Optical waveguides – With disengagable mechanical connector
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-29
2001-06-26
Spyrou, Cassandra (Department: 2872)
Optical waveguides
With disengagable mechanical connector
C385S135000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06250816
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to fiber optic cable management within an area such as a telecommunications central office, headend for fiber optic television cable, or wiring closet, and more particularly to a cable connector plate and method for operatively interconnecting ends of fiber optic cable. Connector plates of the type according to the present invention are typically located inside cable management cabinets mounted on vertical racks and having access openings for receiving and distributing fiber optic cable. Fiber optic cable exiting the cabinet is generally routed through a raceway assembly, such as described in Applicant's copending application Ser. No. 09/220,267. The complete disclosure of this application is incorporated herein by reference.
According to one prior art cable connector plate described in U.S. Patent No. 4,824,196, a number of cable adapters are carried by a base and arranged in a single row at identical angles relative to the front and rear of the cabinet such that the cables connect to the plate in precise optical alignment. A connector plate of this construction provides for convenient cable interconnection and reduces the bend radius for fiber optic cable connecting to the rear side of the plate from one comer of the cabinet, and connecting to the front side of the plate and extending towards a diagonally opposed corner of the cabinet. Because the angle of each of the adapters is the same, however, the plate will actually substantially increase the cable bend radius for certain ends of cable connecting to the plate in other areas of the cabinet.
The present invention addresses this and other problems of the prior art by providing a cable connector plate which has adapters arranged at variable angles in order to accommodate ends of cable connecting to the plate from any location within the cabinet. The invention allows use of a maximum amount of space inside the cabinet while maintaining the industry minimum bend radius requirement for fiber optic cable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide connector plate adapted for use in a fiber optic cable management system including a number of modular, rack-mounted cable management cabinets applicable for collecting, interconnecting, terminating, segregating, splicing, and distributing fiber optic cable.
It is another object of the invention to provide a connector plate for a fiber optic cable management cabinet which allows the use of a maximum amount of space inside the cabinet for routing and interconnecting ends of fiber optic cable.
It is another object of the invention to provide a connector plate which allows for easy and convenient interconnection of fiber optic cable within the cabinet.
It is another object of the invention to provide a fiber optic cable management cabinet which is adapted to provide flexible internal cable management.
It is another object of the invention to provide a fiber optic cable management cabinet which is adapted for accommodating as many as 192 ends of fiber optic cable.
It is another object of the invention to provide a fiber optic cable management cabinet which includes features for controlling the bend radius of fiber optic cable.
These and other objects of the present invention are achieved in the preferred embodiments disclosed below by providing a cable connector plate for interconnecting ends of fiber optic cable. The connector plate includes a base having opposing front and back sides. At least three adapters are carried by the base and have respective axially-aligned end portions extending outwardly from each of the front and back sides of the base. The adapters receive and interconnect ends of fiber optic cable in optical alignment. The adapters are disposed at respective distinct angles relative to a notional plane facing either of the front and back sides of the base.
According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, the base includes integrallyformed, angled steps spaced apart along its length, and having respective openings receiving the adapters and mounting the adapters at their respective distinct angles.
According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the adapters are arranged in a single column, and are longitudinally spaced-apart from one end of the base to the other.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, an adjacent two of the adapters are disposed at distinct angles between 2 and 10 degrees apart.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one of the adapters is disposed at an angle generally perpendicular to the notional plane.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one of the adapters is disposed at an angle at least 20 degrees from an axis perpendicular to the notional plane.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the plate has at least 6 adapters.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the base is integrally molded of a plastic material.
In another embodiment, a cable connector plate includes a base having opposing front and back sides. At least three adapters are secured to the base and have respective axially-aligned end portions extending outwardly from each of the front and back sides of the base for receiving and interconnecting ends of fiber optic cable in optical alignment. The adapters are arranged in a single column and are longitudinally spaced-apart from one end of the base to the other. The adapters are disposed at respective distinct angles relative to a notional plane facing either of the front and back sides of the base. The angles are varied in predetermined increments from a first one of the adapters to a last one of the adapters.
According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the first one of the adapters is disposed at an angle at least 20 degrees from an axis perpendicular to the notional plane.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the last one of the adapters is disposed at an angle generally perpendicular to the notional plane.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the angle of the adapters is varied from the first adapter to the last adapter in increments of between 2 and 6 degrees.
In another embodiment, a cable connector plate includes a base having opposing front and back sides, and at least three angled steps defined by the base. The steps include respective openings adapted for receiving fiber optic cable adapters, and for mounting the adapters at respective distinct angles relative to a notional plane facing either of the front and back sides of the base. The adapters have respective axially-aligned end portions for extending outwardly from each of the front and back sides of the base to interconnect ends of the fiber optic cable in optical alignment.
In yet another embodiment, a method of interconnecting ends of fiber optic cable includes the step of mounting a cable connector plate inside a fiber optic cable management cabinet. The connector plate includes a base having opposing front and back sides and at least three adapters secured to the base. Each of the adapters has axially-aligned end portions extending outwardly from the front and back sides of the base for receiving and interconnecting ends of fiber optic cable in optical alignment. The adapters are arranged at respective distinct angles relative to a notional plane facing either of the front and back sides of the base.
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Auteri Robert P.
Hani Erwin F.
Herda Michael T.
Johnston Dare P.
Mattei Michael
Adams, Schwartz & Ewans, P.A.
Parvin Nasreen
Spyrou Cassandra
Tyco Electronics Corporation
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