Integrated Terminal Box Layout for Concealed ONT Fiber Routing

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for connecting optical fibers to homes require drilling into walls, occupy excessive space, and expose fiber patch cords, leading to unsightly installations and inefficient use of wall space.

Innovation Solution

A terminal box with a divided internal structure for mounting and accommodating an optical network terminal, featuring dedicated fixing posts, winding posts, and cover plates that allow for secure mounting, fiber management, and easy access, while minimizing space usage and maintaining a neat appearance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If an ATB and ONT are mounted separately on the wall, then optical fiber connection is achieved, but wall space is excessively occupied and the installation becomes unsightly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoptical fiber connectionVSAvoidwall space occupation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the ATB and ONT into a single integrated terminal box unit. The mounting structure includes both the access terminal box and optical network terminal mounted together on the wall, eliminating the need for separate mounting locations. This merging resolves the contradiction by achieving optical fiber connection functionality while reducing the total wall space occupied from at least two separate boxes to one integrated unit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of operation

If an ATB and ONT are mounted separately on the wall, then optical fiber connection is achieved, but the wall requires additional drilling and mounting holes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoptical fiber connectionVSAvoidwall installation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The integrated terminal box design allows both the ATB and ONT to be mounted together using a single set of wall mounting holes, rather than requiring separate drilling and mounting operations for each device. This reduces the installation complexity and preserves the wall structure while maintaining full optical fiber connection functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of operation

If a fiber patch cord is exposed between ATB and ONT, then optical fiber connection is established, but the exposed cord creates an unsightly appearance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoptical fiber connectionVSAvoidaesthetic appearance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

By integrating the ATB and ONT into a single compact terminal box unit, the optical fiber connection and its patch cord become internal to the mounted structure. The patch cord connects the ATB and ONT within the same housing, eliminating the need for external exposed cords and thereby resolving the aesthetic appearance issue while maintaining full connectivity functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3832366B1Terminal box
Publication Date: 2025.11.26 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3832366B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3832366B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3832366B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

This application provides a terminal box. The terminal box includes a box body. A connection structure for hanging on a wall is disposed on the box body. A mounting area and an accommodation area are provided in the box body. The mounting area is used to accommodate an optical network terminal and a fixing post for fastening the optical network terminal is disposed in the mounting area. The optical network terminal also needs to be connected to another optical fiber, to be connected to another device. Therefore, a first winding post is disposed in the mounting area. The terminal box further includes a cover plate, and the cover plate may cover the mounting area and the accommodation area. It can be learned from the foregoing description that, the optical network terminal may be directly fastened outside a concealed box by using the disposed terminal box without occupying other positions, thereby facilitating disposal. In addition, the optical fiber can be conveniently accommodated by using the disposed winding post, thereby preventing exposure of the optical fiber from affecting interior neatness.