Optical fiber management tray with dark fiber storage

Abstract

Optical fiber management tray for storing and segregating dark optical fibers, and a method of segregating and tracing dark optical fibers using such a fiber management tray. The fiber management tray includes one or more dark fiber loop storage volumes with one or more sets of structures for segregating optical fibers from one another.

Description

[0001] Attorney Docket No. 02316.9004WOU1 / 7624 WOW1

[0002] OPTICAL FIBER MANAGEMENT TRAY WITH DARK FIBER STORAGE

[0003] Cross-Reference To Related Application

[0004] This application is being filed as a PCT International application and claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 754,974 filed February 6, 2025, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0005] Technical Field

[0006] The present invention relates to telecommunications distribution systems, e.g., optical fiber distribution systems, which may include a rack and elements which populate the rack, such as optical fiber management trays for management of optical fibers, including dark fibers.

[0007] Background

[0008] Optical fiber distribution systems may include fiber terminations and other equipment which is typically rack mounted. Keeping track of individual fibers on the tray and which fibers correspond to which cables can be important when performing fiber management operations on a tray.

[0009] Summary

[0010] In general terms, the present disclosure is directed to improvements in optical fiber management trays of optical fiber distribution systems.

[0011] According to one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a fiber management tray for managing optical fibers, including: a tray body, including: a fiber management surface; an outer wall positioned at an outermost perimeter of the fiber management surface and projecting perpendicularly from the fiber management surface, a first interiorly facing surface of the outer wall and the fiber management surface defining an interior tray volume; an inner wall projecting perpendicularly from the fiber management surface, the inner wall having a second interiorly facing surface defining a loop storage volume, the loop storage volume being within the interior tray volume; and a first set of structures projecting from the fiber management surface and separating a portion of the interior tray volume that is exterior to the loop storagevolume from the loop storage volume, the first set of structures defining first segregated paths for the optical fibers, the first segregated paths extending from the portion of the interior tray volume that is exterior to the loop storage volume into the loop storage volume.

[0012] According to another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a fiber management tray for managing optical fibers, including: a tray body, including: a fiber management surface; an outer wall positioned at an outermost perimeter of the fiber management surface and projecting perpendicularly from the fiber management surface, a first interiorly facing surface of the outer wall and the fiber management surface defining an interior tray volume; a first inner wall projecting perpendicularly from the fiber management surface, the first inner wall having a second interiorly facing surface defining a first loop storage volume, the first loop storage volume being within the interior tray volume; a first set of structures projecting from the fiber management surface and separating a first portion of the interior tray volume that is exterior to the first loop storage volume from the first loop storage volume, the first set of structures defining first segregated paths for some of the optical fibers, the first segregated paths extending from the first portion of the interior tray volume into the first loop storage volume; a second set of structures projecting from the fiber management surface and positioned entirely within the first loop storage volume, the second set of structures defining second segregated paths for the some of the optical fibers; a second inner wall projecting perpendicularly from the fiber management surface, the second inner wall having a third interiorly facing surface defining a second loop storage volume, the second loop storage volume being within the interior tray volume; a third set of structures projecting from the fiber management surface and separating a second portion of the interior tray volume that is exterior to the second loop storage volume from the second loop storage volume, the third set of structures defining third segregated paths for others of the optical fibers, the third segregated paths extending from the second portion of the interior tray volume into the second loop storage volume; and a fourth set of structures projecting from the fiber management surface and positioned entirely within the second loop storage volume, the fourth set of structures defining fourth segregated paths for the others of the optical fibers; opposing entryways for routing the optical fibers from exterior to the fibermanagement tray into the interior tray volume; and a coupler configured to pivotally mount the fiber management tray to a distribution tray.

[0013] According to another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method of managing optical fibers, including: securing a splice body splicing a first fiber to a second fiber in a splice holder of a fiber management tray; and securing an end portion of a third fiber in a dark fiber holding structure of the fiber management tray, the end portion including a free end of the third fiber.

[0014] According to another aspect, the present disclosure relates to method of managing optical fibers, including: segregating end portions of dark optical fibers in different dark fiber holding structures of a fiber management tray.

[0015] According to another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method of managing optical fibers, including: (a) storing a first dark optical fiber in a first dark fiber loop storage volume of a fiber management tray; (b) storing a second dark optical fiber and a third dark optical fiber in a second dark fiber loop storage volume of the fiber management tray; (c) securing an end portion of the third dark optical fiber in a dark fiber holding structure of the second dark fiber loop storage volume; (d) segregating a fourth dark optical fiber from the third dark optical fiber by securing an end portion of the fourth dark optical fiber in another dark fiber holding structure of the second dark fiber loop storage volume; and subsequent to (a), (b), (c) and (d): (e) removing the first dark optical fiber from the first dark fiber loop storage volume; (f) removing the second dark optical fiber from the second dark fiber loop storage volume; (g) splicing the first dark optical fiber to the second dark optical fiber to create a spliced fiber; and (h) securing a splice body of the spliced fiber in a splice holder of the fiber management tray.

[0016] According to another aspect, a method of managing optical fibers includes: (a) storing eight cable fibers in a first dark fiber loop storage volume of a fiber management tray, the eight cable fibers having mutually different colors one from another; subsequent to (a): (b) providing four pigtails, each of the four pigtails including exactly three optical fibers, the exactly three optical fibers including a first signal fiber, a second signal fiber, and a tracer fiber, each first signal fiber being a first color, each second signal fiber being a second color, and each tracer fiber being a third color, the first color, the second color, and the third color being mutually different one from another; (c) splicing each first signal fiber and each second signal fiber to one ofthe eight cable fibers to form eight fiber splices; (d) installing the eight fiber splices in splice holders of the fiber management tray; and (e) securing an end portion, including a free end, of each tracer fiber in a different dark fiber holding structure of a plurality of dark fiber holding structures of a second dark fiber loop storage volume of the fiber management tray.

[0017] A variety of additional aspects will be set forth in the description that follows. The aspects relate to individual features and to combinations of features. It is to be understood that both the foregoing 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.

[0018] Brief Description of the Drawings

[0019] The following drawings are illustrative of particular embodiments of the present disclosure and therefore do not limit the scope of the present disclosure. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and are intended for use in conjunction with the explanations in the following detailed description. Embodiments of the present disclosure will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like numerals denote like elements.

[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a distribution tray assembly according to the present disclosure.

[0021] FIG. 2 is a further perspective view of the distribution tray assembly of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a further perspective view of the distribution tray assembly of FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a top planar view of the distribution tray assembly of FIG. 1.

[0022] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the distribution tray assembly of FIG. 1.

[0023] FIG. 6 is perspective view of one of the fiber management trays of the distribution tray assembly of FIG. 1.

[0024] FIG. 7 is a further perspective view of the fiber management tray of FIG. 6. FIG. 8 is a further perspective view of the fiber management tray of FIG. 6. FIG. 9 is a further perspective view of the fiber management tray of FIG. 6. FIG. 10 is a further perspective view of the fiber management tray of FIG. 6. FIG. 11 is a further perspective view of the fiber management tray of FIG. 6. FIG. 12 is a top, planar view of the fiber management tray of FIG. 6.FIG. 13 is a top, planar view of the fiber management tray of FIG. 6 schematically illustrating example fiber routing paths defined by the fiber management tray.

[0025] FIG. 14 is a top, planar view of the fiber management tray of FIG. 6 schematically illustrating a first example fiber routing scheme.

[0026] FIG. 15 is a top, planar view of the fiber management tray of FIG. 6 schematically illustrating a second example fiber routing scheme.

[0027] Detailed Description

[0028] Various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts and assemblies throughout the several views. Reference to various embodiments does not limit the scope of the invention, which is limited only by the scope of the claims attached hereto. Additionally, any examples set forth in this specification are not intended to be limiting and merely set forth some of the many possible embodiments for the claimed invention.

[0029] Referring to FIGS. 1-4, a distribution tray assembly 100 according to the present disclosure includes a distribution tray 102 and fiber management trays 106 that are pivotally mounted to the distribution tray 102. Any suitable number of trays 106 can be pivotally mounted to the distribution tray 102. In the depicted example, 12 such trays 106 are mounted to the distribution tray 102.

[0030] Referring to FIG. 5, a portion of the assembly 100 is shown that includes the distribution tray 102 and only one of the fiber management trays 106.

[0031] Referring to FIGS. 1-5, optical fibers enter the distribution tray 102 via opposing entry passages and exit passages 108, 110.

[0032] Once in the interior tray volume 112 of the distribution tray 102, the optical fibers can be routed onto fiber management trays 106. The fiber management trays 106 can support optical fiber splices, optical fiber splitter modules, wave division multiplexers, adapters and connectors terminating optical fibers that are received in the adapters to establish optical connection between the connectorized fibers, and / or other fiber management components. The fiber management trays 106 are pivotally mounted to the distribution tray 102 and positioned within the interior tray volume 112. In FIG.

[0033] 1, all of the fiber management trays 106 are in a pivoted down position. A fibermanagement tray 106 can be pivoted up (e.g., in the direction of the arrow 113) to provide access to the fiber management area of another of the trays 106. In this manner, the fiber management trays 106 can be compactly stored in the interior tray volume 112 with trays 106 overlapping one another until access is needed to a particular one of the trays 106 to perform fiber management thereon, at which point one or more of the other trays 106 is pivoted up to provide that access.

[0034] The assembly 100 extends from a left side 114 to a right side 116 along a first axis 118. The assembly 100 extends from a front end 120 to a back end 122 along a second axis 124. The assembly 100 extends from a top 126 to a bottom 128 along a third axis 130. The axes 118, 124 and 130 are mutually perpendicular to one another.

[0035] Terms such as top, bottom, up, down, upward, downward, front, back, left, right, and the like are used for ease of description only in relating relative positions of features shown in the drawings. These terms are not intended to, and do not, limit how the devices or components of the present disclosure are, or may be, used in practice.

[0036] The distribution tray 102 includes tracks 132. The tracks 132 are configured to slidingly engage with complementary structures of a rack, such as a rack in a telecommunications distribution center or a data center, for selectively accessing the distribution tray 102 (from, e.g., among other distribution trays slidably mounted to the same rack) by sliding it out of the rack, or storing the distribution tray by sliding it back into the rack. For example, the tray 102 can be slid in and out of a rack parallel to the axis 124.

[0037] The distribution tray 102 includes an arrangement of tray couplers 136. Each tray coupler 136 includes one or more pin receivers 138 (e.g., two spaced apart pin receivers 138) and a slide stop 140. In this example, the slide stop 140 is positioned between a pair of pin receivers 138 of a given tray coupler 136. Each coupler 136 is configured to pivotally mount a fiber management tray 106. For example, the pin receivers 138 are configured to pivotally receive pins of a fiber management tray 106, while the slide stop 140 is configured to engage a structure 161 (FIG. 6) of a tray 106 to prevent sliding removal of the pins 163 (FIG. 6) of the tray 106 from the receivers 138 without first activating (e.g., flexing) the slide stop 140 to release the tray 106 and allow it to slide parallel to the axis 118 to be disengaged and removed from the distribution tray 102.Optical fibers are routed from off (exterior to) the distribution tray 102 (e.g., from another region of the rack via the passages 108, 110. Additionally, optical fibers can be routed via internal passages 141 directly to a desired tray 106, alternatively to a fiber routing region 142 of the distribution tray 102, which can redirect fibers from one side of the distribution tray 102 to the other. That is, the fiber routing region 142 can redirect a fiber so that it enters at the side of the fiber management tray 106 that is opposite the side of the tray 102 where the fiber entered the tray 102.

[0038] A splice of the optical fibers and / or another component that manages the fibers, such as a splitter module, or an adapter for optically connecting connectorized optical fibers, and the like, can be supported on the tray 106.

[0039] Referring to FIGS. 6-12, a fiber management tray 106 will be further described. The tray 106 can be used to support different types of optical fibers such as individual fibers, flat ribbon fibers, rollable ribbon fibers, and the like.

[0040] In particular examples, the fiber management tray 106 can be used to manage splice connections between pigtail fibers on the one hand, and cable fibers on the other hand. An example of pigtail fibers are optical stub fibers extending distally from a common pigtail cable sheath. The proximal ends of the pigtail optical fibers can, in some examples, be spliced to other fibers. In other examples, the proximal ends of the pigtail optical fibers can be terminated at one or more optical fiber connectors. In the latter example, the connectorized ends of the pigtail fibers can be installed in one or more optical fiber adapters for establishing live optical connections with other optical fibers whose connector(s) is / are installed on the opposing side of the adapters).

[0041] Regardless of how the proximal ends of the pigtail fibers are terminated or connected, the distal ends of the pigtail fibers are free ends until they are spliced to other fibers, e.g., until they are spliced to the cable fibers that are also routed on the tray 106. Prior to splicing or otherwise optically connecting the non-connectorized distal free ends of the pigtail fibers to the cable fibers, the pigtail fibers are considered dark fibers since they do not transmit signals from or to another fiber.

[0042] Cable fibers can be optical fibers extending from one or more of a sheathed main cable, a sheathed branch cable, a sheathed distribution cable, and the like, to proximal ends of the cable fibers, which are free ends until they are spliced or otherwise connected to other optical fibers. For example, a cable fiber can be a network provider side cable that can be routed to and spliced to a subscriber side pigtail fiber,with two fibers being organized on a tray 106 within a distribution tray 102, and the splice between the fibers held in the splice holder of the tray 106. To establish a distribution connection, the distal end of the pigtail is spliced to another optical fiber or, if connectorized, the connector is plugged into a patch panel, with the patch panel completing the signal path from the provider to the subscriber. Prior to splicing or otherwise optically connecting the free ends of the cable fibers to the pigtail fibers or other fibers, the cable fibers are considered dark fibers since they do not transmit signals from or to another fiber.

[0043] The fiber management tray 106 includes a tray body 150. The tray body 150 includes a fiber management surface 152, and an outer wall 154 positioned at an outermost perimeter of the fiber management surface 152 and projecting perpendicularly from the fiber management surface. A first interiorly facing surface 156 of the outer wall 154 and the fiber management surface 152 define an interior tray volume 158.

[0044] The fiber management tray 106 includes an arrangement 151 of structures. The arrangement 151 includes a first inner wall 160 projecting perpendicularly from the fiber management surface 152. The first inner wall 160 has a second interiorly facing surface 162 defining a first loop storage volume 164. The first loop storage volume 164 is within the interior tray volume 158. The first loop storage volume 164 can be used in some examples to store loops of one or more dark fibers only. In some examples, the first loop storage volume 164 can be used to store loops of one or more dark fibers and / or one or more connected fibers.

[0045] The arrangement 151 includes a first set 166 of structures 168 projecting from the fiber management surface 152 and separating a first portion 170 of the interior tray volume 158 that is exterior to the first loop storage volume 164 from the first loop storage volume 164. The first set 166 of structures 168 define first segregated paths 172, 174, 176, 178 that extend from the first portion 170 of the interior tray volume 158 into the first loop storage volume 164 (FIG. 13). Each of the structures 168 includes a post 167 with a fiber retention tab 169 extending from a top of the post 167. The paths 172, 174, 176, 178 are defined between adjacent posts 167 and between the fiber management surface 152 and the undersides of the fiber retention tabs 169.

[0046] The arrangement 151 includes a second set 180 of structures 182, 184, 186, 188, 190 projecting from the fiber management surface 152 and positioned entirely withinthe first loop storage volume 164. The second set 180 of structures 182, 184, 186, 188, 190 define segregated paths that are continuations of the paths 172, 174, 176, 178, respectively. The structures 182, 184, 186, 188, 190 include walls 192. The walls 192 define centrally positioned projections 194 and opposing recesses 196 such that fiber paths between adjacent pairs of the structures 182, 184, 186, 188, 190 define S-shapes. The S-shapes can retain end portions of optical fibers including the free ends of such optical fibers, between adjacent pairs of the structures.

[0047] In the example shown, the structures of the second set 180 are configured differently that than the structures of the first set 166. For example, the structures of the first set 166 can be configured to guide optical fibers whereas the structures of the second set 180 can be configured to hold end portions, including free ends, of optical fibers.

[0048] The arrangement 151 includes an organization system. In this example, the organization system includes indicia (e.g., numbers) for the different paths 172, 174, 176, 178. There are corresponding indicia between the first set 166 of structures and the second set 180 of structures such that fibers can follow the same numbered (or otherwise indicated) path through the first set 166 of structures and into the second set 180 of structures.

[0049] The body 150 includes an arrangement 200 of structures that mirrors the arrangement 151 of structures. The arrangement 200 can be used in the same manner as the arrangement 151 for routing and organizing optical fibers such as dark fibers. Alternatively, one of the arrangements 151, 200 need not be used for routing, organizing or storing optical fibers at all. Alternatively, one of the arrangements 151, 200 can be used for storage of loops of optical fibers without utilization of the indicated paths, and the other of the arrangements 151 , 200 can be used for organizing fibers by path.

[0050] An advantage of the paths defined by each of the arrangements 151, 200, such as the paths 172, 174, 176, 178, is that optical fibers that are otherwise indistinguishable from each other (e.g., their outer sheaths are the same color as one another) can be identified by the indicia of their path(s). For example, if a particular dark fiber stored in a dark fiber storage area of a tray 106 must be identified, and that dark fiber is visually indistinguishable from other dark fibers stored in the same dark fiber storage area, the particular dark fiber needed can nevertheless be identified by thepath it follows into and within the dark fiber storage area. Without the indicia of the tray differentiating different fiber paths defined by the tray, the technician would instead have to follow each dark fiber from the dark fiber storage area, possibly by lifting each fiber off the tray, back along its fiber axis to the source (e.g., the pigtail) from which it emerges until a correct optical fiber corresponding to a given desired pigtail (or the like) to manage on the tray 106 is located.

[0051] The tray body 150 includes opposing entryways 202 and 204 for routing the optical fibers from exterior to the fiber management tray into the interior tray volume 158. The entryways 202 and 204 lead to tray passages 206, 208 that cross each other in an area 210 where the fibers from both sides enter the interior tray volume 158.

[0052] The tray passages 206, 208 include retainer tabs 212 that retain the fibers within the passages 206, 208. Retainer tabs 214 extend from the top of the outer wall 154 of the tray body 150. These retainer tabs 214 retain looped fibers within the interior tray volume 158. The inner walls of the arrangements 151 and 200 include retainer tabs 216 extending from the tops of the inner walls. The retainer tabs 216 retain looped fibers within the corresponding looped fiber storage of the arrangement 151, 200.

[0053] The outward facing surfaces of the inner walls of the arrangements 151, 200 also define partial and full figure-8 shaped paths for redirecting optical fibers from one side of the tray 106 to the other side of the tray 106 without bending the fibers beyond their minimum bend radii.

[0054] The tray body 150 includes a fiber management area 220. The fiber management area 220 is within the interior tray volume 158. The fiber management area 220 can be used to, e.g., to support a fiber management component, such as a splitter, a wave division multiplexor, a fiber optic adapter that receives connectors connectorizing ends of optical fibers, and the like. In this example, the fiber management area 220 includes splice holders 222. The splice holders 222 include rows of structures, including walls and latch arms, for securely holding splice bodies that protect splices between optical fibers routed in the interior tray volume 158 of the tray 106. The splice holders 222 can in some examples be integrally formed with the tray body 150. In other examples, the splice holders 222 can be a separately molded part that is mounted to the rest of the tray body 150.

[0055] In the depicted example, the splice holders 222 include rows of structures that define four numbered channels, which serve as receivers for splice bodies. Thechannels have elongate dimensions parallel to the axis 118. Each channel is configured to support one or two splice bodies containing one or two splices. That is, the splice holders 222 are configured collectively to hold up to eight splices between eight pairs of fibers. Other configurations and numbers of splices are possible. The channels of the splice holders 222 can be numbered to correspond to the numbered pathways defined by the sets 166 and 180 of structures associated with the dark fiber loop storage area(s).

[0056] In some examples, the tray 106 is constructed of plastic. In some examples, the tray 106, including all of the structural features of the tray 106, are constructed in a single mold.

[0057] Referring to FIG. 14, an example fiber routing scheme using the tray 106 will be described. In this example, four cable fibers schematically represented by fiber group 2 enter the interior tray volume and have loops stored in the dark fiber loop storage area of the arrangement 200. In this example, the four cable fibers 3, 5, 7, 9 (FIG. 15) of the fiber group 2 are visually distinguishable from each other, e.g., they are of mutually different colors. In this example, all four of the cable fibers of the fiber group 2 are still dark fibers in that they are not optically connected in complete optical pathways. Free ends 6 of fibers of the fiber group 2 are stored in the dark fiber loop storage area of the arrangement 200.

[0058] In the example shown in FIG. 14, no pigtail fibers have yet been routed to or organized on the tray 106. In other examples, one or more pigtails, each including a set of three fiber stubs, can be routed onto the tray 106 and stored in the dark fiber loop storage area of the arrangement 151 until it is time to splice fibers of the pigtails to fibers of the fiber group 2 (or to other cable fibers managed on the tray 106).

[0059] Referring to FIG. 15, a different fiber routing arrangement is schematically illustrated. In examples, the routing arrangement of FIG. 15 can be performed at some time after the routing arrangement of FIG. 14. That is, the fiber routing arrangement of FIG. 15 can be a modification of the arrangement of FIG. 14. For example, prior to requiring any live optical connections, the tray 106 can be set up according to the fiber routing arrangement of FIG. 14. Subsequently, it can be desired to create network connections between the cable fibers 3, 5, 7 and 9, on the one hand, and one or more pigtails on the other hand. Accordingly, a technician manipulates the fiber routing arrangement of FIG. 14 to arrive at the fiber routing arrangement of FIG. 15.Still referring to FIG. 15, the individual cable fibers 3, 5, 7 and 9 of the fiber group 2 have been removed (or at least end portion lengths of them have been removed) from the storage area of the arrangement 200 and spliced, respectively, to four pigtail fibers 17a, 17b, 19a and 19b.

[0060] The pigtail fibers 17a and 17b belong, together with a tracer fiber 17c to one pigtail, whereas the pigtail fibers 19a and 19b belong, together with a tracer fiber 19c, to another pigtail.

[0061] The cable fibers 3, 5, 7, and 9 are all different colors one from another. For each pigtail, its three constituent fibers are all different colors one from another. However, fibers 17a and 19a are the same color as each other, the fibers 19a and 19b are the same color as each other, and the fibers 17c and 19c are the same color as each other. That is, the fibers 17a and 19a are visually indistinguishable from each other in and of themselves, as are the fibers 17b and 19b, and the fibers 17c and 19c.

[0062] The now live cable fibers 3, 5, 7 and 9 and pigtail fibers 17a, 17b, 19a, and 19b are routed to the splice holder of the tray 106 and the splice body or splice bodies protecting the splices of the pigtail fibers 17a, 17b, 19a, and 19b to the cable fibers 3, 5, 7 and 9 are held in the numbered splice holder (or channel) corresponding to the number of the path of the corresponding tracer fiber of 17c, 19c. For example, the splice(s) of the fibers 17a and 17b to the fibers 3 and 5 is / are held in the numbered channel (channel 4) corresponding to the numbered holder (holder 4) in which the end of the corresponding tracer fiber 17c is held within the arrangement 151. Similarly, the splice(s) of the fibers 19a and 19b to the fibers 7 and 9 is / are held in the numbered channel (channel 1) corresponding to the numbered holder (holder 1) in which the end of the corresponding tracer fiber 19c is held within the arrangement 151.

[0063] The remaining dark tracer fibers 17c and 19c can be used for tracing purposes. For example, a light signal can be sent from a connectorized end of a pigtail to determine that the pigtail corresponds to the dark fiber 17c. The end portion of the corresponding constituent fiber illuminates from the tracer signal. From there, the technician can identify the splices of the other constituent fibers 17a and 17b of the same pigtail by referencing the number of the fiber path / holder of the dark tracer fiber 17c and matching it to the corresponding splice holder channel number.

[0064] Tracer signals can also be transmitted in the opposite direction, starting from the end of the dark tracer fiber 17c that is stored in the arrangement 151. This tracingmethod allows a technician to easily determine which pigtail corresponds to a given splice or splices held on the fiber management tray 106.

[0065] Because the dark fiber paths have two sets 166 and 180 of segregating structures, a dark fiber (e.g., a tracer fiber) can be removed, e.g., from one of the sets, while still being trackable by referencing its position with respect to the other of the sets. For example, if a dark fiber is removed from the set 180 to perform a tracing operation, the dark fiber can remain within the corresponding segregated path defined by the set 166 and thereby still be easily identified and distinguished from other dark fibers.

[0066] It can be appreciated that FIGS. 14-15 represent some of many different possible ways of routing and managing optical fibers using one or both of the arrangements 151 and 200.

[0067] In one further example fiber routing arrangement for the tray 106, eight cable fibers are spliced to signal fibers of four three-fibered pigtails. The eight splices are held in the splice holder of the tray. The eight cable fibers are eight different colors. The four remaining tracer fibers of the four pigtails are dark fibers that all have the same color and stored and organized in either the arrangement 151 or the arrangement 200.

[0068] Having described the preferred aspects and embodiments 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 fiber management tray for managing optical fibers, comprising:a tray body, including:a fiber management surface;an outer wall positioned at an outermost perimeter of the fiber management surface and projecting perpendicularly from the fiber management surface, a first interiorly facing surface of the outer wall and the fiber management surface defining an interior tray volume;an inner wall projecting perpendicularly from the fiber management surface, the inner wall having a second interiorly facing surface defining a loop storage volume, the loop storage volume being within the interior tray volume; anda first set of structures projecting from the fiber management surface and separating a portion of the interior tray volume that is exterior to the loop storage volume from the loop storage volume, the first set of structures defining first segregated paths for the optical fibers, the first segregated paths extending from the portion of the interior tray volume that is exterior to the loop storage volume into the loop storage volume.

2. The fiber management tray of claim 1 , comprising a second set of structures projecting from the fiber management surface and positioned entirely within the loop storage volume, the second set of structures defining second segregated paths for the optical fibers.

3. The fiber management tray of claim 2, wherein each of the first set of structures is configured differently from each of the second set of structures.

4. The fiber management tray of any of claims 2-3, wherein the second set of structures are configured to retain end portions of the optical fibers, the end portions including ends of the optical fibers.

5. The fiber management tray of any of claims 1 -4, wherein the tray body defines opposing entryways for routing the optical fibers from exterior to the fiber management tray into the interior tray volume.

6. The fiber management tray of any of claims 1-5, wherein the tray body includes a coupler configured to pivotally mount the fiber management tray to a distribution tray.

7. The fiber management tray of any of claims 1 -6, wherein the tray body includes another inner wall projecting perpendicularly from the fiber management surface, the another inner wall having a third interiorly facing surface defining another loop storage volume, the another loop storage volume being within the interior tray volume.

8. The fiber management tray of any of claims 1-7, further comprising the optical fibers.

9. The fiber management tray of claim 2, further comprising the optical fibers, wherein the tray body includes another inner wall projecting perpendicularly from the fiber management surface, the another inner wall having a third interiorly facing surface defining another loop storage volume, the another loop storage volume being within the interior tray volume; andwherein the optical fibers include:first dark fibers of pigtails with end portions of the first dark fibers being held by the second set of structures.

10. The fiber management tray of claim 9,wherein the tray body includes a splice holder; andwherein the optical fibers include second and third optical fibers that are routed in the interior tray volume and spliced together at a splice that is held in the splice holder.

11. A fiber management tray for managing optical fibers, comprising:a tray body, including:a fiber management surface;an outer wall positioned at an outermost perimeter of the fiber management surface and projecting perpendicularly from the fiber management surface, a first interiorly facing surface of the outer wall and the fiber management surface defining an interior tray volume;a first inner wall projecting perpendicularly from the fiber management surface, the first inner wall having a second interiorly facing surface defining a first loop storage volume, the first loop storage volume being within the interior tray volume;a first set of structures projecting from the fiber management surface and separating a first portion of the interior tray volume that is exterior to the first loop storage volume from the first loop storage volume, the first set of structures defining first segregated paths for some of the optical fibers, the first segregated paths extending from the first portion of the interior tray volume into the first loop storage volume;a second set of structures projecting from the fiber management surface and positioned entirely within the first loop storage volume, the second set of structures defining second segregated paths for the some of the optical fibers;a second inner wall projecting perpendicularly from the fiber management surface, the second inner wall having a third interiorly facing surface defining a second loop storage volume, the second loop storage volume being within the interior tray volume;a third set of structures projecting from the fiber management surface and separating a second portion of the interior tray volume that is exterior to the second loop storage volume from the second loop storage volume, the third set of structures defining third segregated paths for others of the optical fibers, the third segregated paths extending from the second portion of the interior tray volume into the second loop storage volume; a fourth set of structures projecting from the fiber management surface and positioned entirely within the second loop storage volume, thefourth set of structures defining fourth segregated paths for the others of the optical fibers;opposing entryways for routing the optical fibers from exterior to the fiber management tray into the interior tray volume; anda coupler configured to pivotally mount the fiber management tray to a distribution tray.

12. The fiber management tray of claim 11 ,wherein each of the first set of structures is configured differently from each of the second set of structures; andwherein each of the third set of structures is configured differently from each of the fourth set of structures.

13. The fiber management tray of any of claims 11-12, further comprising the optical fibers, wherein the optical fibers include:first dark fibers of pigtails with end portions of the first dark fibers being held by the second set of structures.

14. The fiber management tray of claim 13,wherein the tray body includes a splice holder; andwherein the optical fibers include second and third optical fibers that are routed in the interior tray volume and spliced together at a splice that is held in the splice holder.

15. A fiber distribution tray, comprising:a plurality of fiber management trays, each of the plurality of fiber management trays being one of the fiber management tray of any of claims 1-13, the plurality of fiber management trays being pivotally mounted to a body of the fiber distribution tray.

16. The fiber distribution tray of claim 15, wherein the fiber distribution tray is slidably mounted to a rack.

17. A method of managing optical fibers, comprising:securing a splice body splicing a first fiber to a second fiber in a splice holder of a fiber management tray; andsecuring an end portion of a third fiber in a dark fiber holding structure of the fiber management tray, the end portion including a free end of the third fiber.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the first fiber and the third fiber are fibers of the same pigtail.

19. The method of any of claims 17-18, further comprising transmitting a tracer signal down the third fiber.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the tracer signal propagates down the third fiber from the free end of the third fiber.

21. The method of any of claims 19-20, wherein the tracer signal is visible light.

22. A method of managing optical fibers, comprising:segregating end portions of dark optical fibers in different dark fiber holding structures of a fiber management tray.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein each of the dark optical fibers corresponds to a different pigtail that includes at least one other optical fiber.

24. The method of any of claims 22-23, wherein the dark fiber holding structures are positioned within a dark fiber loop storage volume of the fiber management tray.

25. The method of any of claims 22-24, further comprising segregating other portions of the dark optical fibers in other dark fiber holding structures of the fiber management tray.

26. The method of any of claims 22-23, further comprising segregating other portions of the dark optical fibers in other dark fiber holding structures of the fiber management tray;wherein the dark fiber holding structures are positioned within a dark fiber loop storage volume of the fiber management tray; andwherein the other dark fiber holding structures are positioned at a perimeter of the dark fiber loop storage volume of the fiber management tray.

27. A method of managing optical fibers, comprising:(a) storing a first dark optical fiber in a first dark fiber loop storage volume of a fiber management tray;(b) storing a second dark optical fiber and a third dark optical fiber in a second dark fiber loop storage volume of the fiber management tray;(c) securing an end portion of the third dark optical fiber in a dark fiber holding structure of the second dark fiber loop storage volume;(d) segregating a fourth dark optical fiber from the third dark optical fiber by securing an end portion of the fourth dark optical fiber in another dark fiber holding structure of the second dark fiber loop storage volume; and subsequent to (a), (b), (c) and (d):(e) removing the first dark optical fiber from the first dark fiber loop storage volume;(f) removing the second dark optical fiber from the second dark fiber loop storage volume;(g) splicing the first dark optical fiber to the second dark optical fiber to create a spliced fiber; and(h) securing a splice body of the spliced fiber in a splice holder of the fiber management tray.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising:(i) prior to (f), transmitting a tracer signal down the third dark optical fiber.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising:(j) prior to (i), transmitting another tracer signal down the fourth dark optical fiber.

30. A method of managing optical fibers, comprising:(a) storing eight cable fibers in a first dark fiber loop storage volume of a fiber management tray, the eight cable fibers having mutually different colors one from another;subsequent to (a):(b) providing four pigtails, each of the four pigtails including exactly three optical fibers, the exactly three optical fibers including a first signal fiber, a second signal fiber, and a tracer fiber, each first signal fiber being a first color, each second signal fiber being a second color, and each tracer fiber being a third color, the first color, the second color, and the third color being mutually different one from another;(c) splicing each first signal fiber and each second signal fiber to one of the eight cable fibers to form eight fiber splices;(d) installing the eight fiber splices in splice holders of the fiber management tray; and(e) securing an end portion, including a free end, of each tracer fiber in a different dark fiber holding structure of a plurality of dark fiber holding structures of a second dark fiber loop storage volume of the fiber management tray.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising:(f) transmitting a tracer signal down the tracer fiber of one of the four pigtails.

32. The method of any of claims 30-31 , wherein (d) is performed before (c).

33. The method of any of claims 30-32, wherein (e) is performed before (c) and / or before (d).

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