US 6,778,752 B2Granted

Below grade closure for local convergence point

AssigneeCorning Cable Systems LLC

InventorsRichard B. Laporte, Diana Rodriguez, Andrew D. Hoflich

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Abstract

A closure interconnects at least one optical fiber of a feeder cable with two or more optical fibers of a distribution cable at a local convergence point in an optical network. The closure includes a frame defining a longitudinal axis and a plurality of mounting surfaces. The closure further includes a fiber coupling area adjacent one of the mounting surfaces and a fiber management area adjacent another one of the mounting surfaces. The fiber coupling area includes at least one coupler module for splitting an optical signal carried on the optical fiber of the feeder cable into different optical signals carried on the two or more optical fibers of the distribution cable. The optical fibers of the distribution cable may be pre-connectorized drop cables, connectorized pigtails that are field terminated to fanout connectors, or optical fibers that are field terminated by mechanically splicing the optical fibers to drop cables.

Claims30

Dependent claims

A closure for interconnecting at least one optical fiber of a feeder cable with two or more optical fibers of a distribution cable, the closure comprising:

a frame defining a longitudinal axis;
an end cap affixed to the frame and having at least one opening therethrough for receiving the feeder cable and at least one opening therethrough for receiving the distribution cable;
a fiber coupling area comprising a plurality of coupler modules for splitting an optical signal carried by the at least one optical fiber of the feeder cable into two or more optical signals carried by the two or more optical fibers of the distribution cable, the coupler modules removably attached to a first mounting surface defined by the frame that is parallel to the longitudinal axis;
and
a fiber management area for routing the at least one optical fiber of the feeder cable to the fiber coupling area and for routing the two or more optical fibers of the distribution cable from the fiber coupling area, the fiber management area positioned adjacent a second mounting surface defined by the frame that is parallel to the longitudinal axis and is not parallel to the first mounting surface;
wherein the optical fiber of the feeder cable and the optical fibers of the distribution cable are connectorized;
and
wherein each of the coupler modules comprises a plurality of adapters for receiving the connectorized optical fiber of the feeder cable and the connectorized optical fibers of the distribution cable, the adapters mounted on the coupler modules in a linear array that is parallel to the longitudinal axis.

5 more elements

A closure for interconnecting an input optical fiber with a plurality of output optical fiber, the closure comprising:

a frame defining a longitudinal axis and a plurality of mounting surfaces;
a fiber coupling area adjacent a first one of the mounting surfaces comprising a plurality of removable coupler modules for splitting an optical signal carried by the input optical fiber of the feeder cable into a plurality of optical signals carried by the output optical fibers, the first mounting surface generally parallel to the longitudinal axis;
and
a fiber management area adjacent a second one of the mounting surfaces for routing the input optical fiber to the fiber coupling area and for routing the output optical fibers from the fiber coupling area, the second mounting surface generally parallel to the longitudinal axis and not parallel to the first mounting surface;
wherein the input optical fiber and the output optical fibers are connectorized;
and
wherein each of the coupler modules comprises a plurality of adapters for receiving the connectorized input optical fiber and the connectorized output optical fibers, the adapters mounted on the coupler modules in a linear array that is parallel to the longitudinal axis.

4 more elements

A closure for interconnecting an input optical fiber with a plurality of output optical fibers, the closure comprising:

a frame defining a longitudinal axis;
a housing affixed to the frame and having at least one opening therethrough for receiving the input optical fiber and at least one opening therethrough for receiving the output optical fibers;
a fiber coupling area comprising a plurality of coupler modules for splitting an optical signal carried by the input optical fiber into two or more optical signals carried by the output optical fibers, the coupler modules removable attached to a first mounting surface defined by the longitudinal axis and is not parallel to the longitudinal axis;
a fiber management area for routing the input optical fiber to the fiber coupling area and for routing the output optical fibers from the fiber coupling area, the fiber management area adjacent a second mounting surface defined by the frame that is parallel to the longitudinal axis and is not parallel to the first mounting surface;
and
a fiber organizer for separating and guiding the output optical fibers comprising
a base defining a mounting surface;
and
a plurality of hook elements attached to the mounting surface and arranged in spaced apart rows to receive the output optical fibers therebetween;
wherein the input optical fiber and the output optical fibers are connectorized;
and
wherein each of the coupler modules comprises a plurality of adapters for receiving the connectorized input optical fiber and the connectorized output optical fibers, the adapters mounted on the coupler modules and arranged in a linear array that is parallel to the longitudinal axis.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.