Optical fiber distribution module for holding an optical fiber cord and fiber distribution system using optical fiber cords

• US 6,256,443 B1
• Filed: 07/20/1999
• Issued: 07/03/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
• Inventors: Uruno, Shigenori, Mine, Koji, Tomita, Nobuo, Hirooka, Akira, Tachikura, Masao, Nakao, Naoki, Izumita, Hisashi, Takemoto, Hajime, Enomoto, Yoshitaka
• Primary Examiner(s): Ullah, Akm E.
• Application Number:
  US09/358,392
• Time in Patent Office: 714 Days
• Field of Search: 385/134, 385/135, 385/136, 385/137, 385/138, 385/147
• US Class Current: 385/134
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4452 Distribution frames
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44524 with frame parts or auxiliary devices mounted on the frame and collectively not covering a whole width of the frame or rack cassettes G02B6/4453
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44528 Patch-cords; Connector arrangements in the system or in the box routing arrangements H04Q1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4482 Code or colour marking
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/14 Distribution frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/20 Testing circuits or apparatus; Circuits or apparatus for detecting, indicating, or signalling faults or troubles

Abstract

An optical fiber distribution module having a connection board, optical connector adaptors and a storage section is provided. An array of the optical connector adaptors forms the connection board, where the optical connectors connect in-use optical fibers. The storage section, located in a separate section of the module, stores optical fibers which are not-in use. The optical fiber distribution module also includes a plurality of cord sorting boards having a plurality of fiber cord passageways. The fiber cord passageways are configured to accommodate and retain at least one optical fiber such that the optical fiber is arranged between the connection board and the storage section. In addition, both the in-use and not-in use optical fibers insert into the fiber cord passageway. The in-use optical fibers connect to the optical connector adaptors and the not-in use optical fibers are stored in the storage section as the in-use optical fibers and the not-in use optical fibers are inserted within the fiber cord passageways.

Claims

1. An optical fiber distribution module comprising:

a connection board disposed on said module;

optical connector adaptors for connecting in-use optical fiber cords, an array of said optical connector adaptors forming said connection board; and

a storage section for storing not-in use optical fiber cords disposed in a separate location of said module, wherein

a plurality of cord sorting boards having a plurality of fiber cord passageways for accommodating and retaining at least one optical fiber cord is arranged between said connection board and said storage section,

said in-use optical fiber cords being inserted into said fiber cord passageways and connected to said optical connector adaptors, and

said not-in use optical fiber cords being inserted into said fiber cord passageways and stored by means of said storage section.

2. An optical fiber distribution module according to claim 1, wherein each of said cord sorting boards is u-shaped or has an approximate frame shape, and includes a plurality of sorting members arranged in one direction, each of said sorting members having fiber cord passages for accommodating/retaining at least one fiber cord in a horizontal direction, and for inserting or removing said fiber cord from said fiber cord passageways.

3. An optical fiber cord, comprising:

an optical fiber cord; and

a sheathing for covering said optical fiber cord, wherein identifying marks and identifying colors are provided on said sheathing, and said identifying marks are comprised of one of digits, letters and a combination of digits and letters such that the marks are oriented along the sheathing, and neighboring marks separated at a given spacing are inverted relative to one another.

4. An optical cord according to claim 3, wherein said identifying marks are provided transversely to said sheathing at a given spacing.

5. An optical cord according to claim 3, wherein said identifying marks are provided longitudinally along said sheathing at a given spacing.

6. An optical cord according to claim 3, wherein said identifying colors are provided transversely at a given spacing along the sheathing.

7. An optical cord according to claim 3, wherein said identifying colors are provided longitudinally at a given spacing along the sheathing.

8. An optical cord according to claim 3, wherein said identifying colors are provided continuously and longitudinally along the sheathing.

9. An optical cord according to claim 3, wherein said identifying colors are represented by outer appearance of the sheathing.

10. An optical cord according to claim 3, wherein said sheathing is provided with tags having identifying means.

28. An optical cord according to claim 4, wherein said identifying marks are provided longitudinally along said sheathing at a given spacing.

11. An optical fiber cable or a set-type optical fiber cord comprised by a plurality of cord units, each of said cord units having a plurality of optical fiber cords, each of said optical fiber cords comprising:

an optical fiber cord; and

a sheathing for covering said optical fiber cord, wherein identifying marks and identifying colors are provided on said sheathing, and

said identifying marks are comprised of one of digits, letters and a combination of digits and letters such that the marks are oriented along the sheathing, and neighboring marks separated at a given spacing are inverted relative to one another, wherein

said identifying colors provided on said sheathing are different for different cord units, and said identifying marks are different at least within a given cord unit.

12. An optical fiber distribution system comprising:

a central-side terminating section for terminating a plurality of first fiber cables connected to communication equipment in a central office;

a user-side terminating section for terminating a plurality of second fiber cables connected to a plurality of subscriber terminal equipment;

a cross connecting section for switching any optical fiber of said first fiber cable and/or any optical fiber of said second fiber cable;

a fiber distributing section for connecting any optical fiber from said center-side terminating section to said cross connecting section; and

a fiber distribution module having a test accessing section for operating said first fiber cable and said second fiber cable, and a fiber switching section for switching input/output ports for operating said test accessing section.

13. An optical fiber distribution system according to claim 12, wherein said system is provided with a splitting section for distributing signal light from center communication equipment in a central office to a plurality of output ports for outputting to a said cross connecting section.

14. An optical fiber distribution system according to claim 12, wherein said fiber distribution module is provided with a fiber distribution managing section for managing fiber distribution information, parts information and service information within said fiber distribution module.

15. An optical fiber distribution system according to claim 12, wherein said fiber distribution module is provided with an optical testing module having:

a fiber testing section connected to a fiber switching section for testing optical fibers;

a monitoring section for monitoring signal light and test light;

an optical power comparing section for identifying optical fibers; and

a test equipment selecting section for selecting one of said fiber testing section, said monitoring section or said optical power identifying section.

16. An optical fiber distribution system according to claim 13, wherein said fiber distribution module is provided with:

a base module having a central-side terminating section, a user-side terminating section, a fiber distributing section, a splitting section, a cross connecting section, a test accessing section, and a fiber switching section; and

an addition module having said central-side terminating section, a fiber distributing section, a splitting section, a cross connecting section, a test accessing section, a fiber switching section;

in such a way that a plurality of addition modules may be added to said fiber distributing section.

17. An optical fiber distribution system according to claim 14, wherein said fiber distribution managing section is provided with:

an intermediate distribution managing section having a fiber information managing section, a portable terminal, and an information exchanging section for supplying fiber distribution information and operation support information to said portable terminal; and

an integrated fiber distribution managing section for managing fiber distribution information received from said intermediate distribution managing section and managing connections with other operating systems.

18. An optical fiber distribution system according to claim 12, wherein said cross connecting section is provided with:

a holding board for engaging with output fiber ends of a plurality of said first optical fiber cables;

a connection board having an output section optically fastened to a plurality of said second optical fibers, and an input section including an array of fixed optical connectors for coupling with any movable connectors so as to provide opposing light transmission surfaces;

a sorting board having a plurality of retaining passageways for loosely holding optical fibers to permit longitudinal sliding; and

coupling fibers having input ends optically connected to oppose output ends of said first optical fiber cable held on said holding board to provide light transmission surfaces, and output ends having said movable connectors to provide selective optical connections with said connectors on said connection board; and

a fiber storage section for storing said coupling fibers provided on front and back surfaces of said sorting board.

19. An optical fiber distribution system according to claim 18, wherein said coupling fibers are provided with identifying markings, and a portable terminal having an marking identifying section.

20. An optical fiber distribution system according to claim 18, wherein said connection board and said holding board are each provided with indicators for displaying command data issued from said intermediate distribution managing section.

21. An optical fiber distribution system according to claim 18, wherein said fiber switching section is provided with a visible light source to identify said coupling fibers by bending.

22. An optical fiber distribution board comprising:

a central-side terminating section for terminating first optical cable optically connected to communication equipment in a central office;

a user-side terminating section for terminating second optical cable optically connected to subscriber terminal equipment;

a cross connecting section for switching connections of any optical fiber of said first optical cable with any optical fiber of said second optical cable;

a fiber sorting section for accommodating said first optical cable and separating optical fibers to be routed to said cross connecting section from optical fibers to be routed to a fiber storage section; and

a fiber-cord storage section for providing connecting means for optically connecting any optical fiber from said fiber sorting section to any terminal of said cross connecting section.

23. An optical fiber distribution board according to claim 22, wherein said fiber sorting section is provided with fiber pulling means.

24. An optical fiber distribution board according to claim 23, wherein said fiber pulling means include a rotary mechanism.

25. An optical fiber distribution board according to claim 22, wherein said system is provided with a fiber storage section for storing not-in-use optical fibers;

and a fiber sorting board for installing said fiber sorting section.

26. An optical fiber distribution board according to claim 22, wherein optical jumper sections are provided between said fiber sorting section and said first optical cable for distributing signal light from a communication equipment to one or a plurality of output ports.

27. An optical fiber distribution board according to claim 26, wherein said optical jumper sections are provided with filtering means for transmitting selected wavelengths of signal light.

29. An optical fiber distribution board according to claim 23, wherein said system is provided with a fiber storage section for storing not-in-use optical fibers;

and a fiber sorting board for installing said fiber sorting section.

30. An optical fiber distribution board according to claim 24, wherein said system is provided with a fiber storage section for storing not-in-use optical fibers;

and a fiber sorting board for installing said fiber sorting section.