Extractable Fiber Organizer Tray for Compact Terminal Enclosure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing terminal enclosures for optical fibers lack the capability to efficiently manage multiple fibers per subscriber, especially in high-population areas, where regulations require separate fibers for each provider, necessitating a solution that allows for easy installation, splicing, and storage of fibers with a compact design.

Innovation Solution

A terminal enclosure with an extractable fiber organizer tray that integrates splicing, storage, and connector mounting functions, featuring a two-level cable guide and fiber spools to secure and protect fibers, allowing for efficient management and minimization of the enclosure's volume, made from materials like Polycarbonate and Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene for ease of manufacturing and installation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple fibers are installed per subscriber to meet regulatory requirements, then fiber capacity and adaptability are improved, but enclosure complexity and difficulty of management increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiber capacityVSAvoidenclosure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The enclosure is divided into functional modules: a base unit and an extractable tray. The tray can be removed for external fiber management operations, separating the permanent enclosure structure from the temporary fiber handling components. This segmentation allows multiple fibers to be managed without permanently complicating the enclosure design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The tray containing fiber management functions is extracted from the base enclosure. This allows all fiber splicing, storage, and connector mounting operations to be performed externally on the tray, while the base enclosure remains simple and compact. The extraction principle resolves the contradiction by moving complexity outside the permanent structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of operation

If an extractable tray with all management functions is implemented, then ease of operation and installation are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of installationVSAvoidtray structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple fiber management functions (splicing, storage, connector mounting) are merged into a single extractable tray. This consolidation allows all operations to be performed in one location external to the base enclosure, simplifying installation procedures despite the tray itself being a multi-functional component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The extractable tray is designed as a universal platform that can accommodate multiple fibers, splices, and connectors simultaneously. Its multi-functional design allows it to handle various fiber management tasks, improving ease of operation while the modular nature keeps the overall system manageable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If fiber storage and splicing areas are integrated on the tray, then fiber management efficiency is improved, but tray volume and enclosure size increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiber management efficiencyVSAvoidtray volume
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The tray utilizes three-dimensional space efficiently by arranging fiber storage areas, splicing zones, and connector mounting positions in vertical and lateral dimensions rather than only horizontal space. This dimensional arrangement maximizes fiber management capacity within a compact tray volume.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The tray design nests fiber storage and splicing functions within a compact external structure. Smaller functional elements are arranged to fit within the overall tray footprint, maximizing space utilization and keeping the tray volume minimal while maintaining all necessary fiber management capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentEP2365364B1Terminal enclosure with extractable fiber organizer tray
Publication Date: 2018.09.26 CORNING RES & DEV CORP
  • EP2365364B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP2365364B1 patent drawingFigure 1C~2
  • EP2365364B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A terminal enclosure 1 for optical fibers for communication comprising a housing, including a base 2 and a cover, and an extractable fiber organizer tray 11, that is disposable in the housing having a first and a second side. The extractable fiber organizer tray comprises a splicing portion 12, a fiber connector mounting portion 28 and portions for storing an entering jacketed cable 14 as well as the fibers 13 of the stripped portion of the cable 6.