OPTICAL TERMINATION ASSEMBLY

• US 20130004125A1
• Filed: 12/23/2009
• Published: 01/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Prysmian SPA
• Original Assignee: Prysmian SPA
• Inventors: Abbiati, Fabio, Griffiths, Ian James, Le Dissez, Arnaud
• Granted Patent: US 9,383,535 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/77
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4441 Boxes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4454 with splices

Abstract

It is disclosed an optical termination assembly (1) comprising an optical termination box (2) and a drop cable (3). The drop cable (3) has a first end housed in a first compartment of the optical termination box (2). The first end of the drop cable is pre-connectorized. The optical termination box (2) comprises at least one first fixing element (44e) accessible from the outside suitable for fixing the optical termination box (2) to a support structure.

Claims

1. An optical termination assembly, comprising:

an optical termination box; and

a drop cable;

wherein the drop cable has a first end housed in a first compartment of the optical termination box,

wherein the first end of the drop cable is pre-connectorized, and

wherein the optical termination box comprises at least one first fixing element accessible from an outside of the optical termination box suitable for fixing the optical termination box to a support structure.

2. The optical termination assembly of claim 1, wherein the optical termination box comprises a base with a bottom and four sidewalls,

wherein the bottom has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface,

wherein the first surface forms the first compartment with the four sidewalls,

wherein the second surface forms a second compartment with the four sidewalls, and

wherein the bottom comprises an opening configured to allow the drop cable to pass from the second compartment to the first compartment where the first pre-connectorized end is housed.

3. The optical termination assembly of claim 2, wherein at least one of the four sidewalls comprises a weakening line defining a removable portion, and

wherein the weakening line is configured so that, when the removable portion is removed, a passageway is created in the at least one of the four sidewalls between the second compartment and an exterior of the base.

4. The optical termination assembly of claim 3, wherein the second surface has a cable guiding channel configured to guide the drop cable from the opening to the removable portion.

5. The optical termination assembly of claim 2, wherein the at least one first fixing element is arranged on the second surface.

6. The optical termination assembly of claim 2, wherein the optical termination box comprises a number of first fixing elements arranged according to a rotational symmetry about a barycenter of the bottom.

7. The optical termination assembly of claim 2, further comprising:

an adapter having at least one second fixing element configured to engage with the at least one first fixing element for fixing the optical termination box to the adapter.

8. The optical termination assembly of claim 7, wherein the at least one first fixing element comprises a projection having a recess,

wherein the at least one second fixing element comprises a protrusion terminating with a tooth, and

wherein the protrusion is configured to engage with the recess.

9. The optical termination assembly of claim 7, wherein the adapter comprises:

at least one adapter fixing hole suitable for fixing the adapter to a portion of a wall acting as the support structure;

or

at least one adapter fixing groove configured to engage with a Deutsches Institut fü

r Normung (DIN) rail for fixing the adapter to the DIN rail acting as the support structure.

10. The optical termination assembly of claim 1, wherein the drop cable comprises a number of optical fibers, and

wherein the number of optical fibers are connected to a corresponding number of optical connectors at the first end of the drop cable.

11. The optical termination assembly of claim 10, wherein one of the four sidewalls comprises a number of connector supporting frames configured to support the corresponding number of optical connectors in the first compartment.

12. The optical termination assembly of claim 10, wherein the optical termination box further comprises a splice tray rotatably hinged to a base of the optical termination box and configured to rotate between a first position, in which the splice tray at least partially covers the first compartment, and a second position, in which the splice tray allows free access to the first compartment, and

wherein the splice tray is suitable for housing a number of optical fiber splices between the number of optical fibers and the corresponding number of optical connectors.

15. The optical termination assembly of claim 7, wherein the adapter comprises:

at least one adapter fixing hole suitable for fixing the adapter to a portion of a wall acting as the support structure; and

at least one adapter fixing groove configured to engage with a Deutsches Institut fü

r Normung (DIN) rail for fixing the adapter to the DIN rail acting as the support structure.

13. A method for installing, in an apartment of an end user, an optical termination assembly comprising an optical termination box and a drop cable, wherein the drop cable has a first end housed in a first compartment of the optical termination box, and wherein the first end of the drop cable is pre-connectorized, the method comprising:

inserting a free end of the drop cable into an opening of a duct connecting the apartment to one of an optical transition box and a distribution cabinet of an optical access network; and

fixing the optical termination assembly to a support structure within the apartment.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein fixing the optical termination assembly to a support structure within the apartment comprises:

fixing an adapter to the support structure; and

connecting the optical termination box to the adapter.