Front-Access Fiber Patch Systems with Pop-Up Adapter Packs
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-density data communication equipment requires efficient space management and access to fiber terminations, as existing frames with high fiber termination capacities often have uncommon footprints and require access to the back for splicing, leading to space inefficiencies and complex management of communication lines.
Innovation Solution
The development of data communication apparatus with a total front access (TFA) frame design that includes a splice tray and patch trays, allowing for high-density fiber termination management with a common footprint, enabling splicing and patching at the front while maintaining fiber bend radii and reducing space consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If high density fiber termination capacity is implemented, then the number of fiber terminations per frame is increased, but the frame footprint becomes uncommon and space management becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The frame is divided into multiple standardized modules (e.g., 12x12 inch units) that can be stacked and configured to achieve high fiber termination capacity while maintaining common footprint dimensions. This segmentation allows the system to scale capacity without creating non-standard frame sizes.
Solution Approach 2:
The frame design incorporates universal mounting interfaces and standardized dimensions that allow the same frame structure to accommodate different fiber termination capacities through modular inserts, rather than requiring different frame sizes for different capacities.
2Ease of manufacture
If splicing is performed at the back of the frame, then fiber terminations can be made, but access requires traversing around multiple frames consuming more time
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of requiring access to the back of the frame for splicing operations, the invention provides splice trays and patch panels that are accessible from the front of the frame. This inversion of the access direction eliminates the need to traverse around frames and significantly reduces access time.
3Adaptability or versatility
If dedicated splicing only frames or patching only frames are used, then fiber termination functions are specialized, but the quantity of frames increases consuming more space
Solution Approach 1:
The frame design combines both splicing and patching functions into a single integrated structure. Splice trays, patch panels, and fiber management features are all incorporated into one frame unit, eliminating the need for separate dedicated splicing frames and patching frames.
Solution Approach 2:
Each frame is designed as a multi-functional unit that can perform splicing, patching, and fiber management operations simultaneously, rather than requiring specialized single-function frames for each operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A plurality of patch trays displaceably received in a chassis received in a left side or right side of an access side of a frame, and a splice tray removeably received in the access side of the frame. The splice tray having a capacity to receive at least about 288 fiber terminations and the plurality of patch trays displaceably received in the chassis having a capacity to collectively receive the at least about 288 fiber terminations from the splice tray. A patch tray including a row of pop-up adapter packs to collectively receive a respective portion of the at least about 288 fiber terminations received by the patch tray. The row of pop-up adapter packs arranged in the patch tray substantially in a left side or right side of the patch tray to offset the row of pop-up adapter packs to provide more space for routing the respective portion of the 288 fiber terminations in the patch tray.