Methods and systems for distributing fiber optic telecommunication services to local areas and for supporting distributed antenna systems

• US 9,414,137 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2014
• Issued: 08/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Smith, Trevor D., Khemakhem, M'hamed Anis
• Primary Examiner(s): Jacob, Oommen
• Application Number:
  US14/486,453
• Publication Number:
  US 20150334476A1
• Time in Patent Office: 694 Days
• Field of Search: 398/45, 398/43, 398/42, 398/72, 398/67
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4457 Bobbins; Reels
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/483 Installation of aerial type
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/25753 Distribution optical network, e.g. between a base station and a plurality of remote units
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/807 Optical power feeding, i.e. transmitting power using an optical signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0067 Provisions for optical access or distribution networks, e.g. Gigabit Ethernet Passive Optical Network (GE-PON), ATM-based Passive Optical Network (A-PON), PON-Ring
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2011/009 Topology aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/085 Access point devices with remote components

Abstract

A fiber optic network includes a fiber distribution hub including at least one splitter and a termination field; a plurality of drop terminals optically connected to the fiber distribution hub by a plurality of distribution cables; and a distributed antenna system (DAS). The DAS includes a base station and a plurality of antenna nodes. The base station is optically connected to the fiber distribution hub and the antenna nodes are optically connected to the drop terminals. Example splitters include a passive optical power splitter and a passive optical wavelength splitter. Signals from a central office can be routed through the passive optical power splitter before being routed to subscriber locations optically connected to the drop terminals. Signals from the base station can be routed through the wavelength splitter before being routed to the antenna nodes.

Claims

1. A fiber optic network comprising:

a fiber distribution hub including a first optical power splitter, a second optical power splitter, and a termination field, the first optical power splitter receiving subscriber optical signals, the second optical power splitter receiving DAS optical signals, and the termination field receiving connectorized pigtails from both the first and second optical power splitters;

a drop terminal spaced from the fiber distribution hub, the drop terminal including a plurality of ruggedized optical adapters defining a plurality of optical fiber outputs accessible from an exterior of the drop terminal;

a distribution cable that optically couples the drop terminal to the termination field;

an antenna node spaced from the drop terminal, the antenna node including a remote unit and an antenna;

a first cable that optically couples the antenna node to an optical fiber output of the drop terminal; and

a second cable that optically couples a subscriber to another optical fiber output of the drop terminal.

2. The fiber optic network of claim 1, wherein the drop terminal includes a storage spool to store excess cable length of the distribution cable.

3. The fiber optic network of claim 2, wherein the storage spool is an external storage spool.

4. The fiber optic network of claim 1, wherein the drop terminal includes an optical splitter.

5. The fiber optic network of claim 1, wherein the drop terminal is one of a plurality of drop terminals;

and wherein the distribution cable is one of a plurality of distribution cables, each distribution cable optically coupling a respective one of the drop terminals of the plurality to the termination field.

6. The fiber optic network of claim 5, wherein one of the drop terminals of the plurality is optically coupled only to subscribers.

7. The fiber optic network of claim 1, wherein the distribution cable includes a first end terminated by a ruggedized multi-fiber connector.

8. The fiber optic network of claim 1, wherein the drop terminal is disposed within a hand hole.

9. The fiber optic network of claim 1, wherein the drop terminal is mounted to a utility pole.

10. The fiber optic network of claim 1, further comprising an ONT disposed at the subscriber, wherein the second cable optically couples the ONT to the drop terminal.

11. The fiber optic network of claim 1, wherein the fiber distribution hub includes a storage region at which connectorized pigtails of one or both of the first and second optical power splitters can be received.

12. The fiber optic network of claim 1, wherein the termination field is disposed on a swing frame.

13. A fiber optic network comprising:

a fiber distribution hub including an optical power splitter and a wave division multiplexer, the fiber distribution hub being configured to output both subscriber optical signals and DAS optical signals;

a drop terminal spaced from the fiber distribution hub, the drop terminal being environmentally sealed, the drop terminal including a plurality of optical adapters, each of the optical adapters defining an optical fiber output port accessible from an exterior of the drop terminal, a sealing member being compressed between each optical adapter and an adapter mounting wall of the drop terminal;

a distribution cable that provides both the subscriber optical signals and the DAS optical signals to the drop terminal, wherein the DAS optical signals are provided to a first of the optical fiber output ports and the subscriber optical signals are provided to a second of the optical fiber output ports;

an antenna node spaced from the drop terminal, the antenna node including a remote unit and an antenna;

a first cable that optically couples the antenna node to the first of the optical fiber output ports of the drop terminal; and

a second cable that optically couples the subscriber to the second of the optical fiber output ports of the drop terminal.

14. The fiber optic network of claim 13, wherein the drop terminal includes a storage spool to store excess cable length of the distribution cable.

15. The fiber optic network of claim 13, wherein the drop terminal includes an optical splitter.

16. The fiber optic network of claim 13, wherein the drop terminal is one of a plurality of drop terminals;

and wherein the distribution cable is one of a plurality of distribution cables, each distribution cable providing both the subscriber optical signals and the DAS optical signals to a respective one of the drop terminals.

17. The fiber optic network of claim 13, wherein the distribution cable includes a first end terminated by a ruggedized multi-fiber connector.

18. The fiber optic network of claim 13, further comprising an ONT disposed at the subscriber, wherein the second cable optically couples the ONT to the drop terminal.

19. The fiber optic network of claim 13, wherein the fiber distribution hub includes a storage region at which connectorized pigtails of the optical power splitter can be received.