High-Density Splice Closure With Foldable Sub-Cassettes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional fiber management trays have limited splicing capacity and fail to differentiate between intermittently bonded optical fiber ribbons, leading to confusion and faulty fiber links due to the inability to manage multiple fiber elements effectively.

Innovation Solution

A high-density splice closure system comprising foldable sub-cassettes with splice protectors, arranged in open or closed configurations, allowing for increased splicing capacity and clear differentiation between optical transmission elements through color coding and alignment of splice protectors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If a single thicker tray is used to increase splicing capacity for multiple optical fibers, then the splicing capacity is improved, but the ability to differentiate between fiber elements is lost leading to confusion and faulty links

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesplicing capacityVSAvoidfiber differentiation

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The single thicker tray is divided into multiple separate thin trays, each capable of holding and differentiating individual fiber ribbons. This segmentation allows visual differentiation of fiber elements while maintaining high splicing capacity through the use of multiple trays rather than one large tray.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Loss of information

If multiple separate trays are used to differentiate fiber elements, then fiber differentiation is improved, but the splicing capacity is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefiber differentiationVSAvoidsplicing capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple separate thin trays are combined within a single closure housing structure, allowing each tray to maintain fiber differentiation while the overall system achieves high splicing capacity through the combination of multiple trays in one organized unit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Device complexity

If conventional fiber management trays are used, then the device complexity is low, but the splicing capacity is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetray structureVSAvoidsplicing capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The tray system incorporates foldable sub-cassettes that can transition between stored and operational positions, allowing the structure to adapt dynamically. This enables high splicing capacity when needed while maintaining a compact, simple appearance when the foldable portions are stored, effectively reducing perceived complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Quantity of substance

If foldable sub-cassettes are introduced to increase splicing capacity, then the splicing capacity is doubled, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesplicing capacityVSAvoidcassette structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Foldable sub-cassettes are nested within the main closure housing, allowing them to be stored in a compact configuration when not in use. This nesting approach doubles the splicing capacity by adding functional elements without proportionally increasing the overall device volume or apparent complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS20220317403A1Splice closure with high-density splice cassettes

Publication Date: 2022.10.06 STERLITE TECHNOLOGIES LTD

AI summary

The present invention discloses a splice closure includes one or more splicing cassettes, and each of the one or more splicing cassettes has foldable sub-cassettes. In particular, each of the plurality of foldable sub-cassettes further has one or more splice protectors. Moreover, the one or more splicing cassettes are arranged in anyone configuration selected from an open configuration and a closed configuration.