Fiber Optic Adapter Unit for Incompatible Tray Compatibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Telecommunications systems, such as fiber optic enclosures, often have sub-components with incompatible connection features, limiting compatibility and requiring removal of fibers during upgrades, which is inefficient and costly due to their long product life cycle.
Innovation Solution
A one-piece fiber optic adapter unit with interchangeable attachment features that can snap into trays with non-compatible designs, allowing for backward compatibility and integration of new attachment systems without disturbing the existing fiber setup, enabling the use of newer modules with older trays.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If newer modules with updated attachment features are designed to improve performance, then device performance is improved, but compatibility with older trays is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter unit serves as an intermediary component between the newer module and older tray. The adapter has a first attachment feature that interfaces with the older tray's attachment system, and a second attachment feature that interfaces with the newer module's attachment system. This mediator enables compatibility between incompatible systems without modifying the module or tray designs.
2Reliability
If attachment features are standardized over long product life cycles to ensure reliability, then reliability is improved, but adaptability to new designs is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter unit provides universal compatibility by supporting multiple attachment feature types. It can interface with both older standardized trays and newer module designs, allowing a single adapter design to serve multiple functions across different product generations and specifications.
3Reliability
If incompatible attachment features are used to enable design improvements, then device performance is improved, but ease of operation during upgrades is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The upgrade system is segmented into three separate components: the existing tray, the adapter unit, and the newer module. This segmentation allows the adapter to be installed independently on the tray, and the module to be independently attached to the adapter, simplifying the upgrade process and avoiding the need to remove existing fibers or reconfigure the entire system.
Data Source
AI summary
A telecommunications assembly includes an adapter unit, a tray, and a telecommunications component. The adapter unit can be formed with a main body defining a first attachment feature disposed on a bottom side of the main body and a second attachment feature disposed on a top side of the main body. The tray can define a base wall and a side wall extending from the base wall, the tray defining a third attachment feature removably interconnected with the first attachment feature. The telecommunications component can define a fourth attachment feature removably interconnected with the second attachment feature such that the telecommunications component is attached to the tray by the adapter unit, the fourth attachment feature being incompatible for attachment with the third attachment feature.