IP Library Granted Patent US 12,222,570
Granted Patent B2
US 12,222,570 · App. 18/605,382 · Granted Feb 11, 2025

Fiber indexing systems

Inventors: Erik J. Gronvall (Bloomington, MN); Olivier Hubert Daniel Yves Rousseaux (Brussels, BE); Trevor D. Smith (Eden Prairie, MN); James J. Solheid (Lakeville, MN); Matthew J. Holmberg (Le Center, MN)
Assignee: CommScope Technologies LLC
G02B6/4452G02B6/3874G02B6/3897G02B6/4455G02B6/4471G02B6/4475H04B10/808H04J14/0204H04J14/0297
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,222,570
App. No.
18/605,382
Filed
Mar 14, 2024
Granted
Feb 11, 2025
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2634
USPC
398/70
Abstract

The present disclosure relates to systems and method for deploying a fiber optic network. Distribution devices are used to index fibers within the system to ensure that live fibers are provided at output locations throughout the system. In an example, fibers can be indexed in multiple directions within the system. In an example, spare ports can be providing in a forward direction and reverse direction ports can also be provided.

Claims (35)

1. A cable assembly comprising:

a multi-fiber optical connection location;

a plurality of optical fibers having first ends disposed at the multi-fiber optical connection location, the plurality of optical fibers including at least sixteen first drop fibers, and a second drop fiber;

wherein the at least sixteen first drop fibers are input into a fan-out device, the fan-out device having at least sixteen outputs terminated at respective ones of a plurality of first single-fiber adapter ports; and

wherein the second drop fiber is input into a passive optical splitter, the passive optical splitter having no more than eight outputs terminated at respective ones of a plurality of second single-fiber adapter ports.

2. The cable assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a terminal housing at which the plurality of first single-fiber adapter ports and the plurality of second single-fiber adapter ports are disposed.

3. The cable assembly of claim 1 , wherein the multi-fiber optical connection location includes a first multi-fiber connector having a multi-fiber ferrule.

4. The cable assembly of claim 3 , wherein the first multi-fiber connector is a ruggedized multi-fiber connector.

5. The cable assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of first single-fiber adapter ports is ruggedized.

6. The cable assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of second single-fiber adapter ports is ruggedized.

7. The cable assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second drop fiber includes a single optical fiber input into at least one of a 1:4 or a 1:8 optical splitter.

8. The cable assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second drop fiber includes two optical fibers, with each of the two optical fibers input into a 1:4 optical splitter.

9. The cable assembly of claim 1 , wherein there are at least thirty-two first drop fibers input into the fan-out device, with the fan-out device having at least thirty-two outputs terminated at respective ones of the plurality of first single-fiber adapter ports.

10. The cable assembly of claim 1 , wherein there are at least sixty-four first drop fibers input into the fan-out device, with the fan-out device having at least thirty-two outputs terminated at respective ones of the plurality of first single-fiber adapter ports.

11. A cable assembly comprising:

a terminal housing;

a multi-fiber optical connection location;

a plurality of optical fibers having first ends disposed at the multi-fiber optical connection location, the plurality of optical fibers including a plurality of first drop fibers, and at least one second drop fiber;

wherein the plurality of first drop fibers are input into a fan-out device, the fan-out device terminating at respective ones of a plurality of first single-fiber adapter ports;

wherein the at least one second drop fiber is input into a passive optical splitter, the passive optical splitter terminating at respective ones of a plurality of second single-fiber adapter ports; and

wherein there are at least twice as many first single-fiber adapter ports from the fan-out device as second single-fiber adapter ports from the passive optical splitter.

12. The cable assembly of claim 11 , wherein the multi-fiber optical connection location includes a first multi-fiber connector having a multi-fiber ferrule.

13. The cable assembly of claim 12 , wherein the first multi-fiber connector is a ruggedized multi-fiber connector.

14. The cable assembly of claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of first single-fiber adapter ports is ruggedized.

15. The cable assembly of claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of second single-fiber adapter ports is ruggedized.

16. The cable assembly of claim 11 , wherein the at least one second drop fiber includes a single optical fiber input into at least one of a 1:4 or a 1:8 optical splitter.

17. The cable assembly of claim 11 , wherein the at least one second drop fiber includes two optical fibers, with each of the two optical fibers input into a 1:4 optical splitter.

18. The cable assembly of claim 11 , wherein there are at least thirty-two first drop fibers input into the fan-out device, with the fan-out device having at least thirty-two outputs terminated at respective ones of the plurality of first single-fiber adapter ports.

19. The cable assembly of claim 11 , wherein there are at least sixty-four first drop fibers input into the fan-out device, with the fan-out device having at least thirty-two outputs terminated at respective ones of the plurality of first single-fiber adapter ports.

20. A cable assembly comprising:

a terminal housing;

a first multi-fiber optical connection location;

a plurality of optical fibers having first ends disposed at the first multi-fiber optical connection location, the plurality of optical fibers including at least sixteen first drop fibers and a second drop fiber;

wherein the at least sixteen first drop fibers are input into a fan-out device terminating at respective ones of at least sixteen first single-fiber adapter ports; and

wherein the second drop fiber is input into a passive optical splitter terminating at no more than eight second single-fiber adapter ports.

Assignments (1)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 17, 2024
From: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; COMMSCOPE INC., OF NORTH CAROLINA; OUTDOOR WIRELESS NETWORKS LLC; RUCKUS IP HOLDINGS LLC
To: APOLLO ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY LLC
Reel/Frame 069889/0114 →
Continuity (10)
Continuation 18132634 · Apr 10, 2023
Continuation 17194868 · Mar 8, 2021
Continuation 16826464 · Mar 23, 2020
Continuation 16214458 · Dec 10, 2018
Continuation 15416246 · Jan 26, 2017
Provisional Application 62287373 · Jan 26, 2016
Provisional Application 62288263 · Jan 28, 2016
Provisional Application 62338962 · May 19, 2016
Provisional Application 62420663 · Nov 11, 2016
Related Publication 20240369791A1 · Nov 7, 2024
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