WO2023211936A1

WO2023211936A1 - Indexing module

Info

Publication number: WO2023211936A1
Application number: PCT/US2023/019811
Authority: WO
Inventors: David Jan Irma VAN BAELEN; Steven Hugo M. Theys; Paul Schneider; Patrick Jacques Ann Diepstraten
Original assignee: Commscope Technologies Llc
Priority date: 2022-04-25
Filing date: 2023-04-25
Publication date: 2023-11-02

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an indexing module that in one example includes non-hardened multi-fiber connector ports for receiving multi-fiber connectors from outside the indexing module. The multi-fiber connector ports can be defined by fiber optic adapters such as MPO adapters. The non-hardened multi-fiber connector ports allow a plurality of the indexing modules to be daisy-chained together using multi-fiber patch cords with each of the patch cords being terminated at each end by a non-hardened multi-fiber connector (e.g., an MPO connector).

Description

INDEXING MODULE

Cross-Reference to Related Applications

This application is being filed on April 25, 2023, as a PCT International application and claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/334,479, filed April 25, 2022, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Background

Optical networks are becoming increasingly more prevalent in part because service providers want to deliver high bandwidth communication capabilities to customers. There is a need for advanced fiber optic network architectures for more effectively and efficiently extending fiber optic networks to an ever increasing number of customers. In certain prior architectures, optical fibers can be dropped at various terminals along a network while a remainder of the fibers are indexed between terminals. Indexing provides an active optical fiber at a consistent fiber position within an input port, thereby simplifying terminal design and configuration. Example fiber optic indexing devices, systems and architectures are disclosed by US Patent Nos. 9,348,096; 9,766,414; 9,851,525; 9,557,498; 10,833,463; and 10,151,897, and by PCT International Publication No. W02020/046681.

Summary

One aspect of the present disclosure relates to an indexing module. In one example, the indexing module is not environmentally sealed for outdoor use and when used outdoors can be installed in a sealed enclosure rated and sealed for outdoor use.

In one example, the indexing module includes non-hardened multi-fiber connector ports for receiving multi-fiber connectors from outside the indexing module. In one example, the multi-fiber connector ports can be defined by fiber optic adapters such as MPO adapters.

In one example, the non-hardened multi-fiber connector ports allow a plurality of the indexing modules to be daisy-chained together using multi-fiber patch cords with each of the patch cords being terminated at each end by a non-hardened multi-fiber connector (e.g., an MPO connector). The indexing modules can be installed in separate enclosures rated for outdoor use that include cable seals for allowing end portions of the patch cords to be routed into the enclosures in a sealed manner. As used herein, a patch cord is a fiber optic cable having a fiber optic connector at each end.

In one example, the module includes a module housing having a cover (e.g., a dome cover) and a base. In one example, the cover has an open end and an opposite closed end, and the base mounts in the open end of the cover.

In one example, the module housing has a butt-style configuration.

In one example, first and second fiber optic adapters are mounted to the base with inner ports facing inside the module housing and outer ports accessible from outside the module housing. In one example, first and second non-hardened multi-fiber connectors having multi-fiber ferrules are respectively mounted in the inner ports of the first and second fiber optic adapters. In one example, indexing fibers within the module housing are routed in an indexed configuration between the multi-fiber ferrules of the first and second non-hardened multi-fiber connectors. In one example, at least one drop fiber terminated at the ferrule of the first non-hardened multi-fiber connector is optically coupled to a connectorized drop stub that is routed out of the module housing at a location between the first and second fiber optic adapters. In one example, a free end of the connectorized stub located outside the module housing is connectorized by a single fiber connector such as a non-hardened single fiber connector. In one example, drop fibers terminated at the ferrules of the first and second non-hardened multi-fiber connectors are optically coupled to connectorized drop stubs that are routed out of the module housing at a location between the first and second fiber optic adapters. In one example, free ends of the connectorized stubs located outside the module housing are connectorized by single fiber connectors such as nonhardened single fiber connectors.

In one example, the multi-fiber ferrule of one of the first and second nonhardened fiber optic connectors is pinned and the multi-fiber ferrule of the other of the first and second non-hardened fiber optic connectors is not pinned and instead has vacant pin openings.

In one example, the module housing incudes a tray integrated with the base and includes a fiber guide structure defining a fiber management loop, and wherein the indexing fibers and the drop fibers are routed within the module housing at least partially around the loop. In one example, the base and the cover are secured together by a snap-fit configuration. In one example, the snap fit arrangement can include latching arms integrated with the tray of the base having tabs that snap within openings defined by the dome cover.

A variety of additional inventive aspects will be set forth in the description that follows. The inventive aspects can relate to individual features and to combinations of features. It is to be understood that both the forgoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the broad inventive concepts upon which the examples disclosed herein are based.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the description, illustrate several aspects of the present disclosure. A brief description of the drawings is as follows.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an indexing module in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the indexing module of FIG. 1 with a base of the indexing module pulled partially outwardly from a cover of the indexing module.

FIG. 3 depicts the base of the indexing module of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 depicts the base of the indexing module of FIG. 1 with optical fibers routed on a fiber management tray integrated with the base.

FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of an optical fiber-layout for the indexing module of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the indexing module of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 depicts the end face of a pinned multi-fiber ferrule that can be included as part of a first multi-fiber optical connector installed within the indexing module.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the pinned multi-fiber ferrule of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 depicts the end face of a non-pinned multi-fiber ferrule that can be included as part of a second multi-fiber optical connector installed within the indexing module.

FIG. 10 is a side view of the non-pinned multi-fiber ferrule of FIG. 9. FIG. 11 shows two of the indexing modules of FIG. 1 arranged in a configuration in which patch cords are used to daisy-chain the indexing modules together.

FIG. 12 is a schematic view showing an indexing architecture deployed by daisy-chaining a plurality indexing modules together.

Detailed Description

Reference will now be made in detail to example aspects of the present disclosure that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

FIGS. 1 and 2 depict an indexing module 20 in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure. The indexing module 20 includes a housing 22 including a base 24 and a cover 26. In one example, the housing 22 is not environmentally sealed. As depicted, the cover 26 is a dome-style cover having an open end 28 and an opposite closed end 30. The closed end 30 can be rounded to facilitate fiber routing within the housing 22. The housing 22 has an envelope configuration with a thickness C (see FIG. 1) that is substantially smaller than a width A and a height B (see FIG. 6). The cover 26 defines opposite, parallel major sides 32 of the housing 22 and also defines opposite, parallel minor sides 34 of the housing. 22. The minor sides 34 extend between the major sides 32 and the minor and major sides 34, 32 all extend between the open and closed ends 28, 30 of the cover 26. The closed end 30 of the cover is defined by a curved wall 36 that curves as the wall extends between the minor sides 34. The curved wall has a convex outer curvature and a concave inner curvature. The width A extends between the minor sides 34, the height B extends between the open and closed ends 28, 30, and the thickness C extends between the minor sides 34. In one example, both the width A and the height B are at least three, four, or five times as large as the thickness C. In one example, the height B is larger than the width A. In one example, the width A is less than or equal to 125 millimeters (mm), the height B is less than or equal to 150 mm, and the thickness C is less than or equal to 25 mm. In one example, the width A is less than or equal to 100 mm millimeters (mm), the height B is less than 125 mm, and the thickness C is less than or equal to 20 mm. In one example, the housing defines a volume less than or equal to 500 cubic centimeters (cc) or defines a volume less than or equal to 350 cc, or defines a volume less than or equal to 250 cc.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the base 24 includes a base body 50 that encloses the open end 28 of the cover 26 when the base 24 and the cover 26 are secured together. The base 24 also includes a fiber management tray 52 integrated with the base body 50. The fiber management tray 52 projects upwardly from the base body 50 and is housed within the cover 26 when the base 24 and the cover 26 are secured together. The fiber management tray 52 has an upper end 56 positioned opposite from the base body 50 that is curved to match the curvature of the closed end 30 of the cover 26. The fiber management tray 52 is configured for managing (e.g., storing, guiding, providing bend radius control, etc.) optical fibers routed within the housing. In one example, the fiber management tray 52 includes a fiber management loop 60 for guiding optical fibers along at least a portion of looped path. In the depicted example, the looped path is defined by a channel 62 defined at least partially between first and second walls 64, 66 with the second wall 66 being spaced radially outwardly from the first wall 64. In the depicted example, the second wall 66 defines the upper end 56 of the fiber management tray 52. The fiber management tray 52 can include fiber retention tabs 69 that project over the channel 62 for retaining optical fibers within the channel 62.

In one example, the base 24 and the cover 26 are configured to be secured together by a snap-fit connection that may include one or more snaps defined by structures such as latches. For example, as depicted the fiber management tray 52 includes side latches 57 (e.g., cantilevers) having tabs 58 that snap within openings 59 defined by the minor sides 34 of the cover 26 to secure the base 24 and the cover 26 together when the base 24 is fully inserted in the cover 26.

In one example, the housing 22 has a butt-style configuration in which all cables or cable stubs are routed to and from the indexing module 20 at only one end of the housing (e.g., at the location of the base body 50).

The base body 50 defines first and second adapter mounting locations 70, 71 (e.g., openings) at which first and second multi-fiber optical adapters 72, 73 are mounted. The optical adapters 72, 73, in the depicted example, are not environmentally sealed with respect to the housing 22 and are not hardened and are adapted to couple together non-hardened multi-fiber connectors. In one example, the adapters 72, 73 are MPO adapters each configured to receive and couple together two MPO connectors. The optical adapters 72, 73 each include an inner connect port 74 configured to face inside the housing 22 when the base 24 and the cover 26 are secured together and an outer connector port 75 configured to be accessible from outside the housing 22 when the base 24 and the cover 26 are secured together. As depicted, the outer connector ports 75 are covered by dust plugs 77 for blocking the outer connector ports 75 when the outer connector ports 75 are vacant (i.e., not receiving a fiber optic connector). The dust plugs 77 can be removed from the outer connector ports 75 to allow fiber optic connectors to be inserted into the outer connector ports 75.

The base body 50 also defines a cable pass-through location 80 located between the first and second adapter mounting locations 70, 71. In one example, the cable pass-through location 80 can include at least one pass-through slot 81 configured to receive at least one fiber optic cable. As depicted, the cable pass-through location 80 includes two pass-through slots 81 each configured for receiving at least two fiber optic cables. As depicted at FIGS. 3 and 4, the slots 81 are shown each receiving two connectorized stub cables 82 (e.g., drop cables). The stub cables 82 can include free ends 84 located outside the housing 22 that are terminated with fiber optic connectors such as single fiber optical connectors 85 (e.g., SC or LC fiber optic connectors). In certain examples, each of the stub cables 82 can include a cable jacket 86 surrounding at least one optical fiber routed through the jacket 86 and terminated at a ferrule of the corresponding fiber optic connector 85. The stub cables 82 can each include a strength layer (e.g., a tensile strength layer that can include a fibrous construction such as Aramid yam) positioned between the corresponding optical fiber and the cable jacket. The optical fiber can be protected within the jacket and separated from the strength layer by a protective layer which can include a tube such as a furcation/buffer tube (e.g., a loose buffer tube) or can include a tight or semi-tight buffer layer. Inner ends of the stub cables 82 are preferably anchored relative to the housing (e.g., anchored relative to the base body 50). As depicted, crimp arrangements 87 are crimped on the strength layers and cable jackets of the stub cables 82 at inner ends of the stub cables 82. The crimp arrangements 87 fit within pockets 88 defined by the base 24 to anchor the inner ends of the stub cables 82 relative to the base 24.

Referring to FIG. 4, the indexing module 20 further includes first and second multi-fiber connectors 90, 91 (e.g., MPO connectors, as depicted) respectively received within the inner connector ports 74 of the first and second optical adapters 72, 73. The first multi-fiber connector 90 includes a non-pinned ferrule 93 (see FIGS. 9 and 10) and the second multi-fiber connector 91 includes a pinned ferrule 95 (see FIGS. 7 and 8). As depicted the ferrules 93, 95 are MPO ferrules having twelve consecutive fiber positions within only eight consecutive ones of the fiber positions being occupied by active optical fibers. It will be appreciated that the number of fiber positions available and the number of fiber positions used can be varied. The non-pinned ferrule 93 has pin openings 97 that are vacant (e.g., not occupied by pins) so that the ferrule 93 can be mated with a pinned ferrule with the pins of the pinned ferrule assisting in providing alignment between the optical fibers of the mated ferrules. The pinned ferrule 95 has pin openings 97 in which pins 99 are mounted so that the ferrule 95 can be mated with a non-pinned ferrule with the pins 99 of the pinned ferrule 95 assisting in providing alignment between the optical fibers of the mated ferrules.

Referring still to FIG. 4, the indexing module 20 further includes optical fibers routed on the fiber management tray 52 and housed when the cover 26 and the base 24 are assembled together. The optical fibers include indexing optical fibers 100 and drop fibers 102. Indexing fibers 100 are arranged in an indexed configuration between the ferrules 93, 95 of the first and second fiber optic connectors 90, 91. Each of the indexing fibers 100 has a first end terminated at the first ferrule 93 and a second end terminated at the second ferrule 95. However, the indexing optical fibers 100 are indexed so that the first and second ends of each optical fiber are located at different fiber positions at the ferrules 93, 95. In the depicted example, the six depicted indexing fibers 100 each shift two fiber positions between the first and second ferrules 93, 95. As depicted, fiber positions 3-8 of the first ferrule 93 are respectively connected to fiber positions 1-6 of the second ferrule 95. First drop fibers 102a (e.g., forward drop fibers) are terminated at positions 1 and 2 of the first ferrule 93 and each optically connected to a separate one of the stub cables 82 (e.g., either by optical splice to an optical fiber corresponding to the corresponding stub cable or by direct termination within a corresponding ferrule of one the single fiber connectors 85). Second drop fibers 102b (e.g., reverse drop fibers) are terminated at positions 7 and 8 of the second ferrule 95 and each optically connected to a separate one of the stub cables 82 (e.g., either by optical splice to an optical fiber corresponding to the corresponding stub cable or by direct termination within a corresponding ferrule of one the single fiber connectors 85). The drop fibers 102 are not connected between the first and second ferrules 93, 95. The optical fibers 100, 102 are routed along a routing path that loops at least partially about the fiber management loop 60. As depicted, at least one of the indexing optical fibers has one end terminated at a non-drop fiber position 110 (e.g., fiber positions 3-8 of the first ferrule 93 or fiber positions 1-6 of the second ferrule 95) and an opposite end terminated at a drop position (e.g., fiber positions 1-2 of the first ferule 93 and fiber positions 7-8 of the second ferrule 95).

It will be appreciated that a plurality of the indexing modules 20 can be daisy chained together using multi-fiber patch cords 110 (see FIG. 11) to deploy an indexing architecture such as the architecture depicted at FIG. 12. Each patch cord can have one end terminated by a pinned multi-fiber connector 91 (e.g., a pinned MPO connector) and an opposite end terminated by a non-pinned connector 92 (e.g., a nonpinned MPO connector). To couple an upstream indexing module 20a to a downstream indexing module 20b with one of the patch cords 110, the pinned multi-fiber connector

91 of the patch cord 110 is plugged into the outer connector port 75 of the first adapter 72 of the downstream indexing module 20b and the non-pinned multi-fiber connector

92 of the patch cord 110 is plugged into the outer connector port 75 of the second adapter 73 of the upstream indexing module 20a. Multiple patch cords can be used to chain three, four, five, or more indexing modules together. Each of the modules 20 can be mounted in a separate, sealed enclosure 112 rated and/or sealed for outdoor environmental use. The enclosures 112 can have cable seals 114 for allowing the ends of the patch cords 100 to be routed into the interiors of the enclosures 112 in a sealed manner. Referring to FIG. 12, the indexing modules in the chain can provide different numbers of drops and can be coupled to the inputs of passive optical splitter devices 115 located in the enclosures by plug-and-play connections made possible by the connectorized ends of the drop stubs.

Having shown and described aspects and implementations of the present disclosure, it will be appreciated that the depicted and described aspects and implementations are merely examples of how certain concepts may be put into practice and are not intended to limit such concepts to the details of any particular aspect or implementation.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An indexing module comprising: a housing including a base and a cover, the cover having an open end positioned opposite from a closed end, the base being configured to fit within the open end of the cover; first and second fiber optic adapters carried with the base, the first and second fiber optic adapters each including an inner connector port that faces into an interior of the cover when the base is fit within the open end of the cover and an outer connector port that is accessible from outside the housing when the base is fit within the open end of the cover; at least one drop stub cable routed through a cable pass-through location of the base, the drop stub cable including a free end positioned outside the housing when the base is fit within the open end of the cover, the free end being terminated with a singlefiber optical connector; first and second multi-fiber optical connectors received respectively within the inner connector ports of the first and second fiber optic adapters; indexing fibers routed in an indexed configuration between multi-fiber ferrules of the first and second multi-fiber optical connectors; and at least one drop fiber routed from the multi-fiber ferrule of at least one of the first and second multi-fiber optical connectors to the drop stub cable.

2. The indexing module of claim 1, wherein the cable pass-through location is located between the first and second fiber optic adapters.

3. The indexing module of claim 2, wherein the cable pass-through location includes at least one cable pass-through slot.

4. The indexing module of claim 1, wherein the housing is a butt-style housing and the cover is a dome-style cover.

5. The indexing module of claim 1, wherein the housing is not environmentally sealed for outdoor use.

6. The indexing module of claim 1, wherein the outer connector ports are not hardened and the single-fiber connector is not hardened.

7. The indexing module of claim 1, wherein the base is secured to the cover by a snap-fit connection.

8. The indexing module of claim 1, wherein the base includes an integral fiber management tray that fits within the cover when the base is installed in the open end of the cover, and wherein the fiber management tray includes a fiber routing loop defining a fiber loop path around which the indexing fibers and the drop fiber are at least partially routed.

9. The indexing module of claim 1, wherein the first and second fiber optic adapters are MPO adapters.

10. The indexing module of claim 1, further comprising an environmentally sealed enclosure in which the indexing module can be installed when used outdoors, the sealed enclosure including cable seal locations for sealing about end portions of multi-fiber patch cords which are routed into the enclosure and plugged into the outer connector ports of the indexing module.

11. The indexing module of claim 1, wherein the housing has a height, a width, and a thickness, and wherein the height and the width are both substantially larger than the thickness.

12. The indexing module of claim 11, wherein the height and the width are each at least four times as large as the thickness.

13. The indexing module of claim 1, wherein the housing defines a volume less than or equal to 500 cubic centimeters.

14. The indexing module of claim 1, wherein the housing defines a volume less than or equal to 350 cubic centimeters.

15. The indexing module of claim 1 , wherein the housing defines a volume less than or equal to 250 cubic centimeters.