Optical waveguides – Accessories
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-22
2001-09-11
Bovernick, Rodney (Department: 2874)
Optical waveguides
Accessories
C385S053000, C385S135000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06289159
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to an optical fibre distribution system, to a kit of parts for forming such a system, to an optical fibre storage region module for an optical fibre distribution system, and to a method of connecting an optical fibre and storing a spare length thereof in an optical fibre distribution system.
Several types of optical fibre distribution systems, which are commonly known as frames or racks, are used today. For example, one type of system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,402,515 (3M). This patent discloses a system which comprises a frame having several bays for receiving connector modules, associated jumper organizers for storing spare lengths of jumpers (which may also be called pigtails or patch cords and comprise ruggedized optical fibres which are connected to the connector modules), and upper and lower troughs for conveying jumper fibres between adjacent bays. Spare lengths of jumpers are stored in vertical raceways between the bays of connector modules, with each vertical raceway containing several spools which support the jumpers in such a manner that there are never more than two continuous bends of more than 90°.
A different system of storing spare lengths (sometimes referred to as slack or excess) of optical fibres in a distribution system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,013,121. In this system, the spare optical fibre lengths are stored in a cabinet or module which may form part of a stack of connector cabinets or modules in a distribution frame. The cabinet which stores the spare fibre contains a plurality of trays which are slidably received within the cabinet. A take up spool is provided on each tray, and the slack of a patch cord fibre is stored on each tray by winding the take up spool on that tray.
There are disadvantages with each of these systems. While the spare jumper length storage system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,402,515 has the advantage of simplicity, it has the disadvantage of providing only poor organization of the spare jumper lengths, and tangling of jumpers is therefore possible, and even likely. This tangling leads to the disturbance of other jumpers when attempting to access one particular jumper, which can cause losses in optical signal transmission. Furthermore, the tangling of jumpers is exacerbated by the fact that the vertical raceways (where the spare jumper lengths are stored) are also used to route jumpers between the bays of the distribution system, and so these raceways are normally very crowded with jumpers. This also makes the provision of wide vertical raceways between the bays a necessity, which is disadvantageous in situations where there is insufficient space available for such wide vertical raceways.
The system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,013,121 provides a much greater degree of organization of spare optical fibre lengths (e.g., spare jumper or patch cord lengths), but this improved organization is achieved at the cost of greatly increased installation complexity (and consequently installation time). Spare lengths of fibre must be stored individually on the trays in the cabinet in a time-consuming and laborious installation procedure, and a correspondingly time-consuming and laborious procedure is also required in order to gain access to the fibre once stored. Furthermore, the cabinet is a complex and intricate construction which can store a maximum of only 48 patch cords or jumpers, and it is thus a costly and space-consuming design despite its superficially compact appearance.
There is thus a need for an optical fibre distribution system in which spare lengths of fibre are stored in an organized yet compact manner, and which provides quick and easy installation and access of such stored fibre in a manner which reduces the risk of disturbance of other stored fibres. The purpose of the present invention is to provide such a system.
Accordingly, a first aspect of the present invention provides an optical fibre distribution system, comprising:
(a) at least one stack of optical fibre interconnection modules; and
(b) at least one optical fibre storage region located in at least one said stack of interconnection modules, which storage region, in use, stores spare lengths of one or more optical fibres which extend between respective interconnection modules, wherein the or each storage region comprises a plurality of supports which are mutually spaced-apart across at least part of the width of the stack of interconnection modules such that, in use, each spare length of optical fibre may be routed into the storage region and routed around at least one of the supports which may be selected to provide at least approximately the correct storage length required for that spare length of optical fibre.
A second aspect of the invention provides a kit of parts for forming an optical fibre distribution system, comprising:
(a) a plurality of optical fibre interconnection modules which, in use, are arranged in a stack; and
(b) at least one optical fibre storage region module which, in use, is located in at least one said stack of interconnection modules, which storage region, in use, stores spare lengths of one or more optical fibres which extend between respective interconnection modules, wherein the or each storage region comprises a plurality of supports which are mutually spaced-apart across at least part of the width of the stack of interconnection modules such that, in use, each spare length of optical fibre may be routed into the storage region and routed around at least one of the supports which may be selected to provide at least approximately the correct storage length required for that spare length of optical fibre.
A third aspect of the invention provides an optical fibre storage region module for an optical fibre distribution system, which module, in use, stores spare lengths of one or more optical fibres which are connected in the distribution system, the module comprising a plurality of supports which are mutually spaced-apart across at least part of the width thereof such that, in use, each spare length of optical fibres may be routed into the module and routed around at least one of the supports which may be selected to provide at least approximately the correct storage length required for that spare length of optical fibre.
A fourth aspect of the invention provides a method of connecting an optical fibre and storing a spare length thereof in an optical fibre distribution system according to the first aspect of the invention, comprising:
(a) connecting opposite ends of the optical fibre in respective interconnection modules;
(b) routing a said spare length of said connected optical fibre into the storage region;
(c) selecting at least one of the supports to provide at least approximately the correct storage length required for that spare length of optical fibre; and
(d) routing the spare length of optical fibres around the selected support(s).
Preferably, the step of routing the spare length of optical fibre around the selected support(s) comprises hooking a bend in that optical fibre around the selected support(s), e.g. by passing the bend around an end (e.g. a front end) of the support or through a gap in the support.
The invention has the advantage that is provides a simple, organized and compact system of storing spare lengths of optical fibre (which will normally be ruggedized fibre, e.g. pigtails, patch cords or jumpers) because the storage region comprises a plurality of supports which are mutually spaced-apart across at least part of the width of the stack of modules such that each spare length of optical fibre may be routed into the storage region and routed around at least one of the supports which may be selected to provide at least approximately the correct storage length for that spare length of optical fibre.
This manner of spare fibre length storage is compact because it does not require the use of trays for storing individual (ruggedized) fibres; also, because the storage is carried out within the stack of modules, it does not require wide vertical raceways between such stacks or bay
Mathues Mario
Van Hees Jan
Van Noten Louis
Vanderlinden Michel
Allen Dyer Doppelt Milbrath & Gilchrist, P.A.
Bovernick Rodney
Kim Ellen E.
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