Patent Publication Number: US-2023141550-A1

Title: Rack mountable panel for optimizing slack storage and management of optical fiber cables

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/263,827, filed Nov. 10, 2021, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure generally relates to an optical fiber communication system and, more particularly, to a rack mountable panel for optimizing slack storage and management of optical fiber cables in an optical fiber communication system. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Conventional optical fiber distribution systems may include a rack or frame having several bays for receiving connector modules, associated jumper organizers for storing extra lengths of cables (which may also be called pigtails or patch cords and comprise connectorized optical fibers which are connected to the connector modules), and upper and lower troughs for conveying jumper fibers between adjacent bays. Extra lengths of cables are typically stored in vertical passageways or raceways around the rack and outside of the bays to which the connector modules are mounted. The vertical raceways typically contain several structures, for example, spools, for managing slack cables. 
     However, such storage systems provide poor organization of the spare jumper lengths, and tangling of cables is therefore possible, and even likely. This tangling leads to the disturbance of other cables when attempting to access one particular jumper, which can cause losses in optical signal transmission. Furthermore, the tangling of cables is exacerbated by the fact that the vertical raceways (where the spare jumper lengths are stored) are also used to route cables between the bays of the distribution system, and so these raceways are normally very crowded with cables. This also makes the provision of wide vertical raceways between the bays a necessity, which is disadvantageous in situations where there is insufficient space available for such wide vertical raceways. 
     It may be desirable to provide a cable management panel for optimizing slack storage and management of optical fiber cables in an optical fiber communication system so as to eliminate the need for slack cable management structures in space about a rack to which the panel is mounted. It may be desirable to provide such a cable management panel that is mountable in a standard rack mount system. It may be desirable to provide such a cable management panel in a 2 rack unit (2U) configuration. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to various aspects of the disclosure, a cable management panel for optimizing management and storage of a slack portion of a fiber optic cable includes a base that is configured to include a planar portion having a first end and a second end in a longitudinal direction and a curved portion extending from the first end of the planar portion, a cable support that is configured to extend substantially perpendicularly from the planar portion of the base, a cable management structure that is disposed proximate the first end of the planar portion and configured to extend substantially perpendicularly from the planar portion of the base in a same direction as the cable support, and a cable retaining structure that is disposed along a longitudinal edge of the planar portion and configured to extend substantially perpendicularly from the planar portion of the base in the same direction as the cable support. The base has a height equal to two rack units, and the base is configured to be mounted in a rack having a standard rack length. The cable retaining structure is configured to retain a slack fiber optic cable between the longitudinal edge and an opposed longitudinal edge of the base, the curved portion of the base is configured to prevent a fiber optic cable that is wrapped around the curved portion of the base from being bent beyond a minimum bend radius, and the cable support includes a curved portion configured to prevent a fiber optic cable that is wrapped around the curved portion from being bent beyond a minimum bend radius. The cable support is configured to provide a path structure for optimizing management and storage of different lengths of slack of fiber optic cables such that a selected path length from the cable management structure to the curved portion of the cable support and back to the cable management structure substantially matches a length of slack of a fiber optic cable and such that the length of slack is maintained within the height of the base so as to eliminate the need for slack cable management structures in space about a rack to which the panel is mounted. 
     According to various aspects of the above embodiment, the standard rack length of the base is 19″ or 23″. 
     According to various aspects of any of the above embodiments, the cable support comprises a plurality of cable supports spaced apart along a length of the base. 
     According to various aspects of any of the above embodiments, each of the plurality of cable supports is configured to provide a different path length from the cable management structure to the curved portion of the cable support and back to the cable management structure so as to provide different path lengths that are configured to provide optimized management and storage of different lengths of slack of fiber optic cables 
     According to various aspects of any of the above embodiments, each of the cable supports comprises a D shape, and the curved portions of the cable supports face a same direction. 
     According to various aspects of any of the above embodiments, the panel further includes a second cable support comprising a D shape that is backward relative to the cable supports, and wherein the second cable support is disposed at the first end of the planar portion of the base between the cable management structure and one of the cable supports that is closest to the cable management structure. 
     According to various aspects of any of the above embodiments, the cable management structure comprises a clip configured to receive a fiber optic cable. In some aspects, the clip comprises two clips. 
     In accordance with various embodiments of the disclosure, a cable management panel for optimizing management and storage of a slack portion of a fiber optic cable includes a base that is configured to include a planar portion, a cable support that is configured to extend from the planar portion of the base, and a cable management structure that is disposed proximate an end of the planar portion and configured to extend from the planar portion of the base in a same direction as the cable support. The cable support includes a curved portion configured to prevent a fiber optic cable that is wrapped around the curved portion from being bent beyond a minimum bend radius. The cable support is configured to provide a path structure for optimizing management and storage of different lengths of slack of fiber optic cables such that a selected path length from the cable management structure to the curved portion of the cable support and back to the cable management structure substantially matches a length of slack of a fiber optic cable so as to eliminate the need for slack cable management structures in space about a rack to which the panel is mounted. 
     According to various aspects of any of the above embodiments, the panel further comprises a cable retaining structure that is disposed along a length of the planar portion in a longitudinal direction of the base and configured to extend from the planar portion of the base in the same direction as the cable support, and wherein the cable retaining structure is configured to retain a slack fiber optic cable between the longitudinal edges of the base. 
     According to various aspects of any of the above embodiments, the base has a height equal to two rack units. 
     According to various aspects of any of the above embodiments, the base is configured to be mounted in a rack having a standard rack length of 19″ or 23″. 
     According to various aspects of any of the above embodiments, the cable support comprises a plurality of cable supports spaced apart along a length of the base. 
     According to various aspects of any of the above embodiments, each of the plurality of cable supports is configured to provide a different path length from the cable management structure to the curved portion of the cable support and back to the cable management structure so as to provide different path lengths that are configured to provide optimized management and storage of different lengths of slack of fiber optic cables. 
     According to various aspects of any of the above embodiments, each of the cable supports comprises a D shape, and the curved portions of the cable supports face a same direction. 
     According to various aspects of any of the above embodiments, the panel further comprises a second cable support comprising a D shape that is backward relative to the cable supports, and wherein the second cable support is disposed at the first end of the planar portion of the base between the cable management structure and one of the cable supports that is closest to the cable management structure. 
     According to various aspects of any of the above embodiments, the cable management structure comprises a clip configured to receive a fiber optic cable. In some aspects, the clip comprises two clips. 
     In accordance with various embodiments of the disclosure, a cable management panel for optimizing management and storage of a slack portion of a fiber optic cable includes a base portion and a cable support portion that is configured to extend from the base portion. The cable support includes a curved portion configured to prevent a fiber optic cable that is wrapped around the curved portion from being bent beyond a minimum bend radius. The cable support is configured to provide a path structure for optimizing management and storage of different lengths of slack of fiber optic cables such that a selected path length from an end of the base portion to the curved portion of the cable support and back to the end of the base portion substantially matches a length of slack of a fiber optic cable so as to eliminate the need for slack cable management structures in space about a rack to which the panel is mounted. 
     According to various aspects of any of the above embodiments, the panel further comprises a cable retaining structure that is disposed along a length of the base portion and configured to extend from the base portion in the same direction as the cable support, and wherein the cable retaining structure is configured to retain a slack fiber optic cable between longitudinal edges of the base portion. 
     According to various aspects of any of the above embodiments, the base portion has a height equal to two rack units. 
     According to various aspects of any of the above embodiments, the base portion is configured to be mounted in a rack having a standard rack length of 19″ or 23″. 
     According to various aspects of any of the above embodiments, the cable support comprises a plurality of cable supports spaced apart along a length of the base portion. 
     According to various aspects of any of the above embodiments, each of the plurality of cable supports is configured to provide a different path length from the end of the base portion to the curved portion of the respective cable support and back to the end of the base portion so as to provide different path lengths that are configured to provide optimized management and storage of different lengths of slack of fiber optic cables. 
     According to various aspects of any of the above embodiments, each of the cable supports comprises a D shape, and the curved portions of the cable supports face a same direction. 
     According to various aspects of any of the above embodiments, the panel further comprises a second cable support comprising a D shape that is backward relative to the cable supports, and wherein the second cable support is disposed between the end of the base portion and one of the cable supports that is closest to the end of the base portion. 
     According to various aspects of any of the above embodiments, the panel further comprises a cable management structure that is disposed proximate the end of the base portion and configured to extend from the base portion in a same direction as the cable support. 
     According to various aspects of any of the above embodiments, the cable management structure comprises a clip configured to receive a fiber optic cable. In some aspects, the clip comprises two clips. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further advantages and features of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, to which reference is made. In which are shown: 
         FIG.  1    illustrates an exemplary optical fiber communication system including an exemplary cable management panel according to various aspects the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  2    is a front view of an exemplary cable management panel according to various aspects the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  3    is a bottom view of the cable management panel of  FIG.  2   ; 
         FIG.  4    is a perspective view of the cable management panel of  FIG.  2   ; 
         FIG.  5    is a perspective view of another exemplary cable management panel according to various aspects the present disclosure; and 
         FIG.  6    illustrates the exemplary cable management panel of  FIG.  2    disposed in an optical fiber communication system in a lateral configuration. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to presently preferred embodiments and methods of the present disclosure, which constitute the best modes of practicing the present disclosure presently known to the inventors. It is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the present disclosure that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for any aspect of the present disclosure and/or as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present disclosure. 
     It is also to be understood that this present disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments and methods described below, as specific components and/or conditions may, of course, vary. Furthermore, the terminology used herein is used only for the purpose of describing particular embodiments of the present disclosure and is not intended to be limiting in any way. It must also be noted that, as used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular form “a,” “an,” and “the” comprise plural referents unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. For example, reference to a component in the singular is intended to comprise a plurality of components. 
       FIG.  1    illustrates an exemplary optical fiber communication system  100 . The system includes one or more racks  110  of optical fiber connectivity modules  112  and passageways, raceways, or ducting  114  around the racks  110  through which cables, for example, optical fiber cables, may be routed. Depending on the size of the enclosure containing the rack(s)  110  and/or the amount of space available around the rack(s)  110 , for example, above, below, left, and right of the rack(s)  110 , conventional slack fiber cable management structures, such as spools, may not be usable in such space around the rack(s)  110 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  1   , a cable management panel  116  in accordance with the present disclosure is configured to be mounted to a rack  110 , for example, in an active street cabinet or an equipment rack with low to medium fiber density. The cable management panel  116  may be configured as a 2 rack unit (or 2U) panel, for example, a panel having a 2U height and a standard rack mountable length, for example, 19″ or 23″, where one rack unit is equal to 1.75 inches. In some aspects, the space available around the rack  110  for fiber cable slack management may be insufficient for conventional slack fiber cable management structures, such as spools. 
     The panel  116  is configured to store and/or manage slack cable (or a slack portion of cable), for example, fiber optic cables such as patch cables, pigtails, and the like. The fiber optic cables may be preconnectorized and/or ruggedized, as would be understood by persons skilled in the art. 
     Referring now to  FIGS.  2 - 4   , the cable management panel  116  may include a base or base portion  117 , a first cable support or first cable support portion  118 , and a second cable support or second cable support portion  120 . In the illustrated embodiment, the cable management panel  116  includes four first cable supports  118  and one second cable support  120 . Of course, it should be understood that the panel  116  may include more or less than four first cable supports  118  and/or more than one second cable support  120 . The base  117  may include a planar portion  126  and a curved portion  127  at a first end  160  of the planar portion  126 . The planar portion  126  may be sized and arranged with a radius of curvature configured such that an optical fiber cable being wrapped around the curved portion  127  is prevented from being bent beyond a normal operation minimum bend radius. As would be appreciated by persons skilled in the art, if an optical fiber cable  18  is bent beyond the minimum bend radius, signal degradation, signal loss, and/or a broken fiber may result. 
     The first cable supports  118  and the second cable support  120  may extend substantially perpendicularly from a first side  119  of the base  117 , for example, the planar portion  126  of the base  117 , as best shown in  FIG.  3   . The first cable supports  118  are spaced apart sequentially along a longitudinal direction of the base  117  from a second end  162  of the planar portion  126  toward the first end  160 . The second cable support  120  is spaced from the first cable support  118 ′ that is nearest the first end  160  and is between the first cable support  118 ′ and the curved portion  127 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  2   , the first cable supports  118  are configured in a backward D shape when the panel  116  is viewed with the curved portion  127  to the right of the planar portion  126 . The second cable support  118  is configured in a D shape when the panel  116  is viewed with the curved portion  127  to the right of the planar portion  126 . For example, the first cable supports  118  include a curved portion  164  and a planar portion  166  that form the D shape, and the second cable support  120  includes a curved portion  168  and a planar portion  170  that form the D shape. The curved portions  164 ,  168  are sized and arranged with a radius of curvature configured such that an optical fiber cable  18  being wrapped around any of the curved portions  164 ,  168  is prevented from being bent beyond a normal operation minimum bend radius. As would be appreciated by persons skilled in the art, if an optical fiber cable  18  is bent beyond the minimum bend radius, signal degradation, signal loss, and/or a broken fiber may result. 
     The first and second cable supports  118 ,  120  may include a retaining feature  140  at their end surfaces furthest from the first side  119  of the base  117 . The retaining feature  140  may comprise a tab extending outward from the first and/or second cable supports  118 ,  120 , for example, the curved portions  164 ,  168 , and substantially parallel to the planar portion  170  of the base  117  such that the retaining feature  140  is configured to retain a fiber optic cable between the retaining feature  140  and the first side  119  of the base  117 . In some embodiments, the retaining features  140  may include more than one tab extending from the curved portion  164  or  168 . 
     As shown, the planar portion  170  of the second cable support  120  faces in a direction toward the first cable supports  118 , and the curved portion  168  of the second cable support  120  faces in a direction away from the first cable supports  118 . Similarly, the planar portions  166  of the first cable supports  118  face in a direction toward the second cable support  120 , and the curved portions  164  of the first cable supports  118  face in a direction away from the second cable support  120 . The first cable supports  118  and the second cable support  120  are configured to provide multiple path lengths for managing and/or storing various slack lengths of optical fiber cable  18 , as will be described in more detail below. 
     The panel  116  may include a retaining structure  122  along a longitudinal edge  124  of the panel  116 , for example, the planar portion  170  of the panel  116 . The retaining structure  122  is configured to retain a portion of the slack length of optical fiber cable  118  in the 2U height of the panel  116  for management and storage. In some embodiments, the retaining structure  122  may comprise a substantially planar tab  123  extending substantially perpendicularly from the first side  119  of the base  117 , for example, the planar portion  170  of the base  117 , in the same direction as the first and second cable supports  118 ,  120 . The free end of the retaining structure  122  may comprise a lip  125  facing inward relative to the longitudinal edge  124 . The retaining structure  122  may comprise a plurality of spaced apart retaining structures  122 , as illustrated in  FIGS.  2 - 4   , or a single elongated retaining structure  122 ′, as shown in  FIG.  5   . In some embodiments, the panel  116  may include a retaining structure  122  along both longitudinal edges  124 , as shown in  FIGS.  2 - 4   , while is other embodiments, a panel  116 ′ may include a retaining structure  122  along only one of the longitudinal edges  124 , as shown in  FIG.  5   . 
     The panel  116  may include a cable management structure  136  at the first side  119  of the base  117 , for example, the planar portion  170  of the base  117  between the second cable support  120  and the first end  160  of the planar portion  170 . In some embodiments, the cable management structure  136  may comprise a clip or bracket  138  extending substantially perpendicularly from the first side  119  of the base  117 , for example, the planar portion  170  of the base  117 , in the same direction as the first and second cable supports  118 ,  120  and the retaining structure  122 . The clip  138  may include an opening configured to receive a fiber optic cable and, in some embodiments, the clip  138  may be configured such that the opening is closable. In some embodiments, the cable management structure  136  may include two clips  138  that are spaced apart from one another in a direction from one of the longitudinal edges  124  to the other, as best illustrated in  FIG.  2   . The cable management structure  136  may be configured such a first portion of a fiber optic cable  18  can pass through one clip  138 , a second portion can wrap around a first cable support  118 , and a third portion can pass through the other clip, as will be described in more detail below. 
     In use, as illustrated in  FIG.  1   , the panel  116  is configured to be mounted horizontally in a rack  110  of an optical fiber communication system  100 . The panel  116  may be mounted in a first horizontal orientation  180  where the second cable support  120  and the first end  160  of the planar portion  170  are at the right side of the rack  110  or in a second horizontal orientation  182  where the second cable support  120  and the first end  160  of the planar portion  170  are at the left side of the rack  110 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  1   , the panel  116  is configured to manage various different lengths of slack cable from various different lengths of preconnectorized fiber optic cables  18 , for example, patch cables or pigtails. For example, two fiber optic cables  18   a  having the same length are received by panels  116  in the first horizontal orientation  180 . The fiber optic cables  18   a  are fed from a first connectivity module  112   a  through a first clip  138  of the cable management structure  136 , wrapped around the left-most one of the first cable supports  118 , and fed back through a second clip  138  of the cable management structure  136  to a second connectivity module  112   b.    
     Another fiber optic cable  18   b  having a length that is shorter than that of the fiber optic cable  18   a  similarly is fed from a first connectivity module  112   c  through a first clip  138  of the cable management structure  136 , is wrapped around the third from the right of the first cable supports  118 , and is then fed back through a second clip  138  of the cable management structure  136  to a second connectivity module  112   d.    
     In another arrangement, two fiber optic cables  18   a  having different lengths are received by panels  116  in the first horizontal orientation  180 . A fiber optic cable  18   c  having a first length of slack cable is fed from a first connectivity module  112   e  through a first clip  138  of the cable management structure  136 , wrapped around the right-most one of the first cable supports  118 , and fed back through a second clip  138  of the cable management structure  136  to a second connectivity module  112   f.  Another fiber optic cable  18   d  having a length of slack cable that is longer than that of the fiber optic cable  18   c  similarly is fed from the first connectivity module  112   e  through a first clip  138  of the cable management structure  136 , is wrapped around the second from the right of the first cable supports  118 , and is then fed back through a second clip  138  of the cable management structure  136  to the second connectivity module  112   f.    
     As illustrated, the cables  18   a,    18   b,    18   c,    18   d  are selectively wrapped around the one of the first cable supports  118  such that management and storage of the slack of the cables  18   a,    18   b,    18   c,    18   d  is optimized; that is, a path length from the cable management structure  136  to the curved portion  164  of the selected one of the first cable supports  118  (such that the slack can be wrapped around the curved portion  164 ) and back to the cable management structure  136  substantially matches a length of the slack of the cable  18   a,    18   b,    18   c,    18   d.  In such an optimized management and storage arrangement, the slack of the cables  18   a,    18   b,    18   c  may have a minimized amount of droop such that the slack remains between the longitudinal edges  124  of the base  117 . In some aspects, the retaining structure  122  may assist with maintaining the slack of the cables  18   a  between the longitudinal edges  124 . 
     In some aspects, the management and storage of the slack of the cables  18   a,    18   b,    18   c,    18   d  is optimized when the slack of the cables  18   a,    18   b,    18   c,    18   d  takes the shortest path from the cable management structure  136  to being wrapped around a curved portion  164  of a first cable support  118  and back to the cable management structure  136  so as to eliminate the need for slack cable management structures in space about a rack to which the panel is mounted. In some aspects, the management and storage of the slack of the cables  18   a,    18   b,    18   c  is optimized when the slack of the cables  18   a,    18   b,    18   c  has the least amount of droop as the slack extends from the cable management structure  136  to being wrapped around a first cable support  118  (and optionally the second cable support) and back to the cable management structure  136  so as to eliminate the need for slack cable management structures in space about a rack to which the panel is mounted. 
     Although not illustrated, it should be appreciated that a panel  116  can receive a plurality of slack lengths of fiber optic cables  18 , and the fiber optic cables may have the same or different lengths and/or the slack portions of the fiber optic cables may have the same or different lengths. Further, it should be understood that a slack portion of a fiber optic cable may be sufficiently long such that when the cable is fed through the cable management structure  136  and wrapped around a furthest one of the first supports  118 , a remaining length of the slack portion may still need to be managed before the cable is fed back through the cable management structure  136 . In such a situation, the remaining length of the slack portion may be wrapped around the second support  120  and then wrapped around one of the first supports  118  before being fed through the cable management structure  136 . 
     In the above embodiments, the panel  116  is configured to optimize management and storage of the slack of a fiber optic cable by providing a path length from the cable management structure  136  to the curved portion  164  of a first cable support  118  (such that the slack can be wrapped around the curved portion  164 ) and back to the cable management structure  136  that substantially matches a length of the slack of the cable  18  so as to eliminate the need for slack cable management structures in space about a rack to which the panel is mounted. 
     As described, the panel  116  may be reversibly mounted to a rack  110  such that the cable management structure  136  may be at the right side or the left side of the rack  110 , thereby permitting fibers to be routed to the panel  116  from the right side or the left side of the rack  110 . 
     Referring now to  FIG.  6   , the panel  116  may also be arranged in a vertical orientation  184  to provide management and/or storage of a cable  18  laterally of the rack  110 . As a result, the rack  110  includes more space for mounting connectivity modules  112 . In the vertical orientation, the panel  116  permits various entry points for the cable, and the first and second supports  118 ,  120  permit various lengths of slack cable to be wrapped around the curved portion  164 ,  168  of a first cable support  118  and/or second cable support  120 . 
     It should be appreciated that in some aspects, the panel  116  may be a single, monolithic piece of unitary construction such that the base  117 , the first supports  118 , the second supports  120 , the retaining structure  122 , and the cable management structure  136  comprise a single, monolithic piece of unitary construction. In some aspects, the base  117 , the first supports  118 , the second supports  120 , the retaining structure  122 , and/or the cable management structure  136  may be constructed as separate elements and assembled into an integral structure via any conventional attachment means, for example, a screw, a snap connection, or the like. 
     It should be appreciated that the first and second support elements  118 ,  120  may be hollow structures, as shown, or may be solid structures in other non-illustrated embodiments. In some aspects, the planar portions  166 ,  170  may be omitted such that the first and second support elements  118 ,  120  include only the curved portions  164 ,  168 . 
     While at least one example, non-limiting embodiment has been presented in the foregoing detailed description, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should also be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the disclosure in any way. Rather, the foregoing detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments. It should be understood that various changes can be made in the function and arrangement of elements without departing from the scope of the disclosure as set forth in the appended claims and the legal equivalents thereof.