Telecommunications system and methods

Abstract

A cabinet having a framework for mounting telecommunications equipment includes a framework and telecommunications equipment mounted to the framework. The equipment may include splitter modules. Spools are mounted within the cabinet to manage overlength slack in fiber optic cables within the cabinet. A patch panel is mounted within the cabinet and define a plurality of cable termination locations for receiving at least some of the fiber optic cables. The patch panel is mounted on a pivotable frame between a storage position and an access position. The plurality of spools are positioned intermediate the telecommunications equipment and the patch panel. A splice area is mounted within the cabinet and is accessible when the pivotable frame is in the access position. The splice area receives fiber optic cables from the patch panel for splicing to additional cables.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fiber distribution hub comprising:
 a cabinet defining an interior accessible through a front access opening;   active equipment disposed within the interior and accessible from the front access opening, the active equipment including a plurality of units disposed within the interior, the units defining cable connection interfaces that face the front access opening; and   a termination field disposed within the interior, the termination field including a plurality of adapters carried by a pivotal panel, the adapters defining forward ports and rearward ports, the panel being configured to pivot between a storage position and an access position, the panel blocking access to the rearward ports from the front access opening when the panel is disposed in the storage position, the panel allowing access to the rearward ports when disposed in the access position.   
     
     
         2 . The fiber distribution hub of  claim 1 , wherein the active equipment is disposed in a column within the interior. 
     
     
         3 . The fiber distribution hub of  claim 2 , wherein the column is disposed laterally offset from the pivotal panel. 
     
     
         4 . The fiber distribution hub of  claim 2 , further comprising a plurality of spools are disposed adjacent the column of active equipment. 
     
     
         5 . The fiber distribution hub of  claim 2 , wherein the spools are disposed between the column of active equipment and the pivotal panel. 
     
     
         6 . The fiber distribution hub of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of spools are disposed adjacent the active equipment. 
     
     
         7 . The fiber distribution hub of  claim 1 , wherein the units of active equipment include wavelength division multiplexors. 
     
     
         8 . The fiber distribution hub of  claim 1 , further comprising a storage region disposed within the interior and accessible from the front access opening, the storage region holds one or more unconnected cables that are not connected into the termination field. 
     
     
         9 . The fiber distribution hub of  claim 1 , wherein the pivotal panel forms part of a pivotal frame that includes a pivoting section and a holding section, the pivoting section being pivotally connected to the cabinet, the holding section carrying the adapters. 
     
     
         10 . The fiber distribution hub of  claim 9 , further comprising a plurality of bend radius limiters carried by the pivotal frame. 
     
     
         11 . The fiber distribution hub of  claim 10 , wherein the bend radius limiters are disposed along an edge of the pivotal frame. 
     
     
         12 . The fiber distribution hub of  claim 1 , further comprising a splice region disposed within the interior of the cabinet. 
     
     
         13 . The fiber distribution hub of  claim 12 , wherein the splice region is accessible when the pivotal panel is disposed in the access position. 
     
     
         14 . The fiber distribution hub of  claim 13 , wherein the splice region is carried by the pivotal panel. 
     
     
         15 . The fiber distribution hub of  claim 12 , wherein the termination field is removable from the cabinet to enable direct connection between the equipment and the splice region. 
     
     
         16 . The fiber distribution hub of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of spools disposed adjacent the active equipment, the spools being stationary relative to the active equipment;   a plurality of bend radius limiters disposed at an edge of the pivotal frame, the bend radius limiters being carried with the pivotal frame; and   a storage region disposed within the interior and accessible from the front access opening.   
     
     
         17 . The fiber distribution hub of  claim 16 , wherein the active equipment units include a plurality of wave division multiplexers disposed in a column. 
     
     
         18 . The fiber distribution hub of  claim 16 , wherein the pivotal panel forms part of a pivotal frame that includes a pivoting section and a holding section, the pivoting section being pivotally connected to the cabinet, the holding section carrying the adapters, the holding section being angled relative to the pivoting section at a non-zero angle. 
     
     
         19 . The fiber distribution hub of  claim 16 , further comprising a splice region disposed within the interior of the cabinet, the splice region being accessible when the pivotal panel is disposed in the access position. 
     
     
         20 . The fiber distribution hub of  claim 19 , wherein the splice region is carried by the pivotal panel.