HOUSING FOR CHANNEL EQUALIZER

Description

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a fiber optic enclosure, and more particularly to channel equalization modules installed in a fiber optic enclosure.Background of the Invention

[0002] The length of fiber optic cabling can vary between a customers' equipment and the financial institution or stock exchange the equipment is connected to. Financial institutions and stock exchanges are attempting to equalize the cable distance of all the fiber channels within their data center. The financial institutions and stock exchanges need to assure their customers that all data transactions will require the same amount of time to complete. If the financial institutions and stock exchanges fail to equalize the cable variation, some costumers would have an advantage over others.

[0003] Thus, it is desirable to equalize the length of cable variance with each customers' equipment and the financial institution or the stock exchange.

[0004] US 2017 / 0146763 A1 discloses a fiber optic drawer tray for fiber optic equipment having a rotatable spool for deployment of fiber optic cable comprising a horizontal base and a pair of housing engagement features on opposite sides of the horizontal base.

[0005] US 5100221 A1 discloses adaptive racking and distribution frame systems for handling optical fiber cables and including racking sections with wall portions that can be replaced without removing the section or displacing cables in the section and further including housings with moveable shelves that can be adapted to hold optical fiber splices, optical fiber connectors or optical fiber storage spools.

[0006] US 2009 / 0074370 A1 discloses a fiber optic enclosure assembly including a housing having an interior region and a bearing mount disposed in the interior region of the housing.

[0007] WO 2008 / 027201 A2 discloses a pre-connectorized network interconnection apparatus including a housing defining at least one opening for mounting at least one adapter therein, a cable storage tray movably attached to the housing movable between an opened position and a closed position for cable access, and a predetermined length of pre-connectorized fiber optic cable maintained on the storage tray.

[0008] WO 2011 / 116081 A1 describes a fiber optic network for a multiple dwelling unit (MDU). The fiber optic network comprises a riser cable optically connected to a feeder cable providing optical communication service to the MDU. A payout reel is adapted to pay out the riser cable such that the riser cable extends between the lower level and at least one of the one or more distribution levels. The payout reel is adapted to store a length of the riser cable when a first riser optical connector is received by a first adapter and a second riser optical connector is received by a second adapter. EP 1211527 A1 discloses a thin member comprising a plurality of optical fibers having different lengths suitable to address transfer time differences.Summary of the Invention

[0009] The invention to which the present European patent relates, concerns a channel equalization enclosure according to claim 1 and a method for equalizing length of cable variance according to claim 9.

[0010] A channel equalization enclosure designed to equalize the length of cable variance with customers' equipment in a data center. The channel equalization enclosure includes a housing and a plurality of channel equalization modules mounted in the housing. Each channel equalization module has a spool of bulk fiber to accommodating a specified fiber length to equalize the communication channels between customers' equipment and a financial institution in the data center.Brief Description of the Drawings

[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a channel equalization enclosure of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the channel equalization enclosure of FIG. 1 with the top removed to illustrate the channel equalization modules. FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of one of the channel equalization modules of FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the channel equalization module of FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the channel equalization enclosure of FIG. 1, installed on equipment rails and fiber optic cables plugged in, with the top removed to illustrate the channel equalization modules. Detailed Description

[0012] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a channel equalization enclosure 10 of the present invention.

[0013] FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the channel equalization enclosure 10 with the top removed. The channel equalization enclosure 10 is a sheet metal housing 20 designed to house four channel equalization modules 30. The housing 20 includes a removable top 22 (see FIG. 1) and a front flange 24.

[0014] FIG. 3 illustrates one of the channel equalization modules 30. The channel equalization module 30 includes a top 32, a bottom 34, sides 36, 38, a front 40, and a back 60. In FIG. 3, part of the top 32 and part of a side 36 of the channel equalization module 30 are removed so the inside of the module 30 is visible. The channel equalization module 30 includes a spool of slack bulk fiber 50 to accommodate a specific fiber length needed to equalize the communication channel.

[0015] For example, if the longest fiber channel in a financial institutions' data center is 230 meters and another fiber channel is 200 meters, the channel equalization module will have an additional 30 meters of slack bulk fiber 50 to make up the difference of the shorter fiber channel.

[0016] Once the equalization fiber length is determined, the specific channel equalization module is selected and installed. Each channel equalization module 30 is designed to accommodate specific lengths of fiber cabling. The channel equalization module 30 includes tamper resistance labels 70 to ensure the channel equalization modules 30 are not opened and altered.

[0017] The slack bulk fiber 50 will be terminated with a multifiber connector 54 on one end. The multifiber connector 54 would be installed into an adapter 62 in the back 60 of the module 30. The incoming cable from the financial institution is plugged into adapter 62. The opposite end of the slack bulk fiber 50 will be terminated with a plurality of single fiber connectors 56 installed in adapters 42 in the front 40 of the module 30.

[0018] As illustrated in FIG. 4, a guard 64 is installed over the multifiber connector adapter 62 in the back 60 of the channel equalization module 30. The guard 64 is secured to the module 30 with a tamper resistant screw 66. The guard 64 covers the release of the multifiber connector adapter 62, making removal of the multi fiber connector adapter 62 very difficult. Thus, the guard 64 prevents users from switching channel equalization modules 30 to alter the equalized channels in the data center.

[0019] Referring to FIG. 5, the front flange 24 has mounting holes 26 (see FIG. 2), which allow the channel equalization enclosure to be mounted to standard 19" equipment rails 72 of a data center cabinet or rack using screws 73. The housing 20 includes knock out holes 25 (see FIG. 2), one or more of which are to be removed to serve as entrance for incoming cable 80 from the financial institution, into the housing 20. The incoming cable 80 from the financial institution is plugged into an adapter 62 (see FIG. 3) in the back of the module 30. The patch cords 71, connected to customers' equipment, are plugged into the single fiber adapters 42 of modules 30.

[0020] The channel equalization module 30 will serve as a connection point between the cable from the financial institution or the stock exchange and the patch cords connected to customers' equipment.

[0021] Furthermore, while the particular preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention as defined by the claims.

[0022] The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only and not as limitation. The actual scope of the invention is intended to be defined in the following claims when viewed in their proper perspective based on the prior art.

Claims

1. A channel equalization enclosure (10) for equalizing length of cable variance, the channel equalization enclosure comprising: a housing (20); and a plurality of channel equalization modules (30) mounted in the housing, each channel equalization module corresponding to a respective fiber channel shorter than a longest fiber channel, each channel equalization module comprising a spool of bulk fiber (50) having an equalization fiber length making up differences between the longest fiber channel and the respective fiber channel, each equalization fiber length being the difference between a length of the longest fiber channel in a data center and the respective shorter fiber channel.

2. The channel equalization enclosure of claim 1, wherein the housing has a removable top (22).

3. The channel equalization enclosure of claim 1, wherein the housing having a front flange (24) for enabling the housing to be mounted to equipment rails (72).

4. The channel equalization enclosure of claim 1, wherein the channel equalization modules having a tamper resistant label (70) to ensure the channel equalization modules are not altered.

5. The channel equalization enclosure of claim 1, wherein the spool of bulk fiber is terminated with a multifiber connector (54) on one end and a plurality of single fiber connectors (56) at an opposite end.

6. The channel equalization enclosure of claim 5, wherein the multifiber connector is installed in an adapter (62) at a back (60) of each channel equalization module and the plurality of single fiber connectors are installed in adapters (42) at a front (40) of each channel equalization module.

7. The channel equalization enclosure of claim 6, wherein a guard (64) is installed over the adapter and multifiber connector at the back of each channel equalization module to prevent users from altering each channel equalization module.

8. The channel equalization enclosure of claim 1, wherein the channel equalization modules serve as a connection point between cable (80) from a financial institution and patch cords (71) connected to customer equipment.

9. A method for equalizing length of cable variance, the method comprising the steps of: determining a length of a longest fiber channel of a plurality of fiber channels in a data center; determining a respective equalization fiber length to make up a difference between the longest fiber channel and a respective shorter fiber channel of the plurality of fiber channels; selecting, for each shorter fiber channel, a channel equalization module to provide the respective equalization fiber length between the shorter fiber channel and the longest fiber channel; and installing the channel equalization module in a housing secured to an equipment rail in the data center.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of providing a spool of bulk fiber in the channel equalization module for accommodating the equalization fiber length to equalize a communication channel, wherein the spool of bulk fiber is terminated with a multifiber connector installed in an adapter on one end and a plurality of single fiber connectors installed in adapters at an opposite end.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of connecting the channel equalization module to an incoming cable from a financial institution on one end and patch cords connected to costumers' equipment at an opposite end.