Retractable optical fiber tether assembly and associated fiber optic cable
First Claim
1. An optical system, comprising:
- a fiber optic cable;
a retractable fiber optic cable storage device operatively associated with the fiber optic cable;
an optical device operatively associated with the fiber optic cable; and
a fiber optic array cable coupled to the fiber optic cable at an access point;
wherein the retractable fiber optic cable storage device is operatively associated with the fiber optic cable such that the optical device may be flexibly located relative to the fiber optic array cable and the access point.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides an optical system that allows for the flexible location of an optical device that is coupled to a patch panel in a wiring closet or other optical signal source through a series of fiber optic cables and optical connections, or the flexible location of an array of such optical devices. The optical system includes, in part, one or more retractable optical fiber tether assemblies that each allow varying lengths of tether cable to be pulled and used. The retraction device of each of the optical tether assemblies may be disposed mid-tether cable, or may terminate the respective tether cable and incorporate the given optical device. In an exemplary wireless local area network (WLAN) application, each of the retractable optical fiber tether assemblies includes an integral transceiver and associated software. Thus, each of the retractable optical fiber tether assemblies functions as an antenna. The associated fiber optic cable carries both optical fiber to provide optical continuity and copper wire to provide electrical conductivity to the antenna array.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An optical system, comprising:
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a fiber optic cable; a retractable fiber optic cable storage device operatively associated with the fiber optic cable; an optical device operatively associated with the fiber optic cable; and a fiber optic array cable coupled to the fiber optic cable at an access point; wherein the retractable fiber optic cable storage device is operatively associated with the fiber optic cable such that the optical device may be flexibly located relative to the fiber optic array cable and the access point. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A retractable optical fiber tether assembly, comprising:
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a housing; and a retraction mechanism disposed within the housing; wherein the retraction mechanism is operable for selectively storing, reeling out, and reeling in a fiber optic cable, and wherein the fiber optic cable has a predetermined bending characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A fiber optic cable for use with a retractable optical optic tether assembly or the like, the fiber optic cable comprising:
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a jacket material; and at least one optical fiber disposed within the jacket material; wherein the fiber optic cable has a predetermined bending characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification