FEATURE RACKS, CABINETS & ENCLOSURES TAKING THE COMPLEXITY OUT OF FIBRE OPTICS
Keeping up with rising data bandwidth and density demands is critical. As a result, OEMs and end users of advanced network architectures and software-defined networking systems are rapidly developing increasingly complex fibre-optic-based system topologies. Here, Tom Marrapode, Director of advanced technology development at Molex, surveys these next-generation systems
piece of equipment or central office that provide connections across the system elements as well as providing access ports for capacity increases over the systems lifetime. By consolidating the connection points into one enclosure, these upgrade ports centralise and streamline access to additional bandwidth.
he telecom and datacom industries are already adopting a variety of interconnect intensive technologies to feed the data hungry metro networks, mesh networks, recoverable networks, dynamic data centres and cloud networks. In addition to those in other markets, which can include government, private networks and Internet service providers (ISPs). The types of advanced technologies being
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used include wavelength selective switching (WSS), optical path switching, redundancy and software defined networking/network function virtualisation (SDN/NFV) automation - which require highly complex optical fibre path routings which is difficult to simplify and in need of an alternate solution to patch cords. In addition, the number of fibre ports at ingress and egress points of the equipment sub- systems and modules is becoming an enormous challenge to manage.
CUSTOM OPTICAL ENCLOSURES Molex has addressed these connectivity hurdles with its OptoConnect Custom Optical Enclosures; a sophisticated optical management box that can route complex fibre patterns. The OptoConnect system uses the company’s specially developed components in interconnect, front panel adapters, and sophisticated fibre laying, terminating techniques and assembly. The company’s FlexPlane optical circuitry is integrated into the enclosure to simplify the
28 SEPTEMBER 2015 | ELECTRONICS
complex port mapping issues with an automated manufacturing process that delivers shuffle and point-to-point logical routings. The result is a complete end-to-end optical management system for high-density telecom and datacom equipment. These customised enclosures can remove the various optical cables normally used within a
Case Study
An OEM was looking for a highly complex fibre-routing matrix for their wavelength selective switch. The manufacturer wanted to sit this switch at the edge of the service provider’s network, which would allow automated configuration changes while eliminating manual patch-cord changes. A Molex FlexPlane circuit with over 800 singlemode fibre ports was the perfect solution for the fibre matrix, but it had to be packaged into a box with MPO and LC adapters, cables, and MPO/LC loopbacks in order to be deployed in the network independently from the equipment. Working in close collaboration with Molex a custom, rack-mount box was created, which was designed, manufactured, NEBs tested and qualified by Molex for use directly in the network as part of the OEM’s equipment sold to service providers. This complete end-to-end OptoConnect solution from the company simplified the design and removed the production burden from the OEM completely.
/ ELECTRONICS Figure 1:
Highly complex optical fibre path routings
Figure 2:
Molex OptoConnect Custom Optical Enclosures
Molex
www.molex.com 01252 720 720
DESIGN SPECIFICATION These enclosures streamline complex fibre mapping in a clean, manageable and fully tested rack-mountable solution. Available in 1, 2, and 3U options, they are NEBS tested for most of the GR-63 requirements for electronic equipment used in telecom applications to ensure a level of reliability and safety. Parameters such as temperature cycling, vibration, drop testing are validated. In addition, a variety of passive and active fibre optic components can be integrated into the fibre routing adding increased value and capability to system designers. Optical components are usually placed on the equipment circuit boards or line cards, which can take up valuable space and require connections to other parts of the system; this increases the number of optical connectors and complexity significantly. By moving those passive optical components, such as splitters, circulators, and filters, into the optical enclosure, the number of system connections can be reduced, reducing manufacturing complexity as well as opening up space on congested systems cards. Additional benefits for OEMs and end users alike are that, because there are fewer connections, these enclosures can help improve overall system performance and reliability in the field.
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