Optical fiber interconnection devices and systems using same
View Patent ↗Optical fiber interconnection devices, which can take the form of a module, are disclosed that include an array of optical fibers and multi-fiber optical-fiber connectors, for example, two twelve-port connectors or multiples thereof, and three eight-port connectors or multiples thereof. The array of optical fibers is color-coded and is configured to optically interconnect the ports of the two twelve-port connectors to the three eight-port connectors in a manner that preserves transmit and receive polarization. In one embodiment, the interconnection devices provide optical interconnections between twelve-fiber optical connector configurations to eight-fiber optical connector configurations, such as from twelve-fiber line cards to eight-fiber line cards, without having to make structural changes to cabling infrastructure. In one aspect, the optical fiber interconnection devices provide a migration path from duplex optics to parallel optics.
1. An optical fiber interconnection device, comprising:
first and second twelve-port connectors respectively having ports 1 P 12 ( 1 ) through 1 P 12 ( 12 ) and ports 2 P 12 ( 1 ) through 2 P 12 ( 12 );
first, second and third eight-port connectors respectively having ports 1 P 8 ( 1 ) through 1 P 8 ( 8 ), ports 2 P 8 ( 1 ) through 2 P 8 ( 8 ), and ports 3 P 8 ( 1 ) through 3 P 8 ( 8 ); and
an array of optical fibers configured to connect the ports as follows (where {a1, b1 . . . } {a2, b2 . . . } denotes connecting a1 to a2, b1 to b2, etc):
i) { 1 P 8 ( 1 ), 1 P 8 ( 3 ), 1 P 8 ( 5 ), 1 P 8 ( 7 )} { 1 P 12 ( 1 ), 1 P 12 ( 2 ), 1 P 12 ( 3 ), 1 P 12 ( 4 )};
ii) { 1 P 8 ( 2 ), 1 P 8 ( 4 ), 1 P 8 ( 6 ), 1 P 8 ( 8 )} { 1 P 12 ( 12 ), 1 P 12 ( 11 ), 1 P 12 ( 10 ), 1 P 12 ( 9 )};
iii) { 2 P 8 ( 1 ), 2 P 8 ( 3 ), 2 P 8 ( 5 ), 2 P 8 ( 7 )} { 1 P 12 ( 5 ), 1 P 12 ( 6 ), 2 P 12 ( 1 ), 2 P 12 ( 2 )};
iv) { 2 P 8 ( 2 ), 2 P 8 ( 4 ), 2 P 8 ( 6 ), 2 P 8 ( 8 )} { 1 P 12 ( 8 ), 1 P 12 ( 7 ), 2 P 12 ( 12 ), 2 P 12 ( 11 )};
v) { 3 P 8 ( 1 ), 3 P 8 ( 3 ), 3 P 8 ( 5 ), 3 P 8 ( 7 )} { 2 P 12 ( 3 ), 2 P 12 ( 4 ), 2 P 12 ( 5 ), 2 P 12 ( 6 )}; and
vi) { 3 P 8 ( 2 ), 3 P 8 ( 4 ), 3 P 8 ( 6 ), 3 P 8 ( 8 )} { 2 P 12 ( 10 ), 2 P 12 ( 9 ), 2 P 12 ( 8 ), 2 P 12 ( 7 )}.
2. The optical fiber interconnection device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the eight-port connectors are twelve-port connectors, and wherein four of the twelve ports in said at least one eight-port connector are not used.
3. The optical fiber interconnection device of claim 1 , wherein the optical fibers include first and second sets of twelve color-coded fibers.
4. The optical fiber interconnection device of claim 1 , wherein for n integer and n≧2, the device includes n sets of the two twelve-port connectors and n sets of the three eight-port connectors.
5. The optical fiber interconnection device of claim 1 , wherein the device includes:
an enclosure that defines an interior region and that contains the array of optical fibers, and wherein the eight-port connectors and twelve-port connectors are connected to the enclosure.
6. The optical fiber interconnection device of claim 5 , wherein the enclosure comprises a fiber cable jacket.
7. An optical fiber interconnection system, comprising:
the optical fiber interconnection device of claim 1 ; and
at least one twelve-fiber optical fiber cable connected to the device at one of the twelve-port connectors.
8. The optical fiber interconnection system of claim 7 , wherein the twelve-fiber optical fiber cable includes color-coded optical fibers and further including:
six two-fiber connectors; and
an optical fiber interconnection module configured to optically interconnect the six two-fiber connectors to the optical fibers in the at least one twelve-fiber cable on a color-coded basis.
9. The optical fiber interconnection device of claim 8 , further including:
at least one eight-fiber optical fiber cable connected to the module at one of the eight-port connectors.
10. The optical fiber interconnection system of claim 9 , wherein the at least one eight-fiber optical fiber cable includes color-coded optical fibers and further including:
eight single-fiber connectors optically connected to the optical fibers in the at least one eight-fiber cable on a color-coded basis.
11. A method of optically interconnecting first and second twelve-port connectors having respective ports 1 P 12 ( 1 ) through 1 P 12 ( 12 ) and ports 2 P 12 ( 1 ) through 2 P 12 ( 12 ) to first, second and third eight-port connectors having respective ports 1 P 8 ( 1 ) through 1 P 8 ( 8 ), ports 2 P 8 ( 1 ) through 2 P 8 ( 8 ), and ports 3 P 8 ( 1 ) through 3 P 8 ( 8 ), the method comprising:
configuring an array of optical fibers to connect the ports as follows (where {a1, b1 . . . } {a2, b2 . . . } denotes a1 to a2; b1 to b2; etc):
i) { 1 P 8 ( 1 ), 1 P 8 ( 3 ), 1 P 8 ( 5 ), 1 P 8 ( 7 )} { 1 P 12 ( 1 ), 1 P 12 ( 2 ), 1 P 12 ( 3 ), 1 P 12 ( 4 )};
ii) { 1 P 8 ( 2 ), 1 P 8 ( 4 ), 1 P 8 ( 6 ), 1 P 8 ( 8 )} { 1 P 12 ( 12 ), 1 P 12 ( 11 ), 1 P 12 ( 10 ), 1 P 12 ( 9 )};
iii) { 2 P 8 ( 1 ), 2 P 8 ( 3 ), 2 P 8 ( 5 ), 2 P 8 ( 7 )} { 1 P 12 ( 5 ), 1 P 12 ( 6 ), 2 P 12 ( 1 ), 2 P 12 ( 2 )};
iv) { 2 P 8 ( 2 ), 2 P 8 ( 4 ), 2 P 8 ( 6 ), 2 P 8 ( 8 )} { 1 P 12 ( 8 ), 1 P 12 ( 7 ), 2 P 12 ( 12 ), 2 P 12 ( 11 )};
v) { 3 P 8 ( 1 ), 3 P 8 ( 3 ), 3 P 8 ( 5 ), 3 P 8 ( 7 )} { 2 P 12 ( 3 ), 2 P 12 ( 4 ), 2 P 12 ( 5 ), 2 P 12 ( 6 )}; and
vi) { 3 P 8 ( 2 ), 3 P 8 ( 4 ), 3 P 8 ( 6 ), 3 P 8 ( 8 )} { 2 P 12 ( 10 ), 2 P 12 ( 9 ), 2 P 12 ( 8 ), 2 P 12 ( 7 )}.
12. The method of claim 11 , further including enclosing the array of optical fibers in an enclosure.
13. The method of claim 12 , further including arranging the twelve-port and eight-port connectors on opposite sides of the enclosure.
14. The method of claim 12 , further including:
connecting at least one twelve-fiber optical fiber cable to at least one of the twelve-port connectors; and
connecting at least one eight-fiber optical fiber cable to at least one of the eight-port connectors.
15. The method of claim 14 , further including:
connecting eight single-fiber connectors to the at least one eight-fiber optical fiber on a color-coded basis; and
connecting six two-fiber connectors to the at least one twelve-fiber optical fiber on a color-coded basis.
16. The method of claim 11 , including for n integer and n≧2, providing n sets of the two twelve-port connectors and n sets of the three eight-port connectors so as to repeat said port configuration n times.
17. An optical fiber interconnection module comprising:
an enclosure defining an interior region;
at least one set of first and second twelve-port connectors operably connected to the enclosure and respectively having ports 1 P 12 ( 1 ) through 1 P 12 ( 12 ) and ports 2 P 12 ( 1 ) through 2 P 12 ( 12 );
at least one set of first, second and third eight-port connectors operably connected to the enclosure and respectively having ports 1 P 8 ( 1 ) through 1 P 8 ( 8 ), ports 2 P 8 ( 1 ) through 2 P 8 ( 8 ), and ports 3 P 8 ( 1 ) through 3 P 8 ( 8 );
at least one set of twelve first optical fibers having a color-code and contained within the interior region and optically connected to ports 1 P 12 ( 1 ) through 1 P 12 ( 12 );
at least one set of twelve second optical fibers having said color code and contained within the interior region and optically connected to ports 2 P 12 ( 1 ) through 2 P 12 ( 12 ); and
wherein the at least one sets of first and second color-coded optical fibers are configured to connect the ports as follows (where {a1, b1 . . . } {a2, b2 . . . } denotes connecting a1 to a2, b1 to b2, etc):
i) { 1 P 8 ( 1 ), 1 P 8 ( 3 ), 1 P 8 ( 5 ), 1 P 8 ( 7 )} { 1 P 12 ( 1 ), 1 P 12 ( 2 ), 1 P 12 ( 3 ), 1 P 12 ( 4 )};
ii) { 1 P 8 ( 2 ), 1 P 8 ( 4 ), 1 P 8 ( 6 ), 1 P 8 ( 8 )} { 1 P 12 ( 12 ), 1 P 12 ( 11 ), 1 P 12 ( 10 ), 1 P 12 ( 9 )};
iii) { 2 P 8 ( 1 ), 2 P 8 ( 3 ), 2 P 8 ( 5 ), 2 P 8 ( 7 )} { 1 P 12 ( 5 ), 1 P 12 ( 6 ), 2 P 12 ( 1 ), 2 P 12 ( 2 )};
iv) { 2 P 8 ( 2 ), 2 P 8 ( 4 ), 2 P 8 ( 6 ), 2 P 8 ( 8 )} { 1 P 12 ( 8 ), 1 P 12 ( 7 ), 2 P 12 ( 12 ), 2 P 12 ( 11 )};
v) { 3 P 8 ( 1 ), 3 P 8 ( 3 ), 3 P 8 ( 5 ), 3 P 8 ( 7 )} { 2 P 12 ( 3 ), 2 P 12 ( 4 ), 2 P 12 ( 5 ), 2 P 12 ( 6 )}; and
vi) { 3 P 8 ( 2 ), 3 P 8 ( 4 ), 3 P 8 ( 6 ), 3 P 8 ( 8 )} { 2 P 12 ( 10 ), 2 P 12 ( 9 ), 2 P 12 ( 8 ), 2 P 12 ( 7 )}.
18. An optical fiber interconnection system comprising:
the optical fiber interconnection module of claim 17 ;
at least one twelve-fiber optical fiber cable having said color code and connected to at least one of the twelve-fiber connectors; and
at least one eight-fiber optical fiber cable having said color code and connected to at least one of the eight-fiber connectors.
19. The system of claim 18 , further comprising:
an electronics device having six dual-fiber connectors that correspond to said color code; and
an optical fiber interconnection module configured to optically interconnect the six dual-fiber connectors to corresponding single optical fibers in the at least one twelve-fiber cable based on said color code.
20. The system of claim 19 , further including:
eight single-fiber connectors respectively connected to corresponding single fibers in the at least one eight-fiber optical fiber cable based on said color code.
21. An optical fiber interconnection device, comprising:
first and second twelve-port optical fiber connectors respectively having ports 1 P 12 ( 1 ) through 1 P 12 ( 12 ) and ports 2 P 12 ( 1 ) through 2 P 12 ( 12 );
first, second and third eight-port optical fiber connectors respectively having ports 1 P8( 1 ) through 1 P8( 8 ), ports 2 P8( 1 ) through 2 P8( 8 ), and ports 3 P8( 1 ) through 3 P8( 8 ); and
an array of optical fibers configured to connect the ports as follows (where {a1, b1 . . . } {a2, b2 . . . } denotes connecting a1 to a2, b1 to b2, etc):
i) { 1 P 8 ( 1 ), 1 P 8 ( 3 ), 1 P 8 ( 5 ), 1 P 8 ( 7 )} { 1 P 12 ( 1 ), 1 P 12 ( 2 ), 1 P 12 ( 3 ), 1 P 12 ( 4 )};
ii) { 1 P 8 ( 2 ), 1 P 8 ( 4 ), 1 P 8 ( 6 ), 1 P 8 ( 8 )} { 1 P 12 ( 12 ), 1 P 12 ( 11 ), 1 P 12 ( 10 ), 1 P 12 ( 9 )};
iii) { 2 P 8 ( 1 ), 2 P 8 ( 3 ), 2 P 8 ( 5 ), 2 P 8 ( 7 )} { 1 P 12 ( 5 ), 1 P 12 ( 6 ), 2 P 12 ( 1 ), 2 P 12 ( 2 )};
iv) { 2 P 8 ( 2 ), 2 P 8 ( 4 ), 2 P 8 ( 6 ), 2 P 8 ( 8 )} { 1 P 12 ( 8 ), 1 P 12 ( 7 ), 2 P 12 ( 12 ), 2 P 12 ( 11 )};
v) { 3 P 8 ( 1 ), 3 P 8 ( 3 ), 3 P 8 ( 5 ), 3 P 8 ( 7 )} { 2 P 12 ( 3 ), 2 P 12 ( 4 ), 2 P 12 ( 5 ), 2 P 12 ( 6 )}; and
vi) { 3 P 8 ( 2 ), 3 P 8 ( 4 ), 3 P 8 ( 6 ), 3 P 8 ( 8 )} { 2 P 12 ( 10 ), 2 P 12 ( 9 ), 2 P 12 ( 8 ), 2 P 12 ( 7 )};
wherein the device includes:
an enclosure that defines an interior region and that at least partially receives the array of optical fibers, and wherein the eight-port connectors and twelve-port connectors are connected to the enclosure.
22. The optical fiber interconnection device of claim 21 , wherein at least one of the eight-port connectors are twelve-port connectors, and wherein four of the twelve ports in said at least one eight-port connector are not used.
23. The optical fiber interconnection device of claim 21 , wherein the optical fibers include first and second sets of twelve color-coded fibers.
24. The optical fiber interconnection device of claim 21 , wherein for n integer and n≧2, the device includes n sets of the two twelve-port connectors and n sets of the three eight-port connectors.
25. The optical fiber interconnection device of claim 21 , wherein said optical fibers are arranged as an optical fiber harness.
26. The optical fiber interconnection device of claim 21 , wherein said optical fibers are associated with a substrate.
27. An optical fiber interconnection device with optical fiber connector arrays and optical fibers optically interconnecting at least some of the optical fiber connectors, comprising:
(a) at least first and second optical fiber connector arrays respectively comprising at least six ports each, a first array of optical fibers extending from the first optical fiber connector array, and a second optical fiber array extending from the second optical fiber connector array;
(b) at least first, second and third optical fiber connector arrays respectively having at least four ports each;
(c) said first at least four-port optical fiber connector array receiving optical fibers only from the first at least six-port optical fiber connector array;
(d) said second at least four-port connector array receiving at least two optical fibers from the first at least six-port optical fiber connector array;
(e) said second at least four-port connector array receiving at least two optical fibers from the second at least six-port optical fiber connector array; and
(f) said third at least four-port optical fiber connector array receiving at least two optical fibers from the second at least six-port optical fiber connector array.
28. The optical fiber interconnection device of claim 27 , wherein said first and second at least six-port optical fiber connector arrays respectively include at least twelve ports.
29. The optical fiber interconnection device of claim 28 , wherein said first, second, and third at least four-port optical fiber connector arrays respectively include at least eight ports.
30. The optical fiber interconnection device of claim 29 , wherein at least one of said eight-port connector arrays includes unused connectors.
31. The optical fiber interconnection device of claim 29 , wherein at least one of said twelve-port connector arrays includes unused connectors.
32. The optical fiber interconnection device of claim 27 , wherein said third at least four-port optical fiber connector array receives optical fibers from only the second at least six-port optical fiber connector array.