Double plate for mounting fiber optic adapters

Abstract

A mounting plate assembly includes a main plate for receiving fiber optic adapters in openings where one or more flanges and one or more spring clips secure the fiber optic adapter to the main plate. A secondary plate with corresponding openings positioned in a spaced apart orientation relative to the main plate for receiving a body portion of each fiber optic adapter, wherein the secondary plate restricts rotational movement of the fiber optic adapters relative to the main plate relative to a connection axis of each fiber optic adapter. The mounting plate assembly is part of a panel or module which has an enclosed or partially enclosed interior behind the main plate.

Description

[0001] DOUBLE PLATE FOR MOUNTING FIBER OPTIC ADAPTERS

[0002] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0003] This application is being filed as a PCT International application and claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 529,622, filed July 28, 2023, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0004] BACKGROUND

[0005] Fiber optic adapters may be mounted to various structures for holding the fiber optic adapters in an organized manner. For example, the fiber optic adapters may be mounted to a panel. The panel may be open at the backside, with cable management structures to cables extending to the backside of the panel. The fiber optic adapters may be mounted to a panel structure that forms an enclosed or partially enclosed interior behind the fiber optic adapters.

[0006] Improvements are desired for devices and methods for mounting fiber optic adapters.

[0007] SUMMARY

[0008] In one aspect, fiber optic adapters are mountable to a mounting plate assembly for holding the fiber optic adapters in an organized manner. The mounting plate assembly may include a main plate for receiving the fiber optic adapter in an opening wherein one or more flanges and one or more spring clips secure the fiber optic adapter to the main plate. A plurality of openings in the main plate each receive a fiber optic adapter for securing a plurality of the fiber optic adapters to the main plate.

[0009] In one example, the fiber optic adapters are arranged in one or more rows, and one or more columns in the main plate. The main plate may be a termination panel for receiving rear connectors of a first cable and front connectors of a second cable. The main plate may be part of a panel or module which has an enclosed or partially enclosed interior behind the main plate. Fiber circuitry can be contained within the interior. A rear panel of additional fiber optic adapters may also be provided.

[0010] A secondary plate with corresponding openings is positioned in a spaced apart orientation relative to the main plate for receiving a body portion of each fiber optic adapter. The secondary plate restricts rotational movement of the fiber optic adapters relative to the main plate relative to a connection axis of each fiber optic adapter.

[0011] In one example, a fiber optic connector and adapter arrangement usable with the mounting plate assembly is an MPO connector and adapter arrangement. The adapter mounts to the main plate with a spring clip and opposed flanges. MPO connectors and adapters utilize mating pins and sockets between two connectors. If the adapter holding one of the connectors at an angle, there is a potential for damage to the ferrule end face by the pins of the other connector, as the other connector is inserted into the adapter. By using the secondary plate in the mounting plate assembly, the fiber optic adapter may be held more securely for receipt of a mating connector and allow for proper alignment of the pins and sockets.

[0012] The mounting plate assembly may form a front portion of a panel. The panel has a front, rear, opposite sides, a top and a bottom forming enclosed interior. The interior may include various cables wherein the cables are terminated by connectors which connect to the rear side of the fiber optic adapters of the mounting plate assembly. The front side of the fiber optic adapters can be connected to patch cords or other cables.

[0013] In one example, the mounting plate assembly is made from sheet metal.

[0014] In one example, the panel including the mounting plate assembly is made from sheet metal.

[0015] In one example, the mounting plate assembly and / or the panel can be mounted to a rack.

[0016] A variety of additional inventive aspects will be set forth in the description that follows. The inventive aspects can relate to individual features and to combinations of features. It is to be understood that both the forgoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the broad inventive concepts upon which the embodiments disclosed herein are based.

[0017] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the description, illustrate several aspects of the present disclosure. A brief description of the drawings is as follows:

[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a panel in accordance with the disclosure.

[0020] FIG. 2 is a top view of the panel of FIG. 1, without the top plate. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional top view of the panel of FIG. 1.

[0021] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of the cross-sectional top view of FIG. 3.

[0022] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an example fiber optic adapter including a rear connector.

[0023] FIG. 6 is a top view of the adapter and connector of FIG. 5.

[0024] FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the adapter and connector of FIG. 5.

[0025] FIG. 8 is a first side view of the adapter and connector of FIG. 5.

[0026] FIG. 9 is an opposite side view of the adapter and connector of FIG. 5.

[0027] FIG. 10 is a first end view of the fiber optic adapter of FIG. 5, showing an open front port, including a movable shutter.

[0028] FIG. 11 is an opposite end view of the fiber optic adapter of FIG. 5, showing the rear connector mated with the adapter.

[0029] FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the panel of FIG. 1.

[0030] FIG. 13 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the panel of FIG. 12.

[0031] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a panel in accordance with the disclosure.

[0032] FIG. 15 is a top view of the panel of FIG. 14, without the top plate.

[0033] FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional top view of the panel of FIG. 14.

[0034] FIG. 17 is an exploded view of the panel of FIG. 14, showing the main panel separated from a remainder of the panel.

[0035] FIG. 18 is a further exploded view of the panel of FIG. 17, showing two adapters separated from the main panel.

[0036] FIG. 19 is a front perspective view of an MPO fiber optic connector with pins.

[0037] FIG. 20 is a front perspective view of an MPO fiber optic connector with sockets for mating with the MPO fiber optic connector with pins of FIG. 19.

[0038] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary aspects of the present disclosure that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

[0040] Referring now to FIGS. 1-13, a first embodiment of a fiber optic panel 10 is shown. Panel 10 may also be referred to as a fiber optic module. Panel 10 includes a plurality of fiber optic adapters 20 which connect two fiber optic connectors at opposite ends of each adapter. The fiber optic connectors each terminate fiber optic cables. Panel 10 may be mounted to a fiber optic equipment rack with other panels or other equipment. Panel 10 includes two mounting flanges 12 for mounting to the rack or other structure.

[0041] Panel 10 includes a front 30, a rear 32, a first side 34, a second side 36, a top 38 and a bottom 40. Panel 10 may be constructed of metal components, such as sheet metal and fasteners.

[0042] The front 30 of panel 10 includes a mounting plate assembly 50 for holding the fiber optic adapters 20. Mounting plate assembly 50 includes a main plate or panel 58 and a secondary plate or panel 60. Both the main plate 58 and the secondary plate 60 include a plurality of respective openings 64, 68 for receiving the fiber optic adapters 20 along a connection axis 70.

[0043] The rear 32 of panel 10 can also include a similar mounting plate assembly 50 to hold fiber optic adapters 20.

[0044] The openings 64, 68 are generally rectangular, sized for a desired fiber optic adapter to be mounted to the mounting plate assembly. Openings 64, 68 are in alignment along the connection axis 70.

[0045] The main plate 58 and the secondary plate 60 can be made from sheet metal, and fastened to each other or to the rest of the panel or other structures with fasteners. The main plate 58 and the secondary plate 60 may include upper and lower flanges 72 extending rearwardly.

[0046] Main plate 58 and secondary plate 60 are spaced apart from one another in an axial direction along the connection axis 70, as will be described in greater detail below.

[0047] The fiber optic adapters 20 are held by the mounting plate assembly 50 in an organized manner in one or more rows and one or more columns in the mounting plate assembly 50.

[0048] Referring now to FIGS. 6-11, each fiber optic adapter 20 includes a main body 90 including a first end 100 and an opposite second end 102 along the connection axis 70. Each fiber optic adapter 20 includes a top 104, a bottom 106, and first and second sides 110, 112. Each of first end 100 and second end 102 defines a respective connector port or opening 114, 116. The fiber optic adapter 20 holds two fiber optic connectors in axial alignment along connection axis 70 to allow fiber signal transmission between cables 128, each terminated by each connector. A fiber optic connector 120 is shown positioned in opening 116 of second end 102 of fiber optic adapter 20. In the example shown, fiber optic connector 120 is a multifiber connector for terminating multiple fibers, such as 12, 16 or 24. In the example shown, fiber optic connector 120 is an MPO connector. A similar fiber optic connector 120 is positionable in opening 114 of first end 100.

[0049] Each fiber optic adapter 20 includes a flange 130 on each side 110, 112. Each flange 130 includes a shoulder 132. Fiber optic adapter 20 includes a spring clip 134 with a spring arm 136 on each side 110, 112 extending in a direction toward each flange 130.

[0050] When each fiber optic adapter 20 is mounted to main plate 58, second end 102 is inserted into one of the openings 64 in a rearward direction along the connection axis 70. Spring arms 136 deflect inwardly until the spring arms 136 are clear of the opening 64, thereby positioning main plate 58 between shoulder 132 of flange 130 and the ends 138 of the spring arms 136 of the spring clip 134.

[0051] Secondary plate 60 is provided to limit movement of each fiber optic adapter 20 relative to the connection axis 70. Secondary plate 60 is spaced from main plate 58 along the connection axis 70. Each opening 68 receives and surrounds a portion of a body 90 of fiber optic adapter 20. This opening 68 limits movement of each fiber optic adapter 20 relative to connection axis 70.

[0052] Main plate 58 includes a planar portion 150 having ends 152, 154, a top 156 and a bottom 158. Planar portion 150 includes a front face 162 and a rear face 164. Openings 64 for the fiber optic adapters 20 extend between the front and rear faces 162, 164.

[0053] Secondary plate 60 includes a planar portion 170 having ends 172, 174, a top 176 and a bottom 178. Planar portion 170 includes a front face 182 and a rear face 184. Openings 68 for the fiber optic adapters 20 extend between the front and rear faces 182, 184.

[0054] In the example shown, the fiber optic connector and adapter arrangement usable with the mounting plate assembly is an MPO connector and adapter arrangement. The fiber optic adapter 20 mounts to the main plate 58 with the spring clip 134 and the opposed flanges 130. MPO connectors and adapters utilize mating pins 124 and sockets 126 between the ferrule end faces 122 of two connectors 120. If the fiber optic adapter holding one of the connectors 120 is at enough of an angle relative to the connection axis 70, such as due to tolerances needed for manufacture, there is a potential for damage to the ferrule end face with the sockets 126 by the pins 124 of the other connector not being in alignment as the pins enter the sockets. The rotation can be vertical, or horizontal, or both. A ceramic ferrule can be damaged by the metal pins 124, engaging the socket edges if there is not good alignment of the pins 124 to the sockets 126. By using the secondary plate 60 in the mounting plate assembly 50, the fiber optic adapter may be held more securely for receipt of a mating connector and allow for proper alignment of the pins and sockets along the connection axis 70.

[0055] The mounting plate assembly 50 may also reduce movement of the fiber optic adapters 20, caused by a loose fit, again due to tolerances. Such a loose fit can sometimes cause the fiber optic adapters to rattle when the equipment is moved or accessed by a technician.

[0056] Other fiber optic adapters 20 and fiber optic connectors 120 can be utilized with an appropriately configured panel 10.

[0057] As shown in FIGS. 1-13, secondary plate 60 is positioned in front of main plate 58.

[0058] As shown in FIG. 4, secondary plate 60 is positioned at a spaced apart distance from main plate 58 so as to contain flanges 130 of the fiber optic adapters 20 between rear face 184 of secondary plate and front face 162 of main plate 58 restricting movement along the axis 70.

[0059] Referring now to FIGS. 14-18, a modified fiber optic panel 1010 is shown. Modified fiber optic panel 1010 includes a modified mounting plate assembly 1050. Modified mounting plate assembly 1050 includes a similarly constructed main plate 1058, and a similarly constructed secondary plate 1060. One difference is that the main plate 1058 is positioned in front of the secondary plate 1060. A further difference is that the flanges 130 of the fiber optic adapters 20 are not contained between the main plate 1058 and the secondary plate 1060. Instead, the secondary plate 1060 is positioned around an opposite end portion of the fiber optic adapters 20.

[0060] Having described the preferred aspects and implementations of the present disclosure, modifications and equivalents of the disclosed concepts may readily occur to one skilled in the art. However, it is intended that such modifications and equivalents be included within the scope of the claims which are appended hereto.

Claims

What is claimed is:1, A mounting plate assembly for holding the fiber optic adapters, comprising: a main plate for receiving the fiber optic adapter in an opening wherein one or more flanges and one or more spring clips secure the fiber optic adapter to the main plate; a plurality of openings in the main plate that each can receive a fiber optic adapter for securing a plurality of the fiber optic adapters to the main plate; wherein the openings are arranged in one or more rows, and one or more columns in the main plate; a secondary plate with corresponding openings positioned in a spaced apart orientation relative to the main plate for receiving a body portion of each fiber optic adapter, wherein the secondary plate restricts rotational movement of the fiber optic adapters relative to the main plate relative to a connection axis of each fiber optic adapter.

2. The mounting plate assembly of claim 1 , wherein the main plate is part of a panel which has at least a partially enclosed interior behind the main plate.

3. The mounting plate assembly of claim 1, wherein the mounting plate assembly forms a front portion of a panel, the panel having a front, a rear, opposite sides, a top and a bottom forming an enclosed interior.

4. The mounting plate assembly of claims 2 or 3, wherein the panel is made from sheet metal.

5. The mounting plate assembly of claim 1 , wherein the mounting plate assembly is made from sheet metal.

6. The mounting plate assembly of any of claims 1-5, wherein the mounting plate assembly can be mounted to a rack.

7. The mounting plate assembly of any of claims 2-4, wherein the panel can be mounted to a rack.

8. The mounting plate assembly of any of claims 1-7, wherein the main plate includes upper and lower flanges extending rearwardly.

9. The mounting plate assembly of any of claims 1-8, wherein the secondary plate includes upper and lower flanges extending rearwardly.

10. The mounting plate assembly of any of claims 1-9, further comprising fiber optic adapters in at least some of the openings of the main plate and the secondary plate.

11. The mounting plate assembly of claim 10, wherein the fiber optic adapters are MPO fiber optic adapters.

12. The mounting plate assembly of claims 10 or 11 , wherein cables terminated by connectors connect to the rear side of the fiber optic adapters of the mounting plate assembly.

13. The mounting plate assembly of any of claims 1-12, wherein the secondary plate is positioned in front of the main plate.

14. The mounting plate assembly of any of claims 1-12, wherein the main plate is positioned in front of the secondary plate.

15. The mounting plate assembly of any of claims 1-14, wherein the fiber optic adapters are insertable into the openings of the main plate from a front of the main plate.

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