Distributed tap architecture incorporating hardened connectivity

Abstract

Distributed optical tapping architectures include two or more optical tap terminals daisy-chained together. Each optical tap terminal includes an environmentally sealed enclosure; an optical tapping circuit positioned within an interior of the enclosure, the optical tapping circuit including an tap input, a tap pass-through output, and a tap drop output; and hardened interface locations (e.g., de-mateable fiber optic connection locations, cable-pass through glands, etc.) corresponding to the tap input, the tap pass-through output and the tap drop output.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . An optical tap distribution system comprising:
 a tap terminal configured to receive an optical signals at an input, to pass the optical signal to an optical tap pass-through output, and to tap a portion of the optical signal to an optical drop output;   a first hardened de-mateable fiber optic connection location optically coupled to the optical tap input;   a second hardened de-mateable fiber optic connection location optically coupled to the optical tap pass-through output; and   a third hardened de-mateable fiber optic connection location optically coupled to an optical drop output.   
     
     
         3 . The optical tap distribution system of  claim 2 , wherein the first hardened de-mateable fiber optic connection location is provided directly at the terminal body. 
     
     
         4 . The optical tap distribution system of  claim 2 , wherein the first hardened de-mateable fiber optic connection location is provided at an end of a tether extending from the terminal body. 
     
     
         5 . The optical tap distribution system of  claim 2 , wherein the third hardened de-mateable fiber optic connection location is one of a plurality of hardened de-mateable fiber optic connection locations defining respective optical drop outputs. 
     
     
         6 . The optical tap distribution system of  claim 2 , wherein no additional splitting other than the tapping of the portion of the optical signal is provided within the tap terminal. 
     
     
         7 . The optical tap distribution system of  claim 2 , further comprising a distribution terminal, which includes:
 an environmentally sealed body;   an input to the environmentally sealed body;   a plurality of de-mateable fiber optic connection output locations mechanically coupled to the environmentally sealed body; and   an optical power splitter disposed within the environmentally sealed body, the optical power splitter having a splitter input that is optically coupled to the input of the environmentally sealed body, and the optical power splitter having a plurality of splitter outputs that are optically coupled to the de-mateable fiber optic connection output locations.   
     
     
         8 . The optical tap terminal of  claim 2 , wherein the tap terminal includes only one tap drop output. 
     
     
         9 . The optical tap distribution system of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of de-mateable fiber optic connection output locations include fiber optic adapters mounted to the environmentally sealed body. 
     
     
         10 . The optical tap distribution system of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of de-mateable fiber optic connection output locations include fiber optic adapters or fiber optic connectors that are spaced from the environmentally sealed body by tethers. 
     
     
         11 . The optical tap distribution system of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of de-mateable fiber optic connection output locations are hardened. 
     
     
         12 . The optical tap terminal of  claim 1 , wherein the tap terminal is one of a plurality of tap terminals that are daisy-chained together along one fiber line with the tap input of a downstream one of the optical tap terminals optically coupled to the tap pass-through output of an immediately upstream one of the optical tap terminals.