Apparatus and method for splitting optical fibers
First Claim
1. An apparatus for splitting optical fibers comprising:
- a splitter housing extending lengthwise between opposed first and second ends, the splitter housing defining an input port, proximate the first end, for receiving a plurality of optical fibers and primary and secondary output ports, proximate the opposed second end, through which the plurality of optical fibers exit the splitter housing;
wherein the splitter housing comprises first and second halves, each half of the splitter housing extending lengthwise between the opposed first and second ends, and defining at least a portion of the input port and at least one of the output ports;
wherein the first and second halves of the splitter housing are at least partially separable such that the splitter housing is capable of being mounted upon the plurality of optical fibers without having to cut all of the optical fibers.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for splitting or otherwise separating and routing optical fibers are provided in which a splitter housing having first and second separable halves is mounted upon a plurality of optical fibers without having to cut all of the optical fibers. The splitter housing generally includes an inline portion and a branch portion. The inline portion defines an input port at one end for receiving a plurality of optical fibers and a primary output port at the opposed end through which at least one optical fiber exits. The branch portion extends outwardly from the inline portion at one end and defines a secondary output port at the opposed end. The branch portion is in communication with the inline portion such that at least one optical fiber that enters through the input port can be separated from the remainder of the optical fibers and routed through the branch portion.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. An apparatus for splitting optical fibers comprising:
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a splitter housing extending lengthwise between opposed first and second ends, the splitter housing defining an input port, proximate the first end, for receiving a plurality of optical fibers and primary and secondary output ports, proximate the opposed second end, through which the plurality of optical fibers exit the splitter housing;
wherein the splitter housing comprises first and second halves, each half of the splitter housing extending lengthwise between the opposed first and second ends, and defining at least a portion of the input port and at least one of the output ports;
wherein the first and second halves of the splitter housing are at least partially separable such that the splitter housing is capable of being mounted upon the plurality of optical fibers without having to cut all of the optical fibers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus for splitting optical fibers comprising:
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an inline portion defining an input port at one end for receiving a plurality of optical fibers and a primary output port at an opposed end through which at least one optical fiber exits, the input port and the primary output port being coaxial; and
a branch portion extending from the inline portion at one end to a secondary output port at an opposed end, the branch portion being in communication with the inline portion such that at least one optical fiber can be split from the plurality of optical fibers and routed through the branch portion, the branch portion defining an acute angle with respect to the inline portion proximate the primary output port. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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18. A method for splitting a plurality of optical fibers comprising:
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providing a splitter housing extending lengthwise between opposed first and second ends and defining an input port proximate the first end and defining primary and secondary output ports proximate the second end;
separating the splitter housing into first and second halves with each half of the splitter housing extending lengthwise between the opposed first and second ends;
routing a plurality of optical fibers through the separated splitter housing such that at least one optical fiber extends from the input port to the primary output port and such that at least one optical fiber extends from the input port to the secondary output port; and
closing the first and second halves of the splitter housing to retain the plurality of optical fibers therein.
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Specification