Optical tapping in an indexing architecture

Abstract

An indexing system includes an indexing component; a redundant optical path; and a fiber tap arrangement. Multiple indexing components can be daisy-chained together in the indexing system. The redundant optical path is created between any forward port and any rearward port in the network. Multiple redundant optical paths can be created within the network. One or more tap arrangements can be disposed along each redundant optical path. Accordingly, feed signals in a bidirectional indexing environment can be supplied to each drop line along the redundant optical path from either direction without recabling.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . An optical network comprising:
 a plurality of optical network nodes daisy-chained together, each optical network node including a housing supporting an optical tap having an input line, a first output line, and a second output line, the optical tap asymmetrically splitting out a first portion of any optical signal received at the input line from a remainder of the optical signal, the optical tap splitting the first portion of the optical signal onto the first output line, the optical tap allowing the remainder of the optical signal to pass to the second output line, the first portion being less than the remainder, each housing including an input, a first output, and a second output, the input being optically coupled to the input line of the optical tap, the first output being optically coupled to the first output line of the optical tap, and the second output being optically coupled to the second output line;   a distribution cable coupled to the first output of a first of the optical network nodes of the chain, wherein the distribution cable receives a first portion of an optical signal received at the input of the first optical network node, the first portion of the optical signal being carried over the first output line of the respective optical tap, through the first output, and onto the distribution cable without being further split;   an optical splitter disposed at a location spaced from the housing of each of the network nodes, the optical splitter being optically coupled to the first output of one of the optical network nodes in the chain.   
     
     
         3 . The optical network of  claim 2 , wherein the housing of the first optical network node defines a sealed interior. 
     
     
         4 . The optical network of  claim 3 , wherein the housing of the first optical network node includes a first housing piece and a second housing piece that couple together at a sealing region to form the sealed interior. 
     
     
         5 . The optical network of  claim 4 , wherein the sealing region defines a cable pass-through location through which the distribution cable extends into the interior of the housing to reach the first output. 
     
     
         6 . The optical network node of  claim 5 , wherein the distribution cable is optically spliced to the first output within the interior of the housing. 
     
     
         7 . The optical network of  claim 5 , wherein the cable pass-through location enables a first cable to extend into the interior of the housing to reach the input. 
     
     
         8 . The optical network node of  claim 6 , wherein the first cable is optically spliced to the input within the interior of the housing. 
     
     
         9 . The optical network of  claim 5 , wherein the cable pass-through location enables a second cable to extend into the interior of the housing to reach the second output. 
     
     
         10 . The optical network node of  claim 9 , wherein the second cable is optically spliced to the second output within the interior of the housing. 
     
     
         11 . The optical network of  claim 2 , wherein the optical taps of the optical network nodes are configured to split off a common power percentage of the optical signals so that an optical power of the first portion of the optical signal at a first optical network node in the chain is different than an optical power of the first portion of the optical signal at a second optical network node in the chain. 
     
     
         12 . The optical network of  claim 2 , further comprising a subscriber line leading from the first output of another of the optical network nodes in the chain to a subscriber without further splitting any optical signals carried over the subscriber line. 
     
     
         13 . The optical network of  claim 2 , wherein the input line, the first output line, and the second output line of the tap of the first optical network node are not accessible from an exterior of the housing. 
     
     
         14 . The optical network of  claim 2 , wherein the optical splitter is disposed within a splitter module, which is disposed at a remote location from the optical network nodes. 
     
     
         15 . The optical network of  claim 14 , wherein the splitter module defines a plurality of output ports configured to receive drop cables. 
     
     
         16 . The optical network of  claim 14 , wherein the splitter module defines a plurality of output pigtails having connectorized ends. 
     
     
         17 . The optical network of  claim 16 , further comprising a drop cable having a first end optically coupled to one of the output pigtails of the splitter module and a second end optically coupled to a subscriber. 
     
     
         18 . The optical network of  claim 2 , wherein the first of the optical network nodes is mounted to a spool. 
     
     
         19 . The optical network of  claim 2 , wherein the input defines a connectorized end of a cable. 
     
     
         20 . The optical network node of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 an indexing component having an input, a first drop location, and a second drop location; and   a redundant fiber path extending between the first and second drop locations of the indexing component;   wherein one of the optical network nodes of the chain is disposed along the redundant fiber path.   
     
     
         21 . The optical network node of  claim 20 , wherein the one of the optical network nodes of the chain receives input optical signals from both of the first and second drop locations.