Patent Publication Number: US-2022229257-A1

Title: High-density optical module system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/659,564, filed on Mar. 16, 2015 and entitled “HIGH-DENSITY OPTICAL MODULE SYSTEM,” which is related to U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. D/520,627 entitled “High-Density Optical module System.” The disclosures of the above-referenced applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to a device and a system to fiber-optic communications. More specifically, the present invention relates to optical module device and system communications, which facilitates access to manage fiber optic connectors, adapters, and ports, and maximize the space utilization thereof. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In the management of fiber-optic connector communications, a plurality of fiber-optic cables are interconnected through connectors or adaptors. The front side of the optical module provides for the use of connecting and routing circuits for energy transmission adaptors, such as the adaptors or the fiber optic cable adaptors. The rear side of the optical module provides for connections to the long wires or cables. Optical modules are commonly used with high demands in computer networking, cloud data and storage, audio and video equipment and fiber optical telecommunications. 
     Optical module provides the feature of cabling management in a convenient and flexible manner. The good cabling management provides customers with the ability to dynamically scale and adapt to change their IT infrastructure while minimizing required service time. Traditional fiber optic optical modules generally include fiber optic shelves having only a single optical module or multiple modular panels on the front patching sides of the shelves. However, the numbers of the connector ports are usually low due to the limited spacing of the front sides of the optical modules. As the technology rises especially in the cloud data storage, telecommunication and computer networking fields, the demand for high density solutions are increasing as the needs for the improved port solutions, energy efficiency, and storage consolidation and virtualization. Therefore, it is desirable in the market to provide optical modules having increased connector ports density per unit volume of area for providing the maximum connections and efficiencies. 
     The solutions for high density optical modules focus on high utilized racks to minimize the footprint, increase the adaptors per rack to maximize space utilization. The design of high density optical modules is required to allow the maximum quantity of adaptors in a very limited rack space, usually in a 1U standard size (19′). However, it is quite challenging to couple all the individual adaptors in a crowded 1U space. The conventional optical modules have limitations on providing the maximum numbers of connector ports. 
     Further, users need special tools such as extractors in order to access to plug and pull out the adaptors from the connector terminals within the limited 1U space. As more connector ports are paced within the limited 1U space, it creates problems for technicians to access and remove the connectors by using their hands. Moreover, in the traditional high-density optical modules, the connector ports are arranged in multiple rows or columns spaced with a 1U unit. The arrangement of ports further creates difficult tasks for the technicians to access or remove the connectors within the crowded rows or columns of ports. 
     There is a need for a new device and system of the optical module to facilitate access the communication connectors and adapters. 
     There is a need for a high-density optical module system for passive optical tap in a 1RU chassis, which enables services providers, data centers, enterprises and technicians to save valuable rack space while monitoring more fibers. 
     There is a need for a high-density optical module system for the wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) technology which enables bidirectional communications over the strand of fiber optic communications and multiplication of capacity. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a high-density optical module system with the maximum numbers of pre-loading or pre-connection of the fiber optic adaptors to the connector terminals of the optical module to facilitate the connections of the adaptors. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a high-density optical module system that optimizes the use of the space of the plurality of connector ports. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a high-density optical module system with easy access to the plugs for making and breaking connector connections without applying specific tools. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a high-density optical module system to facilitate the positioning and coupling between the adaptors to the connector terminals of the optical module to facilitate the connections of the adaptors. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a high-density optical module system to be used 
     In one embodiment, the high-density optical nodule system of the present invention comprises: (a) a multi-tier housing assembly, (b) multiple sliding tray assemblies engaged inside each of the multi-tier housing assembly and moveable inwardly and outwardly within the multi-tier housing assembly; and (c) a plurality of multi-port modules fastened with the sliding tray assembly and operably connected to the adaptors. 
     In another embodiment, the high-density optical module system further comprises: (a) the multi-tier housing assembly comprises: a tray, a pair of opposing first sides extending perpendicularly from ttle tray, a second back side extending perpendicular from the tray and is perpendicular to the pair of the first sides, a dividing plate containing the horizontal plate and the vertical plates, the front top plate, and a pair of the L-shaped brackets securely fastened to the multi-tier housing assembly; and (b) the sliding tray assembly comprises: a tray, a pair of opposing first sides extending perpendicularly from the tray, a optical module frame, a plurality of vertical dividing frames substantially perpendicular to the optical module frame, a second back side extending perpendicularly from the tray and parallel to the vertical dividing frames, a top cover containing an elongated raised frame and in contact with the optical module, a plurality of the window openings positioned on the elongated raised frame for fastening into the corresponding multi-port modules, a pair of the handle walls elongated from the first sides, and a handle bar mounted to the handle walls of the sliding tray assembly with screws. 
     In another embodiment, the high-density optical module system of the present invention comprises: (a) a multi-tier housing assembly, comprising a tray, a pair of opposing first sides extending perpendicularly from the tray, a second back side extending perpendicular from the tray and is perpendicular to the pair of the first sides, a dividing plate containing the horizontal plate and the vertical plates, the front top plate, and a pair of the L-shaped brackets securely fastened to the multi-tier housing assembly; (b) a sliding tray assembly engaged inside the multi-tier housing assembly and moveable inwardly and outwardly within therein; the sliding tray assemblies comprising: a tray, a pair of opposing first sides extending perpendicularly from the tray, a optical module frame, a plurality of vertical dividing frames substantially perpendicular to the optical module “frame, a second back side extending perpendicularly from the tray and parallel to the vertical dividing frames, a top cover containing an elongated raised frame and in contact with the optical module, a plurality of the window openings positioned on the elongated raised frame for fastening into the corresponding multi-port modules, a pair of the handle walls elongated from the first sides, and a handle bar mounted to the handle walls of the sliding tray assembly with screws; and (c) a plurality of multi-port modules fastened with the sliding tray assembly and operably connected to the cable adaptors. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a generally front perspective view of a high-density optical module system according to the present invention containing 3 units of the assembly set. 
         FIG. 2  is a generally front perspective view containing one single unit of the optical module system of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a partial, enlarged view of a high-density optical module system of  FIG. 2  illustrating  1  unit of the rack, i.e. “one rack unit” or 1U also known as 1RU (a standard 1.75 inches in height) and a plurality of multi-port modules engaged with the plurality of the adaptors mounted therein. 
         FIG. 4  is a generally front perspective view of the multi-tier housing assembly of high-density optical module system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a generally front perspective view of the sliding tray assembly of the high-density optical module system. 
         FIG. 6  is the side view of the high-density optical module system containing a two-tier housing assembly containing two sliding tray assemblies. 
         FIG. 7  is partial, enlarged view of the high-density optical module system of  FIG. 6  containing the magnet system. 
         FIG. 8  is a partial, enlarged view of the high-density optical module system of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  is a partial, enlarged view of the high-density optical module system of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 10  is a partial, enlarged view of the high-density optical module system of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 11  is a partial, enlarged view of the high-density optical module system of  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Disclosed herein is a high density optical module system  200  illustrated in  FIGS. 1-11 . The optical module system  100  is used for centralizing and supporting the connections of a plurality of adaptors at a single rack mounted panel. The optical module system  100  can also be used in wall mounting applications and outside plant closure applications. 
     The high-density optical module system  100  comprises a multi-tier housing assembly  210 , the sliding tray assembly  310 , and a plurality of multi-port modules  410 . The single sliding tray assembly  310  is engaged inside the housing assembly  210  and can be fully extracted outwardly or extended inwardly from the housing assembly  210  by the user&#39;s hand operation. The plurality of multi-port modules  410  are coupled with the adaptors for connections. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the high-density optical module system  100  contains a 2-tier housing assembly  210 , which accommodates two sliding tray assemblies  310  engaged therein. Further as shown in  FIG. 1 , the optical module system  100  contain three units of the multi-tier housing assembly-sliding tray assembly-multipart modules sets  210 ,  310 , and  410  respectively (the “assembly set”). 
     The present invention of the optical module system  100  contains two half-U (about 0.875 inches in height) single assembly sets. The single assembly set contains a sliding tray assembly  310  located within one of the two-tier housing assembly  210 , wherein the sliding tray assembly is securely coupled with the multi-port modules  410 .  FIG. 2  shows the high-density optical module system  100  of the present invention. The optical module system  100  contains a two-tier housing assembly  210 , and two sliding tray assemblies  310 . Each of the sliding tray assembly  310  is engaged within the corresponding housing assembly  210  and coupled with two rows of the multi-port modules  410 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the height of the optical module system is in approximately 1RU (1.75 inches in height for a standard 19 inch wide rack). In the present invention, the optical module system  100  contains 2 separate half-U assembly set. Each of the half-U assembly set has a height in approximately half-RU (which is 0.875 inches). When the user pulls out or insert the adaptors onto the corresponding ports from the multi-port modules, he or she can pull out or push back the handle bar  395  from the half-U single assembly set. The present invention of the half-U assembly set provides ease and conveniences to the users in cable management and operation. 
       FIG. 3  is a partial, enlarged view of an optical module system  100  of  FIG. 2  illustrating one unit of the assembly set, showing a plurality of multi-port modules  410  engaged with the plurality of the adaptors mounted therein. Each unit of the assembly set fits the standard 1RU (1.75 inches in height in a 19 inch wide rack) size, containing 216 LC or 108 SC multiple connector ports. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the high-density optical module  100  contains three units of the assembly set. In another embodiment, the high-density optical module  100  contains a single unit of the assembly set. Still in another embodiment, the optical module  100  contains multiple units of the assembly sets. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 &amp; 2 , the high-density optical module system  100  contains the first row of a plurality of multi-port modules  410  and the second row of a plurality of multi-port modules  410 . Each of the multi-port modules  410  contains two ports for receiving two adaptors. However, it should be noted that these  2  multi-port modules  410  could be horizontal multi-port modules. Still in another embodiment, the high-density optical module system  100  contains multiple rows of the multi-port modules  410  within a 1U standard size. Still in another embodiment, the optical module system  100  can be vertically mounted to the wall. In this embodiment, each of the multi-port modules  410  are positioned side-by-side for the connection purposes. 
       FIG. 4  shows the multi-tier housing assembly  210  of the optical module system  100 . The multi tier housing assembly  210  contains a tray  220 , a pair of opposing first sides  230  extending perpendicularly from the tray  220 , a second back side  240  extending perpendicular from the tray  220  and is perpendicular to the pair of the first sides  230 , a dividing plate  270  containing the horizontal plate  277  and the vertical plates  275 , the front top plate  280 , and a pair of the L-shaped brackets  260  that are securely fastened into the parts of the multi-tier housing assembly  210  all together as shown in  FIGS. 1-4 . 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , the high-density optical module system  100  is a two-tier optical module, i.e., the housing assembly  210  is a 2-tier housing that is able to accommodate two rows of the corresponding sliding tray assemblies  310 . In one embodiment, the total height of the housing assembly  210  of the optical module system  100  is 1U standard size (in a 19′ wide rack). In this two-tier housing  210 , the height of each assembly set (ie, each of the two-tier housing assembly-sliding tray assembly-multiport modules set) is about only one-half U size, which is less than 0.875 inch in height. However, it should be noted that the optical module system  100  could be a one-tier optical module frame (i.e., only one row of the assembly set) to accommodate less modules in a 0.875 inch height. Alternatively, for connecting the nano-sized connectors, the high-density optical module system  100  of the present invention could have more than two rows of the assembly sets to accommodate and connect more adaptors in order to fit industry needs. Moreover, it should be noted that although the frame may have room for two or more rows of the assembly set, that only one row may be populated. One or more rows may be left empty and accommodate further expansion when additional multi-ports are required. 
       FIG. 5  shows the sliding tray assembly  310  of the present optical module system  100 . The sliding tray assembly contains a tray  320  for the storage and management of the cables, a pair of opposing first sides  325  extending perpendicularly from the tray  320 , a optical module frame  350 , a plurality of vertical dividing frames  360  that is substantially perpendicular to the optical module frame  350 , a second back side  230  extending perpendicularly from the tray  320  and is parallel to the vertical dividing frames  360 , and a top cover  340  mounted on the tray assembly  310  with screws. The optical module frame  350  and the vertical dividing frames  360  form several blocks to facilitate the insertion and connection of the multi-ports modules  410 . 
       FIG. 6  is the side view of the optical module system  100  with a 2-tier design. As shown in  FIG. 6 , there is a two-tier housing assembly  210  and two sliding tray assemblies  310 . The upper row of  FIG. 6  shows the sliding tray assembly  310  extended outwardly from the multi-tier housing assembly  210  by pulling the handle bar  395 . In  FIGS. 5 &amp; 6 , the sliding tray assembly  310  contains an elongated raised frame  510  extended from the top cover  340 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , the elongated raise frame  510  contains an upper part  510   a  and a lower part  510   b.  The upper part  510   a  is substantially in the same height as the front top plate  280  in the horizontal plane. The lower part  510   b  is substantially in the same height in horizontal positions as the tray  220 . In other words, as shown in  FIG. 10 , the height of each of the sliding tray assembly  310  is about half-U (0.875 inches). The design of the elongated raise frame  510  can facilitate the insertion and extraction of the plurality of the adaptors from the multi-port modules.  FIGS. 6 &amp; 10  show the two sliding tray assemblies  310  stacked in the upper 1st and lower  2 nd rows positions. As shown in  FIG. 10 , there is a space between the raised lower part  510   b  of the 1st row and the upper part  510   a  of the 2nd row. The space between two sliding tray assemblies  310  leaves certain space to accommodate the thickness of the horizontal dividing plate  270  of the multi-tier housing assembly  210 . Therefore the total height of the multi-tier housing assembly  210 —sliding tray assembly  310  set is about 1 U standard size. The purposes of the design of the elongated raised frame  510  are to apply the maximum space usage of the high-density optical module  100  to accommodate the maximum numbers of multi-port modules  410  in a limited half-U (0.875 inches) industry height. 
     The high-density optical module system  100  provides a fastened engagement between the multi-port modules  410  and the housing-sliding tray assemblies  210 ,  310 . The snap or fastened design facilitates the optical connections for the adaptors. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the elongated raised frame  510  of the sliding tray assembly  310  contains a plurality of window openings  550  positioned thereof. Each of the multi-port modules contains multiple elastic snaps  650  on the upper side thereof.  FIGS. 9 &amp; 10  are the enlarged, partial portion of  FIG. 6  showing the snap mechanism between sliding tray assembly  310  and the multi-port module assembly  410 . When the multi-port module  410  is inserted onto the corresponding port of the high-density optical module system  100  from the other side (i.e., inside) of sliding tray assembly  310 , the upper elastic snap  650  of the module  410  will slide, snap and couple with the corresponding window opening  550  and is securely fastened within the optical module system  100 . The fastened engagement provides a click snap mechanism so the operators can aware if the multi-port modules are securely fastened onto the optical module system  100 .  FIG. 10  shows an enlarged, partial cross-sectional portion of  FIG. 6  with two sliding tray assemblies  310  stacked in the upper and lower rows. The upper portion of the multi-port module assembly  410  contains an elastic snap  650 . When the multiport module assembly  410  is fully inserted into the sliding tray assembly  310 , the elastic snap  650  will click and pop out from the window opening  550  of the elongated raise frame  510  of the sliding tray assembly  310 . If the multi-port module assembly is not fully engaged with the sliding tray assembly  310 , the user can see from the eyeball because the elastic snap  650  is not popping out from the window opening of the sliding tray assembly  310 . This fastening mechanism provides the secured connections between the adaptors and corresponding ports. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the high-density optical module system  100  contains a pair of the handle walls  390  elongated from the first sides  325  of the sliding tray assembly  310 . The handle bar  395  is mounted on the handle walls  390  with screws. In one embodiment, the design of the handle bar  395  can facilitate the users to pull out or insert the adaptors or cables with ease. The general users do not need to carry extra tools such as extractors during cable operations. Moreover, the handle bar coupled with the housing-sliding tray-multiport modules assembly in the limited half-U height space design provide great ease and conveniences for the high-tech companies in the cable management. In another embodiment of the present invention, the handle bar  395  can be used as a wiring hub to manage and tie all the cable wiring together. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the adaptors lines or wires are allocated above the handle bar  395 . so the wires are not messy around the optical module system  100 . still in another embodiment as shown in  FIG. 11 , the handle bar  395  contains a snap mechanism to tie and collect these adaptors wires or lines in one location. 
     The present invention further provides a magnet mechanism to assure the close engagement between the sliding assembly  310  with the multi-tier housing assembly  210  for connection purposes. In the high-density optical module, the adaptors-assembly set are heavy loaded to a crowded 1U space side. When the user finishes the operation of the cable management and push back the adaptor sets into the optical module system, due to heavy weight, it usually makes the user difficult to ascertain if the sliding tray assembly is completed engaged into the multi-tier housing assembly of the optical module system. The present invention is presented to solve this issue. In one embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 6  the second back side  240  of the multi-tier housing assembly  210  contains a magnet system  710  mounted therein. Each of the sliding tray assembly  310  is moveable between the multi-tier housing assembly  210 . The magnet system  710  on the multi-tier housing assembly  210  creates a magnetic force in certain degrees to pull the sliding tray assembly  310  toward it. When the user push the handle bar  395  back, the sliding tray assembly  310  will be easily engaged with the multi-tier housing assembly  210  by the magnet system  710 . 
     In another embodiment,  FIG. 7  shows the second embodiment of the magnet system of the optical module system  100 . As shown in  FIGS. 7 &amp; 8 , the optical module system  100  contains a magnet system  720  attached to the second back side  230  of the sliding tray assembly  310 . When the user finishes the cable operation and pushes the handle bar  395  of the sliding tray  310  back into the multi-tier housing assembly  210 , the sliding tray assembly  310  is firmly engaged with the multi-tier housing assembly  210  through the magnetic force, thereby provide the maximum optical connections for the high-density panel system  100 . Further, the design of the magnet  710  can facilitate the users to pull back the heavy-loaded adaptor optical module system with ease and conveniences. 
     Still in another embodiment, the high-density optical module system  100  can be applied for the passive optical tap in a 1RU chassis, which enables services providers, data centers, enterprises and technicians to save valuable rack space while monitoring more fibers. 
     Still in another embodiment, the high-density optical module system  100  can be applied for the wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) technology which enables bidirectional communications over the strand of fiber optic communications and multiplication of capacity. 
     Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present invention. It is to be understood unless otherwise indicated herein that the figures are not intended to be to scale. It is therefore to be understood that numerous modifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.