3m Innovative Properties Company

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Corning Research & Development Corporation

William Jeffrey Clatanoff

Donald Kent Larson

Zachary Michael Thompson

Daniel J Treadwell

Cary A Kipke

Joseph Clark Carls

Victor Julian Borer

Larry R Cox

Brian M Cole

Craig S Chamberlain

Harry A Loder

Thomas P Hedblom

Tommie W Kelley

Richard L Simmons

Susannah C Clear

Hideo Yamazaki

Yusuke Saito

Raman Kumar Selli

Robert J Schubert

Nathaniel S Shonkwiler

Gayle R T Schueller

Hideaki Yasui

Terry Lee Smith

Brant Ulrick Kolb

Eric Daniel Morrison

Wayne Scott Mahoney

Wendy L Thompson

Barry J Koch

William George Allen

Mark J Hendrickson

Kathleen M Humpal

Phillip E Tuma

Joseph Christopher Sawicki

Paul D Pennington

Jun Xiao

Melissa A Lackey

Vaughn G Amann

Nanayakkara Liyanage Somasiri

Christopher A Schmolze

Janet A Kling

Albert W Sawicki, Jr

Warren Allen Fink

Tommie Wilson Kelley

Disclosed herein are switch devices in terminal ends of a network and methods of using same. One embodiment relates to a terminal end of a network including a terminal end transceiver configured to communicate with one or more end user devices, and a switch device configured to automatically route communication at the terminal end transceiver between a primary communication path with a central office and an auxiliary communication path with the central office. Another embodiment relates to a method of switching between primary and auxiliary communication paths at a terminal end. Automatic switching is particularly applicable in a looped communication architecture with redundant communication paths for preventing interruption and increasing reliability for an improved user experience. Another embodiment relates to indexing with splices to reduce connections in a communication path and increase signal quality.

Switching at a terminal end transceiver between primary and auxiliary communication paths

An optical fiber connection system () for connecting a plurality of optical fibers is described. The connection system comprises a first bare fiber holder () comprising a first splice element () and a second bare fiber holder (') comprising a second splice element (&#x2032;). Each of the first and second splice elements (&#x2032;) comprises a splice body () having a first end () and a second end () and a plurality of alternating alignment and clamping channels () formed in a top surface () of the splice body () that extend from the first end to the second end of the splice body. When the first and second bare fiber holders (&#x2032;) are mated, at least a portion of the alignment channels () of the first splice element () overlap a portion of the clamping channels () in the second splice element (&#x2032;) and at least a portion of the clamping channels () of the first splice element () overlap a portion of the alignment channels () of the second splice element (&#x2032;) to hold the first and second optical fibers in end to end alignment.

Optical fiber connection system

An optical fiber connection system () configured to interconnect a plurality of first and second optical fibers (') is described. The connection system comprises a first bare fiber holder () that includes a clamping plate () having an interconnection portion () with a generally planar surface, wherein bare ends of the plurality of first optical fibers () are disposed adjacent to interconnection portion () and wherein the plurality of first optical fibers () are secured in the first bare fiber holder () at a first distance from the bare ends of the plurality of first optical fibers () and a second bare fiber holder (&#x2032;) that includes a splicing plate () having a plurality of alignment channels (), wherein a bare end of each of the second optical fibers (&#x2032;) extend at least partially into one of the plurality of alignment channels () and wherein the plurality of second optical fibers (&#x2032;) are held at a second distance from the bare ends of the plurality of second optical fibers (&#x2032;).

An optical system including first and second optical elements for guiding light therein. For each optical element, the propagating light enters or exits the optical element through a coupling surface of the optical element. The coupling surfaces of the optical elements face, and align with, each other so that light propagating in one of the optical elements exits the optical element through the coupling surface of the optical element and enters the other optical element through the coupling surface of the other optical element. The coupling surfaces are separated from each other and define a region therebetween. The region is filled with a coolant, the coolant substantially surrounding at least one of the first and second optical elements.

Optical cooling system

Drop cable assemblies that can be routed from an outdoor terminal directly to an indoor wall outlet without disruption, and adhered to the interior of a dwelling after removal of the drop cable jacket and utilization of a pre-applied adhesive layer are described. Additionally, telecommunications systems utilizing such assemblies, methods of routing such assemblies and methods of making such assemblies are described.

Fiber drop cable assembly and method for outdoor and indoor routing

A distribution cabling tape comprises a resilient polymeric base sheet having a first major surface and a second major surface, the first major surface having a continuous lengthwise channel formed in a first portion thereof. The tape also includes an adhesive layer disposed on a second and third portion of the first major surface, the adhesive layer capable of adhering to a concrete or asphalt surface, such as a road, curb, or walkway.

Distribution cabling tape and system

An optical network comprises a fiber distribution cable and a terminal assembly. The terminal assembly receives a plurality of optical fibers from the fiber distribution cable and distributes one or more individual fibers to one or more single fiber bare-fiber holders that hold and protect each single fiber prepared and configured for splicing via an individual splicing element. The splicing element includes an alignment mechanism having a base plate and a clamp plate. At least one of the base plate and clamp plate is formed from a silica material and at least one of the base plate and clamp plate includes an alignment groove or channel configured to receive the first and second optical fibers in an end-to-end manner. The splice element also comprises an optical adhesive disposed in at least a portion of the alignment groove, wherein the optical adhesive is curable via actinic radiation.

Optical fiber splice element and optical network

An identification tag is described that includes a tab portion having a unique identifier, an anchor portion, and a tether portion connecting the tab portion to the anchor portion. The anchor portion has a permanent pressure sensitive adhesive to secure the tag to one of a patch cable or a port disposed in a patch panel. In an exemplary aspect, the tag portion, anchor portion and the tether portion of the tag are formed as an integral structure. The unique identifier is a two-dimensional code, that is printed as an inverted image to provide improved network security and prevent reading of the unique identifiers by unapproved reading devices.

Identification tag

Fiber drop cable assembly for outdoor and indoor routing

Fiber management assembly comprises an optical fiber splitter, a splice holding section having a fiber splice device mounted therein, and a slack storage system. The optical fiber splitter, splice holding section and slack storage system are disposed on one of a tray and an interior surface of an enclosure body. In addition, patch panel tray having a patch panel comprising a plurality of adapters mounted thereon is provided, wherein a bare end of a splitter input fiber is routed via the slack storage system to a first end of the splice device, and wherein pre-connectorized splitter output fibers are routed to different adapters of the plurality of adapters.

Fiber management assemblies and network interface devices incorporating such assemblies

A communication enclosure is described that includes an enclosure body having a first body portion and a second body portion. An adapter mounting mechanism is disposed in the first body portion, and a connector adapter mounted into the mounting mechanism that is configured to accept an optical fiber connector. The enclosure includes at least one integrated tool for terminating field mountable optical fiber connectors wherein the at least one integrated tool is disposed on one of the first body portion and the second body portion. In an exemplary aspect, the at least one integrated tool is a connector polishing platform.

Telecommunication enclosure having integrated termination tools

Fiber management assemblies, trays and network interface devices for use in telecommunications that incorporate such assemblies and trays are described. Fiber management trays can include integrated slack storage systems and mechanical fiber splice devices mounted into integrated splice holding grooves, where the mechanical fiber splice devices are actuated by a fiber splice actuation mechanism positioned over the mechanical fiber splice device, as are network interface devices incorporating such assemblies and trays.

Fiber management assemblies and trays and network interface devices incorporating such assemblies and trays

A portable, self-contained spray device and method for reaching and cleaning at least one optical surface having limited access. The spray device includes a fluid reservoir and a cover tube having an inner wall, an outer wall, a first end and a second end. A nozzle assembly at the first end of the cover tube includes a seal to provide substantially fluid-tight contact between the spray device and an optical surface. A delivery tube is located inside the inner wall of the cover tube, coaxial with the cover tube. The delivery tube coupled to the fluid reservoir directs fluid towards the nozzle assembly. An absorbent mounted adjacent to the outer wall of at least a portion of the cover tube collects liquid residues after application of fluid to an optical surface. The absorbent may be included in an absorbent cartridge that includes a detachable jacket surrounding the absorbent.

Liquid spray device and method for cleaning optical surfaces

Growing community of inventors

Austin, TX, United States of America

William Jeffrey Clatanoff