Abstract: Radio frequency subscriber drop units include a housing having an input port and an output port and a printed circuit board mounted in an interior of the housing. The printed circuit board includes a dielectric layer, a wiring layer that includes conductive wirings that comprise at least part of a communications path between the input port and the output port that is on a first face of the dielectric layer, and a ground plane layer that includes a conductive ground plane that is on a second face of the dielectric layer.

Abstract: A fiber optic plug, suitable for multi-core fiber (MCF), is structured to hold satellite cores of the MCF in a precise angular positions so as to attain suitable alignment with satellite cores of a mating connector. The plug includes features to permit a ferrule holding the MCF to move longitudinally relative to the connector's housing, so that a spring may control a mating force to an abutting ferrule of a mating connector. The ferrule may be held by ferrule barrel having splines projecting away from an outer peripheral surface. The splines may slide longitudinally within notches of the connector housing or a strength member attached to the connector housing. The notches and splines have a tight tolerance, so that the satellite cores remain in a desired, set angular position.

Abstract: The invention relates to an adapter (101) used in a cable raceway (303), the adapter comprising: a main housing; at least one first connection part (103) disposed on the main housing for connecting the adapter (101) to the cable raceway (303); at least one second connection part (102) disposed on the main housing for connecting at least one distribution module (201) to the adapter (101); and at least one distribution modules (201) for connecting with cables in the adapter and introducing patch cords.

Abstract: A slide assembly for slidably coupling a telecommunications tray to a telecommunications chassis includes a rail configured for mounting to the chassis, the rail defining a rail sliding cavity flanked by a first detent adjacent a first end and a second detent adjacent a second end of the rail, the rail further comprising first and second chassis mounting features, the first and the second chassis mounting features are oriented with respect to each other such that if two of the same rails are aligned and brought together in a juxtaposed relationship with the first and second chassis mounting features facing each other, the first and the second chassis mounting features can nest relative to each other so as to not increase the total width of the two rails.

Abstract: A multimedia faceplate includes a frame having a front face and a rear face and at least one connector mounting aperture therein, a non-Ethernet connector mounted in the connector mounting aperture, an Ethernet conversion unit that is electrically connected to the non-Ethernet connector and a plurality of wire connection contacts that are electrically connected to the Ethernet conversion unit. The Ethernet conversion unit is configured to draw an electrical power signal from either an AC to DC power conversion unit or from a Power-over-Ethernet power signal received from an Ethernet cable that is connected to the wire connection contacts.

Abstract: A terminus for a fiber optic cable includes a ferrule. In one embodiment, an optical fiber of the cable passes through a central bore of the ferrule and is attached to a lens seated in a conical or cylindrical seat formed in an end surface of the ferrule by an epoxy. In a second embodiment, an optical fiber of the cable passes through the central bore of the ferrule. Next, a cap sleeve with a lens therein is slid over and attached to the ferrule such that the lens abuts or is attached to the optical fiber. In either embodiment, an inspection slot may optionally be formed in the ferrule and/or the cap sleeve to allow a technician to inspect the state of the attachment and/or abutment and/or spacing of the optical fiber and the lens.

Abstract: An inline communications connector is provided that includes a housing and tip and ring contacts that are mounted in the housing. The tip contact includes an input tip socket, an output tip socket and a tip socket connection section that physically and electrically connects the input and output tip sockets. The ring contact includes an input ring socket, an output ring socket and a ring socket connection section that physically and electrically connects the input and output ring sockets. The input tip socket is not collinear with the output tip socket and the input ring socket is not collinear with the output ring socket.

Abstract: A connectorized fiber optic cabling assembly includes a loose tube fiber optic cable and a connector assembly. The cable has a termination end and includes an optical fiber bundle including a plurality of optical fibers, at least one strength member, and a jacket surrounding the optical fiber bundle and the strength member. The connector assembly includes a rigid portion and defines a fiber passage. The connector assembly is mounted on the termination end of the cable such that the optical fiber bundle extends through at least a portion of the fiber passage. The plurality of optical fibers undergo a transition from a ribbonized configuration to a loose, non-ribbonized configuration in the rigid portion of the connector assembly.

Abstract: An optical fiber adapter for supporting a non-collimated laser light source transmitting a laser light with a first signal wavelength. The optical fiber adapter includes an infrared signal transmitter for transmitting an infrared signal, and an infrared signal receiver for receiving the infrared signal. The infrared signal includes a second signal wavelength. The optical fiber adapter also includes a movable shutter door intersecting the infrared signal in a shutter closed position. The shutter door includes a material that is adapted to pass the infrared signal therethrough when in the shutter closed position. The shutter door includes a material that is adapted to block the first signal wavelength therethrough when in the shutter closed position. The shutter door is positioned distally from the non-collimated laser light source a distance by which the laser light attenuates to not transmit through the shutter door in the shutter closed position.

Abstract: Reduced-pair Ethernet patch cords include a twisted pair cable that has a pair of insulated conductors that are contained within a cable jacket. A connector is mounted on a first end of the cable. The connector includes a connector housing and a strain relief unit that is mounted on the cable at the interface between the cable and the connector housing. The strain relief unit includes a plurality of internal protrusions that contact the cable jacket.

Abstract: Aspects and techniques of the present disclosure relate to a cable packaging arrangement (e.g., reel-in-box package) including a plurality of tabs appending to the top and bottom portions of the arrangement which are individually shaped to be easily assembled together, respectively, so that the top and bottom portions of the cable packaging arrangement will be closed.

Abstract: Communications connectors include a housing and a plurality of substantially rigid conductive pins that are mounted in the housing. The conductive pins are arranged as a plurality of differential pairs of conductive pins that each include a tip conductive pin and a ring conductive pin. Each conductive pin has a first end that is configured to be received within a respective socket of a mating connector and a second end. The tip conductive pin of each differential pair of conductive pins crosses over its associated ring conductive pin to form a plurality of tip-ring crossover locations.

Abstract: Methods of executing patching connection changes in a patching field are provided in which an electronic work order is received on a display located at the patching field, the electronic work order specifying the patching connection change. A technician may perform the patching connection change. Then, an electronic message may be sent from the patching field indicating that the patching change has been completed.

Abstract: Systems, equipment and methods for automatically tracking cable connections and for identifying work area devices and related methods of operating communications networks are provided. In one embodiment, a method of automatically identifying an end device that is connected to a local area network, the method comprising: transmitting a first control signal over a control channel that runs from a first connector port on a patch panel of the local area network to an integrated circuit chip mounted on the end device through at least a communications cable, a second connector port and a patch cord; receiving a second control signal from the integrated circuit chip over the control channel in response to the first signal, the second signal including identifying information for the end device.

Abstract: A fiber optic coupling device comprises an elastomeric body. The elastomeric body includes first and second sides with a deformable alignment passage extending there between. The deformable alignment passage is configured to elastically center opposing first and second optical fibers. The deformable alignment passage includes a first portion that is configured to receive the first optical fiber having a first core. The deformable alignment passage also includes an opposing second portion that is configured to receive the second optical fiber having a second core. The first portion and the opposing second portion of the alignment passage are defined by a common encompassing periphery, and meet at a common location within the alignment passage to present the core of the received first optical fiber in coaxial alignment with the core of the received second optical fiber.

Abstract: One embodiment is directed to a method of tracking, using an automated infrastructure management (AIM) system, connections made using a breakout cable. The breakout cable comprises a plurality of breakout connectors at a breakout end of the breakout cable. The method comprises identifying a sequence for adding or removing connections involving the breakout connectors of the breakout cable, identifying events associated with adding or removing connections involving the breakout connectors of the breakout cable, and associating the breakout connectors of the breakout cable with added or removed connections based on the identified sequence and the identified events. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method and reel design enables blowing cable from a reel into a mid-span access point within a cable conduit. The cable reel includes a central hub, a first flange located proximate one edge of the central hub, a second flange located proximate an opposite, second edge of the hub, and a third flange located between the first and second flanges. A continuous communications cable has first and second portions spooled on first and second reel sections. The technician inserts a first end of the communications cable into a mid-span opening in the conduit, so that the first end of the communications cable is directed toward the first end of the conduit. The first portion of cable is blown off of the first reel section. The technician inserts a second end of the communications cable into the opening in the conduit so that the second end of the communications cable is directed toward the second end of the conduit. The second portion of cable is blown off of the second reel section.

Abstract: An inline communications connector is provided that includes a housing and tip and ring contacts that are mounted in the housing. The tip contact includes an input tip socket, an output tip socket and a tip socket connection section that physically and electrically connects the input and output tip sockets. The ring contact includes an input ring socket, an output ring socket and a ring socket connection section that physically and electrically connects the input and output ring sockets. The input tip socket is not collinear with the output tip socket and the input ring socket is not collinear with the output ring socket.

Abstract: A method and system connects multiple cores within one fiber, e.g., a multi-core fiber (MCF), to multiple fibers with single-cores. The single-core fibers can then be terminated by traditional envelopes, such as a single core LC envelope. A connector holds the single-core fibers into a pattern that matches a pattern of all, or a sub group, of the individual cores of the MCF. The single-core fibers may all be terminated to individual connectors to form a fanout or breakout cable. Alternatively, the single-core fibers may extend to another connector wherein the single-core fibers are regrouped into a pattern to mate with the cores of another MCF, hence forming a jumper. One or more of the single core fibers may be terminated along the length of the jumper to form a jumper with one or more tap accesses.

Abstract: A bi-directional RF signal amplifier includes a RF input port and surge suppression circuitry downstream of the RF input port. First and second communications paths lead from the surge suppression circuitry to first and second RF output ports. The second communications path is considered non-interruptible and can support both downstream and upstream RF communications even in the absence of power being supplied to the RF signal amplifier. The surge suppression circuitry includes a data line connected to the RF input port. A first circuit path is electrically connected between the data line and ground. A gas discharge tube (GDT), within the first circuit path, acts as an open circuit when a voltage across the GDT is less than a predetermined value and acts as a short circuit when the voltage across the GDT exceeds the predetermined voltage. An electronic device is placed in series with the GDT within the first circuit path.