Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04Q—SELECTING
  • H04Q1/00—Details of selecting apparatus or arrangements
  • H04Q1/02—Constructional details
  • H04Q1/13—Patch panels for monitoring, interconnecting or testing circuits, e.g. patch bay, patch field or jack field; Patching modules
  • H04Q1/135—Patch panels for monitoring, interconnecting or testing circuits, e.g. patch bay, patch field or jack field; Patching modules characterized by patch cord details
  • H04Q1/136—Patch panels for monitoring, interconnecting or testing circuits, e.g. patch bay, patch field or jack field; Patching modules characterized by patch cord details having patch field management or physical layer management arrangements
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04Q—SELECTING
  • H04Q1/00—Details of selecting apparatus or arrangements
  • H04Q1/02—Constructional details
  • H04Q1/09—Frames or mounting racks not otherwise provided for

Definitions

• This disclosure pertains to the telecommunications (e.g., fiber optic) industry. More particularly, this disclosure pertains to high density distribution devices used in the telecommunications industry and a visual identification system that can be used to identify individual connection locations or ports such as adapters in the devices.
• telecommunications e.g., fiber optic
• Fiber optic connectivity and service is being extended to more and more customers, both commercial and residential.
• density it is meant the number of locations per unit volume or unit area for providing connection on a particular fiber optic device.
• An example of a high density fiber optic device may be a high density fiber distribution frame or chassis that may include a number of trays or modules housing optical distribution/signal-splitting equipment, wherein the trays may be individually pulled out for accessing the internal components.
• the trays may define connection locations or ports such as fiber optic adapters for establishing connection to the optical devices contained therein.
• a system for quick identification of the individual ports in a high density distribution environment is desirable.
• a telecommunications device includes a frame or chassis, a plurality of connection locations, wherein the connection locations form horizontal rows of connection locations along the frame or chassis and also form vertical columns of connection locations on the frame or chassis, a first light emitting device associated with each horizontal row of connection locations so as to identify a particular row when lit, and a second light emitting device associated with each column of connection locations so as to identify an entire particular column when lit.
• a telecommunications device includes a frame and a plurality of trays slidably mounted to the frame.
• the trays are slidable between a closed position and an open position with respect to the frame, wherein the trays are mounted in a stacked arrangement in the vertical direction.
• a plurality of connection locations associated with each tray form a horizontal row of connection locations along each tray.
• the connections locations of all of the trays also form a plurality of vertical columns of connection locations with the trays mounted to the frame.
• a light emitting device is associated with each tray so as to identify a particular tray when lit.
• a light emitting device is also associated with each column of connection locations so as to identify an entire particular column when lit.
• a method of visually identifying one particular connection location on a tray of a plurality of trays slidably mounted on a telecommunications frame, wherein the trays are mounted in a stacked arrangement in a vertical direction and each tray defines a plurality of connection locations forming a horizontal row of connection locations along each tray, the connections locations of all of the trays also forming a plurality of vertical columns of connection locations with the trays mounted to the frame is disclosed.
• the method comprises using a first light emitting device associated with each tray so as to identify a particular tray when lit, using a second light emitting device associated with each column of connection locations so as to identify an entire particular column when lit, and lighting the first and second light emitting devices such that the combination of the first and second light emitting devices provides a visual identification of the one particular connection location.
• inventive aspects can relate to individual features and combinations of features. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the broad inventive concepts upon which the embodiments disclosed herein are based. Brief Description of the Drawings
• FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a fiber optic high density distribution frame/chassis with pull-out trays that includes a visual connection port identification system having features that are examples of inventive aspects in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure
• FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of a portion of the distribution frame/chassis of FIG. 1 that illustrates a number of different embodiments of the visual connection port identification system that can be used with the distribution frame/chassis;
• FIG. 3 illustrates a front view of a portion of the distribution frame/chassis of FIGS. 1-2, wherein two of the embodiments of the visual connection port
• FIG. 4 illustrates a close-up view showing a connection location or port in the form of a fiber optic adapter being identified using one of the embodiments of the visual identification system of FIGS. 1-3.
• FIGS. 1-4 generally illustrate a visual identification system 10 that can be used for identifying connection locations or ports 12 in a telecommunications high density distribution environment.
• the visual identification system 10 is diagrammatically depicted as being part of a high density distribution frame or chassis 14 that includes a number of pull-out trays 16 housing optical distribution/signal-splitting equipment.
• the trays 16 may be individually selectively slid out for accessing the internal components or connections 12.
• the trays 16 of the chassis/frame 14 may define connection ports 12 such as fiber optic adapters 18 for establishing service connectivity to the optical devices contained therein. It should be understood that the type of distribution frame 14 depicted in FIGS.
• 1-4 is simply one example device, environment, or application in which the visual identification system 10 of the present disclosure may be used.
• the visual identification system 10 which will be described in further detail below, may be used on any chassis or frame that may include multiple connection locations or ports such as adapters in a matrix type layout.
• a number of examples of high density chassis or frames that include pull-out trays or modules with fiber optic adapters that may utilize the identification system 10 of the present disclosure are illustrated and described in U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/650,772, filed on May 23, 2012, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
• the frame/chassis 14 defines a right side 20, a left side 22, a top end 24, a bottom end 26, a front side 28 and a rear side 30. It should be noted that even though the frame is referred to herein as a "chassis", a frame may also include multiple “chassis” that are on the "frame” in a stacked arrangement.
• the frame/chassis 14 includes the multiple slidable trays or modules 16 that are configured to house fiber optic distribution equipment. Each tray 16 may define the multiple connection locations or ports 12 at the front side 28 of the chassis 14. In the depicted embodiment, the connection locations or ports 12 are defined by fiber optic adapter openings that are configured to receive mating fiber optic connectors 32 (see FIG. 4).
• the adapters 18 may be of different formats including LC, SC, MPO, etc.
• the frame 14 may define a top panel 34 extending across the top end 24 of the frame 14, a bottom panel 36 extending across the bottom end 26 of the frame 14.
• a right support member 38 extends vertically at the right side 20 of the frame 14 and a left support member 40 extends vertically at the left side 22 of the frame 14.
• a central divider 42 cooperates with the right support member 38 to slidably support the trays 16 at the right side 20 of the frame 14 and cooperates with the left support member 40 to slidably support the trays 16 on the left side 22 of the frame 14.
• the visual identification system 10 of the present disclosure provides a cost-effective and simplified way to quickly identify a given adapter port 18, for connectivity, repair service, etc.
• the visual identification system 10 is achieved by using an X-Y matrix of light emitting devices 44 (e.g., light emitting diodes - LED's) (or other visual indicators) placed on the frame 14 in combination with a light control system.
• the LED's 44 may be mounted to portions of the frame via printed circuit boards 46 (PCB's).
• the light control system may form part of a larger network or connectivity database and may be operated remotely.
• the light control system may utilize a database to identify the port 12 of interest and provide the power to the corresponding LED's 44 in the X-Y matrix via the PCB's 46.
• the LED's aligned along the plurality of Y-axes may be referred to as first LED's 44a and the LED's aligned along a plurality of X-axes may be referred to as second LED's 44b.
• each tray 16 includes an associated first LED 44a that is vertically aligned with the tray 16, wherein the first LED's 44a are mounted adjacent the left support member 40 for the left trays 16 and mounted adjacent the right support member 38 for the right trays 16.
• Each adapter 18 also includes an associated second LED 44b that is horizontally aligned with the given adapter 18, wherein the second LED's 44b are mounted both at the top and bottom panels 34, 36 of the frame 16.
• the second LED's 44b for the adapters 18 are mounted both at the top and bottom panels 34, 36 of the frame 16 so that a service technician that may have access from only the top or the bottom of the frame 16 can still visually identify the adapters 18.
• the first LED's 44a may be positioned on the center divider 42, utilizing one column of first LED's 44a for both the right and left trays 16.
• the horizontal row of second LED's 44b at the top and the bottom of the frame 14 are positioned to indicate the port 12 when viewed from above or below. Having the second LED's 44b both on the top and the bottom of the frame 16 may be helpful depending upon the position of the frame 16 or the accessibility by the service technician.
• the present disclosure contemplates a number of different concepts or embodiments to control the light from the LED's 44 to give an accurate indication of which port 12 is being identified.
• One embodiment includes, positioned on the tray doors 48 (adhered, clipped or molded), aligned with the second LED's 44b, light pipes 50 to focus and direct the light to form a controlled spot 52 on an indication target 54 (one per port 12) on the top and bottom sides of the tray 16 that correspond to the adapter port 12.
• each adapter port 12 at the front of the tray 16 may include a corresponding target area 54 and an indicator line 56 that extends from that target area 54 to the port 12 itself.
• a focusing element 58 e.g., a lens
• maybe a shutter may be used for initial control of the light emitted from the second LED's 44b.
• the control system will illuminate the first LED 44a for the desired tray 16 to indicate to the service technician which tray 16 should be slidably pulled out.
• the second LEDs 44b on the top and bottom panels 34, 36 of the frame 16 are lit up by the control system to hit the light target 54 to indicate the desired adapter port 12.
• the indicator line 56 simply provides a visual element for the service technician to follow from the light target 54 to the front of the frame 16 to the port 12.
• the indicator line 54 may include light reflecting properties also.
• light pipes 50 used may be produced by cutting to length and hand polishing the faces.
• the diameter for the light pipes 50 is around 3.85mm.
• the diameter for the light pipes 50 is around 2.75mm.
• twelve pieces of around 12 to 13mm in length light pipes 50 may be assembled in a column with a 1mm gap therebetween for a clearance for the tray sliding operation.
• High brightness LED's 44 are placed in line above and below the ports 12.
• a controlled light spot 52 (see FIG. 4) is then produced at the opposite end of to the LED 44. It should be noted that the brightness may be reduced due to light being lost at every air gap, however, still achieving the desired illumination after the twelve light pipes 50.
• the target spot 52 will tend to be brighter for the trays 16 nearer the light source.
• a second embodiment of the visual indication system 10 includes, positioned on the tray doors 48 (adhered, clipped or molded), aligned with the second LED's 44b, tubes 60 with inner reflective surfaces 62 that are configured to direct the light to form a controlled spot 52 on an indication target 54 (one per port 12) on the top or the bottom of the tray 16 that corresponds to the adapter port 12.
• a focusing element 58 e.g., a lens
• a shutter may be used for initial control of the light emitted from the second LED ' s 44b.
• tubes 60 with an outside diameter of around 6.35mm and an internal diameter of around 4.45mm can be used with lengths of around 13mm.
• twelve of these tubes 60 can be placed with a 1 mm gap therebetween for the clearance for the tray sliding operation.
• a lens 58 (to collimate the light) and a shutter (to constrain unwanted dispersion of the light) may be used to focus the light down the tubes 60, as shown in detail in FIG. 3.
• This method can produce a bright controlled spot 52 (shown in FIGS. 2 and 4), with near no loss of intensity, regardless of twelve-tray distance, six-tray distance, or two-tray distance setups.
• Another embodiment relates to the use of lines 64 (printed or molded on the tray doors 48) that are aligned with the second LED's 44b and the indication targets 54 (one per port 12) for the corresponding adapters 18.
• the service technician can identify the lit second LED 44b and visually follow the indicator lines 64 on the tray front faces to the targets 54.
• the three embodiments discussed above are diagrammatically all illustrated on the same frame 16 in FIG. 2.
• Another possible embodiment would involve using a collimated light source (e.g., a laser or a similar source) to directly shine a controlled spot of light onto the indication target 54 (one per port) for the corresponding adapter port 12.
• a collimated light source e.g., a laser or a similar source
• the first and second LED's 44 are illuminated as part of a work order to indicate required work to be carried out on a port 12 in terms of a patch to be made/unmade or an error or repair situation.
• a first LED 44a in the vertical column indicates which tray 16 the port 12 is located on and needs to be pulled out, and one set of second LED's 44b in the horizontal row (top and bottom) indicates the port's horizontal position on that tray 16.
• the collimated light lands on the target area 54 corresponding to the adapter.
• the indicator line 56 that extends from the target area 54 to the port 12 itself can then be visually followed to identify the individual port 12 that requires attention.
• the visual indication system 10 of the present disclosure provides a substantially reduced component count, control complexity and assembly costs while maintaining individual illumination/identification/indication of the individual ports 12.
• FIG. 4 illustrates a representative target indicator or area 54 on an adapter tray 16 with the indicating light spot 52 illuminating the target area 54.
• the light source is a high intensity Kingbright hyper red (635nm InGaAIP) led 44 (typically 900mcd).
• each chassis may also include a separate third LED for identifying the separate chassis itself.
• each of the trays 16 being illuminated either from the right side, the left side or the center divider, there might not be a need for a separate chassis identifier for vertically stacked chassis.

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• Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
• Light Guides In General And Applications Therefor (AREA)

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Cited By (2)

Citations (3)

• 2013
  • 2013-07-10 WO PCT/EP2013/064522 patent/WO2014009390A1/fr not_active Ceased

Patent Citations (3)

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