Patent ID: 6845208
Filing Date: 2005-01-18
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
1. A high-density optical distribution frame for selectively interconnecting optical fiber links, said distribution frame comprising: jumpers, which also consist of optical fibers, within the context of a telecommunication installation in which sockets are arranged in rows on parallel support members in a two-dimensional matrix structure and are provided with individual connection members for the links, and wherein each individual connection member of a socket is designed to cooperate with a complementary connection member with which the end of a jumper is equipped, which complementary connection member is placed on the front face of said socket, said distribution frame having one or more distribution racks on one side of which is provided an area for the jumpers to run, the jumpers being fitted with plug-in connection members on each of their ends so as to each connect an individual junction member of a socket carried by a support member to another individual junction member of another socket carried by another support member, in which distribution frame said socket supports are mounted on the front face of said distribution rack, a cross-connect area being open toward the front in order to receive said jumpers, said distribution frame further maintaining a robotized set of special tools for making jumper connections, such that during the process of making jumper connections which is carried out by said robotized set of specialized tools, which is capable of acting, being moved and positioned with respect to said sockets so as: to mount a plug on one end of a coiled optical jumper reserve, used for constituting said jumpers; to position this plug in a first individual connection member of a given socket of a rack; to fit said jumper uncoiled from this first given individual connection member, and through said cross-connect area, as far as a second given individual connection member of another socket; to adjust the length of said uncoiled jumper and to cut it, converting it into a section separated from the rest of the still coiled jumper; to fit a plug on the cut end of said uncoiled jumper section; and to position the newly mounted plug on the end of the section in the second connection member; and each rack having a marker means to allow said robotized set of specialized tools to know the position of each connection point at each socket in the set formed by all the sockets of said distribution frame, said sockets, which are identical and arranged horizontally on parallel support sections on the front face of a rack, having connection members designed to cooperate with complementary connection members, of the plug type, each mounted on one end of a jumper, which fit, on the front face of a socket, each in one of a vertically aligned compartments of said sockets, said marker means being spaced regularly at a pitch corresponding to that of said sockets, on said parallel supports where said sockets are mounted, in order to allow at least one positioning tool of a plug handling tool to be positioned relative to an individual socket connection member of said distribution frame, by automated displacement of this tool and/or of at least some of the tools of the set of specialized tools of which it forms part.