High-density fiber optic modules and module housings and related equipment

Abstract

High-density fiber optic modules and fiber optic module housings and related equipment are disclosed. In certain embodiments, a front opening of a fiber optic module and/or fiber optic module housing is configured to receive fiber optic components. The width and/or height of the front opening can be provided according to a designed relationship to a width and/or height, respectively, of a front side of a main body of the fiber optic module and/or fiber optic module housing. In this manner, a high density of fiber optic components and/or connections for a given space of the front side of the fiber optic module can be supported by the fiber optic module and/or fiber optic module housing. The fiber optic modules and fiber optic module housings disclosed herein can be disposed in fiber optic equipment including but not limited to a fiber optic chassis and a fiber optic equipment drawer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fiber optic module, comprising:
 a main body defining an internal chamber comprising a front side;   a plurality of optical fibers disposed in the internal chamber;   a front opening disposed along a longitudinal axis in the front side;   a first plurality of simplex or duplex fiber optic components optically connected to the plurality of optical fibers, the first plurality of simplex or duplex fiber optic components disposed through the front opening; and   at least one second fiber optic component optically connected to at least one of the plurality of optical fibers to provide optical connection between the at least one second fiber optic component and at least one of the first plurality of simplex or duplex fiber optic components;   wherein a width of the front opening is at least eighty-five percent (85%) of a width of the front side.   
     
     
         2 . The fiber optic module of  claim 1 , wherein the width of the front opening is between ninety percent (90%) and ninety-nine percent (99%) of the width of the front side. 
     
     
         3 . The fiber optic module of  claim 1 , wherein a height of the front opening is at least eighty-five percent (85%) of a height of the front side. 
     
     
         4 . The fiber optic module of  claim 1 , wherein a height of the front opening is at least ninety-five percent (95%) of a height of the front side. 
     
     
         5 . The fiber optic module of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one second fiber optic component is disposed through a rear side of the main body. 
     
     
         6 . The fiber optic module of  claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of simplex or duplex fiber optic components is comprised of at least a first plurality of simplex or duplex fiber optic connectors and a first plurality of simplex or duplex fiber optic adapters. 
     
     
         7 . The fiber optic module of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of optical fibers are further disposed in a fiber optic harness disposed in the internal chamber and connected to the first plurality of simplex or duplex fiber optic components and the at least one second fiber optic component. 
     
     
         8 . A fiber optic module, comprising:
 a main body defining an internal chamber comprising a front side;   a plurality of optical fibers disposed in the internal chamber;   a front opening disposed along a longitudinal axis in the front side;   a first plurality of simplex or duplex fiber optic components optically connected to the plurality of optical fibers, the first plurality of simplex or duplex fiber optic components disposed through the front opening providing a fiber optic connection density of at least one fiber optic connection per 7.0 millimeters (mm) of width of the front opening; and   at least one second fiber optic component optically connected to at least one of the plurality of optical fibers to provide optical connection between the at least one second fiber optic component and at least one of the first plurality of simplex or duplex fiber optic components.   
     
     
         9 . The fiber optic module of  claim 8 , wherein the first plurality of simplex or duplex fiber optic components provides a fiber optic connection density of at least one fiber optic connection per 6.9 mm of width of the front opening. 
     
     
         10 . The fiber optic module of  claim 8 , wherein the first plurality of simplex or duplex fiber optic components provides a fiber optic connection density of at least one fiber optic connection per 1.7 mm of width of the front opening. 
     
     
         11 . The fiber optic module of  claim 8 , wherein the first plurality of simplex or duplex fiber optic components provides a fiber optic connection density of at least one fiber optic connection per 0.85 mm of width of the front opening. 
     
     
         12 . The fiber optic module of  claim 8 , wherein the first plurality of simplex or duplex fiber optic components is comprised of at least a first plurality of simplex or duplex fiber optic connectors and a first plurality of simplex or duplex fiber optic adapters. 
     
     
         13 . The fiber optic module of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of optical fibers are further disposed in a fiber optic harness disposed in the internal chamber and connected to the first plurality of simplex or duplex fiber optic components and the at least one second fiber optic component. 
     
     
         14 . A fiber optic module, comprising:
 a main body defining an internal chamber having a front side;   a plurality of optical fibers disposed in the internal chamber;   a front opening disposed along a longitudinal axis in the front side; and   a first plurality of simplex or duplex fiber optic components optically connected to the plurality of optical fibers, the first plurality of simplex or duplex fiber optic components disposed through the front opening providing at least twelve (12) fiber optic connections;   wherein a width of the front opening is 90 mm or less; and   at least one second fiber optic component optically connected to at least one of the plurality of optical fibers to provide optical connection between the at least one second fiber optic component and at least one of the first plurality of simplex or duplex fiber optic components.   
     
     
         15 . The fiber optic module of  claim 14 , wherein the width of the front opening is 85 mm or less. 
     
     
         16 . The fiber optic module of  claim 14 , wherein the width of the front opening is 80 mm or less. 
     
     
         17 . The fiber optic module of  claim 14 , wherein a height of the front opening is 12 mm or less. 
     
     
         18 . The fiber optic module of  claim 14 , wherein a height of the front opening is 10 mm or less. 
     
     
         19 . The fiber optic module of  claim 14 , wherein the first plurality of simplex or duplex fiber optic components provides at least forty-eight (48) fiber optic connections. 
     
     
         20 . The fiber optic module of  claim 14 , wherein the first plurality of simplex or duplex fiber optic components provides at least ninety-six (96) fiber optic connections.