Plug-in unit

Abstract

A plug-in unit to be installed in a subrack and including on a front face at least one optical interface to which a fiber optic cable is connected includes an extra fiber optic cable length handling mechanism, positioned on the front face below the optical interface, for handling the fiber optic cable.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electronic apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an optical plug-in unit;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the optical plug-in unit shown in FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are enlarged views of a portion close to the Y2 side of the optical plug-in unit shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a cage and an optical module shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the optical plug-in unit with fiber optic cables connected;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of an extra fiber optic cable length handling mechanism shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the optical plug-in unit where fiber optic cables are guided along a path by the extra fiber optic cable length handling mechanism;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of the extra fiber optic cable length handling mechanism shown in FIG. 8;

FIGS. 10A through 10D are drawings illustrating a first guiding member;

FIGS. 11A through 11D are drawings illustrating a second guiding member;

FIGS. 12A and 12B are drawings illustrating sequential operations of the extra fiber optic cable length handling mechanism;

FIGS. 13A and 13B are drawings illustrating the sequential operations of the extra fiber optic cable length handling mechanism, continued from FIG. 12B;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an optical plug-in unit according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a drawing illustrating a second guiding member shown in FIG. 14;

FIGS. 16A and 16B are drawings illustrating sequential operations of an extra fiber optic cable length handling mechanism according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 17A and 17B are drawings illustrating the sequential operations of the extra fiber optic cable length handling mechanism, continued from FIG. 16B;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of an optical plug-in unit according to a third embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 19 is an enlarged view of an extra fiber optic cable length handling mechanism shown in FIG. 18.

Claims

1. A plug-in unit to be installed in a subrack and including on a front face at least one optical interface to which a fiber optic cable is connected, comprising: an extra fiber optic cable length handling mechanism, positioned on the front face below the optical interface, for handling the fiber optic cable.

2. The plug-in unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the extra fiber optic cable length handling mechanism includes a movable guiding member for guiding the fiber optic cable along a predetermined path.

3. The plug-in unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the extra fiber optic cable length handling mechanism includes a first guiding member fastened to the plug-in unit and protruding from the front face of the plug-in unit, anda second guiding member movably attached to the plug-in unit and being movable to a position below the first guiding member, wherein moving the second guiding member into the position below the first guiding member causes the first guiding member and the second guiding member to guide the fiber optic cable along a predetermined path.

4. The plug-in unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein the second guiding member is rotatably attached to the first guiding member.

5. The plug-in unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein the second guiding member is rotatably attached to the first guiding member and a portion of the second guiding member contacting the fiber optic cable has a low sliding resistance.

6. The plug-in unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein the second guiding member is rotatably attached to the first guiding member and includes a roller for guiding the fiber optic cable.

7. The plug-in unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first guiding member is formed by bending a steel wire and includes a fiber optic cable guiding part for guiding the fiber optic cable.

8. The plug-in unit as claimed in claim 3, further comprising: a card lever used to pull out the plug-in unit from the subrack, wherein the second guiding member moved into the position below the first guiding member locks the card lever.

9. The plug-in unit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a protective cover for covering the fiber optic cable and the extra fiber optic cable length handling mechanism.

10. An electronic apparatus comprising: a subrack including a cable duct positioned below a plug-in unit insertion opening; anda plurality of the plug-in units as claimed in claim 1 installed side by side in the subrack, wherein the fiber optic cables stretching out from the plug-in units are guided by the extra fiber optic cable length handling mechanisms into the cable duct.