Fiber Optic Cassette With Over-Molded Cable Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fiber optic cassettes lack protection for optic fibers, making them susceptible to damage.
Innovation Solution
A fiber optic cassette with a reversible securing member and over-molded cable manager that encases optic fibers, featuring a cassette body with receptacles, a multifiber receptacle, and a casing that secures the optic fibers and allows for easy attachment and detachment from a tray.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If optic fibers are placed freely within the cassette body, then the cassette structure is simple, but the optic fibers are susceptible to damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements nesting by placing the optic fibers inside a protective casing that is itself housed within the cassette body. The casing acts as an inner container that protects the fragile optic fibers, while the outer cassette body provides additional protection and mounting functionality. This nested structure resolves the contradiction by adding protective layers without significantly increasing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a flexible cable manager component that can bend and conform to accommodate the optic fibers while providing continuous protection. This flexible shell allows the fibers to be routed and secured without rigid constraints, protecting them from damage while maintaining ease of installation and reconfiguration.
2Ease of operation
If a reversible securing member is added to the cassette, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics by designing a reversible securing member with movable components that can transition between engaged and disengaged states. The securing member includes flexible fingers that can deflect to allow insertion and removal, and an actuator that enables easy switching between locked and unlocked positions. This dynamic design provides simple operation while keeping the overall structure relatively compact and integrated.
Solution Approach 2:
The securing member incorporates self-latching functionality where the flexible fingers automatically engage with the tray features when the cassette is inserted, providing secure attachment without requiring additional fastening actions. The actuator mechanism allows for easy release, enabling the cassette to be quickly removed when needed. This self-service approach simplifies operation while minimizing the complexity of control systems.
Data Source
AI summary
There is disclosed a fiber optic cassette comprising a cassette body comprising a plurality of optic fiber receptacles arranged along a front thereof and a multifiber receptacle along a back thereof opposite the first end, the front and back defining a cable assembly receiving region there between, and a plurality of optic fibers. Each of the optic fibers terminated at a first end by one of the receptacles and all of the plurality of optic fibers terminated at a second end the multifiber receptacle. In an embodiment a casing is molded over a middle portion of each of the plurality of optic fibers and received within the cable assembly receiving region. In a particular embodiment the cassette is reversible and comprises a reversible securing element which is secureable on either side of the cassette body.