Scalable and modular automated fiber optic cross-connect systems
This invention discloses patch-panel systems for organized configuration management of large numbers of fiber optic interconnection strands, wherein each strand transmits high bandwidth signals between devices. In particular, a system for the programmable interconnection of large numbers of optical fiber strands is provided, whereby strands connecting a two-dimensional array of connectors are mapped in an ordered and rule based fashion into a one-dimensional array with substantially straight lines strands there between. The braid of fiber optic strands is partitioned into multiple independent, non-interfering zones or subbraids. The separation into subbraids provides spatial clearance for one or more robotic grippers to enter the free volume substantially adjacent to the two-dimensional array of connectors and to mechanically reconfigure one or more optical fiber strands without interrupting or entangling other fiber optic strands.
1. A fiber optic patch panel system for the ordered changeable arrangement of a multiplicity of fiber optic interconnections extending between changeable front side cables and fixed back side cables, comprised of:
a multiplicity of subbraids, each subbraid including a multiplicity of fiber optic interconnection strands;
a two-dimensional array of fiber optic union adaptors aligned in spaced apart rows and columns within a common plane and coupled to provide changeable, low loss linear interconnection of the strands within the subbraids between laterally separated front-side cables and laterally adjacent back-side cables connected thereto;
the changeable interconnection of the strands comprising a convergent geometry of linear strands from the laterally separate front-side ends of the cables, which are laterally adjacent for compact coupling as outputs from the patch panel system;
each row of adaptors being physically detached from the other rows and free to linearly translate within its row from a nominal central column position by less than a column width in either direction, with strands connected to the adapters;
the system including independent linear actuators each coupled to a different row of adaptors, and wherein the system further includes a processor controlling the adaptors and selectively operating the rows of adaptors in relation to existing strands between front-side cables and back-side cables to facilitate the reconfiguration of non-entangling strand combinations.
2. A fiber optic patch panel in accordance with claim 1 , further including a robotic connector gripper responsive to processor commands for moving any individual strand in a direction substantially parallel to, but offset from, the columns of adaptors, the programmed translator under processor control of each linear actuator for reconfiguration of the individual strand is accomplished in programmed relation to the columnar motion of the robotic gripper, and wherein the individual strands are not physically impeded by other strands.
3. A fiber optic patch panel system in accordance with claim 1 , in which a number of strands, in the range of 10 to 48, connect to each row of adaptors wherein the translation of an adaptor in either direction from the nominal central position in either direction is by half a column width and wherein the individual strand is not physically impeded by other strands.
4. A fiber optic patch panel system having an ordered changeable arrangement of a fiber optic interconnection braid, comprised of:
a multiplicity of subbraids, each subbraid including a multiplicity of fiber optic interconnection strands;
a two-dimensional array of fiber optic union adaptors aligned in spaced apart rows and columns within a common plane and providing changeable, low loss interconnection of the strands within the subbraids between the front-side cables and back-side cables thereto;
each row of adaptors being physically detached from the other rows and free to linearly translate within its row from a nominal control column position by less than a column width in either direction, with strands connected to the adaptors;
an array of flexible circuit modules individually coupled to the back-side cables and providing compensating length variations to maintain linearity when required by a change in the interconnection position of a strand;
the system further including independent linear actuators each coupled to a different row of adapters, and a robotic connector gripper responsive to processor commands for moving any individual strand in a direction substantially parallel to, but offset from, the columns of adapters, and the programmed translation under processor control of each linear actuator for reconfiguration of the individual strand is accomplished in programmed relation to the columnar motion of the robotic gripper;
wherein the system further includes a processor controlling the adapters and selectively operating the rows of adapters in relation to existing strands between front-side cables and back-side cables to facilitate the reconfiguration of non-entangling strand combinations, and
wherein the number of strands total 48 to 2048 and each strand follows a substantially straight line path between front-side cables and back-side cables coupled thereto.
5. A system as set forth in claim 4 , wherein the length of each straight line path is 2 meters or less.
6. An optical fiber patch panel management apparatus providing orderly and deterministic fiber strand routing within a limited volume, comprised of an arrayed multiplicity of optical fiber strands each in a substantially straight-line configuration, spanning an interconnect volume from an adjacent planar input side to a storage volume side, said storage volume side containing a multiplicity of fiber strand tensioning and storage elements spaced apart in three dimensions, the optical fiber strands being continuous in length therebetween, and the management apparatus comprising:
a multiplicity of input terminals arrayed in two dimensions along the planar input side of the interconnect volume for receiving and coupling latching to the proximal ends of the optical fiber strands;
an array of circumferential through ports along the plane separating the interconnect volume and the storage volumes, the through ports including low friction surfaces guiding optical fiber strands; and
a multiplicity of arrayed fiber strand tensioning and storage elements in the storage volume side being configured to limit vary fiber strand lengths sufficiently to maintain the fiber strands in a substantially straight-line configuration within the interconnect volume.
7. An arrayed collection of optical fiber strands in accordance with claim 6 wherein the optical fibers are small diameter plastic coated single mode or multimode fibers with outer diameters of less than 1 mm.
8. An arrayed collection of optical fiber strands in accordance with claim 6 wherein the array of through ports is substantially one-dimensional.
9. An arrayed collection of optical fibers in accordance with claim 8 wherein the number of input terminals is greater than or equal to the number of substantially straight-line optical fibers.
10. An arrayed multiplicity of optical fibers in accordance with claim 8 wherein the substantially straight-line configuration of each optical fiber may comprise arced segments of limited length with greater than a minimum bend-radius at the terminal array and throughput port array.