Device for providing enhanced optical fiber fanout length management and protection

Abstract

A transitioning device for fiber optic cable may have a housing portion with a sub-unit receiving portion. The housing portion may have a transitioning portion that may transition an input fiber cable to a sub-unit of the input fiber cable, and the sub-unit receiving portion may receive a portion of the sub-unit such that the portion of the sub-unit is stored in the housing portion and a second portion of the fanout fiber cable, which extends from the first portion of the fanout portion of the fanout fiber cable, is permitted to exit the housing portion and extend to a destination. The sub-unit receiving portion may permit storage of an excess length of the sub-unit such that tolerance of a length of the sub-unit is increased so as to provide enhanced accuracy of a length of the second portion of the sub-unit from the transitioning device to a destination.

Description

DEVICE FOR PROVIDING ENHANCED OPTICAL FIBER FANOUT LENGTH MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTIONCROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 740,686, filed December 31, 2024, currently pending, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure is directed to a device for providing enhanced optical fiber fanout length management and protection, and more particularly, to a device, such as a transitioning portion, for fiber optic cable that is configured to increase fiber cable length tolerance so as to provide enhanced protection accuracy of a fanout fiber cable length.BACKGROUND

[0003] The advancement of computing technology has provided greater volumes of electronic devices that are connected via distributed data networks. While a variety of different data cables may be employed to provide a user an ability to access remote computing components, fiber optic cabling has emerged as a preferred wired connection, due in part to robust signal carrying speed and relatively low signal noise. However, installation and reworking operations involving fiber optic cabling may be time consuming and prone to errors, in some environments.

[0004] For instance, joining separate fiber optic cables may have physical requirements, such as bending limits, splice lengths, and optical signal resolution distances, that may inhibit where, and how, fiber optic cables may be installed. The introduction of fiber optic cable transition components may aid in the reliable, and efficient, joining of separate fiber optic cables. Yet, such transition components may be plagued by relatively short fiber optic core lengths that correspond with relatively tight physical tolerances. For these reasons, a continued goal for fiber optic cable components is to provide a transition with extended fiber optic core length and greaterphysical tolerances to allow for optimized installation and / or greater transition installation site availability.

[0005] Accordingly, it may be desirable to provide a transitioning device for fiber optic cable that is configured to increase fiber cable length tolerance so as to provide enhanced accuracy of a fanout fiber cable length. For example, embodiments may provide a fanout transition that may be configured to compensate for optical fiber length differences in a multi-fiber input cable by providing a variety of different optical fiber routing paths from an entrance portion to an exit portion to improve uniformity in fanout length, and enhance manufacturing yield and ease of production.SUMMARY

[0006] In accordance with various aspects of the disclosure, a device may provide enhanced optical fiber fanout length management and accurate bend radius protection with a housing portion that may define a cavity, a fiber cable receiving portion that may be disposed in the cavity, and a cover portion that may couple with the housing portion to cover the fiber cable receiving portion and the cavity. The housing portion may include a cable transitioning portion that may transition an input fiber cable to a fanout fiber cable. The fiber cable receiving portion may receive a first portion of the fanout fiber cable such that the first portion of the fanout fiber cable is stored in the housing portion. The fiber cable receiving portion may maintain the first portion of the fanout fiber cable at a minimum bend radius. The housing portion may include an output portion that may permit a second portion of the fanout fiber cable, which may extend from the first portion of the fanout portion of the fanout fiber cable, to exit the housing portion and extend to a destination. The fiber cable receiving portion may provide enhanced optical fiber fanout length management and accurate bend radius protection by permitting storage of an excess length of the fanout fiber cable so as to increase a tolerance of a length of the fanout fiber cable and provide enhanced bend radius accuracy protection of a length of the second portion of the fanout fiber cable from the cable transitioning portion to a destination.

[0007] Embodiments of a device, in accordance with some aspects, may provide enhanced optical fiber fanout length management and bend radius protection with an optical fiber fanout length management and bend radius protection assembly that mayinclude a transition portion that may transition an optical fiber cable input portion to an optical fiber cable fanout sub-unit portion having an optical fiber fanout sub-unit excess length portion that has a fanout sub-unit excess length bend radius tolerance. The optical fiber fanout length management and bend radius protection assembly may store a first portion of the optical fiber cable fanout sub-unit portion in a stored position and allow a second portion of the optical fiber cable fanout sub-unit portion to extend to a destination portion by an extended length portion that extends from the transition portion to the destination portion. The optical fiber fanout length management and bend radius protection assembly may provide enhanced optical fiber cable length tolerance and fanout sub-unit length accuracy by selectively storing the fanout subunit excess length portion so as to increase the fanout sub-unit excess length bend radius tolerance of the optical fiber fanout sub-unit excess length portion so as to provide enhanced accuracy of the extended length portion of the second portion of the optical fiber cable fanout sub-unit portion that extends from the transition portion to the destination portion.

[0008] In some aspects, a device may provide enhanced optical fiber length management and protection assembly with an optical fiber length management and protection assembly. The optical fiber length management and protection assembly may include a transition portion that is configured to transition an optical fiber cable input portion to an optical fiber cable sub-unit portion having an optical fiber sub-unit excess length portion that has a sub-unit excess length bend radius tolerance. The optical fiber length management and protection assembly may store a first portion of the optical fiber cable sub-unit portion in a stored position and allow a second portion of the optical fiber cable sub-unit portion to extend to a destination portion by an extended length portion that extends from the transition portion to the destination portion. The optical fiber length management and protection assembly may provide enhanced optical fiber cable length tolerance and sub-unit length accuracy by selectively storing the sub-unit excess length portion so as to increase the sub-unit excess length bend radius tolerance of the optical fiber sub-unit excess length portion so as to provide enhanced accuracy of the extended length portion of the second portion of the optical fiber cable sub-unit portion that extends from the transition portion to the destination portion.

[0009] Aspects of the device may arrange the optical fiber fanout length management and bend radius protection assembly with a housing portion including a sub-unit receiving portion disposed therein. The housing portion may include a transitioning portion and the sub-unit receiving portion may store the first portion of the optical fiber cable fanout sub-unit portion in the housing portion when the first portion is in the stored position. The sub-unit receiving portion may allow the second portion of the optical fiber cable fanout sub-unit portion to exit the housing portion so as to extend to the destination portion.

[0010] Other aspects of a device may arrange the optical fiber length management and protection assembly to have a housing portion including a sub-unit receiving portion disposed therein. The housing portion may include a transitioning portion and the sub-unit receiving portion may store the first portion of the optical fiber cable subunit portion in the housing portion when the first portion is in the stored position. The sub-unit receiving portion may allow the second portion of the optical fiber cable subunit portion to exit the housing portion so as to extend to the destination portion.

[0011] Some aspects of the fiber cable receiving portion may define a channel in the cavity. Other aspects of the fiber cable receiving portion may have a plurality of retention portions that may position the first portion of the fanout fiber cable in the channel. The output portion, in some embodiments, may access an external hub portion.

[0012] Aspects of the external hub portion may maintain the second portion of the fanout fiber cable at the minimum bend radius. The housing portion, in some embodiments, may define a cavity while the sub-unit receiving portion may be disposed in the cavity.

[0013] Embodiments of the sub-unit receiving portion may maintain the input fiber cable of the fanout fiber cable at a minimum bend radius. The sub-unit receiving portion may maintain the sub-unit of the input fiber cable at the minimum bend radius, in other embodiments. The sub-unit receiving portion, in some aspects, may define a route in the cavity for the sub-unit and may define an internal route to store the subunit. Aspects of the internal route may be a circular shape around the sub-unit receiving portion.

[0014] In other aspects, a plurality of retention portions may position the sub-unit in the internal route. Aspects of the housing portion may define an external route to store the sub-unit while the external route may be positioned on an external portion of the housing portion. The external route, in some embodiments, may continuously extend from the internal route and may maintain the sub-unit at a minimum bend radius. The external route may communicate with the internal route via a recess portion of the housing portion, in some aspects. Aspects of internal route may surround the sub-unit receiving portion.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Further advantages and features of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, to which reference is made.

[0016] FIG. 1 is a line representation of aspects of a distributed network environment in which assorted embodiments can be practiced.

[0017] FIG. 2 displays a line representation of portions of a wired interconnection that may be part of the environment of FIG. 1 in various embodiments.

[0018] FIG. 3 illustrates aspects of a fiber optic cable connector that may be utilized in the interconnection of FIG. 2.

[0019] FIG. 4 conveys a perspective view of portions of a fiber optic connector structurally configured in accordance with some embodiments of this disclosure.

[0020] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of aspects of a fiber optic cable connector suspension arranged in accordance with various embodiments of this disclosure.

[0021] FIG. 6 is a side view of portions of a fiber optic cable connector suspension structurally configured in accordance with assorted embodiments.

[0022] FIG. 7 displays a perspective view of aspects of a fiber optic cable connector that may be utilized as a wired interconnection in accordance with some embodiments.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] Embodiments of this disclosure are directed to a fiber optic cable connector that is structurally configured to transition between cables with extra length and reduced tolerances that allow fiber assemblies to be produced with exact lengths.

[0024] Reference will now be made in detail to presently preferred embodiments and methods of the present disclosure, which constitute the best modes of practicing the present disclosure presently known to the inventors. However, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the present disclosure that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for any aspect of the present disclosure and / or as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present disclosure.

[0025] It is also to be understood that this present disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments and methods described below, as specific components and / or conditions may, of course, vary. Furthermore, the terminology used herein is used only for the purpose of describing particular embodiments of the present disclosure and is not intended to be limiting in any way.

[0026] As fiber optic cabling becomes more prolific in distributed data networks, hardware technology has pushed to make installation operations more efficient and reliable. With fiber optic cables having inherent physical limitations to ensure reliable performance, the joining of separate cables may present physical, and operational, challenges during installation and overtime. Some hardware components allow for the joining of fiber optic cables, but have physical features that present potential hazards to the efficient, and / or reliable, installation. As such, various embodiments are directed to hardware for joining fiber optic cables that eases the precision needed for installation to provide maximum signal carrying capabilities.

[0027] A line representation of aspects of a distributed data network 100 is illustrated in FIG. 1 in which various embodiments of a fiber optic cable connector may be practiced. The network 100 may have any number, and type, of signal sources 110connected to any number, and type, of signal destinations 120 via one or more signal pathways 130. It is contemplated that the distributed network 100 employs any number, and type, of signal pathway 130 to supply one-way or two-way signal transmission between the respective sources 110 and destinations 120.

[0028] The distributed network 100 is not limited to a particular configuration of signal pathways 130 and may utilize wireless signal pathways 132 independently, or concurrently, with wired signal pathways 134. A wired signal pathway 134 is not limited to a particular type, size, or signal carrying speed, but may be arranged to transfer signals with fiber optic aspects packaged in an environmentally protected jacket. In contrast to the wireless signal pathway 132, which converts signals into a form that may be distributed without physical aspects of wired signal pathway 134, transmitting data via a wired cable may provide greater performance and / or capabilities, such as signal integrity, reliability, speed, and cost.

[0029] While wired signal pathways 134 may provide some operational advantages over wireless signal pathways 132, the presence of a physical cable to house, guide, and protect signal carrying aspects may present challenges during installation. For instance, a wired cable may not be long enough, or physically compatible with, some installation sites, such as multi-residence complexes, that present small, tight, hidden, or otherwise hard to reach locations for distribution of numerous wired pathways 134. In some embodiments, an installation site may accommodate an interconnect 140 that connects separate wired cables 142 to allow signal transmission between sources 110 and destinations 120.

[0030] The incorporation of an interconnect 140, such as a server, switch, cassette, or splitter, into the distributed network 100 allows multiple cables 142 to form stable signal pathways 134. The use of an interconnect 140 may further provide an ability to employ different wired cables to customize the physical delivery, and electrical capabilities, provided to a destination 120. However, employing separate cables 142 to form a signal pathway 134 may involve additional physical connections that may present installation steps that occupy time and introduce susceptibility to applications of force.

[0031] A wired interconnect 200 that may be employed in the distributed data network 100 is conveyed in FIG. 2 as a line representation. In accordance with some embodiments, the interconnect 200 physically and electrically joins a signal carrying fiber optic cable 210 to multiple port portions 220 of a network component 230 via connector portion 240. It is contemplated that the fiber optic cable 210 may utilize a single fiber optic core 212 to connect to a single port portion 220. However, embodiments may concurrently utilize multiple fiber optic cores 212 packaged in a single, jacketed cable 210 to connect to a plurality of port portions 220 with separate connector portions 240, as shown in FIG. 2.

[0032] The connector portions 240 may provide physical, and electrical, engagement with the respective network component port portions 220 that corresponds with stable signal pathways that may be employed for one-way, or two-way, communications. While a single fiber optic cable 210 may efficiently provide a number of separate cores 212 that allow for concurrent stable signal pathways, the relatively delicate nature of the cores 212 may present physical thresholds that cause installation challenges and jeopardize signal carrying operation over time. For instance, the respective fiber optic cores 212 may have bending thresholds and / or optical resolution lengths that are challenging to satisfy in some installation sites, particularly when there are multiple cores 212 occupying a relatively small physical space.

[0033] As a non-limiting practical instance, installation of the respective connector portions 240 a relatively short distance 250 from the packaged cable 210 may be time consuming and risky as optical integrity through a connection, such as a splice connection, is emphasized along with maintaining the fiber optic cores 212 within their respective bending range. In other words, a tight working space, as conveyed by the distance 250 between the jacketed cable 210 and the connector portions 240, may present installation inefficiencies and risks to operational reliability as optical integrity and physical thresholds are concurrently addressed.

[0034] The joining of the respective connector portions 250 to the fiber optic cores 212 may be open, as shown in FIG. 2, covered, such as with a sheath or wrap, or facilitated with one or more hardware components. FIG. 3 illustrates a line representation of a fiber optic cable connector 300 configured in accordance withvarious embodiments to be employed as a wired interconnect as part of a distributed data network. The cable connector 300 has a single trunk cable 310 that provides a number of separate fiber optic cores 312 that are respectively joined to separate output cores 320 in a transition portion 330 defined by a transition housing 332.

[0035] In comparison to the interconnect 200 of FIG. 2 that joins connector portions of a network component 230 to fiber optic cores 212 in a relatively tight space that corresponds with a relatively short distance 250, the transition portion 330 provides fiber optic core 312 routing that allows for longer transition distances and lower production, and installation, tolerances to effectively fanout and distribute the cores 312 from the trunk cable 310. By presenting a curvilinear hub portion 334, the transition housing 332 defines a route for the assorted fiber optic cores 312 from the trunk cable 310, as illustrated by solid lines in FIG. 3.

[0036] The routing of the fiber optic cores 312 around the hub portion 334 effectively allows for longer core 312 lengths that improves manufacturing yields while easing production precision requirements. That is, a fiber optic core 312 may be wrapped around the hub portion 334 any number of times to control core length without concern for excessive core 312 bending due to the structural configuration of the hub portion 334. Such longer fiber optic core 312 lengths may provide ample material for one or more re-work operations after an initial connection with an output core2, which contrasts the relatively short transition length 250 of the interconnect 200 of FIG. 2 that does not, effectively, have enough core 212 material to remove and replace a fiber optic joint.

[0037] The transition housing 332 may further provide a variety of different core routes that allow for installation, and re-work, customization and tolerance compensation. For instance, the fiber optic core 312 routing options provided by the transition housing 332 may allow for manufacturing errors, or variances within a tolerance range, to be compensated via routing. As a result, the transition portion 330 may provide near zero fiber optic core 312 tolerance from the trunk cable 310 to the assorted output cores 322.

[0038] With the ability to compensate for varying fiber optic core 312 lengths in the transition housing 332, fiber optic cable 310 production may produce fiber assemblieswith a selected length to an exact dimension. That is, the structural configuration of the transition portion 330 may allow for any tolerance in fiber optic core 312 length to be compensated in the transition housing 332 without affecting a final assembly length, which provides a near zero transition tolerance.

[0039] FIGS. 4-7 respectively illustrate aspects of a fiber optic cable connector 400 arranged in accordance with some embodiments to provide routing options for fiber optic cores 312 distributed in a transition portion 410 from a single, packaged multi-fiber trunk cable 310 to separated output cables 322 that collectively provide an output portion 320 and each provide at least one fiber optic cores 312. It is contemplated that the transition portion 410 may be configured as any type of fiber breakout body. For instance, the transition portion 410 may be an MPO connector to a breakout or a simple multifiber cable to an individual fiber breakout. Some embodiments may characterize the transition portion 410 as a fanout, which may be any type, or size, sub-unit of a trunk cable, such as a smaller diameter multifiber cable, a bundle of tubing held by a heat shrink where a fiber cable may run through tubing, or a reinforced jacket fiber optic cable.

[0040] The perspective view of FIG. 4 conveys aspects of a transition portion 410 where fiber optic cores 312 are distributed via a transition housing 412. The assorted fiber optic cores 312 enter the transition housing 412 from a common entrance portion 416, as shown, but such arrangement is not required as various cores 312 may enter the transition housing 412 from separate entrance apertures.

[0041] The transition housing 412, in accordance with some embodiments, has a single entrance port 416 that continuously extends to an exit port 418 via an inner cavity portion 420 that is defined as fiber optic core routing paths between a central hub portion 422 and an outer flange portion 424. The inner cavity portion 420 continuously extends about the central hub portion 422 to allow fiber optic cores 312 to wrap around the central hub portion 422 without concern for excessive bending, or physical stress that may damage the respective cores 312 due to the continuous radius of the central hub portion 422 being greater than the bend threshold of a fiber optic core 312. The ability to employ the inner cavity portion 420 to create a custom fiber optic core 312 path may be complemented by the possibility of selectively utilizingseparate exit portions 418, which may be open or temporarily closed by a cover, or other obscuring component that keeps debris from the inner cavity portion 420.

[0042] The inner cavity portion 420 may be further defined by one or more retention portions 426 extending from the central hub portion 422, as shown in FIG. 4. The number, size, shape, and position of the retention portions 426 is not limited to a particular configuration, but may provide axial support to retain the fiber optic cores 312 occupying the inner cavity portion 420. While the inner cavity portion 420 may physically support the position of assorted fiber optic cores 312 between an entrance portion 416 and an exit portion 418, various embodiments may physically secure one or more fiber optic cores 312 to the respective entrance portion 416 and / or exit portion 418 with one or more securing portions, such as heat shrink, clasp, connector, or mechanical application of continuous force. Retention and physical support for fiber optic cores 312 in the inner cavity portion 420 may be provided by a cover, lid, cap, or mating portion, as illustrated in FIG. 6, that attaches at least to the central hub portion 422 and outer flange portion 424 to encapsulate the inner cavity portion 420 so that the entrance portion 416 and exit portion 418 provide the only access.

[0043] Having one or more exit portions 418 may allow for maximum customization of the possible routes various fiber optic cores 312 enter and exit the transition housing. However, such increased access to the inner cavity portion 420 may also introduce installation variance that jeopardizes operational performance and / or reliability over time. Hence, some embodiments are directed to structurally configuring the transition housing 412 with a single entrance portion 416 and a single exit portion 418, as illustrated in FIG. 5, with sufficient physical support for multiple different fiber optic core 312 routes through the transition portion 410.

[0044] The fiber optic cable connector 400 of FIG. 5 conveys a non-limiting transition housing 430 configuration that presents distinct entrance and exit portions that are respectively arranged to expand a multi-fiber input cable 310 to multiple separate output cores 322. The entrance portion 416 may have a closure region 432 that closes directly on trunk cable 310, or a multi-fiber push-on connector (MPO), to physically secure, and support, the respective fiber optic cores 312 as they enter the internal cavity portion 420 of the transition housing 430. Meanwhile, the exit portion 418 is structurally configured with support array 434 that consists of an array ofseparated posts 436 that allow for selective fiber optic core routes while being sufficiently supported, physically, for reliable fiber optic signal carrying performance.

[0045] Through operation of the array of posts 436 for exiting fiber optic cores 312 and an engagement mechanism 438 acting on the closure region 432, the installed position, and route, of the respective fiber optic cores 312 may be reliably ensured. FIG. 7 conveys how the transition housing 412 of FIG. 5 may have physically mating aspects that act to enclose the inner cavity portion 420 while securing the fiber optic core 312 position in the entrance portion 416 as well as the exit portion 418. It is contemplated that the respective mating aspects that make up the transition housing 412 may be halves with matching, or dissimilar, configurations that may be removably coupled over time to allow re-work and fiber optic core 312 adjustment operations.

[0046] For the support array 434, the separate cantilevered posts of the separate mating aspects may be structurally configured to overlap, physically connect, and / or align to contact and secure constituent fiber optic cores 312 without jeopardizing signal carrying performance. The complementary operation of the entrance portion 416 and the exit portion 418 may present a reliable and efficient transition portion 410 that allows for production tolerance compensation, greater fiber optic core 312 lengths, and re-work operations. It is noted that the transition portion 410 shown in FIGS. 5 and 7 provide a variety of different fiber optic core 312 routes internal to the transition housing 412. Meanwhile, the transition portion 410, in FIGS. 4 and 6, is structurally configured to provide fiber optic core 312 routes both internal and external to the transition housing 412.

[0047] The perspective view of FIG. 6 further conveys how the central hub portion 422, which is wholly enclosed within the transition housing 412, is complemented by a pair of external hub portions 440 that, respectively protrude from opposite lateral sides of the transition housing 412. Each external hub portion 440 has retention protrusions 442 that define fiber optic core 312 routing paths external to the inner cavity portion 420 while aiding in preventing fiber optic cores 312 from slipping off the external hub portions 440 during installation and operation over time. The retention protrusions 442 may be any size, shape, and position around the external hub portions 440, but in some embodiments, have matching recesses 444 in the transition housing 412 that allow fiber optic core 312 ingress and egress. As such, the structuralconfiguration of the transition portion 410 in FIGS. 4 and 6 may have fiber optic core 312 routing paths that continuously extend internal to the transition housing 412 or internal and external to the transition housing 412 in route between the entrance portion 416 and the exit portion 418.

[0048] Through the assorted embodiments of a fiber optic cable connector, a multi-fiber cable may be expanded into separate fiber optic cores with a transition portion that allows for exact, or ultra-low tolerance lengths. The ability to route fiber optic cores in a variety of different paths, which may include internal or internal / external routes relative to a transition housing, allows re-work operations while easing manufacturing precision required for fanout assemblies. Furthermore, the various embodiments of a transition portion allow for fiber length compensation via selected routing through the transition housing. Accordingly, a multi-fiber cable may be expanded into separate fiber optic cores by a transition portion that provides efficient manufacturing, installation, and re-work capabilities along with relatively short transition portion length that allows for inclusion in relatively small, or tight, installation environments.

[0049] Embodiments may be directed to a new type of fiber optic assembly transition that helps manufacturing of short fiber fanout assemblies and producing fiber optic fanout assemblies with exact, or ultra low tolerance lengths. The transition may be configured to have an option for internal routing of fiber optic cable within the assembly that allows manufacturing to produce re-work operations and ease their process for short fanout assemblies. Also, as the extra fiber tolerance can may be "hidden" within the transition, manufacturing can produce fanouts of exact length as the extra tolerance will be routed within the transition.

[0050] It is contemplated that multiple issues may be addressed with various embodiments. For instance, a manufacturing process of very short fiber optic fanout assemblies and tolerance associated with production when producing fanout products. In normal production, the transition of fanouts may be from a large main cable containing multiple fibers to sub-units each containing less fibers, such as 1 fiber, and the sub-units may be of a smaller diameter than the main cable.

[0051] Transitions, in some embodiments, may be made of heat shrink, or a molded shell. An issue with producing these assemblies of a short length may be that production has difficulty managing the short fibers and may lose the possibility for rework operations. A transition with internal routing, in accordance with some embodiments, may help production make these type of short fanouts as they can actually make a much longer fanout, and route the excess fiber within the transition, which may improve manufacturing yields and ease of production.

[0052] It is noted that production of a fanout assembly may ask for + / - 15-20 mm of tolerance, at a minimum, to allow for re-work or manufacturing errors. With this transition, all of the tolerance in the fiber length may be compensated in the internal routing, thus producing fanouts of a much tighter configuration with near zero tolerance. In some embodiments, a transition may contain internal routing that respects the minimum bend radius of the type of fiber being used. The internal routing may then be closed in a shell that can be hard plastic or can be over-molded or covered by a heat shrink to protect the transition. Embodiments of the transition may also provide options for varying sub-unit exit, depending on the needs of the application. The sub-unit may exit in varying fiber diameters, in some embodiments. The transition may also provide options for external fiber routing, that can be used for routing of the sub-units exiting the transition.

[0053] A fiber optic assembly transition, in some embodiments, may contain internal routing of fibers in order to produce fanouts of exact length and to ease manufacturing difficulties of very short fiber optic assemblies. Options to transition from main cable to various types of sub-units, in accordance with other embodiments, may provide an option for external routing of said sub-units.

[0054] A multi-fiber cable cassette, in some embodiments, may be configured to provide multiple different routing paths with a housing portion and a cover portion. A housing portion, such as transition housing 332, may be configured to define an inner cavity, such as cavity portion 420. A cover portion, such as housing 412, may be configured to couple to the housing portion, as illustrated in FIG. 6. The housing portion may be configured with a hub portion, such as hub portion 422, positioned within the inner cavity. The hub portion may be structurally configured with multiple internalretention portions, such as tab portions 426, to define one or more internal route portions, as shown in FIG. 4.

[0055] Each of the one or more internal route portions may be configured to extend from an input portion, such as entrance portion 416, of the housing portion to an exit portion, such as exit portion 418, of the housing portion. The input portion may be configured to be separated from the exit portion, as shown in FIG. 4. The housing portion may have a first external hub portion, such as hub portion 440, configured to define a first external route portion, as shown in FIG. 6. The cover portion may have a second external hub portion configured to define a second external route portion, as shown in FIG. 6. The housing portion may have multiple recess portions, such as recesses 444, that are configured to provide access from the inner cavity to the first external hub portion. The cover portion may have multiple recess portions, such as recesses 444, configured to provide access from the inner cavity to the second external hub portion, as illustrated in FIG. 6.

[0056] The recess portions in the housing portion and the cover portion may be separated from the input portion and the exit portion, as shown in FIG. 4. Embodiments of the hub portion, first external hub portion, and second external hub portion, may be structurally configured to compensate for at least one cable tolerance by providing the one or more internal route portions, the first external route portion, and the second external route portion from the input portion, as shown in FIG. 6.

[0057] A transitioning device, such as connector 400, for a fiber optic cable, such as cable 312 may increase fiber cable length tolerance so as to provide enhanced accuracy of a fanout fiber cable length, as shown in FIG. 4. A housing portion, such as transition housing 412 may define a cavity, such as cavity portion 420. A fiber cable receiving portion, such as hub portion 422, may be disposed in the cavity, as shown in FIG. 4. A cover portion may couple with the housing portion to cover the fiber cable receiving portion and the cavity, as shown in FIG. 6.

[0058] The housing portion may have a cable transitioning portion, such as closure portion 432, may transition an input fiber cable, such as cable 312, to a fanout fiber cable, such as output cable 320. The fiber cable receiving portion may receive a first portion of the fanout fiber cable such that the first portion of the fanout fiber cable isstored in the housing portion, as shown in FIG. 5. The fiber cable receiving portion may maintain the first portion of the fanout fiber cable at a minimum bend radius, as shown in FIG. 5.

[0059] The housing portion may have an output portion, such as exit portion 418, that may permit a second portion of the fanout fiber cable, which extends from the first portion of the fanout portion of the fanout fiber cable, to exit the housing portion and extend to a destination, such as network component 230. The fiber cable receiving portion may permit storage of an excess length of the fanout fiber cable such that tolerance of a length of the fanout fiber cable is increased so as to provide enhanced accuracy of a length of the second portion of the fanout fiber cable from the transitioning device to a destination, as shown in FIGS. 4-7.

[0060] Additional embodiments include any one of the embodiments described above, where one or more of its components, functionalities or structures is interchanged with, replaced by or augmented by one or more of the components, functionalities or structures of a different embodiment described above. It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.

[0061] Although several embodiments of the disclosure have been disclosed in the foregoing specification, it is understood by those skilled in the art that many modifications and other embodiments of the disclosure will come to mind to which the disclosure pertains, having the benefit of the teaching presented in the foregoing description and associated drawings. It is thus understood that the disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein above, and that many modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, although specific terms are employed herein, as well as in the claims which follow, they are used only in a generic and descriptive sense, and not for the purposes of limiting the present disclosure, nor the claims which follow.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A device for providing enhanced optical fiber fanout length management and accurate bend radius protection comprising:a housing portion configured to define a cavity;a fiber cable receiving portion disposed in the cavity;a cover portion configured to couple with the housing portion to cover the fiber cable receiving portion and the cavity;wherein the housing portion includes a cable transitioning portion configured to transition an input fiber cable to a fanout fiber cable;wherein the fiber cable receiving portion is configured to receive a first portion of the fanout fiber cable such that the first portion of the fanout fiber cable is stored in the housing portion;wherein the fiber cable receiving portion is configured to maintain the first portion of the fanout fiber cable at a minimum bend radius;wherein the housing portion includes an output portion configured to permit a second portion of the fanout fiber cable, which extends from the first portion of the fanout portion of the fanout fiber cable, to exit the housing portion and extend to a destination;wherein the fiber cable receiving portion is structurally configured to provide enhanced optical fiber fanout length management and accurate bend radius protection by permitting storage of an excess length of the fanout fiber cable so as to increase a tolerance of a length of the fanout fiber cable and provide enhanced bend radius protection of a length of the second portion of the fanout fiber cable from the cable transitioning portion to a destination.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the fiber cable receiving portion is configured to define a channel in the cavity.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the fiber cable receiving portion comprises a plurality of retention portions configured to position the first portion of the fanout fiber cable in the channel.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the output portion is configured to access an external hub portion.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the external hub portion is configured to maintain the second portion of the fanout fiber cable at the minimum bend radius.

6. A device or providing enhanced optical fiber fanout length management and bend radius protection comprising:an optical fiber fanout length management and bend radius protection assembly that includes a transition portion that is configured to transition an optical fiber cable input portion to an optical fiber cable fanout sub-unit portion having an optical fiber fanout sub-unit excess length portion that has a fanout sub-unit excess length bend radius tolerance;wherein the optical fiber fanout length management and bend radius protection assembly is further configured to store a first portion of the optical fiber cable fanout sub-unit portion in a stored position and allow a second portion of the optical fiber cable fanout sub-unit portion to extend to a destination portion by an extended length portion that extends from the transition portion to the destination portion; andwherein the optical fiber fanout length management and bend radius protection assembly is structurally configured to provide enhanced optical fiber cable length tolerance and fanout sub-unit length management by selectively storing the fanout sub-unit excess length portion so as to increase the fanout sub-unit excess length bend radius tolerance of the optical fiber fanout sub-unit excess length portion so as to provide enhanced management of the extended length portion of the second portion of the optical fiber cable fanout sub-unit portion that extends from the transition portion to the destination portion.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the optical fiber fanout length management and bend radius protection assembly comprises:a housing portion including a sub-unit receiving portion disposed therein; wherein the housing portion includes a transitioning portion;wherein the sub-unit receiving portion is configured to store the first portion of the optical fiber cable fanout sub-unit portion in the housing portion when the first portion is in the stored position; andwherein the sub-unit receiving portion is configured to allow the second portion of the optical fiber cable fanout sub-unit portion to exit the housing portion so as to extend to the destination portion.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein a housing portion is configured to define a cavity and the sub-unit receiving portion is disposed in the cavity.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the sub-unit receiving portion is configured to maintain the input fiber cable of the fanout fiber cable at a minimum bend radius.

10. The device of claim 6, wherein the sub-unit receiving portion is configured to maintain the sub-unit of the input fiber cable at the minimum bend radius.

11. The device of claim 6, wherein the sub-unit receiving portion is configured to define a route in the cavity for the sub-unit.

12. A device for providing enhanced optical fiber length management and protection assembly comprising:an optical fiber length management and protection assembly that includes a transition portion that is configured to transition an optical fiber cable input portion to an optical fiber cable sub-unit portion having an optical fiber sub-unit excess length portion that has a sub-unit excess length bend radius tolerance;wherein the optical fiber length management and protection assembly is further configured to store a first portion of the optical fiber cable sub-unit portion in a stored position and allow a second portion of the optical fiber cable sub-unit portion to extend to a destination portion by an extended length portion that extends from the transition portion to the destination portion; and wherein the optical fiber length management and protection assembly is structurally configured to provide enhanced optical fiber cable length toleranceand sub-unit length accuracy by selectively storing the sub-unit excess length portion so as to increase the sub-unit excess length bend radius tolerance of the optical fiber sub-unit excess length portion so as to provide enhanced management of the extended length portion of the second portion of the optical fiber cable sub-unit portion that extends from the transition portion to the destination portion.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the optical fiber length management and protection assembly comprises:a housing portion including a sub-unit receiving portion disposed therein; wherein the housing portion includes a transitioning portion; wherein the optical fiber cable input portion is configured as a fanout fiber cable;wherein the sub-unit receiving portion is configured to store the first portion of the optical fiber cable sub-unit portion in the housing portion when the first portion is in the stored position; andwherein the sub-unit receiving portion is configured to allow the second portion of the optical fiber cable sub-unit portion to exit the housing portion so as to extend to the destination portion.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the sub-unit receiving portion is configured to define an internal route to store the sub-unit, and the internal route is configured with a circular shape around the sub-unit receiving portion.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein the sub-unit receiving portion is configured with a plurality of retention portions configured to position the sub-unit in the internal route.

16. The device of claim 13, wherein the housing portion is configured to define an external route to store the sub-unit, the external route positioned on an external portion of the housing portion.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the external route is configured to continuously extend from the internal route.

18. The transitioning device of claim 16, wherein the external route is configured to maintain the sub-unit at a minimum bend radius.

19. The transitioning device of claim 16, wherein the external route is configured to communicate with the internal route via a recess portion of the housing portion.

20. The transitioning device of claim 13, wherein the internal route is configured to surround the sub-unit receiving portion.

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