FiberZone’s Automated Fiber Management (AFM) solutions are based on a range of multi-disciplinary technologies that were designed and optimized specifically to address the requirements of fiber connectivity
Optical Switching Technology
FiberZone AFM is based on the company’s patented optical switching technology called Latched Optical Coupling (LOC)TM. LOCTM delivers the attributes and reliability of legacy connectivity gear, while facilitating major operational benefits through automated switching, inventory management, test and troubleshooting.
The fundamental innovation underlying FiberZone’s patented LOCTM optical cross-connect (LOC-OXCTM) is the automated, physical coupling of two optical fibers, without mirrors, lenses or collimators. LOCTM employs field-proven, high‑precision positioning technologies to produce physical contact between the fibers, guaranteeing superior optical performance similar to high-quality standard connectors. The latching mechanism enables a stable, passive connection, able to withstand shocks and vibrations without consuming power.
FiberZone’s radically simple architecture delivers high port count with a very small number of components. LOCTM enables N x M non-blocking connectivity using just two active switching layers and N + M passive elements, resulting in an easily manufactured, low cost solution.
FiberZone’s LOCTM- OXC is deployed in a unique three-layer compact structure. Fibers are positioned in two active switching layers, and connections are made via physical contact between input fibers and output fibers in the two layers. After a connection is made, the fibers are latched in a middle passive layer, and no power or active components are required to maintain the connection or to transmit data.
Component Performance and AFM Requirements
FiberZone’s components are selected and designed to meet the critical requirements of AFM:
- Scalability: Supports hundreds of ports, with no degradation of optical performance.
- Latching Mechanism: Guarantees traffic availability and the maintenance of connections without power or active components.
- Superior Optical Performance: Very low insertion loss and return loss, consistent across ports and over time, even under stressful conditions such as vibrations, shocks and earthquakes.
- Flexibility: Due to LOCTM’ physical coupling, the system accommodates all line rates, fiber types, and transmission protocols.
LOCTM Reliability
Because AFM is positioned in the middle of the mission-critical fiber network, LOCTM incorporates a range of features that contribute to system reliability:
- Reliable Hardware Design: Using only rugged, field-proven components (adhering to NEBS-3 standards) and providing a sealed, protected enclosure for cross connections.
- Powerless Traffic Transmission: Active only during switching, LOCTM maintains connections passively (without power or active components), thereby ensuring traffic availability without requiring redundancy.
- Non-Intrusive Servicing and Troubleshooting: Three-layer structure isolates active and passive layers, enabling components such as power supply, switching elements, and motors to be field-serviced during live operation, without affecting connections or interrupting traffic.
- Disaster Recovery: Synchronization between database and switch ensures accurate record-keeping and enables connections to be reconfigured from the database, or the database to be reconstructed by scanning the matrix.
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