# US 2010/0166370 A1 · Bi-Directional Tap Assemblies for Two-Way Fiber Topologies > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2010/0166370 A1 - Document ID: US20100166370A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/267,179 - Filed: 2008-12-26 - Published: 2010-07-01 - Earliest claimed: 2008-12-26 - Assignees: Corning Cable Systems LLC - Inventors: Joseph Todd Cody; Michael Paul Kunigonis, JR.; Christopher Paul Lewallen; James Phillip Luther - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100166370A1 ## CPC - G02B 6/4475: {with provision for lateral branching (G02B6/4431 takes precedence)} - G02B 6/02342: {characterised by cladding features, i.e. light confining region} - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract Bi-directional tap assemblies for two-way fiber topologies are disclosed. The assembly includes a fiber-optic cable having a cable optical fiber adapted to carry bi-directional optical signals and that is preterminated at a mid-span location to form at least one first cable fiber end and at least one second cable fiber end. First and second tether fibers are respectively spliced to the first and second cable fiber ends. In one version of the assembly, the tether fibers are contained in respective first and second tether covers to form first and second tethers that extend in opposite directions from the tap point. In another version of the assembly, the tether fibers are bend-insensitive fibers and are contained in a single tether cover to form a single tether. The tether fibers bend back on themselves within the tether cover and terminate at a common end of the tether, thereby allowing both downstream and upstream optical signals to be accessed at the tether end. The single tether is configured to be translateable along the fiber-optic cable by allowing the bend locations in the bend-insensitive fibers to change as the tether is translated. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 -3. (canceled) ### Claim 4 (depends on 13) The bi-directional tap assembly of claim 13, wherein the mid-span location includes an overmold having an outer diameter sized to fit through an opening of less than 5 inches. ### Claim at position 3 5-6. (canceled) ### Claim 7 (depends on 17) The bi-directional tap assembly of claim 17, wherein the least one tether fiber is connectorized. ### Claim 8 (depends on 13) The bi-directional tap assembly of claim 13, further comprising a protective cover that covers the mid-span location and respective end portions of first and second tethers optically coupled to the first and second cable fiber ends, respectively. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The bi-directional tap assembly of claim 8, wherein the protective cover includes an overmold. ### Claim 10 (depends on 17) The bi-directional tap assembly of claim 17, wherein the at least one tether fiber comprises a ribbonized optical fiber. ### Claim 11 (depends on 17) The bi-directional tap assembly of claim 17, wherein the at least one tether fiber comprises at least one bend-tolerant fiber. ### Claim 12 (canceled) ### Claim 13 A bi-directional tap assembly, comprising: a fiber-optic cable that includes at least one cable optical fiber adapted to carry bi-directional optical signals and that is preterminated at a mid-span location to form a first cable fiber section having a first cable fiber end and a second cable fiber section having a second cable fiber end; and at least one tether fiber optically coupled to at least one of the first and second cable fiber ends, wherein the at least one tether fiber comprises at least one bend-insensitive fiber, and wherein the at least one bend-insensitive fiber includes at least one 180 degree loop. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The bi-directional tap assembly of claim 13, wherein the 180 degree loop is housed within a tether connected to the cable by a translatable body. ### Claim 15 (canceled) ### Claim 16 A bi-directional tap assembly, comprising: a fiber-optic cable that includes at least one cable optical fiber adapted to carry bi-directional optical signals and that is preterminated at a mid-span location to form a first cable fiber section having a first cable fiber end and a second cable fiber section having a second cable fiber end; at least one tether fiber optically coupled to at least one of the first and second cable fiber ends; and a tether that includes the at least one tether fiber, and wherein the tether is translatable along the fiber-optic cable, wherein the tether has a tether cover with a proximate end connected to a translatable mount that is slideably mounted to the fiber-optic cable. ### Claim 17 A bi-directional tap assembly, comprising: a fiber-optic cable that includes at least one cable optical fiber adapted to carry bi-directional optical signals and that is preterminated at a mid-span location to form a first cable fiber section having a first cable fiber end and a second cable fiber section having a second cable fiber end; at least one tether fiber optically coupled to at least one of the first and second cable fiber ends; a tether that includes the at least one tether fiber; and a protective cover that covers the mid-span location and a portion of the tether, wherein the protective cover is adapted to allow the tether to move. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The bi-directional tap assembly of claim 17, wherein the at least one tether fiber is operably connected to an external device. ### Claim at position 16 19-20. (canceled) ### Claim 21 A method of forming a bi-directional tap in a fiber-optic cable that includes at least one cable optical fiber, comprising: a) at a mid-span location, preterminating the at least one cable optical fiber to form corresponding at least one first and at least one second cable fiber sections having respective first and second cable fiber ends; b) optically coupling the at least one first and the at least one second cable fiber sections at their respective first and second cable fiber ends to respective at least one first and at least one second tether fibers; c) containing the at least one first tether fiber in a first tether fiber cover that travels along the fiber-optic cable in a first direction; and d) containing the at least one second tether fiber in a second tether fiber cover that travels along the fiber-optic cable in a second direction along the fiber optical cable opposite the first direction. ### Claim 22 A method of forming a bi-directional tap in a fiber-optic cable that includes at least one cable optical fiber, comprising: a) at a mid-span location, preterminating the at least one cable optical fiber to form corresponding at least one first and at least one second cable fiber sections having respective first and second cable fiber ends; b) optically coupling the at least one first and the at least one second cable fiber sections at their respective first and second cable fiber ends to respective at least one first and at least one second tether fibers; c) forming the at least one first and at least one second tether fibers from bend-tolerant fibers; d) forming a bend equal to or substantially equal to 180 degrees in each of the bend-tolerant fibers; and e) containing in a tether cover having a first end, a portion of the bend-tolerant fibers that includes the bends so that the bend-tolerant fibers terminate at the tether cover first end. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, wherein the bend-tolerant fibers are bend-insensitive. ### Claim 24 A method of forming a bi-directional tap in a fiber-optic cable that includes at least one cable optical fiber, comprising: a) at a mid-span location, preterminating the at least one cable optical fiber to form corresponding at least one first and at least one second cable fiber sections having respective first and second cable fiber ends; b) optically coupling the at least one first and the at least one second cable fiber sections at their respective first and second cable fiber ends to respective at least one first and at least one second bend-insensitive tether fibers; and c) terminating the bend-insensitive fibers with a fiber optic connector. ### Claim 25 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, further comprising forming an overmold over the mid-span location and an end-portion of the tether. ### Claim 26 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, further comprising forming an outer covering comprising a mesh and an overmold. ### Claim 27 (canceled) ### Claim 28 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, further comprising attaching the fiber-optic connector to an external device.