base. In some example embodiments, the cable manager includes at least one mounting feature configured to selectively mount the cable manager to a fiber optic assembly. In an example embodiment, the at least one mounting feature includes at least one magnet. In some example embodiments, the base or the cable hub includes one or more cable hooks configured to limit movement of the at least one cable parallel to the axis of rotation of the cable hub. In an example embodiment, the cable hub further includes a lid configured to cover the cable slot. In some example embodiments, the cable hub comprises two cylindrical structures configured to limit bending of the cable to greater to a predetermined bend radius. 
     In another example embodiment, a fiber optic assembly is provided including a housing base configured to support one or more fiber optic communication connections, a sidewall extending from the base, and at least one cable manager. The cable manager includes a base, a cable hub configured to rotate relative to the base, and a directional resistance element configured to allow rotation of the cable hub in a first direction and resist rotation of the cable hub in a second direction, that is opposite the first direction. The cable hub includes a cable slot configured to receive at least one cable, such that when the cable hub is rotated the at least one cable is wound about a periphery of the cable hub. 
     In some example embodiments, the fiber optic assembly also includes a tray pivotably mounted to the sidewall, the tray including a first face and an opposing second face. The base of the at least one cable manager is mounted to the first face or the second face of the tray. In an example embodiment, the tray is configured to pivot about a pivot point between an open position allowing access to the one or more fiber optic communication connections and a closed position limiting access to the one or more fiber optic communication connections. In some example embodiments, the tray is disposed below a plane defined by a distal end of the sidewall, when the tray is in the closed position. In an example embodiment, the at least one cable manager includes a plurality of cable managers disposed on the first face and the second face. In some example embodiments, the tray includes a fiber protection feature disposed between the sidewall and the pivot. In an example embodiment, the tray includes a layer switch feature enabling an optical cable to pass from the first face to the second face. In some example embodiments, the fiber optic assembly also includes a tray mount configured to provide an offset distance between the sidewall and a pivot of the tray. In an example embodiment, the fiber optic assembly also includes a plurality of trays, wherein each of the plurality of trays is mounted to the sidewall, and each tray of the plurality of trays includes a first face and an opposing second face. The at least one cable manager includes a plurality of cable managers and the base of each of the plurality of cable managers is mounted to the first face or the second face of the tray. 
     In a further example embodiment, a fiber optic assembly is provided including a housing base configured to support one or more fiber optic communication connections, a sidewall extending from the base an opto-electrical device supported by the base, an adaptor panel configured to receive one or more fiber optic adapters, at least one cable optically connecting the one or more fiber optic adaptors to the opto-electronic device, and at least one cable manager. The cable manager includes a base, a cable hub configured to rotate relative to the base, and a directional resistance element configured to allow rotation of the cable hub in a first direction and resist rotation of the cable hub in a second direction, opposite the first direction. The cable hub includes a cable slot configured to receive at least one cable, such that when the cable hub is rotated the at least one cable is wound about a periphery of the cable hub. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the illustrated embodiments. Since modifications, combinations, sub-combinations and variations of the disclosed embodiments that incorporate the spirit and substance of the illustrated embodiments may occur to persons skilled in the art, the description should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.