Multi-port optical connection terminal

• US 7,653,282 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Issued: 01/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Inventors: Smith, Kelly J., Blackwell, Chois A. Jr., Reagan, Jason B., Menke, Brett A., Strause, Kevin L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Font; Frank G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lepisto; Ryan
• Application Number:
  US11/980,958
• Publication Number:
  US 20080069511A1
• Time in Patent Office: 818 Days
• Field of Search: 385/135
• US Class Current: 385/135
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3897 Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards G02B6/44528 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4441 Boxes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/475 Mechanical aspects of installing cables in ducts or the like for buildings
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/501 underground installation of connection boxes

Abstract

A multi-port optical connection terminal for use as a branch point in a fiber optic communications network at a distance from a mid-span access location provided on a distribution cable having a plurality of optical fibers. The multi-port terminal includes a base and a cover affixed to the base. A stub cable port formed through one of the base and the cover receives a stub cable having at least one optical fiber extending continuously from the multi-port terminal to the mid-span access location. A first end of the optical fiber is optically connected to a respective optical fiber of the distribution cable at the mid-span access location and a fiber optic connector is mounted upon the second end. At least one connector port is provided on the multi-port terminal for receiving the fiber optic connector and a connectorized end of a fiber optic drop cable extending from the multi-port terminal.

Claims

1. An outside plant optical connection terminal for use in a fiber optic communications network including a distribution cable comprising a plurality of optical fibers and a mid-span access location provided on the distribution cable, the terminal comprising;

a base;

a cover affixed to the base;

a stub cable port provided in one of the base and cover;

a stub cable comprising a first end received in the stub cable port and a second end received at the mid-span access location provided on the distribution cable, the stub cable further comprising at least one optical fiber extending between the first end and the second end and having a fiber optic connector mounted thereon at the first end of the stub cable; and

a plurality of connector ports provided in one of the base and the cover, wherein the connector ports are adapted to receive a fiber optic connector mounted to the first end of the at least one optical fiber of the stub cable,

wherein the at least one optical fiber is optically connected at the second end of the stub cable to a respective one of the plurality of optical fibers of the distribution cable at the mid-span access location of the distribution cable,

wherein the terminal defines a branch point that is located a distance from the mid-span access location of the distribution cable.

2. A terminal according to claim 1, wherein the distance between the branch point and the mid-span access location is generally equivalent to the length of the stub cable.

3. A terminal according to claim 1, wherein the at least one optical fiber of the stub cable comprises at least one of a plurality of bare optical fibers, a plurality of loose-tube optical fibers, a plurality of tight-buffered optical fibers, and a plurality of ribbonized optical fibers.

4. A terminal according to claim 1, wherein the stub cable is free of a preferential bend.

5. A terminal according to claim 1, wherein the first end of the stub cable is sealingly received in the stub cable port.

6. An outside plant optical connection terminal for use in a fiber optic communications network including a distribution cable comprising a plurality of optical fibers and a mid-span access location provided on the distribution cable, the terminal comprising;

a base;

a cover affixed to the base to define a housing;

a sealing mechanism provided between the base and the cover;

a stub cable port provided in one of the base and cover;

a stub cable comprising a first end received in the stub cable port and a second end received at the mid-span access location provided on the distribution cable, the stub cable further comprising at least one optical fiber extending between the first end and the second end and having a fiber optic connector mounted thereon at the first end of the stub cable; and

a plurality of connector ports provided in one of the base and the cover, wherein the connector ports are adapted to receive a fiber optic connector mounted to the first end of the at least one optical fiber of the stub cable,

wherein the at least one optical fiber is optically connected at the second end of the stub cable to a respective one of the plurality of optical fibers of the distribution cable at the mid-span access location of the distribution cable,

wherein the stub cable is received within the stub cable port along a first direction, the first direction defined as extending out of the housing from the stub cable port, and the connector ports are oriented outwardly along a second direction, the second direction defined as extending out of the housing from the connector ports, such that an angle defined between the first direction and the second direction is greater than zero degrees and less than ninety degrees.

7. A terminal according to claim 6, wherein the sealing mechanism comprises a gasket.

8. A terminal according to claim 6, wherein the angled defined between the first direction and the second direction is approximately forty-five degrees.

9. A terminal according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of connector ports are adapted to receive single fiber connectors.

10. A terminal according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of connector ports are adapted to receive multi-fiber connectors.

11. A terminal according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of connector ports are adapted to receive a connectorized end of a stub cable of a second terminal to optically connect the connectorized end of the stub cable of the second terminal to the fiber optic connector mounted to the first end of the at least one optical fiber of the stub cable.

12. A terminal according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of connector ports comprise an adapter sleeve into which the fiber optic connector is received.

13. A terminal according to claim 6, wherein the housing defines an interior cavity substantially free of filler material.

14. A terminal according to claim 6, wherein the terminal defines a branch point that is located a distance from the mid-span access location of the distribution cable.

16. A terminal according to claim 14, wherein the dust cap is tethered to the connector port.

17. A terminal according to claim 14, wherein the dust cap threadably engages the connector port.

18. A terminal according to claim 14, wherein the stub cable is received within the stub cable port along a first direction, the first direction defined as extending out of the housing from the stub cable port, and the connector ports are oriented outwardly along a second direction, the second direction defined as extending out of the housing from the connector ports, such that an angle defined between the first direction and the second direction is greater than zero degrees and less than ninety degrees.

19. A terminal according to claim 14 further comprising a sealing mechanism provided between the base and the cover.

20. A terminal according to claim 14, wherein the terminal defines a branch point that is located a distance from the mid-span access location of the distribution cable.

15. An outside plant optical connection terminal for use in a fiber optic communications network including a distribution cable comprising a plurality of optical fibers and a mid-span access location provided on the distribution cable, the terminal comprising;

a base;

a cover affixed to the base;

a stub cable port provided in one of the base and cover;

a stub cable comprising a first end received in the stub cable port and a second end received at the mid-span access location provided on the distribution cable, the stub cable further comprising at least one optical fiber extending between the first end and the second end and having a fiber optic connector mounted thereon at the first end of the stub cable; and

a plurality of connector ports provided in one of the base and the cover, wherein the connector ports are adapted to receive a fiber optic connector mounted to the first end of the at least one optical fiber of the stub cable,

wherein the at least one optical fiber is optically connected at the second end of the stub cable to a respective one of the plurality of optical fibers of the distribution cable at the mid-span access location of the distribution cable,

wherein the at least one connector port of the plurality of connector ports comprises a dust cap that selectively engages the connector port to seal unused connector ports.

21. An optical connection terminal for use in a communications network, the terminal comprising:

a housing comprising a base and a cover, the housing having an exterior surface, the surface including exterior portions of the base and the cover, and the housing including an interior cavity defined by portions of the base and the cover;

at least one cable opening located in the exterior surface for receiving at least one stub cable within the interior cavity, wherein the at least one stub cable comprises a first end, a second end, and at least one optical fiber extending between the first end and the second end and having a fiber optic connector mounted thereon at the first end; and

the base having exterior surface portions which are generally sloped surfaces, the sloped surfaces being sloped relative to other surfaces of the base and being sloped toward the at least one cable opening at an angle, at least one of the sloped surfaces comprising an optical connector port being formed through the base to the interior cavity, wherein the connector port receives the fiber optic connector mounted to the first end of the at least one optical fiber.

22. A terminal according to claim 21, wherein the stub cable has multiple fibers, and the second end of the cable has a multi-fiber connector attached thereto.

23. A terminal according to claim 22, wherein the multi-fiber connector is one of a MPO connector, a MTP connector, and a MTRJ connector.

24. A terminal of claim 21, wherein the angle is greater than zero degrees and less than ninety dearees.

25. An optical connection terminal for use in a communications network including a distribution cable comprising a plurality of optical fibers and a mid-span access location provided on the distribution cable, the terminal comprising:

a housing portion defining an exterior surface and an interior cavity;

a stub cable port provided in the exterior surface;

a stub cable comprising a first end received in the stub cable port and a second end adapted to be received at the mid-span access location provided on the distribution cable, the stub cable further comprising at least one optical fiber extending between the first end and the second end and having a fiber optic connector mounted thereon at the first end of the stub cable; and

a plurality of connector ports provided in the exterior surface, wherein the connector ports are adapted to receive a fiber optic connector mounted to the first end of the at least one optical fiber of the stub cable,

wherein the at least one optical fiber is adapted to be opticallv counled through the second end to a respective one of the plurality of optical fibers of the distribution cable at the mid-span access location of the distribution cable, and

wherein the stub cable is received within the stub cable port along a first direction, the first direction defined as extending out of the housing from the stub cable port, and the connector ports are oriented outwardly along a second direction, the second direction defined as extending out of the housing from the connector ports, such that an angle defined between the first direction and the second direction is greater than zero degrees and less than ninety degrees.

26. A terminal according to claim 25, wherein the angled defined between the first direction and the second direction is approximately forty-five degrees.

27. An optical connection terminal for use in a communications network including a distribution cable comprising a plurality of optical fibers and a mid-span access location provided on the distribution cable, the terminal comprising:

a housing portion defining an exterior surface and an interior cavity;

a stub cable port provided in the exterior surface;

a stub cable comprising a first end received in the stub cable port and a second end adapted to be received at the mid-span access location provided on the distribution cable, the stub cable further comprising at least one optical fiber extending between the first end and the second end and having a fiber optic connector mounted thereon at the first end of the stub cable; and

a plurality of connector ports provided in the exterior surface, wherein the connector ports are adapted to receive a fiber optic connector mounted to the first end of the at least one optical fiber of the stub cable,

wherein the at least one optical fiber is adapted to be optically coupled through the second end to a respective one of the plurality of optical fibers of the distribution cable at the mid-span access location of the distribution cable, and wherein the interior cavity substantially free of filler material.

28. An optical connection terminal for use in a communications network, the terminal comprising:

the terminal having a base and a cover, at least one of the base and the cover being formed of plastic material, the base and the cover having exterior portions and forming an interior cavity, the base and the cover having a sealing member therebetween, the base and the cover fitting together such that the sealing member is disposed at respective adjacent portions of the base and the cover;

the terminal having at least one cable opening, the cable opening receiving at least one optical stub cable within the interior cavity, the at least one optical stub cable comprising a first end in the interior cavity, a second end exterior to the terminal, and at least one optical fiber extending between the first end and the second end, and the optical fiber having a fiber optic connector optically connected to the first end inside the terminal; and

the base comprising generally sloped surfaces located at sloped portions thereof, the sloped portions being integral portions of the base, at least some of the sloped surfaces being sloped relative to other surfaces of the base and being sloped in a direction generally toward the cable opening and comprising at least one optical connector port being formed through the sloped portion of the base to the interior cavity, and the connector port is adapted to receive an optical connector adapter.

29. The optical connection terminal of claim 28, the base and the cover each being formed of plastic.

30. The optical connection terminal of claim 28, the base and the cover being generally rectangular.

31. The optical connection terminal of claim 28, the sealing member being a gasket, the gasket sized to generally conform to the peripheral shape of the base and the cover.

32. The optical connection terminal of claim 28, the base and the cover being molded with a fastening system to hold them together.

33. The optical connection terminal of claim 28, the internal cavity including at least one optical fiber routing guide.

34. The optical connection terminal of claim 28, the connector port including an adapter positioned therein, the adapter having the fiber optic connector installed therein.

35. The optical connection terminal of claim 28, the base and the cover being generally elongated, the direction of elongation being generally aligned with an insertion direction of the stub cable.

36. An optical connection terminal for use in a communications network including a distribution cable comprising a plurality of optical fibers, the terminal comprising:

a housing portion defining an exterior surface and an interior cavity;

a stub cable port provided in the exterior surface;

a stub cable comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is received in the stub cable port, the stub cable further comprising at least one optical fiber extending between the first end and the second end and having a fiber optic connector mounted thereon at the first end of the stub cable, and optically coupled to a respective one of the plurality of optical fibers of the distribution cable at the second end of the stub cable; and

a plurality of connector ports provided in the exterior surface, wherein the connector ports are adapted to receive a fiber optic connector mounted to the first end of the at least one optical fiber of the stub cable,

wherein the stub cable is received within the stub cable port along a first direction, the first direction defined as extending out of the housing from the stub cable port, and the connector ports are oriented outwardly along a second direction, the second direction defined as extending out of the housing from the connector ports, such that an angle defined between the first direction and the second direction is greater than zero degrees and less than ninety degrees.

37. An optical connection Terminal for use in a communications network including a distribution cable comprising a plurality of optical fibers, the terminal comprising:

a housing portion defining an exterior surface and an interior cavity;

a stub cable port provided in the exterior surface;

a stub cable comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is received in the stub cable part, the stub cable further comprising at least one optical fiber extending between the first end and the second end and having a fiber optic connector mounted thereon at the first end of the stub cable, and optically coupled to a respective one of the plurality of optical fibers of the distribution cable at the second end of the stub cable; and

a plurality of connector ports provided in the exterior surface, wherein the connector ports are adapted to receive a fiber optic connector mounted to the first end of the at least one optical fiber of the stub cable, and

wherein the interior cavity is adapted to store excess length of the at least one optical fiber and provides a radius of curvature equal to or greater than a minimum bend radius of the at least one optical fiber.