Methods, systems, and devices for integrating wireless technology into a fiber optic network

• US 10,135,534 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2017
• Issued: 11/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Smith, Trevor D., Lu, Yu, Kachmar, Wayne M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Singh, Dalzid
• Application Number:
  US15/616,029
• Publication Number:
  US 20170272168A1
• Time in Patent Office: 531 Days
• Field of Search: 398 66
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3825 with an intermediate part, e.g. adapter, receptacle, linking two plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3894 Screw-lock type
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3897 Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards G02B6/44528 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4249 comprising arrays of active devices and fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4251 Sealed packages G02B6/4248 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4292 the light guide being disconnectable from the opto-electronic element, e.g. mutually self aligning arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4416 Heterogeneous cables
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4432 with fibre reinforcements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4434 Central member to take up tensile loads
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4472 Manifolds
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/25 Arrangements specific to fibre transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/2575 Radio-over-fibre, e.g. radio frequency signal modulated onto an optical carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/25754 Star network topology
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/27 Arrangements for networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/40 Transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/808 Electrical power feeding of an optical transmission system
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0282 WDM tree architectures

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a fiber optic network configuration having an optical network terminal located at a subscriber location. The fiber optic network configuration also includes a drop terminal located outside the subscriber location and a wireless transceiver located outside the subscriber location. The fiber optic network further includes a cabling arrangement including a first signal line that extends from the drop terminal to the optical network terminal, a second signal line that extends from the optical network terminal to the wireless transceiver, and a power line that extends from the optical network terminal to the wireless transceiver.

Claims

1. A communication network architecture comprising:

an environmentally sealed drop terminal including a plurality of hardened ports for receiving hardened fiber optic connectors;

a fiber optic feed that optically connects to the hardened ports of the environmentally sealed drop terminal;

an enclosure containing an active opto-electronic component, the enclosure being located away from a subscriber location; and

a power feed cable including electrical conductors for feeding power received from the subscriber location to the active opto-electronic component within the enclosure, wherein the active opto-electronic component is configured to be powered by the power received from the subscriber location.

2. The communication network architecture of claim 1, wherein the opto-electronic component includes signal conversion electronics.

3. The communication network architecture of claim 1, wherein the opto-electronic component includes multi-plexing electronics.

4. The communications network architecture of claim 1, wherein the opto-electronic component includes a wireless transmitter.

5. The communications network architecture of claim 1, wherein the electrical conductors are dedicated power conductors.

6. The communications network architecture of claim 1, wherein the fiber optic feed is terminated by a hardened fiber optic connector.

7. The communications network architecture of claim 6, wherein the hardened fiber optic connector includes an exterior seal for forming a seal with a hardened port of the drop terminal and a threaded fastener for securing the hardened fiber optic connector within the hardened port of the drop terminal.

8. A module comprising:

an enclosure adapted for installation in an outside environment at a location away from a subscriber location;

an active opto-electronic component positioned within the enclosure;

a power feed cable including electrical conductors for feeding power received from the subscriber location to the active opto-electronic component within the enclosure, wherein the active opto-electronic component is configured to be powered by the power received from the subscriber location; and

an optical feed cable separate from the power feed cable, the optical feed cable being optically coupled to the active opto-electronic component, the optical feed cable having a first end at the enclosure and a second end adapted to be optically coupled to a drop terminal, the second end of the optical feed cable including a hardened fiber optic connector, the hardened fiber optic connector including an exterior seal for forming a seal with a hardened port of the drop terminal and a threaded fastener for securing the hardened fiber optic connector within the hardened port of the drop terminal.

9. The module of claim 8, wherein the opto-electronic component includes signal conversion electronics.

10. The module of claim 8, wherein the opto-electronic component includes multi-plexing electronics.

11. The module of claim 8, wherein the opto-electronic component includes a wireless transmitter.

12. The module of claim 8, wherein the electrical conductors are dedicated power conductors.

13. A communication network arrangement comprising:

an enclosure for installation in an outside environment at a location away from a subscriber location;

an active opto-electronic component positioned within the enclosure;

a stub optical cable that extends outwardly from the enclosure, the stub optical cable being optically coupled with the opto-electronic component;

a power and signal cable configured for conveying communication signals between the enclosure and the subscriber location and for back-feeding power received from the subscriber location to the active opto-electronic component within the enclosure, wherein the active opto-electronic component is configured to be powered by the power received from the subscriber location.

14. The communication network of claim 13, wherein the opto-electronic component includes signal conversion electronics.

15. The communication network of claim 13, wherein the opto-electronic component includes multi-plexing electronics.

16. The communication network of claim 13, wherein the opto-electronic component includes a wireless transmitter.

17. The communication network of claim 13, wherein the electrical conductors are dedicated power conductors.