Abstract: A cable device includes an elongated transmission member that defines a central axis, outer cover, and illumination element. The outer cover has an outer surface and a bore along its length. The illumination element extends in a direction parallel to the central axis and along a length of the transmission member. The illumination element has first and second exposed portions extending through separated openings of the outer surface of the outer cover. Each of first and second cross-sections of the respective first and second exposed portions define respective first and second illumination element central axes extending through the cross-sections in one or more directions transverse to the central axis of the transmission member. The illumination element is configured to convey a given light such that the given light that enters the first exposed portion of the illumination element exits the second exposed portion of the illumination element.

Abstract: A communication system includes a housing, a tray, and a guide arm. The tray has a plurality of ports each having a rear face connectable to a rear cable. The tray is movably engaged with the housing and has a first position substantially inside the housing and a second position substantially outside the housing. The guide arm has a first end pivotably attached to the tray between the plurality of ports and a rear of the housing, and a second free end opposite the first end. The guide arm is adapted to rotate from a first rotational position in which the guide arm is substantially parallel to the rear of the housing to a second rotational position in which the free end points toward the rear of the housing as the tray transitions from the first position to the second position.

Abstract: An optical signal routing device may include a first lens, second lens and a wavelength division multiplexer (“WDM”) filter positioned between the first and second lenses. The WDM filter may reflect a signal of a first wavelength with a first attenuation and pass the first wavelength signal attenuated by at most a second attenuation to the second lens, the first attenuation exceeding the second attenuation by a first predetermined amount. The WDM filter may reflect a signal of a second wavelength different than the first wavelength with at most a third attenuation, the first attenuation exceeding the third attenuation by at least a second predetermined amount. The device may further include a reflector positioned to reflect the first wavelength signal reflected by the WDM filter toward the WDM filter with at least a fourth attenuation, the fourth attenuation exceeding the second attenuation by at least a third predetermined amount.

Abstract: A connector assembly includes an adapter, a housing device, a ferrule assembly, and a sensor. The housing device is received by the adapter and has a bore, a front end, and a rear end opposite the front end. A ferrule of the ferrule assembly is within the bore of the housing device and has a mating end extending beyond the front end of the housing device. The sensor is mounted on the rear end of the housing, the rear end of the ferrule assembly, or on the adapter confronting and spaced apart from the housing device or the ferrule assembly. The sensor is configured for detecting a force applied by the housing device or the ferrule assembly, respectively. An electrical characteristic of the sensor changes to indicate a predetermined force has been applied by the housing device or the ferrule assembly, respectively.

Abstract: An optical signal routing device may include a first lens, second lens and a wavelength division multiplexer (“WDM”) filter positioned between the first and second lenses. The WDM filter may reflect a signal of a first wavelength with a first attenuation and pass the first wavelength signal attenuated by at most a second attenuation to the second lens, the first attenuation exceeding the second attenuation by a first predetermined amount. The WDM filter may reflect a signal of a second wavelength different than the first wavelength with at most a third attenuation, the first attenuation exceeding the third attenuation by at least a second predetermined amount. The device may further include a reflector positioned to reflect the first wavelength signal reflected by the WDM filter toward the WDM filter with at least a fourth attenuation, the fourth attenuation exceeding the second attenuation by at least a third predetermined amount.

Abstract: A communication system includes an outer housing, an inner housing, and a hanger plate assembly. The outer housing has first and second side walls. The inner housing is at least partially positioned within the outer housing. The inner housing has first and second side walls and is configured to receive a plurality of patch panel devices therein in a stacked arrangement. The hanger plate assembly includes a first hanger plate hingedly coupled to the first side wall of the inner housing and a plurality of hangers connected to the first hanger plate in a stacked arrangement. Each hanger is adapted to support a cable thereon. The hanger plate assembly has a stored condition in which the hanger plate assembly is fully positioned within the outer housing, and a pulled out condition in which the hanger plate assembly is at least partially positioned outside the outer housing.

Abstract: A communication system includes an outer housing, an inner housing, and a hanger plate assembly. The outer housing has first and second side walls. The inner housing is at least partially positioned within the outer housing. The inner housing has first and second side walls and is configured to receive a plurality of patch panel devices therein in a stacked arrangement. The hanger plate assembly includes a first hanger plate hingedly coupled to the first side wall of the inner housing and a plurality of hangers connected to the first hanger plate in a stacked arrangement. Each hanger is adapted to support a cable thereon. The hanger plate assembly has a stored condition in which the hanger plate assembly is fully positioned within the outer housing, and a pulled out condition in which the hanger plate assembly is at least partially positioned outside the outer housing.

Abstract: An optical signal routing device may include a first lens, second lens and a wavelength division multiplexer (“WDM”) filter positioned between the first and second lenses. The WDM filter may reflect a signal of a first wavelength with a first attenuation and pass the first wavelength signal attenuated by at most a second attenuation to the second lens, the first attenuation exceeding the second attenuation by a first predetermined amount. The WDM filter may reflect a signal of a second wavelength different than the first wavelength with at most a third attenuation, the first attenuation exceeding the third attenuation by at least a second predetermined amount. The device may further include a reflector positioned to reflect the first wavelength signal reflected by the WDM filter toward the WDM filter with at least a fourth attenuation, the fourth attenuation exceeding the second attenuation by at least a third predetermined amount.

Abstract: A device and a system may facilitate access to communication connectors, adapters, and/or ports that are supported within a housing, e.g., a rack or cabinet. The system may include one or more of the devices. Each device may include a tray having a proximal portion pivotably coupled to a distal portion, the proximal portion including a lip extending at an oblique angle away from the tray. A plurality of arms may be pivotably attached to the distal portion of the tray. A plurality of cable attachment members may be coupled to the plurality of arms. A plate may be attached to a bottom surface of the tray, a proximal portion of the plate including a lip extending along a bottom portion of the proximal lip of the tray, and a distal portion including a lip extending at an oblique angle away from the distal portion of the tray.

Abstract: A cable guide for guidance of at least one cable through a patch panel system, including a housing having front, back, left, and right sides, and at least one patch panel device including a tray and one or more adapters, the cable guide comprising an advancing member having a first end for coupling to the back side of the housing, a second end for coupling to the tray of the patch panel device, and a guide member disposed between the first and second ends, wherein the advancing member is transitionable between a first and second state, wherein, when the first and second ends are coupled respectively to the back side and the tray, in the first state, the guide member is positioned at least partially external to the housing at one of the left or right sides; and in the second state, the guide member is positioned within the housing.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses that facilitate installation of a communications cable, e.g., an optical fiber cable, are disclosed. The system may include a communications cable and an adhesive for securing the cable to a surface. The method may include the use of an adhesive to secure the communications cable to a surface. The apparatus may include a pathway to avoid over-bending of the communications cable, which may otherwise result in transmission loss and compromise the performance of the cable.

Abstract: An optical device has a first frame element and second frame element. At least portions of a plurality of optical fiber pairs of an array each including an exposed end are arranged between the two frame elements. A region is defined between opposing surfaces of the two frame elements to hold the optical fibers. When holding the fibers, the two frame elements cooperate to positionally align and orient the exposed ends of each of the optical fibers for at least one of transmitting and receiving light. An optical system with the device includes a TAP photodiode array such that a portion of light is transmitted from at least a pair of input optical fibers to a corresponding pair of photodiodes of the array, and a portion of light is reflected back from an optical filter to output optical fibers corresponding to the input optical fibers.

Abstract: A communication system includes an outer housing, an inner housing, and a hanger plate assembly. The outer housing has first and second side walls. The inner housing is at least partially positioned within the outer housing. The inner housing has first and second side walls and is configured to receive a plurality of patch panel devices therein in a stacked arrangement. The hanger plate assembly includes a first hanger plate hingedly coupled to the first side wall of the inner housing and a plurality of hangers connected to the first hanger plate in a stacked arrangement. Each hanger is adapted to support a cable thereon.

Abstract: A device and a system may facilitate access to communication connectors, adapters, and/or ports that are supported within a housing, e.g., a rack or cabinet. The system may include one or more of the devices. The system may also include a device that manages, e.g., guides and supports cables that are operatively coupled to the connectors, adapters, and/or ports. The ports may be on a tray that is engaged with the housing. A retainer arm may have first end, and a second end pivotably coupled to the tray. A cable retainer may be coupled to the retainer arm. An actuation mechanism may operably couple the tray to the retainer arm. The actuation mechanism may be configured to move the cable retainer from a first position over the tray to a second position extending beyond a side of the tray as the tray is pulled out of the housing.

Abstract: A system may facilitate access to communication connectors that are supported within a housing. The system may include one or more of the devices, which each include a connection means supporting the connectors. The system may also include a device that manages, e.g., guides and supports cables that are operatively coupled to the connectors. The patch panel device may have at least one tray engageable with the housing and having a first position within the housing and a second position pulled out of the housing. A proximal arm may have a proximal segment pivotably coupled to a distal segment. The proximal and distal segments may be pivotably coupled to the tray and the housing, respectively. The system may include a cable retainer configured to guide the cables. As the tray transitions from the first position to the second position, the tray is capable of rotating with respect to the housing.

Abstract: A connector assembly includes an adapter, a housing, a ferrule, and a sensor. The housing is received by the adapter and has a bore. The ferrule is translatable within the bore of the housing. The sensor is mounted on the housing or on the adapter. The sensor is configured for detecting translation of the ferrule. An electrical characteristic of the sensor changes to indicate translation of the ferrule to a predetermined position.

Abstract: A tool for installing cables in a split sleeve includes first and second guide portions, a third arcuate guide portion extending from and positioned radially outward of the first guide portion, the first and third guide portions forming a first guide slot therebetween, and a fourth arcuate guide portion extending from and positioned radially outward of the second guide portion, the second and fourth guide portions forming a second guide slot therebetween. The tool may be assembled to a split sleeve that is biased toward a rolled up configuration in which one side of the split sleeve at least partially overlies another side of the split sleeve. By positioning one or more cables within the tool while the tool is assembled to the split sleeve, a user may slide the tool along the split sleeve to position the cables within the split sleeve.

Abstract: A device and a system may facilitate access to communication connectors, adapters, and/or ports that are supported within a housing, e.g., a rack or cabinet. The system may include a tray slidable distally into a housing and proximally out of the housing. A plurality of first connectors may each be coupled to an arm having a distal end pivotably coupled to the tray. The tray may include a track, and a connector holder may be slidably coupled to the track. At least one second connector may be coupled to the connector holder and may have a stored state and a retracted state and may be positioned at least partially distal to the distal ends of the arms when in the stored state.

Abstract: An optical device has a first frame element and second frame element. At least portions of a plurality of optical fiber pairs of an array each including an exposed end are arranged between the two frame elements. A region is defined between opposing surfaces of the two frame elements to hold the optical fibers. When holding the fibers, the two frame elements cooperate to positionally align and orient the exposed ends of each of the optical fibers for at least one of transmitting and receiving light. An optical system with the device includes a TAP photodiode array such that a portion of light is transmitted from at least a pair of input optical fibers to a corresponding pair of photodiodes of the array, and a portion of light is reflected back from an optical filter to output optical fibers corresponding to the input optical fibers.

Abstract: A cable guide apparatus includes a first longitudinal channel defined by first, second, and third walls, the third wall toward and away from the first. The second and third walls may have a plurality of openings to facilitate bending of the longitudinal channel and any cables secured therein. The first wall may include a plurality of closure mechanisms, such as hooks, and the third wall may include a plurality of closure mechanisms, such as lips. The cable guide apparatus has an open condition in which cables may easily be inserted into the channel, and a closed condition in which the cables are secured in the channel. The width of the openings may define a maximum amount the cable guide apparatus may bend, such that cables secured within the apparatus do not bend to the point of being damaged.