Telecommunications enclosure for use in expansion of hardened connections
Expansion terminals with passive splitters and sealed housings enhance telecommunications enclosures by adding connection ports, addressing the challenge of expanding fiber optic capacity while ensuring optical quality and environmental protection.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC
- Filing Date
- 2025-12-09
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-18
AI Technical Summary
Existing telecommunications enclosures face challenges in expanding their fiber optic connection capabilities to meet increasing customer demand without compromising optical power requirements or environmental sealing.
The introduction of expansion terminals with passive optical splitters and environmentally sealed housings that can be added to existing enclosures, increasing connection ports through optical tethers, and using hardened fiber optic adapters with twist-to-secure fastening elements to maintain sealing and alignment.
Enables flexible expansion of connection ports while maintaining optical integrity and environmental sealing, supporting deferred investment strategies by allowing incremental additions to meet growing demand.
Smart Images
Figure US2025058810_18062026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] Atorney Docket No. 02316.9009WOU1
[0002] TELECOMMUNICATIONS ENCLOSURE FOR USE IN EXPANSION OF HARDENED CONNECTIONS
[0003] Cross Reference to Related Applications
[0004] This application is being filed on December 9, 2025, as a PCT International Patent Application and claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 730,197 filed on December 10, 2024, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
[0005] Technical Field
[0006] The present disclosure relates generally to telecommunications enclosures. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to telecommunications enclosures including hardened fiber optic connector ports.
[0007] Background
[0008] Telecommunications enclosures, such as multi-service terminals, are commonly used to provide fiber optic connection locations in the field. The telecommunications enclosures often include hardened fiber optic adapter ports adapted for receiving hardened fiber optic connectors. Example telecommunications enclosures including hardened fiber optic adapter ports are disclosed by U.S. Patent Nos. 7,397,997; 7,120,347; and 7,753,596.
[0009] Summary
[0010] Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to telecommunications enclosures for supporting architectures that can be expanded over time as customer demand increases. In certain examples, architectures can support a deferred investment strategy in which components such as multi-input spliter terminals or other terminals can be added to the architecture later in time concurrent with customer demand.
[0011] A variety of additional aspects will be set forth in the description that follows. The aspects can relate to individual features and to combinations of features. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the broad inventive concepts upon which the examples disclosed herein are based.
[0012] Brief Description of the Drawings
[0013] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the description, illustrate certain aspects of the present disclosure. A brief description of the drawings is as follows:
[0014] FIG. 1 depicts a prior art fiber optic architecture that can be expanded in accordance with principles of the present disclosure;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a multi-service terminal of the architecture of FIG. 1;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an expansion terminal in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure that can be used to expand fiber optic architectures such as the fiber optic architecture of FIG. 1;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the expansion terminal of FIG. 3;
[0018] FIG. 5 depicts the expansion terminal of FIG. 3 coupled to the multiservice terminal of FIG. 1 to provide an expanded number of hardened connection locations;
[0019] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another expansion terminal in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure that can be used to expand fiber optic architectures such as the fiber optic architecture of FIG. 1;
[0020] FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the expansion terminal of FIG. 6;
[0021] FIG. 8 depicts the expansion terminal of FIG. 6 coupled to the multi service terminal of FIG. 1 to provide an expanded number of hardened connection locations;
[0022] FIG. 9 depicts another expansion terminal for use in expanding the number of connection locations provided by a multi service terminal in a fiber optic network;
[0023] FIG. 10 depicts the expansion terminal of FIG. 9 coupled to the multi service terminal of FIG. 1 to provide an expanded number of hearted connection locations; FIG. 11 depicts two of the multi service terminals of FIG. 1 secured together in a back-to-back configuration with a side of at least one of the multi service terminals secured to a structure such as a pole;
[0024] FIG. 12 depicts two of the multi service terminals of FIG. 1 secured together in a side-to-side configuration with a back of at least one of the multi service terminals secured to a structure such as a pole;
[0025] FIG. 13 depicts an example hardened fiber optic connector usable in fiber optic systems in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure; and
[0026] FIG. 14 depicts a hardened fiber optic adapter and mating hardened fiber optic connector (e.g., the hardened fiber optic connector of FIG. 13) suitable for use with fiber optic systems in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure.
[0027] Detailed Description
[0028] FIG. 1 depicts an example prior art fiber optic architecture 420 that is an example of a type of architecture that can be expanded using expansion terminals in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure. Example expansion terminals are depicted at FIGS. 3, 6 and 9.
[0029] Referring to FIG. 1, the fiber optic architecture 420 includes an enclosure 422 optically coupled to an optical line terminal 424 or other central office component by a fiber optic cable 426. The enclosure 422 can house a passive optical splitter that can have a variety of split ratios such as 1X8; 1X16; 1X32, etc. Splitter outputs from the passive optical splitter within the enclosure 422 are optically coupled to a multi-service terminal 428 by a multi-fiber cable 430. The multi-service terminal 428 includes an environmentally sealed housing 431 that carries a plurality of connector ports 432 that are each preferably configured for receiving a fiber optic connector from outside the housing 431. It will be appreciated that the ability to expand the number of connection locations provided adjacent the multi-service terminal 428 can be dependent upon the split ratio of the passive optical splitter housed within the enclosure 422. In certain examples, a maximum split ratio is 1X64. Hence, in a situation in which the splitter within the enclosure 422 has a split ratio of 1X32, additional 1X2 splitting can be provided at the multi-service terminal 428 to increase the number of connector ports provided without violating minimum optical power requirements. In cases in which the splitter within the enclosure 422 has a split ratio lower than 1X32, higher split ratios can be used adjacent the multi-service terminal 428 to expand the number of hardened connection locations.
[0030] The connector ports 432 of the multi-service terminal 428 are preferably adapted for receiving hardened connectors such as the hardened connector 64 depicted at FIGS. 13 and 14. The connector ports 432 can be defined by hardened fiber optic adapters 300 of the type shown at FIG. 14. The fiber optic adapters 300 include the connector ports 432 accessible from outside the housing 431 and inner connector ports 339 facing inside the housing 431. It will be appreciated that the fiber optic adapters 300 include internal structure for facilitating aligning the optical fibers of two fiber optic connectors desired to be optically coupled together. For example, the fiber optic adapters 300 can include internal split sleeves for aligning the ferrules of two singlefiber fiber optic connectors desired to be optically coupled together. In other examples, the fiber optic adapters may be configured for coupling the optical fibers of multi-fiber fiber optic connectors. Example tum-to-engage single-fiber hardened fiber optic adapters and connectors suitable for use with enclosures in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure are disclosed by United States Patent No. 7,744,288 which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Example multi-fiber hardened fiber optic adapters and connectors suitable for use with enclosures in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure are disclosed by United States Patent No. 7,264,402, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Example snaplock hardened fiber optic connectors and adapters suitable for use with enclosures in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure as disclosed by US. Patent No. 10,359,577, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
[0031] It will be appreciated that the outer connector ports 432 are preferably configured to receive hardened fiber optic connectors. Figure 13 shows one example hardened fiber optic connector 64 having a connector body 66 supporting an environmental seal 68 and supporting a ferrule 69 at its distal end. The hardened fiber optic connector 64 can be secured within a corresponding connector port 432 of a hardened fiber optic adapter 300 by a tum-to-secure fastening element which is shown in the depicted example as a nut 73 having exterior threads adapted to mate with corresponding interior threads of the fiber optic adapter. Alternative tum-to-secure fastening elements can include connecting elements having bayonet-type interfaces or other interfaces. It will be appreciated that when a hardened fiber optic connector is installed within a corresponding port of a hardened fiber optic adapter, it is preferred for an environmental seal 68 to be provided between the fiber optic connector and the fiber optic adapter. The seal may be carried by the fiber optic connector, or in alternative examples may be carried by the fiber optic adapter.
[0032] The outer connector ports 432 can include tum-to-secure interfaces (e.g., threads, bayonet interfaces, or other interfaces) or snap-lock interfaces for engaging with corresponding fastening elements of the hardened fiber optic connectors. When the hardened fiber optic connectors are installed within the fiber optic adapters the fiber optic connectors are preferably sealed relative to the fiber optic adapters. The inner connector ports 339 are preferably configured for receiving non-hardened fiber optic connectors. As depicted, the inner connector ports 339 are configured for receiving SC-type fiber optic connectors. In other examples, the inner connector ports 339 may be configured for receiving other types of fiber optic connectors such as LC fiber optic connectors or other types of connectors.
[0033] FIG. 14 shows an example configuration for the hardened fiber optic adapter 300 that is one example of a way to define hardened ports in any of the enclosures disclosed herein. The adapter 300 is adapted to be mounted in sealed relation relative to a housing of an enclosure. The hardened fiber optic adapter includes the outer port 432 for receiving a hardened fiber optic connector such as the connector 64. Either the adapter 300 or the connector 64 preferably has a seal for providing environmental sealing between the adapter 300 and the connector 64 when the connector 64 is inserted in the outer port 432. As depicted, the connector 64 includes seal 68 that seals against a sealing surface 324 of the outer port 432 when the connector 64 is inserted therein. The connector 64 also includes twist-to-secure fastener 73 (e.g., a threaded fastener, a bayonet-style fastener or other structure) that interlocks with a corresponding twist-to-secure fastening arrangement (e.g., threads or bayonet configuration) provided on the adapter 300 to secure the connector 64 within the outer port 432. The adapter 300 also includes internal alignment sleeve 330 for aligning ferrule 69 of the fiber optic connector 64 with a ferrule of a fiber optic connector that is loaded within an inner connector port 339 (e.g., a port that is inside the housing of the enclosure) of the adapter 300. In this way, when the connectors are loaded in their respective ports, their ferrules are aligned and an optical connection is made between optical fibers supported by the ferrules. The adapter 300 can further include a seal 314 and a nut 316. The adapter 300 can be inserted through the housing 500 and the nut 316 can be used to clamp the connector body 66 against the housing. The nut 316 is tightened against threads on an exterior of the connector body 66 from an interior side of the housing 500 to clamp the adapter 300 against the housing. The seal 314 is positioned between a flange of the adapter 300 and the housing 500 and provides a seal when the adapter 300 is clamped against the housing by the nut 316.
[0034] Referring to FIG. 2, optical fibers 450 of the multi-fiber cable 430 are preferably routed within the interior of the housing 431 of the multi-service terminal 428 and are terminated by fiber optic connector such as non-hardened fiber optic connectors (e.g., SC fiber optic connectors) which are installed within the inner connector ports 339 of the fiber-optic adapters 300. Connectorized ends of drop cables 439 (shown in FIG. 1) can be plugged into the connector ports 432 to optically connect subscribers to the optical fibers 450 and the optical network.
[0035] FIGS. 3 and 4 depict an expansion terminal 500 in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure. The expansion terminal 500 includes a housing 502 having an interior 504. The housing 502 is preferably environmentally sealed. A plurality of connectors ports 432 (e.g., defined by fiber optic adapters 300) are carried by the housing 502. The connector ports 432 are configured for receiving fiber optic connectors (e.g., hardened fiber optic connectors 64) from outside the housing 502. The connector ports 432 including a first set 432A of connector ports and a second set 432B of connector ports.
[0036] The expansion terminal 500 also includes a first passive optical power splitter 510 positioned within the interior 504 of the housing 502. The first passive optical power splitter 510 has splitter outputs 512 that connect to the first set 432A of connector ports 432. The splitter outputs 512 can connected to the connector ports 432 by optical fibers 514 having connectorized ends that plug into the inner connector ports 339 of the adapters 300 corresponding to the first set 432A of connector ports 432.
[0037] The expansion terminal 500 also includes a first optical tether 516 that extends from the housing 502 and includes an optical fiber 518 that optically couples to an input 520 of the first passive optical power splitter 510. The first optical tether 516 has a free end 522 that is connectorized by a fiber optic connector (e.g., connector 64) adapted to be received within one of the connector ports 432 of the multi-service terminal 428 to expand the number of available connection ports that can be connected through the multi-service terminal 428.
[0038] The expansion terminal 500 also includes a second passive optical power splitter 530 positioned within the interior 504 of the housing 502. The second passive optical power splitter 530 has splitter outputs 532 that connect to the second set 432B of connector ports 432. The splitter outputs 532 can connected to the connector ports 432 by optical fibers 534 having connectorized ends that plug into the inner connector ports 339 of the adapters 300 corresponding to the second set 432B of connector ports 432.
[0039] The expansion terminal 500 also includes a second optical tether 536 that extends from the housing 502 and includes an optical fiber 538 that optically couples to an input 540 of the second passive optical power splitter 530. The second optical tether 536 has a free end 542 that is connectorized by a fiber optic connector (e.g., connector 64) adapted to be received within one of the connector ports 432 of the multi-service terminal 428 to expand the number of available connection ports that can be connected through the multi-service terminal 428.
[0040] In certain examples, the first and second optical tethers each have a length less than 10 meters. In the depicted example, the first and second passive optical power splitters each have a split ratio of 1X2. In other examples, splitters having alternative split ratios (e.g., 1X4; 1X8; 1X16, etc.) can be used.
[0041] FIG. 5 shows the expansion terminal 500 mounted next to the multiservice terminal 428. The first and second optical tethers 516 and 536 are plugged into connector ports 432 of the multi-service terminal 428 to increase the connection capacity by two ports providing access for connecting subscribers to the network via connectorized drop cables having connectorized ends that can be plugged into the ports.
[0042] FIGS. 6 and 7 depict an alternative expansion terminal 600 that has the same configuration as the expansion terminal 500, except the expansion terminal further includes third and fourth optical tethers 602, 604 respectively optically connected to inputs of third and fourth passive optical power splitters 606, 608 in the terminal. The third and fourth passive optical power splitters 606, 608 have outputs 610, 612 that respectively optically connected to third and fourth sets 432C, 432D of the connector ports. FIG. 8 shows the expansion terminal 600 adding an additional four ports to the multi-service terminal 428. FIG. 9 depicts an expansion terminal 700 containing one optical splitter with splitter outputs connected to one pair of connector ports for use in expanding the capacity of the multi-service terminal 428 by one port (see FIG. 10).
[0043] FIG. 11 depicts two of the multi-service terminals 428 of FIG. 1 secured together in a back-to-back configuration with a side of at least one of the multi-service terminals 428 secured to a structure such as a pole.
[0044] FIG. 12 depicts two of the multi-service terminals 428 of FIG. 1 secured together in a side-to-side configuration with a back of at least one of the multi-service terminals 428secured to a structure such as a pole. The various examples and teachings described above are provided by way of illustration only and should not be construed to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize various modifications and changes that may be made without following the examples and applications illustrated and described herein, and without departing from the true spirit and scope of the present disclosure.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A telecommunication enclosure comprising: a housing having an interior, the housing being environmentally sealed; a plurality of connector ports carried by the housing, the plurality of connector ports being configured for receiving fiber optic connectors from outside the housing, the plurality of connector ports including a first set of connector ports and a second set of connector ports; a first passive optical power splitter positioned within the interior of the housing, the first passive optical power splitter having splitter outputs that connect to the first set of connector ports; a first optical tether that extends from the housing and that optically couples to an input of the first passive optical power splitter, the first optical tether having a free end that is connectorized; a second passive optical power splitter positioned within the interior of the housing, the second passive optical power splitter having splitter outputs that connect to the second set of connector ports; and a second optical tether that extends from the housing and that optically couples to an input of the second passive optical power splitter, the second optical tether having a free end that is connectorized.
2. The telecommunication enclosure of claim 1, wherein the first optical tether and the second optical tether each have a length less than 10 meters.
3. The telecommunication enclosure of claim 1, wherein the first passive optical power splitter and the second passive optical power splitter each have a split ratio of 1X2.
4. The telecommunication enclosure of claim 1, further comprising third and fourth optical tethers respectively optically connected to inputs of third and fourth passive optical power splitters in the housing, the third and fourth passive optical power splitters having outputs respectively optically connected to third and fourth sets of the plurality of connector ports.