Patent Publication Number: US-2023161129-A1

Title: Telecommunications module and frame

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 17/065,726, filed Oct. 8, 2020; which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/290,512, filed Mar. 1, 2019, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,802,238; which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/479,463, filed Apr. 5, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,222,571; which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/319,535, filed Apr. 7, 2016, the disclosures of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present disclosure generally relates to fiber optic telecommunications equipment. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to modular elements housing fiber optic telecommunications equipment that are mounted to telecommunications frames. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In fiber optic telecommunications systems, it is common for optical fibers of transmission cables to be split into multiple strands, either by optical splitting of a signal carried by a single stranded cable or by fanning out the individual fibers of a multi-strand cable. Further, when such systems are installed, it is known to provide excess capacity in the installations to support future growth and utilization of the fibers. Often in these installations, modules including splitters or fanouts are used to provide the connection between transmission fibers and customer fibers. To reduce the cost and complexity of the initial installation and still provide options for future expansion, a module mounting fixture such as a chassis or a tray capable of mounting multiple modules may be used in such an installation. 
     While the fixture may accept several modules, the initial installation may only include fewer modules mounted in the fixture, or enough to serve current needs. These fixtures may be configured with limited access to one or more sides, or may be mounted in cramped locations. In addition, some of these fixtures may be pre-configured with the maximum capacity of transmission cables to accommodate and link to modules which may be installed in the future. Since it is desirable to have access to components within the fixture for cleaning during the installation of a new module, some provision or feature of the fixture will desirably permit a user to access and clean the connectors of these pre-connectorized and pre-installed transmission cables. 
     In fiber-optic telecommunications, it is also common for optical signals of transmission cables to be multiplexed. Wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) is a technology which multiplexes multiple optical carrier signals on a single optical fiber by using different wavelengths of laser light to carry different signals. This allows for a multiplication in capacity, in addition to making it possible to perform bidirectional communications over one strand of fiber. 
     Improvements in the design of such telecommunications modules and the telecommunications frames for mounting them are desired. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure relates to a telecommunications assembly including a telecommunications fixture such as a tray and at least one telecommunications module mounted within the tray. Within an interior of each of the modules is located a fiber optic component. In one embodiment, the fiber optic component may be a fiber optic splitter. In another embodiment, the fiber optic component may be a fiber optic division multiplexer/demultiplexer. The module may include one or more signal input locations and one or more signal output locations. In certain embodiments, the signal input locations may be adjacent the signal output locations, and the cabling extending from the signal input locations to the fiber optic component and then to the signal output locations from the fiber optic component may utilize the same cable management features within the module housing. When the module is used as a fiber optic division multiplexer/demultiplexer module, the multiplexer/demultiplexer, as a receiver, is configured to demultiplex multiple optical carrier signals carried by the single input optical fiber into different wavelengths of laserlight as customer output signals. As a transmitter, the multiplexer/demultiplexer is configured to multiplex the customer signals, which are different wavelengths of laserlight, and combine them into a single optical fiber to be outputted from the module. 
     According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the module comprises a housing including a main housing portion defining an interior formed by a first sidewall, a second sidewall, a bottom wall, a front wall, and a rear wall, the housing further including a removable cover mounted to the main housing portion to define a top wall. The interior defines a right chamber separated from a left chamber. A fiber optic component is housed within the left chamber. A signal input location for receiving an input signal to be processed by the fiber optic component and a signal output location for exiting an output signal processed by the fiber optic component are both exposed to the right chamber, wherein both the signal input location and the signal output location are defined by the front wall, wherein a cable carrying the input signal is fixed adjacent the signal input location via a crimp assembly, and a cable carrying the output signal is fixed adjacent the signal output location via a crimp assembly, wherein an excess fiber length formed when an outer jacket of the cables contracts more than the fiber therewithin due to temperature variations is accommodated by the right chamber to allow the excess fiber length to accumulate without bending in a radius smaller than a minimum bend radius. A cable management structure is positioned within the right chamber, the cable management structure being a dual-layered cable management structure defining a lower cable-wrapping level and a separate upper cable-wrapping level, wherein the upper cable-wrapping level is defined by a removable cable retainer that is mounted on a spool defining the lower-cable wrapping level, the dual layered cable management structure including both the cable carrying the input signal and the cable carrying the output signal wrapped therearound for cable management. The cable carrying the input signal and the cable carrying the output signal are passed between the right chamber and the left chamber before and after being processed by the fiber optic component, respectively, wherein at least one of the rear wall, the first sidewall, and the second sidewall defines a curved portion for providing bend radius protection to the cables carrying the input and output signals within the module. 
     According to another aspect, the disclosure is directed to a telecommunications chassis/frame for receiving a plurality of the above-discussed modules. 
     According to one inventive aspect, such a chassis includes a cable sealing portion defining at least one cable opening configured to sealably receive a cable and a module mounting portion extending from the cable sealing portion. The module mounting portion further comprises a housing defining an open front closable by a door to define an interior, a rear wall, a right wall, and a left wall, the housing further defining a plurality of module mounting locations provided in a vertically stacked arrangement within the interior, each configured to receive a telecommunications module through the open front, an exterior of the housing including a first column of radius limiters each defining a curved profile for guiding cables from the front of the housing toward the rear with bend control, the exterior of the housing including a second column of radius limiters in the form of spools that are spaced apart and generally parallel to the first column of radius limiters, the exterior of the housing further including a third column of radius limiters, at least some of which are in the form of spools that are spaced apart and generally parallel to the first and second columns of radius limiters, the rear wall defining an opening for accessing from the exterior of the housing rear ends of modules to be mounted in the housing for signal input, wherein the exterior of the housing includes a plate at least partially overlapping the opening for protection of cables entering the opening. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the description, illustrate several aspects of the inventive features and together with the detailed description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure. A brief description of the drawings is as follows: 
         FIG.  1    is a front perspective view of a telecommunications assembly including a telecommunications module having features that are examples of inventive aspects in accordance with the present disclosure mounted within a telecommunications fixture in the form of a tray; 
         FIG.  2    illustrates the telecommunications assembly of  FIG.  1    from a top view; 
         FIG.  3    illustrates the telecommunications assembly of  FIG.  1    with the module exploded off the tray; 
         FIG.  4    illustrates the telecommunications assembly of  FIG.  1    with the cover of the module removed from the main housing portion of the module housing; 
         FIG.  5    illustrates the main housing portion of the module housing of  FIG.  4    with a number of features exploded from the main housing portion, the module shown without any optical components or associated cabling therein; 
         FIG.  5 A  is a close-up view of the cable exit portion of the module of  FIG.  5   ; 
         FIG.  6    illustrates the main housing portion of  FIG.  5    from a top view wherein all of the features thereof are in an assembled configuration; 
         FIG.  7    illustrates the main housing portion of  FIG.  5    in a fully populated configuration with the optical component and the cabling therein; 
         FIG.  8    is cross-sectional view taken along line  8 - 8  of  FIG.  7   ; 
         FIG.  8 A  is a close-up view of the output cable crimp holding portion of the module of  FIG.  8   ; 
         FIG.  9    illustrates a front view of the insect-infestation prevention device of the module of  FIG.  8    in isolation; 
         FIGS.  10 - 13    illustrate the sequential steps for routing cabling associated with an input signal that is split by a fiber optic splitter of the module into a plurality of output signals output from the module; 
         FIG.  14    illustrates an exploded view of an example of a crimp assembly (i.e., furcation tube assembly) that can be used with the output pigtails of the module of  FIGS.  1 - 13   ; 
         FIG.  15    illustrates the crimp assembly of  FIG.  14    in an assembled configuration; 
         FIG.  16    illustrates an exploded view of an example of a crimp assembly (i.e., furcation tube assembly) that can be used with the input cabling of the module of  FIGS.  1 - 13   ; 
         FIG.  17    illustrates the crimp assembly of  FIG.  16    in an assembled configuration; 
         FIG.  18    is a front perspective view of a telecommunications chassis/frame configured to receive a plurality of the telecommunications assemblies of  FIGS.  1 - 13   , the chassis shown populated with a plurality of telecommunications assemblies and shown in an open access position; 
         FIG.  19    is a front view of the telecommunications chassis/frame of  FIG.  18   ; 
         FIG.  20    is a rear perspective view of the telecommunications chassis/frame of  FIG.  18   ; 
         FIG.  21    illustrates the chassis/frame of  FIG.  18    in an empty configuration; 
         FIG.  22    illustrates the chassis/frame of  FIG.  19    in an empty configuration; 
         FIG.  23    illustrates the chassis/frame of  FIG.  20    in an empty configuration; 
         FIG.  24    illustrates a partially exploded view of a sealed enclosure formed by clamping a cover/dome on the chassis/frame of  FIGS.  18 - 23   ; 
         FIG.  25    illustrates the enclosure of  FIG.  24    in an assembled configuration; 
         FIG.  26    illustrates a partially exploded view of the enclosure of  FIGS.  24 - 25    being mounted on a vertical surface such as a telecommunications pole; 
         FIG.  27    illustrates the enclosure of  FIG.  26    in a fully mounted position; 
         FIG.  28    is a front perspective view of another embodiment of a telecommunications chassis/frame configured to receive a plurality of the telecommunications assemblies of  FIGS.  1 - 13   , the chassis shown populated with a plurality of telecommunications assemblies and shown in an open access position; 
         FIG.  29    is a front view of the telecommunications chassis/frame of  FIG.  28   ; 
         FIG.  30    is a rear perspective view of the telecommunications chassis/frame of  FIG.  28   ; 
         FIG.  31    illustrates the chassis/frame of  FIG.  28    in an empty configuration; 
         FIG.  32    illustrates the chassis/frame of  FIG.  29    in an empty configuration; 
         FIG.  33    illustrates the chassis/frame of  FIG.  30    in an empty configuration; 
         FIG.  34    illustrates a partially exploded view of a sealed enclosure formed by clamping a cover/dome on the chassis/frame of  FIGS.  28 - 33   ; 
         FIG.  35    illustrates the enclosure of  FIG.  34    in an assembled configuration; 
         FIG.  36    illustrates a partially exploded view of the enclosure of  FIGS.  34 - 35    being mounted on a vertical surface such as a telecommunications pole; and 
         FIG.  37    illustrates the enclosure of  FIG.  36    in a fully mounted position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary aspects of the present disclosure which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or similar parts. 
       FIGS.  1 - 4    illustrate a telecommunications assembly  10  including a telecommunications module  12  having features that are examples of inventive aspects in accordance with the present disclosure mounted within a telecommunications fixture in the form of a tray  14 . The depicted fixture in the form of a tray  14  may be mounted to other telecommunications fixtures such as chassis/frame, etc. 
     In the given embodiment, the telecommunications module  12  defines notches  16  on a right sidewall  18  and a left sidewall  20  of a main housing portion  22  of the module housing  24  for receiving elastic ramped tabs  26  provided on the tray  14  for mounting the module  12  to the tray  14  with a snap-fit interlock. 
     A bottom wall  28  defined by the module main housing portion  22  also includes a cutout  30  extending in a front-to-back direction for accommodating a center divider  32  of the tray  14 . The center divider  32  of the tray  14  extends all the way across the tray  14  and transitions into a cable management finger  34  that protrudes outwardly from the front of the tray  14 . 
     It should be noted that although the module  12  of the present disclosure is depicted as being mounted on a telecommunications tray  14 , the module  12  may be utilized in other types of fixtures, and the depicted tray  14  is only one example of such a fixture. 
       FIGS.  5 - 13    illustrate the telecommunications module  12  having features that are examples of inventive aspects in accordance with the present disclosure. Since one of the telecommunications equipment housed by the module is a fiber optic splitter  36 , the telecommunications module  12  may also be referred to herein as a fiber optic splitter module  12 . It should be noted that an optical splitter  36  is only one example of an optical component that may be housed within the module  12  of the present disclosure, and in other embodiments, the module  12  may be configured to house other types of optical equipment such as fan-outs, wavelength division multiplexer/demultiplexers, combiners, filters, etc. As will be discussed in further detail below, according to certain embodiments, the module  12  may be provided with removable inserts that are customized based on the type of fiber optic equipment that is going to be housed within the module  12  and the corresponding cable routing provided within the module  12 . The inserts may be sized and configured to accommodate the different types of fiber optic equipment and may include pre-mounted or pre-molded cable management structures such as radius limiters or spools that are designed in accordance with the cable routing needed for the types of fiber optic equipment provided in the module  12 . 
     The telecommunications module  12  includes the module housing  24  that is made up of the main housing portion  22  and a removable cover  38  (shown in an exploded configuration in  FIG.  4   ). The cover  38  may be mounted to the module main housing portion  22  via fasteners  40  as shown in  FIGS.  4  and  5   . 
     In  FIGS.  5  and  5 A , the main housing portion  22  of the module housing  24  is shown in an exploded orientation. 
     The main housing portion  22  and the removable cover  38  of the module  12  are illustrated in a fully assembled configuration in  FIGS.  1 - 3   . The main housing portion  22  of the module housing  24  is shown without the optical equipment and associated cabling in  FIGS.  5 ,  5 A, and  6   . In  FIGS.  7  and  8   , the module  12  is shown fully populated with these features. 
     Still referring to  FIGS.  5 - 13   , in the given embodiment, the module  12  is depicted as being configured to house an optical component in the form of a fiber optic splitter  36 . The fiber optic splitter  36  is adapted to power split a first input fiber optic signal entering the module  12  into multiple strands that are output as connectorized pigtails  42  from the module  12 . In the embodiment shown, the fiber optic splitter  36  is a 1×32 splitter. As such, the module  12  of the present disclosure is illustrated as outputting  32  output signals via fiber optic pigtails  42  for every input signal entering the module  12 . As shown and as will be discussed in further detail, an outer layer (e.g., a strength layer  44 ) of the cabling  46  carrying the input signal, and an outer layer (e.g., a strength layer  48 ) of the cabling (e.g., pigtails)  42  carrying the output signals may be fixed to the module housing  24  via crimping so as to still allow the internal fibers to move through the walls of the module housing  24  for accommodating thermal expansion. 
     Now referring specifically to  FIGS.  5 ,  5 A, and  6   , the main housing portion  22  of the housing  24  of the fiber optic splitter module  12  is illustrated. The cover  38  of the fiber optic splitter module housing  24  has been removed, exposing the interior features of the fiber optic splitter module  12  including an example cable routing associated with a splitter  36  within the fiber optic splitter module  12 . 
     The main housing portion  22  defines the bottom wall  28  extending between the right wall  18 , the left wall  20 , a rear wall  52 , and a front wall  54 . As noted above, the open side  56  of module main housing  22  is normally closed by a removable cover  38  that defines a top wall  58  of the module housing  24 . 
     Rear wall  52  of main housing portion  22  includes curved portions  60  that are configured to provide bend radius protection and routing guidance to cables  42 ,  46  within an interior  62  of the module  12 . The front wall  54  of module main housing portion  22  is configured to provide the signal input and the signal output locations  64 ,  66  of the module  12 . The depicted module  12  includes two signal input openings  68  at the front wall  54 . The signal input openings  68  of the front wall  54  are normally covered by downwardly protruding tabs  70  of the cover  38 . The protruding tabs  70  may include breakable portions  72  for exposing one or more of the signal input openings  68  for utilizing the opening as a signal input location  64  (please refer to  FIG.  4   ). 
     The depicted module  12  also defines a signal output or a cable exit opening  74  at the front wall  54 , adjacent the signal input openings  68 . The module  12  is configured to receive a bend limiting apparatus  76  at the signal output opening  74  that extends outwardly from the front wall  54 . The bend limiting apparatus  76  is in the form of a boot  50  and is configured to provide bend protection to the plurality of pigtails  42  carrying the output signals exiting the module  12 . 
     The boot  50  defines a central opening  78  aligned with the cable exit opening  74  for routing the pigtails  42  out of the module  12 . The boot  50  is slidably mounted to main housing portion  22  and is configured to be captured by the cover  38  of module  12  when cover  38  is mounted to main housing portion  22 . 
     According to the depicted embodiment, in order to facilitate placement and/or removal of the flexible boot  50 , the cable exit opening  74  defined by the main housing portion  22  is configured such that the boot  50  can be axially slid over the pigtails  42 , brought toward the module  12  from an exterior of the module  12 , and placed at the cable exit opening  74 , wherein a cable passage defined by the central opening  78  of the boot  50  aligns with the cable exit opening  74 . In the depicted embodiment, a rear lip or flange  80  of the boot  50  can be inserted through the cable opening  74  and then slidably placed within a first notch  82  defined at the cable opening  74 . Once the rear lip  80  of the boot  50  has been placed within the first notch  82 , a separate boot retainer  84  in the form of a C-shaped clip is slidably placed over the boot  50  in a direction transverse to the axial direction. The boot retainer  84  defines a flange  86  that is slidably placed within a second notch  87  defined in front of the first notch  82 . Once positioned, the flange  86  defined by the boot retainer  84  abuts, on one side, an inner side of the front wall  54  surrounding the cable exit opening  74 . And, the flange  86  defined by the boot retainer  84  also abuts, on the opposite side, the lip  80  of the boot  50  to prevent the boot  50  from being pulled out in the axial direction. The cover  38  of the module housing  24  is placed on the main housing portion  22  and captures the boot retainer  84  against the main housing portion  22  to prevent the boot  50  from being pulled out. 
     According to the depicted embodiment, the fiber optic splitter module also includes at least one insect-infestation prevention device  88  that is configured to be placed at the cable exit opening  74 . The insect-infestation prevent device  88  is shown in isolation in  FIG.  9   . The cover  38  of the module  12  includes structure for capturing the insect-infestation prevention device  88  within the main housing portion  22  of the fiber optic splitter module housing  24 , as will be described in further detail. 
     The insect-infestation prevention device  88  is configured to be mounted adjacent the front cable exit opening  74  of the main housing portion  22 , aligning with the boot central opening  78 . As shown, the insect-infestation prevention device  88  includes a one-piece molded body  90  defining a top end  92 , a bottom end  94 , a front end  96 , a rear end  98 , a right side  100  and a left side  102 . The body  90  includes cutouts  104  extending from the top end  92  toward the bottom end  94 . The cutouts  104  are configured to receive fiber optic cables in a direction from the top end  92  toward the bottom end  94 . In the depicted embodiment, the cutouts  104  each include a zig-zag configuration (a.k.a., an S-shaped configuration). The zig-zag configuration is designed to increase the density of the cables that can be stacked in the cutouts  104 . For example, in the depicted embodiment, the zig-zag configuration allows a cutout  104  to accommodate four fiber optic cables stacked on top of each other, whereas straight slots would require a wider footprint for the cable manager or deeper cutouts. In other embodiments, depending upon the density required, the cutouts  104  could have straight slotted configurations. 
     The angles forming the zig-zag configuration of the cutouts  104  are designed such that, while providing a higher density for the cables, they also preserve bend radius properties of the fibers. When the insect-infestation prevention device  88  is aligned with the boot  50 , the cutouts  104  are preferably sized to provide a snug fit with the output cables  42  such that any extra room around the cables  42  is limited to prevent insect-infestation. When less than all of the cutouts  104  or less than the entirety of a cutout  104  is used, the remaining space can be plugged using different types of inserts. For example, according to one embodiment, the remaining space that is not used for outputting a fiber can be plugged using a dummy fiber furcation tube assembly. The dummy fiber furcation tube assembly may include all of the components of a normal live fiber furcation tube assembly except for the fiber itself. An example of a dummy fiber furcation tube assembly is discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,824,850, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     The rear end  98  of the body  90  of the insect-infestation prevention device  88  includes right and left flanges  106 ,  108 . As shown in  FIGS.  5 ,  5 A, and  6   , the insect-infestation prevention device  88  is slidably mounted at the cable exit opening  74 , behind the boot  50 , such that the right and left flanges  106 ,  108  are inserted into a third notch  110  defined adjacent the cable exit opening  74 . Once the flanges  106 ,  108  are within the third notch  110 , the front end  96  of the insect-infestation prevention device  88  lies flush with the rear end of the boot  50 . 
     Once the insect-infestation prevention device  88 , the boot  50 , and the boot retainer  84  are placed on the main housing portion  22 , the cover  38  is used to capture these components against the main housing portion  22 . 
     As discussed previously, an outer layer  48  of the cables  42  exiting the module  12  through the boot  50  is fixed to the main housing portion  22  of the module  12  so as to allow expansion of the fiber through the cabling  42  due to thermal variances. 
     According to the depicted embodiment, the module  12  includes integrally formed crimp holders  112  (e.g., slots) within the interior  62  of the module housing  24  adjacent the front wall  54  thereof. Crimp elements  114  (see  FIGS.  14  and  15   ) crimped to the output pigtail cables  42  are slidably received into the crimp holders  112 . Crimp elements  114  include square flanges  116  between which are defined recessed portions  118 . The crimp holders  112  include complementary structure to the crimp elements  114  such that once the crimp elements  114  are slidably inserted into the crimp holders  112 , the crimp elements  114  are prevented from moving in a longitudinal direction due to the flanges  116 . Once slidably inserted, crimp elements  114  are held in place by the cover  38  that is mounted on the module main housing  22 . The crimp assembly  120  used for the output cables  42  is illustrated in  FIGS.  14  and  15    and discussed in further detail below. 
     In the embodiment shown, there are seven crimp holding slots  112 , each slot  112  being able to accommodate up to five crimp elements  114  (see  FIGS.  8  and  8 A ). In the embodiment of the module  12  shown, since a  1 x 32  fiber optic splitter  36  may be used, the crimp holders  112  provide the capacity for all of the thirty-two crimp elements  114  connected to output cables  42 . Since only thirty-two crimp holding positions are occupied, the remaining three positions may be filled with dummy crimp elements  122  or inserts/fillers that are not connected to cables, making sure the crimp elements  114  crimped to active output cables  42  do not slide out of the slots  112 . 
     The configuration of the module housing  24  can certainly be modified to accommodate other number of inputs or outputs, as desired. In addition, other complementary shapes between the crimp elements  114 , and the crimp holders  112  can be used to provide a slidable fit and to prevent axial movement of the crimp elements  114  within the crimp holders  112 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS.  14  and  15   , one example of a crimp assembly  120  (i.e., furcation tube assembly) that can be used with the module  12  is illustrated. The crimp assembly  120  includes, as discussed above, a crimp element  114  that defines a front portion with a circumferential notch  118  (i.e., recessed portion) configured to slidably fit within one of the crimp slots  112  of the module  12  and a rear portion  124  configured to crimp a strength member  48  of the cabling  42 . The crimp element  114  defines a central hollow opening through which an inner fiber bearing tube  126  extends. A strength member  48  is shown in  FIG.  14    extending between the inner tube  126  and the outer tubing or jacket  128  of the cable  42 . Strength member  48 , as shown, is an aramid fiber such as Kevlar® but other suitable materials may also be used. Before crimping the strength member  48  to the crimp element  114 , the strength member  48  is overlapped onto rear portion  124  of the crimp element  114 . A crimp sleeve  130  is fit about the strength member  48  above the rear portion  124  of the crimp element  114  and is crimped to hold these elements together. The outer jacket  128  abuts against the rear end of the crimp sleeve  130 . 
     A similar crimp-based fixation assembly  131  is also provided for the signal input location  64 . As shown in  FIGS.  16  and  17   , a strain relief boot  132  is provided that mates with a crimp element  134  for fixing the cabling  46  at the input location  64 . The crimp element  134  defines a circumferential notch  136  (i.e., recessed portion). The circumferential notch  136  is slidably inserted into one of the signal input openings  68  defined on the front wall  54  of the main housing portion  22 . The crimp element  134  of the input connection is captured by the cover  38  when the cover  38  is mounted on the main housing portion  22 . 
     The crimp assembly  131  at the signal input location  64  further includes an insertion cap  138  that mounts inside a front end of the crimp element  134  and a crimp sleeve  140  that mounts around the exterior of the front end of the crimp element  134 . The crimp element  134  is configured to receive, anchor, and provide strain relief/bend radius protection to the fiber optic cable  46  carrying the input signal. The input fiber optic cable  46  includes a jacket  142  surrounding a fiber bearing tube  144 . The fiber optic cable  46  also includes the strength layer  44  formed by a plurality of strength members (e.g., reinforcing fibers such as aramid yarn/Kevlar®) positioned between the optical fiber tube  144  and the outer jacket  142 . An end portion of the strength layer  44  is crimped between the crimp sleeve  140  and the exterior surface of the front end of the crimp element  134  so as to anchor the strength layer  44  to the crimp element  134 . The crimp assembly  131  further includes the strain relief boot  132  mounted at the front end of the crimp element  134 , over the crimp sleeve  140 , for providing strain relief and bend radius protection to the optical fiber. 
     The insertion cap  138  reduces the size of the central opening of the crimp element  134  such that the outer tubing or jacket  142  of the cable  46  can abut against the cap  138  as the inner tubing  144  bearing the fiber is inserted through the crimp element  134 . 
     Thus, the cable  46  carrying the input signal and the pigtails  42  carrying the output signals are both fixed to the module housing  24  while the fibers extending therethrough are allowed pass through the housing walls and expand and contract due to thermal variations. The module housing  24 , thus, provides an expansion chamber effect for the incoming and outgoing fibers. 
     Now referring back to  FIGS.  5 - 13   , the interior  62  of the main housing portion  22  is divided into two halves or chambers  146 ,  148  (e.g., a right chamber  146  and a left chamber  148 ) by a divider wall  150 . The right chamber  146  may be considered the cable management and expansion chamber, and the left chamber  148  may be considered the optical equipment or component holding chamber. 
     Toward the rear wall  52  within the right chamber  146  is positioned a cable management structure in the form of a spool  152  that is integrally formed with the bottom wall  28  of the main housing portion  22 . A removably mounted cable retainer  154  is placed over the spool  152  so as to form a dual-layered cable management structure  156  as will be discussed in further detail below. 
     The cable retainer  154  defines circumferentially placed fingers  158  for retaining the cables around the dual-layered structure  156 . When the cable retainer  154  is placed on the spool  152  that is integrally formed with the bottom wall  28  of the main housing portion  22 , the fingers  158  fit within notches  160  on the spool  152  to create a dual-layered structure. 
     The left chamber  148  of the main housing portion  22  is configured to house optical equipment or components for the module  12 . As noted above, the depicted module  12  is a fiber optic splitter module and a power splitter  36  is depicted as being housed within the left chamber  148 . 
     It should be noted that the left chamber  148  provides enough spacing to directly mount different types of optical equipment, or, alternatively, receive molded inserts that may have features for mounting different types of optical equipment. In the embodiment shown, the fiber optic splitter  36  is shown as being directly placed within the left chamber  148 . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  7 ,  8 , and  10 - 13   , an example of a cable routing path going all the way from the signal input location  64  to the signal output location  66  will now be described, referring to the features of the module  12  that allow management or provide for bend radius protection for such cabling. 
       FIGS.  7  and  8    illustrate a fully populated module  12  showing all of the cabling associated with the input and output signals.  FIGS.  10 - 13    illustrate the example routing in sequential steps to facilitate understanding of the routing within the module  12 . 
     Now referring to  FIG.  10   , in the depicted example, a cable  46  carrying the input signal enters the module housing  24  through the signal input opening  68  at the front wall  54  of the main housing portion  22 . That cable  46  is wrapped around the dual layer cable management structure  156  twice, with the final wrap ending up on the upper level of the cable management structure  156 . The initial wrap of the cable  46  is around the lower portion of the cable management structure  156  that is integrally formed with the bottom wall  28  of the module housing  24 , and this wrap allows expansion of the cable within the right chamber  146  of the module housing  24 . When the cable  46  passes from the lower level to the upper level of the cable management structure  156 , it is routed through a pair of cable holders  162  that limit movement of the cable  46  that is at the upper level of the cable management structure  156 . 
     From the upper level of the cable management structure  156 , the cable  46  passes over a notch  163  on the central divider  150  to the left chamber  148  of the module housing  24 . After passing to the left chamber  148  of the module housing  24 , the cable  46  is routed to follow an S-shaped path and initially extends all the way around the fiber optic splitter  36 , through three other cable holders  162  (one being located toward the front and left corner of the module housing  24 , the second being located adjacent the rear wall  52  of the housing  24 , and the third being located adjacent the divider  150 ) before being spliced to the splice input side  164  of a splice area  166 . 
     Referring now to  FIG.  11   , from the splice output side  168  of the splice area  166 , the cable  46  carrying the input signal is then routed again all the way around the fiber optic splitter  36  in the left chamber  148 , passing through the three cable holders  162 , before entering the splitter input side  170  of the fiber optic splitter  36 . 
       FIG.  12    illustrates the cable routing for the cables  42  that are output from the splitter output side  172  of the fiber optic splitter  36 . As shown in  FIG.  12   , after the cables  42  carrying the output signal leave the output side  172  of the splitter  36 , the cables  42  are routed all the way around the left chamber  148 , passing through the three cable holders  162 , before being led to the splice input side  164  of the splice area  166 . 
     Now referring to  FIG.  13   , after being spliced to cabling  42  carrying the output signal, the cables  42  are lead from the splice output side  168 , all the way around the left chamber  148  again, toward the right chamber  146  of the module housing  24 . The cables  42  pass over the divider  150  and are then routed around the cable management structure  156  before being led to the crimp holders  112 . As discussed previously, the cables  42  carrying the output signal are crimped via crimp elements  114 , and the strength members  48  thereof are fixed to the module housing  24  at the crimp area, before being led out as pigtails  42  from the cable exit boot  50 . 
       FIGS.  7  and  8   , as discussed above, show the entire routing for all of the cabling carrying the input and output signals within the module  12 . 
     It should be noted that the depicted cable routing configuration is simply one example of a configuration that can be used within the module  12  given the optical components used therein. Depending upon the type of optical components used within the module  12 , the cable management features associated with possible inserts that are configured to hold such components, or the number of signal input openings utilized, the cable routing for the module  12  can be varied. 
     Now referring to  FIGS.  18 - 37   , various examples of telecommunications fixtures such as telecommunications chassis/frames that are configured to receive assemblies similar to the telecommunications assembly  10  described above are illustrated. 
     Referring now specifically to  FIGS.  18 - 27   , a first embodiment of a telecommunications frame  200  that is configured to receive assemblies similar to the telecommunications assembly  10  is illustrated. In  FIGS.  28 - 37   , a second embodiment of a frame  300  having features that are similar to the frame  200  of  FIGS.  18 - 27    is illustrated, the frame  300  of  FIGS.  28 - 37    providing a larger connection capacity than the frame  200  of  FIGS.  18 - 27   . As shown, the frame  300  of  FIGS.  28 - 37    defines a taller profile providing for a larger number of levels for receiving assemblies  10  than the frame  200  of  FIGS.  18 - 27   . 
     Either frame  200 ,  300  may be provided as an underground telecommunications fixture or may be provided as an above-ground fixture that can be mounted on vertical surfaces such as a telecommunications pole  400  (as illustrated in  FIGS.  26 - 27  and  36 - 37   ). 
     It should be noted that, other than the size difference, the frame  200  of  FIGS.  18 - 27    is similar in configuration and function to that of the frame  300  of  FIGS.  28 - 37   , and, unless specifically distinguished, the features of the frame  200  of  FIGS.  18 - 27    are fully applicable to the features of the frame  300  of  FIGS.  28 - 37   . Thus, the inventive features of the present application will be described with reference to only the frame  200  of  FIGS.  18 - 27   . 
     Referring now specifically to  FIGS.  18 - 27   , the frame  200  defines a cable seal portion  202  toward the bottom thereof that defines a plurality of openings  204  for sealably receiving large bundle cables  206 . It should be noted that the bundle cables  206  entering the frame  200  may include both feeder (i.e., input) and distribution (i.e., output) cables  208  carrying the respective signals. In the depicted embodiment, three openings  204  are illustrated for receiving three bundle cables  206  carrying a plurality of input and/or output individual cables  208 . Other number of openings  204  can be utilized depending upon the desired connectivity. 
     As will be discussed in further detail below, the outer perimeter of the cable seal portion  202  is configured to intermate with a cover/dome  210 , and, with the use of a clamp  212 , form an enclosure  214 . The cover  210  is illustrated in  FIGS.  24 - 27   . 
     A module mounting portion  216  of the frame  200  extends upwardly from the cable seal portion  202  and defines a housing  218  that is configured to receive assemblies similar to the telecommunications assembly  10  discussed above, wherein such assemblies are formed from a telecommunications module similar to module  12  that has been mounted within a tray similar to tray  14 . 
     In  FIGS.  18 - 20   , the module mounting portion  216  of the frame  200  is shown populated with a plurality of assemblies  10 . In  FIGS.  21 - 23   , the frame  200  is shown in an empty configuration for illustrating the interior details of the housing  218 . 
     The housing  218  defines an open front  220  that is closed by a hinged door  222 . The housing  218  further defines right and left sidewalls  224 ,  226  and a rear wall  228 , configured to cooperatively receive the inserted assemblies  10  through the open front  220 . 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIGS.  18 - 27   , a swell latch  230  is used to keep the door  222  closed with respect to the housing  218 . Other types of latches can also be used. 
     Referring now to  FIGS.  18  and  20   , the door  222  and the housing  218  define intermating structures for temporarily keeping the door  222  in an open position so that a technician can freely access the connection locations provided on the assemblies  10  within the housing  218 . In the embodiment shown, the door  222  defines a slide guide opening  232  at the bottom thereof that has a narrower slide portion  234  and a wider retention portion  236 . The guide opening  232  cooperates with a guide pin  238  that is spring-loaded to be biased downwardly. The guide pin  238  extends from the housing  218  via a pivotally disposed arm  240 . The guide pin  238  defines a narrow portion  242  that is sized to slide within the narrow portion  234  of the guide opening  232 . The guide pin  238  also defines a wider portion  244  that is sized to fit within the wider retention portion  236  of the guide opening  232  but not in the narrower slide portion  234 . When the door  222  is in a predetermined position (may be the fully or partially opened position), the guide pin  238  is biased downwardly such that the wider portion  244  of the guide pin  238  is aligned with and able to move into the wider portion  236  of the guide opening  232 . Since the wider portion  236  of the guide pin  238  is not sized to slidably fit through the narrow portion  234  of the opening  232 , the guide pin  238  locks the door  222  in the predetermined, e.g., open, position. The guide pin  238  has to be lifted upward against a bias force in order to align the narrow portion  242  of the guide pin  238  with the narrow portion  234  of the guide opening  232  for slidably pivoting the door  222  to a closed position. 
     Referring back to  FIGS.  18 - 20   , once each of the assemblies  10  is formed, the assemblies  10  are slidably loaded into the housing portion  218  of the frame  200  in a vertically stacked arrangement as shown in  FIGS.  18 - 20   . Cantilever arms  246  provided on each tray  14  are used for fixing the trays  14  to the frame  200  with a snap-fit interlock. 
     The frame  200  is shown in an empty configuration in  FIGS.  21 - 23    to illustrate the assembly mounting locations in greater detail. As shown, bent portions  248  on right and left walls  224 ,  226  of the housing  218  define slide surfaces  250  that slidably guide each tray  14  into the frame  200 . The cantilever arms  246  cooperate with apertures  252  formed on the right and left walls  224 ,  226  of the housing  218  to flexibly lock the assemblies  10  into place. 
     Now referring back to  FIGS.  18 - 20   , provided around the exterior of the housing  218  are a number of cable management structures that are configured to guide individual cables  208  broken out from the bundle cables  206  entering the enclosure  214 . The cable management structures may be used to guide cables  208  to and/or from the assemblies  10  mounted within the housing  218 . 
     As shown from a rear perspective view of the chassis  200  in  FIGS.  20  and  23   , the module mounting portion  216  defines a plurality of curved radius limiters  254  in a vertically stacked arrangement at the rear left corner, each one configured to receive cables  208  coming from radius limiters  256  positioned on the trays  14  of the assemblies  10 . 
     Still referring to  FIGS.  20  and  23   , positioned toward the rear center of the chassis  200  are a plurality of spools  258  provided in a vertically stacked arrangement. The spools  258  are configured to guide cables  208  coming from and going to the curved radius limiters  254  of the frame  200  and take up slack for any cabling  208  extending between the different layers of modules  12 . Another set of cable spools  260  are positioned to the right of the spools  258  and may be used for either further cable slack management or to separate cables coming from a given module  12  and provide separate cable paths to different modules  12  positioned toward the front of the chassis  200 . 
     A cable management plate  262  is positioned underneath a majority of the cable spools  260 . The plate  262  defines a plurality of radiused passages  264  at the right side thereof for guiding broken out cables  208  from the bundled cable  206  into the rears of the modules  12 . As shown, the broken out cables  208  can enter the rear inputs of the modules  12  through an opening  266  provided at the rear wall  228  of the housing  218 . The plate  262  is configured to partially cover the opening  266  to protect the input cables  208 . When a bundled cable  206  sealably enters the enclosure  214 , cables  208  that are broken out may be looped (e.g., at least once) within the cable seal portion  202  of the frame  200  and lead upwardly to the rear sides of the modules  12  within the module mounting portion  216  of the frame  200 . When the cables  208  are lead upwardly, they pass through the radiused passages  264  defined by the plate  262 , enter into the housing  218  through the opening  266 , and are terminated or crimped to rear sides of the modules  12 . 
     Furthermore, the plate  262  can guide cables coming from the cable spools, either the right set  260  or the left set  258 , downwardly such that the cables can be routed back up around the spools  258  to the modules  12 . 
     When the cables are routed back toward the modules  12 , they pass through the curved radius limiters  254  located at the rear left corner of the frame  200  and through the radius limiters  256  of the associated trays  14  before being lead to a given module  12 . 
     It should be noted that the frame  200  is configured to allow for a variety of fiber connectivity implementations depending upon the types of modules  12  that are used on the frame  200 . As noted earlier, a bundled cable  206  can carry input and output signals (via broken out individual cables  208 ) through the same bundled cable  206 . The cable management features at the rear of the frame  200  are used according to the routing involved between different layers of modules  12 . 
     For example, according to one implementation (similar to the connectivity arrangement illustrated in  FIGS.  28 - 30   ) the bundled cable  206  can feed a number of feeder or input signals into a number of the modules  12  mounted on the frame  200 . An output from a given module  12  can enter the input of another module  12  (e.g., a splitter module) at a different layer and be split into a plurality of signals that can be relayed to different module layers on the frame  200 . As discussed previously, the cable spools  258 ,  260  at the rear of the housing  218  can be used in managing the cables routed between the different layers. An example of a module that houses a fiber optic splitter for this type of a connectivity arrangement may be similar to the module  12  described above. 
     In the illustrated example of  FIGS.  28 - 30   , a “parking lot” feature is also provided on the chassis  300 . As shown, a number of the modules may be implemented as “parking lot” or connector storage modules  312  (the bottom two layers in the given example) that can be used to hold live-signal connectors until they are connected to a given module  12  for further processing. 
     As noted above, the cable seal portion  202  of the frame  200  can receive a cover  210  to seal the module mounting portion  216  from the environment. As shown in  FIGS.  24 - 25   , abutting flanges  268 ,  270  of the cable seal portion  202  and the cover  210  can be clamped via a clamp  212 . Further sealants such as an O-ring may also be used. 
     For a taller frame such as the frame  300  of  FIGS.  28 - 37   , a pair of spacer collars  272  and multiple clamps  212  may be used to enclose the frame  300 . It should be noted that by using the spacer collars  272 , the same cover  210  can be utilized for both sizes of the frames. 
     As noted above, the frames  200 ,  300  of the present disclosure may be provided as underground telecommunications fixtures or may be provided as above ground pole-mounted fixtures (as illustrated in  FIGS.  26 - 27  and  36 - 37   ). 
     As shown, for example, in  FIGS.  26 - 27   , the frame may be mounted to a telecommunications pole  400  via a bracket assembly  402 . The bracket assembly  402  may include a pole mount portion  404  defined by an upper part  406  and a lower part  408  that is mounted on the pole  400  and a frame mount portion  410  that is mounted to the cable seal portion  202  of the frame  200 . 
     Adjacent the top end thereof, the cover  210  also defines a mount  412  that is configured to cooperate with the upper part  406  of the pole mount portion  404  of the bracket assembly  402  to secure the frame  200  to the pole  400 . 
     As shown, the frame mount portion  410  of the bracket assembly  402  that is attached to the cable seal portion  202  of the frame  200  defines a pair of pins  414  projecting from sidewalls  416  thereof. The pins  414  cooperate with notches  418  defined on the lower part  408  of the pole mount portion  404  of the bracket assembly  402 . The notch  418  defined on each side includes a locking portion  420  and an access portion  422 . When the pin  414  is in the locking portion  420  of the notch  418 , the enclosure  214  sits vertically upright and the cover  210  can be fastened to the upper part  406  of the pole mount portion  404  of the bracket assembly  402 . When one of the clamps  212  needs to be taken off to remove the cover  210  to access the interior of the enclosure  214 , first, a fastener used to couple the dome  210  to the upper part  406  of the pole mount portion  404  of bracket assembly  402  is removed. Next, each pin  414  is moved into the access portion  422  of the notch  418  of the lower part  408  of the pole mount portion  404  of the bracket assembly  402 . Lifting the pin  414  out of the locking portion  420  of the notch  418  and sliding the pin  414  into the access portion  422  of the notch  418  brings the enclosure  214  to a pivoted/tilted position. At this point, the clamp  212  around the cover  210  can be loosened and the cover  210  can be removed for accessing the interior of the enclosure  214 . When the technician is finished with the enclosure  214 , the cover  210  may be clamped and the enclosure  214  can be tilted back to the upright position by sliding the pin  218  into the locking portion  420  of the notch  418 . And, at this point, the enclosure  214  can be fastened to the pole  400  at the upper part  408  of the pole mount portion  404  of the bracket assembly  402 . 
     As noted previously, unless otherwise stated, the above description is fully applicable to the taller-profiled frame  300  of  FIGS.  28 - 37   . 
     Referring specifically to  FIGS.  34 - 35   , it should be noted that in order to access all of the connection locations within the frame  300 , the middle clamp  212 , rather than the uppermost clamp  212 , has to be removed when removing the dome  210 . As such, when the dome  210  is removed, the upper collar  272  stays clamped to the dome  210  with the uppermost clamp  212 . Otherwise, the upper collar  272 , if left mounted to the lower collar  272 , may block or limit access to some of the connection locations of the frame  300 . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  30  and  33   , it should also be noted that the taller-profiled frame  300  includes a longer cable management plate  362  at the rear exterior of the housing  318  for covering a longer opening  366  and defines a single cable management spool  360  above the plate  362  and a single cable management spool  360  below the plate in addition to the spools  358  provided to the left of the plate, all serving similar functionality as those discussed above with respect to frame  200 . 
     The above specification, examples and data provide a complete description of the manufacture and use of the disclosure. Since many embodiments of the disclosure can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventive aspects, the inventive aspects resides in the claims hereinafter appended.