Patent Publication Number: US-2010129040-A1

Title: System Comprising a Plurality of Optical Waveguide Distribution Devices

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a Continuation of International Application No. PCT/EP08/005,755 filed Jul. 14, 2008, which claims priority to German Application No. 202007010780.3 filed Jul. 31, 2007, both applications being incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The technology of the disclosure relates to a system comprising a plurality of optical waveguide distribution devices. 
     BACKGROUND 
     When constructing fiberoptic cable networks, optical waveguide distribution devices are required for ensuring structured wiring. The product catalogue “Zubehör für LWL-Kabelnetze” [Accessories for fiberoptic cable networks], edition 1, Corning Cable Systems, page 150, year 2001, has disclosed an optical waveguide distribution device in the form of a distribution cabinet, in which withdrawable parts in the form of module carriers are found. Fiberoptic modules are positioned in the module carriers, between whichstructured wiring via patch cables which are prefabricated with optical waveguide jacks on both sides is provided. 
     When a large number of fiberoptic modules are required for constructing a fiberoptic cable network, these modules are positioned in a large number of optical waveguide distribution devices, which then form a system comprising a plurality of optical waveguide distribution devices. In this case, on the one hand structured wiring of fiberoptic assemblies within an optical waveguide distribution device and on the other hand structured wiring of fiberoptic modules of different optical waveguide distribution devices are necessary. 
     Two basic procedures are known from the art for providing such structured wiring in a system comprising a plurality of optical waveguide distribution devices. In a first procedure, a precisely defined length of a patch cable is provided for each wiring between two fiberoptic modules, with the result that no excess lengths are produced within the system comprising a plurality of optical waveguide distribution devices. For this purpose, a large number of patch cables of different lengths need to be available. In accordance with a second procedure, only a single length of a patch cable is provided, with this length being designed for the maximum distance between the fiberoptic modules to be wired, in which case excess lengths of different lengths are produced in the system which need to be handled correspondingly. In this case, the handling of the excess lengths presents difficulties, with the result that, under certain circumstances, optical waveguide distribution devices need to be provided which do not accommodate any fiberoptic modules but only excess lengths. Against this background, the embodiments in the disclosure is based on the problem of providing a system comprising a plurality of optical waveguide distribution devices with structured wiring. 
     The system comprising a plurality of optical waveguide distribution devices has a first number of logic groups of optical waveguide distribution devices, each logic group comprising a second number of optical waveguide distribution devices, wherein: a) in order to provide structured wiring of fiberoptic modules within a logic group comprising optical waveguide distribution devices, two lengths of prefabricated patch cables are provided, namely a first length designed for wiring fiberoptic modules within an optical waveguide distribution device and a second length designed for wiring fiberoptic modules between optical waveguide distribution devices which are spaced at a maximum distance apart from one another within the respective logic group, it being possible, when wiring of fiberoptic modules between optical waveguide distribution devices which are not spaced at a maximum distance apart from one another within the respective logic group needs to be carried out, for the corresponding excess length of the patch cable designed for the maximum distance to be stored in the respective target optical waveguide distribution device on an excess length storage device of the target optical waveguide distribution device; b) in order to ensure structured wiring of fiberoptic modules of two different logic groups comprising optical waveguide distribution devices, a length of prefabricated patch cables is kept ready which is designed for wiring fiberoptic modules of optical waveguide distribution devices which are spaced at a maximum distance apart from one another in the two logic groups, it being possible, when wiring of fiberoptic modules of optical waveguide distribution devices which are not spaced at a maximum distance apart from one another in the two logic groups needs to be carried out, for the corresponding excess length of the patch cable designed for the maximum distance to be stored in the respective target optical waveguide distribution device on an excess length storage device of the target optical waveguide distribution device. 
     The system comprising a plurality of optical waveguide distribution devices enables structured wiring between fiberoptic modules which, given a defined combination of different lengths of patch cables and corresponding excess length storage devices within the optical waveguide distribution devices, can be scaled as desired and allows for subsequent intervention in the wiring and corresponding changes thereto with little complexity. Furthermore, even when there is a large number of optical waveguide distribution devices, no optical waveguide distribution devices are required within the system which are only used for handling excess lengths. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Exemplary embodiments will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a schematized illustration of a system according to an exemplary embodiment comprising a plurality of optical waveguide distribution devices; 
         FIG. 2  shows an optical waveguide distribution device of the system according to an exemplary embodiment in a front view with pivoted-in pivoting frame; and 
         FIG. 3  shows an optical waveguide distribution device of the system according to and exemplary embodiment in a side view with a pivoted-out pivoting frame. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a schematized illustration of a system comprising a plurality of optical waveguide distribution devices, wherein, in the exemplary embodiment in  FIG. 2 , the system  10  comprises two logic groups  11 ,  12  comprising in each case three optical waveguide distribution devices  13 ,  14  and  15 . The optical waveguide distribution devices  13 ,  14  and  15  are so-called optical waveguide distribution cabinets, each optical waveguide distribution cabinet conventionally accommodating a plurality of module carriers, each module carrier accommodating a plurality of fiberoptic modules, between which structured wiring via patch cables is to be provided within the system. Patch cables are fiberoptic cables which have been prefabricated with optical waveguide jacks on both ends. 
       FIGS. 2 and 3  show an optical waveguide distribution device  13  or  14  or  15  in the form of an optical waveguide distribution cabinet of a logic group  11  or  12  of the system illustrated on its own, with such an optical waveguide distribution device comprising a pivoting frame  17 , which is mounted pivotably in a housing or rack  16  and accommodates module carriers  18  with fiberoptic modules. 
     As has already been mentioned, in the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the system n comprises a plurality of optical waveguide distribution devices comprising two logic groups  11 ,  12  of optical waveguide distribution devices, each of the two logic groups  11 ,  12  comprising three optical waveguide distribution devices  13 ,  14  and  15 . Even at this juncture reference is made to the fact that the number of logic groups of optical waveguide distribution devices and the number of optical waveguide distribution devices per logic group can be any number as desired, without restriction. 
     In order to provide for structured wiring between fiberoptic modules within each logic group  11 ,  12  comprising optical waveguide distribution devices, only two lengths of prefabricated patch cables are necessary. A first length, which is not illustrated in  FIG. 1 , is designed for wiring fiberoptic modules within an optical waveguide distribution device  13  or  14  or  15 . A second length is designed for wiring fiberoptic modules between optical waveguide distribution devices which are spaced at a maximum distance apart from one another within the respective logic group  11 ,  12 . In the exemplary embodiment in  FIG. 1  these are the optical waveguide distribution devices  13 ,  15 .  FIG. 1  shows a patch cable  19 , which has the second length, i.e. is designed for wiring fiberoptic modules between the optical waveguide distribution devices  13 ,  15  which are spaced at a maximum distance apart from one another within the respective logic group  11 ,  12 . If wiring takes place using this patch cable  19  between the fiberoptic modules of the optical waveguide distribution devices  13 ,  15 , no excess lengths need to be handled. 
     Such a patch cable with the second length which is designed for optical waveguide distribution devices which are spaced at a maximum distance apart from one another within a logic group is also used when wiring between optical waveguide distribution devices which are not spaced at a maximum distance apart from one another within the respective logic group is to be carried out, i.e. in  FIG. 1 , for example, between the optical waveguide distribution devices  13 ,  14  of the logic group  11 . 
     In this case, the corresponding excess length  20  of the patch cable  19  designed for the maximum distance is handled or stored in the respective target optical waveguide distribution device, in the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  in the optical waveguide distribution device  14 , on an excess length storage device of the target optical waveguide distribution device. This excess length to be handled is a defined excess length, which corresponds to the difference in distance between the maximum distance within the logic group and the distance from the respective target optical waveguide distribution device. 
     If, accordingly, a logic group of optical waveguide distribution devices has a number N of optical waveguide distribution devices, only two lengths of prefabricated patch cables are necessary for the structured wiring of fiberoptic modules within the respective logic group. A first length is used for wiring fiberoptic modules within an optical waveguide distribution device. A second length is used for wiring fiberoptic modules of different optical waveguide distribution devices within the logic group, the second length being designed for the maximum distance between optical waveguide distribution devices within the respective logic group. 
     Patch cables with this second length are also used when wiring of fiberoptic modules between two optical waveguide distribution devices which are not spaced at a maximum distance apart from one another within the respective logic group is necessary, in which case the corresponding excess length of the patch cable with the second length needs to be handled in the target cabinet. Each optical waveguide distribution device has a number N−1 of excess length storage devices for storing excess lengths with defined different lengths. 
     In order to provide for structured wiring of fiberoptic modules of two different logic groups comprising optical waveguide distribution devices, only one length of prefabricated patch cables is kept ready, this length being designed for wiring fiberoptic modules which are spaced at a maximum distance apart from one another in the two logic groups. 
     In the exemplary embodiment shown, this length of a patch cable is designed for the maximum distance between the optical waveguide distribution device  13  of the logic group  11  and the optical waveguide distribution device  15  of the logic group  12 , with no excess length being produced when a corresponding patch cable  21  for wiring fiberoptic modules between the optical waveguide distribution devices which are spaced at a maximum distance apart from one another of the two logic groups is used. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1  even when wiring of fiberoptic modules between optical waveguide distribution devices which are not spaced at a maximum distance apart from one another within the two logic groups  11 ,  12  is necessary, a patch cable  21  with the length designed for the maximum distance is used, in which case corresponding, defined excess lengths are produced which are stored or handled in the respective target optical waveguide distribution device. The excess lengths produced in the process correspond to the excess lengths which can be produced when wiring fiberoptic modules within a logic group. 
     For example,  FIG. 1  shows that, when the patch cable  21 , whose length is designed for the maximum distance between the optical waveguide distribution device  13  of the logic group  11  and the optical waveguide distribution device  15  of the logic group  12 , is used for wiring between the optical waveguide distribution device  13  of the logic group  11  and the optical waveguide distribution device  14  of the logic group  12 , a single excess length  22  needs to be handled. 
     If such a patch cable  21  is used for wiring between the optical waveguide distribution device  13  of the logic group  11  and the optical waveguide distribution device  13  of the logic group  12 , a double excess length  23  needs to be handled in the optical waveguide distribution device  13  of the logic group  12 , which in this case is the target optical waveguide distribution device. In the above way, it is possible for the system to be extended by further logic groups of optical waveguide distribution devices. 
     When each logic group comprises a number N of, for example 3, optical waveguide distribution devices, at most only N−1, or 2, different excess lengths need to be handled, in particular either a single excess length or a double excess length in  FIG. 1 . In the corresponding target optical waveguide distribution device, corresponding excess length storage devices are provided for each excess length. When the system comprises a number M of logic groups having in each case N optical waveguide distribution devices, at most a number M+1 of prefabricated patch cables with defined different lengths and, depending on the optical waveguide distribution devices, at most excess length storage devices for N−1 excess lengths which are different in a defined manner are necessary. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , which shows a side view of an optical waveguide distribution device with a pivoting frame  17  which has been pivoted out of said distribution device, excess length devices  24 ,  25  for handling the excess lengths which are produced when constructing wiring with the aid of the patch cables  19 ,  21  between different optical waveguide distribution cabinets are associated with a rear side of the pivoting frame  17 . The excess length stores  24  serve the purpose of handling a single excess length, and the excess length storage devices  25  are used for handling a double excess length. The optical waveguide distribution device illustrated in  FIG. 3  is accordingly the optical waveguide distribution device  13  of the logic group  12 . 
       FIG. 2  shows a front view of the optical waveguide distribution device  13  with the pivoting frame  17  pivoted in and accordingly a front view of the pivoting frame  17 .  FIG. 2  shows that excess length storage devices  26  are associated with a front side of the pivoting frame, which excess length storage devices  26  are used for handling excess lengths if fiberoptic modules within an optical waveguide distribution device  13  are to be wired with the aid of a patch cable  27  of the first length.