Passive distribution system using fiber indexing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11221450-B2
Application number	US-202016999170-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 21, 2020
Priority date	Mar 30, 2012
Publication date	Jan 11, 2022
Grant date	Jan 11, 2022

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to systems and method for deploying a fiber optic network. Distribution devices are used to index fibers within the system to ensure that live fibers are provided at output locations throughout the system. In an example, fibers can be indexed in multiple directions within the system. In an example, fibers can be stored and deployed form storage spools.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A cabling system for a multi-dwelling unit having a plurality of floors, the cabling system comprising:
a plurality of fiber distribution devices disposed within the multi-dwelling unit, each of the fiber distribution devices being disposed at a different floor of the multi-dwelling unit, the fiber distribution devices being daisy-chained together in a vertical chain, each of the fiber distribution devices including a respective closure carrying a plurality of respective fiber lines, the fiber lines of each closure extending from a respective input location, the input location of each fiber distribution device including a respective first multi-fiber optical connector, at least a plurality of the fiber lines of each closure being indexed to a respective first output location, the first output location of each fiber distribution device including a respective second multi-fiber optical connector, and at least a first of the fiber lines of each closure extending to a second output location, the first fiber line being different from the fiber lines of the plurality for each closure; and
a feeder line routed to the input location of a first of the fiber distribution devices in the chain.

2. The cabling system of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of patch cords that optically couple the fiber distribution devices in the chain, each of the patch cords extending from the input location of a respective one of the fiber distribution devices to the first output location of a respective another of the fiber distribution devices in the chain.

3. The cabling system of claim 1 , wherein the input location of each fiber distribution device is formed by a respective stub cable extending outwardly from the respective closure.

4. The cabling system of claim 3 , wherein each stub cable is stored on a respective spool prior to deployment.

5. The cabling system of claim 3 , wherein the stub cables are first stub cables; and wherein the first output location of each fiber distribution device is formed by a respective second stub cable extending outwardly from the respective closure.

6. The cabling system of claim 3 , wherein the second output location of each fiber distribution device is formed by a respective second stub cable extending from the respective closure.

7. The cabling system of claim 5 , wherein the second output location of each fiber distribution device is formed by a respective third stub cable extending outwardly from the respective closure.

8. The cabling system of claim 1 , wherein a fiber distribution hub is disposed within the multi-dwelling unit; and the feeder line extends between the fiber distribution hub and the input location of the first fiber distribution device.

9. The cabling system of claim 1 , wherein the respective second output location of each fiber distribution device is formed by a respective stub cable extending outwardly from the respective closure.

10. The cabling system of claim 1 , wherein the second output location of each fiber distribution device is optically coupled to a respective optical splitter to provide a plurality of subscriber lines on the respective floor of the multi-dwelling unit.

11. The cabling system of claim 1 , wherein the second output location of a first of the fiber distribution devices includes a single-fiber connector.

12. The cabling system of claim 1 , wherein the second output location of a first of the fiber distribution devices includes a multi-fiber connector.

13. The cabling system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second multi-fiber connectors each define twelve fiber positions in a row.

14. The cabling system of claim 1 , wherein the input locations and the first output locations are intermateable so that the first multi-fiber optical connector of one of the fiber distribution devices engages the second multi-fiber connector of another of the fiber distribution devices, the input location including a first mechanical coupling interface and the first output location includes a second mechanical coupling interface that complements the first mechanical coupling interface.

15. The cabling system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fiber distribution devices includes five fiber distribution devices.

16. The cabling system of claim 1 , wherein the input location, first output location, and second output location are defined by non-hardened components.

17. The cabling system of claim 1 , wherein the closures each include a rigid housing.

18. The cabling system of claim 1 , wherein, for each fiber distribution device, the input location is defined by a first stub cable, the first output location is defined by a second stub cable, the third output location is defined by a third stub cable, and the closure covers a transition region where the fiber lines are broken out between the first, second, and third stub cables.

19. The cabling system of claim 18 , wherein the first stub cables are longer than the second and third stub cables; and wherein each of the first stub cables is stored on a respective spool prior to deployment.

20. A cabling system for a multi-dwelling unit having a plurality of floors, the cabling system comprising:
a plurality of fiber distribution devices disposed within the multi-dwelling unit, each of the fiber distribution devices being disposed at a different floor of the multi-dwelling unit, the fiber distribution devices being daisy-chained together in a vertical chain, each of the fiber distribution devices including a respective closure carrying a plurality of respective fiber lines, the fiber lines of each closure extending from a respective input location, wherein the input location of each fiber distribution device is formed by a respective stub cable extending outwardly from the respective closure, at least a plurality of the fiber lines of each closure being indexed to a respective first output location, and at least a first of the fiber lines of each closure extending to a second output location, the first fiber line being different from the fiber lines of the plurality for each closure; and
a feeder line routed to the input location of a first of the fiber distribution devices in the chain.

21. A cabling system for a multi-dwelling unit having a plurality of floors, the cabling system comprising:
a plurality of fiber distribution devices disposed within the multi-dwelling unit, each of the fiber distribution devices being disposed at a different floor of the multi-dwelling unit, the fiber distribution devices being daisy-chained together in a vertical chain, each of the fiber distribution devices including a respective closure carrying a plurality of respective fiber lines, the fiber lines of each closure extending from a respective input location, at least a plurality of the fiber lines of each closure being indexed to a respective first output location, and at least a first of the fiber lines of each closure extending to a second output location, the first fiber line being different from the fiber lines of the plurality for each closure; and
a feeder line routed to the input location of a first of the fiber distribution devices in the chain;
wherein, for each fiber distribution device, the input location is defined by a first stub cable, the first output location is defined by a second stub cable, the third output location is defined by a third stub cable, and the closure covers a transition region where the fiber lines are broken out between the first, second, and third stub cables.

Assignees

• Commscope Technologies Llc

Inventors

• Kmit Paul
• Parsons Thomas
• Gronvall Erik J
• Ellens Douglas C
• Toundas Panayiotis
• Badar Timothy G
• Smith Trevor D
• Leblanc Thomas G
• Loeffelholz Todd

Classifications

• G02B6/4457 Primary

  Bobbins; Reels · CPC title

• G02B6/3885

  Multicore or multichannel optical connectors, i.e. one single ferrule containing more than one fibre, e.g. ribbon type (optical ribbon cable G02B6/4403, G02B6/448) · CPC title

• H04B10/27

  Arrangements for networking · CPC title

• H04Q11/0067

  Provisions for optical access or distribution networks, e.g. Gigabit Ethernet Passive Optical Network (GE-PON), ATM-based Passive Optical Network (A-PON), PON-Ring · CPC title

• H04B10/25

  Arrangements specific to fibre transmission · CPC title