PwDM Filter Cassette With Inclined Recess For High Packing Density
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing cassettes with WDM filters for glass fibers have limited packing density due to their design, restricting the number of compartments that can be stacked in an optical distribution frame, and require robust fiber optic cables for multiple fibers, which complicates handling and space utilization.
Innovation Solution
The cassette design features glass fibers arranged on both sides of the base plate with a pWDM filter in a recess, allowing for compact dimensions and easy handling, with the filter inclined to facilitate connections and using a single robust fiber optic cable for signal transmission, enabling high packing density and efficient fiber management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If glass fibers are arranged on both sides of the base plate with a pWDM filter in a recess, then packing density of cassettes in the distribution frame is improved, but device complexity increases due to the inclined filter arrangement and dual-sided fiber configuration
Solution Approach 1:
The pWDM filter is arranged inclined relative to the base plate, utilizing the vertical dimension within the recess to achieve compact dimensions. This inclined arrangement allows the filter to be positioned at an angle that optimizes space utilization while maintaining accessibility of fiber optic contacts from both sides of the cassette, thereby improving packing density without excessive complexity increase
Solution Approach 2:
The cassette is divided into two functional sides with glass fibers arranged on both the front and back of the base plate. Each side handles specific wavelength regions, with guide elements and holding elements separately configured for each side. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each side's fiber management while achieving high overall packing density
2Ease of operation
If a single robust fiber optic cable is used for signal transmission, then ease of operation is improved, but the need for thick jacket cables increases which may affect space utilization
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple optical fibers carrying different wavelength signals are merged into a single fiber optic cable for transmission. The pWDM filter at the cassette level separates these wavelengths and directs them to appropriate glass fibers. This merging approach simplifies cable management and improves ease of operation, while the filter's wavelength separation capability ensures no signal loss occurs despite the consolidation
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration allows for a high packing density of cassettes in the distribution frame and simplifies fiber handling by enabling compact dimensions and efficient signal distribution, reducing the need for thick fiber optic cables and improving connectivity.
Implementation Method 1
The pWDM filter can be used as a multiplexer to couple the different wavelengths from fibers connected to the filter into a single fiber or similarly as a demultiplexer to separate multiple wavelengths from the incoming fiber
Data Source
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AI summary
The cassette, comprising a base plate and a pWDM filter for optical fibers, is characterized in that optical fibers are arranged on both sides of the base plate, leading to the pWDM filter, that the filter has multiple optical fiber contacts for the optical fibers of both sides of the base plate and an optical fiber cable contact for a connected optical fiber cable at opposite end regions, and that the filter is arranged in a recess of the base plate such that the optical fiber contacts of the opposite end regions of the filter are accessible from both sides of the cassette for the connection of the multiple optical fibers.