Patent ID: 7123836

Claim:
An optical fiber-based communication system, comprising: a distribution optical fiber extending proximately to a plurality of end users, the distribution optical fiber having a length; located at intervals along at least part of the length of the distribution optical fiber, tap-off modules through which the distribution optical fiber passes uninterrupted, each of the tap-off modules including: a port comprising a first optical fiber connector half; a coupling fiber including an end portion that extends to the port, wherein the end portion of the coupling fiber is optically connected to the first optical fiber connector half, the coupling fiber additionally includes an end remote from the end portion, each of at least some of the tap-off modules additionally includes an anti-reflection termination at the end of the coupling fiber, and a single evanescent coupling between the coupling fiber and the distribution optical fiber; and a branch optical fiber connected to the port of each of at least some of the tap-off modules and extending to a corresponding one of the end users, the branch optical fiber comprising a second optical fiber connector half, the second optical fiber connector half being mated with the first optical fiber connector half to connect the branch optical fiber to the port.