Fiber optic local convergence points for multiple dwelling units

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-RE46701-E
Application number	US-201113162115-A
Country	US
Kind code	E1
Filing date	Jun 16, 2011
Priority date	Jan 12, 2007
Publication date	Feb 6, 2018
Grant date	Feb 6, 2018

Abstract

There are provided fiber optic local convergence points (“LCPs”) adapted for use with multiple dwelling units (“MDUs”) that facilitate relatively easy installation and/or optical connectivity to a relatively large number of subscribers. The LCP includes a housing mounted to a surface, such as a wall, and a cable assembly with a connector end to be optically connected to a distribution cable and a splitter end to be located within the housing. The splitter end includes at least one splitter and a plurality of subscriber receptacles to which subscriber cables may be optically connected. The splitter end of the cable assembly of the LCP may also include a splice tray assembly and/or a fiber optic routing guide. Furthermore, a fiber distribution terminal (“FDT”) may be provided along the subscriber cable to facilitate installation of the fiber optic network within the MDU.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A fiber optic splitter module for optically connecting at least one input optical fiber and a plurality of output optical fibers, the splitter module comprising:

a housing having at least one opening therethrough, wherein the opening defines an opening axis generally orthogonal to the opening; and
a splitter within the housing, wherein the input optical fiber is optically connected to the plurality of output optical fibers by the splitter, wherein the splitter defines a splitter axis generally aligned with the input optical fiber and the plurality of output optical fibers;
wherein the splitter axis is generally orthogonal to the opening axis; and
wherein the splitter module defines a density of output optical fiber splits per unit of volume of the housing of at least 5 splits/in 3 .

2. A fiber optic splitter module according to claim 1 , for optically connecting at least one input optical fiber and a plurality of output optical fibers, the splitter module comprising:
a housing having at least one opening therethrough, wherein the opening defines an opening axis orthogonal to the opening; and
a splitter within the housing, wherein the input optical fiber is optically connected to the plurality of output optical fibers by the splitter, wherein the splitter defines a splitter axis aligned with the input optical fiber and the plurality of output optical fibers;
wherein the splitter axis is orthogonal to the opening axis;
wherein the splitter module defines a density of output optical fiber splits per unit of volume of the housing of at least 5 splits/in 3 ; and
wherein the input optical fiber and the plurality of output optical fibers are routed within the housing generally without a slack loop.

3. A fiber optic splitter module for optically connecting at least one input optical fiber and a plurality of output optical fibers, the splitter module comprising:
a housing having at least one opening therethrough, wherein the opening defines an opening axis generally orthogonal to the opening; and a splitter within the housing, wherein the input optical fiber is optically connected to the plurality of output optical fibers by the splitter, wherein the splitter defines a splitter axis generally aligned with the input optical fiber and the plurality of output optical fibers; wherein the splitter axis is generally orthogonal to the opening axis; and wherein the splitter module defines a density of output optical fiber splits per unit of volume of the housing from about 4 splits/in 3 to about 10 splits/in 3 .

4. A fiber optic splitter module for optically connecting at least one input optical fiber and a plurality of output optical fibers, the splitter module comprising:
a housing having at least one opening therethrough, wherein the opening defines an opening axis generally orthogonal to the opening; and a splitter within the housing, wherein the input optical fiber is optically connected to the plurality of output optical fibers by the splitter, wherein the splitter defines a splitter axis generally aligned with the input optical fiber and the plurality of output optical fibers; wherein the splitter axis is generally orthogonal to the opening axis; and wherein at least one optical fiber of the plurality of output optical fibers comprises a microstructured optical fiber comprising a core region and a cladding region surrounding the core region, the cladding region comprising an annular hole-containing region comprised of non-periodically disposed holes.

5. A splitter module according to claim 4 , wherein the microstructured fiber has an 8 mm macrobend induced loss at 1550 nm of less than 0.2 dB/turn.

6. A fiber optic splitter module according to claim 1 , for optically connecting at least one input optical fiber and a plurality of output optical fibers, the splitter module comprising:
a housing having at least one opening therethrough, wherein the opening defines an opening axis orthogonal to the opening; and
a splitter within the housing, wherein the input optical fiber is optically connected to the plurality of output optical fibers by the splitter, wherein the splitter defines a splitter axis aligned with the input optical fiber and the plurality of output optical fibers;
wherein the splitter axis is orthogonal to the opening axis;
wherein the splitter module defines a density of output optical fiber splits per unit of volume of the housing of at least 5 splits/in 3 ; and
wherein at least one optical fiber of the plurality of output optical fibers comprises a microstructured optical fiber comprising a core region and a cladding region surrounding the core region, the cladding region comprising an annular hole-containing region comprised of non-periodically disposed holes.

7. A splitter module according to claim 6 , wherein the microstructured fiber has an 8 mm macrobend induced loss at 1550 mm nm of less than 0.2 dB/turn.

8. A fiber optic splitter module according to claim 3 , for optically connecting at least one input optical fiber and a plurality of output optical fibers, the splitter module comprising:
a housing having at least one opening therethrough, wherein the opening defines an opening axis orthogonal to the opening; and
a splitter within the housing, wherein the input optical fiber is optically connected to the plurality of output optical fibers by the splitter, wherein the splitter defines a splitter axis aligned with the input optical fiber and the plurality of output optical fibers;
wherein the splitter axis is orthogonal to the opening axis;
wherein the splitter module defines a density of output optical fiber splits per unit of volume of the housing from about 4 splits/in 3 to about 10 splits/in 3 ; and
wherein the input optical fiber and the plurality of output optical fibers are routed within the housing generally without a slack loop.

9. A fiber optic splitter module according to claim 3 , for optically connecting at least one input optical fiber and a plurality of output optical fibers, the splitter module comprising:
a housing having at least one opening therethrough, wherein the opening defines an opening axis orthogonal to the opening; and
a splitter within the housing, wherein the input optical fiber is optically connected to the plurality of output optical fibers by the splitter, wherein the splitter defines a splitter axis aligned with the input optical fiber and the plurality of output optical fibers;
wherein the splitter axis is orthogonal to the opening axis;
wherein the splitter module defines a density of output optical fiber splits per unit of volume of the housing from about 4 splits/in 3 to about 10 splits/in 3 ; and
wherein at least one optical fiber of the plurality of output optical fibers comprises a microstructured optical fiber comprising a core region and a cladding region surrounding the core region, the cladding region comprising an annular hole-containing region comprised of non-periodically disposed holes.

10. A splitter module according to claim 9 , wherein the microstructured fiber has an 8 mm macrobend induced loss at 1550 mm nm of less than 0.2 dB/turn.

11. A fiber oprtic splitter module according to claim 4 , for optically connecting at least one input optical fiber and a plurality of output optical fibers, the splitter module comprising:
a housing having at least one opening therethrough, wherein the opening defines an opening axis orthogonal to the opening; and
a splitter within the housing, wherein the input optical fiber is optically connected to the plurality of output optical fibers by the splitter, wherein the splitter d

Assignees

• Castonguay Guy
• Cox Terry Dean
• Liggett Thomas Shaw
• Strickland Selena
• Makrides Saravanos Elli
• Frazier Brent Michael
• Mcgranahan Daniel S
• Jay Raymond Glenn
• Corning Cable Sys Llc

Inventors

• Castonguay Guy
• Cox Terry Dean
• Liggett Thomas Shaw
• Strickland Selena
• Makrides Saravanos Elli
• Frazier Brent Michael
• Mcgranahan Daniel S
• Jay Raymond Glenn

Classifications

• G02B6/4454

  with splices · CPC title

• G02B6/445 Primary

  with lateral pivoting cover · CPC title

• G02B6/4471

  Terminating devices (demountable connectors G02B6/3807); Cable clamps · CPC title

• G02B6/4452

  Distribution frames · CPC title

• G02B6/44524

  with frame parts or auxiliary devices mounted on the frame and collectively not covering a whole width of the frame or rack (cassettes G02B6/4453) · CPC title