Corning Cable Systems

Richard B Laporte

Diana R Rodriguez

Ziwei Liu

Steve A Fontaine

Jennifer A Battey

Paul J Huspeni

Aaron I Blankenship

Antonio P Rodriguez, Jr

Elmer O Freeman

Andrew D Hoflich

A closure interconnects at least one optical fiber of a feeder cable with two or more optical fibers of a distribution cable at a local convergence point in an optical network. The closure includes a frame defining a longitudinal axis and a plurality of mounting surfaces. The closure further includes a fiber coupling area adjacent one of the mounting surfaces and a fiber management area adjacent another one of the mounting surfaces. The fiber coupling area includes at least one coupler module for splitting an optical signal carried on the optical fiber of the feeder cable into different optical signals carried on the two or more optical fibers of the distribution cable. The optical fibers of the distribution cable may be pre-connectorized drop cables, connectorized pigtails that are field terminated to fanout connectors, or optical fibers that are field terminated by mechanically splicing the optical fibers to drop cables.

Below grade closure for local convergence point

A distribution terminal is provided for interconnecting one or more fiber optic drop cables with at least one fiber optic distribution cable at a convenient access point in a telecommunications network. The terminal comprises a base and a cover adapted to be opened and closed on the base. The base defines an interior cavity having a lower fiber management area for accessing the distribution cable and an upper fiber management area for accessing the drop cables. The upper fiber management area includes a transition panel that is movable relative to the base to provide access to the lower fiber management area. Thus, both the lower fiber management area and the upper fiber management area are easily and readily accessible to a field technician initially installing the terminal and subsequently reconfiguring the optical fiber connections within the terminal at the access point.

Distribution terminal for network access point

A distribution terminal block for connecting individual drop wires to incoming telephone cable wires has a base that receives attachable modules. Each module has a pair of IDC clips. A plunger adapted for reciprocal movement within the module along a plunger axis presses the drop wires into engagement with the IDC clips. The module has a cavity filled with an electrically insulating gel. The plunger has an upper portion and a lower portion separated by a recess for receiving the drop wires. A spine connects the upper portion and the lower portion of the plunger. The lower portion has a smaller cross-sectional area than the upper portion and has an angled, sharp end for reducing disturbance to the insulating gel during movement of the plunger to insert, remove and reinsert the drop wires.

Modular IDC terminal

Growing community of inventors

Ft. Worth, TX, United States of America

Richard B Laporte