Fiber distribution hub

• US 7,809,232 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2009
• Issued: 10/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Reagan, Randy, Gniadek, Jeffrey, Parsons, Thomas, Noonan, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Peng; Charlie
• Assistant Examiner(s): El Shammaa; Mary A
• Application Number:
  US12/435,170
• Publication Number:
  US 20090290843A1
• Time in Patent Office: 519 Days
• Field of Search: 385/134, 385/135, 385/136, 385/137
• US Class Current: 385/134
• 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 6/3897 Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards G02B6/44528 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/445 with lateral pivoting cover
• 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 6/4455 characterised by the way of extraction or insertion of the cassette in the distribution frame, e.g. pivoting, sliding, rotating or gliding
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4471 Terminating devices demountable connectors G02B6/3807; Cable clamps
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/25 Arrangements specific to fibre transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/02 Wavelength-division multiplex systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/021 using pivoting mechanisms for accessing the interior of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/114 flooding protection, e.g. using water proof provision
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/14 Distribution frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2201/10 Housing details
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2201/804 in optical transmission systems

Abstract

A fiber distribution hub includes a frame within the enclosure, the frame having a swinging portion configured to pivot from a first position to a second position. The fiber distribution hub also includes a subscriber termination field mounted on the swinging portion; at least one optical splitter mounted on the frame; and a pigtail fiber routed from the optical splitter. The swinging portion swings from the first position to the second position without increasing a distance for routing the pigtail fiber from the optical splitter to a first front termination connection.

Claims

1. A fiber distribution hub comprising:

an enclosure having a first height;

a frame within the enclosure, the frame having a swinging portion configured to pivot from a first position to a second position, the swinging portion having a second height that extends across a majority of the first height;

a subscriber termination field mounted on the swinging portion, the subscriber termination field including a plurality of front termination connections and a plurality of rear termination connections, the front termination connections being accessible when the swinging portion is in the first position, the rear termination connections being accessible when the swinging portion is in the second position;

at least one optical splitter mounted on the frame; and

a pigtail fiber routed from the optical splitter, the pigtail fiber terminated with a connector configured to couple to a first front termination connection in the subscriber termination field, wherein the swinging portion swings from the first position to the second position without increasing a distance for routing the pigtail fiber from the optical splitter to the first front termination connection.

2. The fiber distribution hub of claim 1, wherein the front and rear termination connections include a plurality of vertically spaced-apart horizontal rows of adapters.

3. The fiber distribution hub of claim 2, wherein at least a portion of the pigtail fiber is routed vertically along a side of the rows of adapters.

4. The fiber distribution device of claim 1, wherein the enclosure is an outside-rated enclosure.

5. A fiber distribution hub comprising:

an enclosure having a first height;

a frame within the enclosure, the frame having a swinging portion configured to pivot from a first position to a second position, the swinging portion having a second height that extends across a majority of the first height;

a subscriber termination field mounted on the swinging portion, the subscriber termination field including a plurality of front termination connections and a plurality of rear termination connections, the front termination connections being accessible when the swinging portion is in the first position, the rear termination connections being accessible when the swinging portion is in the second position;

at least one optical splitter mounted on the frame; and

a pigtail fiber routed from the optical splitter and having a connector configured to couple to a first front termination connection in the subscriber termination field, wherein the pigtail fiber includes slack when routed from the optical splitter to the first front termination connection, wherein the swinging portion swings from the first position to the second position without substantially reducing the slack of the pigtail fiber.

6. The fiber distribution hub of claim 5, wherein at least a portion of the slack of the pigtail fiber hangs vertically.

7. The fiber distribution hub of claim 5, wherein the slack is stored in a half loop configuration.

8. The fiber distribution device of claim 5, wherein the enclosure is an outside-rated enclosure.

9. A fiber distribution hub comprising:

an enclosure having a first height;

a frame within the enclosure, the frame having a swinging portion configured to pivot from a first position to a second position, the swinging portion having a second height that extends across a majority of the first height;

a subscriber termination field mounted on the swinging portion, the subscriber termination field including a plurality of front termination connections and a plurality of rear termination connections, the front termination connections being accessible when the swinging portion is in the first position, the rear termination connections being accessible when the swinging portion is in the second position;

at least one optical splitter mounted on the frame;

a pigtail fiber routed from the optical splitter, the pigtail fiber terminated with a connector configured to couple to one of the front termination connections in the subscriber termination field; and

a storage position located on the frame and spaced apart from the subscriber termination field, wherein the connector of the pigtail fiber is configured to mount at the storage position when not coupled to one of the plurality of front termination connections.

10. The fiber distribution hub of claim 9, wherein the subscriber termination field includes a plurality of rows of front termination connections.

11. The fiber distribution hub of claim 9, wherein the storage position includes a plurality of columns of openings configured to receive connectors terminating pigtail fibers.

12. The fiber distribution device of claim 9, wherein the enclosure is an outside-rated enclosure.

13. A fiber distribution hub comprising:

an enclosure having a first width, the enclosure defining an opening covered by at least one access door;

a first panel member having a second width extending across a majority of the first width, the first panel member being mounted within the enclosure to allow the first panel member to pivot from a first position to a second position, wherein the first panel member extends at least partially out of the enclosure in the second position;

a subscriber termination field mounted on the first panel member, the subscriber termination field including a plurality of front termination connections and a plurality of rear termination connections, the front termination connections being accessible from the opening defined in the enclosure when the first panel member is in the first position, the rear termination connections being accessible from the opening when the first panel member is in the second position;

at least one optical splitter mounted within the enclosure and accessible from the opening defined in the enclosure when the first panel member is in the first position;

a pigtail fiber routed from the optical splitter, the pigtail fiber terminated with a connector configured to couple to one of the front termination connections in the subscriber termination field;

a second panel member mounted within the enclosure, wherein at least one of the first and second panel members is moveable relative to the other; and

a storage position located on the second panel member, wherein the connector of the pigtail fiber is configured to mount at the storage position prior to coupling to one of the plurality of front termination connections.

14. The fiber distribution hub of claim 13, wherein the front and rear termination connections include a plurality of vertically spaced-apart horizontal rows of adapters.

15. The fiber distribution hub of claim 14, wherein at least a portion of the pigtail fiber is routed vertically along a side of the rows of adapters.

16. The fiber distribution device of claim 13, wherein the enclosure is an outside-rated enclosure.

17. A fiber distribution hub comprising:

an enclosure having a first width;

a first panel member mounted within the enclosure, the first panel member being configured to pivot from a first position to a second position, the first panel member having a second width that extends across a majority of the first width;

a subscriber termination field mounted on the first panel member, the subscriber termination field including a plurality of front termination connections and a plurality of rear termination connections, the front termination connections being accessible when the first panel member is in the first position, the rear termination connections being accessible when the first panel member is in the second position;

at least one optical splitter mounted within the enclosure and accessible from a front of the enclosure;

a pigtail fiber routed from the optical splitter, the pigtail fiber terminated with a connector configured to couple to one of the front termination connections in the subscriber termination field;

a second panel member mounted within the enclosure, wherein the first panel member is pivotable relative to the second panel member; and

a storage location on the second panel member, wherein the connector of the pigtail fiber is configured to mount at the storage location when not coupled to one of the plurality of front termination connections.

18. The fiber distribution hub of claim 17, wherein the storage location includes a non-functioning adapter in which to store the connector of the pigtail fiber.

19. The fiber distribution hub of claim 17, wherein the first panel member extends outside the enclosure when pivoted to the second position.

20. The fiber distribution device of claim 17, wherein the enclosure is an outside-rated enclosure.