High Density Fiber Chassis with Flexure and Magnetic Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
In high data rate networks, managing and accommodating a high number of fiber optic connections within limited space in equipment racks, cabinets, or frames is challenging, as existing solutions struggle to achieve sufficient connection density while maintaining accessibility for technicians.
Innovation Solution
A high density fiber distribution chassis design that includes a housing with exposed optical fiber connection elements, a flexure mechanism, and magnetic positioning features, allowing for 168 LC connections per rack unit with easy access and reduced space requirements for mounting hardware, enabling dense packing and technician access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If optical fiber connections are densely packed to increase connection density, then the number of connections per rack unit increases, but technician accessibility to connectors deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The chassis is divided into multiple modular trays, each tray containing a specific number of connection modules. This segmentation allows technicians to access specific trays independently while maintaining high overall connection density. Each tray can be accessed separately, providing ergonomic working space even in densely packed configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional surface mounting to three-dimensional spatial utilization by stacking multiple trays vertically within the rack unit. This vertical dimensionality allows 168 LC connections to be accommodated in 1U space by organizing connections across multiple stacked trays rather than attempting to fit all connections on a single plane.
2Quantity of substance
If mounting hardware space is reduced to increase connection density, then space utilization improves, but structural support and stability may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting hardware is integrated directly into the tray structure itself rather than being separate components. The tray walls and structural elements serve dual purposes: providing mechanical support and stability while simultaneously functioning as the mounting mechanism for holding connection modules. This merging eliminates the need for additional dedicated mounting hardware space.
Solution Approach 2:
The tray structure is designed to perform multiple functions: it provides structural support for the connections, serves as the mounting mechanism for modules, enables vertical stacking, and facilitates technician access. This multi-functionality allows the same structural elements to fulfill both support and space-efficient mounting roles.
3Quantity of substance
If more fiber optic cables are routed through a single rack unit, then connection capacity increases, but cable management and organization become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
Cable management is segmented by organizing cables within individual trays rather than allowing them to traverse the entire rack unit. Each tray contains and manages a subset of cables, making routing and organization more manageable. The tray structure provides natural cable pathways and containment for the fibers connected to modules within that tray.
Solution Approach 2:
The trays serve as intermediary structures between the rack mounting system and the individual fiber connections. They provide localized cable management zones that mediate between the high-level rack organization and the detailed fiber routing, simplifying the overall cable management system by breaking it into manageable intermediate segments.
Data Source
AI summary
A chassis that supports an extremely high density of fiber optic connections. The chassis may be populated with multiple rows of modules, each supporting multiple single fiber connections made with components implemented according to the LC standard. The chassis may fit within a 1 rack unit space, providing 168 LC connections per rack unit. This density may be achieved with structures that occupy little or no space within the rack unit footprint. Some of the rows of modules may be tray-less. Cable management components may be mounted to impede access to portions of a module but may flex to allow access. Modules may slide on rails that extend into the module from the rear, but do not extend to the front of the module. Sides of the chassis enclosure and a tray in the enclosure may be configured for enabling motion of the tray relative to the chassis enclosure.