摘要:
Disclosed is a fiber optic operations center intended for use in a central office which is responsible for the administration, monitoring, testing, and repair of a multiplicity of fiber optic cables entering the central office from subscribers. The operations center is housed in a bay which is arranged to protect fiber optic cables and route then to an optical switch which connects one or more selected cables to a test device which launches and receives optical signals. The test device is under the control of a system controller which has a variety of input and output means which enable craftpersons in the central office and in remote locations to access the operations center.
摘要:
An electrical backplane assembly for interconnecting a plurality of connection modules in a fiber distribution shelf to the central controller of an optical fiber administration system. The electrical backplane assembly mounts upon a bracket assembly within the confines of the shelf structure of the fiber distribution shelf. The bracket assembly retains the electrical backplane assembly in a small previously unused area of space in between the tops of the connection modules and the interior top panel of the fiber distribution shelf. By having the electrical backplane assembly entirely contained within the shelf structure of a fiber distribution shelf, a unique configuration is provided that greatly reduces the size and complexity of the overall fiber administration system.
摘要:
The present invention is an optical monitoring and test access interconnection module especially adapted for use with a fiber optic distribution frame for a fiber optic communications system. The interconnection module provides a combination of monitoring and test access for two fiber lines, typically a transmit/receive pair, where wavelength division multiplexer (WDM) test access is provided to both the transmit and receive fibers. In one embodiment of the present invention, the interconnection module monitors only the receive fiber line where a power monitoring circuit receives a monitor level optical signal via an optical tap and converts the optical signal to an electrical output. Processing electronics and firmware within the module are operable to generate alarms and other control signals when changes in the power level of the received signal are detected. A test access path is provided on the module for use, for example, with an optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR). In one embodiment of the present invention, the interconnection module incorporates a unique physical design arrangement that separates the optical signal processing from the electronic processing into partitioned sub-modules. The optical and electronic sub-modules may advantageously be assembled (and dis-assembled) by means of guides that allow the module halves to slide together. A unique optical mating connector is provided in the sliding arrangement to join the optical module to an opto-electronic photodetector in the electronic module.
摘要:
A primary stage optical switch assembly that is used in an optical fiber administration system where various levels of switching are used to interconnect an optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR) to individual optical fibers. The primary stage optical switch assembly contains an optical switch and a connector array disposed within a shelf structure. The shelf structure is sized to mount into one of the bays in the framework of the fiber administration system. The optical switch contained within the primary stage optical switch assembly is fabricated from electronic components and optical components. Most of the electronic components are manufactured as part of an electronic module. The optical components are manufactured as part of a separate optical module. Both modules mount within the shelf structure. However, the electronic module can be removed from the shelf structure without effecting the position of the optics module or the optical leads that extend from the optical module.
摘要:
A device, system and method for locating a specific optical connection port contained within a fiber administration system having line tracing capabilities. A translucent casing is provided at each of the optical connection ports in the fiber administration system. The translucent casing can be a translucent shroud that fits over a standard optical connection port or the translucent casing can be manufactured as part of the optical connector port. Regardless of the type of translucent casing used, the translucent casing of any of the optical connection ports can be individually and selectively illuminated. According, the actual casing of an optical connection port can be illuminated within a fiber distribution shelf, thereby greatly increasing the ability of a technician to accurately locate the targeted optical connection port within the fiber administration system.
摘要:
A system an method for managing wire leads that extend from a circuit board of a similar electronic assembly. The device includes a support tray having a top surface and a bottom surface. The circuit board is mounted to the top surface of the support tray. A planar element is provided that is positioned below the bottom surface of the support tray. The planar element engages the wire leads extending from the circuit board. The presence of the planar element causes the wire leads to extend along the bottom surface of the support tray between the bottom surface of the support tray and the planar element. As a result, the wire leads conform to the bottom of the support tray and do not occupy the space behind the circuit board.
摘要:
A system and method of monitoring and testing the integrity of a dedicated pair of optical fibers extending between a telecommunications provider to a customer facility through the optical fiber network, of the telecommunications provider. The system contains an optical transmission module, a monitoring module, and a first wavelength division multiplexing module which are located at the telecommunication provider's facility. A second wavelength division multiplexer module is located at or just prior to the customer's facility. The optical transmission module introduces test signals into the first dedicated optical fiber and which travels to the customer facility through the optical fiber network. At the customer facility, the test signal is looped into the second dedicated optical fiber. The test signal then returns to the telecommunications provider's facility, wherein the test signal is received and processed.
摘要:
The invention is embodied in a distributed intelligence optical fiber communications system capable of fully automated and continuous monitoring and testing of the optical fibers and their connections within the optical fiber distribution frames therein. In particular, it is an optical communications system having an optical distribution frame including interconnection modules having actively intelligent microcontrollers thereon. Also, the distribution frame includes inventive electrical and optical interconnection fabrics between the distributed intelligence located on the interconnection modules and a host located outside of the distribution frame. The distributed intelligence interconnection modules allow monitoring, testing and/or related activities of the overall optical communications system to be performed locally at the interconnection modules. Also, when used in combination with the electrical and optical interconnection fabrics, the inventive modules substantially reduce optical fiber routing and enable more effective monitoring and testing operations to be performed, while maintaining compatibility with existing conventional cross-connect, switching and network architectures.
摘要:
A system and method for determining the optical loss characteristics of optical fibers in an optical fiber network. An optical transmission module is provided. The optical transmission module produces a light signal and an electrical signal that contains data regarding the characteristics of the light signal being generated. The light signal output of the optical transmitter module is connected to the input of a calibrated optical switch. The outputs of the optical switch are connected to the optical fibers that are to be tested. At the opposite ends of the optical fibers, a second optical switch is provided. The second optical switch connects the various optical fibers to a monitor module. The monitor module detects the light signal transmitted by the optical transmitter module through the various optical fibers. The monitor module converts the received light signal into a corresponding electrical signal. A systems controller is coupled to both the optical transmitter module and the monitor module.
摘要:
The present invention is a module for use in an optical fiber administration system, or a dedicated system. The module contains both an optical transmitter and an optical monitor, wherein the module transmits a test signal over a fiber optic network and receives back that same signal through a different fiber in the fiber optic network. By both sending and receiving the test signal, the integrity of different paths in the optical fiber network can be determined in a space efficient manner. The module contains a microprocessor. The microprocessor reads data regarding the test signal as it is transmitted and that same test signal as it is received. This data may be read to an external shelf controller. The shelf controller utilizes the data from the microprocessor in the analysis of fiber optic loop conditions as well as the laser itself.