Adjustable optical tap
AssigneeCorning Cable Systems LLC
InventorsMark E. Conner, David R. Kozischek, Frances D. Carter, Daniel A. Nolan, William J. Miller, William T. Sawyer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An adjustable optical tap for adjusting input power, output power and drop power in a communications network includes an enclosure having a plurality of connector assemblies being configured for interconnecting input and output cables; a cover attachable to the enclosure, the cover including a plurality of drop cable ports; and a tunable splitter disposed in the enclosure in communication with the input cable and the drop cable ports, the tunable splitter being configured for adjustment to affect attenuation in a broad wavelength band.
Claims21
An adjustable optical tap for adjusting input power, output power, and drop power in a communications network, the adjustable optical tap comprising:
- an enclosure having a plurality of connector assemblies being configured for interconnecting input and output cables;
- a cover attachable to the enclosure, the cover including a plurality of drop cable ports;
- a tunable splitter disposed in the enclosure in communication with the input cable and the drop cable ports, the tunable splitter being configured for an in-the-field adjustment to affect attenuation in a broad wavelength band;
- and
- an adjustment device connected to the enclosure and configured to adjust the tunable splitter by changing a propagation constant of a fiber contained within the enclosure.
An adjustable optical tap for adjusting input power, output power, and drop power in a communications network, the adjustable optical tap comprising:
- an enclosure having a plurality of connector assemblies being configured for interconnecting input and output cables;
- a cover attachable to the enclosure, the cover including a plurality of drop cable ports;
- and
- a tunable splitter disposed in the enclosure in communication with the input cable and the drop cable ports, the tunable splitter being configured for an in-the-field adjustment to affect attenuation in a broad wavelength band,
- wherein the cover is a first cover interchangeable with a second cover, and
- wherein the second cover has a different number of drop cable ports than the first cover.
An adjustable optical tap for adjusting input power, output power, and drop power in a communications network, the adjustable optical tap comprising:
- an enclosure having a plurality of connector assemblies being configured for interconnecting input and output cables;
- a cover attachable to the enclosure, the cover including a plurality of drop cable ports;
- a tunable splitter disposed in the enclosure in communication with the input cable and the drop cable ports, the tunable splitter being configured for an in-the-field adjustment to affect attenuation in a broad wavelength band;
- and
- a fixed splitter interposed between the tunable splitter and the drop cable ports.
An adjustable optical tap for adjusting input power, output power, and drop power in a communications network, the adjustable optical tap comprising:
- an enclosure having a plurality of connector assemblies being configured for interconnecting input and output cables;
- a cover attachable to the enclosure, the cover including a plurality of drop cable ports;
- a tunable splitter disposed in the enclosure in communication with the input cable and the drop cable ports, the tunable splitter being configured for an in-the-field adjustment to affect attenuation in a broad wavelength band;
- and
- an adjustment device connected to the enclosure, the adjustment device being configured to adjust the tunable splitter by bending a fiber contained within the enclosure.
A method of adjusting input power, output power and drop power using an adjustable optical tap in a communications network, the method comprising:
- installing an enclosure in a fiber optic communications network, the enclosure having an input connector assembly and an output connector assembly;
- attaching an interchangeable cover to the enclosure, the interchangeable cover including a plurality of drop cable ports;
- connecting an input cable to the input connector assembly;
- selecting a power split to affect attenuation in a broad wavelength band;
- setting the power split between the input cable and the drop cable ports in a field setting;
- and
- removing and replacing the interchangeable cover with a different cover, wherein the interchangeable cover and the different cover have different quantities of drop cable ports.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.