Fiber optic cassette

Abstract

A fiber optic cassette includes a body defining a front and an opposite rear. A cable entry location is defined on the body for a cable to enter the cassette, wherein a plurality of optical fibers from the cable extend into the cassette and form terminations at non-conventional connectors adjacent the front of the body. A flexible substrate is positioned between the cable entry location and the non-conventional connectors adjacent the front of the body, the flexible substrate rigidly supporting the plurality of optical fibers. Each of the non-conventional connectors adjacent the front of the body includes a ferrule, a ferrule hub supporting the ferrule, and a split sleeve surrounding the ferrule.

1 . A fiber optic cassette comprising:
 a body defining a front and an opposite rear;   a cable entry location defined on the body for a cable to enter the cassette, wherein a plurality of optical fibers from the cable extend into the cassette and form terminations at non-conventional connectors adjacent the front of the body; and   a flexible substrate positioned between the cable entry location and the non-conventional connectors adjacent the front of the body, the flexible substrate rigidly supporting the plurality of optical fibers;   wherein each of the non-conventional connectors adjacent the front of the body includes a ferrule, a ferrule hub supporting the ferrule, and a split sleeve surrounding the ferrule.   
     
     
         2 . A fiber optic cassette according to  claim 1 , wherein the substrate supports two optical fibers. 
     
     
         3 . A fiber optic cassette according to  claim 1 , wherein the cassette includes twelve non-conventional connectors adjacent the front of the body. 
     
     
         4 . A fiber optic cassette according to  claim 1 , wherein the cassette defines a plurality of adapters adjacent the front of the body for receiving incoming fiber optic connectors that mate with the non-conventional connectors that are adjacent the front of the body. 
     
     
         5 . A fiber optic cassette according to  claim 4 , wherein the adapters are configured to receive incoming fiber optic connectors that are of the LC format. 
     
     
         6 . A fiber optic cassette according to  claim 1 , wherein the substrate is configured to allow bending in a direction generally perpendicular to the direction extending from the front to the rear of the cassette. 
     
     
         7 . A fiber optic cassette according to  claim 1 , wherein the cable entry location is defined by a multi-fiber connector. 
     
     
         8 . A fiber optic cassette according to  claim 7 , wherein the multi-fiber connector is positioned adjacent the rear of the body of the cassette. 
     
     
         9 . A fiber optic cassette according to  claim 1 , wherein the cassette defines an interior that houses the flexible substrate, the interior enclosed by a removable cover. 
     
     
         10 . A fiber optic cassette according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible substrate and the non-conventional connectors adjacent the front of the body are removable. 
     
     
         11 . A fiber optic cassette according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the flexible substrate is physically inserted into at least a portion of each ferrule hub. 
     
     
         12 . A fiber optic cassette according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the non-conventional connectors adjacent the front of the body is mounted to a separate front extension of the flexible substrate, the front extensions being separated by cut-outs defined by the substrate for providing separate flexibility to each front extension. 
     
     
         13 .- 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A fiber optic cassette according to  claim 1 , wherein the cable entry location is defined by a multi-fiber connector that defines a longitudinal axis that is generally perpendicular to those of the non-conventional connectors adjacent the front of the body. 
     
     
         19 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A flexible optical circuit comprising:
 a flexible substrate; and   a plurality of optical fibers physically supported by the flexible substrate;   
       wherein a first end of each of the optical fibers is terminated to a multi-ferrule connector that is coupled to the flexible substrate and a second end of each of the optical fibers is terminated to a non-conventional fiber optic connector that is coupled to the flexible substrate, the non-conventional fiber optic connector including a ferrule and a ferrule hub that supports the ferrule. 
     
     
         22 . A flexible optical circuit according to  claim 21 , wherein the flexible substrate is configured to allow limited amount of bending. 
     
     
         23 . A flexible optical circuit according to  claim 21 , wherein the multi-ferrule connector is an MPO connector. 
     
     
         24 . A flexible optical circuit according to  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of optical fibers includes at least twelve optical fibers. 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A flexible optical circuit according to  claim 21 , wherein at least a portion of the flexible substrate is physically inserted into at least a portion of each ferrule hub. 
     
     
         27 . A flexible optical circuit according to  claim 21 , wherein each of the non-conventional connectors is mounted to a separate front extension of the flexible substrate, the front extensions being separated by cut-outs defined by the substrate for providing separate flexibility to each front extension. 
     
     
         28 . A flexible optical circuit according to  claim 21 , wherein the multi-ferrule connector defines a longitudinal axis that is generally perpendicular to those of the non-conventional connectors. 
     
     
         29 . (canceled)