Distribution cable with bidirectional breakout locations
AssigneeADC Telecommunications, Inc.
InventorsTodd Loeffelholz, Erik J. Gronvall
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A distribution cable arrangement includes optical fibers extending along a length; a jacket defining one or more access regions along the length to provide access to the optical fibers; and a closure disposed around each of the access regions. One or more fibers are each cut at each access region to provide first and second cut ends. Both cut ends are routed out of the jacket and terminated by optical connectors. The first and second optical connectors are positioned relative to the closure to be mateable to optical cables that are external of the closure.
Claims21
A distribution cable arrangement comprising:
- a plurality of optical fibers extending along a length;
- a jacket surrounding the optical fibers, the jacket defining an access region to provide access to at least one of the optical fibers;
- at least one of the optical fibers being cut to provide a first cut end and a second cut end, both cut ends being routed out of the jacket through the access region, the first cut end being terminated at a first optical connector, and the second cut end being terminated at a second optical connector;
- and
- a closure disposed around the jacket to cover the access region, wherein the first and second optical connectors are positioned relative to the closure to be mateable to optical cables that are external of the closure.
A method of adding a distribution point to an optical fiber network comprising:
- selecting an optical fiber cable;
- removing a portion of the jacket of the optical fiber cable to provide an access region;
- accessing at least one optical fiber of the optical fiber cable at the access region;
- cutting the at least one optical fiber to obtain a first cut end and a second cut end that are routed out of the jacket at the access region;
- terminating the first cut end at a first optical connector;
- terminating the second cut end at a second optical connector;
- and
- enclosing the jacket at the access region with a closure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.