Fiber optic local convergence points for multiple dwelling units

• US RE46,525 E1
• Filed: 09/16/2013
• Issued: 08/29/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Inventors: Castonguay, Guy, Cox, Terry Dean, Liggett, Thomas Shaw, Strickland, Selena
• Primary Examiner(s): HUGHES, DEANDRA M
• Application Number:
  US14/028,338
• Time in Patent Office: 1,443 Days
• Field of Search: 385 32, 385 50
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/445 with lateral pivoting cover
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4452 Distribution frames
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4454 with splices
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4471 Terminating devices demountable connectors G02B6/3807; Cable clamps

Abstract

There are provided fiber optic local convergence points (“LCPs”) adapted for use with multiple dwelling units (“MDUs”) that facilitate relatively easy installation and/or optical connectivity to a relatively large number of subscribers. The LCP includes a housing mounted to a surface, such as a wall, and a cable assembly with a connector end to be optically connected to a distribution cable and a splitter end to be located within the housing. The splitter end includes at least one splitter and a plurality of subscriber receptacles to which subscriber cables may be optically connected. The splitter end of the cable assembly of the LCP may also include a splice tray assembly and/or a fiber optic routing guide. Furthermore, a fiber distribution terminal (“FDT”) may be provided along the subscriber cable to facilitate installation of the fiber optic network within the MDU.

Claims

1. A fiber optic splitter module for optically connecting at least one input optical fiber and a plurality of output optical fibers, the splitter module comprising:

a housing having at least one opening therethrough, wherein the opening defines an opening axis generally orthogonal to the opening; and

a splitter within the housing, wherein the input optical fiber is optically connected to the plurality of output optical fibers by the splitter, wherein the splitter defines a splitter axis generally aligned with the input optical fiber and the plurality of output optical fibers;

wherein the splitter axis is generally orthogonal to the opening axis; and

wherein the splitter module defines a density of output optical fiber splits per unit of volume of the housing of at least 5 splits/in³.

2. A splitter module according to claim 1, wherein the input optical fiber and the plurality of output optical fibers are routed within the housing generally without a slack loop.

6. A splitter module according to claim 1, wherein at least one optical fiber of the plurality of output optical fibers comprises a microstructured optical fiber comprising a core region and a cladding region surrounding the core region, the cladding region comprising an annular hole-containing region comprised of non-periodically disposed holes.

7. A splitter module according to claim 6, wherein the microstructured fiber has an 8 mm macrobend induced loss at 1550 mm of less than 0.2 dB/turn.

3. A fiber optic splitter module for optically connecting at least one input optical fiber and a plurality of output optical fibers, the splitter module comprising:

a housing having at least one opening therethrough, wherein the opening defines an opening axis generally orthogonal to the opening; and

a splitter within the housing, wherein the input optical fiber is optically connected to the plurality of output optical fibers by the splitter, wherein the splitter defines a splitter axis generally aligned with the input optical fiber and the plurality of output optical fibers;

wherein the splitter axis is generally orthogonal to the opening axis; and

wherein the splitter module defines a density of output optical fiber splits per unit of volume of the housing from about 4 splits/in³ to about 10 splits/in³.

8. A splitter module according to claim 3, wherein the input optical fiber and the plurality of output optical fibers are routed within the housing generally without a slack loop.

9. A splitter module according to claim 3, wherein at least one optical fiber of the plurality of output optical fibers comprises a microstructured optical fiber comprising a core region and a cladding region surrounding the core region, the cladding region comprising an annular hole-containing region comprised of non-periodically disposed holes.

10. A splitter module according to claim 9, wherein the microstructured fiber has an 8 mm macrobend induced loss at 1550 mm of less than 0.2 dB/turn.

4. A fiber optic splitter module for optically connecting at least one input optical fiber and a plurality of output optical fibers, the splitter module comprising:

a housing having at least one opening therethrough, wherein the opening defines an opening axis generally orthogonal to the opening; and

a splitter within the housing, wherein the input optical fiber is optically connected to the plurality of output optical fibers by the splitter, wherein the splitter defines a splitter axis generally aligned with the input optical fiber and the plurality of output optical fibers;

wherein the splitter axis is generally orthogonal to the opening axis; and

wherein at least one optical fiber of the plurality of output optical fibers comprises a microstructured optical fiber comprising a core region and a cladding region surrounding the core region, the cladding region comprising an annular hole-containing region comprised of non-periodically disposed holes.

5. A splitter module according to claim 4, wherein the microstructured fiber has an 8 mm macrobend induced loss at 1550 nm of less than 0.2 dB/turn.

11. A splitter module according to claim 4, wherein the input optical fiber and the plurality of output optical fibers are routed within the housing generally without a slack loop.

12. A fiber optic splitter module comprising:

a housing having a volume; and

a splitter within the housing, wherein an input optical fiber is optically connected to a plurality of output optical fibers by the splitter, wherein said input optical fiber and said output fibers have bend performance such that with a macrobend of 8 mm to 12 mm the induced loss at a wavelength of 1550 nm is less than 1 dB/turn, and wherein the splitter module defines a density of output optical fiber splits per unit of volume of the housing from about 4 splits/in³ to about 10 splits/in³.

13. The fiber optic splitter module of claim 12, wherein the induced loss is less than 0.5 dB/turn.

14. The fiber optic splitter module of claim 12, wherein the induced loss is less than 0.2 dB/turn.

15. The fiber optic splitter module of claim 12, wherein the induced loss is less than 0.05 dB/turn.

16. The fiber optic splitter module of claim 12, wherein the induced loss is less than 0.01 dB/turn.

17. The fiber optic splitter module of claim 12, wherein the housing has at least one opening therethrough, wherein the opening defines an opening axis orthogonal to the opening.

18. The fiber optic splitter module of claim 17, wherein the splitter defines a splitter axis that is not aligned with the opening axis.