Fiber Management Tray With Segmented Stations For Drop Terminal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Fiber optic cable management in drop terminals is inefficient due to the lack of organized systems for guiding and retaining optical fibers, connectors, and passive optical components, leading to potential damage and misalignment issues during installation and operation.

Innovation Solution

A management tray is designed to be placed inside a drop terminal, featuring input cable anchor stations, connector storage stations, splice retention stations, and splitter retention stations, which organize and secure optical fibers and components, ensuring proper alignment and protection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If fiber optic cables are installed in drop terminals without an organized management system, then installation and operation become simpler, but damage and misalignment issues increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation simplicityVSAvoidconnection reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The management tray is divided into multiple functional stations (input cable anchor station, connector storage stations, splice retention station, splitter retention station) that segment the fiber management process into organized sections, allowing simple installation while preventing damage through structured organization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The management tray acts as an intermediary component between the drop terminal and fiber optic cables, providing a structured platform that organizes and protects components while maintaining ease of installation through its pre-configured station design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If fiber optic cables are installed without retention structures, then installation becomes faster, but misalignment and damage risks increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation speedVSAvoidalignment precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The management tray is pre-configured with retention structures, anchor stations, and alignment features before installation, allowing installers to quickly connect fibers without complex alignment procedures while ensuring precise positioning through pre-established reference points

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The retention structures and anchor stations are designed to automatically guide and secure fiber optic cables in proper alignment during installation, eliminating the need for complex manual alignment procedures while maintaining high precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS12019295B2Fiber management tray for drop terminal
Publication Date: 2024.06.25 COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC
  • US12019295B2 patent drawing
  • US12019295B2 patent drawing
  • US12019295B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A management tray is disposed inside a drop terminal to organize and guide optical fibers. The management tray may define an anchor station, connector storage stations, a splice retention station, a fanout station, and/or a splitter retention station.