Network for distributing signals to a plurality of users

• US 20030123813A1
• Filed: 11/06/2002
• Published: 07/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pirelli Cavi e Sistemi S.P.A. (Prysmian SPA)
• Original Assignee: Pirelli Cavi e Sistemi S.P.A. (Prysmian SPA)
• Inventors: Zammarchi, Claudio, Ravasio, Giuseppe, Oliveti, Guido
• Granted Patent: US 6,909,821 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/88
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3861 Adhesive bonding adhesives in general C09J
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3878 comprising a plurality of ferrules, branching and break-out means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3888 Protection from over-extension or over-compression
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3889 using encapsulation for protection, e.g. adhesive, molding or casting resin
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4204 the coupling comprising intermediate optical elements, e.g. lenses, holograms encapsulated active devices H01S5/02208, H01L33/52
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4225 by a direct measurement of the degree of coupling, e.g. the amount of light power coupled to the fibre or the opto-electronic element
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/424 Mounting of the optical light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4244 Mounting of the optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4245 Mounting of the opto-electronic elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4246 Bidirectionally operating package structures
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4249 comprising arrays of active devices and fibres
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/272 Star-type networks or tree-type networks

Abstract

A network (100) for distributing signals to a plurality of user apparel comprising: a distribution unit (40) having a plurality of ports, and a plurality of optical-fibre cables (9) connected to said ports and suitable to make said plurality of ports of said distribution unit (40) communicate with said plurality of user apparatuses, wherein at least one of said plurality of optical-fibre cables (9) is an electrically terminated optical cable (1) comprising an optical cable (9) with a single-mode optical fibre and an opto-electronic end portion (10) mechanically and permanently connected to an end of said optical cable, and said opto-electronic end portion (10) comprises an opto-electronic conversion device,(12; 13) having an optic port optically aligned with and mechanically connected to, an end of said single-mode optical fibre.

Claims

1. A network (100) for distributing signals to a plurality of user apparatuses (42), comprising:

a distribution unit (40) having a plurality of ports (43), and

a plurality of optical-fibre cables (9) connected to said ports (43) and suitable to make said plurality of ports (43) of said distribution unit (40) communicate with said plurality of user apparatuses (42),

characterised in that

at least one of said plurality of optical-fibre cables (9) is an electrically terminated optical cable (1) comprising an optical cable (9) with a single mode optical fibre and an opto-electronic end portion (10) mechanically and permanently connected to an end of said optical cable (9), and

said opto-electronic end portion (10) comprises an opto-electronic conversion device (12;

13) having an optic port optically aligned with and mechanically connected to, an end of said single mode optical fibre

2. A network (100) according to claim 1, wherein said electrically terminated optical cable (1) comprises a strength member.

3. A network (100) according to claim 2, wherein said strength member comprises a plurality of longitudinal yarns, flexible and with tensile strength, arranged between an outer sheath of the electrically terminated optical cable (1) and said single-mode optical fibre.

4. A network (100) according to claim 3, wherein said longitudinal yarns are wound around and fastened to, the opto-electronic end portion (10).

characterised in that said optical fibre is single-mode and said opto-electronic end portion (10) is permanently connected to said end of said optical cable (9).

5. A network (100) according to anyone of the preceding claims 1 to 4, wherein said opto-electronic end portion (10) also comprises an optical focusing lens (11) having an elongated shape and a first endface optically aligned with and mechanically connected to, the optical port of said opto-electronic conversion device (12;

13).

6. A network (100) according to anyone of the preceding claims 1 to 5, wherein said opto-electronic end portion (10) also comprises a ferrule (5) firmly housing an end portion of said single-mode optical fibre so that said end of said optical fibre is lying flush with an endface of said ferrule (5).

7. A network (100) according to claims 5 and 6, wherein said opto-electronic end portion (10) also comprises a sleeve (6) tightly housing said ferrule (5) and said optical lens (11) with said endface of said ferrule (5) and a second endface of said optical lens (11) facing each other so as to optically align said optical lens (11) with said optical fibre housed into said ferrule (5).

8. A network (100) according to anyone of the preceding claims 1 to 7, wherein said signals to be distributed are digital.

9. A network (100) according to anyone of the preceding claims 1 to 8, wherein at least one of said plurality of ports (43) of said distribution unit (40) is an optical port.

10. A network (100) according to claim 9, wherein an end of said single-mode optical fibre, opposed to the end optically aligned with and mechanically connected to the optical port of the opto-electronic conversion device (12;

13), is connected by means of fused junction with said optical port (43) of said distribution unit (40), and said opto-electronic end portion (10) has an electric port suitable to be connected to a corresponding user apparatus (42).

11. A network (100) according to anyone of the preceding claims 1 to 7, wherein at least one of said plurality of ports (43) of said distribution unit (40) is an electric port.

12. A network (100) according to claim 11, wherein said electrically terminated optical cable (1) comprises also a second opto-electronic end portion (10), permanently connected to an end of said optical cable, opposed to that permanently connected to the first opto-electronic end portion (10), said second opto-electronic end portion (10) comprising an opto-electronic conversion device (12;

13) having an optical port optically aligned with and mechanically connected to, an opposed end of said single-mode optical fibre, and an electric port suitable to be coupled to said electric port of said distribution unit (40).

13. A method for installing a network (100) for distributing signals to a plurality of electric user apparatuses (42) in a building, said network (10O) comprising a distribution unit (40) having a plurality of optical ports (43) and a plurality of electrically terminated optical cables (1), each comprising an optical cable (9) with a single-mode optical fibre and an opto-electronic end portion (10) mechanically and permanently connected to an end of said optical cable (9), said method comprising, for each electrically terminated optical cable (1), the following steps:

a) inserting, from the side of the corresponding user apparatus (42), an optical end of the optical cable (9), opposed to that mechanically connected to the opto-electronic end portion (10), into a raceway of the building connecting the distribution unit (40) to the user apparatus (42);

b) making the optical cable (9) pass along said raceway, pulling it by the optical end of said optical cable inserted into the raceway during step a), until it arrives in the proximity of a corresponding optical port of the distribution unit (40);

c) optically connecting the optical end of the optical cable (9) to the optical port of the distribution unit (40); and

d) electrically connecting said end portion (10) to the user apparatus (42).

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein step c) is carried out by means of a fused junction of an end of the single-mode optical fibre to the optical port of the distribution unit (40).

15. A method for installing a network (100) for distributing signals to a plurality of electric user apparatuses (42) in a building, said network (100) comprising a distribution unit (40) having a plurality of electric ports and a plurality of electrically terminated optical cables (1), each comprising an optical cable (9) with a single-mode optical fibre and two opto-electronic end portions (10) mechanically and permanently connected to two opposite ends of said optical cable (9), said method comprising, for each electrically terminated optical cable (1), the following steps:

a) inserting one of the two opto-electronic end portions (10) into a raceway of the building connecting the distribution unit (40) to the user apparatus (42);

b) making the optical cable (9) pass along said raceway, pulling it by the opto-electronic end portion (10) inserted into the raceway during step a);

c) electrically connecting one of the two opto-electronic end parts (10) to the electronic port of the distribution unit (40); and

d) electrically connecting the end portion (10), opposed to that of the step c), to the user apparatus (42).