At+t Corp.

At&t Technologies, Inc.

Charles M Schroeder

Richard Joseph Pimpinella

William R Holland

Un C Paek

An optical fiber distribution frame includes a plurality of shelf units, a modular array disposed within each shelf unit and having a plurality of modules for optically connecting to optical fiber jumper cables and an optical interconnection backplane mounted within each shelf unit. The optical backplane includes a fiber circuit having a plurality of optical fibers for interconnecting the fibers of an incoming cable to corresponding modules of the modular array. The fiber circuit is supported on a support member which is slidably mounted within the shelf unit to expose a splice storage area where the incoming cable and fiber circuit is connected. The individual optical fibers of the fiber circuit are routed for connection to respective modules by a fiber routing substrate. The fiber routing substrate defines a plurality of tab portions which sort and combine the respective fibers connected to each modular location. The tab portions are sufficiently flexible to permit live withdrawal of the support member, i.e., without disconnection of the modules.

Optical backplane for a telecommunication distribution frame

A lightguide furnace (10) includes a tube (32) at its base. The tube (32) has at least one opening (34) therethrough, in communication with, but substantially misaligned relative to, a corresponding opening (40) through a sleeve (36) coaxially aligned with, and rotatable about the tube (32). The substantial misalignment between each sleeve opening (40) and each tube opening (34) causes the cooling gas entering the furnace to be directed at least partially around the lightguide fiber (14). The cooling gas passes upwardly along the walls of the furnace away from the lightguide fiber (14) to reduce the likelihood of contamination thereof by particulates in the cooling gas. By rotating the sleeve (36) relative to the tube (32), the degree of misalignment of the sleeve openings (40) relative to the tube openings (34) can be adjusted to control the lightguide fiber cooling to regulate the tension.

Growing community of inventors

Wrightstown, NJ, United States of America

Charles M Schroeder