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Angular optical component retention and removal system

a technology of optical components and removal systems, applied in the field of communication, can solve the problems of increasing the amount of equipment and fiber optic cables needed, and affecting the service life of fiber optic cables housed within optical communication equipment, etc., and achieves the effect of reducing the amount of equipment and fiber optic cables, and reducing the amount of space needed

Inactive Publication Date: 2006-08-29
CIENA CORP
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides an angular optical component retention and removal system that reduces the amount of space needed and enables easy insertion, retention, and removal of optical components from an optical communications system. The system includes one or more angular retention sections that retain optical modules / components in an angular orientation through the faceplate. The system also includes an insertion / retention mechanism that enables quick and easy insertion and removal of optical modules / components with a single hand. The system reduces the amount of space needed for fiber optic cables, allowing more optical components to be packed on the main or mother PCB. The technical effects of the invention are useful in today's world where PCB space is precious and more and more optical components need to be populated on PCBs.

Problems solved by technology

Furthermore, the recent increase in bandwidth requirements for telecommunications systems has resulted in more densely packed equipment and fiber optic cables than prior systems.
Many carriers or other consumers of optical communications equipment have very limited floor space in which to place new equipment and fiber optic cables.
The fiber optic cables housed within optical communications equipment are also exposed to damage when the doors to the equipment are closed due to the close fit between the doors and the fiber optic cables.
The physical front panel size of the circuit pack limits the number of connectors that may be implemented.
Due to the cable bend radius limitations, a great deal of space in front of the circuit pack may be required.
This space constraint may cause certain components to be unusable.
Presently, it is a problem in the field of communication cable installation to ensure the precise placement of the communication cable without the possibility of damage to the communication cable by the provision of tight bends, or inappropriate use of fasteners, or inadequate support to the communication cable.
In all of these applications, the minimum radius of curvature of the communication cable is well defined, and bending the communication cable in a tighter bend can cause damage to the communication medium housed within the cable.
This problem is further heightened when fiber optic cables (alternatively referred to as “optical fibers” or “fibers”) are used.
Glass fibers used in such cables are easily damaged when bent too sharply and require a minimum bend radius to operate within required performance specifications.
Damaged fiber optic cables may lead to a reduction in the signal transmission quality of the cables.
However, since fiber optic cables are typically fragile, if the fiber optic cable is bent beyond the minimum bend radius during board or module removal, the fiber optic cable may break.
Accordingly, removal and insertion of component boards or modules can be difficult and inconvenient.
This is a cumbersome process since two spring retainers 116 need to be manipulated while each optical module / component 102 is manually pulled away from faceplate 106.

Method used

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Embodiment Construction

[0033]The following detailed description of the invention refers to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers in different drawings identify the same or similar elements. Also, the following detailed description does not limit the invention. Instead, the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.

[0034]An angular optical component retention and removal system in accordance with embodiments of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 2–10 and designated generally as reference numeral 10. FIG. 2 shows a first embodiment of angular optical component retention and removal system 10, wherein system 10 retains a plurality of optical components 104. Although four optical components 104 are shown in FIG. 2, the system of the present invention is not limited to this number, and system may retain more or less than four optical components 104. Furthermore, system 10 may also retain a plurality of optical module / components 102, or a combination o...

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PUM

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Abstract

Disclosed herein is an angular optical component retention and removal system that reduces the amount of space needed to accommodate fiber optic cables and enables optical components to be quickly and easily inserted, retained, and removed from an optical communications system. The optical component retention and removal system may include a single or plural angular retention sections that retain optical components in an angular orientation through a faceplate. The system may further include an insertion / retention mechanism that enables an optical component to be inserted and removed with a single hand. With the system, fiber optic cables extend at an angle from the optical components, requiring less clearance space in front of the faceplate for provision of the fiber optic cables.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]A. Field of the Invention[0002]The present invention relates generally to the communications field, and, more particularly to an angular optical component retention and removal system for use in the communications field.[0003]B. Description of the Related Art[0004]Optical communication equipment is typically housed in bays, which include a rectangular frame having dimensions conforming to a particular standard, such as the Network Equipment Building Standard (NEBS). NEBS covers a large range of requirements including criteria for personnel safety, protection of property, and operational continuity. NEBS covers both physical requirements including: space planning, temperature, humidity, fire, earthquake, vibration, transportation, acoustical, air quality and illumination; and electrical criteria including: electrostatic discharge (ESD), electromagnetic interference (EMI), lightning and AC power fault, steady state power induction, corrosion, DC potent...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Patents(United States)
IPC IPC(8): G02B6/00
CPCG02B6/3897
Inventor TOO, THIERRY SIN YAN
Owner CIENA CORP
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