Fiber Optic Harness Tray Layout to Prevent Rack Patching Errors
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Solution Overview
Problem
The chaotic and time-consuming process of routing fiber optic cables in data center equipment racks leads to frequent patching errors, increasing installation time and costs due to the complexity of connecting network equipment with distribution cables.
Innovation Solution
An optical interconnect system featuring cable harnesses with furcation housings and breakout legs, accompanied by installation trays and furcation management devices, ensures organized cable routing by aligning coupling locations on the trays with patch panel ports, minimizing patching errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional cable routing methods are used in equipment racks, then installation flexibility is maintained, but patching errors increase and installation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The installation tray creates a temporary copy or replica of the patch panel port arrangement. The tray pattern matches the port locations, allowing technicians to pre-organize connectors in the correct sequence before actual installation, thereby eliminating patching errors and reducing installation time
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary organization of fiber optic connectors on the installation tray before they are transferred to the patch panel. By pre-positioning connectors in the correct order and orientation on the tray, the system prevents errors before they occur during the actual patching process
2Manufacturing precision
If manual cable routing is performed without organizational aids, then device complexity is reduced, but installation precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The installation tray acts as an intermediary device between the cable harness and the patch panel. It provides a structured intermediate platform that organizes connectors according to the final installation pattern, improving precision without requiring complex automated systems
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the cable installation process into two distinct phases: (1) preliminary organization on the installation tray, and (2) final connection to the patch panel. This segmentation allows each phase to be optimized independently, improving overall precision while keeping individual steps simple
Data Source
AI summary
An optical interconnect system for installing fiber optic cables in an equipment rack having an equipment patch panel with a plurality of coupling port locations is disclosed. The optical interconnect system includes a plurality of cable harnesses configured for installation in the equipment rack and at least one installation tray having a plurality of coupling locations. The plurality of coupling locations receives a connector from the plurality of cable harnesses. The plurality of coupling locations on the installation tray has an arrangement that corresponds to the plurality of port locations on the at least one equipment patch panel, thereby allowing a technician to visually realize that a patching error has occurred during the installation. A method of installing fiber optic cables in an equipment rack using the optical interconnect system is also disclosed.