Optical network units (ONUs) for high bandwidth connectivity, and related components and methods

Optical network units (ONUs) for high bandwidth connectivity, and related components and methods are disclosed. A fiber optical network ends at an ONU, which may communicate with a subscriber unit wirelessly at an extremely high frequency avoiding the need to bury cable on the property of the subscriber. In one embodiment, an optical network unit (ONU) is provided. The ONU comprises a fiber interface configured to communicate with a fiber network. The ONU further comprises an optical/electrical converter configured to receive optical downlink signals at a first frequency from the fiber network through the fiber interface and convert the optical downlink signals to electrical downlink signals. The ONU further comprises electrical circuitry configured to frequency convert electrical downlink signals to extremely high frequency (EHF) downlink signals at an EHF, and a wireless transceiver configured to transmit the EHF downlink signals to a proximate subscriber unit through an antenna.

BACKGROUND

Field of the Disclosure

The technology of the disclosure relates to providing high bandwidth connections to subscriber facilities.

Technical Background

The internet is evolving in response to perceived demands on it from both consumers and content providers. The consumers are perceived to desire the ability to download audio and video content without degradation of the content from compression or the like. This desire results in a perceived demand for greater bandwidth. Similarly, content providers have a desire to be able to charge for content delivered to a consumer when the consumer requests the content (i.e. “on demand” video). Such content delivery is bandwidth intensive. Thus, both sides of the consumer-provider relationship have a perceived desire for greater bandwidth.

The advent of streaming high definition video has only exacerbated this demand. Current twisted wire solutions are not capable of providing the bandwidth necessary to provide the desired content at the desired quality levels. While coaxial cable solutions initially offered the promise of being able to provide desired bandwidth, as more subscribers use the cable network, the available bandwidth has to be shared between these subscribers, resulting in unacceptable degradation of quality. Similarly, while satellite based systems have offered large downlink bandwidths, uplink bandwidths have proven relatively narrow or require a terrestrial based uplink. Additionally, satellite systems sometimes exhibit the more serious problem of long latency. Neither solution is attractive and relegates the satellite systems to a marginally acceptable solution.

Communication networks using optical fiber as the primary uplink and downlink media have proven capable of accommodating the heavy bandwidth requirements. However, fiber optical networks have not seen widespread deployment beyond central office to central office connection. Occasionally, the optical fiber network has been extended to a community head end or other remote location, but individual subscribers still rely on copper solutions to provide service from the head end or remote location to the subscriber unit. Expense and inconvenience of providing buried fiber optical cables from the head end or remote location to the subscriber unit have slowed further expansion of the fiber optical network. Thus, to date, fiber to the house (FTTH) has not been realized, and subscribers are still perceived to desire streamed high definition quality video.

SUMMARY OF THE DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments disclosed herein include optical network units (ONUs) for high bandwidth connectivity. Related components and methods are also disclosed including subscriber units and systems. The systems may include both ONUs and subscriber units. A fiber optical network ends at an ONU, which may communicate with a subscriber unit wirelessly at an extremely high frequency avoiding the need to bury cable on the property of the subscriber.

In this regard, in one embodiment, an optical network unit (ONU) is provided. The ONU comprises an optical fiber interface configured to communicate with a fiber network. The ONU further comprises an optical/electrical converter configured to receive optical downlink signals at a first frequency from the fiber network through the fiber interface and convert the optical downlink signals to electrical downlink signals. The ONU further comprises electrical circuitry configured to frequency convert the electrical downlink signals to extremely high frequency (EHF) downlink signals at an EHF and a wireless transceiver configured to transmit the EHF downlink signals to a proximate subscriber unit through an antenna.

In another embodiment, a method of operating an ONU is provided. The method comprises communicating with a fiber network via a fiber interface and receiving, at an optical/electrical converter, optical downlink signals at a first frequency from the fiber network through the fiber interface. The method further comprises converting, at the optical/electrical converter, the optical downlink signals to electrical downlink signals and frequency converting the electrical downlink signals to extremely high frequency (EHF) downlink signals at an EHF. The method further comprises transmitting the EHF downlink signals to a proximate subscriber unit through an antenna.

In another embodiment, a subscriber unit is provided. The subscriber unit comprises an antenna configured to operate at an extremely high frequency (EHF) range and a transceiver configured to transmit EHF uplink signals to a proximate optical network unit (ONU) for transmission over a fiber network, the transceiver further configured to receive EHF downlink signals from the ONU.

In another embodiment a system is provided. The system comprises an ONU and a subscriber unit. The ONU comprises a fiber interface configured to communicate with a fiber network and an optical/electrical converter configured to receive optical downlink signals at a first frequency from the fiber network through the fiber interface and convert the optical downlink signals to electrical downlink signals. The ONU further comprises electrical circuitry configured to frequency convert the electrical downlink signals to extremely high frequency (EHF) downlink signals at an EHF and a wireless transceiver configured to transmit the EHF downlink signals to a proximate subscriber unit through an ONU antenna. The subscriber unit comprises a subscriber antenna configured to operate at an EHF range and a transceiver configured to receive the EHF downlink signals from the ONU.

As non-limiting examples, the extremely high frequency may be approximately 60 GHz and various techniques such as frequency division multiplexing and polarization selection may be used to reduce interference between subscriber units. While the text of the present disclosure may initially address the downlink, it should be appreciated that the disclosure is not so limited and the teachings also apply to the uplink. In particular, the uplink may also occur in the EHF range and use the various antenna techniques and beam steering techniques to help reduce interference.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments are shown. Indeed, the concepts may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limiting herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Whenever possible, like reference numbers will be used to refer to like components or parts.

Embodiments disclosed herein include optical network units (ONUs) for high bandwidth connectivity. Related components and methods are also disclosed including subscriber units and systems. The systems include ONUs and subscriber units. A fiber optical network ends at an ONU, which may communicate with a subscriber unit wirelessly at an extremely high frequency avoiding the need to bury cable on the property of the subscriber.

In this regard,FIG. 1illustrates an exemplary communication system10with a neighborhood12of subscriber units13(1)-13(N) served by fiber network14. The fiber network14communicatively couples a central office16with one or more ONUs18(1)-18(N). As is well understood, each ONU18may include an optical fiber interface configured to couple the ONU18to the fiber network14and communicate therewith. That is, the optical fiber interface receives optical downlink signals from the fiber network14and sends optical uplink signals from the ONU18. The optical downlink signals are received at a first frequency. The central office16and fiber network14may be conventional and may include head end units and other components that are not specifically illustrated but understood in the industry. The subscriber units13(1)-13(N) may be residential houses, multi-dwelling units, commercial properties, or the like.

With continuing reference toFIG. 1, each ONU18(1)-18(N) includes an antenna20(1)-20(N) which wirelessly communicates via wireless link32with a corresponding subscriber antenna22(1)-22(N) at the subscriber unit13(1)-13(N). Where, relevant, the ONU18to subscriber unit13link is called the wireless downlink32D, and the subscriber unit13to ONU18link is called the wireless uplink32U otherwise the collective wireless link32is used. WhileFIG. 1is not intended to be to scale, it should be appreciated thatFIG. 1illustrates that the subscriber antennas22(1)-22(N) may be at different heights or positions on the subscriber unit13(1)-13(N) and the antennas20(1)-20(N) may be positioned on a mast23so as to effectuate wireless communications more effectively. In another exemplary embodiment, the antennas20may be associated with utility poles or other existing utility structures as desired.

In an exemplary embodiment, the ONUs18(1)-18(N) communicate with the subscriber unit13(1)-13(N) using an extremely high frequency (EHF) wireless signal. As used herein, the EHF band ranges from about 30 GHz to about 300 GHz. In a further exemplary embodiment, the communication occurs at approximately 60 GHz (e.g., millimeter wave) in channels having about a seven GHz bandwidth. In the United States, the band 38.6-40.0 GHz is used for licensed high-speed microwave data links, and the 60 GHz band can be used for unlicensed short range (1.7 km) data links with data throughputs in excess of 28 Gbit/s while the video standard allows for approximately 5 Gbit/s. The 71-76, 81-86 and 92-95 GHz bands are also used for point-to-point high-bandwidth communication links. These frequencies, as opposed to the 60 GHz frequency, require a transmitting license in the US from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), though they do not suffer from the effects of oxygen absorption as the 60 GHz does.

As a non-limiting example, by terminating the fiber portion of the communication system10at the ONU18, there is no need to dig or trench in the subscriber's property, and thus, there is no need to secure permission to bury cable all the way to the subscriber unit13. Likewise, the expense of burying the cable is avoided. Instead of carrying cable all the way to the subscriber unit13, the wireless link32creates a high bandwidth communication link that carries EHF downlink signals to the subscriber unit13and receives EHF uplink signals from the subscriber unit13.

FIGS. 2A and 2Billustrate two exemplary embodiments of the communication system10. InFIG. 2A, cables24,26run on either side of a street28. While described as a street, a road, highway, interstate, sidewalk, or other public right of way with appurtenant existing easements is considered equivalent. A respective ONU18is coupled to one of the cables24,26for each subscriber unit13. Thus, each subscriber unit13is served by a respective wireless link32. The exemplary embodiment ofFIG. 2Ais appropriate where the utility company is unable or unwilling to secure permission or unwilling to undertake the expense of trenching cable all the way to the subscriber units13.FIG. 2Billustrates a mixed communication system10A where some subscribers have consented to and/or requested that cable be run all the way to the subscriber unit13. In the embodiment ofFIG. 2B, subscriber units13A are served directly by fiber optical cables30rather than wireless link32. However, other subscriber units13are still served by wireless links32. The present disclosure works in both homogenous wireless systems and heterogeneous wired/wireless systems and is not limited to strictly wireless systems.

FIG. 3illustrates an exemplary ONU18(also sometimes referred to herein as a street node18), wireless link32, and the subscriber hardware34, collectively subscriber module35. The subscriber hardware34may include the subscriber antenna22, a wireless transceiver36, and an in-home network router38. The wireless transceiver36may be connected to the in-home network router38through an appropriate conventional electrical interface41. In an exemplary embodiment, the wireless transceiver36is a mm-wave wireless transceiver. It should be appreciated that once signals reach the in-home network router38, the signals may be retransmitted over wires such as CAT5 or CAT6 wires, wirelessly such as through a WIFI, BLUETOOTH or other system as is well understood so that computers, televisions, and other appliances may be used as desired.

With continuing reference toFIG. 3, the ONU18includes an optical fiber interface39(sometimes referred to herein as a “fiber interface”) configured to couple the ONU18to the fiber network14and allow communication therewith. The ONU18further includes an electrical/optical converter and transceiver40, which is configured to convert optical downlink signals from the fiber network14to downlink electrical signals and convert electrical uplink signals to optical uplink signals for transmission on the fiber network14. As noted above, the fiber network14is a high bandwidth network that offers the high bandwidth in both the downlink and the uplink directions and does not suffer from bandwidth degradation when additional subscribers are added.

With continuing reference toFIG. 3, The ONU18further includes digital and/or electrical circuitry42which is configured to condition the electrical signals, perform any frequency conversion thereon as needed, and/or provide any desired digital signal processing. In an exemplary embodiment, the electrical downlink signals from the transceiver40are converted to an EHF downlink signal. The ONU18further includes a wireless transceiver44configured to transmit the EHF downlink signals through the antenna20to the subscriber unit13and receive EHF uplink signals from the subscriber unit13through the antenna20. EHF uplink signals may be passed to the electrical circuitry42, which may convert the EHF uplink signals to an intermediate frequency (IF) electrical uplink signal. Alternatively, the electrical circuitry42may convert the signal to a digital baseband signal if desired. In an exemplary embodiment, the wireless transceiver44is a mm-wave wireless transceiver. As noted above, an EHF signal is a high bandwidth signal that performs well over distances under two km where line of sight transmission is available. In the event that the optical downlink signal is not in the EHF range, the electrical circuitry42converts the electrical downlink signal to the desired EHF range. Alternatively, the optical downlink signal may be a purely digital signal, in which case the electrical circuitry42may merely condition the signal and up-convert the signal to the desired EHF range.

Subscriber module35ofFIG. 3is a relatively high level presentation of the components of the subscriber module35. In contrast to the high level presentation ofFIG. 3,FIG. 4offers a slightly more detailed exemplary embodiment of a subscriber module45. The ONU18includes an electrical/optical converter and transceiver40as before, but the digital circuitry42is more specifically a digital signal processor (DSP) and a Gigabit-Ethernet (GbE) transceiver46, and the wireless transceiver44is more specifically a 60 GHz transceiver48. Similarly, the subscriber hardware34includes a 60 GHz wireless transceiver50and the electrical interface41is more accurately a CAT6 cable49. This embodiment is appropriate if the fiber network14operates according to a Gigabit-Ethernet protocol and the DSP allows logical (protocol-level) termination of the optical network and the re-coding of the signal in preparation for frequency up conversion to the EHF range for transmission by the 60 GHz transceiver48. Using a transceiver with a given protocol (such as GbE or 10 GbE or the like) in the ONU18allows the ONU18to be remotely addressable for control and management purposes. Likewise, having the DSP capability in the ONU18allows for remote programming of each individual ONU18(1)-18(N) as well as allow for protocol translation (e.g., converting the GbE protocol to a different protocol suited for 60 GHz transmission and vice versa). Such flexibility comes at the cost of increased hardware expense, but certain implementations may justify this tradeoff and are considered within the scope of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5provides a more detailed version of an exemplary subscriber module, and in particular illustrates subscriber module55. In subscriber module55, the ONU18includes an electrical/optical converter40A, which is formed from a photodiode (PD)64to convert optical downlink signals to electrical downlink signals and a laser diode (LD)66to convert electrical uplink signals to optical uplink signals. The digital circuitry42specifically includes a baseband DSP56. The wireless transceiver44more specifically includes a 60 GHz frequency up-converter58A to convert the electrical downlink signals from the baseband DSP56to approximately 60 GHz wireless downlink signal and a 60 GHz down-converter58B to convert the EHF uplink signal to a baseband electrical uplink signal. Likewise, the subscriber hardware34A includes a frequency up-converter60A and a frequency down-converter60B to convert uplink and downlink signals respectively. The subscriber hardware34A further includes a baseband DSP62for further manipulation of uplink and downlink signals. In an exemplary embodiment, the antenna20may be a patch antenna array.

FIG. 6illustrates an exemplary antenna20suitable for use with the present disclosure. In particular, the antenna20may be a beam forming or beam steering antenna. Use of a beam steering antenna allows for easy installation of the antenna20and the subscriber antenna22so long as line of sight is available between both antennas. In one example, the minimum placement offset (perpendicular) range in one plane is given by L=2d*Tan(θ/2) for maximum link gain, where θ and d represent the maximum beam steering angle of the antennas and the distance between the two antennas respectively. Thus, the wireless transceivers and antennas may be placed without precise angular alignment and still be able to establish a best case line of sight link. In an exemplary embodiment, auto-alignment algorithms may be implemented in a DSP module (e.g., DSP56) or an integrated DSP sub-module (not illustrated). The beam steering may be used at frequencies other than the 60 GHz illustrated.

While use of the wireless link32allows network connection providers to eliminate the need for extending fiber optical cable (or other physical medium) to the subscriber unit13, the use of the wireless link32may present other factors. One relevant factor that can arise by use of the wireless line32is possible interference between different ONUs18and subscriber units13. That is, proximate ONUs18and subscriber units13may send signals that are inadvertently received by other elements in the network. This inadvertent reception may be conceptualized as a form of undesirable crosstalk. A simple illustration of interference is provided with reference toFIG. 7, where ONU18A may transmit a signal70A that is received by ONU18B and ONU18B transmits a signal70B that is received by ONU18A. While beam steering can avoid or reduce some inadvertent mutual interference, physical proximity of subscriber units13may not make it possible to completely eliminate interference with beam steering. The present disclosure provides additional solutions below. The additional solutions are not mutually exclusive and can be used as desired by network designers to optimize the network.

FIG. 8illustrates another interference scenario where several subscriber units13are in close physical proximity and mutual interference exists between four subscriber units13C-13F. The close physical proximity of the subscriber units13reduces the effectiveness of beam steering and requires some of the additional solutions alluded to above. However, before introducing such additional solutions,FIGS. 8 and 9are provided to illustrate the scope of interference that may occur in an exemplary network. As illustrated, signals from antenna22C may be received by antenna20C, and extra antennas22D,20E, and22F (signal paths L1, L2, and L3respectively). Signals from antenna20D may be received by antenna22D and extra antennas20E and22F (signal paths M1and M2respectively). Signals from antenna22E may be received by antenna20E as well as extra antenna22F (signal path N1). While a few particular examples are provided, it should be appreciated that other antennas experience comparable interference.

FIG. 9illustrates a graph72showing calculated received signal strengths for the various signals at antenna22F assuming the distances as noted and 60 GHz. That is, the signals on interfering signal paths L3, M2, and N1, which are all received by antenna22F are compared to the basic wireless link32. In the illustrated example, the difference between wireless link32and the signal from signal path N1is only 11.6 dB in this example. Note further that graph72illustrates effective transmission distances. That is, while it is expected that the average length of wireless link32will be approximately twenty meters or less, a viable signal may be sent at distances of over one hundred meters. Note that to derive graph72, propagation loss was calculated from αloss=(4πd/λ)2+αair, where d is the propagation distance, λ is the signal wavelength, and αairis the atmospheric absorption.

To address the interference illustrated inFIGS. 7-9, a variety of exemplary techniques may be used alone or in conjunction. A first technique is to use the physical structure of the subscriber unit13to block the signal. Using the physical structure works because most building materials are opaque to EHF radiation. That is, brick, aluminum siding, concrete, wood paneling, drywall, and other such materials all severely attenuate signals in the EHF. Where there is a reflection from such material, the surface is rarely uniform, so the reflections are severely scattered and lose coherence such that any such reflections do not contribute materially to any interference at another subscriber unit13. A second technique is to use an oval radiation pattern. The combination of these two techniques is illustrated inFIGS. 10A & 10B. Specifically,FIG. 10Aillustrates an oval radiation pattern with θ being the horizontal beamwidth, x being the horizontal cross section, H being the vertical height, and d3being the distance from the antenna20to the antenna22. The object is to restrict the radiation pattern of the antenna to within the area of a wall74as shown inFIG. 10B. This arrangement minimizes unwanted signal radiation from passing around the edges of the subscriber unit13. The wall74also shields the ONU18from receiving interfering signals during uplink transmission.

To help illustrate how beam forming and physical structures may be used to reduce interference,FIG. 11illustrates increasing the directivity (gain) of the antenna20such that the majority of the antenna radiation falls within the wall74. As noted above, building materials such as those incorporated into the wall74help block the signals and thus reduce the opportunity for interference. The required minimum cross section length of the wall74is given by x=2d*Tan(θ/2), where d (d3inFIG. 11) is the distance between the antenna20and the wall74, θ is the beamwidth.

FIG. 12illustrates two additional exemplary techniques for reducing interference within a wireless system and particularly for preventing ONUs18from interfering with nearby subscriber units13and also for preventing subscriber units13from interfering with nearby ONUs18. In this exemplary embodiment, subscriber units13G-13J are provided with respective antennas22G-22J. Corresponding ONUs18G-18J are also provided. In particular, the signals are frequency division multiplexed and the antennas operate at different polarizations. Thus, the signals76intended to go to and from antennas20G,22G may occur at f1, f2and PH(horizontal polarization), while signals78intended to and from the antennas20H,22H may occur at f2, f3and PV(vertical polarization). Similarly, the signals80intended to go to and from antennas20I,22I may occur at f1, f2and PV, while the signals82intended to go to and from antennas20J,22J may occur at f1, f2, and PH.

Using the techniques set forth with reference toFIG. 12, results comparable to graph84inFIG. 13are possible. As is readily seen, the alternating frequency, and alternating antenna polarization allows the interference to be dropped to 36.5 dB below the desired signal82. Note that signal blocking was not used in this embodiment. If signal blocking were used, even lower interference levels would be attained.

Thus, as is readily apparent, the present disclosure provides a wireless link from the fiber optical cable on the street to the subscriber unit helping to provide a high bandwidth communications link without the need to secure permission to dig up a subscriber's property to bury a fiber optical cable all the way to the subscriber unit. Likewise, the present disclosure provides a number of techniques to reduce interference from proximate antennas on the same system.

In an exemplary embodiment, the ONU18may further include a WiFi component that may be used as a backup communication link in the event that weather or other transient event interferes with the wireless link32. Circuitry may be provided that detects the status and/or condition of the wireless link32and activates the WIFI component accordingly.

The ONU18or the subscriber hardware34disclosed herein can include a computer system. In this regard,FIG. 14is a schematic diagram representation of additional detail regarding the ONU18or subscriber hardware34in the exemplary form of an exemplary computer system200adapted to execute instructions from an exemplary computer-readable medium to perform power management functions. In this regard, the ONU18or subscriber hardware34may comprise the computer system200within which a set of instructions for causing the ONU18or subscriber hardware34to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein may be executed. In an alternate embodiment, these methodologies may be implemented on an ASIC. The ONU18or subscriber hardware34may be connected (e.g., networked) to other machines in a LAN, an intranet, an extranet, or the Internet. The ONU18or subscriber hardware34may operate in a client-server network environment, or as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment. While only a single device is illustrated, the term “device” shall also be taken to include any collection of devices that individually or jointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein. The elements within the ONU18or subscriber hardware34may be a circuit or circuits included in an electronic board card, such as a printed circuit board (PCB) as an example, a server, a personal computer, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a computing pad, a mobile device, or any other device, and may represent, for example, a server or a user's computer.

The exemplary computer system200in this embodiment includes a processing device or processor204, a main memory216(e.g., read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, dynamic random access memory (DRAM) such as synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), etc.), and a static memory208(e.g., flash memory, static random access memory (SRAM), etc.), which may communicate with each other via the data bus210. Alternatively, the processing device204may be connected to the main memory216and/or static memory208directly or via some other connectivity means. The processing device204may be a controller, and the main memory216or static memory208may be any type of memory.

The processing device204represents one or more general-purpose processing devices such as a microprocessor, central processing unit, or the like. More particularly, the processing device204may be a complex instruction set computing (CISC) microprocessor, a reduced instruction set computing (RISC) microprocessor, a very long instruction word (VLIW) microprocessor, a processor implementing other instruction sets, or processors implementing a combination of instruction sets. The processing device204is configured to execute processing logic in instructions211for performing the operations and steps discussed herein.

The computer system200may further include a network interface device212. The computer system200also may or may not include an input214to receive input and selections to be communicated to the computer system200when executing instructions. The computer system200also may or may not include an output216, including but not limited to a display, a video display unit (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a cathode ray tube (CRT)), an alphanumeric input device (e.g., a keyboard), and/or a cursor control device (e.g., a mouse).

The computer system200may or may not include a data storage device that includes instructions218stored in a computer-readable medium220. The instructions218may also reside, completely or at least partially, within the main memory216and/or within the processing device204during execution thereof by the computer system200, the main memory216and the processing device204also constituting computer-readable medium. The instructions211may further be transmitted or received over a network222via the network interface device212.

It is also noted that the operational steps described in any of the exemplary embodiments herein are described to provide examples and discussion. The operations described may be performed in numerous different sequences other than the illustrated sequences. Furthermore, operations described in a single operational step may actually be performed in a number of different steps. Additionally, one or more operational steps discussed in the exemplary embodiments may be combined. It is to be understood that the operational steps illustrated in the flow chart diagrams may be subject to numerous different modifications as will be readily apparent to one of skill in the art. Those of skill in the art would also understand that information may be represented using any of a variety of different technologies and techniques. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, bits, symbols, and chips that may be referenced throughout the above description may be represented by voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles, optical fields or particles, or any combination thereof.

Further, as used herein, it is intended that terms “fiber optic cables” and/or “optical fibers” include all types of single mode and multi-mode light waveguides, including one or more optical fibers that may be upcoated, colored, buffered, ribbonized and/or have other organizing or protective structure in a cable such as one or more tubes, strength members, jackets or the like. The optical fibers disclosed herein can be single mode or multi-mode optical fibers. Likewise, other types of suitable optical fibers include bend-insensitive optical fibers, or any other expedient of a medium for transmitting light signals. An example of a bend-insensitive, or bend resistant, optical fiber is ClearCurve® Multimode fiber commercially available from Corning Incorporated. Suitable fibers of this type are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2008/0166094 and 2009/0169163, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Many modifications and other embodiments of the embodiments set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which the embodiments pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. For example, the antenna arrangements may include any type of antenna desired, including but not limited to dipole, monopole, and slot antennas. The distributed antenna systems or integrated fiber-wireless systems that employ the antenna arrangements disclosed herein could include any type or number of communications mediums, including but not limited to electrical conductors, optical fiber, and air (i.e., wireless transmission). The distributed antenna systems may distribute and the antenna arrangements disclosed herein may be configured to transmit and receive any type of communications signals, including but not limited to RF communications signals and digital data communications signals, examples of which are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/892,424 entitled “Providing Digital Data Services in Optical Fiber-based Distributed Radio Frequency (RF) Communications Systems, And Related Components and Methods,” incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Multiplexing, such as WDM and/or FDM, may be employed in any of the distributed antenna systems described herein, such as according to the examples provided in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/892,424.

Therefore, it is to be understood that the description and claims are not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. It is intended that the embodiments cover the modifications and variations of the embodiments provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.