Abstract: The invention relates to a bend limiting structure for preventing a flexible optical circuit from being bent too sharply. More particularly, the invention involves adding a bend limiting layer or layers to the flexible optical circuit and/or any housing or other structure within which it is enclosed or to which it is attached. The bend-limiting layer may comprise a plurality of blocks arranged in a line or plane and joined by a flexible film that is thinner than the blocks, with the blocks positioned close enough to each other so that, if that plane of blocks is bent a predetermined amount, the edges of the blocks will interfere with each other and prevent the plane from being bent any further. The blocks may be resilient also to provide a less abrupt bend-limiting stop.

Abstract: A method and device for interconnecting optical components, such as optical fibers and optical circuits, in a flexible, repeatable, and cost-effective manner. Two or more optical components are interconnected by a flexible optical circuit substrate bearing one or more embedded optical fibers with a lens at each end of each fiber. The flexible optical circuit may be incorporated into a housing bearing apertures for receiving the optical connectors of the optical components that are to be interconnected with the device. The lensed ends of the fibers embedded in the flexible optical circuit are positioned adjacent to the apertures for optically connecting to the fibers within the connectors installed in the apertures without conventional mating connectors disposed inside the housing.

Abstract: An adapter assembly includes a single-piece or two-piece multi-fiber adapter defining a recess at which a contact assembly is disposed. The adapter assemblies can be disposed within adapter block assemblies or cassettes, which can be mounted to moveable trays. Both ports of the adapters disposed within adapter block assemblies are accessible. Only one port of each adapter disposed within the cassettes are accessible. Circuit boards can be mounted within the block assemblies or cassettes to provide communication between the contact assemblies and a data network.

Abstract: The invention relates to a bend limiting structure for preventing a flexible optical circuit from being bent too sharply. More particularly, the invention involves adding a bend limiting layer or layers to the flexible optical circuit and/or any housing or other structure within which it is enclosed or to which it is attached. The bend-limiting layer may comprise a plurality of blocks arranged in a line or plane and joined by a flexible film that is thinner than the blocks, with the blocks positioned close enough to each other so that, if that plane of blocks is bent a predetermined amount, the edges of the blocks will interfere with each other and prevent the plane from being bent any further. The blocks may be resilient also to provide a less abrupt bend-limiting stop.

Abstract: A fiber optic cassette includes a body defining a front and an opposite rear. A cable entry location, such as a multi-fiber connector, is defined on the body for a cable to enter the cassette, wherein a plurality of optical fibers from the cable extend into the cassette and form terminations at one or more single or multi-fiber connectors adjacent the front of the body. A flexible substrate is positioned between the cable entry location and the connectors adjacent the front of the body, the flexible substrate rigidly supporting the plurality of optical fibers. Each of the connectors adjacent the front of the body includes a ferrule. Dark fibers can be provided if not all fiber locations are used in the multi-fiber connectors. Multiple flexible substrates can be used with one or more multi-fiber connectors.

Abstract: A method and device for interconnecting optical components, such as optical fibers and optical circuits, in a flexible, repeatable, and cost-effective manner. Two or more optical components are interconnected by a flexible optical circuit substrate bearing one or more embedded optical fibers with a lens at each end of each fiber. The flexible optical circuit may be incorporated into a housing bearing apertures for receiving the optical connectors of the optical components that are to be interconnected with the device. The lensed ends of the fibers embedded in the flexible optical circuit are positioned adjacent to the apertures for optically connecting to the fibers within the connectors installed in the apertures without conventional mating connectors disposed inside the housing.

Abstract: An adapter assembly includes a single-piece or two-piece multi-fiber adapter defining a recess at which a contact assembly is disposed. The adapter assemblies can be disposed within adapter block assemblies or cassettes, which can be mounted to moveable trays. Both ports of the adapters disposed within adapter block assemblies are accessible. Only one port of each adapter disposed within the cassettes are accessible. Circuit boards can be mounted within the block assemblies or cassettes to provide communication between the contact assemblies and a data network.

Abstract: A fiber optic cassette includes a body defining a front and an opposite rear. A cable entry location, such as a multi-fiber connector, is defined on the body for a cable to enter the cassette, wherein a plurality of optical fibers from the cable extend into the cassette and form terminations at one or more single or multi-fiber connectors adjacent the front of the body. A flexible substrate is positioned between the cable entry location and the connectors adjacent the front of the body, the flexible substrate rigidly supporting the plurality of optical fibers. Each of the connectors adjacent the front of the body includes a ferrule. Dark fibers can be provided if not all fiber locations are used in the multi-fiber connectors. Multiple flexible substrates can be used with one or more multi-fiber connectors.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a system for mounting components to a rack comprising brackets that can be mounted to the rear of the rack through the opening in the front of rack before the component is inserted into the slot and mating sleeves running along the sides of the components. The brackets include arms that extend forwardly towards the front of the slot. After the brackets are attached, the component can be slid into the slot from the front with the sleeves sliding over and engaging the brackets. In this manner, the component can be slid into a slot on the rack with the brackets sliding into the sleeves, thereby providing support for the component along a substantial portion of the depth of the component without the need to bolt or otherwise fixedly attach the component to the bracket after the component is in the rack. Accordingly, a component can be installed in a rack without the need for any access except from the front of the rack.

Abstract: Keying may be used to indicate various features of cables, cable connectors, and/or equipment. The keying mechanisms of the connectors systems disclosed herein identifies whether each plug is a pinned plug or a pinless plug. The keying mechanisms disclosed herein identify the number of optical fibers terminated at each plug. For example, one type of keying mechanism may indicate a cable plug manufactured under a 40 Gb/sec standard and another type of keying mechanism may indicate a cable plug manufactured under a 100 Gb/sec standard. The keying mechanisms may indicate a cabling/wiring pattern to be used (e.g., indicates a polarity of the cable). The cables and/or plugs may be color coded based on the keying mechanism. Accordingly, the keying may alert a user to the features of the cable that are not readily apparent upon a cursory inspection.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a system for mounting components to a rack comprising brackets that can be mounted to the rear of the rack through the opening in the front of rack before the component is inserted into the slot and mating sleeves running along the sides of the components. The brackets include arms that extend forwardly towards the front of the slot. After the brackets are attached, the component can be slid into the slot from the front with the sleeves sliding over and engaging the brackets. In this manner, the component can be slid into a slot on the rack with the brackets sliding into the sleeves, thereby providing support for the component along a substantial portion of the depth of the component without the need to bolt or otherwise fixedly attach the component to the bracket after the component is in the rack. Accordingly, a component can be installed in a rack without the need for any access except from the front of the rack.

Abstract: Keying may be used to indicate various features of cables, cable connectors, and/or equipment. The keying mechanisms of the connectors systems disclosed herein identifies whether each plug is a pinned plug or a pinless plug. The keying mechanisms disclosed herein identify the number of optical fibers terminated at each plug. For example, one type of keying mechanism may indicate a cable plug manufactured under a 40 Gb/sec standard and another type of keying mechanism may indicate a cable plug manufactured under a 100 Gb/sec standard. The keying mechanisms may indicate a cabling/wiring pattern to be used (e.g., indicates a polarity of the cable). The cables and/or plugs may be color coded based on the keying mechanism. Accordingly, the keying may alert a user to the features of the cable that are not readily apparent upon a cursory inspection.

Abstract: An aggregator for interconnecting a hydra with an breakout box, said aggregator comprising: (a) a bottom wall, two sides walls, and at least one faceplate; (b) adapters for multi-conductor connectors arranged in at least one column on said faceplate; and (c) wherein at least two adapters of each column are secure adapters.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a system for mounting components to a rack comprising brackets that can be mounted to the rear of the rack through the opening in the front of rack before the component is inserted into the slot and mating sleeves running along the sides of the components. The brackets include arms that extend forwardly towards the front of the slot. After the brackets are attached, the component can be slid into the slot from the front with the sleeves sliding over and engaging the brackets. In this manner, the component can be slid into a slot on the rack with the brackets sliding into the sleeves, thereby providing support for the component along a substantial portion of the depth of the component without the need to bolt or otherwise fixedly attach the component to the bracket after the component is in the rack. Accordingly, a component can be installed in a rack without the need for any access except from the front of the rack.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a system for mounting components to a rack comprising brackets that can be mounted to the rear of the rack through the opening in the front of rack before the component is inserted into the slot and mating sleeves running along the sides of the components. The brackets include arms that extend forwardly towards the front of the slot. After the brackets are attached, the component can be slid into the slot from the front with the sleeves sliding over and engaging the brackets. In this manner, the component can be slid into a slot on the rack with the brackets sliding into the sleeves, thereby providing support for the component along a substantial portion of the depth of the component without the need to bolt or otherwise fixedly attach the component to the bracket after the component is in the rack. Accordingly, a component can be installed in a rack without the need for any access except from the front of the rack.

Abstract: A cable management system includes elongated members mounted to a panel; and gate members configured to couple to at least some of the elongated members. Adjacent ones of the elongated members define management regions therebetween. Each gate member is rotatable relative to the respective elongated member to selectively inhibit and allow access to the respective management region. Each gate member can be fixed at any axial point along an adjustment region of the respective elongated member to adjust the depth of the management region.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the system comprises: (a) a chassis; (b) one or more cards mounted in the chassis, each card having a plurality of switch ports, the plurality of switch ports being aligned in one or more columns; (c) an aggregator mounted adjacent the chassis, the aggregator having a plurality of bays, each bay being aligned with a card in the chassis, at least one of the bays having a faceplate comprising at least first and second aggregator ports aligned in a column; (d) at least first and second hydras, wherein each hydra comprises at least (i) a first connector; (ii) a plurality of second connectors; (iii) a plurality of conductors, each conductor connecting the first connector to one of the second connectors, the plurality of conductors being bundled together to form a trunk portion from the first connector to a breakout point, the plurality of conductors being separated into breakout portions from the breakout point to the second connectors; (iv) wherein the trunk portion of the first cable is longer

Abstract: A connector system comprising: a multi-plug connector, each plug having a housing and a ferrule, said housing having a front and back orientation and having a front face defining an opening, said ferrule being disposed within said opening, said housing defining a first keying element on said front face around said opening, at least two housings of said multi-plug connector having different said first keying elements.

Abstract: A method and device for interconnecting optical components, such as optical fibers and optical circuits, in a flexible, repeatable, and cost-effective manner. Two or more optical components are interconnected by a flexible optical circuit substrate bearing one or more embedded optical fibers with a lens at each end of each fiber. The flexible optical circuit may be incorporated into a housing bearing apertures for receiving the optical connectors of the optical components that are to be interconnected with the device. The lensed ends of the fibers embedded in the flexible optical circuit are positioned adjacent to the apertures for optically connecting to the fibers within the connectors installed in the apertures without conventional mating connectors disposed inside the housing.

Abstract: An adapter assembly includes a single-piece or two-piece multi-fiber adapter defining a recess at which a contact assembly is disposed. The adapter assemblies can be disposed within adapter block assemblies or cassettes, which can be mounted to moveable trays. Both ports of the adapters disposed within adapter block assemblies are accessible. Only one port of each adapter disposed within the cassettes are accessible. Circuit boards can be mounted within the block assemblies or cassettes to provide communication between the contact assemblies and a data network.