Fiber optic local convergence points for multiple dwelling units
View Patent ↗There are provided fiber optic local convergence points (“LCPs”) adapted for use with multiple dwelling units (“MDUs”) that facilitate relatively easy installation and/or optical connectivity to a relatively large number of subscribers. The LCP includes a housing mounted to a surface, such as a wall, and a cable assembly with a connector end to be optically connected to a distribution cable and a splitter end to be located within the housing. The splitter end includes at least one splitter and a plurality of subscriber receptacles to which subscriber cables may be optically connected. The splitter end of the cable assembly of the LCP may also include a splice tray assembly and/or a fiber optic routing guide. Furthermore, a fiber distribution terminal (“FDT”) may be provided along the subscriber cable to facilitate installation of the fiber optic network within the MDU.
1. A fiber optic splitter module for optically connecting at least one input optical fiber and a plurality of output optical fibers, the splitter module comprising:
a housing having at least one opening therethrough, wherein the opening defines an opening axis generally orthogonal to the opening; and
a splitter within the housing, wherein the input optical fiber is optically connected to the plurality of output optical fibers by the splitter, wherein the splitter defines a splitter axis generally aligned with the input optical fiber and the plurality of output optical fibers;
wherein the splitter axis is generally orthogonal to the opening axis; and
wherein the splitter module defines a density of output optical fiber splits per unit of volume of the housing of at least 5 splits/in 3 .
2. A splitter module according to claim 1 , wherein the input optical fiber and the plurality of output optical fibers are routed within the housing generally without a slack loop.
3. A fiber optic splitter module for optically connecting at least one input optical fiber and a plurality of output optical fibers, the splitter module comprising:
a housing having at least one opening therethrough, wherein the opening defines an opening axis generally orthogonal to the opening; and
a splitter within the housing, wherein the input optical fiber is optically connected to the plurality of output optical fibers by the splitter, wherein the splitter defines a splitter axis generally aligned with the input optical fiber and the plurality of output optical fibers;
wherein the splitter axis is generally orthogonal to the opening axis; and
wherein the splitter module defines a density of output optical fiber splits per unit of volume of the housing from about 4 splits/in 3 to about 10 splits/in 3 .
4. A fiber optic splitter module for optically connecting at least one input optical fiber and a plurality of output optical fibers, the splitter module comprising:
a housing having at least one opening therethrough, wherein the opening defines an opening axis generally orthogonal to the opening; and
a splitter within the housing, wherein the input optical fiber is optically connected to the plurality of output optical fibers by the splitter, wherein the splitter defines a splitter axis generally aligned with the input optical fiber and the plurality of output optical fibers;
wherein the splitter axis is generally orthogonal to the opening axis; and
wherein at least one optical fiber of the plurality of output optical fibers comprises a microstructured optical fiber comprising a core region and a cladding region surrounding the core region, the cladding region comprising an annular hole-containing region comprised of non-periodically disposed holes.
5. A splitter module according to claim 4 , wherein the microstructured fiber has an 8 mm macrobend induced loss at 1550 nm of less than 0.2 dB/turn.
6. A splitter module according to claim 1 , wherein at least one optical fiber of the plurality of output optical fibers comprises a microstructured optical fiber comprising a core region and a cladding region surrounding the core region, the cladding region comprising an annular hole-containing region comprised of non-periodically disposed holes.
7. A splitter module according to claim 6 , wherein the microstructured fiber has an 8 mm macrobend induced loss at 1550 mm of less than 0.2 dB/turn.
8. A splitter module according to claim 3 , wherein the input optical fiber and the plurality of output optical fibers are routed within the housing generally without a slack loop.
9. A splitter module according to claim 3 , wherein at least one optical fiber of the plurality of output optical fibers comprises a microstructured optical fiber comprising a core region and a cladding region surrounding the core region, the cladding region comprising an annular hole-containing region comprised of non-periodically disposed holes.
10. A splitter module according to claim 9 , wherein the microstructured fiber has an 8 mm macrobend induced loss at 1550 mm of less than 0.2 dB/turn.
11. A splitter module according to claim 4 , wherein the input optical fiber and the plurality of output optical fibers are routed within the housing generally without a slack loop.