METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROTECTING FIBER OPTIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS

• US 20140294390A1
• Filed: 06/13/2014
• Published: 10/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Christopher M. Badinelli
• Original Assignee: Christopher M. Badinelli
• Inventors: Badinelli, Christopher M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,490,929 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 398/68
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4446 Cable boxes, e.g. splicing boxes with two or more multi fibre cables
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4469 Security aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/186 using light guides, e.g. optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/27 Arrangements for networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0293 Optical channel protection

Abstract

A fiber optic network has alarmed fiber optic lines in the cables connecting a secured junction box to plural user lock boxes. An outgoing alarm line and return alarm line in each cable connect the junction box to each user box. The outgoing alarm line is looped to the return alarm line inside the user lock box. The return alarm line is looped to the outgoing alarm line of a different cable inside the junction box to interconnect a plurality of alarm lines passing through a plurality of user boxes. A detector detects an alarm signal in the connected alarm lines to trigger an intrusion alarm.

Claims

1. A protective distribution system with alarmed, interlocking armored fiber optic cables, comprising:

a distribution panel in a secured location, at least a first interlocking armored fiber optic cable connected to the distribution and carrying a fiber optic outgoing alarm line and fiber optic return alarm line to transmit alarm signals, and least one data line that is not connected to encryption devices or software and transmitting data that is not encrypted;

a secured junction box connected to the first fiber optic cable and having a plurality of interlocking armored, outgoing fiber optic cables each connected to the junction box at one end of each cable and connected to a different secured user lock box at the other end of the each cable so as to transmit data through the outgoing fiber optic cables;

at least a selected group of the plurality of outgoing fiber optic cables each having a fiber optic data transfer line transmitting the non-encrypted data, and in addition the fiber optic outgoing alarm line and fiber optic return alarm line to transmit alarm signals, the selected group containing at least a first cable with a first outgoing alarm line and a first return alarm line and a last cable having a last outgoing alarm line and a last return alarm line;

a jumper in each user lock box that is connected to the selected group of fiber optic cables, the jumper looping the outgoing alarm line to the return alarm line contained within the same cable connected to that user lock box so an alarm signal can pass from the outgoing line to the return line;

at least one jumper in the secured junction box connecting the return alarm line of the first cable within the selected group to the outgoing alarm line of another cable within the selected group to form a continuous fiber optic path of connected alarm lines through the secured user boxes associated with the first cable and said another cable until the last return alarm line is in fiber optic communication with the first outgoing alarm line; and

a detector in communication with the least the return alarm line which is in fiber optic communication with the return alarm line at the distribution panel, the detector configured to detect an alarm signal in the continuous fiber optic path of connected alarm lines.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the secured user lock box contains at least one of an outgoing alarm line and a return alarm line that encircles a substantial portion of the user lock box.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the secured user lock box is connected to a passive optical network.

4. The system of claim 1, further including a further plurality of cables in the selected group of cables which further plurality of cables pass through a wall of the junction box and also pass through a wall of the user lock box, comprising:

at least one connector adhered to each cable in the further plurality of cables and adhered at the location where each cable passes through the wall of the junction box or the wall of the user lock box and connected to the wall at that location, each connector having a hole through which the cable to which the connector is adhered passes, each connector having two spaced apart and parallel flanges on at least two sides of the connector with a portion of each wall or a restraining portion connected to each wall fitting between the flanges of the connector to restrain movement of the connector along a length of the cable at the location of the connector.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the alarm detector and control panel are in a telecommunications room.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the secure junction box and secure user lock box meet all U.S. Air Force AFI33-201V8 mandatory requirements for protective distribution systems.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the distribution panel, junction box and all of the secured user lock boxes are on the same floor of a building.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the outgoing alarm line and the return alarm line are in fiber optic communication with the distribution panel and wherein the secure junction box and secure user lock box meet all U.S. Air Force AFI33-201V8 mandatory requirements for protective distribution systems.

17. The method of claim 1, comprising the step of locating the distribution panel, junction box and all of the secured user lock boxes on the same floor of a building.

8. A fiber optic cable comprising:

an interlocking armored fiber optic cable having opposing ends with a connector adjacent each end, each connector having a cylindrical hole through which the interlocking armored cable passes with the connector being adhered to the cable at the cylindrical hole, each connector having two spaced apart and parallel flanges extending outward from the connector on at least two opposing sides of the connector.

9. The fiber optic cable of claim 8, wherein the portion of the connector between the flanges has at least two flat sides.

10. The fiber optic cable of claim 8, wherein the portion of the connector between the flanges has at square cross sectional, exterior shape.

11. The fiber optic cable of claim 8, wherein the portion of the connector between the flanges has at least two flat exterior sides and further has a curved exterior portion coaxial with an axis through the cylindrical opening.

12. A method for alarming interlocking armored fiber optic cables in a protective distribution system having a fiber optic distribution panel in fiber optic communication with at least one secured junction box through an interlocking armored fiber optic cable, the junction box having at least one interlocking armored fiber optic input cable and further having a plurality of outgoing interlocking armored fiber optic cables each connected to the junction box and each connected to a different secured user lock box to transmit data through the fiber optic cables, comprising:

providing at least a selected group of the plurality of cables each having an optical fiber data transfer line, and further having a fiber optic outgoing alarm line and a fiber optic return alarm line to transmit alarm signals within each of the selected group of cables;

within each user lock box connected to the selected group of cables, looping the outgoing alarm line to the return alarm line contained within the same cable connected to that user lock box;

forming a continuous fiber optic path of connected alarm lines by connecting the return alarm line of a first cable within the selected group to the outgoing alarm line of another cable within the selected group, the connecting occurring within the secure junction box, and also connecting the outgoing alarm line to the return alarm line within the secure user lock box connected to the cable carrying both the outgoing and return alarm lines that are joined in the secure user lock box; and

connecting at least the return alarm line from a last one of the selected group of cables to a detector to detect an alarm signal in the continuous fiber optic path of connected alarm lines.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein a further plurality of cables in the selected group of cables each pass through a wall of the junction box and also pass through a wall of the user lock box, the method further comprising:

adhering at least one connector to each cable in the further plurality of cables at the location where each cable passes through the wall of the junction box or the wall of the user lock box, each connector encircling the cable to which it is adhered and each connector having two spaced apart and parallel flanges on at least two sides of the connector;

fastening the connectors to the wall through which the cable adhered to the connector passes, the fastening achieved by having the wall or a restraining member connected to the junction box or user box fit between the flanges of the connector to restrain movement of the connector along a length of the cable at the location of the connector.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the detector is located in a telecommunications room and the detector sends another signal activating an intrusion alert device when the detector detects an alarm signal in the continuous fiber optic path.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the input cable contains a fiber optic data transfer line, an outgoing alarm line and a return alarm line and wherein the method includes the step of placing that outgoing alarm line in the input cable into fiber optic communication with an outgoing alarm line in the selected group of cables, and wherein the input cable further contains a return alarm line and the method includes the step of placing that return alarm line in fiber optic communication with the return alarm line from the last of the selected group of cables.

18. A fiber optic network having at least one secured junction box and a plurality of secured user boxes each connected to the junction box by a different interlocking armored fiber optic cable, the network comprising:

a selected plurality of the fiber optic cables including at least a first cable connected to both the junction box and a first secured user box and including a last cable connected to both the junction box and a last secured user box, each of the selected plurality of cables including an outgoing fiber optic alarm line, a return fiber optic alarm line and at least one fiber optic data line;

the selected plurality of the fiber optic cables further having the outgoing line being looped to connect to the return line within the secured user box that is connected to the cable such that the outgoing alarm line of the first cable connects to the return alarm line of the first cable within the first secured user box and the outgoing alarm line of the last cable connects to the return alarm line of the last cable within the last secured user box;

the selected plurality of fiber optic cables further having the return alarm line connected to the outgoing line of another cable within the selected plurality of fiber optic cables, within the secured junction box, such that the return alarm line of the first cable connects to the outgoing alarm line of another cable within the selected plurality of fiber optic cables to form an interconnected fiber optic alarm line extending through the selected plurality of fiber optic cables and the user boxes associated with the selected plurality of fiber optic cables from the first cable and first user box to the last cable and last user box; and

a detector in communication with the last return alarm line configured to send a signal to the outgoing alarm line and to detect an alarm signal in the last return alarm line.