Independently translatable modules and fiber optic equipment trays in fiber optic equipment

Abstract

Fiber optic equipment that supports independently translatable fiber optic modules and/or fiber optic equipment trays containing one or more fiber optic modules is disclosed. In some embodiments, one or more fiber optic modules are disposed in a plurality of independently translatable fiber optic equipment trays which are received in a tray guide system. In this manner, each fiber optic equipment tray is independently translatable within the guide system. One or more fiber optic modules may also be disposed in one or more module guides disposed in the fiber optic equipment trays to allow each fiber optic module to translate independently of other fiber optic modules in the same fiber optic equipment tray. In other embodiments, a plurality of fiber optic modules are disposed in a module guide system disposed in the fiber optic equipment that translate independently of other fiber optic modules disposed within the module guide system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fiber optic module configured to be received between module guides of a fiber optic equipment tray, the fiber optic module comprising:
 a plurality of walls comprising a front wall, a rear wall, a first lateral wall, and a second lateral wall bounding an interior;   a plurality of first fiber optic adapters disposed through the front wall, at least one second fiber optic adapter disposed through the rear wall, and at least one optical fiber disposed within the interior and establishing at least one optical connection between the at least one second fiber optic adapter and at least one first fiber optic adapter of the plurality of first fiber optic adapters; and   a first rail assembly adjacent to the first lateral wall and a second rail adjacent to the second lateral wall;   wherein the first rail assembly extends forwardly beyond the front wall, extends rearwardly beyond the rear wall, and comprises at least one locking latch; and   wherein the at least one locking latch is actuatable by a user and is configured to prevent the fiber optic module from moving relative to the fiber optic equipment tray.   
     
     
         2 . The fiber optic module of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one locking latch extends forwardly beyond the front wall. 
     
     
         3 . The fiber optic module of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one locking latch extends rearwardly beyond the rear wall. 
     
     
         4 . The fiber optic module of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one locking latch extends laterally outward beyond a rail of the first rail assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The fiber optic module of  claim 1 , wherein a number of adapters of the plurality of first fiber optic adapters exceeds a number of adapters of the at least one second fiber optic adapter. 
     
     
         6 . The fiber optic module of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one second fiber optic adapter comprises a higher connection density than each first fiber optic adapter of the plurality of first fiber optic adapters. 
     
     
         7 . The fiber optic module of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one locking latch comprises a lateral protrusion configured to prevent the fiber optic module from moving relative to the fiber optic equipment tray. 
     
     
         8 . The fiber optic module of  claim 7 , wherein the fiber optic equipment tray comprises a plurality of module guides, and the at least one locking latch is configured to cause the lateral protrusion to selectively engage at least one module guide of the plurality of module guides. 
     
     
         9 . The fiber optic module of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one locking latch is configured to be pulled inward toward a medial portion of the fiber optic module to permit disengagement of the lateral protrusion from the fiber optic equipment tray. 
     
     
         10 . The fiber optic module of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the at least one locking latch is configured to flex upon actuation of the at least one locking latch by the user 
     
     
         11 . The fiber optic module of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first fiber optic adapters is configured to accept LC fiber optic connectors, and the at least one second fiber optic adapter comprises a fiber optic adapter configured to establish connections to twelve optical fibers. 
     
     
         12 . A fiber optic apparatus, comprising:
 a chassis configured to be disposed in an equipment rack, the chassis comprising opposite front and rear chassis ends that are separated in a longitudinal direction;   a plurality of tray guides configured to be disposed within the chassis;   a plurality of fiber optic equipment trays configured to be supported by the plurality of tray guides, wherein each fiber optic equipment tray of the plurality of fiber optic equipment trays comprises a plurality of module guides; and   a plurality of fiber optic modules configured to be received by the plurality of fiber optic equipment trays, wherein each fiber optic module of the plurality of fiber optic modules is configured to be guided and move in the longitudinal direction between a different pair of laterally spaced module guides of the plurality of module guides, and each fiber optic module is independently movable in the longitudinal direction relative to the plurality of fiber optic equipment trays;   wherein each fiber optic module of the plurality of fiber optic modules comprises a front wall, a rear wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, a first rail assembly adjacent to the first side wall, a second rail adjacent to the second side wall, an interior, a plurality of first fiber optic adapters disposed through the front wall, at least one second fiber optic adapter disposed through the rear wall, and at least one optical fiber disposed within the interior and establishing at least one optical connection between the at least one second fiber optic adapter and at least one first fiber optic adapter of the plurality of first fiber optic adapters;   wherein for each fiber optic module of the plurality of fiber optic modules, the first rail assembly extends forwardly beyond the front wall, extends rearwardly beyond the rear wall, and comprises at least one locking latch that is actuatable by a user and is configured to prevent the fiber optic module from moving relative to the plurality of fiber optic equipment trays;   wherein each fiber optic equipment tray of the plurality of fiber optic equipment trays is configured to receive multiple fiber optic modules of the plurality of fiber optic modules; and   wherein the plurality of fiber optic equipment trays and the plurality of fiber optic modules are configured to permit each fiber optic module of the plurality of fiber optic modules to be removable from a front of the plurality of fiber optic equipment trays, and removable from a rear of the plurality of fiber optic equipment trays.   
     
     
         13 . The fiber optic apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein for each fiber optic module of the plurality of fiber optic modules, the at least one locking latch extends forwardly beyond the front wall. 
     
     
         14 . The fiber optic apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein for each fiber optic module of the plurality of fiber optic modules, the at least one locking latch extends rearwardly beyond the rear wall. 
     
     
         15 . The fiber optic apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein for each fiber optic module of the plurality of fiber optic modules, the at least one locking latch extends laterally outward beyond a rail of the first rail assembly. 
     
     
         16 . The fiber optic apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein for each fiber optic module of the plurality of fiber optic modules, the at least one locking latch is configured to engage a locking feature of at least one module guide of a fiber optic equipment tray of the plurality of fiber optic equipment trays. 
     
     
         17 . The fiber optic apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein for each fiber optic module of the plurality of fiber optic modules, the at least one locking latch is configured to engage a detent of at least one module guide of a fiber optic equipment tray of the plurality of fiber optic equipment trays. 
     
     
         18 . The fiber optic apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein fiber optic equipment trays of the plurality of fiber optic equipment trays are configured to translate in the longitudinal direction relative to the chassis so as to have a forwardly extended position and rearwardly retracted position relative to the chassis. 
     
     
         19 . The fiber optic apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of fiber optic equipment trays and the plurality of fiber optic modules are configured to permit each fiber optic module of the plurality of fiber optic modules to be removable from a fiber optic equipment tray when in the forwardly extended position and when in the rearwardly retracted position. 
     
     
         20 . The fiber optic apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein a number of adapters of the plurality of first fiber optic adapters exceeds a number of adapters of the at least one second fiber optic adapter. 
     
     
         21 . The fiber optic apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein for each fiber optic module of the plurality of fiber optic modules, the plurality of first fiber optic adapters is configured to accept LC fiber optic connectors, and the at least one second fiber optic adapter comprises a fiber optic adapter configured to establish connections to twelve optical fibers. 
     
     
         22 . The fiber optic apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of fiber optic equipment trays comprises three fiber optic equipment trays in a height of 1.75 inches, and wherein the plurality of first fiber optic adapters of the plurality of fiber optic modules is configured to support connections for 144 optical fibers. 
     
     
         23 . The fiber optic apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein at least one module guide of the plurality of module guides comprises a stop feature arranged to limit forward translation in the longitudinal direction of a fiber optic module of the plurality of fiber optic modules. 
     
     
         24 . The fiber optic apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the chassis comprises a rear section, and wherein a rear portion of at least one module guide of the plurality of module guides defines at least one guide channel that is open on a rear end thereof and is configured to permit the plurality of fiber optic modules to be inserted into the plurality of module guides from the rear section of the chassis and be guided toward the front chassis end. 
     
     
         25 . The fiber optic apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein for at least one fiber optic equipment tray of the plurality of fiber optic equipment trays, a front end of the at least one fiber optic equipment tray comprises at least one fiber routing element configured to permit optical fibers to be routed to either left or right portions of the at least one fiber optic equipment tray toward first and second lateral ends of the chassis. 
     
     
         26 . The fiber optic apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein for at least one fiber optic module of the plurality of fiber optic modules, the at least one second fiber optic adapter comprises a higher connection density than each first fiber optic adapter of the plurality of first fiber optic adapters.