Optical fiber enclosure system using integrated optical connector and coupler assembly

• US 6,909,833 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2002
• Issued: 06/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Fiber Optic Network Solutions Corporation (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Cooper, Ronald, Henschel, James J., Noonan, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Prasad, Chandrika
• Application Number:
  US10/099,862
• Publication Number:
  US 20030174996A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,194 Days
• Field of Search: 385134-140, 385 42- 49
• US Class Current: 385/135
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/2804 forming multipart couplers without wavelength selective elements, e.g. "T" couplers, star couplers
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3825 with an intermediate part, e.g. adapter, receptacle, linking two plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3845 ferrules comprising functional elements, e.g. filters
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3897 Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards G02B6/44528 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3898 Tools, e.g. handheld; Tuning wrenches; Jigs used with connectors, e.g. for extracting, removing or inserting in a panel, for engaging or coupling connectors, for assembling or disassembling components within the connector, for applying clips to hold two connectors together or for crimping tools for cleaning, G02B6/3866; tools in general B25B
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4452 Distribution frames
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44526 Panels or rackmounts covering a whole width of the frame or rack
• 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 6/44715 Fan-out devices

Abstract

An optical fiber enclosure system includes a plurality of integrated optical connector and coupler assemblies. The first optic coupler is integrated adjacent to the ferrule in the connector. In a preferred embodiment, the integrated optical connector coupler is constructed in a compact package such that when installed in the optical fiber enclosure no part of the coupler connector assembly protrudes beyond the footprint of the fiber enclosure and yet maintains an industry recommended minimum bend radius of 1.5 inches on the output cable ports thus allowing the fiber enclosure front panel to close without impinging on the cables of the assembly.

Claims

1. An optical fiber enclosure, comprising:

a housing having a front compartment, a rear compartment and a bulkhead having a plurality of openings provided thereon, the housing further comprising a front access and a rear access and having at least one fiber radius guide associated with at least one of the front access and the rear access;

a plurality of optical adapters mounted to the bulkhead with a subset of the plurality of adapters associated with at least one removable fiber cassette, the fiber cassette installable in one of the plurality of openings in the bulkhead;

at least one optical coupler connector assembly coupled to at least one of the plurality of adapters;

a front management plate moveably attached to the housing for organizing a first plurality of optical cables; and

a rear management plate for organizing a second plurality of optical cables.

2. The optical fiber enclosure of claim 1 wherein the optical coupler connector assembly includes an optical coupler adjacent to a ferrule in the optical connector.

3. The optical fiber enclosure of claim 1 wherein the optical coupler connector assembly further comprises at least two output ports.

4. The optical fiber enclosure of claim 1 further comprising the optical coupler connector assembly located in each port in the enclosure.

5. The optical fiber enclosure of claim 1 wherein the bend radius of the optical coupler connector assembly does not exceed approximately 1.5 inches.

6. An optical monitoring device comprising:

a removable fiber cassette having a plurality of adapters associated therewith;

an optical connector associated with the fiber cassette and having at least one output port; and

an optical coupler integral with the optical connector.

7. The optical monitoring device of claim 6 wherein the optical coupler is integrated adjacent to a ferrule in the optical connector.

8. The optical monitoring device of claim 6 further comprising a bend radius such that the device when coupled to an adapter in a patch panel requires no additional frame space.

9. The optical monitoring device of claim 8 wherein the bend radius does not exceed approximately 1.5 inches.

10. An optical network system comprising:

a patch panel having a housing, the housing having a front compartment, a rear compartment and a bulkhead, the bulkhead having a plurality of adapters associated with at least one removable fiber cassette; and

at least one optical coupler-connector assembly coupled to at least one of the plurality of adapters.

11. The optical network of claim 10 further comprising a gigabit Ethernet.

12. The optical network system of claim 10 wherein the optical coupler-connector assembly includes an optical coupler adjacent to a ferrule in the optical connector.

13. The optical network system of claim 11 wherein the optical coupler connector assembly further comprises at least two output ports.

14. An optical tap, comprising:

an optical connector having at least one output port;

an optical coupler integral with the optical connector;

a first optical fiber communicatively coupled to the optical coupler; and

a second optical fiber adjacent to and optically coupled with the first optical fiber, the optical coupling taking place without the use of refractive optical elements.

15. The optical tap of claim 14 wherein the optical coupler is integrated adjacent to a ferrule in the optical connector.

16. The optical tap of claim 14 further comprising:

a patch panel having an adapter associated therewith, the patch panel further occupying a frame space; and

a bend radius associated with the optical tap, the bend radius remaining within the frame space when the optical tap is coupled to the adapter.

17. The optical tap of claim 16 wherein the bend radius does not exceed approximately 1.5 inches.

18. The optical tap of claim 14 wherein the optical coupler comprises a quartz substrate.

19. The optical tap of claim 14 wherein the optical coupler comprises a glass waveguide.

20. The optical tap of claim 19 further comprising at least one channel for at least one of splitting and coupling an optical signal into a plurality of outputs.

21. A wavelength division multiplexing assembly, comprising:

an optical connector having at least one output port;

an optical coupler integral with the optical connector;

a first optical fiber; and

a second optical fiber adjacent to and optically coupled with the first optical fiber, the optical coupling taking place without the use of refractive optical elements.

22. The wavelength division multiplexing assembly of claim 21 further comprising:

a ferrule mounted in the optical connector and adjacent to the optical coupler.

23. The wavelength division multiplexing assembly of claim 21 further comprising:

a patch panel having an adapter associated therewith, the patch panel further occupying a frame space; and

a bend radius associated with the optical tap, the bend radius remaining within the frame space when the optical tap is coupled to the adapter, the bed radius further not exceeding approximately 1.5 inches.

24. An optical power splitter, comprising:

an optical connector having at least one output port;

an optical coupler integral with the optical connector;

a first optical fiber; and

a second optical fiber adjacent to and optically coupled with the first optical fiber, the optical coupling taking place without the use of refractive optical elements.

25. The optical power splitter of claim 24 further comprising:

a ferrule mounted in the optical connector and adjacent to the optical coupler.

26. The optical power splitter of claim 24 further comprising:

a bend radius; and

an adapter installed in a patch panel having a frame space associated therewith and coupled to the optical power splitter in a manner wherein the bend radius fits within the frame space.

27. A method of fabricating an optical tap device, comprising the steps of:

fusing an optical coupler into a connector ferrule;

joining the ferrule to a fiber to result in a fiber coupler-connector assembly;

curing the fiber coupler-connector assembly; and

providing a protective shroud over the assembly.

28. An optical connector for coupling optical data signals, comprising:

a connector and splitter portion;

at least a pair of optical cables extending from the connector and splitter portion; and

an optical connector at the distal end of each of the optical cables from the connector and splitter.

29. The optical connector of claim 28 wherein the connector and splitter portion includes a coupler connector for joining at least one optical cable to a primary optical cable.

30. The optical connector of claim 29 wherein the connector and splitter portion has a ferrule and outer connection for connecting to an adapter of an optical fiber cassette.

31. The optical connector of claim 28 wherein a first optical cable carries data at 1550 nm wavelength and a second optical cable carries data at 1310 nm wavelength.