Scalable and modular automated fiber optic cross-connect systems

An arrayed collection of optical fibers spanning an interconnect volume and a storage volume, comprising:

• a multiplicity of terminals arrayed in two dimensions along a surface of the interconnect volume, each of said terminals constructed and adapted to receive and latch to a proximal end of an optical fiber in one of two positions;
• a multiplicity of arrayed fiber tensioning and storage elements spaced apart in three dimensions and constructed and adapted to maintain fibers under slight tension;
• an array of through ports crossing a plane separating the interconnect volume and the storage volume, the through ports including low friction surfaces engaging optical fibers and collecting fibers originating from different directions and positions of each arrayed fiber tensioning and storage element and arranging optical fibers in a substantially one-dimensional arrangement so that fibers are substantially parallel and closely spaced to one another at the plane separating the interconnect volume from the storage volume;
• and
• wherein said multiplicity of arrayed fiber tensioning and storage elements comprises at least one plurality of said fiber tensioning and storage elements on a common substrate, wherein said fiber tensioning and storage elements comprise take-up spools for fiber retention, and wherein an axis of rotation of each of said take-up spools is perpendicular to said common substrate.

An arrayed collection of optical fibers spanning an interconnect volume and a storage volume, comprising:

• a multiplicity of terminals arrayed in two dimensions with rows and columns along a surface of the interconnect volume, each of said terminals constructed and adapted to receive and latch to a proximal end of an optical fiber;
• a substantially one-dimensional array of circumferential through ports parallel to columns for optical fibers passing through a plane separating the interconnect volume and the storage volume;
• and
• a multiplicity of arrayed fiber tensioning and storage elements spaced apart in three dimensions and constructed and adapted to pull fiber lengths sufficiently to maintain a substantially straight-line configuration in the interconnect volume,
• wherein said fiber lengths are each in a substantially straight-line configuration, wherein the optical fibers comprise coated fibers, wherein the number of terminals is greater than or equal to the number of optical fibers,
• wherein waveguide characteristics of the optical fibers are single mode and/or multimode, and
• wherein said multiplicity of arrayed fiber tensioning and storage elements comprises at least one plurality of said fiber tensioning and storage elements on a common substrate, wherein said fiber tensioning and storage elements comprise take-up spools for fiber retention, and wherein an axis of rotation of each of said take-up spools is perpendicular to said common substrate.