Cable termination assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10656361-B2
Application number	US-201816325330-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 4, 2018
Priority date	May 4, 2017
Publication date	May 19, 2020
Grant date	May 19, 2020

Abstract

An optical fiber termination system includes an optical fiber termination unit assembly, an enclosure, and a plurality of electronic or optical devices within the enclosure. The assembly includes a housing having an interior surface, a patch panel terminal coupled to the interior surface of the housing, an optical assembly, an input optical fiber, and a plurality of optical fibers. The input optical fiber extends into the housing to the optical signal assembly. The output optical fibers extend out of the housing from the patch panel terminal. The enclosure is separate from the housing. The optical signal assembly divides a light beam emitted from the optical signal assembly into a plurality of light beams that are received by the patch panel terminal. The output optical fibers are configured to convey respective light beams to any one or any combination of the plurality of electronic and optical devices in the enclosure.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An optical fiber cable and termination unit assembly comprising:
a housing having an interior surface;
a patch panel terminal coupled to the interior surface of the housing;
an optical signal assembly;
an input optical fiber extending into the housing to the optical signal assembly;
a plurality of output optical fibers extending out of the housing from the patch panel terminal, wherein the optical signal assembly divides a light beam emitted from the optical signal assembly into a plurality of light beams that are received by the patch panel terminal; and
an input coupling element extending from the housing and defining a first longitudinal axis extending in directions towards and away from the housing, the input optical fiber extending through the input coupling element, wherein the housing defines a first hole through which the input optical fiber cable extends, the input coupling element contacting the housing around an entire perimeter of the first hole to form a watertight seal at an interface of the input coupling element and the housing.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an output coupling element extending from the housing and defining a second longitudinal axis extending in directions towards and away from the housing, the plurality of output optical fibers extending through the output coupling element, wherein the housing defines a second hole through which the plurality of output optical fibers extends, the output coupling element contacting the housing around an entire perimeter of the second hole to form a watertight seal at an interface of the output coupling element and the housing.

3. The assembly of claim 2 , wherein the output coupling element includes an output coupling flange extending from an end of the output coupling element in a direction transverse to the second longitudinal axis, and wherein an entire perimeter of the output coupling flange is adhered to the interior surface of the housing to form the watertight seal.

4. The assembly of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of output optical fibers extend through an outer sheath, and wherein the outer sheath extends through the output coupling element.

5. The assembly of claim 2 , wherein the output coupling element defines an output coupling groove around an entire perimeter of the output coupling element, and wherein the housing extends into the output coupling groove at the second hole in an interference fit to form the watertight seal.

6. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the input optical fiber extends through an outer sheath, the outer sheath extending through the input coupling element, wherein the input coupling element comprises:
an outer boot against an exterior surface opposite the interior surface of the housing;
an inner boot adjacent to the interior surface of the housing;
an inner lock ring; and
an outer lock ring attached to the housing and forming a threaded connection with the inner lock ring, wherein upon threading the inner lock ring in a direction towards the housing, the inner boot is compressed by the inner lock ring against the outer sheath of the input coupling element to form the watertight seal.

7. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the input coupling element includes an input coupling flange extending from an end of the input coupling element in a direction transverse to the first longitudinal axis, and wherein an entire perimeter of the input coupling flange is adhered to the interior surface of the housing to form the watertight seal.

8. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the input coupling element is molded onto the housing around the entire perimeter of the first hole such that the input coupling element is inseparable from the housing without fracture of either one or both of the input coupling element and the housing.

9. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the input coupling element defines an input groove around an entire perimeter of the input coupling element, and wherein the housing extends into the input groove at the first hole in an interference fit to form the watertight seal.

10. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the optical signal assembly includes an optical splitter or an optical wavelength division multiplexer.

11. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cable and termination unit assembly is an outside plant (OSP) cable assembly.

12. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of intermediate optical fibers are connected to the patch panel terminal and the optical signal assembly, wherein the plurality of light beams received by the patch panel terminal travel along respective ones of the plurality of intermediate optical fibers.

13. An optical fiber termination system, further comprising:
the optical fiber cable and termination unit assembly of claim 1 ;
an enclosure separate from the housing of the optical fiber cable and termination unit assembly;
a plurality of electronic or optical devices within the enclosure, wherein the plurality of output optical fibers are configured to convey respective light beams to any one or any combination of the plurality of electronic and optical devices in the enclosure.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of electronic or optical devices include any one or any combination of an antenna, a kiosk terminal, and optical switch.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the optical fiber cable and termination unit assembly further includes an output coupling element and an input coupling element both extending from the housing, the plurality of output optical fibers extending through the output coupling element and the input optical fiber extending through the input coupling element, and wherein the enclosure includes an enclosure hole, and wherein the output coupling element contacts the enclosure around an entire perimeter of the enclosure hole to form a watertight seal at an interface of the output coupling element and the enclosure.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of output optical fibers extend through an outer sheath and a cable connector, and wherein the outer sheath extends through the output coupling element to the cable connector, the cable connector being attached to the enclosure.

17. An optical fiber cable and termination unit assembly comprising:
a housing having an interior surface;
a patch panel terminal coupled to the interior surface of the housing;
an optical signal assembly;
an input optical fiber extending into the housing to the optical signal assembly;
a plurality of output optical fibers extending out of the housing from the patch panel terminal, wherein the optical signal assembly divides a light beam emitted from the optical signal assembly into a plurality of light beams that are received by the patch panel terminal;
an output coupling element extending from the housing and defining a first longitudinal axis extending in directions towards and away from the housing, the plurality of output optical fibers extending through the output coupling element, wherein the housing defines a first hole through which the plurality of output optical fibers extends, the output coupling element contacting the housing around an entire perimeter of the first hole to form a watertight seal at an interface of the output coupling element and the housing, wherein the output coupling element includes an output coupling flange extending from an end of the output coupling element in a direction transverse to the first longitudinal axis, and wherein an entire perimeter of the output coupling flange is adhered to the interior surface of the housing to

Assignees

• Go Foton Holdings Inc
• Takeuchi Kenichiro
• Lu Haiguang

Inventors

• Takeuchi Kenichiro
• Lu Haiguang

Classifications

• G02B6/2938

  for multiplexing or demultiplexing, i.e. combining or separating wavelengths, e.g. 1xN, NxM · CPC title

• G02B6/4444

  Seals · CPC title

• G02B6/2835

  formed or shaped by thermal treatment, e.g. couplers · CPC title

• G02B2006/1215

  Splitter · CPC title

• G02B6/36 Primary

  Mechanical coupling means (G02B6/255, G02B6/42 take precedence) · CPC title