Fiber optic adapter plates with integrated fiber optic adapters

Abstract

Structures, devices and methods are provided for creating fiber optic adapter plates with integrated fiber optic adapters. In one aspect, fiber optic adapter plates having integrated fiber optic adapter subassemblies are formed from a moldable plastic. For example, a molded plastic fiber optic adapter plate can include a molded plastic adapter back plate having a plurality of integrated fiber optic adapter subassemblies and one or more attachment mechanisms that facilitate locating and attaching an adapter front plate having a corresponding plurality of integrated fiber optic adapter subassemblies on the adapter front plate. Advantages provided by integrating fiber optic adapters into the molded plastic assemblies include superior mechanical strength, manufacturing cost reductions and adapter placement flexibility among other advantages.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fiber optic adapter plate assembly, comprising:
 a first adapter plate comprising first fiber optic assemblies that are each configured to accept a pair of fiber optic cables; and   a second adapter plate comprising second fiber optic assemblies formed on a planar face of the second adapter plate, wherein another planar face of the second adapter plate is configured to fit within a recessed portion of the first adapter plate to facilitate alignment of the first fiber optic assemblies and the second fiber optic assemblies.   
     
     
         2 . The fiber optic adapter plate assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the recessed portion of the first adapter plate and the other planar face of the second adapter plate comprise a corresponding size. 
     
     
         3 . The fiber optic adapter plate assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the recessed portion of the first adapter plate and the other planar face of the second adapter plate comprise a corresponding shape. 
     
     
         4 . The fiber optic adapter plate assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first adapter plate is configured to attach to the second adapter plate via a snap-fit mechanism. 
     
     
         5 . The fiber optic adapter plate assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the other planar face of the second adapter plate comprises a mating pin configured to attach to a hole within the recessed portion of the first adapter plate. 
     
     
         6 . The fiber optic adapter plate assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first adapter plate is configured to attach to the second adapter plate via plastic welding. 
     
     
         7 . The fiber optic adapter plate assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first adapter plate is configured to attach to the second adapter plate via a heat staking process. 
     
     
         8 . The fiber optic adapter plate assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first adapter plate is a first molded component and the second adapter plate is a second molded component. 
     
     
         9 . The fiber optic adapter plate assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first adapter plate is configured to attach to a fiber optic rack enclosure. 
     
     
         10 . The fiber optic adapter plate assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first adapter plate is larger than the second adapter plate. 
     
     
         11 . A molded fiber optic apparatus, comprising:
 a first adapter plate comprising at least one fiber optic subassembly and configured to attach to a rack enclosure; and   a second adapter plate comprising at least one corresponding fiber optic subassembly formed on a first flat surface of the second adapter plate, wherein a second flat surface of the second adapter plate is configured to attach to the first adapter plate to facilitate alignment of the at least one fiber optic subassembly and the at least one corresponding fiber optic subassembly.   
     
     
         12 . The molded fiber optic apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the second flat surface of the second adapter plate is configured to attach to a recessed portion of the first adapter plate. 
     
     
         13 . The molded fiber optic apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the recessed portion of the first adapter plate and the second flat surface of the second adapter plate comprise a corresponding size. 
     
     
         14 . The molded fiber optic apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the recessed portion of the first adapter plate and the second flat surface of the second adapter plate comprise a corresponding shape. 
     
     
         15 . The molded fiber optic apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the second flat surface is configured to attach to the first adapter plate via a snap-fit mechanism. 
     
     
         16 . The molded fiber optic apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the second flat surface is configured to attach to the first adapter plate via a welding process. 
     
     
         17 . The molded fiber optic apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the second flat surface is configured to attach to the first adapter plate via a thermoplastic staking process. 
     
     
         18 . A system, comprising:
 means for forming and retaining a first number of fiber optic adapter subassemblies on a first adapter plate that are respectively configured to accept a pair of fiber optic cables;   means for forming and retaining a second number of fiber optic adapter subassemblies on a surface of a second adapter plate; and   means for aligning another surface of the second adapter plate within a recessed portion of the first adapter plate to facilitate alignment of the first number of fiber optic adapter subassemblies and the second number of fiber optic adapter subassemblies.   
     
     
         19 . The system  claim 18 , wherein the means for aligning the other surface of the second adapter plate within the recessed portion of the first adapter plate comprises means for attaching the other surface of the second adapter plate to the first adapter plate via a snap-fit mechanism. 
     
     
         20 . The system  claim 18 , wherein the means for aligning the other surface of the second adapter plate within the recessed portion of the first adapter plate comprises means for attaching the other surface of the second adapter plate to the first adapter plate via a welding process or a heat staking process.