EP-4741901-A1 - TRAY AND FIBER-OPTIC APPARATUS

EP4741901A1EP 4741901 A1EP4741901 A1EP 4741901A1EP-4741901-A1

Abstract

A tray for use in a fiber-optic apparatus is provided. The tray has a first surface comprising a plurality of regions. Each of the plurality of regions comprises at least one fiber-optic component or mount for retaining a fiber-optic component. Each of the plurality of regions are physically separated from the others of the plurality of regions by one or more dividing barriers. A fiber-optic apparatus comprising the tray for use in a fiber-optic apparatus is also provided.

Inventors

FABRYKOWSKI, GRZEGORZ
Ozarek, Dawid Dariusz
TOSIK, GRZEGORZ

Assignees

Corning Research & Development Corporation

Dates

Publication Date: 20260513
Application Date: 20251105

Claims (9)

A tray for use in a fiber-optic apparatus, the tray having a first surface comprising a plurality of regions; wherein each of the plurality of regions comprises at least one fiber-optic component or mount for retaining a fiber-optic component; and wherein each of the plurality of regions are physically separated from the others of the plurality of regions by one or more dividing barriers.
The tray of claim 1, comprising a fiber entry and a fiber exit; wherein each of the plurality of regions comprises a first fiber routing portion for routing optical fibers from the fiber entry to the at least one fiber-optic component or mount for retaining a fiber-optic component and a second fiber routing portion for routing optical fibers from the at least one fiber-optic component or mount for retaining a fiber-optic component to the fiber exit.
The tray of claim 2, wherein the first fiber routing portion and the second fiber routing portion of each of the plurality of regions are configured to route optical fibers around bends having a radius of curvature greater than or equal to a first threshold value and/or wherein the first fiber routing portion and the second fiber routing portion of each of the plurality of regions are configured to route optical fibers around bends having a radius of curvature less than or equal to a second threshold value.
The tray of any one of claims 2-3, wherein the tray comprises a hinge for mounting the tray in a fiber-optic apparatus; wherein the fiber entry is coaxial with the hinge; or wherein the fiber exit is coaxial with the hinge; or wherein both the fiber entry and the fiber exit are coaxial with the hinge.
The tray of any one of claims 1-4, wherein each of the plurality of regions further comprises one or more fiber overlength storage portions.
The tray of claim 5, wherein each of the plurality of regions comprises two fiber overlength storage portions disposed either side of the at least one fiber-optic component or mount for retaining a fiber-optic component.
The tray of any one of claim 1-6, wherein the at least one fiber-optic component or mount for retaining a fiber-optic component of each of the plurality of regions comprises at least one fiber-optic splice protector for retaining a fiber-optic splice.
The tray of claim 7, wherein, for each region, the at least one fiber-optic splice protector is two fiber-optic splice protectors.
The tray of any one of claims 1-8, wherein the plurality of regions comprises two regions, three regions, four regions, or five regions.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 63/717,653 filed on November 7, 2024, the content of which is relied upon and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. FIELD This disclosure relates to the field of apparatuses for fiber-optic networks. In particular, the technology of the disclosure relates to a tray for use in a fiber-optic apparatus and a fiber-optic apparatus comprising a tray for a fiber-optic apparatus. BACKGROUND Fiber-optic networks allow information to be transmitted via optical signals transmitted through special glass or polymer cables known as optical fibers. Compared with traditional copper wiring, optical fibers allow transmission over greater distances with substantially less signal loss, provide a greater bandwidth, and do not suffer from electrical interference. Fiber-optic networks are particularly useful when providing long-distance communication and high bandwidth, so called "super-fast," broadband internet. Within a fiber-optic network, various fiber-optic components are used to meet the various needs of the network, such as fiber-optic splices to connect optical fibers and fiber-optic splitters to split a signal from a single optical fiber into signals in multiple optical fibers. Such fiber-optic components are typically housed in fiber-optic apparatuses and enclosures to provide access to them when needed and otherwise protect from damage and adverse conditions. A fiber-optic enclosure will often house many fiber-optic components connected to a number of different optical fibers, usually on one or more trays (sometimes termed fiber-optic trays, or splice trays, splitter trays and so on, depending upon the type of fiber-optic components thereon). Such trays typically provide space for a number of different fiber-optic components, for example twelve fiber-optic splices, and provide a convenient and efficient way to retain and provide access to a large number of optical fibers and fiber-optic connections within a compact space. Frequently, within a single enclosure, a number of optical fibers associated with different end users or customers will all be routed and have optical components on the same splice trays. Having many different customers' optical components intermixed on a splice tray means that when one customer's network requires maintenance or other work, such as installing new optical fibers or fiber-optic components, there is a high risk of inadvertently damaging or disturbing a different customer's network components. Embodiments of the present invention may address one or more of these problems, amongst others. SUMMARY The invention is defined in the independent claims, to which the reader is now directed. Optional features are set out in the dependent claims. According to a first aspect of the invention, a tray for use in a fiber-optic apparatus is provided. The tray has a first surface comprising a plurality of regions. Each of the plurality of regions comprises at least one fiber-optic component or mount for retaining a fiber-optic component. Each of the plurality of regions are physically separated from the others of the plurality of regions by one or more dividing barriers. Optionally, the tray comprises a fiber entry and a fiber exit. Each of the plurality of regions comprises a first fiber routing portion for routing optical fibers from the fiber entry to the at least one fiber-optic component or mount for retaining a fiber-optic component and a second fiber routing portion for routing optical fibers from the at least one fiber-optic component or mount for retaining a fiber-optic component to the fiber exit. Optionally, the first fiber routing portion and the second fiber routing portion of each of the plurality of regions are configured to route optical fibers around bends having a radius of curvature greater than or equal to a first threshold value. Optionally, the first fiber routing portion and the second fiber routing portion of each of the plurality of regions are configured to route optical fibers around bends having a radius of curvature less than or equal to a second threshold value. Optionally, the tray comprises a hinge for mounting the tray in a fiber-optic apparatus. In this case, the fiber entry is coaxial with the hinge; or the fiber exit is coaxial with the hinge; or both the fiber entry and the fiber exit are coaxial with the hinge. Optionally, each of the plurality of regions further comprises one or more fiber overlength storage portions. Optionally, each of the plurality of regions comprises two fiber overlength storage portions disposed either side of the at least one fiber-optic component or mount for retaining a fiber-optic component. Optionally, the at least one fiber-optic component or mount for retaining a fiber-optic component of each of the plurality of regions comprises at least one fiber-optic splice protector for retaining a fiber-optic splice. Optiona