Patent Application
20130209051
The present invention relates to the field of communication technologies, and in particular, to a prefabricated optical fiber cable distribution assembly applied at an outdoor user access point and an optical distribution network system.
At present, an optical fiber access network mainly uses an xPON (x Passive Optical Network) technology, and the system is formed of a central office end device, a terminal device, and a physical line connecting the two devices, namely, an optical distribution network (ODN, Optical distribution network). In the planning and construction of a PON (Passive Optical Network) network, the major construction is focused on the construction of the ODN. The construction cost of the ODN accounts for near 70% of the construction cost of the entire PON network. In the PON network, according to different purposes and locations, nodes in the ODN are classified into the optical cable distribution point and the user access point, and accordingly, the optical cable is divided into three sections: the feeder optical cable, the distribution optical cable, and the drop cable.
At the user access point, a fiber access terminal (Fiber Access Terminal, FAT) is mainly used to connect the distribution optical cable and the drop cable, and has straight-through and branching functions. A common fiber access terminal includes two application scenarios: the indoor application and the outdoor application. The fiber access terminal can be mounted in different ways, such as mounted onto a pipe, mounted overhead, and mounted onto a wall. Therefore, the fiber access terminal is selected and used according to the requirement in the network design. Because the user access point is near to a network end-point and directly faces a complicated user side, the places and conditions for mounting the fiber access terminal may vary. The fiber output end of the fiber access terminal includes many user optical cables made up of few fibers or a single fiber. Therefore, the user access point is the most difficult part in the ODN implementation. At present, an outdoor user access point is connected to a distribution optical cable and a drop cable through a fiber access terminal. The interior of the fiber access terminal includes a splicing tray, and the distribution optical cable is routed through an optical cable inlet into the fiber access terminal. The fiber access terminal is connected to the drop cable (such as a flexible optical cable) by means of direct splicing. Alternatively, an adapter extension socket is prearranged in the fiber access terminal. A pigtail is provided on the interior of the adapter. The distribution optical cable is spliced with the pigtail in the fiber access terminal, and is connected by a patch cord to the user side through the exterior port of the adapter. At least the following problem exists in the prior art in which the outdoor fiber access terminal is connected to the distribution optical cable and the drop cable: The protective shell of the fiber access terminal needs to be opened in the construction process, optical cables are spliced in the fiber access terminal on site, the body of the fiber access terminal is mounted after splicing and fiber spooling, and so on, which bring difficulties and inconvenience to construction; the fiber access terminal is usually mounted onto a wall or pole, and after the fiber access terminal is mounted, the location and length of the distribution optical cable and drop cable are also basically fixed, and when capacity expansion, replacement due to a fault, or adjustment of the mounting position is required, the fiber access terminal needs to be opened for splicing and cable distribution, and the operation is difficult.
At present, the user access point may also be connected to the distribution optical cable and drop cable by using a pre-connected fiber access terminal with multiple ports. The fiber access terminal includes a base, and a fiber gang socket is arranged on the cover in a ramp way. A distribution multi-core optical cable is integrated with the fiber access terminal. The optical cable is routed into the fiber access terminal. A connector is prefabricated after fiber distribution in the fiber access terminal, and is inserted in the interior of the socket. On the exterior of the socket, a prefabricated single-core patch cord is used to connect to a user side. This can satisfy the requirements for mounting of user access of 4-core, 8-core, and 12-core fiber access terminals. The connection of the fiber access terminal also has at least the following problems: The fiber access terminal is prefabricated at the end point of the distribution optical cable and is large and inconvenient to mount; when it is used for upgrade and capacity expansion, if all ports are already used, and 8 ports, for example, need to be upgraded to 12 ports, the 8-core product needs to be removed and replaced with a 12-core product, that is, upgrade and capacity expansion cannot be performed on the existing product; in addition, once a part of the prefabricated sockets are faulty, it is hard to replace or repair the sockets separately, and the entire fiber access terminal needs to be replaced.
In view of the above problems existent in the prior art, embodiments of the present invention provide a prefabricated optical fiber cable distribution assembly, which can perform transfer and fiber distribution on an optical cable of an outdoor user access point conveniently and quickly on the prerequisite that outdoor sealing protection is ensured, facilitate subsequent maintenance, and overcome the difficulties in construction operations and subsequent maintenance when the fiber access terminal is used to perform transfer and fiber distribution on the optical cable at the outdoor user access point in the prior art.
An embodiment of the present invention provides a prefabricated optical fiber cable distribution assembly, including:
An embodiment of the present invention further provides an optical distribution network system, including:
As seen from the technical solutions provided by embodiments of the present invention, in embodiments of the present invention, an adapter with two ends provided with sockets is mounted on an adapter mounting bracket, so that the prefabricated connector of a distribution optical cable and the prefabricated connector of a drop cable can be inserted from the two ends into the adapter of the assembly, and that the distribution optical cable and drop cable are connected through the adapter, while the sealing elements arranged at the sockets at the two ends of the adapter can provide sealing protection for the adapter into which the prefabricated connectors of the optical cables are already inserted, thereby ensuring that the assembly can be applied to the outdoor user access point. The prefabricated optical fiber cable distribution assembly is simple in the structure, and on the prerequisite of ensuring sealing protection, can conveniently implement transfer and fiber distribution from the distribution optical cable to the drop cable, and improve the efficiency of fiber distribution operations and convenience of subsequent maintenance and replacement.
To make the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art clearer, accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art are briefly described hereunder. Apparently, the accompanying drawings illustrate only some embodiments of the present invention, and persons of ordinary skill in the art can derive other drawings from the accompanying drawings without creative efforts.
For ease of understanding, the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present invention are hereinafter described clearly and completely with reference to accompanying drawings. Evidently, the embodiments described below are exemplary only, without covering all embodiments of the present invention. Based on the embodiments of the present invention herein, persons of ordinary skill in the art can derive other embodiments without creative efforts and such other embodiments all fall within the protection scope of the present invention.
The prefabricated optical fiber cable distribution assembly provided by this embodiment may serve as a prefabricated optical fiber cable distribution assembly of an outdoor user access point in an optical distribution network. As shown in
A mounting position 4 for mounting the adapter 2 is arranged on the adapter mounting bracket 1, and the adapter 2 is arranged in the mounting position 4. The adapter 2 is provided with at least two sockets. A prefabricated connector of a breakout cable of one distribution optical cable is inserted in one socket, and a prefabricated connector of one drop cable is inserted in another socket, that is, a prefabricated connector of each breakout cable of the distribution optical cable and a prefabricated connector of the drop cable can be inserted through the two ends of the adapter 2 in the assembly and the breakout cable of the distribution optical cable can be connected to the drop cable through the adapter 2, so that transfer and fiber distribution from the distribution optical cable to the drop cable can be conveniently implemented through the prefabricated optical fiber cable distribution assembly; the sealing elements are arranged at the sockets at the two ends of the adapter of the assembly and cooperate with the prefabricated connectors inserted into the sockets of the adapter to provide sealing protection for the sockets of the adapter.
The sealing elements 3 in the above assembly may be in multiple forms, for example, may be sealing rubber rings, which can be fixedly arranged in the sockets of the adapter (as shown in
As shown in
It can be known that the sealing elements 3 in the above assembly may also be in other structure forms as long as very good sealing protection is ensured for use in an outdoor environment after the prefabricated connectors of optical cables are inserted in the sockets of the adapter. In addition, in use of the above assembly, a sealing cover or a sealing plug may also be arranged on a socket of the adapter where no prefabricated connector of an optical cable is inserted, so that sealing protection is provided for this socket of the adapter where no prefabricated connector of an optical cable is inserted.
As shown in
The adapter mounting bracket 1 in the above assembly generally uses a plate structure. Multiple mounting positions 4, multiple adapters 2, and multiple sealing elements 3 can be arranged on the adapter mounting bracket 1. Multiple mounting positions are arranged on the plate body of the adapter mounting bracket 1 and distributed in rows and columns. At least one adapter 2 may be arranged in each mounting position 4, and one sealing element 3 is arranged at each of the sockets at the two ends of each adapter 2 separately, thereby satisfying requirements for the connection between multiple distribution optical cables and drop cables.
The mounting position 4 on the adapter mounting bracket 1 may be a through hole arranged on the plate body of the adapter mounting bracket 1. A positioning part 41 (shown in
In the above prefabricated optical fiber cable distribution assembly, each adapter may be any one or more of a prefabricated connector adapter of a multi-core optical cable, a prefabricated connector adapter of a dual-core optical cable, and a prefabricated connector adapter of a single-core optical cable. To enable the prefabricated optical fiber cable distribution assembly to satisfy outdoor use requirements, the adapter may be an adapter satisfying outdoor protection levels, thereby satisfying requirements of moisture-proof, anti-aging, and thunder and lightning protection. The interface form of the used adapter should match various optical fiber connectors such as SC, LC, and FC.
The plate-structured adapter mounting bracket of the prefabricated optical fiber cable distribution assembly may be in different structures such as a square plate, a circular plate, or a triangle plate. The adapter mounting bracket may also be in other structure forms as long as the structure forms are suitable for installation in the environment of the indoor access point and convenient for mounting the adapter on the bracket. The structure form of the mounting position of the adapter mounting bracket only needs to satisfy the mounting of the adapter and facilitate insertion of the prefabricated connector of the optical cable. The length of the adapter is not less than the length of the through hole serving as the mounting position arranged on the adapter mounting bracket, and the adapter is longer than the through hole to facilitate insertion of the prefabricated connector of the optical cable. The through hole serving as a mounting position may be in multiple shapes such as a circle, a rectangle, and a triangle as long as the shapes facilitate the arrangement of the adapter.
Further, as shown in
A fixing part may be further arranged on the adapter mounting bracket of the above prefabricated optical fiber cable distribution assembly. With the fixing part, the adapter mounting bracket can be conveniently mounted at the outdoor user access point fixedly (that is, the prefabricated optical fiber cable distribution assembly is mounted fixedly).
Further, parts for fixing the body of the distribution optical cable and drop cable can also be arranged on the adapter mounting bracket of the above prefabricated optical fiber cable distribution assembly, ensuring stability of the distribution optical cable and drop cable after connection.
As shown in
The above prefabricated optical fiber cable distribution assembly has a simple structure and is small without requiring a large mounting space; during use, fiber distribution and termination are performed on the distribution optical cable through the distribution optical cable splitter. The prefabricated distribution optical cable and drop cable are connected through the adapter mounted on the adapter mounting bracket, and the prefabricated connector of each breakout cable of the distribution optical cable and the prefabricated connector of the drop cable are inserted into the adapter of the assembly, implementing connection and fiber distribution from the distribution optical cable to the drop cable. With the assembly, the distribution optical cable and drop cable do not need to be connected by means of splicing, thereby reducing complexity of construction, conveniently implementing functions of fiber distribution and transfer, and facilitating upgrade from a single port to 12 ports; only the adapter needs to be added without replacing the entire device, so that the cost is saved effectively. In addition, the adapter can be conveniently mounted and removed on the adapter mounting bracket without special tools; the assembly can satisfy requirements of mounting, such as mounting onto a pipe and mounting overhead, facilitate operations in a complex environment, and improve the efficiency of fiber distribution operations and convenience of subsequent maintenance and replacement.
The application of the prefabricated optical fiber cable distribution assembly in the embodiment of the present invention can avoid complex operations such as repetitive opening, splicing, and loading and unloading of plenty of screws caused by the use of a fiber access terminal at an outdoor user access point to connect the distribution optical cable and drop cable, which can reduce construction difficulties, effectively eliminate the damage or security impact on the optical fiber link caused by various uncertain factors in the design, construction, and use of the optical fiber network, sufficiently ensure system security and satisfy design requirements.
This embodiment provides an optical distribution network system, including: a distribution optical cable, a drop cable, and an optical fiber cable distribution assembly, where: the optical fiber cable distribution assembly is the above prefabricated optical fiber cable distribution assembly provided in the above first embodiment, and is usually arranged at an outdoor user access point;
The above descriptions are merely exemplary embodiments of the present invention, but not intended to limit the protection scope of the present invention. Any modification, variation, or replacement that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the present invention is subject to the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 201010505817.6 | Sep 2010 | CN | national |
This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/CN2011/079315, filed on Sep. 5, 2011, which claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 201010505817.6, filed on Sep. 30, 2010, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/CN2011/079315 | Sep 2011 | US |
| Child | 13851680 | US |
