Cable Slack Management for Co-Packaged Opto-Electrical Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cable routing solutions in data center switches face challenges with precise length tolerances, leading to costly manufacturing processes and high scrap rates due to length variations, which complicates assembly and serviceability, especially with high fiber counts and limited space.
Innovation Solution
A cable manager apparatus that accumulates excess fiber optic cable length within the switch housing, allowing for post-assembly length adjustment to within ±1 mm tolerances, reducing the number of required SKUs and enabling easier access and replacement of faulty assemblies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If custom assembly lengths with ±1 mm tolerances are manufactured, then cable placement accuracy is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The cable management system is divided into modular cable managers that can be independently positioned and adjusted. Each cable manager handles a specific cable assembly, allowing individual length accommodation without requiring precision manufacturing of the entire assembly. The cable manager includes segmented components (base, sidewalls, mandrels) that can be assembled and adjusted independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable manager is pre-configured with mandrels and routing channels that guide cable placement before final assembly. The excess cable length is pre-accumulated within the cable manager housing, and the cable routing path is pre-established through the mandrels, eliminating the need for post-assembly length adjustments and precision manufacturing of cable lengths.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple specific cable assembly lengths are manufactured to accommodate length variations, then adaptability is improved, but the number of SKUs and manufacturing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cable manager is designed as a universal component that can accommodate cable assemblies of varying lengths within a range. The adjustable mandrels and routing channels allow the same cable manager design to handle multiple cable length scenarios, eliminating the need for different SKUs for different cable lengths. The system provides multi-functionality through adjustable components rather than multiple fixed designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable manager incorporates adjustable and movable components (mandrels, routing channels) that can be dynamically positioned to accommodate different cable lengths. This dynamic adjustability allows a single cable manager design to adapt to various cable assembly lengths, providing versatility without requiring multiple fixed designs or SKUs.
3Adaptability or versatility
If fiber shuffles with multiple input and output connections are used, then connectivity is improved, but serviceability deteriorates due to replacement requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The fiber shuffle functionality is segmented into individual cable managers, each handling a specific cable assembly and connection. This segmentation allows individual cable managers to be accessed, removed, or replaced independently without affecting other connections. Each cable manager acts as an independent serviceable unit, improving repairability compared to integrated fiber shuffles.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable manager is designed as a separable component that can be extracted from the switch housing for serviceability. The cable manager includes integrated features (mandrels, routing channels, accumulation troughs) that are taken out as a complete serviceable unit, allowing replacement without affecting other cable assemblies or connections in the system.
4Ease of operation
If cable slack is stored inside the fiber optic assembly, then cable management is improved, but access and replacement of faulty assemblies become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The cable manager provides a nested structure where the cable assembly is routed through and stored within the cable manager housing. The cable manager acts as a container (outer doll) that holds and organizes the cable assembly (inner doll), providing structured management while maintaining access. The nested design allows the cable to be stored compactly while the cable manager itself remains accessible for removal and replacement.
Data Source
AI summary
A fiber optic cable manager is provided configured to receive at least one optical fiber optically connecting one or more fiber optic adapters to a fiber optic device. The fiber optic cable manager includes a base, a sidewall extending from the base and defining a cable input opening and a cable output opening, at least one cable optically connecting one or more fiber optic adapters to an opto-electronic device, and a plurality of mandrels extending from the base and interior to the sidewall, the plurality of mandrels and the sidewall are configured to limit bending of the at least one optical to greater than a predetermined bend radius.