Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/EP2216667B1/en
Timestamp: 2019-12-06 06:45:15
Document Index: 689033818

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 12', 'art 13', 'art 12', 'art 13', 'art 12', 'art 13', 'art 12', 'art 12', 'art 12', 'art 12', 'art 12', 'art 12', 'art 12', 'art 12', 'art 12']

EP2216667B1 - Fiber optic distribution device and fiber optic network including the same - Google Patents
EP2216667B1
EP2216667B1 EP20090001719 EP09001719A EP2216667B1 EP 2216667 B1 EP2216667 B1 EP 2216667B1 EP 20090001719 EP20090001719 EP 20090001719 EP 09001719 A EP09001719 A EP 09001719A EP 2216667 B1 EP2216667 B1 EP 2216667B1
EP20090001719
EP2216667A1 (en
2009-02-06 Application filed by CCS Technology Inc filed Critical CCS Technology Inc
2010-08-11 Publication of EP2216667A1 publication Critical patent/EP2216667A1/en
2012-01-18 Publication of EP2216667B1 publication Critical patent/EP2216667B1/en
238000009826 distribution Methods 0 claims description title 66
In the world of the ever-increasing need for broadband bandwidth optical cables have become the main part of telecommunication networks. Optical cables can transmit voice signals, data signals and video signals for very long distances with very high speed. Developments of optic telecommunication networks allow the connection of the end user directly to the optical fiber. This kind of network technology known as FTTH technology (fiber to the home) requires extending an "all optical" communication network closer to the subscribers. As a result such telecommunication networks include large number distribution points from a distribution cable to an end user or subscriber.
Another way to provide the connection between the main distribution point and the end user or subscriber is using an optical cable comprising a riser cable with branched off tether cables, whereby the riser cable is to be connected to the main distribution point via a distribution cable, and whereby the tether cables are to be connected to subscribers via a drop cables. The installation of an optical cable comprising a riser cable and branched off tether cables to provide connection between the main distribution point and the subscribers is done by a highly skilled field technician using standard fiber optic distribution devices which results in high costs of installation. A fiber optic distribution device having the features of the preamble of claim 1 is known from US-A-5 695 655
A novel fiber optic distribution device is defined claim 1.
A novel fiber optic network comprising at least one fiber optic distribution device as claimed in claim 1 is defined in claim 6.
Preferred embodiments of the fiber optic distribution device and fiber optic network are given in the dependent claims and the description below. Exemplary embodiments will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing, in which:
shows an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of a fiber optic distribution device;
shows a detail of the fiber optic distribution device according figure 1;
shows a detail of figure 2 together with a drop cable;
shows an embodiment of a fiber optic network comprising fiber optic distribution devices according figure 1;
shows another embodiment of a fiber optic network compris- ing fiber optic distribution devices according figure 1.
Figures 1 to 3 illustrate a preferred embodiment of a fiber optic distribution device 10 for indoor applications. The fiber optic distribution device 10 comprises a housing 11 having a base part 12 and a cover part 13. The base part 12 and the cover part 13 of the housing 11 define an interior of the housing 11. The base part 12 and the cover part 13 of the housing 11 can be coupled together.
The incoming fiber optic cable and the outgoing fiber optic cable can be a riser cable. Further on, the incoming fiber optic cable and the outgoing fiber optic cable can be a tether cable. The incoming fiber optic cable and the outgoing fiber optic cable are both not shown in figures 1 to 3 but in figures 4 an 5 showing the fiber optic distribution device 10 in connection with embodiments of fiber optic networs. The incoming fiber optic cable and the outgoing fiber optic cable comprise both a number number of optical fibers.
Said inlet opening for the riser cable or tether cable and said outlet opening for the riser cable or tether cable are prior to installation closed by removable wall sections 16, 17 of the respective side walls 14, 15. During installation these wall sections 16, 17 can be removed and replaced by grommets 18 (see arrow 19 of figure 1) defining said inlet opening and said outlet opening.
In addition to the inlet opening for a riser cable or tether cable assigned to the first side wall 14 of the base part 12 of the housing 11 there are outlet openings for fiber optic drop cables assigned to said first side wall 14. In addition to the outlet opening for a riser cable or tether cable assigned to the second side wall 15 of the base part 12 of the housing 11 there are outlet openings for fiber optic drop cables assigned to said second side wall 15. These outlet openings for the drop cables are prior to installation closed by removable wall sections 20, 21 of the respective side walls 14 and 15. These wall sections 20, 21 can be removed and replaced by grommets 23 (see arrow 24 of figure 1) during installation defining said outlet openings for the drop cables.
The base part 12 of the housing 11 further comprises a third side wall 25 extending between said first side wall 14 and said opposite second side wall 15. Additional outlet openings for fiber optic drop cables and/or adapters for fiber optic connectors can be assigned to said third side wall 25. Prior installation said third side wall 25 is closed by a removable wall section 26. Said removable wall section 26 can be removed and replaced by a grommet 27 (see arrow 28 of figure 1) defining said additional outlet openings for the drop cables or by an adapter frame 29 (see arrow 30 of figure 1) defining a holding element for fiber optic adapters receiving fiber optic connectors.
The base part 12 of the housing 11 further comprises a bottom wall 31, whereby at least two spaced apart lines 32 and 33 of bend radius control elements 34 and 35 are assigned to said bottom wall 31. Each line 32, 33 of bend radius control elements 34, 35 runs generally in parallel to said third side wall 25. The bend radius control elements 34, 35 of the lines 32, 33 are arranged in a way that in the middle between each two adjacent bend radius control elements 34 of the first line 32 there is positioned each one bend radius control element 35 of the second line 33 thereby providing each two guide channels, namely a first guide channel for guiding optical fibers of a drop cable or a pigtail from the third side wall 25 to the first side wall 14 and a second guide channel for guiding such optical fibers from the third side wall 25 to the second side wall 15.
Strain relief elements are assigned to the bottom wall 31 of the base part 12 of the housing 11, namely first strain relief elements 36 adjacent to the third side wall 25 and second strain relief elements 37 adjacent to the first side wall 14 and to the said second side wall 15. The fist strain relief elements 36 provide strain relief for the drop cables or pigtails running to said third side wall 25.
At least one line 38, 39 of second strain relief elements 37 assigned to said bottom wall 31 runs generally in parallel to each of said first side wall 14 and said second side wall 15 in order to provide strain relief for the drop cables running through the respective outlet openings of the respective side wall 14, 15. Each drop cable 40 (see figure 3) running through the respective side wall 14, 15 can be placed on such a second strain relief element 37 and can be fixed at said second strain relief element 37 using a cable tie 41 surrounding the respective drop cable 40 and the respective second strain relief element 37. As can be best seen in figure 3, at each side of each second strain relief element 37 there is positioned a cable tie guide element 42 guiding the cable tie 41 when mounting the respective cable tie 41 at the respective relief element 37.
According to figure 3, two spaced apart lines 38, 39 of second strain relief elements 37 are running generally in parallel to each of said first side wall 14 and said second side wall 15. In the middle between each two adjacent second strain relief elements 37 of the each line 38, 39 there is positioned each one second strain relief element 37 of the respective spaced apart line 39, 38 of second strain relief elements 27. In the middle between each two adjacent cable tie guide elements 42 of the each line 38, 39 there is positioned a cable tie guide element 42 of the respective spaced apart line 39, 38.
According to figure 1, the fiber optic distribution device 10 comprises a splice tray 43 being positioned inside the housing 11. The splice tray 43 is swingable attached to the housing 11, namely to the base part 12. A hinge 22 is formed between the splice tray 43 and the base part 12 of the housing 11 running generally in parallel to the third side wall 25 of the base part 12.
Figure 4 shows a schematic view of a preferred embodiment of a fiber optic network 44 including such fiber optic distribution devices 10. Figure 4 shows as part of the fiber optic network 44 a cable assembly 45 which comprises a riser cable 46 and tether cables 47 branched off from said riser cable 46.
The riser cable 46 of the fiber optic network 35 further comprises mid span access locations 54, wherein in the region of at least one of these mid span access locations 54 at least one tether cable 47 is branched off from said riser cable 46. According to the embodiment of figure 4, the cable assembly 45 comprises three mid span access locations 54, whereby at each mid span access location 54 one tether cable 47 is branched off from said riser cable 46. Each of said tether cables 47 of the cable assembly 36 comprises unspliced optical fibers of said riser cable 46.
The fiber optic network 44 further comprises at least one first fiber optic distribution device 10. The or each first fiber optic distribution device 10 corresponds to the fiber optic distribution device 10 shown in figures 1 to 3.
In the embodiment of a fiber optic network 44 of figure 4 a tether cable 47 enters into each first fiber optic distribution device 10. In this case, each first fiber optic distribution device 10 carries connection points to connect optical fibers of a tether cable 47 to optical fibers of a drop cable 40. In case that the optical fibers of a tether cable 47 are preconnectorized with fiber optic connectors 56 (see figure 3), the fiber optic connectors 56 of preconnectorized optical fibers of a tether cable 47 can be connected directly with fiber optic connectors of the drop cable 40 using adapters being hold in the adapter frame 29.
Its is also possible to splice the optical fibers of a tether cable 47 to optical fibers of pigtails using the splice tray 43 for storage of the splices and to connect the optical fibers of the pigtails with optical fibers of the drop cable 40 by fiber optic connectors received by adapters being hold in the adapter frame 29. This results in an indirect conncetion via the pigtail.
The optical fibers of each drop cable 40 are guided to at least one second fiber optic distribution device 57, the or each second fiber optic distribution device 57 carrying splices in order to connect the optical fibers of said drop cable 40 to optical fibers of at least one optical network terminal cable 58 running to a subscriber 59. According to figure 4 the optical fibers of the drop cable 40 being connected to the optical fibers of the upper tether cable 47 are guided to a cascade of second fiber optic distribution devices 57, whereby within each second fiber optic distribution devices 57 at least one optical fiber of the drop cable 40 is connected via an optical fiber of a pigtail to an optical fiber of an optical network terminal cable 58. The other optical fibers of the drop cable 40 are uncut and exit the respective second fiber optic distribution devices 57.
Figure 5 shows a schematic view of another preferred embodiment of a fiber optic network 60 including the fiber optic distribution devices 10. Figure 5 shows as part of the fiber optic network 44 a riser cable 46 entering directly into the fiber optic distribution devices 10. In this case, each first fiber optic distribution device 10 carries connection points to connect optical fibers of a riser cable 46 to optical fibers of a drop cable 40.
Its is also possible to splice the optical fibers of a riser cable 46 to optical fibers of pigtails using the splice tray 43 for storage of the splices and to connect the optical fibers of the pigtails with optical fibers of the drop cable 40 by fiber optic connectors received by adapters being hold in the adapter frame 29. This results in an indirect conncetion of the optical fibers of a riser cable 46 to optical fibers of the drop cable 40.
According to figure 5 a cascade of fiber optic distribution devices 10 is assigned to the riser cable 46, whereby within each cascaded fiber optic distribution devices 10 at least one optical fiber of the riser cable 46 is connected to an optical fiber of the drop cable 40. The other optical fibers of the riser cable 46 are uncut and exit the respective fiber optic distribution devices 10.
As described in connection with figure 4, the optical fibers of each drop cable 40 of the fiber optic network according to figure 5 are guided to at least one second fiber optic distribution device 57, the or each second fiber optic distribution device 57 carrying splices in order to connect the optical fibers of said drop cable 40 to optical fibers of at least one optical network terminal cable 58 running to a subscriber 59.
As can be best seen in figure 2, two drum-like or cylinder-like optical fiber overlength guiding and storage elements 60 and 61 are assigned to the bottom wall 31 of the base part 12 of the housing 11 of the fiber optic distribution device 10. The two drum-like or cylinder-like optical fiber overlength guiding and storage elements 60 and 61 are inserted into one another in a way the first fiber overlength guiding and storage element 60 defining a smaller diameter for guiding optical fibers is partly encircled by the second fiber overlength guiding and storage element 61 defining a larger diameter for guiding optical fibers, whereby a first otherlength storage room is provided between the two fiber overlength guiding and storage elements 60 and 61, and whereby a second otherlength storage room is provided radially outside from the second fiber overlength guiding and storage element 61.
The first otherlength storage room provided between the two fiber overlength guiding and storage elements 60 and 61 can preferably be used in the installation of figure 5 for the storage of fiber overlength of the riser cable 46 or in the in the installation of figure 4 for the storage of fiber overlength of the tether cable 47. The second overlength storage room provided radially outside from the second fiber overlength guiding and storage element 61 can preferably be used in both installations for the storage of fiber overlength of drop cables or pig tails
bend radius control element
cable tie guide element
individual optical fiber
individual protection tube
mid span access location
network terminal cable
overlength guiding and storage element
A fiber optic distribution device (10), comprising a housing (11),
said housing (11) providing an inlet opening for an fiber optic riser cable (46) or for an fiber optic tether cable (47) and an outlet opening for said fiber optic riser cable (46) or for said fiber optic tether cable (47), whereby said inlet opening is assigned to a first side wall (14) of the housing and said outlet opening is assigned to a second, opposite second side wall (15) of the housing;
said housing (11) having a third side wall (25) extending between said first side wall (14) and said opposite second side wall (15), whereby outlet openings for fiber optic drop cables (40) and/or adapters for fiber optic connectors being assigned to said third side wall (25);
said housing (11) further having a bottom wall (31), whereby at least two spaced apart lines (32, 33) of bend radius control elements (34, 35) are assigned to said bottom wall (31);
each line (32, 33) of bend radius control elements (34, 35) runs generally in parallel to said third side wall (25);
in the middle between each two adjacent bend radius control elements (34) of the first line (32) there is positioned each one bend radius control element (35) of the second line (33) thereby providing each two guide channels, namely a first guide channel for guiding optical fibers from the third side wall (25) to the first side wall (14) and a second guide channel for guiding optical fibers from the third side wall (25) to the second side wall (15);
each bend radius control element (34) of the first line (32) comprises two bend radius control side walls converging in the direction to the second line (33) of bend radius control elements, and that each bend radius control element (35) of the second line (33) comprises two bend radius control side walls converging in the direction to the first line (32) of bend radius control elements.
The fiber optic distribution device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that additional outlet openings for fiber optic drop cables (40) are assigned to said first side wall (14).
The fiber optic distribution device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that additional outlet openings for fiber optic drop cables (40) are assigned to said second side wall (15).
The fiber optic distribution device as claimed in one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that
outlet openings for fiber optic drop cables (40) are assigned to said first side wall (14) and to said second side wall (15);
at least one line (38, 39) of strain relief elements (37) assigned to said bottom wall (31) runs generally in parallel to each of said first side wall (14) and said second side wall (15) in order to provide strain relief for the drop cables running through the respective outlet openings of the respective side wall (14, 15) in a way that each drop cable can be placed on a strain relief element (37) and can be fixed at said strain relief element (37) using a cable tie (41) surrounding the respective drop cable (40) and the respective strain relief element (37);
whereby at each side of each strain relief element (37) there is positioned a cable tie guide element (42) guiding the cable tie (41) when mounting the respective cable tie (41) at the respective relief element (37).
The fiber optic distribution device as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that two spaced apart lines (38, 39) of strain relief elements (37) are running generally in parallel to each of said first side wall (14) and said second side wall (15), whereby in the middle between each two adjacent strain relief elements (37) of each line (38, 39) there is positioned each one strain relief element (37) of the respective spaced apart line (39, 38) of strain relief elements, and whereby in the middle between each two adjacent cable tie guide elements (42) of the each line (38, 39) there is positioned a cable tie guide element (42) of the respective spaced apart line (39, 38).
A fiber optic network comprising
a riser cable (46); said riser cable (46) comprising
a cable jacket (48) surrounding a plurality of optical fiber bundles;
a furcation adapter (49) mounted to an end (50) of said riser cable (46), said furcation adapter (49) splitting out the optical fibers of said riser cable (46) in a way that each of said optical fibers of said riser cable (46) is surrounded by an individual protection tube and that each of said optical fibers of said riser cable (46) can be connected to an optical fiber of a distribution cable;
at least one first fiber optic distribution device (10) as claimed in one of claims 1 to 5, said first fiber optic distribution device (10) carrying connection points in order to connect optical fibers of the riser cable (46) to optical fibers of a drop cable (40); and
at least one second fiber optic distribution device (57) carrying connection points in order to connect optical fibers of a drop cable (40) to optical fibers of a optical network terminal cable (58) running to a subscriber (59).
EP20090001719 2009-02-06 2009-02-06 Fiber optic distribution device and fiber optic network including the same Active EP2216667B1 (en)
ES09001719T ES2381148T3 (en) 2009-02-06 2009-02-06 Fiber optic distribution devices and fiber optic network that includes the same
EP11190947.9A EP2426539B1 (en) 2009-02-06 2009-02-06 Fiber optic distribution device and fiber optic network including the same
PT09001719T PT2216667E (en) 2009-02-06 2009-02-06 Fiber optic distribution device and fiber optic network including the same
AT09001719T AT542160T (en) 2009-02-06 2009-02-06 Fiber optical distribution device and fiber optic network
ES11190947.9T ES2472455T3 (en) 2009-02-06 2009-02-06 Fiber optic distribution device and fiber optic network that includes the same
AU2010200293A AU2010200293B2 (en) 2009-02-06 2010-01-27 Fiber optic distribution device and fiber optic network including the same
US12/700,837 US20100202745A1 (en) 2009-02-06 2010-02-05 Fiber Optic Distribution Device and Fiber Optic Network Including the Same
CN 201010113920 CN101799576B (en) 2009-02-06 2010-02-05 Fiber optic distribution device and fiber optic network including the same
EP11190947.9A Division EP2426539B1 (en) 2009-02-06 2009-02-06 Fiber optic distribution device and fiber optic network including the same
EP11190947.9 Division-Into 2011-11-28
EP2216667A1 EP2216667A1 (en) 2010-08-11
EP2216667B1 true EP2216667B1 (en) 2012-01-18
EP20090001719 Active EP2216667B1 (en) 2009-02-06 2009-02-06 Fiber optic distribution device and fiber optic network including the same
EP11190947.9A Active EP2426539B1 (en) 2009-02-06 2009-02-06 Fiber optic distribution device and fiber optic network including the same
Ipc: G02B 6/44 20060101AFI20110630BHEP
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