Fiber optic local convergence points for multiple dwelling units

Abstract

There are provided fiber optic local convergence points (“LCPs”) adapted for use with multiple dwelling units (“MDUs”) that facilitate relatively easy installation and/or optical connectivity to a relatively large number of subscribers. The LCP includes a housing mounted to a surface, such as a wall, and a cable assembly with a connector end to be optically connected to a distribution cable and a splitter end to be located within the housing. The splitter end includes at least one splitter and a plurality of subscriber receptacles to which subscriber cables may be optically connected. The splitter end of the cable assembly of the LCP may also include a splice tray assembly and/or a fiber optic routing guide. Furthermore, a fiber distribution terminal (“FDT”) may be provided along the subscriber cable to facilitate installation of the fiber optic network within the MDU.

The invention claimed is: 
     
      
       1. A fiber optic splitter module for optically connecting at least one input optical fiber and a plurality of output optical fibers, the splitter module comprising: 
       
         a housing having at least one opening therethrough, wherein the opening defines an opening axis generally orthogonal to the opening; and 
         a splitter within the housing, wherein the input optical fiber is optically connected to the plurality of output optical fibers by the splitter, wherein the splitter defines a splitter axis generally aligned with the input optical fiber and the plurality of output optical fibers; 
         wherein the splitter axis is generally orthogonal to the opening axis; and 
         wherein the splitter module defines a density of output optical fiber splits per unit of volume of the housing of at least 5 splits/in 3 . 
       
      
     
     
       2. A fiber optic splitter module according to  claim 1 , for optically connecting at least one input optical fiber and a plurality of output optical fibers, the splitter module comprising:
 a housing having at least one opening therethrough, wherein the opening defines an opening axis orthogonal to the opening; and 
 a splitter within the housing, wherein the input optical fiber is optically connected to the plurality of output optical fibers by the splitter, wherein the splitter defines a splitter axis aligned with the input optical fiber and the plurality of output optical fibers; 
 wherein the splitter axis is orthogonal to the opening axis; 
 wherein the splitter module defines a density of output optical fiber splits per unit of volume of the housing of at least 5 splits/in 3 ; and 
 wherein the input optical fiber and the plurality of output optical fibers are routed within the housing generally without a slack loop. 
 
     
     
       3. A fiber optic splitter module for optically connecting at least one input optical fiber and a plurality of output optical fibers, the splitter module comprising:
 a housing having at least one opening therethrough, wherein the opening defines an opening axis generally orthogonal to the opening; and   a splitter within the housing, wherein the input optical fiber is optically connected to the plurality of output optical fibers by the splitter, wherein the splitter defines a splitter axis generally aligned with the input optical fiber and the plurality of output optical fibers;   wherein the splitter axis is generally orthogonal to the opening axis; and   wherein the splitter module defines a density of output optical fiber splits per unit of volume of the housing from about 4 splits/in 3  to about 10 splits/in 3 .   
     
     
       4. A fiber optic splitter module for optically connecting at least one input optical fiber and a plurality of output optical fibers, the splitter module comprising:
 a housing having at least one opening therethrough, wherein the opening defines an opening axis generally orthogonal to the opening; and   a splitter within the housing, wherein the input optical fiber is optically connected to the plurality of output optical fibers by the splitter, wherein the splitter defines a splitter axis generally aligned with the input optical fiber and the plurality of output optical fibers;   wherein the splitter axis is generally orthogonal to the opening axis; and   wherein at least one optical fiber of the plurality of output optical fibers comprises a microstructured optical fiber comprising a core region and a cladding region surrounding the core region, the cladding region comprising an annular hole-containing region comprised of non-periodically disposed holes.   
     
     
       5. A splitter module according to  claim 4 , wherein the microstructured fiber has an 8 mm macrobend induced loss at 1550 nm of less than 0.2 dB/turn. 
     
     
       6. A fiber optic splitter module according to  claim 1 , for optically connecting at least one input optical fiber and a plurality of output optical fibers, the splitter module comprising:
 a housing having at least one opening therethrough, wherein the opening defines an opening axis orthogonal to the opening; and 
 a splitter within the housing, wherein the input optical fiber is optically connected to the plurality of output optical fibers by the splitter, wherein the splitter defines a splitter axis aligned with the input optical fiber and the plurality of output optical fibers; 
 wherein the splitter axis is orthogonal to the opening axis; 
 wherein the splitter module defines a density of output optical fiber splits per unit of volume of the housing of at least 5 splits/in 3 ; and 
 wherein at least one optical fiber of the plurality of output optical fibers comprises a microstructured optical fiber comprising a core region and a cladding region surrounding the core region, the cladding region comprising an annular hole-containing region comprised of non-periodically disposed holes. 
 
     
     
       7. A splitter module according to  claim 6 , wherein the microstructured fiber has an 8 mm macrobend induced loss at 1550 mm nm of less than 0.2 dB/turn. 
     
     
       8. A fiber optic splitter module according to  claim 3 , for optically connecting at least one input optical fiber and a plurality of output optical fibers, the splitter module comprising:
 a housing having at least one opening therethrough, wherein the opening defines an opening axis orthogonal to the opening; and 
 a splitter within the housing, wherein the input optical fiber is optically connected to the plurality of output optical fibers by the splitter, wherein the splitter defines a splitter axis aligned with the input optical fiber and the plurality of output optical fibers; 
 wherein the splitter axis is orthogonal to the opening axis; 
 wherein the splitter module defines a density of output optical fiber splits per unit of volume of the housing from about 4 splits/in 3  to about 10 splits/in 3 ; and 
 wherein the input optical fiber and the plurality of output optical fibers are routed within the housing generally without a slack loop. 
 
     
     
       9. A fiber optic splitter module according to  claim 3 , for optically connecting at least one input optical fiber and a plurality of output optical fibers, the splitter module comprising:
 a housing having at least one opening therethrough, wherein the opening defines an opening axis orthogonal to the opening; and 
 a splitter within the housing, wherein the input optical fiber is optically connected to the plurality of output optical fibers by the splitter, wherein the splitter defines a splitter axis aligned with the input optical fiber and the plurality of output optical fibers; 
 wherein the splitter axis is orthogonal to the opening axis; 
 wherein the splitter module defines a density of output optical fiber splits per unit of volume of the housing from about 4 splits/in 3  to about 10 splits/in 3 ; and 
 wherein at least one optical fiber of the plurality of output optical fibers comprises a microstructured optical fiber comprising a core region and a cladding region surrounding the core region, the cladding region comprising an annular hole-containing region comprised of non-periodically disposed holes. 
 
     
     
       10. A splitter module according to  claim 9 , wherein the microstructured fiber has an 8 mm macrobend induced loss at 1550 mm nm of less than 0.2 dB/turn. 
     
     
       11. A fiber oprtic splitter module according to  claim 4 , for optically connecting at least one input optical fiber and a plurality of output optical fibers, the splitter module comprising:
 a housing having at least one opening therethrough, wherein the opening defines an opening axis orthogonal to the opening; and 
 a splitter within the housing, wherein the input optical fiber is optically connected to the plurality of output optical fibers by the splitter, wherein the splitter defines a splitter axis aligned with the input optical fiber and the plurality of output optical fibers; 
 wherein the splitter axis is orthogonal to the opening axis; and 
 wherein at least one optical fiber of the plurality of output optical fibers comprises a microstructured optical fiber comprising a core region and a cladding region surrounding the core region, the cladding region comprising an annular hole-containing region comprised of non-periodically disposed holes; and  
 wherein the input optical fiber and the plurality of output optical fibers are routed within the housing generally without a slack loop. 
 
     
     
       12. The fiber optic splitter module of claim 2, wherein the splitter splits the optical signal carried by the input optical fiber into 8 optical signals. 
     
     
       13. The fiber optic splitter module of claim 2, wherein the splitter splits the optical signal carried by the input optical fiber into 16 optical signals. 
     
     
       14. The fiber optic splitter module of claim 2, wherein the splitter splits the optical signal carried by the input optical fiber into 32 optical signals. 
     
     
       15. The fiber optic splitter module of claim 2, wherein the splitter splits the optical signal carried by the input optical fiber into 64 optical signals. 
     
     
       16. The fiber optic splitter module of claim 2, wherein the housing has exterior dimensions of less than about 3.07 inches×4.85 inches×0.92 inches. 
     
     
       17. The fiber optic splitter module of claim 2, wherein at least one of the input optical fiber and the output optical fiber is a bend performance optical fiber. 
     
     
       18. The fiber optic splitter module of claim 2, wherein the plurality of output optical fibers comprise a plurality of pigtails each having a connectorized end. 
     
     
       19. The fiber optic splitter module of claim 18, wherein at least one of the plurality of pigtails optically connects to a subscriber optical fiber. 
     
     
       20. The fiber optic splitter module of claim 8, wherein the housing supports an optical signal split density of between about 5 splits/in 3  and about 8 splits/in 3  of volume. 
     
     
       21. The fiber optic splitter module of claim 8, wherein the housing supports an optical signal split density of between about 6 splits/in 3  and about 7 splits/in 3  of volume. 
     
     
       22. The fiber optic splitter module of claim 8, wherein the housing supports an optical signal split density of about 6.07 splits/in 3  inch of volume. 
     
     
       23. The fiber optic splitter module of claim 8, wherein the splitter splits the optical signal carried by the input optical fiber into 8 optical signals. 
     
     
       24. The fiber optic splitter module of claim 8, wherein the splitter splits the optical signal carried by the input optical fiber into 16 optical signals. 
     
     
       25. The fiber optic splitter module of claim 8, wherein the splitter splits the optical signal carried by the input optical fiber into 32 optical signals. 
     
     
       26. The fiber optic splitter module of claim 8, wherein the splitter splits the optical signal carried by the input optical fiber into 64 optical signals. 
     
     
       27. The fiber optic splitter module of claim 8, wherein the housing has exterior dimensions of less than about 3.07 inches×4.85 inches×0.92 inches. 
     
     
       28. The fiber optic splitter module of claim 8, wherein at least one of the input optical fiber and the output optical fiber is a bend performance optical fiber. 
     
     
       29. The fiber optic splitter module of claim 8, wherein the plurality of output optical fibers comprise a plurality of pigtails each having a connectorized end. 
     
     
       30. The fiber optic splitter module of claim 29, wherein at least one of the plurality of pigtails optically connects to a subscriber optical fiber. 
     
     
       31. The fiber optic splitter module of claim 11, wherein the housing supports an optical signal split density of volume of the housing of at least 5 splits/in 3  of volume. 
     
     
       32. The fiber optic splitter module of claim 11, wherein the housing supports an optical signal split density of between about 4 splits/in 3  and about 10 splits/in 3  of volume. 
     
     
       33. The fiber optic splitter module of claim 11, wherein the housing supports an optical signal split density of between about 5 splits/in 3  and about 8 splits/in 3  of volume. 
     
     
       34. The fiber optic splitter module of claim 11, wherein the housing supports an optical signal split density of between about 6 splits/in 3  and about 7 splits/in 3  of volume. 
     
     
       35. The fiber optic splitter module of claim 11, wherein the housing supports an optical signal split density of about 6.07 splits/in 3  of volume. 
     
     
       36. The fiber optic splitter module of claim 11, wherein the splitter splits the optical signal carried by the input optical fiber into 8 optical signals. 
     
     
       37. The fiber optic splitter module of claim 11, wherein the splitter splits the optical signal carried by the input optical fiber into 16 optical signals. 
     
     
       38. The fiber optic splitter module of claim 11, wherein the splitter splits the optical signal carried by the input optical fiber into 32 optical signals. 
     
     
       39. The fiber optic splitter module of claim 11, wherein the splitter splits the optical signal carried by the input optical fiber into 64 optical signals. 
     
     
       40. The fiber optic splitter module of claim 11, wherein the housing has exterior dimensions of less than about 3.07 inches×4.85 inches×0.92 inches. 
     
     
       41. The fiber optic splitter module of claim 11, wherein at least one of the input optical fiber and the output optical fiber is a bend performance optical fiber. 
     
     
       42. The fiber optic splitter module of claim 11, wherein the plurality of output optical fibers comprise a plurality of pigtails each having a connectorized end. 
     
     
       43. The fiber optic splitter module of claim 42, wherein at least one of the plurality of pigtails optically connects to a subscriber optical fiber. 
     
     
       44. An optical splitter module comprising:
 a housing having a volume; and   an optical splitter in the housing, wherein the optical splitter is configured to receive at least one input optical fiber carrying an optical signal and split the optical signal into a plurality of optical signals, wherein the housing supports an optical signal split density of between about 4 splits/in 3  and about 10 splits/in 3  of volume.   
     
     
       45. The optical splitter module of claim 44, wherein the housing supports an optical signal split density of between about 5 splits/in 3  and about 8 splits/in 3  of volume. 
     
     
       46. The optical splitter module of claim 44, wherein the housing supports an optical signal split density of between about 6 splits/in 3  and about 7 splits/in 3  of volume. 
     
     
       47. The optical splitter module of claim 44, wherein the housing supports an optical signal split density of about 6.07 splits/in 3  inch of volume. 
     
     
       48. The optical splitter module of claim 44, wherein the optical splitter splits the optical signal carried by the input optical fiber into 8 optical signals. 
     
     
       49. The optical splitter module of claim 44, wherein the optical splitter splits the optical signal carried by the input optical fiber into 16 optical signals. 
     
     
       50. The optical splitter module of claim 44, wherein the optical splitter splits the optical signal carried by the input optical fiber into 32 optical signals. 
     
     
       51. The optical splitter module of claim 44, wherein the optical splitter splits the optical signal carried by the input optical fiber into 64 optical signals. 
     
     
       52. The optical splitter module of claim 44, wherein the housing has exterior dimensions of less than about 3.07 inches×4.85 inches×0.92 inches. 
     
     
       53. The optical splitter module of claim 44, wherein each of the plurality of optical signals is carried by a respective output optical fiber. 
     
     
       54. The optical splitter module of claim 44, wherein at least one of the input optical fiber and the output optical fiber is a bend performance optical fiber. 
     
     
       55. The optical splitter module of claim 44, wherein the plurality of output optical fibers comprise a plurality of pigtails each having a connectorized end. 
     
     
       56. The optical splitter module of claim 55, wherein at least one of the plurality of pigtails optically connects to a subscriber optical fiber. 
     
     
       57. An optical splitter module comprising:
 a housing having a volume; and   an optical splitter in the housing, wherein the optical splitter is configured to receive at least one input optical fiber carrying an optical signal and split the optical signal into a plurality of optical signals, wherein the housing supports an optical signal split density of at least 5 splits/in 3  of volume.   
     
     
       58. The optical splitter module of claim 57, wherein the optical splitter splits the optical signal carried by the input optical fiber into 8 optical signals. 
     
     
       59. The optical splitter module of claim 57, wherein the optical splitter splits the optical signal carried by the input optical fiber into 16 optical signals. 
     
     
       60. The optical splitter module of claim 57, wherein the optical splitter splits the optical signal carried by the input optical fiber into 32 optical signals. 
     
     
       61. The optical splitter module of claim 57, wherein the optical splitter splits the optical signal carried by the input optical fiber into 64 optical signals. 
     
     
       62. The optical splitter module of claim 57, wherein the housing has exterior dimensions of less than about 3.07 inches×4.85 inches×0.92 inches. 
     
     
       63. The optical splitter module of claim 57, wherein each of the plurality of optical signals is carried by a respective output optical fiber. 
     
     
       64. The optical splitter module of claim 63, wherein at least one of the input optical fiber and the output optical fiber is a bend performance optical fiber. 
     
     
       65. The optical splitter module of claim 63, wherein the plurality of output optical fibers comprise a plurality of pigtails each having a connectorized end. 
     
     
       66. The optical splitter module of claim 65, wherein at least one of the plurality of pigtails optically connects to a subscriber optical fiber. 
     
     
       67. An optical splitter module comprising:
 a housing having a volume; and   an optical splitter in the housing, wherein the optical splitter is configured to receive at least one input optical fiber carrying an optical signal and split the optical signal into a plurality of optical signals, wherein the housing supports an optical signal split density of greater than about 2.34 splits/in 3  of volume.   
     
     
       68. The optical splitter module of claim 67, wherein the housing has exterior dimensions of less than about 3.07 inches×4.85 inches×0.92 inches. 
     
     
       69. The fiber optic splitter module of claim 67, wherein the splitter splits the optical signal carried by the input optical fiber into 8 optical signals. 
     
     
       70. The fiber optic splitter module of claim 67, wherein the splitter splits the optical signal carried by the input optical fiber into 16 optical signals. 
     
     
       71. The fiber optic splitter module of claim 67, wherein the splitter splits the optical signal carried by the input optical fiber into 32 optical signals. 
     
     
       72. The fiber optic splitter module of claim 67, wherein the splitter splits the optical signal carried by the input optical fiber into 64 optical signals. 
     
     
       73. The fiber optic splitter module of claim 67, wherein the housing supports an optical split density of up to about 10 splits/in 3  of volume. 
     
     
       74. An optical splitter module comprising:
 a housing having a volume, wherein the housing has exterior dimensions of less than about 3.07 inches×4.85 inches×0.92 inches; and   an optical splitter in the housing, wherein the optical splitter is configured to optically connect at least one input optical fiber with a plurality of output optical fibers, and wherein the optical signal carried by the input optical fiber is split and carried by the plurality of output optical fibers.   
     
     
       75. The fiber optic splitter module of claim 74, wherein the induced loss is less than 0.5 dB/turn. 
     
     
       76. The fiber optic splitter module of claim 74, wherein the induced loss is less than 0.2 dB/turn. 
     
     
       77. The fiber optic splitter module of claim 74, wherein the induced loss is less than 0.05 dB/turn. 
     
     
       78. The fiber optic splitter module of claim 74, wherein the induced loss is less than 0.01 dB/turn. 
     
     
       79. The fiber optic splitter module of claim 74, wherein the housing supports an optical signal split density of volume of the housing of at least 5 splits/in 3  of volume. 
     
     
       80. The fiber optic splitter module of claim 74, wherein the splitter splits the optical signal carried by the input optical fiber into 16 optical signals. 
     
     
       81. The fiber optic splitter module of claim 74, wherein the splitter splits the optical signal carried by the input optical fiber into 32 optical signals. 
     
     
       82. The fiber optic splitter module of claim 74, wherein the splitter splits the optical signal carried by the input optical fiber into 64 optical signals. 
     
     
       83. An optical splitter module comprising:
 a housing having a volume, wherein the housing has exterior dimensions of less than about 3.07 inches×4.85 inches×0.92 inches; and   an optical splitter in the housing, wherein the optical splitter is configured to receive at least one input optical fiber carrying an optical signal and split the optical signal into a plurality of optical signals, each of the plurality of optical signals carried by a respective output optical fiber, wherein the plurality of output optical fibers comprise a plurality of pigtails each having a connectorized end and wherein the housing supports an optical signal split density of between about 4 splits/in 3  and about 10 splits/in 3  of volume.   
     
     
       84. Fiber optic local convergence point (“LCP”), wherein the LCP adapted for use with at least one input optical fiber and a plurality of output optical fibers, the LCP comprising:
 a cover; 
 an LCP housing comprising an interior cavity defined by a back wall and a plurality of sides and by the cover that is selectively moveable relative to the housing from an opened position to a closed position to thereby provide access to the interior cavity when the cover is in the opened position, wherein the LCP housing comprises at least one opening through the LCP housing for the passage of the at least one input optical fiber and the plurality of output optical fibers; 
 a plurality of receptacles adapted to selectively receive fiber optic connectors that are optically connected to the output optical fibers; and 
 a splitter module according to claim 41 that optically connects the plurality of output fibers from said optical splitter with the plurality of receptacles. 
 
     
     
       85. An LCP according to claim 84, wherein the splitter module is joined to the interior surface of the cover. 
     
     
       86. An LCP according to claim 84, wherein the splitter module is joined to the interior surface of the cover with one or more fasteners. 
     
     
       87. An LCP according to claim 84, further comprising:
 a splice tray assembly to splice the input optical fiber into a pig tail.   
     
     
       88. An LCP according to claim 84, further comprising:
 routing guides to generally route splitter outputs about the perimeter of the interior cavity from the splitter module to the plurality of receptacles.   
     
     
       89. An LCP according to claim 84, further comprising:
 an access cover joined to the LCP housing and generally positioned within the interior cavity of the LCP housing when the cover is in the closed position, wherein the access cover is selectively moveable relative to the housing from an opened position to a closed position to thereby provide access to the provider portion when the access cover is in the opened position and wherein the access cover defines an interior surface facing the back wall of the LCP housing when the access cover defines the closed position.