1990-03-23
1991-04-30
Healy, Brian
350 9621, 350 9622, G02B 626
Patent
active
050112570
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to communication systems and especially to patch panel arrays for optical communication systems.
A patch panel is a housing for the connections between lines of a communication system, such as a connection between a main trunk line and a susbscriber line. Currently optical communication patch panels have a vertical panel having a two dimensional array of apertures for receiving the terminations of one set of lines on to which connectors for the lines to be connected can be attached. These panels are housed in cabinets.
There are two problems associated with this current arrangement. Firstly there is a limit to the density of the array that can be fitted on to the vertical panel and to the number of panels that can be located in a given cabinet. In exchanges having many lines, and especially in major cities where floor space is at a premium, it is desirable to minimise the space occupied by patch panels, or in other words it is desirable to increase the packing density of the connectors. The second problem that can arise is that when the connectors are disconnected it is possible to view directly into a potentially active line since, for reasons of access, the lines that are directly supported by the patch panel have their terminations inserted through the panel from the rear and face forwardly ready to receive a connector from the front. In normal operating circumstances it is unlikely that laser light signals emanating from an exposed line end would be harmful to the human eye when simply viewed with the naked eye, but if the light were viewed through or in conjunction with optical apparatus there may be a risk of damage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed towards providing a patch panel which may accommodate a greater density of connectors and inhibits direct viewing into disconnected line terminals.
Accordingly the invention provides apparatus for supporting multiple line connections in an optical communication system, the apparatus comprising means for supporting a plurality of line connectors in a patching panel characterised in that the patching panel comprises a series of corrugations defining alternately disposed faces.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
The invention is now described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a frontal view of a patch panel according to a preferred embodiment of the invention,
FIG. 2 is a view from above of a patch panel rack assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, and
FIG. 3 is a larger view of the patch panel.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
Referring firstly to FIG. 2, a preferred patch panel assembly is shown which comprises a substantially rectangular section frame having a back wall 1, side walls 2 and front wall portions 3. The central part of the front of the frame between wall portions 3 is open to give access to a patch panel 4. The front of the frame may be open by virtue of a large central aperture leaving upper and lower front wall portions for support in addition to the side portions 3, or the entire central part of the front may be open from top to bottom between the wall portions 3. Adjacent to each side wall 2 there are fibre support trays 5 or fingers for separating and guiding the lines from individual connectors on the patch panel.
It will be seen from FIG. 2 that the patch panel 4 is not a planar sheet as in the prior art, but has a zig zag corrugated section. Apertures for individual connectors are provided on alternate faces of the corrugations, as shown in FIG. 1. The faces with apertures, referenced 6, are those faces that, viewed from the front, are facing towards the nearest front corner of the frame (or more generally they are angled away from the centre towards the nearest side that runs parallel to the faces of the corrugations) giving rise to a change of direction at the centre. Fibre terminations, such as from a trunk line, are threaded through access ports in the side walls 2
REFERENCES:
patent: 4673246 (1987-06-01), Schembri
patent: 4728171 (1988-03-01), Schoffield et al.
patent: 4748540 (1988-05-01), Henneberg et al.
patent: 4792203 (1988-12-01), Nelson et al.
patent: 4818054 (1989-04-01), George et al.
patent: 4824196 (1989-04-01), Bylander
patent: 4962989 (1990-10-01), Jung et al.
Bishop Kevin M.
Wettengel Paul F.
British Telecommunications public limited company
Healy Brian
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