EP1127286A1 - Panneau-support pour une pluralite de raccords de fibres optiques - Google Patents

Panneau-support pour une pluralite de raccords de fibres optiques

Info

Publication number
EP1127286A1
EP1127286A1 EP99952704A EP99952704A EP1127286A1 EP 1127286 A1 EP1127286 A1 EP 1127286A1 EP 99952704 A EP99952704 A EP 99952704A EP 99952704 A EP99952704 A EP 99952704A EP 1127286 A1 EP1127286 A1 EP 1127286A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
panel
connectors
frames
connector
apertures
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP99952704A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Alain Wambeke
Etienne Robert Laeremans
Jean-Marie Etienne Nolf
Jos Marie Roger Brants
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Commscope Connectivity Belgium BVBA
Original Assignee
Tyco Electronics Raychem BVBA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Tyco Electronics Raychem BVBA filed Critical Tyco Electronics Raychem BVBA
Publication of EP1127286A1 publication Critical patent/EP1127286A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
    • G02B6/38—Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
    • G02B6/3807—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
    • G02B6/3897—Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/44—Mechanical structures for providing tensile strength and external protection for fibres, e.g. optical transmission cables
    • G02B6/4439—Auxiliary devices
    • G02B6/444—Systems or boxes with surplus lengths
    • G02B6/4452—Distribution frames

Definitions

  • This invention relates to fibre optic management systems or distribution centres and in particular to patch panels for use in such systems and centres.
  • Fibre optic management systems or distribution centres are used for the organisation of optical cables and connectors.
  • Such management systems can take the form of a cabinet situated on the street or within a building and are used for separating and organising the optical fibres and cables entering the building.
  • a fibre optic management system can also take the form of an equipment rack in a central exchange, such as a central telephone exchange, or sub-racks at customer premises.
  • fibre connectors are supported on a fixed panel known as a patch panel. Patch panels are used for securing and retaining the connectors of fibres and cables and the connectors are generally arranged on the patch panel in rows and columns. Access to individual connectors on a patch panel after initial installation is often required to allow changes such as reassignment to be made to those connectors.
  • the Applicant's earlier European patent no. 0 943 944 describes one way in which access can be improved by providing a panel for supporting a plurality of fibre optic connectors, which panel is provided with a plurality of apertures for receiving the connectors arranged in at least one row with a part of each connector so received being removable from a front of the panel, wherein the apertures of the at least one row are arranged such that connectors received therein diverge forwardly of the front of the panel.
  • Prior Art patch panels are disclosed in US 5 530 954 and US 5 363 467. In these patch panels the connectors are positioned at a predetermined oblique angle.
  • Another Prior Art example is disclosed in US 5 127 082 where connector yokes are provided with a pre-set angle relative to the normal of plane of the panel and which is beneficial to preferred cable arrangement.
  • the present invention seeks to reconcile these conflicting requirements and provide a panel structure for supporting optical fibre connectors which will be versatile in the directions in which optical fibres or pigtails can be lead away from the panel without requiring a large number of different components to achieve this objective.
  • a panel for supporting a plurality of fibre optic connectors which panel is provided with a plurality of apertures for receiving connectors arranged in at least one row, in which the apertures are oriented such that a connector received therein is inclined to the normal to the panel, and the orientation of at least one aperture or group of apertures determining the direction of inclination of at least one connector or group of connectors is selectable prior to installation of the connector or connectors therein.
  • each aperture is defined by a frame the plane of which is inclined to the general plane of the panel.
  • the inclination of such frames may be achieved either by forming the panel with a plurality of rectilinear corrugations comprising alternate oppositely-directed faces, or by providing each frame defining an aperture with two parallel opposite frame limbs inclined to the general plane of the panel and joined by a transverse frame limb.
  • This latter configuration can be achieved by punching the frame limbs from a metal plate, or by plastics injection moulding to form a "plate” having a plurality of such frames.
  • the frames are designed so they can be bent or tilted into a proper orientation.
  • a frame defining an aperture for receiving one connector will be termed a "window", this term being applied equally to the aperture or the surrounding frame defining it.
  • the window frames are joined together in a strip or plate comprising at least one row of such frames.
  • the panel preferably has one or a plurality of openings for receiving the or each strip or plate. The orientation of the strip or plate within the opening then defines the direction of inclination of the window apertures.
  • the apertures defined by the window frames in a row thereof may be all inclined in the same direction or, as appropriate, alternate apertures defined by adjacent frames in a row thereof may be inclined in opposite directions.
  • the inclinations may, of course, be in a direction parallel to the length of the row or transverse the length of the row, and if inclined in a direction transverse the row they may be perpendicular to the length of the row or inclined at an angle other than 90° to the length of the row.
  • the direction of inclination may lie at an angle other than 90° to the length of the row and, consequently, may have components parallel to and perpendicular to the length of the row. Alternate frames may then vary in inclination in one component whilst the other component may be constant throughout the length of the row.
  • the support panel has a plurality of openings for receiving a plurality of connector plates in selected orientations.
  • the angle of inclination of an aperture is variable.
  • both the angle and the direction of inclination of an aperture is variable.
  • the present invention also comprehends apparatus for forming a patch panel for supporting a plurality of fibre optic connectors, comprising a support panel having one or more openings therein and a corresponding number of connector plates having a plurality of apertures for receiving connectors in one or more rows, the apertures being inclined to the general plane of the connector plate and the direction of inclination being selectable by the choice of orientation of the connector plate upon installation thereof.
  • the present invention also comprehends a cabinet incorporating one or more patch panel as defined herein.
  • Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of an element suitable for forming part of the patch panel of the invention
  • Figures 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e and 2f are respectively a plan view of the element of Figure 1 ; a side view of the element of Figure 1 ; a plan view of a panel within which such elements may be fitted; a plan view of the panel shown in Figure 2c with a number of elements fitted therein; a side view of the assembled panel of Figure 2d; and a side view showing a plurality of connectors in place;
  • Figures 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e and 3f are views corresponding to those of Figure 2, illustrating a patch panel element having two rows of windows;
  • Figure 4 is a schematic view illustrating various different configurations in which the patch panel of the invention may be assembled using the element of Figure 1 ;
  • Figures 5a, 5b, 5c, and 5d are, respectively, a plan view of an alternative version of the element illustrated in Figure 1, this element having twelve windows; and three schematic views illustrating various different configurations in which the patch panel of the invention may be assembled using such elements;
  • Figures 6a, 6b and 6c are respectively a plan view, an end view and a side view of an alternative embodiment of the inventions;
  • Figures 7a, 7b and 7c are respectively a plan view, an end view and a side view of a further alternative embodiment of the invention.
  • Figures 8a, 8b and 8c are respectively a plan view, an end view and a side view of a further alternative embodiment of the invention.
  • Figures 9a, 9b and 9c are respectively a plan view, of a further alternative embodiment, and end view of the embodiment and a corresponding end view showing connectors in position;
  • Figures 10a, 10b, 10c, lOd and lOe are respectively and end view of a further embodiment of the invention; an enlarged schematic view of a part of Figure 10a; an end view of the element of Figure 10a showing the connector in position in a first orientation; a corresponding view showing a connector in a second orientation; and a corresponding view showing a connector in a third orientation.
  • a plate generally indicated 11 for a patch panel is formed as an elongate strip having, in this embodiment, six upstanding rectangular frames 12 each defining a rectangular window 13 within which a connector 14 (Fig. 2f) can be mounted to interconnect a fibre optic cable 15 with a pig tail 16 having an integral counterpart connector.
  • the plate or strip 11 can be fitted in an opening 17 in a panel 18 having eight such openings, for which purpose the strip 11 is provided with holes 19, 20 at each end through which can pass fixing elements into corresponding aligned holes 21, 22 of a selected opening 17.
  • the patch panel 18 is suitable for being used in a cabinet for separating and organising optical fibres to be connected end to end, for example prior to entering or within a building.
  • the patch panel 18 may be supported in a cabinet by means (not shown) which allow it to be moved between a stored or closed position and an access position at which it is possible for an operator to act on the connectors 14, making new connections or repairing damaged connections as appropriate.
  • the inclination of the connectors 14, which is determined by the inclination of the frames 12 and windows 13 in which the connectors are fitted, direct the pigtails 16 to the left as viewed in Figure 2.
  • a patch panel having up to forty-eight windows 13 for receiving respective connectors 14 can thus be produced from the strip 11 and the panel 18. With any fewer number of windows 13, in units of six, being made available by a suitable selection of the number of plates 11 to fit to the panel 18.
  • Figure 3 shows a similar configuration in which, as in the other Figures, the same reference numerals have been used to identified the same or corresponding components.
  • the strip 11 has two rows of frames 12 defining two rows of windows 13 and the panel 18 has four openings 17 for receiving a corresponding number of strips or plates 11.
  • Figure 3f these are shown oriented such that the connectors 14 are inclined with the pigtails all leading to the right.
  • a number of different patch panel configurations can be achieved utilising the single row connector plate 11 illustrated in Figure 2a.
  • the plates 11 are grouped in pairs in longitudinal alignment with their windows inclined in one direction, but with adjacent pairs of plates 11 oriented with their windows aligned in the opposite direction.
  • adjacent rows of pigtails 16 exit from the patch panel to the left or to the right.
  • the plates 11 are orientated so that the pigtails 16 exit the patch panel in a configuration with two rows leading to the left and two rows leading to the right.
  • rows is intended to identify solely a longitudinally aligned assembly of items and not define the orientation of alignment.
  • a row may extend horizontally, vertically or at any angle in between.
  • Figure 5a shows an element in the form of a plate 11 comprising a single row of twelve frames 12, that is twice the number present in the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2. Apart from its additional length the plate 11 of Fig. 5a has the same form as the strip 11 of
  • Figure 5b shows the configuration of a patch panel in which adjacent plates 11 are oriented with their frames 12 inclined in opposite directions so that adjacent rows of pigtails 16 exit from the patch panel on opposite sides thereof.
  • Figure 5c all the windows 12 are inclined to the left so that the pigtails 16 all exit to the left
  • Figure 5d all the windows 12 are inclined to the right so that all the pigtails exit to the right. It will be appreciated that different combinations of configurations can be achieved upon installation simply by selecting the respective orientations of the plates 11 as they are fitted to the patch panel.
  • plates having two, three, four or more rows of twelve windows may be provided.
  • the exit direction of the pigtails can only be selected in groups the size of which is determined by the number of windows in the plate.
  • Patch panels for receiving such plates may be provided with individual apertures the size of which matches that of an individual plate, or may have apertures in which one dimension is a multiple of that of the plates so that two, three or more plates may be positioned in a common aperture, naturally oriented as selected by the installer to determine the exit direction of the pigtails or optical fibres.
  • Figure 6 illustrates an alternative embodiment in which a plate 11 is provided with inclined frames 12 each of which defines three windows 13, 13', and 13" such that the single plate 11 offers eighteen potential sites for connectors 14 all inclined in the same direction as illustrated in Figure 6c.
  • a patch panel may be assembled by fitting plates 11 into correspondingly dimensioned holes in a support panel with the windows 13, 13', and 13" oriented to one direction or the other as appropriate.
  • Figure 7 illustrates a further alternative embodiment in which, instead of having window frames projecting from an otherwise planar panel, the panel 18 itself is corrugated with an array of rectilinear corrugations 23, 24, alternate corrugations defining surfaces 23 having a set of holes 13 for receiving connectors 14.
  • the panel 18 itself is corrugated with an array of rectilinear corrugations 23, 24, alternate corrugations defining surfaces 23 having a set of holes 13 for receiving connectors 14.
  • an overall patch panel can be assembled by fitting the panel 18 in one orientation or the other to allow the optical fibres to join and exit in one direction or the other as desired.
  • Figure 8 illustrates a further alternative embodiment in which a panel of corrugated form like that of the embodiment of Figure 7 is formed in such a way that the alternate faces 23 (corresponding to frames 12 in Fig. 2d) each have a single large opening 13 for receiving individual connectors 14 which are displaceable along the length of the opening 13 to facilitate changes to the connection arrangement.
  • Figure 9 illustrates a corrugated panel 18 having (preferably alternately inclined) faces 23, 24, the faces 23 of which have six openings 13 each defined by respective frames 12', 12" which are oppositely inclined from one another such that, as can be seen in
  • connectors fitted to the frames 12' and 12" will direct their optical fibres in opposite directions.
  • the plate 18 thus provides for the pigtails or optical fibres in an upper horizontal row (in the orientation viewed in the drawing) to exit to the left whilst the pigtails or optical fibres of the connectors in the next row all exit to the right and so on. Again, this maximises the space available for access to individual connectors and, furthermore, makes the best use of the space within the cabinet for housing and routing optical fibres.
  • a plate 11 has a plurality of windows 17 each with two opposite sides 27, 28 having cavities 29, 30 for receiving oppositely-directed spigots 31, 32 of a removable rectangular frame 12 the dimensions of which are such as to make it suitable for receiving a connector 16, as illustrated in Figures 10c, lOd and lOe.
  • the spigots 31, 32 in the cavities 29, 30 allow the frame 12 to pivot so that the connector 16 can adopt any inclined position between the end positions illustrated in Figures 10c and lOe.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Light Guides In General And Applications Therefor (AREA)
  • Mechanical Coupling Of Light Guides (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne un panneau-support (18) pour une pluralité de connexions de fibres optiques (14) qui comporte une pluralité d'ouvertures (13) destinées à recevoir des connexions (14) formant au moins une rangée. Selon cette invention, l'orientation des ouvertures (13) est telle que toute connexion (14) montée dans ces ouvertures est incliné vers la perpendiculaire du panneau (18), et que l'orientation d'au moins une ouverture (13) ou d'un groupe d'ouvertures déterminant l'angle d'inclinaison d'au moins une connexion (14) ou groupe de connexionseut être déterminée avant montage de la ou des connexions dans cette ou ces ouvertures.
EP99952704A 1998-11-07 1999-11-04 Panneau-support pour une pluralite de raccords de fibres optiques Withdrawn EP1127286A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9824415 1998-11-07
GBGB9824415.5A GB9824415D0 (en) 1998-11-07 1998-11-07 A panel for supporting a plurality of fibre optic connectors
PCT/GB1999/003658 WO2000028363A1 (fr) 1998-11-07 1999-11-04 Panneau-support pour une pluralite de raccords de fibres optiques

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1127286A1 true EP1127286A1 (fr) 2001-08-29

Family

ID=10842019

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP99952704A Withdrawn EP1127286A1 (fr) 1998-11-07 1999-11-04 Panneau-support pour une pluralite de raccords de fibres optiques

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1127286A1 (fr)
CN (1) CN1325498A (fr)
GB (1) GB9824415D0 (fr)
WO (1) WO2000028363A1 (fr)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE19943191C2 (de) * 1999-09-09 2002-09-19 Krone Gmbh Frontplatte für ein Steckermodul
TWI231869B (en) * 2000-11-29 2005-05-01 Fci Sa Angled optical connector mounting assembly
US6866541B2 (en) * 2001-07-26 2005-03-15 Panduit Corp. Angled patch panel with cable support bar for network cable racks
US6736670B2 (en) * 2001-11-16 2004-05-18 Adc Telecommunications, Inc. Angled RJ to RJ patch panel
DE202007005870U1 (de) 2007-04-23 2007-07-12 CCS Technology, Inc., Wilmington Vorrichtung zur Aufnahme von Steckverbindungen
US7978951B2 (en) 2008-03-28 2011-07-12 Adc Telecommunications, Inc. Bulkhead with angled openings and method
GB0812260D0 (en) 2008-07-04 2008-08-13 Tyco Electronics Raychem Nv Optical fibre coupling device and method
GB2482673B (en) * 2010-08-09 2015-03-18 Fibrefab Ltd Cable support assembly for a networking unit
US9372320B2 (en) 2013-05-31 2016-06-21 Corning Cable Systems Llc Datacenter connector systems utilizing feed-through optical cable assemblies
US9247319B2 (en) * 2013-06-17 2016-01-26 Cisco Technology, Inc. Panel assembly
CN103585126A (zh) * 2013-11-18 2014-02-19 南京艾德凯腾生物医药有限责任公司 一种托法替尼组合物及制备方法

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DE3347621A1 (de) * 1983-12-30 1985-07-11 Wilhelm Sedlbauer GmbH Fabrik für Feinmechanik und Elektronik, 8000 München Verteilergestell fuer glasfaser-kabelenden
US4824196A (en) * 1987-05-26 1989-04-25 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Optical fiber distribution panel
GB8815446D0 (en) * 1988-06-29 1988-08-03 British Telecomm Patch panel
US4995688A (en) * 1989-07-31 1991-02-26 Adc Telecommunications, Inc. Optical fiber distribution frame
CA2041115A1 (fr) * 1990-07-11 1992-01-12 Mark A. Anton Module de connexion de fibres optiques
US5363465A (en) * 1993-02-19 1994-11-08 Adc Telecommunications, Inc. Fiber optic connector module
DE9404380U1 (de) * 1994-03-16 1994-11-03 Graesser Edmond Verteilerplatte und Verteilerbox mit einer Mehrzahl von optischen Lichtwellenleiter-Stecksystemen
DE9408029U1 (de) * 1994-05-14 1994-08-11 Lewron Kabeltechnik Berlin Gmb Escon-Kompakt-Verbindungsmodul
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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9824415D0 (en) 1998-12-30
CN1325498A (zh) 2001-12-05
WO2000028363A1 (fr) 2000-05-18

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