Abstract: The present invention relates to the management of cables extending to and from fiber termination blocks with sliding angled fiber adaptor modules within a fiber distribution frame.

Abstract: A semiconductor laser with improved device characteristics and novel protection against high power output degradation is disclosed. The laser comprises a plurality of layers deposited on a substrate, including an active layer with neighboring cladding layers, so as to define a waveguide, said waveguide having opposing end surfaces. A single crystal mirror layer is formed directly on at least one of the end surfaces, providing improved device characteristics and a longer life time for high power output applications. The mirror layer has sufficient thickness and is made of a material having a refractive index sufficiently different from that of the active layer to substantially modify the reflectivity of the first end surface. In a preferred embodiment, the laser is an AlGaAs laser designed to operate at 980 nm, and the single crystal mirror layer comprises a large band gap material, such as ZnSe, MgS, or BeTe.

Abstract: A switching coax jack module and jack component provide for a removable DSX jack which can be slid into and out of the front of a jack module housing without disconnecting other components of the jack module and without disconnecting the module from a chassis. The jack includes a projecting post, and two rear ports. The post and rear ports cooperate with a rear interface unit including two projecting plugs, and a port for the post. The rear interface unit may include a switch activated by the post for disconnecting two of the rear connectors of the module when the jack is mounted to the module and engaged with the rear interface unit.

Abstract: A chassis and associated telecommunication circuit card are disclosed. The chassis has heat dissipation and flame containment features while accommodating a high density of the circuitry cards. Embodiments include an inner housing with a double-layer middle floor dividing the chassis into top and bottom chambers. Each layer has partially aligned slots, and an air gap is provided between the two layers. Embodiments also include a double-layer mesh cover with an air gap existing between the two mesh layers. Projections and grooves are provided on the inner surfaces of the inner housing to receive circuit cards having a guide on one edge and a fin on another. The circuit card includes conductor structures such as multiple board layers with paired and segregated conductors. The circuit card also includes some components positioned to cooperate with the ventilation features of the chassis and includes some components chosen for low-power consumption or reduced flammability.

Abstract: A curved telescoping trough assembly and method of assembly. The assembly includes first and second trough members. Each trough member includes two upstanding sidewalls extending from a base defining a generally U-shaped trough having an open top and a trough interior for receiving at least one telecommunications cable defining a cable pathway. The sidewalls or the base of the trough members may be curved to create a curved cable pathway. The first trough member having an end which slidably receives an end of the second trough member and a portion of the second trough member so that the trough members create a combined angled cable pathway. The size of the portion of the second trough member received by the first trough member is variable so that the trough assembly may be selectively set at a third angle from a range of angles.

Abstract: A semiconductor ridge laser with a tapered ridge is disclosed. The tapered ridge is designed to provide for both gain-medium amplification and mode conversion amplification, the latter resulting in a higher kink power than is obtainable with gain medium amplification alone. The power and lateral mode content of the output beam is determined by the ridge parameters, which include length, width, number of sections and degree and type of taper for the tapered sections. The output beam can be made to have a profile that is more compatible with the lateral modes on an optical fiber than a conventional highly astigmatic output beam by including power in the higher-order lateral modes as well as in the fundamental lateral mode.

Abstract: A flexible cable guide member and assembly, the assembly including first and second cable guide members each having a curved wall with open ends. The curved walls define first and second cable pathways respectively for receiving a telecommunications cable. A first end of the first guide member defines a socket. A second end of the second guide member is rounded to be received by the socket of the first guide member to produce a ball-and-socket joint between the first and second guide members. The second guide member is snap-fit into the socket of the first cable guide member. The guide members define longitudinal slots to allow cables to be added or removed from the assembly. The first and second guide members are preferably identical.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a digital cross-connect device having a jack assembly including first and second jacks mounted in a jack receiving region of the digital cross-connect device. The jacks each include a column of ports. Each column of ports includes an in-port, an out-port, a monitor-in-port and a monitor-out-port. The in, out, monitor-in and monitor-out ports of the first jack are vertically staggered relative to the in, out, monitor-in and monitor-out ports of the second jack.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a center conductor insulator with a tapered entry for use with a coaxial cable transmission line connector that provides guiding and centering of a center conductor pin within the connector. The present invention further relates to a front sleeve assembly for use with a coaxial cable transmission line connector which incorporates a center conductor insulator with a tapered entry to guide and center a center conductor pin within the connector. The present invention also relates to a compression ring assembly for mounting a connector to a cable, the assembly having a collet engaging a tapered rear seal to compress the collet about the cable. The present invention further relates to a method of mounting a connector to a cable with a compression ring assembly incorporating a collet and tapered rear seal.

Abstract: A jack module system is disclosed. The system includes a housing (12) defining an interior. The system also includes first and second jacks (14, 14′). Each jack (14, 14′) includes a jack body (100) including upper and lower edges. Receiving means are disposed within the housing (12) for slidably receiving the jack bodies (100) in a first direction and slidably removing the jack bodies (100) in a direction opposite the first direction. The jacks (14, 14′) are stacked along an axis perpendicular to the first transverse dimension. The system also includes a cover (102) removably securing the jack bodies (100).

Abstract: Cable modem termination systems (CMTS) having directional couplers in the primary signal path facilitate redundancy without the need for active components, e.g., switches or amplifiers, in the primary signal path. The use of directional couplers in the primary signal path allows a backup CMTS transceiver to provide redundancy to multiple primary CMTS transceivers through the use of switching outside of the primary signal path. Additional directional couplers in the backup signal path may be used to allow testing and maintenance of the backup CMTS transceiver without disturbing the primary signal path.

Abstract: Electronic equipment includes a frame having a wall and connectors attached to the wall of the frame. A main board has a connection edge at which it is provided with connectors for engaging the connectors that are attached to the wall of the frame when the main board is advanced relative to the frame along a connection axis. An edge connector receptacle is attached to the wall of the frame and defines a slot perpendicular to the connection axis and to the connection edge of the main board. An auxiliary board is attached to the main board and is oriented perpendicular to the main board and parallel to the connection axis. The auxiliary board has a connection edge perpendicular to the connection edge of the main board and positioned to enter the slot of the edge connector receptacle concurrently with engagement of the connectors at the connection edge of the main board with the connectors attached to the wall of the frame.

Abstract: A telecommunications network is provided. The network uses a ring of ring switches to provide a transport mechanism for data packets that is transparent to the data and protocols contained in the data packets. This transport mechanism is simple and low cost to implement. Such networks can carry, for example, control data between a primary site and secondary sites of a cable network to set up and deliver pay per view, video on demand or near video on demand programming. The network can also be used, in other embodiments, to provide remote access to utility meters, to centralize network management of the cable network, and other appropriate monitoring and control functions.

Abstract: A patch panel including a plurality of electrical connector assemblies, wherein each of the electrical connector assemblies comprises a first jack presented on a first side of a panel frame of the patch panel and a second jack electrically linked to the first jack to form a jack pair and presented on a second side of the panel frame. Both the first jack and the second jack are presented at an angle with respect to the panel frame, and both the first jack and the second jack may be engaged using a patch cord. The first and second jack of each jack pair are at a 90-degree angle relative to one another.

Abstract: A telecommunications apparatus for use with a plug having at least first, second and third pins. The telecommunications apparatus includes a plug connector for receiving the plug. The plug connector includes at least first, second and third electrical contacts for electrically contacting the first, second and third pins, respectively, when the plug is inserted in the plug connector.

Abstract: A fiber optic device is used by fiber optic systems that operate with light at more than one wavelength. The device may be inserted anywhere within the fiber network. The fiber optic device permits the separation of the wavelengths so that an optical device can operate on that separated wavelength without operating on the other wavelength or wavelengths. The different wavelengths may then be recombined. In another embodiment, different wavelengths may be combined into a single fiber, with an optical device being disposed to operate on one of the wavelengths.

Abstract: An interferometer uses birefringent elements for splitting and combining beams of orthogonal polarization, and for changing the relative phase between the orthogonally polarized beams. A polarization sensitive detector is used to detect a fringe pattern whose periodicity is dependent on the relative optical paths traversed by the orthogonally polarized beams. In an embodiment of the invention, a birefringent beam splitter has an input path and first and second output paths. A birefringent beam combiner has first and second input paths and an output path, the first and second input paths of the birefringent beam combiner aligned respectively with the first and second output paths of the birefringent beam splitter. A polarization sensitive detector is disposed on the output path of the birefringent beam combiner to detect the periodicity of the fringe pattern.

Abstract: An echelle grating is used to interleave or de-interleave two combs of signals. In a de-interleaving operation, an optical input signal having a comb of odd channels and an interleaved comb of even channels may be separated into an even-channel optical output signal and an odd-channel optical output signal by an echelle grating. The echelle grating may form an even channel output by diffracting the light in the even channels into respectively different multiple orders at a first angle relative to the input. An odd channel output is formed by diffracting the light in the odd channels into respectively different multiple orders at a second angle that is different from the first angle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for use in a fiber optic system that may be a communication system, a sensing system or other system using guided-wave optical components. Reducing the number of lenses required to couple the waveguides and the free-space paths in the device offers the dual advantages of a reduced component count and simplified alignment. In an exemplary device having a first and second waveguides, a birefringent optical system defines bi-directional, polarization-dependent free-space paths. One of the bidirectional, polarization-dependent, free-space paths couples at least the first waveguide to the second waveguide. The birefringent optical system includes at least one prism for bending one of the polarization-dependent paths in a clockwise direction and one of the polarization-dependent paths in a counterclockwise direction.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide light-pipes having improved alignment and light collection capability. In one embodiment, a light-pipe is provided that has a first end for collecting light from a light source, a second end for outputting the light collected at the first end, and a shaft interconnecting the first and second end for transferring the light from the first end to the second end. The first end has a concavity for receiving a lens of the light source therein.