Interconnect enclosures for optical fibers including cross-connect modules and methods for using the same

• US 7,406,242 B1
• Filed: 11/16/2007
• Issued: 07/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Electronics Company Limited (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Braga, David J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Font; Frank G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mooney; Michael P
• Application Number:
  US11/985,846
• Time in Patent Office: 256 Days
• Field of Search: 385/134, 385/135
• US Class Current: 385/135
• 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 6/4453 Cassettes

Abstract

An interconnect device for optical fibers includes an enclosure. A first termination panel is mounted in the enclosure. The first termination panel has a plurality of optical fiber connection members, ones of which are associated with respective subscriber locations. A second termination panel is mounted in the enclosure that has a plurality of optical fiber connection members, ones of which are associated with respective input optical fibers associated with a service provider. A cross-connect module mounted in the enclosure has a loop of an optical fiber retained therein with a first and opposite second connectorized end of the optical fiber extending from the cross-connect module. The first and second connectorized ends of the optical fiber extend to a length sufficient to allow cross-connection of a selected pair of the connection members of the termination panels by connection of the connectorized ends thereto.

Claims

1. An interconnect device for optical fibers, comprising:

an enclosure;

a first termination panel mounted in the enclosure and having a plurality of optical fiber connection members, ones of which are associated with respective subscriber locations;

a second termination panel mounted in the enclosure and having a plurality of optical fiber connection members, ones of which are associated with respective input optical fibers associated with a service provider; and

a cross-connect module mounted in the enclosure and having a loop of an optical fiber retained therein with a first and opposite second connectorized end of the optical fiber extending from the cross-connect module, the first and second connectorized ends of the optical fiber extending to a length sufficient to allow cross-connection of a selected pair of the connection members of the termination panels by connection of the connectorized ends thereto.

2. The interconnect device of claim 1, wherein the optical fiber retained in the cross-connect module extends continuously without any splicing therein from the first connectorized end to the second connectorized end.

3. The interconnect device of claim 1, wherein the cross-connect module includes a plurality of tab members therein positioned to retain the loop of the optical fiber in the cross-connect module.

4. The interconnect device of claim 3, further comprising a bend control member positioned between respective ones of the tab members configured to maintain the loop at a radius that at least equals a minimum bend radius of the optical fiber.

5. The interconnect device of claim 4, wherein the cross-connect module comprises a tray and wherein the tab members include a first segment extending up from a bottom of the tray and a second segment, removably coupled to the first segment, that extends substantially orthogonally from the first segment over the loop of the optical fiber.

6. The interconnect device of claim 5, wherein the first segments of the tab members comprise portions of the bend control member.

7. The interconnect device of claim 1, wherein the cross-connect module includes an open end and wherein the first and second connectorized ends of the optical fiber extend from the open end of the cross-connect module.

8. The interconnect device of claim 1, wherein the cross-connect module includes closed end including optical fiber receiving openings and wherein the first and second connectorized ends of the optical fiber extend from respective ones of the optical fiber receiving openings.

9. The interconnect device of claim 1, wherein the cross-connect module includes a plurality of optical fibers retained therein, each of which has a first and second connectorized end extending from the cross-connect module to allow cross-connection of a plurality of selected pairs of the connection members.

10. The interconnect device of claim 1, further comprising a splitter mounted in the enclosure that is configured to optically couple a plurality of optical fibers to a single optical fiber and having a plurality of optical fiber connectorized pigtails extending therefrom, each of the connectorized pigtails being optically coupled by the splitter to an optical fiber feeder cable to be coupled to a central office.

11. The interconnect device of claim 10, wherein the connectorized pigtails have a cable length from the first end to the second end, without a connector therebetween, sufficient to allow connection to the plurality of connection members.

12. The interconnect device of claim 10 further comprising an optical fiber cable from the central office coupled to the input optical fibers associated with the service provider and optical fiber cables from the subscriber locations coupled to the plurality of connection members of the first termination panel.

13. The interconnect device of claim 10 wherein the splitter comprises an optical fiber splitter tray and the cross-connect module comprises a cross-connect tray and wherein the enclosure includes a mounting member configured to interchangeably receive a plurality of optical fiber splitter and/or cross-connect trays.

14. The interconnect device of claim 13, wherein the enclosure further includes an unused cable retaining member configured to receive and retain ones of the connectorized pigtails of the splitter tray or connectorized ends extending from the cross-connect tray that are not coupled to the connection members of the termination panels.

15. The interconnect device of claim 13, wherein the enclosure further comprises a pigtail routing path and wherein both the connectorized pigtails and the connectorized ends extending from the cross-connect tray are routed through the pigtail routing path to a corresponding selected one of the first termination panel, the second termination panel or the unused cable retaining member.

16. An interconnect device for optical fibers, comprising:

an enclosure;

a first termination panel mounted in the enclosure and having a plurality of optical fiber connection members, ones of which are associated with respective subscriber locations;

a second termination panel mounted in the enclosure and having a plurality of optical fiber connection members, ones of which are associated with respective input optical fibers associated with a service provider;

a splitter and cross-connect module mounting member mounted in the enclosure that is configured to interchangeably receive a plurality of optical fiber splitter and/or optical fiber cross-connect members;

a cross-connect module mounted in the mounting member and having a loop of an optical fiber retained therein with a first and opposite second connectorized end of the optical fiber extending from the cross-connect module, wherein the optical fiber retained in the cross-connect module extends continuously without any splicing therein from the first connectorized end to the second connectorized end and wherein the first and second connectorized ends of the optical fiber extend to a length sufficient to allow cross-connection of a selected pair of the connection members of the termination panels by connection of the connectorized ends thereto;

a splitter mounted in the mounting member proximate the cross-connect module that is configured to optically couple a plurality of optical fibers to a single optical fiber and having a plurality of optical fiber connectorized pigtails extending therefrom, each of the connectorized pigtails being optically coupled by the splitter to an optical fiber feeder cable to be coupled to a central office; and

a pigtail routing path in the enclosure, wherein both the connectorized pigtails and the connectorized ends extending from the cross-connect module are routed through the pigtail routing path to a corresponding selected one of the first termination panel or the second termination panel.

17. The interconnect device of claim 16, wherein the enclosure further includes an unused cable retaining member configured to receive and retain ones of the connectorized pigtails of the splitter or connectorized ends extending from the cross-connect module that are not coupled to the connection members of the termination panels and wherein both the connectorized pigtails and the connectorized ends extending from the cross-connect module are routed through the pigtail routing path to a corresponding selected one of the first termination panel, the second termination panel or the unused cable retaining member.

18. The interconnect device of claim 16, wherein the cross-connect module includes a plurality of tab members therein positioned to retain the loop of the optical fiber in the cross-connect module and a bend control member positioned between respective ones of the tab members configured to maintain the loop at a radius that at least equals a minimum bend radius of the optical fiber.

19. The interconnect device of claim 16, wherein ones of the connectorized pigtails and the connectorized ends extending from the cross-connect module are coupled to corresponding respective ones of the connection members on the first or the second termination panel without a jumper cable therebetween.

20. A method for configuring an interconnect enclosure for optical fibers for outside plant management of subscriber optical fiber connectivity, comprising:

providing a first termination panel in the enclosure having a plurality of optical fiber connection points;

optically splicing the plurality of optical fiber connection points of the first termination panel to respective subscriber locations;

providing a second termination panel in the enclosure having a plurality of optical fiber connection points;

optically splicing the optical fiber connection points of the second termination panel to an optical fiber feeder cable coupled to a central office;

mounting a cross-connect module in the enclosure, the cross-connect module having a loop of an optical fiber retained therein with a first and opposite second connectorized end of the optical fiber extending from the cross-connect module, the connectorized pigtails have a cable length sufficient to allow connection to the plurality of connection points without a jumper therebetween;

connecting the first connectorized end to a selected one of the optical fiber connection points of the second termination panel; and

connecting the second connectorized end to a selected one of the optical fiber connection points of the first termination panel to cross-connect the selected one of the optical fiber connection points of the second termination panel to the selected one of the optical fiber connection points of the first termination panel.