Fiber distribution hub with swing frame and modular termination panels

• US 7,720,343 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2006
• Issued: 05/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Vongseng, Soutsada, Barth, Michael Kenneth, Standish, Craig M., Ferris, Matthew D., Zabel, Joshua A., Anderson, Steve
• Primary Examiner(s): Robinson; Mark A
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHIEM, DINH D
• Application Number:
  US11/354,286
• Publication Number:
  US 20070189691A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,555 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 6/44526 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 6/46 Processes or apparatus adapted for installing or repairing optical fibres or optical cables installation of cables containing electric conductors and optical fibres H02G

Abstract

A fiber distribution system includes one or more fiber distribution hubs (FDHs) that provide an interface at a termination panel between incoming fibers routed from a central office and outgoing fibers routed to network subscribers. Termination modules can be incrementally added to the termination panel. The FDH can include one or more optical splitter modules that split an optical signal into two or more signals. The optical splitter modules can be incrementally added along with one or more storage modules. The subscriber termination panel, optical splitters, and storage modules can be provided on a swing frame.

Claims

1. A fiber distribution hub adapted to provide an interface between an incoming fiber and a plurality of outgoing fibers, the fiber distribution hub comprising:

a cabinet having an interior and a door for accessing the interior of the cabinet;

a swing frame having a front side, a rear side and a top surface, the swing frame having a termination region including a termination panel and a plurality of termination adapters, the swing frame having a splitter mounting region located adjacent the swing frame top surface and a splitter located at the splitter mounting region for splitting signals of the incoming fiber to a plurality of splitter fibers, the swing frame being pivotally mounted within the cabinet wherein the swing frame is movable between a first position where the swing frame is inside the cabinet and a second position where the swing frame extends at least partially outside the cabinet; and

a bend radius limiter, the bend radius limiter being mounted to the swing frame, wherein at least a portion of the bend radius limiter is at an elevated position relative to the swing frame top surface;

wherein at least a portion of the plurality of splitter fibers are routed along a splitter fiber routing path located on the swing frame, the splitter fiber routing path extending from the splitter mounting region, across the swing frame top surface, up and over the bend radius limiter, and from the bend radius limiter at least partially down the front side of the swing frame;

wherein the splitter fiber routing path includes at least a portion that extends laterally across the front side of the swing frame to the termination region; and

wherein the splitter fiber routing path extends downwardly from the bend radius limiter along the front side of the swing frame to a spool structure, around the spool structure and then back upwardly along the front side of the swing frame before being routed laterally across the front side of the swing frame to the termination region.

2. The fiber distribution hub of claim 1, wherein the swing frame defines a vertical channel extending along the front side of the swing frame and on a side of the termination region opposite a swing frame pivot mounting location, wherein the vertical channel is part of the splitter fiber routing path at the location where the splitter fibers are routed at least partially down the swing frame front side, and wherein the spool structure is mounted at the vertical channel.

3. The fiber distribution hub of claim 1, wherein the termination panel has at least one opening, wherein the termination region includes an adapter module including an adapter mounting panel and a plurality of termination adapters mounted to the adapter mounting panel, the termination adapters including front ends and rear ends, the adapter mounting panel being secured to the rear side of the termination panel with the front ends of the termination adapters extending forwardly through the at least one opening of the termination panel, the adapter module also including rear fiber optic connectors mounted within the rear ends of the termination adapters, the rear fiber optic connectors being connected to the outgoing fibers.

4. The fiber distribution hub of claim 1, wherein the splitter region includes at least one splitter module mounted in a splitter housing, the splitter housing being mounted to the top surface of the swing frame, the splitter module having a plurality of splitter fibers of substantially the same length, the splitter fibers having connectorized ends, wherein at least a portion of the connectorized ends are connected to a portion of the termination adapters of the termination modules.

5. The fiber distribution hub of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of splitter fibers are routed along a second splitter fiber routing path located on the swing frame, the second splitter fiber routing path extending from the splitter region, across the swing frame top surface, over a bend radius limiter which is substantially flush with the swing frame top surface, at least partially down the swing frame front side and laterally across at least a portion of the front side of the swing frame to the termination region.

6. The fiber distribution hub of claim 1, wherein the spool structure comprises a partial spool.

10. The fiber distribution hub of claim 1, wherein the bend radius limiter includes a partial spool.

7. A fiber distribution hub adapted to provide an interface between an incoming fiber and a plurality of outgoing fibers, the fiber distribution hub comprising:

a cabinet having an interior and a door for accessing the interior of the cabinet;

a swing frame having a front side, a rear side and a top surface, the swing frame having a termination region including a termination panel and a plurality of termination adapters, the swing frame having a splitter mounting region located adjacent the swing frame top surface and a splitter located at the splitter mounting region for splitting signals of the incoming fiber to a plurality of splitter fibers, the swing frame being pivotally mounted within the cabinet wherein the swing frame is movable between a first position where the swing frame is inside the cabinet and a second position where the swing frame extends at least partially outside the cabinet;

a bend radius limiter, the bend radius limiter being mounted to the swing frame, wherein at least a portion of the bend radius limiter is at an elevated position relative to the swing frame top surface;

wherein at least a portion of the plurality of splitter fibers are routed along a splitter fiber routing path located on the swing frame, the splitter fiber routing path extending from the splitter mounting region, across the swing frame top surface, up and over the bend radius limiter, and from the bend radius limiter at least partially down the front side of the swing frame;

wherein a vertical row of spool structures is provided at the front side of the swing frame;

wherein the splitter fiber routing path includes at least a portion that extends laterally across the front side of the swing frame to the termination region; and

wherein the splitter fiber routing path extends downwardly from the bend radius limiter along the front side of the swing frame to a selected one of the spool structures, around the selected one of the spool structures and then back upwardly along the front side of the swing frame before being routed laterally across the front side of the swing frame to the termination region.

8. The fiber distribution hub of claim 7, wherein the spool structures comprise partial spools.

9. The fiber distribution hub of claim 7, wherein the front side of the swing frame includes a vertical channel, and wherein the vertical row of spool structures is positioned within the vertical channel.

11. The fiber distribution hub of claim 9, wherein the partial spool comprises a half-spool.