Modular Optical Fiber Network Interface
First Claim
1. An optical distribution system, comprising:
- a first unit having;
a first optical connector, anda second optical connector in optical communication with the first optical connector; and
a second unit removably pluggable to the first unit and having;
a third optical connector configured to optically mate with the second optical connector in response to plugging the second unit to the first unit,a first converter configured to convert an optical signal received via the first, second, and third optical connectors into a first electrical signal, anda first electrical connector configured to transfer the first electrical signal.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An optical fiber network may be provided in a building or set of buildings that can be used with any type of services, regardless of whether those services are provided as electrical signals or as optical signals. To accomplish this, a service aggregation gateway may be provided that receives electrical and/or optical service signals and converts the incoming electrical signals to optical signals. Also, a way for conventional electronic devices in the building to communicate with the optical fiber network is provided. In addition, units for allowing such communication between electronic devices and the optical network may be modularized such that they are interchangeable. In addition, keyed optical fiber ferrule/connector pairs are described.
224 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. An optical distribution system, comprising:
-
a first unit having; a first optical connector, and a second optical connector in optical communication with the first optical connector; and a second unit removably pluggable to the first unit and having; a third optical connector configured to optically mate with the second optical connector in response to plugging the second unit to the first unit, a first converter configured to convert an optical signal received via the first, second, and third optical connectors into a first electrical signal, and a first electrical connector configured to transfer the first electrical signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. An optical distribution system, wherein the optical distribution system is for use with a building having a plurality of habitable rooms each having a wall, the system comprising:
-
an optical network; and for each of the plurality of rooms; an optical fiber of the optical network running within the wall, a first unit disposed completely within one of the walls and configured to receive an optical signal transferred by the optical fiber, and a second unit removably pluggable to the first unit, wherein the second unit is configured to receive the optical signal in response to plugging the second unit to the first unit, and wherein the second unit has a converter configured to convert the optical signal to an electrical signal, and an electrical connector configured to receive the electrical signal. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. An optical distribution system, comprising:
-
a first unit having; a first optical connector, a first converter configured to convert an optical signal received via the first optical connector into a first electrical signal, and a first electrical connector configured to transfer the first electrical signal; and a second unit having; a second optical connector, a second converter configured to convert an optical signal received via the second optical connector into a second electrical signal, and a second electrical connector configured to transfer the second electrical signal, wherein the first and second optical connectors are each disposed at a same location on a first side of the respective first and second units, and wherein the first and second electrical connectors are different types of electrical connectors. - View Dependent Claims (17)
-
-
18. An optical distribution system, comprising:
-
a universal outlet frame configured to receive an optical signal and electrical power; and a plurality of wall modules each configured to plug into the universal outlet frame and to receive the optical signal and the electrical power when the wall module is plugged into the universal outlet frame, each wall module being configured to convert the optical signal to an electrical signal and output the electrical signal to an electrical connector, wherein the electrical connector is a different type of electrical connector for each of the wall modules.
-
-
19. An optical distribution system, comprising:
-
an optical receiver configured to receive an optical signal; a converter configured to simultaneously convert the optical signal to all three of an electrical Ethernet signal, a POTS electrical telephone signal, and an electrical television signal. - View Dependent Claims (20)
-
Specification