AU2018205100B1 - Terminal box for optical fiber and power line composite cable and terminal box system having the same - Google Patents

Abstract

[66] The present invention relates to a terminal box for an optical fiber and power line composite cable and a terminal box system, and more particularly to a terminal box 5 for an optical fiber and power line composite cable that facilitates connection between the terminal box and the optical fiber and power line composite cable at a remote radio head (RRH)-type base station and a terminal box system.

Description

2018205100 11 Jul 2018

ORIGINAL COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT

Invention Title

Terminal box for optical fiber and power line composite cable and terminal box system having the same

The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:1

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- la TECHNICAL FIELD [01] The present disclosure relates to a terminal box for an optical fiber and power line composite cable and a terminal box system, and more particularly to a terminal box for an optical fiber and power line composite cable that facilitates connection between the terminal box and the optical fiber and power line composite cable at a remote radio head (RRH)-type base station and a terminal box system.

BACKGROUND [02] Conventionally, for mobile communication, a communication signal is transmitted from a key communication station or the like to a base station and a radio-frequency (RF) signal transmitted from a base transceiver station (BTS) of the base station is transmitted wirelessly via an antenna of the base station. A radio signal transmitted from a user's portable terminal is received via the antenna of the base station, amplified by a tower mounted amplifier (TMA), and transmitted to the BTS.

[03] In this case, the BTS, the TMA, and the antenna of the base station are connected to one another via a coaxial feeder but signal loss in the coaxial feeder increases as the length of a cable is increased. When the antenna is installed at a tower having a height of several tens of meters, signal loss in the coaxial feeder connecting the base station on the ground and the antenna increases. Thus, a signal transmitted from the base station does not reach signal intensity required

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-2at the antenna and attenuates due to the signal loss in the coaxial feeder. Accordingly, the TMA is installed to compensate for the attenuation of the signal and amplify the signal.

[04] However, a relatively large amount of power is consumed by the TMA to amplify the signal and thus maintenance costs of the whole system are high. Accordingly, the efficiency of the TMA is low.

[05] With the advancement of FTTx (Fiber to the X) and a decrease in the size of a repeater, base station equipment has been developed. A signal attenuation rate in an optical unit according to a cable length among the base station equipment is very lower than that in a coaxial cable. Remote radio head (RRH) which is technology employing the above-described advantage of the optical unit has been introduced, whereby an optical signal is transmitted right before an antenna of a based station to minimize signal loss and is converted into an RF signal, which can be emitted, right before the antenna.

[06] RRH may make up for disadvantages of a mobile communication base station using the TMA, e.g., high power consumption and an inefficient maintenance method. In RRH, a remote RF unit (RRU) is separated from a BTS, arranged below an antenna of a tower of a base station, and remotely controlled.

[07] Here, in RRH, remaining part, i.e., a baseband unit (BBU) and a power supply unit (PSU), of the BTS from which the RRU is separated are connected to the RRU via an optical fiber and power line composite cable having an optical unit in which signal attenuation hardly occurs according to a cable length and a power unit. Accordingly, a communication signal is supplied to the RRU from the BBU via the optical unit of the

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-3 optical fiber and power line composite cable, and power is supplied to the RRU from the PSU via the power unit of the optical fiber and power line composite cable.

[08] Since the RRU may be installed right below the antenna of the base station at the top of the tower of the base station, a length of a coaxial feeder supplying a signal converted into an RF signal by the RRU to the antenna may be minimized and thus attenuation of the RF signal when transmitted via a coaxial line may not be a serious problem. Accordingly, a degree of attenuation of the signal right before the signal is emitted may be minimized and thus the TMA which consumes a large amount of power is not needed. The technical features of the RRH are advantageous in terms of maintenance of the base station.

[09] In such an RRH system, the BBU, the PSU, and the RRU are connected to one another via a terminal box for an optical fiber and power line composite cable.

[10] That is, in the optical fiber and power line composite cable connected to the base station, a plurality of optical units and a plurality of power units are provided in the form of a cable. Accordingly, the BBU, the PSU, and a plurality of RRUs cannot be directly connected to the optical fiber and power line composite cable and thus the RRUs and terminal boxes for the optical fiber and power line composite cable may be connected using a separate jumper cable.

[11] When a single optical fiber and power line composite cable is connected to a plurality of jumper cables, a plurality of power units and a plurality of optical units constituting the optical fiber and power line composite cable are connected to power units and optical units constituting the jumper cables using connectors in a terminal box for an optical fiber and power line composite cable.

C:\Users\m ka\AppData\Local\Temp\f&2d-8d00-370a-a36d.DOCX-2/l0/20l 9 [12] In the case in which the number of base station antennas is increased due to the presence of a plurality of communication service providers or a plurality of communication schemes, the number of remote radio-frequency units (RRUs) or terminal boxes is also increased. As a result, it is necessary for an engineer who performs predetermined work at a base station to strip an optical fiber and power line composite cable and to connect power units and optical units of the optical fiber and power line composite cable to respective power units and optical units of jumper cables in a terminal box, which requires a lot of time and effort.

[13] In an environment in which the number of communication service providers and the variety of communication schemes have suddenly increased, therefore, improvement of a connection between an optical fiber and power line composite cable and jumper cables in a terminal box has been required.

[14] A method of installing a terminal box at a base station in the state in which an optical fiber and power line composite cable is connected to the terminal box and a method of mounting a cable connector at the end of an optical fiber and power line composite cable and connecting the cable connector to a cable-connecting unit provided in a terminal box have been proposed.

[15] In the former method, it is not easy to raise the optical fiber and power line composite cable to a base station antenna, which is located at a height of several tens of meters, in the state in which the end of the optical fiber and power line composite cable is connected to the terminal box. In addition, it is necessary to secure a path sufficiently wide to enable the terminal box to pass therethrough when the terminal box and the optical fiber and

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-5 power line composite cable are raised to the base station antenna. Furthermore, in the case in which the volume of the terminal box is large, the terminal box may be damaged while being transferred.

[16] In the latter method, it is not easy to connect the optical fiber and power line composite cable to the terminal box due to the weight of the optical fiber and power line composite cable in the case in which the optical fiber and power line composite cable is raised and connected to the

terminal	box	in the	state	in which	the	terminal box is
installed	at	a base	station	tower.	In	particular,	it is
necessary	to	align connection	terminals	of	the optical	fiber

and power line composite cable with cabinet-connecting units of the terminal box such that the connection terminal of the optical fiber and power line composite cable can be accurately coupled to the cabinet-connecting unit of the terminal box. Consequently, the connection work is very difficult. In addition, it is practically impossible for a single engineer to connect the optical fiber and power line composite cable to the terminal box while bearing the load of the optical fiber and power line composite cable.

[17] It is desired to address or ameliorate one or more disadvantages or limitations associated with the prior art, or to at least provide a useful alternative.

SUMMARY [18] According to the present invention there is provided a terminal box for an optical fiber and power line composite cable for connecting at least one optical fiber and power line composite cable comprising a plurality of power units and a plurality of optical units to a plurality of jumper

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-6cables, the terminal box comprising:

a housing, an inner space of which is partitioned into a first region and a second region, a length of the housing being greater than a width and a height of the housing;

a plurality of jumper-connecting units provided on an outer surface of the housing in a line so as to be spaced apart from each other, each of the jumper-connecting units comprising at least one optical terminal and at least one power terminal in order to detachably mount jumper connectors of the jumper cables; and connecting units for connecting the power units and the optical units of the optical fiber and power line composite cable, introduced into the second region, to the jumper-connecting units in the first region, wherein the first region and the second region are formed by partitioning the housing into two parts in an up and down direction thereof, and a partition wall is provided at a border between the first region and the second region, and wherein the optical fiber and power line composite cable is introduced upwards through a lower end of the second region, and, wherein the connecting units comprise connecting optical units, for connecting optical terminals of the jumperconnecting units to the optical units of the optical fiber and power line composite cable, and connecting power units, for connecting power terminals of the jumper-connecting units to the power units of the optical fiber and power line composite cable, and wherein connectors are mounted to ends of the power units and the optical units of the optical fiber and power line composite cable, introduced into the second region, counter-connectors are provided at the partition wall so as to be connected to the connecting units, and the connectors of

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-7the power units and the optical units of the optical fiber and power line composite cable are connectable respectively to the connecting power units and the connecting optical units via the counter-connectors.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [19] Preferred embodiments of the present invention are hereinafter described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[20] FIG. 1 is a view showing the configuration of a base station system, in which a terminal box for an optical fiber and power line composite cable according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is installed;

[21] FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing an optical fiber and power line composite cable;

[22] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a terminal box for an optical fiber and power line composite cable according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and [23] FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the inner structure of the terminal box shown in FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION [24] The present disclosure provides a terminal box for an optical fiber and power line composite cable that facilitates connection between the optical fiber and power line composite cable and the terminal box at a base station.

[25] Disclosed herein is a terminal box for an optical fiber and power line composite cable for connecting at least one optical fiber and power line composite cable comprising a plurality of power units and a plurality of optical units to

C:\Users\m ka\AppData\Local\Temp\f&2d-8d00-370a-a36d.DOCX-2/l0/20l 9 a plurality of jumper cables, the terminal box comprising a housing, an inner space of which is partitioned into a first region and a second region, a length of the housing being greater than a width and a height of the housing; a plurality of jumper-connecting units provided on an outer surface of the housing in a line so as to be spaced apart from each other, each of the jumper-connecting units comprising an optical terminal and a power terminal in order to detachably mount jumper connectors of the jumper cables; and connecting units for connecting the power units and the optical units of the optical fiber and power line composite cable, introduced into the second region, to the jumper-connecting units in the first region .

[26] And the first region and the second region may be formed by partitioning the housing into two parts in a longitudinal direction thereof, and a partition wall may be provided at a border between the first region and the second region .

[27] And the optical fiber and power line composite cable may be introduced upwards through a lower end of the second region .

[28] And the connecting units may comprise connecting optical units, for connecting optical terminals of the jumperconnecting units to the optical units of the optical fiber and power line composite cable, and connecting power units, for connecting power terminals of the jumper-connecting units to the power units of the optical fiber and power line composite cable .

[29] And connectors may be mounted to ends of the power units and the optical units of the optical fiber and power line composite cable, introduced into the second region, counter-connectors are provided at the partition wall so as to

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-9be connected to the connecting units, and the connectors of the power units and the optical units of the optical fiber and power line composite cable are connectable respectively to the connecting power units and the connecting optical units via the counter-connectors.

[30] And a first cover and a second cover, which are separate from each other, may be detachably provided at the first region and the second region of the housing, respectively.

[31] And the second cover may be hingedly coupled to the second region such that the second cover is turnable to open and close the second region for shielding the second region.

[32] Disclosed herein is a terminal box system comprising a terminal box for the optical fiber and power line composite cable; an fiber and power line composite cable having a plurality of optical units provided in the central portion and connected between the BBU and the terminal box, and a plurality of power units provided around the optical unit and connected between the PSU and the terminal box, Composite cable; a plurality of jumper cables being connected between the terminal box and the RRU, and including at least one optical unit and at least one power unit.

[33] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described herein and may be variously modified. The embodiments described herein are provided to allow those skilled in the art to thoroughly and completely understand disclosed contents and to sufficiently convey the scope of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, the same or similar elements are

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- 10denoted by the same reference numerals even when they are depicted in different drawings.

[34] FIG. 1 is a view showing the configuration of a remote radio head (RRH)-type base station system 1, in which a terminal box 1200 for an optical fiber and power line composite cable according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is installed.

[35] Referring to FIG. 1, the RRH-type base station system 1 is configured such that a remote radio-frequency unit (RRU) 40, which is separated from a conventional base transceiver station (BTS)-type base station and is disposed under an antenna 11 of a tower for base station installation, is remotely controlled.

[36] In the RRH-type base station system 1, the RRU 40 is connected to the remaining part 10 of the conventional BTS-type base station, such as a baseband unit (BBU) and a power supply unit (PSU), from which the RRU 40 is separated, through an optical fiber and power line composite cable 100 including an optical unit and a power unit, which has low attenuation per unit length.

[37] A communication signal from the baseband unit (BBU) is supplied to the RRU 40 through the optical unit, which constitutes the optical fiber and power line composite cable 100, and power from the power supply unit (PSU) is supplied to the RRU 40 through the power unit, which constitutes the optical fiber and power line composite cable 100.

[38] The RRU 40 may be installed at the upper end of the base station tower so as to be disposed directly under the base station antenna 20. As a result, the length of a coaxial cable 30 for supplying a signal converted by the RRU 40 in the form of a radio-frequency (RF) signal to the antenna 11 is minimized, whereby attenuation of the RF signal, which may

C:\Users\m ka\AppData\Local\Temp\f&2d-8d00-370a-a36d.DOCX-2ZI0/20l 9 occur when the RF signal is transmitted through the coaxial cable 30, is negligible. Consequently, the amount of attenuation of the signal till the emission thereof is minimized, thereby obviating a conventional tower-mounted amplifier (TMA), which has high power consumption. The above technical characteristics constitute the features of the RRH in terms of maintenance of the base station.

[39] In the RRH-type base station system 1, as shown in FIG. 1, the optical fiber and power line composite cable 100 is connected to the part 10, which is constituted by the baseband unit (BBU) and the power supply unit (PSU), via the terminal box 1200.

[40] That is, the optical unit and the power unit are incorporated into the optical fiber and power line composite cable 100. The part 10, which is constituted by the baseband unit (BBU) and the power supply unit (PSU), cannot be directly connected to a plurality of remote radio-frequency units (RRUs) that have various shapes and are installed at a single base station tower. The optical unit and the power unit, which constitute the optical fiber and power line composite cable 100, may diverge from the optical fiber and power line composite cable in the terminal box 1200 for the optical fiber and power line composite cable, and may then be connected to the RRUs via jumper cables 50.

[41] In detail, the optical unit 130 of the optical fiber and power line composite cable 100 is connected to the BBU (Baseband Unit) side, and the power unit 110 of the optical fiber and power line composite cable 100 is connected to the PSU (Power Supply Unit) side.

[42] In recent years, the variety of portable terminals has increased, new-model terminals and old-model terminals having different communication schemes for each

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- 12communication generation have coexisted, and mobile communication service providers have come to share base station towers for installing the antenna 20, which constitutes part of the RRH-type system. For these reasons, a plurality of pieces of equipment, such as several tens of RRUs constituting the RRH-type system, are often installed at the upper end of a single base station tower. As a result, the installation space on the base station tower, which was already limited, has been further reduced, and costs for cable installation have been increased.

[43] In the case in which an engineer works on the terminal box, therefore, it takes a quite long time to connect the optical unit and the power unit, which constitute the optical fiber and power line composite cable 100, to optical units and power units constituting the jumper cables 50.

[44] Therefore, the present disclosure provides a terminal box 1200 for an optical fiber and power line composite cable configured such that an optical fiber and power line composite cable 100 is easily provided in the terminal box 1200 in the state in which the terminal box 1200 is installed at a base station tower and such that a single engineer alone can easily connect an optical unit 130 and a power unit 110, which constitute the optical fiber and power line composite cable 100, to the terminal box 1200.

[45] Hereinafter, the structure of an optical fiber and power line composite cable will be described, and then a terminal box for an optical fiber and power line composite cable will be described in detail.

[46] FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of an optical fiber and power line composite cable.

[47] Referring to FIG. 2, the optical fiber and power line composite cable 100 may include a cable core 105

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- 13 and an outer covering layer 150 for wrapping the cable core 105.

[48] The cable core 105 may include a plurality of power units 110 for supplying power and a plurality of optical units 130 for transmitting an optical signal.

[49] A plurality of optical units 130 may be arranged in the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber and power line composite cable 100 around the center line 145 of the centerline of the optical fiber and power line composite cable 100.

[50] A protection layer 140 may be further provided around the optical units 130 in order to protect the optical units 130.

[51] When comparing the optical units 130 and the power units 110, the diameter of each of the optical units 130 is smaller than the diameter of each of the power units 110, and optical fiber 133 provided in each of the optical units 130 has relatively low resistance to bending or cutting. For these reasons, the optical units 130 may be disposed in the central part of the optical fiber and power line composite cable 100, the optical units 130 may be wrapped by the protection layer 140, and the power units 110 may be disposed on the outer circumferential surface of the protection layer 140 .

[52] The cable core 105 may further include a filling material 120 for filling the gap between the respective power units 110 or the gap between the respective optical units 130 .

[53] Since each of the power units 110 has a circular shape in section, a space or a gap is formed between neighboring power units 110. In this configuration, the overall shape of the optical fiber and power line composite

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- 14cable 100 cannot be circular in section. As a result, the optical fiber and power line composite cable 100 has low resistance to bending or external impact applied thereto. For this reason, the gap in the cable core 105 may be filled with the filling material 120, and the filling material 120 may be configured so as to have a circular shape in section in order to withstand an external impact applied thereto.

[54] The outer covering layer 150, which is provided at the outermost side of the optical fiber and power line composite cable 100, is a part that defines the external appearance of the optical fiber and power line composite cable 100. The outer covering layer 150 protects the optical units 130 and the power units 110, which are included in the optical fiber and power line composite cable 100.

[55] The outer covering layer 150 may include a nonwoven fabric tape 151 inscribed in the cable core 105 to wrap the outer circumference of the cable core 105, a metal protection layer 153 enclosing the cable core 105 in a circular form at the outside of the non-woven fabric tape 151 to protect the cable core 105 from external impact, and an external jacket 155 enclosing the metal protection layer 153.

[56] The non-woven fabric tape 151 may be provided to wrap the outer circumference of the cable core 105 at the outside of the cable core 105, and may be provided to enclose the power units 110 and the optical units 130 in a circular form. The non-woven fabric tape 151 may be disposed so as to wrap the optical units and the power units therein using compressed non-woven fabric. The non-woven fabric tape 151 may be formed by wrapping or longitudinally applying a tapeshaped material.

[57] The metal protection layer 153 may have a corrugated structure, constituted by corrugation peaks and

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- 15 corrugation valleys, which are alternately formed, in order to wrap the cable core 105.

[58] For example, the metal protection layer 153 may be constituted by a corrugated metal pipe, such as a corrugated aluminum pipe, having corrugation peaks and corrugation valleys, which are alternately formed. The metal protection layer 153 may be formed as follows. A plate-type metal sheet may be supplied together with the cable core 105, which includes the optical units 130 and the power units 110, the metal sheet may be rolled so as to wrap the outside of the cable core, and the two ends of the metal sheet, which are in contact with each other, may be joined to each other by welding in order to manufacture a pipe having a predetermined diameter. Subsequently, the pipe may be pressed at predetermined intervals in order to form corrugations in the outer surface of the pipe.

[59] Meanwhile, the external jacket 155 may be made of a flame-retardant, eco-friendly resin. For example, the external jacket 155 may be made of polyethylene, polypropylene, or polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

[60] Meanwhile, each of the optical units 130 may be configured to have any shape, as long as optical fiber for transmitting an optical signal is included therein. For example, each of the optical units 130 may include at least one core of optical fiber 133 and a tube 135 enclosing the optical fiber 133. The tube 135 may be made of, for example, polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polypropylene, polyethylene, or polyvinyl chloride (PVC). In addition, the interior of the tube 135 may be filled with a filling material 137, such as jelly or water-blocking yarn. For example, the interior of the tube 135 may be filled with jelly, or may be filled with a tensile material, such as aramid yarn. The

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- 16tensile material exhibits high tensile strength and flexibility, and therefore cables may be stably installed owing to the tensile material.

[61] Each of the optical units 130 may be configured to have any one of various kinds of structures, such as a tight buffer-type structure or a loose tube-type structure.

[62] Each of the power units 110 includes a conductor 113 and an insulator 115 wrapping the conductor 113. Each of the power units 110 may be configured to conform to general power standards. A plurality of conductors 113 may be twisted. In addition, each of the conductors 113 may be made of a metal such as copper or aluminum. The insulator 115 may be made of a polymer resin, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, or polyvinyl chloride.

[63] The optical units 110 and the power units 130 diverge from the optical fiber and power line composite cable 100 in the terminal box 1200, and are connected to the jumper cables 50, which are connected to the RRUs 40.

[64] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a terminal box 1200 for an optical fiber and power line composite cable, to which the optical fiber and power line composite cable shown in FIG. 2 is connected, and FIG. 4 is a view showing the state in which the optical fiber and power line composite cable is separated from the terminal box 1200 for the optical fiber and power line composite cable shown in FIG. 3.

[65] The terminal box 1200 for the optical fiber and power line composite cable according to the present disclosure may be a terminal box 1200 for an optical fiber and power line composite cable for connecting at least one optical fiber and power line composite cable 100 including a plurality of power units 110 and a plurality of optical units 130 to a plurality of jumper cables, wherein the terminal box 1200 may include a

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- 17housing 1210, the inner space of which is partitioned into a first region 1200A and a second region 1200B, the length of the housing 1210 being greater than the width and the height of the housing 1210, a plurality of jumper-connecting units 1250 provided on the outer surface of the housing 1210 in a line so as to be spaced apart from each other, each of the jumper-connecting units 1250 comprising an optical terminal and a power terminal in order to detachably mount jumper connectors of the jumper cables, and connecting units 11 and 13 for connecting the power units 110 and the optical units 130 of the optical fiber and power line composite cable 100, introduced into the second region 1200B, to the jumperconnecting units 1250 in the first region 1200A.

[66] In the terminal box 1200 for the optical fiber and power line composite cable according to the present disclosure, the housing 1210, which is long, is partitioned into two regions. The first region 1200A, which is the upper region, is a region in which the jumper cables are connected, and the second region 1200B, which is the lower region, is a region into which the optical fiber and power line composite cable is introduced and divided.

[67] The reason that the terminal box 1200 for the optical fiber and power line composite cable is partitioned into two spaces, namely a space in which the jumper cables are connected and a space into which the optical fiber and power line composite cable is introduced and divided, is to improve efficiency in the introduction of the optical fiber and power line composite cable into the second region 1200B and the division of the optical fiber and power line composite cable in the state in which the terminal box for the optical fiber and power line composite cable, in which the connection is

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- 18completed in the first region 1200A, is installed at the base station .

[68] Conventionally, the terminal box is installed at the base station in the state in which the optical fiber and power line composite cable is connected to the terminal box, or a cable connector is mounted to the optical fiber and power line composite cable and then the cable connector is mounted to a cable-connecting unit provided in the terminal box. In the former method, however, the load and the weight of the terminal box, to which the optical fiber and power line composite cable is connected, are great, and it is necessary to twist the optical fiber and power line composite cable, the diameter of which is large, in order to mount the optical fiber and power line composite cable in the case in which the terminal of the connector has an orientation different from the orientation of the optical fiber and power line composite cable, as previously described.

[69] Consequently, the terminal box 1200 for the optical fiber and power line composite cable according to the present disclosure is partitioned into two regions such that the jumper cables are connected in the manner of a connector in one of the regions and such that the optical fiber and power line composite cable is introduced, divided, and connected in the other region at the site of the base station, which will be described in detail.

[70] The terminal box 1200 for the optical fiber and power line composite cable according to the present disclosure may include a housing 1210, the inner space of which is partitioned into a first region 1200A and a second region 1200B, the length of the housing 1210 being greater than the width and the height of the housing 1210.

C:\Users\m ka\AppData\Local\Temp\f&2d-8d00-370a-a36d.DOCX-2/l0/20l 9 [71] A plurality of jumper-connecting units 1250, each of which includes an optical terminal and a power terminal, may be provided at the side surface of the housing 1210, specifically at the side surface of the first region 1200A of the housing 1210, to detachably mount jumper connectors 200 of the jumper cables.

[72] As shown in FIG. 1, a jumper connector 200 is provided at the end of each of the jumper cables, and a plurality of jumper-connecting units 1250 is provided at the side surface of the first region 1200A of the housing 1210 such that each of the jumper connectors 200 can be detachably connected to a corresponding one of the jumper-connecting units 1250.

[73] The jumper cable 50 may be connected to the outer surface of the housing of the terminal box 1200 in a line through the jumper-connecting units 1250.

[74] Each of the jumper connectors 200 and the jumper-connecting units 1250 may include a pair of power terminals and two pairs of optical terminals. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[75] In the first region 1200A of the terminal box 1200 for the optical fiber and power line composite cable may be provided connecting units 13 and 11 for connecting the jumper-connecting units 1250 to a plurality of power units 110 and a plurality of optical units of the optical fiber and power line composite cable 100, introduced into the second region 1200B.

[76] The connecting units 13 and 11 may include connecting optical units 13, for connecting optical terminals (not shown) of the jumper-connecting units 1250 to the optical units 130 of the optical fiber and power line composite cable 100 in the housing 1210, and connecting power units 11, for

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-20connecting power terminals (not shown) of the jumperconnecting units 1250 to the power units 110 of the optical fiber and power line composite cable 100 in the housing 1210.

[77] The first region 1200A and the second region 1200B, which are defined in the housing 1210, may be formed by partitioning the inner space of the housing 1210 into two parts. A partition wall 1215 may be provided between the first region 1200A and the second region 1200B.

[78] The second region 1200B is a space into which the optical fiber and power line composite cable is introduced, divided, and connected. As shown in FIG. 3, the external jacket of the optical fiber and power line composite cable 100, which is introduced upwards through the lower end of the second region 1200B, may be removed, and the optical units 130 and the power units 110 may diverge from the optical fiber and power line composite cable. The optical units 130 and the power units 110 may be connected to the connecting units of the first region 1200A.

[79] Connectors 131 and 111 may be provided respectively at the ends of the optical units 130 and the power units 110, which diverge from the optical fiber and power line composite cable in the second region 1200B. The connectors 131 and 111 may be detachably connected to counter-connectors 21 and 61 provided at the partition wall 1215, by which the first region 1200A and the second region 1200B are partitioned from each other.

[80] One-side ends of the connecting optical units 13 and the connecting power units 11, the other-side ends of which are connected to the jumper-connecting units 1250, are connected to the counter-connectors 21 and 61, respectively. Consequently, the connecting units 13 and 11, which connect the interior of the first region 1200A, and the optical units

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-21 130 and the power units 110, which are introduced into the second region 1200B and diverge from the optical fiber and power line composite cable, may be selectively connected to each other through the partition wall 1215.

[81] As shown in FIG. 4, the optical fiber and power line composite cable 100, introduced into the second region 1200B, is mounted to the housing 1210 via a cable holder 1400, which is mounted to the housing 1210.

[82] In addition, the optical fiber and power line composite cable 100, introduced into the second region 1200B, is pressed by a load support part 1300, whereby it is possible to prevent vertical slippage of the optical fiber and power line composite cable 100, which may occur in the cable holder 1400 .

[83] That is, the engineer may install the terminal box 1200 for the optical fiber and power line composite cable, in which wiring connection in the first region 1200A is completed, at the base station tower, and may then perform installation and connection of the optical fiber and power line composite cable 100 in the second region 1200B. When the installation of the terminal box and the connection of the optical fiber and power line composite cable are completed, the engineer may connect the jumper connectors of the jumper cables to the jumper-connecting units of the terminal box at the base station tower.

[84] The work in the second region 1200B may be carried out as follows. In the state in which the terminal box 1200 for the optical fiber and power line composite cable is installed, the external jacket may be removed from the end of the optical fiber and power line composite cable. In the state in which the connectors 131 and 111 are provided at the ends of the optical units 130 and the power units 110, which

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-22diverge from the optical fiber and power line composite cable, the optical fiber and power line composite cable 100 may be mounted to the terminal box via the cable holder 1400, and the

connectors	131	and	111,	provided	at the ends of	the	optical
units 130	and	the	power units	110, may be mounted	to the
counter-connectors	21	and 61.	In this way,	the	! cable
connection	work	may	be	completed	Consequently,	the	removal

of the external jacket from the end of the optical fiber and power line composite cable 100, which will be installed in the terminal box 1200, and the mounting of the respective connectors may be carried out on the ground, and then the work may be performed at the base station.

[85] In addition, the cable holder, which is mounted to the optical fiber and power line composite cable, may be mounted and held at a lower support projection 1211 of the housing 1210 in the manner of a slot, and then the connectors 111 or 131, which are provided at the ends of the power units 110 or the optical units 130, may be connected to a corresponding one of the counter-connectors 21 and 61, which are provided at the partition wall 1215. In this way, connection of the optical fiber and power line composite cable to the base station may be completed.

[86] In the above structure, the optical fiber and power line composite cable and the terminal box may be installed separately. Furthermore, the optical fiber and power line composite cable 100 may be simply introduced into the terminal box 1200 for the optical fiber and power line composite cable, and may be held in the terminal box. Subsequently, the connectors 131 and 111, provided at the ends of the optical units 130 and the power units 110 of the optical fiber and power line composite cable 100, may be connected to the counter-connectors 21 and 61, respectively. Consequently,

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-23 the present disclosure may have the effect of reducing the physical burden on the engineer who performs connection of the optical fiber and power line composite cable at the base station tower.

[87] In addition, covers may be provided at the first region 1200A and the second region 1200B of the housing 1210. The first cover 1220 for shielding the first region 1200A may be fastened to the first region 1200A using fastening members such as bolts. In order to improve workability, however, the second cover 1230 for shielding the second region 1200B, which provides a space for connecting the optical fiber and power line composite cable at the base station, may be hingedly coupled to the second region 1200B such that the second cover 1230 can be turned to open and close the second region 1200B, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

[88] As is apparent from the above description, the terminal box for the optical fiber and power line composite cable and the terminal box system according to the present disclosure may have the effect of improving efficiency and accuracy in connection of the optical fiber and power line composite cable to the terminal box at the time of connecting the BBUs or the PSUs and the RRUs, which constitute the RRH system, via the terminal box for the optical fiber and power line composite cable.

[89] In addition, in the terminal box for the optical fiber and power line composite cable and the terminal box system according to the present disclosure, the optical fiber and power line composite cable and the terminal box may be installed separately. Furthermore, the optical fiber and power line composite cable may be held in the terminal box for the optical fiber and power line composite cable, and the connectors, provided at the power units and the optical units

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-24of the optical fiber and power line composite cable, may be detachably connected to the respective counter-connectors. Consequently, the terminal box for the optical fiber and power line composite cable and the terminal box system according to the present disclosure may have the effect of reducing the physical burden on an engineer who performs connection of the optical fiber and power line composite cable.

[90] Although preferred embodiments have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions, and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims .

[91] Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word comprise, and variations such as comprises and comprising, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

[92] The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavor to which this specification relates.

Claims (4)

1. THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

   1. A terminal box for an optical fiber and power line composite cable for connecting at least one optical fiber and power line composite cable comprising a plurality of power units and a plurality of optical units to a plurality of jumper cables, the terminal box comprising:

   a housing, an inner space of which is partitioned into a first region and a second region, a length of the housing being greater than a width and a height of the housing;

   a plurality of jumper-connecting units provided on an outer surface of the housing in a line so as to be spaced apart from each other, each of the jumper-connecting units comprising at least one optical terminal and at least one power terminal in order to detachably mount jumper connectors of the jumper cables; and connecting units for connecting the power units and the optical units of the optical fiber and power line composite cable, introduced into the second region, to the jumperconnecting units in the first region, wherein the first region and the second region are formed by partitioning the housing into two parts in an up and down direction thereof, and a partition wall is provided at a border between the first region and the second region, and wherein the optical fiber and power line composite cable is introduced upwards through a lower end of the second region, and, wherein the connecting units comprise connecting optical units, for connecting optical terminals of the jumper-connecting units to the optical units of the optical fiber and power line composite cable, and connecting power units, for connecting power terminals of the jumper-connecting units to the power units of the optical fiber and power line composite cable, and wherein

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   -26connectors are mounted to ends of the power units and the optical units of the optical fiber and power line composite cable, introduced into the second region, counter-connectors are provided at the partition wall so as to be connected to the connecting units, and the connectors of the power units and the optical units of the optical fiber and power line composite cable are connectable respectively to the connecting power units and the connecting optical units via the counterconnectors .
2. 2. The terminal box according to claim 1, wherein a first cover and a second cover, which are separate from each other, are detachably provided at the first region and the second region of the housing, respectively.
3. 3. The terminal box according to claim 2, wherein the second cover is hingedly coupled to the second region such that the second cover is turnable to open and close the second region for shielding the second region.
4. 4. A terminal box system comprising:

   a terminal box for an optical fiber and power line composite cable according to any one of claims 1, 2 and 3;

   a fiber and power line composite cable having a plurality of optical units provided in the central portion and connected between a baseband unit (BBU) and the terminal box, and a plurality of power units provided around the optical unit and connected between a power supply unit (PSU) and the terminal box;

   a plurality of jumper cables being connected between the terminal box and a remote RF unit (RRU) , and including at least one optical unit and at least one power unit.