Connecting a high number of users with a reduced number of optical fibers

Abstract

A method for connecting a number of users with at least one signal bearing optical fiber (1101÷z; 2101÷5) contained in an optical cable (105; 205) is proposed. The method comprises the following steps: a) interrupting said signal bearing optical fiber (1101÷z; 2101÷5) at a first branch point (115x|1; 215p1÷5), obtaining a first optical fiber segment (110x|1; 210i1÷5) upstream of said branch point (115x|1; 215p1÷5) and a second optical fiber segment (110x|2) downstream of said branch point (115x|1; 215p1÷5); b) providing an optical splitter (120x|1; 220p1÷5) at the branch point (115x|1; 215p1÷5), the optical splitter (120x|1; 220p1÷5) comprising an input and two outputs; c) coupling the first optical fiber segment (110x|1; 210i1÷5) with the input of the optical splitter (120x|1; 220p1÷5); d) coupling a first output of the optical splitter (120x|1; 220p1÷5) with a first user; e) coupling a second output of the optical splitter (120x|1; 220p1÷5) with a downstream optical fiber segment (110x|1; 2106÷8|1÷5) of an interrupted optical fiber (110x; 2106÷8) contained in the optical cable (105; 205), and f) coupling said downstream optical fiber segment (110x|1; 2106÷8|1÷5) with at least one further user at a further branch point (215s1÷5|a÷c) downstream said first branch point (115x|1; 215p1÷5).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.