Flexible shuffle circuit and method for assembling same
First Claim
1. A flexible shuffle circuit comprising:
- a shuffle housing disposed on a plurality of optical fibers;
the plurality of optical fibers extending from a first location in the shuffle housing, the plurality of optical fibers arranged into a first plurality of sets of optical fibers, each set of optical fibers in the first plurality of optical fibers comprising at least two optical fibers;
a protective covering on at least a portion of each of the first plurality of sets of optical fibers, the optical fibers being free to move relative to one another within the protective covering, and at least a portion of the protective coverings disposed within the shuffle housing at the first location;
the plurality of optical fibers extending from a second location in the shuffle housing, the plurality of optical fibers arranged into a second plurality of sets of optical fibers, the optical fibers in each of the second plurality of sets of optical fibers being shuffled with respect to the optical fibers in each of the first plurality of sets of optical fibers and each set of optical fibers in the second plurality of optical fibers comprising at least two optical fibers; and
a protective covering on at least a portion of each of the second plurality of sets of optical fibers, the optical fibers being free to move relative to one another within the protective covering, and at least a portion of the protective coverings disposed within the shuffle housing at the second location.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A flexible shuffle circuit and method are provided for a flexible fiber routing management solution for optical networking applications. The flexible shuffle circuit includes a housing on a plurality of optical fibers that extend from at least two locations in the housing. The plurality of optical fibers are arranged into sets of optical fibers, each set having at least two optical fibers. The optical fibers have an end portion that is ribbonized in a predetermined orientation. A protective covering is provided to cover the optical fibers. The optical fibers are preferable buffered fibers, free to move relative to one another in the protective coverings.
8 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A flexible shuffle circuit comprising:
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a shuffle housing disposed on a plurality of optical fibers;
the plurality of optical fibers extending from a first location in the shuffle housing, the plurality of optical fibers arranged into a first plurality of sets of optical fibers, each set of optical fibers in the first plurality of optical fibers comprising at least two optical fibers;
a protective covering on at least a portion of each of the first plurality of sets of optical fibers, the optical fibers being free to move relative to one another within the protective covering, and at least a portion of the protective coverings disposed within the shuffle housing at the first location;
the plurality of optical fibers extending from a second location in the shuffle housing, the plurality of optical fibers arranged into a second plurality of sets of optical fibers, the optical fibers in each of the second plurality of sets of optical fibers being shuffled with respect to the optical fibers in each of the first plurality of sets of optical fibers and each set of optical fibers in the second plurality of optical fibers comprising at least two optical fibers; and
a protective covering on at least a portion of each of the second plurality of sets of optical fibers, the optical fibers being free to move relative to one another within the protective covering, and at least a portion of the protective coverings disposed within the shuffle housing at the second location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for assembling a flexible shuffle circuit, comprising the steps of:
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providing a plurality of optical fibers having a first end and a second end;
arranging the plurality of optical fibers into a first plurality of sets of optical fibers at the first end and a second plurality of sets of optical fibers at the second end, each set of optical fibers comprising at least two optical fibers;
disposing a holding member on the plurality of optical fibers at a predetermined location;
ribbonizing the ends of at least one set of the first plurality of sets of optical fibers in a first predetermined orientation; and
ribbonizing at least one set of the ends of the second plurality of sets of optical fibers in a second predetermined orientation. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A flexible shuffle circuit comprising:
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a holding member;
a first plurality of sets of optical fibers extending from a first location in the holding member, each optical fiber in each of the first plurality of sets of optical fibers having identifying indicia, the identifying indicia for each optical fiber in each set of the first plurality of sets being different, the optical fibers in the first plurality of sets of optical fibers having an end portion, the end portion of the optical fibers having a predetermined orientation based on the identifying indicia and the predetermined orientation of the ends of the optical fibers in each of the sets in the first plurality of sets of optical fibers being different; and
a second plurality of sets of optical fibers extending from a second location in the holding member, each optical fiber in each of the second plurality of sets of optical fibers having identifying indicia, the identifying indicia for each optical fiber in each set of the second plurality of sets being different, the optical fibers in the second plurality of sets of optical fibers having an end portion, the end portion of the optical fibers having a predetermined orientation based on the identifying indicia and the predetermined orientation of the ends of the optical fibers in each of the sets in the second plurality of sets of optical fibers being different. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification