Optical waveguides – Accessories – Splice box and surplus fiber storage/trays/organizers/ carriers
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-03
2002-04-30
Lee, John D. (Department: 2874)
Optical waveguides
Accessories
Splice box and surplus fiber storage/trays/organizers/ carriers
C385S092000, C359S341100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06381394
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of optical repeaters and, more particularly, to an apparatus and method for assembling amplifier assemblies for use in optical repeaters.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In an undersea optical transmission system, optical signals that are transmitted through an optical fiber cable become attenuated over the length of the cable, which may span thousands of miles. To compensate for this signal attenuation, optical repeaters are strategically positioned along the length of the cable.
In a typical optical repeater, the optical fiber cable carrying the optical signal enters the repeater and is coupled through at least one amplifier and various components, such as optical couplers and decouplers, before exiting the repeater. These optical components are coupled to one another via optical fibers as well. Repeaters are housed in a sealed structure that protects the repeaters from environmental damage.
FIG. 1
illustrates a known submarine optical repeater
2
having a cylindrical member
4
and a pair of end plates
6
closing the opposite ends of the cylindrical member
4
. An internal structure
8
including a radiating/shock absorbing member
7
, is included within repeater
2
. The internal structure
8
has two module assemblies
10
and
12
. Submarine optical cables
14
are connected to the opposite ends of optical repeater
2
. Each submarine optical cable
14
has a power cable
16
for feeding a series constant current and has an optical fiber cable
18
. The power cable
16
and the optical fiber cable
18
of each submarine optical cable
14
are introduced into optical repeater
2
through a bushing
20
inserted through a substantially central portion of each end plate
6
, and are connected electrically and optically to the internal structure
8
.
FIG. 2
is a perspective view of one of the module assemblies (either module assembly
10
or
12
) which is included in internal structure
8
as shown in FIG.
1
. Typically, the module assembly includes a common module
70
, a drive circuit module
72
provided on an upper side of common module
70
and a power supply module
74
provided on a lower side of the common module
70
. The common module
70
has a common frame
80
consisting of an upper common frame
76
and a lower common frame
78
integrated together. The modules
72
and
74
are stacked together horizontally and can be clamped together by bolts or by any other method for connecting the modules. Each of these modules also includes a means for providing electrical and optical connections, which can include either interconnections between the modules or interconnections of the input and output power to and from power cable
16
and interconnections of input and output optical signal connections to and from optical cable
18
.
As can be seen in
FIG. 2
, the optical interconnection
79
between the modules creates a tangled web of optical fibers that could be damaged as a result of, among other reasons, twisting, tangling or bending of the fibers. Moreover, incorporating additional module assemblies would greatly increase the complication of interconnection of the modules and could increase the size of the optical repeater. Finally, repairing any of the components in the repeater would be very difficult because of the complicated interconnection of the components.
Therefore, it would be desirable to provide an improved apparatus and method for arranging module assemblies in an optical repeater that would avoid greatly increasing the overall size of the optical repeater, protect interconnecting optical fibers, and provide accessibility for maintenance purposes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An optical repeater includes an internal structure having defined therein a longitudinal plane. The internal structure includes and a plurality of base modules. The base modules have a front and a back face and a plurality of sides with the faces positioned substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal plane of the internal structure. The optical repeater further includes a top module disposed substantially perpendicular to one of the plurality of sides the base modules.
A method for assembling an optical repeater includes providing and internal structure and defining a longitudinal plane therein. The method also includes providing a plurality of modules having a front and a back face and a plurality of sides such that the faces of the base modules are positioned substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal plane of the internal structure. The method further includes providing a top module disposed substantially perpendicular to one of the plurality of sides of the base modules.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5402515 (1995-03-01), Vidacovich et al.
patent: 5642219 (1997-06-01), Ogiya et al.
patent: 5646775 (1997-07-01), Delrosso et al.
patent: 5778132 (1998-07-01), Csipkes et al.
Cabrera Armando
Talamini Victor J.
Lee John D.
Song Sarah U
TyCom (US) Inc.
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