Removable Fiber Optic Terminal Angled Adapters for Rack Space Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
In data centers and central offices, limited and expensive space poses a challenge for maximizing the use of equipment rack space while minimizing the number of racks, particularly for fiber optic equipment and components.
Innovation Solution
A zero-U, high-density fiber optic terminal that is removably mountable to cable trays, subfloors, or walls, featuring an adapter panel with angled fiber optic adapters for easy connectivity and cable management, allowing for optical fiber interconnection and storage without occupying rack space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If fiber optic equipment is mounted in equipment racks, then fiber optic interconnections can be supported, but equipment rack space is consumed and rack quantity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fiber optic terminal is extracted from the equipment rack environment and mounted independently on walls, cable trays, or sub-floors. This removes the space-consuming aspect while retaining the fiber optic interconnection function, directly resolving the contradiction between supporting interconnections and consuming rack space
Solution Approach 2:
The fiber optic terminal is designed to be universally mountable on multiple surfaces (walls, cable trays, sub-floors) rather than being rack-specific. This multi-functionality allows the same device to support fiber optic interconnections without requiring dedicated rack space, thereby resolving the space consumption issue
2Ease of operation
If more equipment racks are installed to maximize fiber optic equipment placement, then fiber optic equipment can be properly positioned, but the number of racks increases and space efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The fiber optic terminal acts as an intermediary device that provides fiber optic interconnection capabilities outside the rack environment. By mounting on existing structures like walls and cable trays, it enables proper equipment positioning without requiring additional racks, thus maintaining space efficiency while achieving ease of operation
3Stability of the object's composition
If fiber optic terminals are fixedly mounted, then stable installation is achieved, but flexibility for reconfiguration and maintenance is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system incorporates removable and adjustable mounting mechanisms that allow the fiber optic terminal to be dynamically repositioned or reconfigured. This dynamic capability provides both stable installation when mounted and flexibility when reconfiguration or maintenance is needed, resolving the contradiction between stability and adaptability
Data Source
AI summary
A zero-U, high-density fiber optic terminal for data centers and central offices is disclosed. The terminal may be used for optical fiber interconnection and/or optical fiber and fiber optic cable storage. The terminal is removably mountable to a cable tray above fiber optic equipment, in a subfloor below fiber optic equipment or on a wall in proximity of fiber optic equipment. Additionally, the terminal may have an adapter panel with fiber optic adapters for optically connecting the optical fiber of a first fiber optic cable received from the cable tray and the optical fiber of a second fiber optic cable. The second fiber optic cable is intended to extend to the fiber optic equipment. The adapter panel and the fiber optic adapters are angled generally in the direction in which the second fiber optic cable is intended to extend. Angling the fiber optic adapters in this manner accommodates routing of second fiber optic cable, and provides ease of access to the fiber optic adapters for connecting and disconnecting fiber optic connectors and to slack storage components for cable management mounted in the terminal.