Fiber breakout with radio frequency identification device

• US 7,349,605 B2
• Filed: 04/19/2006
• Issued: 03/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Reagan, Randy, Lu, Yu, Noonan, Michael, Gniadek, Jeff
• Primary Examiner(s): Font; Frank G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): EL SHAMMAA, MARY A
• Application Number:
  US11/406,826
• Publication Number:
  US 20060233506A1
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• Field of Search: 385/100
• US Class Current: 385/100
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 11/33 with a light emitter being disposed at one fibre or waveguide end-face, and a light receiver at the other end-face
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3823 containing surplus lengths, internal fibre loops provisionally see also G02B6/444
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3827 Wrap-back connectors, i.e. containing a fibre having an U shape
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3849 using mechanical protective elements, e.g. caps, hoods, sealing membranes G02B6/3816 takes precedence; provisionally see H01R13/44
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/385 Accessories for testing or observation of connectors means for centering or aligning the light guide within the ferrule with auxiliary facilities for movably aligning or adjusting the fibre within its ferrule, measuring position, eccentricity G02B6/3843; mechanical features associated with the optical testing of optical fibres G01M11/088
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3878 comprising a plurality of ferrules, branching and break-out means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3885 Multicore or multichannel optical connectors, i.e. one single ferrule containing more than one fibre, e.g. ribbon type optical ribbon cable G02B6/4403, G02B6/448
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3895 identification of connection, e.g. right plug to the right socket or full engagement of the mating parts keying element on the plug or adapter G02B6/3831; keying element on the ferrule G02B6/3851; keying element for electrical connection H01R13/64
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3897 Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards G02B6/44528 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4472 Manifolds
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4473 Three-way systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4475 with provision for lateral branching G02B6/4431 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/562 locatable, e.g. using magnetic means

Abstract

A fiber breakout for connecting a branch cable to a fiber optic distribution cable is disclosed. The fiber breakout can include an optical ribbon separated from the distribution cable at a breakout location. An overmold is formed over the optical ribbon and a portion of the distribution cable at the breakout location. An optical fiber breakout connector is also disclosed. The breakout connector has first and second ends, the first end having a multifiber connector for an optical ribbon, and the second end having a plurality of single port connectors. A fiber breakout separates the optical ribbon into a plurality of fibers.

Claims

1. A fiber optic cable comprising:

a main cable having a first end and an oppositely disposed second end;

a plurality of tethers, with each tether having a connectorized end, separated from the main cable at breakout locations, wherein the tethers are intermittently disposed between the first end and the second end of the main cable;

an over-mold formed over at least a portion of each breakout location; and

radio frequency identification devices positioned at the breakout locations, wherein the radio frequency identification devices are embedded within the over-molds at the breakout locations.

2. The fiber optic cable of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency identification devices are passive RFID tags.

3. The fiber optic cable of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency identification devices are active RFID tags.

4. The fiber optic cable of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency identification devices are encoded with geographic location information related to the breakout locations.

5. The fiber optic cable of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency identification devices encoded with subscriber information are related to the breakout locations.

6. The fiber optic cable of claim 1, wherein the connectorized end of the tether is an MT female connector.

7. The fiber optic cable of claim 1, wherein the connectorized end is within the over-mold.

8. A fiber optic cable comprising:

a main cable having a first end and an oppositely disposed second end;

a plurality of tethers separated from the main cable at breakout locations, wherein the tethers are intermittently disposed between the first end and the second end of the main cable;

an over-mold formed over at least a portion of the breakout location; and

radio frequency identification devices positioned at the breakout locations, wherein the radio frequency identification devices are embedded within the over-molds at the breakout locations and encoded with information about the breakout locations.