Panduit Corporation

Benjamin J Berridge

Gregory L Kuffel

Max W Hibner

Thomas M Sedor

Bon B Sledzinski

Michael Mayo

Alex C Brouwer

Michael R Walters

Joel D Kwasny

Joseph E Sanders

Robert E Fransen

Jerry A Wiltjer

Joshua A Valenti

Jason O'Young

Robert A Reid

An optical distribution and splice frame system includes rack(s), enclosure(s), cable management component(s), and/or cassette(s) that have features to allow for different cable management configurations not yet available in the market. A fiber optic cassette and enclosure are designed to enable flexibility in cable management configurations for the overall system.

Optical distribution and splice frame including cassettes

A cassette adapter for the installation of a cassette in a patch panel of a data rack including a base configured to accept the cassette, a front frame connected to a distal end of the base, at least one latch connected to the base, and a mounting portion configured to mount the cassette adapter to the panel. The cassette adapter being configured to retain the cassette within the cassette adapter and connect the cassette to the patch panel in a removable fashion.

Cassette adapter and method of installation

In accordance with the following description, an optical communication connector includes a ferrule having retractable alignment pins that are actuable between an extended position and a retracted position. For example, the connector may include an inner housing assembly having optical fibers and an outer housing positioned over the inner housing assembly. The outer housing is shaped to be removable from the inner housing assembly, which has a movable pin clamp mechanically coupled to alignment pins for aligning the connector with another connector. The pin clamp may be slid from a first position (corresponding to a male gender) to a second position (corresponding to a female gender). Separately or in combination with changing gender, the polarity of a communication connector may be changed due to its inclusion of an asymmetric polarity-changing feature that is actuable by an installer to change a polarity of the communication connector. Such a feature may actuated by being moved from a first position to a second position relative to the communication connector.

Optical communications connectors

A cassette configured for the installation in a fiber enclosure system. The cassette includes a base, a first wall including a first front post, a second wall including a second front post, and a front wall with an opening including an adapter configured to connect to at least one fiber optic cable. The cassette further includes a latch located on the first wall configured to releasably connect the cassette to the fiber enclosure system, where a cassette lock is configured to retract the latch when the lock is actuated away from a rear of the cassette and deploy the latch when the lock is actuated toward the rear of the cassette.

Fiber optic cassette

Optical distribution and splice frame including vertical cable managers

A cassette module has three 16 fiber MPOs and four 12 fiber MPOs wherein each 16 fiber MPO has 4 fiber receiving areas with four fibers going to each fiber receiving area and each 12 fiber MPO has 3 fiber receiving areas with four fibers going to each fiber receiving area. Fibers are routed from certain areas of the 16 fiber MPOs to those of the 12 fiber MPOs in order to convert a base 12 communication system to a base 16 communication system.

12 fiber MPO to 16 fiber MPO conversion module

Optical distribution and splice frame including enclosures

A fiber optic connector has a housing and a ferrule contained within the housing. The ferrule has a base portion, an endface portion protruding from the base, and at least one alignment tower extending from the base portion parallel to the endface portion. In one embodiment, the ferrule can have one alignment tower on each side of the endface portion. In one embodiment. The alignment towers extend the same distance from the base portion as the endface portion. In another embodiment, the alignment towers may be connected to the endface portion via webbing.

Small form factor multi-fiber connector

Growing community of inventors

Highland, IN, United States of America

Benjamin J Berridge