WO2001031377A1 - Systeme et procedes d'encapsulation et de routage de fibres optiques - Google Patents

Systeme et procedes d'encapsulation et de routage de fibres optiques Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2001031377A1
WO2001031377A1 PCT/US2000/026493 US0026493W WO0131377A1 WO 2001031377 A1 WO2001031377 A1 WO 2001031377A1 US 0026493 W US0026493 W US 0026493W WO 0131377 A1 WO0131377 A1 WO 0131377A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
guides
lead
platform
component
optical
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2000/026493
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Adam Richter
Reginald A. Saunders
Original Assignee
Corning Incorporated
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Corning Incorporated filed Critical Corning Incorporated
Publication of WO2001031377A1 publication Critical patent/WO2001031377A1/fr

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/44—Mechanical structures for providing tensile strength and external protection for fibres, e.g. optical transmission cables
    • G02B6/4439—Auxiliary devices
    • G02B6/444—Systems or boxes with surplus lengths
    • G02B6/4453—Cassettes
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/44—Mechanical structures for providing tensile strength and external protection for fibres, e.g. optical transmission cables
    • G02B6/4439—Auxiliary devices
    • G02B6/444—Systems or boxes with surplus lengths
    • G02B6/4453—Cassettes
    • G02B6/4454—Cassettes with splices

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to improvements in optical signal processing devices, and particularly to advantageous aspects of a system and methods for packaging and routing optical fiber within an optical signal processing device.
  • Devices for performing signal processing on an optical signal typically include a number of discrete optical components that are mounted into fixtures on a platform and are interconnected by optical fiber leads that are spliced together.
  • the splicing together of these optical leads often results in long loops of optical fiber that must be routed and packaged within the device in a manner that prevents damage to the fiber and minimizes macrobend loss.
  • Macrobend loss is attenuation or loss of light that occurs when light radiates away from the optical fiber due to a too small radius of curvature.
  • loops of optical fiber within an optical device are routed and packaged by means of a number of curved guides that are mounted to the device platform in a predetermined configuration in relation to the fixtures used to mount the optical components into the device.
  • Optical fiber is wound tangentially around the exterior surfaces of these curved guides, which have a sufficiently large radius to prevent macrobend loss, for example, approximately 16mm for 100 kpsi fiber. The fiber is held in place around the curved guides by tension in the fiber.
  • One aspect of the invention provides a system for routing and packaging optical fiber leads.
  • the system includes a platform having a base, from which projects upward a set of convex guides, the curved outer surfaces of the convex guides defining a tension loop for routing an optical fiber lead extending from a first optical component mounted proximate to a convex guide, the first optical component lead being held in position against the outer surfaces of the convex guides by tension in the optical fiber lead.
  • a set of concave guides also projects upward from the base, the curved inner surfaces of the concave guides defining a passive loop for routing an optical fiber lead from a second optical component mounted proximate to the concave guides, the second optical component lead tending to expand outward towards the inner surfaces of the concave guides.
  • the tension loop and the passive loop are positioned relative to each other such that a first component lead routed in the tension loop can be spliced to a second component lead routed in the passive loop.
  • Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a wavelength division multiplexer, the leads of which are to be routed and packaged in accordance with the present invention.
  • Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a platform according to one aspect of the present invention.
  • Figs. 3 through 6 show perspective views of the platform shown in Fig. 2 in various stages of assembly.
  • Fig. 7A shows a plan view of the platform shown in Figs. 2-6 mounted into a housing.
  • Fig. 7B shows a cross section of the assembly shown in Fig. 7A through the plane B-B.
  • Fig. 8 shows a perspective view of a foam insert for use in the assembly shown in
  • Fig. 9 shows a flowchart of a method according to the present invention.
  • Optical signal processing devices are typically constructed from discrete optical components that are mounted onto a motherboard or other platform. Each optical component can have two or more optical fiber leads for connection to other optical components. Because optical fiber is easily damaged and difficult to splice, the optical component leads are typically quite lengthy, i.e., several times the length of the component. The length of the component leads allows numerous attempts to be made to splice the leads together. If a splice proves to be unsatisfactory, it can be broken out, and the optical component leads can be trimmed back for another attempt.
  • the loops of optical fiber resulting from splices are routed and packaged through the use of a number of curved optical fiber guides having convex outer guide surfaces.
  • the optical fiber guides have a radius sufficiently large to prevent macrobend losses when optical fiber is wound around the outer surfaces of the guides.
  • Each loop of optical fiber wound around the fiber guides is actively held in a position by tension in the fiber loop.
  • the use of a tensioned approach has proven to be satisfactory, particularly where the optical components being spliced together are relatively small in size.
  • the use of a tensioned approach for certain mounting arrangements may result in an overall package size that is larger than desired.
  • Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a wavelength division multiplexer
  • the WDM package 12 has a relatively large size and has six optical fiber leads 14 that are asymmetrically located on either end of package 12.
  • the underside of the WDM package 12 includes four taps 15 at the corners of the package that, as discussed below, are used in installing the WDM into an optical device.
  • optical fiber can be routed and packaged within an optical device in such a way that the fiber is loosely wrapped onto a platform and then allowed to expand to a predetermined minimum diameter within a loop defined by the inner surfaces of a set of concave fiber guides.
  • the component fiber can be routed to merge into a traditional routing scheme. This allows the fibers to be spliced together before exiting the device for the customer's use.
  • the present invention allows a device containing heterogeneous components, such as the WDM, to be optimized in order to achieve a smaller size than would result from the use of traditional routing and packaging techniques.
  • Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a fiber routing and packaging platform 16 according to the present invention.
  • the platform 16 is a single piece of machined aluminum. However, if desired, it would also be within the spirit of the invention to manufacture the platform 16 out of separate components and from other suitable materials.
  • the platform includes a flat base 18. Projecting upward from the base are three types of fiber guides: ten convex fiber guides 21-30, four concave guides 31-34, and six channels 35-40 leading to the exterior of the platform 16.
  • the platform 16 further includes a substantially flat central section 42 onto which optical components are mounted.
  • the central section 42 includes first and second V-shaped grooves 44 and 46 for receiving cylindrical optical components.
  • a WDM such as the one shown in Fig. 4, is mounted between the two V-shaped grooves 44 and 46.
  • additional component holders are mounted onto the central section 42 outside of the two V-shaped grooves 44 and 46.
  • the concave fiber guides 31-34 are used to route and package the leads of a WDM mounted between the V-shaped grooves 44 and 46. As shown in Fig. 2, there are defined two openings 48 and 50, between guides 22 and 23 and guides 27 and 28, respectively. The fiber optic leads of the WDM are then routed through these openings 48 and 50 and then along the loop defined by the interior surfaces of concave guides 31-34 around the inner perimeter of the platform 16. Because of the above-described physical properties of optical fiber, fiber leads routed in this manner will tend to open up, causing the fiber to be gently urged towards the interior surfaces of the concave guides 31-34.
  • the ten convex fiber guides 21-30 which are arranged in five pairs, 21/26, 22/27, 23/28, 24/29, and 25/30, are used to route and package the leads of the remaining optical components. Each of these components is mounted between a pair of convex guides with its fiber leads extending tangentially around the curved outer surfaces of its respective pair of convex guides.
  • channels 35-40 provide paths for routing leads to the exterior of the device.
  • the platform 16 includes upper and lower V-shaped grooves 44 and 46, which, as illustrated in Figs. 3-6 and discussed below, are dimensioned to receive cylindrical optical components.
  • the upper groove 44 is located between guides 22 and 27.
  • a component mounted into the upper groove 44 is aligned such that its optical fiber leads can be guided around guides 22 and 27.
  • the lower groove 46 is located between guides 24 and 29 such that the optical fiber leads of a component mounted into the lower groove 46 can be guided around guides 24 and 29.
  • the platform 16 includes a number of mounting holes, including four holes 51-54 that, as illustrated in Fig. 6 and discussed below, are used to receive dowel pins that are used to position the WDM.
  • Figs. 3 through 6 show further details of how various optical components are loaded into the platform 16 shown in Fig. 2.
  • a WDM 56 such as the one shown in Fig. 4 fits into the center section 42 of the platform 34 between grooves 44 and 46 such that the WDM leads (not shown) extend on the left side through opening 48 between guides 22 and 23, and on the right side through opening 50 between guides 27 and 28.
  • the WDM 56 is positioned on the platform 16 by dowel pins that are inserted into holes 51-54 (shown in Fig. 2) on the platform and into the taps 15 (shown in Fig. 1) on the underside of the WDM 56.
  • the dowel pins are illustrated in Fig. 6, discussed below.
  • a pair of cylindrical optical components 58 and 60 are mounted in the V-shaped grooves 44 and 46 on either side of the WDM 56.
  • the smaller of the two components is a tap 58, and the larger component is a circulator 60.
  • the tap 58 is mounted between convex fiber guides 22 and 27.
  • the circulator 60 is mounted between convex fiber guides 24 and 29.
  • a pair of brackets 62 are mounted on the outside of the tap 58 and the circulator 50.
  • Each bracket 62 includes a base 64, a middle shelf member 66 and an upper shelf member 68. This allows a pair of optical components to be held by each bracket 62, a first component between the base 64 and the middle shelf member 66, and a second component between the middle shelf member 66 and the upper shelf member 68.
  • the brackets 62 are used to hold gratings 82, each of which has a rectangular profile that fits closely inside the brackets.
  • Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of the platform 16 with the WDM 56 shown in
  • Figs. 3-5 removed for purposes of illustration.
  • Fig. 6 illustrates the placement of four dowel pins 71-74 in mounting holes 51-54. As discussed above, the dowel pins 71- 74 fit into receiving tap holes on the underside of the WDM 56.
  • Figs. 3 through 5 show the WDM 56 being installed first. However, in actual use, it has been found that it is easier to install the smaller components first, perform the necessary splices, and then install the WDM 56.
  • Fig. 7A shows a plan view of an add-drop module 76 that incorporates the platform 16 shown in Figs. 2 through 6, mounted into a housing 78.
  • Fig. 7B shows a cross section through the plane B-B of the add-drop module 76 shown in Fig. 7A.
  • a number of external leads 80 extend outside of the housing 78.
  • the present invention advantageously combines two techniques for routing and packaging component leads.
  • the smaller components, including the tap 58, the circulator 60, and the gratings 82 held in the side brackets 62 are mounted into position first, after the platform 16 has been assembled into the housing 78.
  • the component leads are then routed and packaged around the convex guides 21-30, and are held in place by tension in the leads.
  • the WDM 56 is then placed into position, using the dowel pins 71-74 shown in Fig. 6. Its six leads are routed on the left side through the opening 48 between guides 22 and 23 and on the right side through the opening 50 between guides 27 and 28 into the passive loop defined by concave guides 31-34. Each lead is wound around this loop as many times as required by the length of the lead. As discussed above, the WDM leads "open up" towards the interior surfaces of the concave guides 31-34. The end of each WDM lead is then routed around a convex guide, as required, for splicing to a lead from one of the other components.
  • the leads are tensioned around the convex guides by hand. This tensioning is accomplished by gently pulling the convex lead by hand until the proper level of tension is achieved, and then placing a foam insert over the lead to maintain that level of tension. As shown in Fig. 7B, the foam insert 84 is wedged into position between the WDM 56 and a side bracket 62, and is held in place by lid interference.
  • Fig. 8 shows a perspective view of a foam insert 84 that may suitably be used for this purpose.
  • a lid 84 (shown in Fig. 7B) is affixed to the housing 78, and is hermetically sealed around its perimeter. It will be appreciated that the present invention provides a highly efficient use of space, while providing protection to the optical fiber component leads.
  • Fig. 9 shows a flowchart of a method 90 according to the present invention.
  • a first set of components is loaded into a platform, such as the one discussed above.
  • the first set of components includes components having leads that are to be routed and packaged using convex fiber guides. These would include, for example, the smaller components described above, such as the tap, circulator, and gratings shown in Figs. 9A and 9B.
  • the leads of these components are spliced, routed, and packaged around the convex fiber guides, using a tension-based technique.
  • a second set of components is loaded into the platform.
  • the second set of components includes components having leads that are to be routed and packaged using concave fiber guides. These would include, for example, the WDM described above. Although the optical device shown and described above has only one component having leads to be routed and packaged using concave fiber guides, it would be possible to extend the concept to include devices having two or more such components.
  • the leads from these components are routed around the platform in the loop defined by the concave fiber guides.
  • the leads that have been routed using either the convex or the concave fiber guides are spliced together, as required.
  • the leads that have been routed around the convex fiber guides are tensioned by hand around the convex guides, and the tension is maintained by placing a foam insert over the lead.
  • the order according to which the various optical components are loaded into the platform is not essential to practicing the present invention.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Light Guides In General And Applications Therefor (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un système de routage et d'encapsulation de fils de connexion en fibres optiques. Le système comprend une plate-forme (16) comportant une base (18) à partir de laquelle se projettent vers le haut une série de guides convexes (21-30) dont les surfaces extérieures délimitent une boucle de tension utilisée pour le routage d'un fil de connexion en fibres optiques. Le fil de connexion en fibres optiques, qui s'étend d'un premier composant optique monté à proximité d'un guide convexe, est maintenu en position contre les guides convexes (21-30) dans la boucle convexe. Une série de guides concaves (31-34) fait également saillie vers le haut à partir de la base, et ses surfaces intérieures délimitent une boucle passive servant au routage d'un fil de connexion en fibres optiques depuis un deuxième composant optique monté à proximité des guides concaves (31-34), le fil de connexion du deuxième composant optique tendant à s'étendre vers l'extérieur et les surfaces intérieures des guides concaves (31-34). La boucle de tension et la boucle passive sont disposées l'une relativement à l'autre.
PCT/US2000/026493 1999-10-27 2000-09-26 Systeme et procedes d'encapsulation et de routage de fibres optiques WO2001031377A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US16181599P 1999-10-27 1999-10-27
US60/161,815 1999-10-27

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2001031377A1 true WO2001031377A1 (fr) 2001-05-03

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PCT/US2000/026493 WO2001031377A1 (fr) 1999-10-27 2000-09-26 Systeme et procedes d'encapsulation et de routage de fibres optiques

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Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102016007178A1 (de) * 2016-06-14 2017-12-14 Langmatz Gmbh Spleißkassette zum Spleißen und Verbinden von Glasfasern in einem Verteilerschrank

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5987207A (en) * 1997-06-27 1999-11-16 Siecor Corporation Fiber organizer
US6144792A (en) * 1996-10-25 2000-11-07 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Device for fixing the optical elements of an optical fiber amplifier

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6144792A (en) * 1996-10-25 2000-11-07 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Device for fixing the optical elements of an optical fiber amplifier
US5987207A (en) * 1997-06-27 1999-11-16 Siecor Corporation Fiber organizer

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102016007178A1 (de) * 2016-06-14 2017-12-14 Langmatz Gmbh Spleißkassette zum Spleißen und Verbinden von Glasfasern in einem Verteilerschrank
DE102016007178B4 (de) 2016-06-14 2021-10-07 Langmatz Gmbh Spleißkassette zum Spleißen und Verbinden von Glasfasern in einem Verteilerschrank

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