WO2026010989A1

WO2026010989A1 - Fiber tray with asymmetrical hinge

Info

Publication number: WO2026010989A1
Application number: PCT/US2025/036135
Authority: WO
Inventors: Carlos Paul GONZALEZ-INDA; Luis Carlos Lopez Moreno; Oswaldo Enrique Linares Rivas; Julio Cesar Ayala Vera; Gregory J. Cyr
Original assignee: Arris Enterprises LLC
Current assignee: Arris Enterprises LLC
Priority date: 2024-07-01
Filing date: 2025-07-01
Publication date: 2026-01-08
Anticipated expiration: 2027-01-01

Abstract

An asymmetrical fiber tray for at least one of a node, amplifier, or tap of a communications network propagating optical signals through fiber optic cable. The asymmetrical design of the fiber tray relieves strain on optical fiber that enters the tray though an entry port proximate that of the node, amplifier, or tap.

Description

FIBER TRAY WITH ASYMMETRICAL HINGE

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims benefit of priority under 35 USC §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent No. 63/666,444 filed on July 1, 2024, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

[0002] The subject matter of this application relates to equipment for node enclosures, and more specifically to fiber optic trays within, or configured for placement within, a node in a CATV network. .

[0003] Cable television (CATV) networks have evolved significantly since first being deployed as relatively simple systems that delivered video channels one-way from a content provider. These early systems included transmitters that assigned a number of CATV channels among several frequency bands, each of approximately 6 MHz, multiplexed those signals, and sent them to subscribers as an electrical signal through a network of coaxial transmission lines to cable modems or set-top boxes in subscribers homes. Early evolution of such systems permitted limited return communication from the subscribers back to the content provider either through telephone lines or a dedicated, small, low-frequency signal propagated onto the coaxial network.

[0004] Modem CATV networks differ from these early networks in several material respects. First, given the grow th of content provided to customers over increasing distances, much of the coaxial transmission path has been replaced by fiber-optic lines, although the amplifiers, taps, and feeder cables to customer homes typcially remain coaxial, and much of the content delivered to the provider for transmission is by an analog electrical signal that the provider must then convert to an optical signal for propagation onto the coaxial transmission grid. Nodes, located closer to the subscribers than the head end, receive the optical signals from the transmitter and convert them to the electrical signals for delivery to the subscribers through the coaxial lines to the subscribers' homes. Such a network is commonly referred to as a Hybrid Fiber-Coax (HFC) system.

[0005] Multiple challenges come with the adoption of these network architectures or topologies. One challenge is the need to safely house optical or electrical equipment within a node enclosure, amplifier enclosure, tap enclosure, etc. in a manner that keeps the equipment safe, clean, and adequately dissipates the heat generated from the equipment. In existing HFC networks, electronic equipment such as nodes, amplifiers, etc. are often subjected to environmental elements. For example, nodes or amplifiers may be housed in enclosures that are mounted to telephone poles or other elevated locations, or in a sub-surface vault. These locations may be subjected to rain, ice, and temperature extremes that make it difficult to ensure that the equipment within the enclosure is protected from damage, and free from external moisture and debris, particularly when the enclosure is opened, and also may make it difficult to adequately dissipate heat from the electronic equipment in during periods of high temperatures.

[0006] Another challenge arises when the equipment inside the enclosure of a node, amplifier, or tap needs to be repaired, replaced, upgraded, or otherwise serviced. In particular, it is desirable to avoid damaging the electrical components of the node during such operations.

[0007] What is desired, therefore, are improved devices, methods, and systems for housing equipment in nodes, amplifier, etc.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0009] FIG. 1 shows a node with a prior art fiber tray housed within it. [0010] FIGS 2A and 2B each show a respective perspective view of an improved fiber tray,

[0011] FIG. 3 shows the operation of the fiber tray of FIGS 2A and 2B.

[0012] FIG. 4 shows the preferred manner of retaining optical fiber in the fiber tray of FIGS 2A and 2B.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0013] Optical fiber is ubiquitously used for propagating data over CATV networks, and its use is growing rapidly as ever larger amounts of data are transmitted. Optical fiber is a flexible glass or plastic fiber that can transmit light from one end to the other. Optical fiber finds wide usage in fiber-optic communications, since it permits transmission over longer distances and at higher bandwidths (data transfer rates) than electrical cables. Fibers are used instead of metal wires because signals propagate along them with less loss and are immune to electromagnetic interference.

[0014] Optical fiber typically includes a bundle of individual fiber strands, or lines, that are encased within a protective sheath. As noted above, however, it is often necessary to access the optical fiber for purposes of maintenance, upgrades, etc. For example, it is frequently necessary to periodically open the cable so that one or more fiber strands may be spliced, thereby allowing data to be distributed to other cables or “branches’" of the telecommunication network. The cable branches may be further distnbuted until the network reaches individual homes, businesses, offices, and so on.

[0015] Also, as noted above, optical fiber is ty pically found in network equipment such as nodes or amplifiers that are themselves encased in a housing or enclosure that protects the optical and electrical equipment therein from damage. These enclosures must be carefully designed so that heat is dissipated properly, otherwise damage to electrical components may occur. To this end fiber optic cable inside node, amplifier, tap enclosures etc. are usually contained in a fiber optic tray for cable management. Fiber trays include integrated slack storage systems and some mechanical features to hold adapters, as well as other functionalities.

[0016] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary such tray 12 housed within a node enclosure 10. The fiber tray 12 has an entry port 14 to receive one end of the fiber 15 into the tray 12, and for the other end of the fiber to exit the tray 12, so that both ends of the fiber may be connected to equipment in the node enclosure 10. Typically, fiber trays include adapters 20 by which signals from one fiber received form the entry port are transmitted to another fiber received from the exit port. Because of the internal architecture inside the node enclosure 10, it is necessary for the fiber tray 12 to include a hinge 18, or other pivot mechanism that flips the tray to permit access to the different modules inside either side of the node enclosure 10. Also, the space inside the node enclosure 10 is very cramped, to maximize the density of processing power in the system. This is particularly true for Compact DAA (Distributed Access Architecture) Nodes.

[0017] During installation, setup, repair, upgrade, testing, etc, of the equipment inside the node enclosure 10. technicians open the node enclosure 10 and move the fiber tray 12 to access the internal components of the node. This movement can cause an excessive bending of the optical fiber. FIG. 1 shows the closed and open conditions of the fiber tray 12. in which there is insufficient strain relief to allow a smooth transition of the fiber bending, particularly at the entry’ port 14 of the node, because that port is in close proximity to the entry port of the node enclosure; as the fiber tray 12 pivots, the short length of the fiber 15 results in a limited amount of play or slack in the fiber. Thus, when pivoting the fiber tray 12, it is not uncommon for the fiber 15 to become damaged.

[0018] FIGS. 2A and 2B show' alternate perspective views of an improved fiber tray 100. The fiber tray 100 includes an entry' port 102 for receiving ends of optical fiber connected to one half of an enclosure for anode, amplifier, etc., and an exit port for receiving ends of optical fiber connected to the other half of that enclosure. Both the entry port 102 and the exit port 104 are positioned proximate the same end of the fiber tray 100. The fiber tray also includes a fiber adapter holder 112 for receiving a plurality of fiber adapters, each used to optically connect fiber received from the entry port 102 to fiber received from the exit port 104 (as can be seen in FIG. 4, for example) so that optical signals may be routed through the fiber tray 100. The fiber tray 100 also includes protective fingers 108 and tabs 110 arranged around the inside periphery of the fiber tray 100 to retain fiber inside the tray 100 in an organized manner, as explained below.

[0019] Unlike prior art fiber trays, fiber tray 100 is asymmetric about its longitudinal axis 114, i.e. the central axis for which the entry port 102 and exit port 104 are on opposite sides, and this asymmetry alleviates strain on optical fiber when the tray is flipped about its hinge. The asymmetry of fiber tray 100 may be exemplified by any one or more of several different features. First, the comer 116 of the fiber tray 100 proximate the entry port 102 may be subtended by a substantially longer arc than is the comer 118 proximate the exit port 104. This may include, for example, a design where the comer of the fiber tray 100 proximate the exit port 104 is perpendicular (zero arc length) while the comer proximate the entry point is curved. Second, the entry port 102 may be substantially larger (longer) than the exit port 104. For purposes of the specification and claims, the term “substantially” refers to at least 25%, although in preferred embodiments the entry port 102 may be at least 50% longer, or alternatively at least twice as long as the exit port 104, and the arc proximate the entry port may similarly be at least 50% longer, or alternatively at least twice as long as the arc proximate the exit port 104.

[0020] Third, the asymmetry of fiber tray 100 may be exemplified by including a connection 106 for a hinge of the fiber tray offset from the longitudinal center line 114 of the tray 100 in the direction of the exit port 104 i.e., the midpoint of the hinge connection 106 will be shifted to the side of longitudinal center line 1 14 towards the exit port 104. Thus, in some embodiments of the disclosed fiber tray 100, when assembled, the hinge of the fiber tray 100 will be closer to the center of the exit port 104 than the center of entry port 104. In some embodiments, all connectors 106 for the hinge will be closer to the center of exit port 104 than the center of entry port 104. [0021] Referring to FIG. 3, the asymmetrical design of the fiber tray 100 alleviates the stress placed on fiber proximate the entry port 102 when the tray 100 is rotated about its hinged connection. Specifically, because the asymmetrical design of the fiber tray, and in particular the relatively longer entry port 102, the fiber proximate that entry port has a greater degree of play, and does not need to bend or flex as much as with existing fiber trays when the fiber tray is rotated from one side of the node/amplifier to the other. Notably, the exit port 104 does not need extra length because of the longer distance from the exit port to the optical transceivers in the node. This contrasts with the relatively small distance between the entr ’ port 102 of the fiber tray 100 and the entry port of the node/amplifier.

[0022] Referring to FIG 4, the fiber tray 199 includes a pl urali ty of protective fingers 108 and tabs 110 surrounding the inside periphery of the fiber tray 100, that together allow slack fiber in the tray to be retained in an organized fashion.

Specifically, The protective fingers 108 prevent fiber from falling from the tray as it is flipped from one side of a node/amplifier enclosure, while both the protective fingers 108 and the tabs 112 hold the retained fiber at the periphery of the fiber tray. FIG. 4 shows how fiber received from both the entry port 102 and exit port 104 is wound around the fiber tray to connect to a respective adapter 120 held in the adapter holder 112.

[0023] It will be appreciated that the invention is not restricted to the particular embodiment that has been described, and that variations may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims, as interpreted in accordance with principles of prevailing law, including the doctrine of equivalents or any other principle that enlarges the enforceable scope of a claim beyond its literal scope. Unless the context indicates otherwise, a reference in a claim to the number of instances of an element, be it a reference to one instance or more than one instance, requires at least the stated number of instances of the element but is not intended to exclude from the scope of the claim a structure or method having more instances of that element than stated. The word "comprise" or a derivative thereof, when used in a claim, is used in a nonexclusive sense that is not intended to exclude the presence of other elements or steps in a claimed structure or method.

Claims

1. A fiber tray for at least one of a node, amplifier, or tap of a communications network propagating optical signals through fiber optic cable, the fiber tray having an outer periphery and a length-wise longitudinal axis and a connection for a hinge about which the longitudinal axis of the fiber tray may pivot, the fiber tray asymmetrical and comprising: an entry port proximate a first comer of the outer periphery and to one side of the longitudinal axis; and an exit port proximate a second comer of the outer periphery and to the other side of the longitudinal axis; wherein the outer periphery subtends a longer arc through the first comer than that of the second comer.

2. The fiber tray of claim 1 where the entry port is substantially longer than the exit port.

3. The fiber tray of claim 1 having at least one connector for a hinge, the at least one connector centered at a location offset from the longitudinal axis in the direction of the exit port.

4. The fiber tray of claim 3 where each connector is offset from the longitudinal axis in the direction of the exit port.

5. The fiber tray of claim 1 where the entry port and the exit port are each proximate the same end of the longitudinal axis.

6. A fiber tray for at least one of a node, amplifier, or tap of a communications network propagating optical signals through fiber optic cable, the fiber tray having an outer periphery⁷ and a length-wise longitudinal axis, the fiber tray asymmetrical about the longitudinal axis and comprising: an entry port proximate a first comer of the outer periphery and to one side of the longitudinal axis; an exit port proximate a second comer of the outer periphery and to the other side of the longitudinal axis; and at least one connector for a hinge and having a centerline offset from the longitudinal axis in the direction of the output port.

7. The fiber tray of claim 6 where the entry port and the exit port are each proximate the same end of the longitudinal axis.

8. The fiber tray of claim 6 where each connector is offset from the longitudinal axis in the direction of the exit port.

9. The fiber tray of claim 6 where the outer periphery subtends a longer arc through the first comer than that of the second comer.

10. The fiber tray of claim 9 where the entry port is substantially longer than the exit port.

11. An enclosure for electronic equipment configured for propagating optical signals in a communications network, the electrical equipment comprising at least one of a node, an amplifier, or a tap, then enclosure including a hinged fiber tray having an outer periphery with a length-wise longitudinal axis, the fiber tray connected to the enclosure with a hinge about which the longitudinal axis of the fiber tray pivots, the fiber tray asymmetrical and comprising: an entry port proximate a first comer of the outer periphery and to one side of the longitudinal axis; and an exit port proximate a second comer of the outer periphery and to the other side of the longitudinal axis; wherein the outer periphery subtends a longer arc through the first comer than that of the second comer.

12. The enclosure of claim 11 where the entry port is substantially longer than the exit port.

13. The enclosure of claim 11 where the hinge is centered at a location offset from the longitudinal axis in the direction of the exit port.

14. The enclosure of claim 13 where the hinge has a plurality of connectors to the enclosure, each offset from the longitudinal axis in the direction of the exit port.

15. The enclosure of claim 11 where the entry port and the exit port are each proximate the same end of the longitudinal axis.