Indoor multi-core invisible optical cable

Abstract

The utility model relates to the technical field of optical fibers and cables, and discloses an indoor multi-core invisible optical cable, which comprises at least one optical unit, two groups of reinforcing cores and an optical cable sheath, the optical unit is of a strip-shaped structure, the optical cable sheath is composed of two convex parts and an accommodating part, the two convex parts are arranged side by side, and the joints of the two convex parts are combined into a whole. The convex part is positioned above the accommodating part and is combined with the accommodating part into a whole; the two groups of reinforcing cores are respectively positioned in the two convex parts; the optical unit is located in the accommodating part and is parallel to the lower edge of the accommodating part. The indoor multi-core invisible optical cable provided by the utility model is excellent in comprehensive performance, and the unique strip-shaped optical unit structure can quickly identify and distinguish optical fibers according to the sequence of natural color optical fibers by identifying the positions of the filling cores, thereby greatly improving the laying efficiency of the invisible optical cable; and the cable has excellent compression resistance, tensile resistance and impact resistance.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of optical fiber and cable technology, specifically to an indoor multi-core invisible optical cable. Background Technology

[0002] With the rapid development of new technologies such as 5G and the Internet of Things, traditional indoor optical cables can no longer meet the needs of some special scenarios, such as urban beautification and concealed communication. As a result, invisible optical cables have emerged, playing an increasingly important role in communication and data transmission fields due to their high degree of concealment and excellent anti-interference capabilities.

[0003] Currently, single-core invisible optical cables are widely promoted in the market, while there are still technical challenges to overcome in the field of multi-core invisible optical cables. On the one hand, in order to achieve a highly concealed effect, only natural-colored optical fibers can be used, which undoubtedly increases the difficulty of fiber identification and construction. On the other hand, if optical cables with sheath colors matching the background color are used to achieve the effect of invisibility, this avoids the problem of fiber identification to some extent. However, such "invisible optical cables" have great limitations, limited application scenarios, and high difficulty in sheath color matching, making it impossible to carry out large-scale application and promotion.

[0004] CN109782403A discloses a stealth optoelectronic composite optical cable and its manufacturing method, comprising at least one optical fiber ribbon, at least two conductors, and a transparent sheath. The optical fiber ribbon includes at least two optical fibers and a transparent cladding layer covering all the optical fibers. The transparent cladding layer has a first identifier for distinguishing the optical fibers. The conductors are located outside the transparent cladding layer, and each conductor includes a transparent insulating layer. Each transparent insulating layer has a second identifier for identifying the conductor. The transparent sheath completely covers the optical fiber ribbon and conductors. However, its transparent sheath has a circular structure, making it unsuitable for installation on building surfaces, etc. Furthermore, the space utilization inside the transparent sheath is low, and the positions of the conductors, reinforcing members, and optical fiber ribbon cannot be well fixed, resulting in instability in the optical cable structure.

[0005] CN104793306A discloses a stealth optical cable, comprising a stealth optical unit and a protective layer that completely covers the stealth optical unit; the stealth optical unit is composed of optical fibers and a stealth coating layer covering the optical fibers; the lower surface of the protective layer is planar, and the stealth optical unit cannot move within the protective layer. However, it lacks reinforcing components, and the mechanical properties of the optical cable need improvement. Utility Model Content

[0006] To address the aforementioned shortcomings, this utility model aims to disclose a high-performance indoor multi-core invisible optical cable. By designing a special optical unit, it can still be quickly identified even when using multiple sets of natural-colored optical fibers. At the same time, it adopts a unique structural design to maintain good tensile strength while preserving the invisibility effect, meeting the laying requirements of various scenarios.

[0007] The technical solution adopted by this utility model to solve the above-mentioned technical problems is as follows:

[0008] An indoor multi-core invisible optical cable includes at least one optical unit, two sets of reinforcing cores, and an optical cable sheath. The optical unit has a ribbon-like structure, consisting of a filler core, multiple optical fibers, and an optical unit sheath. The sheath covers the filler core and the multiple optical fibers, with the filler core and optical fibers placed side-by-side, and the optical fibers arranged to the right of the filler core. The optical unit sheath is made of transparent resin. The optical cable sheath consists of two convex components arranged side-by-side and joined together at their joints, and a receiving component. The convex components are located above and integrated with the receiving component. The two sets of reinforcing cores are located within the two convex components. The optical unit is located within the receiving component and parallel to its lower edge.

[0009] The aforementioned indoor multi-core invisible optical cable is characterized in that: an upper groove is formed between two convex components, and a lower groove is recessed at the center of the lower edge of the accommodating component; the lower groove is located directly below the upper groove.

[0010] The aforementioned indoor multi-core invisible optical cable is characterized in that: the two convex components are the same in shape and size, and two sets of reinforcing cores are symmetrically distributed within the two convex components.

[0011] The aforementioned indoor multi-core invisible optical cable is characterized in that: when it has multiple optical units, the multiple optical units are distributed in a stacked manner within the housing component.

[0012] The aforementioned indoor multi-core invisible optical cable is characterized in that: when it has multiple optical units, different optical units are distinguished by different numbers of internal filler cores, or different optical units are distinguished by different spacings between the internal filler cores and the optical fiber.

[0013] The aforementioned indoor multi-core invisible optical cable is characterized in that: the optical fiber is a natural-colored optical fiber, preferably a G.657 type optical fiber with excellent bending resistance, and its outer diameter is 200μm or 250μm, or it can be coated with a layer of transparent resin to a diameter of 350μm. If required by the actual scenario, bending-resistant multimode optical fiber can also be used.

[0014] Furthermore, the aforementioned indoor multi-core invisible optical cable is characterized in that: the filler core is a transparent FRP or nylon rod, and its outer diameter is consistent with that of the natural-colored optical fiber. In specific implementation, the center-to-center distance d between the filler core and the adjacent optical fiber can be consistent with that of the adjacent optical fiber, or a larger center-to-center distance can be set to better distinguish the filler core and the optical fiber, but it should not exceed 450μm.

[0015] Furthermore, the width of the optical unit shall not exceed 3400μm. When the optical cable contains only one set of optical units, one filler core is sufficient. When there are two sets of optical units, the second set of optical units shall have two filler cores placed on one side for differentiation, and so on.

[0016] Furthermore, the cross-section of the optical cable is irregular, characterized in that the upper shape is approximately "arch bridge", with two sets of reinforcing cores placed in the middle; the lower part, i.e., the accommodating component, is approximately rectangular, with the optical unit placed in the middle.

[0017] An "arch bridge" is a structure formed by connecting two convex components. Each convex component is a semicircle or slightly smaller than a semicircle, or slightly larger than a semicircle. Of course, it is not limited to the above shapes. The convex component can also be a part of an ellipse, a part of a triangle, a part of a trapezoid, a part of a parallelogram, etc. Those skilled in the art can easily think of other similar shapes based on the above inspiration.

[0018] Furthermore, the reinforcing core is made of transparent or semi-transparent FRP with a diameter of 0.25–0.4 mm.

[0019] Furthermore, the optical cable sheath is made of a transparent material, which can be any one of polyvinyl chloride, nylon, and thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer rubber.

[0020] Furthermore, the upper and lower grooves can be triangular, arc-shaped, or other shapes.

[0021] In one alternative implementation, the optical cable further includes an adhesive layer and an anti-adhesive layer; the adhesive layer is disposed on a portion of the lower surface of the sheath, and the anti-adhesive layer is adhered to the surface of the adhesive layer. During installation, the optical cable can be quickly and stably adhered to the wall surface directly through the adhesive layer after the anti-adhesive layer is torn off, thereby improving the installation efficiency of the invisible optical cable.

[0022] Furthermore, the adhesive layer may be made of transparent double-sided adhesive, the width of which is 0.1 to 0.4 mm smaller than the width of the optical cable.

[0023] Furthermore, the width of the outer sheath is 2.4 to 4.0 mm, the thickness is 1.2 to 2.0 mm, and the ratio of the width to the thickness of the outer sheath is not less than 1.5.

[0024] Compared with the prior art, this utility model has the following advantages:

[0025] (1) The biggest challenge of multi-core invisible optical cable is the identification of optical fibers. This utility model uses a special strip optical unit structure. Even if it contains multiple sets of natural color optical fibers, it can be quickly identified by identifying the position of the filling core and the order of the optical fibers, which greatly improves the laying efficiency of invisible optical cable.

[0026] (2) The optical cable of this utility model is not rectangular, but uses a special shape with an arc-shaped upper surface and a flat lower surface. On the one hand, the arc shape can reduce the amount of outer sheath material compared with the flat surface, thus reducing costs and increasing efficiency. On the other hand, due to the difference between the upper and lower surfaces, when the optical cable needs to be equipped with an adhesive layer on the outer surface, only the flat lower surface is available for selection. In specific implementation, when the optical cable has an edge flipped, it can be detected and adjusted in time, reducing the number of defective products.

[0027] (3) Both the filling core and the reinforcing core in this utility model have a certain tensile strength, which can ensure that the optical cable can maintain normal communication function when subjected to a certain degree of tension during construction. Since the optical cable sheath is protruding and has a reinforcing core inside, it improves the external pressure or impact resistance and also plays a buffering role. In addition, due to the presence of the upper groove, the optical cable sheath can be flattened when subjected to pressure or impact, and only when it reaches the limit will it compress the optical unit. Therefore, the pressure resistance and impact resistance performance are better. Since the optical cable is still fixed as a whole by the fixing parts when it is laid, this method can also better protect the optical cable.

[0028] (4) By controlling the thickness of the outer sheath within a certain range, this utility model reduces the size of the optical cable and makes it more suitable for indoor communication scenarios. Attached Figure Description

[0029] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional structural diagram of Embodiment 1 of this utility model.

[0030] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of the optical unit.

[0031] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the optical unit used in Embodiment 2 of this utility model.

[0032] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the optical unit used in Embodiment 3 of this utility model.

[0033] Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional structural diagram of embodiment 4 of this utility model.

[0034] Figure 6This is a cross-sectional structural diagram of embodiment 5 of this utility model.

[0035] In the figure, the corresponding figures are: 1—Optical unit, 2—Reinforcing core, 3—Optical cable sheath, 4—Lower groove, 5—Adhesive layer, 6—Anti-adhesive layer, 11—Filling core, 12—Optical fiber, 13—Optical unit sheath. Detailed Implementation

[0036] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand and implement this utility model, the specific embodiments of this utility model will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0037] Implementation Example 1: Please see Figure 1 and Figure 2 An indoor multi-core invisible optical cable includes an optical unit 1, two sets of reinforcing cores 2, and an optical cable sheath 3. The optical unit 1 has a strip-shaped structure, consisting of a filling core 11, multiple optical fibers 12, and an optical unit sheath 13. The optical unit sheath 13 covers the filling core 11 and the multiple optical fibers 12, with the filling core 11 and optical fibers 12 placed side-by-side, and the optical fibers 12 arranged to the right of the filling core 11. The optical unit sheath 13 is made of transparent resin. The optical cable sheath 3 consists of two convex components arranged side-by-side and joined together at their joints, and a receiving component. The convex components are located above the receiving component and are integrated with it. The two sets of reinforcing cores 2 are located within the two convex components respectively. The optical unit 1 is located within the receiving component and is parallel to the lower edge of the receiving component.

[0038] The aforementioned indoor multi-core invisible optical cable is characterized in that: an upper groove is formed between two convex components, and a lower groove 4 is recessed in the center of the lower edge of the accommodating component; the lower groove 4 is located directly below the upper groove.

[0039] The aforementioned indoor multi-core invisible optical cable is characterized in that: the two convex components are the same in shape and size, and two sets of reinforcing cores 2 are symmetrically distributed within the two convex components.

[0040] In traditional technologies, one or more materials are typically used, such as galvanized steel wire, aramid fiber reinforced composite (KFRP), or fiber reinforced composite (FRP). However, to achieve a better stealth effect, the reinforcing core 2 in this embodiment uses transparent or semi-transparent FRP with a diameter of 0.25–0.4 mm. The sheath 3 is made of transparent material, which can be any of polyvinyl chloride, nylon, or thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer rubber. The lower groove 4 can be triangular, arc-shaped, or other shapes. The minimum straight-line distance from the bottom of the lower groove 4 to the optical unit 1 is 0.1–0.2 mm, and the minimum straight-line distance from the bottom of the upper groove to the optical unit 1 is also 0.1–0.2 mm. When it is necessary to connect to the optical fiber, the outer sheath can be torn open from the upper or lower groove to quickly expose the optical unit and further connect the optical fiber to the junction box, etc.

[0041] The aforementioned optical fiber 12 is a natural-colored optical fiber, preferably a G.657 type optical fiber with excellent bending resistance, and its outer diameter is 200μm or 250μm. Alternatively, it can be coated with a resin layer to a diameter of 350μm. If required by the specific application, bending-resistant multimode optical fiber can also be used. The filler core 11 is a transparent FRP or nylon rod, and its outer diameter is consistent with that of the optical fiber 12. In actual optical cable laying, the position of the filler core can be identified, and then the optical fibers can be quickly identified and distinguished based on their arrangement. This undoubtedly greatly improves the laying efficiency of invisible optical cables.

[0042] Implementation Example 2: Please see Figure 1 and Figure 3 An indoor multi-core invisible optical cable, basically the same as Embodiment 1, differs in the optical unit 1. In specific implementation, the center-to-center distance d between the filling core 11 and the adjacent optical fiber 12 can be consistent with the center-to-center distance between adjacent optical fibers 12. Of course, to more easily distinguish the filling core 11 and the optical fiber 12, a larger center-to-center distance can also be set, but not exceeding 450μm. Figure 3 As shown.

[0043] In specific implementation, the width of the optical unit 1 shall not exceed 3400μm, that is, the sum of the number of optical fibers and filling cores 11 contained in a single optical unit 1 shall not exceed 12. When the required number of cores exceeds 12, multiple sets of optical units shall be introduced.

[0044] Implementation Example 3: Please see Figure 1 and Figure 4 An indoor multi-core invisible optical cable is basically the same as Implementation Example 1 and Implementation Example 2, except that it has two filler cores 11, which are arranged side by side, and multiple optical fibers are arranged side by side on the right side of all filler cores 11.

[0045] Implementation Example 4: Please see Figure 5An indoor multi-core stealth optical cable, referring to Implementation Example 1, employs two optical units, one of which is... Figure 2 The other one is Figure 4 In; Figure 2 The middle is arranged at the top, Figure 4 The two optical units are arranged below, both located within the housing component. Figure 2 The light units in the stack Figure 4 On the optical unit in the middle.

[0046] Preferably, the two optical units have the same width, and the two optical units are distinguished by the number of filling cores 11 therein.

[0047] Of course, two optical units can also be Figures 2 to 4 Any two of them, for example Figure 2 One of them Figure 3 One of them; Figure 2 One of them Figure 4 One of them; Figure 3 One of them Figure 4 One of them; it should be Figure 2 One of them and Figure 3 When one is in use, the two optical units are distinguished from each other by the spacing between the filling core 11 and the optical fiber 12.

[0048] Implementation Example 5: Please see Figure 6 An indoor multi-core invisible optical cable is basically the same as in Implementation Example 1, except that the optical cable also includes an adhesive layer 5 and an anti-adhesion layer 6. The adhesive layer 5 is disposed on the lower surface of a portion of the outer sheath, and the anti-adhesion layer 6 is adhered to the surface of the adhesive layer 5. Simultaneously, the cross-section of the optical cable is irregularly shaped, with the upper part resembling an "arched bridge" with two sets of reinforcing cores 2 placed in the middle, and the lower part resembling a rectangle with the optical unit 1 placed in the middle. This irregular design, with an arc-shaped upper surface and a flat lower surface, serves two purposes: firstly, the arc shape reduces the amount of outer sheath material used compared to a flat surface, thus reducing costs and increasing efficiency; secondly, the difference between the upper and lower surfaces means that when the optical cable needs to have an adhesive layer 5 on the outer surface, only the flat lower surface is available as an option. In practice, if the optical cable develops an edge curl, it can be detected and adjusted promptly, reducing the number of defective products.

[0049] In practice, the adhesive layer can be made of transparent double-sided tape, with a width 0.1 to 0.4 mm smaller than the width of the optical cable. When laying the optical cable, the cable can be quickly and stably bonded to the wall surface directly through the adhesive layer after the anti-adhesive layer is peeled off, thereby improving the laying efficiency of the invisible optical cable.

[0050] The outer sheath has a width of 2.4–4.0 mm and a thickness of 1.2–2.0 mm, with the width-to-thickness ratio being no less than 1.5. By controlling the thickness of the outer sheath within a certain range, the size of the optical cable is reduced, making it more suitable for indoor communication scenarios.

[0051] The optical cable component in this invention is firmly fixed and will not easily shift, thus ensuring structural stability and more reliable optical signaling and mechanical properties. The presence of reinforcing members in this invention significantly improves its tensile strength, lateral pressure resistance, and impact resistance.

[0052] In this utility model, the optical cable sheath is an integral structure, which is formed by extrusion in one step.

[0053] As a further improvement, when there are multiple optical units in this utility model, they can also be arranged in a left-right separation manner. For example, when there are two, one on each side, located in the receiving component below the convex component on the left and right sides respectively; furthermore, when there are more, the left side can be stacked vertically, and the right side can also be stacked vertically, each located in the receiving component below the convex component on the left and right sides respectively. The advantage of this method is that when the upper or lower groove is torn open, it can be separated to the left and right to form different units for use.

[0054] This application can be used as a smart sensor or smart sensing element; since it can transmit voice and images, it can also be used as a physical sensor, such as a voice sensor or an image sensor; since it transmits light signals through the principle of total internal reflection, it can also be used as a distance sensor; the optical fiber in this application is itself an optical waveguide, so it can be used as an optical waveguide, such as an arrayed optical waveguide or a diffractive optical waveguide; this application can also be used in the field of optical computing, as part of optical chip computing, optical computing, optical network computing, and optical computing.

[0055] The above embodiments are merely preferred technical solutions of this utility model and should not be considered as limitations on this utility model. The protection scope of this utility model should be the technical solution described in the claims, including equivalent substitutions of the technical features described in the claims. That is, equivalent substitutions and improvements within this scope are also within the protection scope of this utility model.

Claims

1. An indoor multi-core invisible optical cable, comprising at least one optical unit, two sets of reinforcing cores, and an optical cable sheath, characterized in that: The optical unit has a strip-shaped structure, consisting of a filling core, multiple optical fibers, and an optical unit sheath. The optical unit sheath covers the filling core and multiple optical fibers, with the filling core and optical fibers placed side by side and the optical fibers arranged on the right side of the filling core. The optical unit sheath is made of transparent resin. The optical cable sheath consists of two convex components arranged side by side and joined together at their joints, and a receiving component. The convex components are located above the receiving component and are integrated with it. Two sets of reinforcing cores are located within the two convex components. The optical unit is located within the receiving component and is parallel to the lower edge of the receiving component.

2. The indoor multi-core invisible optical cable according to claim 1, characterized in that: An upper groove is formed between the two convex components, and a lower groove is recessed in the center of the lower edge of the receiving component; the lower groove is located directly below the upper groove.

3. The indoor multi-core invisible optical cable according to claim 2, characterized in that: It also includes an adhesive layer and an anti-adhesive layer; the adhesive layer is disposed on the lower surface of the receiving component of the optical cable sheath, and the anti-adhesive layer is adhered to the lower surface of the adhesive layer.

4. An indoor multi-core invisible optical cable according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The two convex components are the same shape and size, and two sets of reinforcing cores are symmetrically distributed within the two convex components.

5. An indoor multi-core invisible optical cable according to claim 4, characterized in that: When there are multiple optical units, the multiple optical units are distributed in a stacked manner within the accommodating component.

6. An indoor multi-core invisible optical cable according to claim 4, characterized in that: When there are multiple optical units, different optical units are distinguished by different numbers of internal filler cores, or by different spacing between the internal filler cores and the optical fiber.

7. An indoor multi-core invisible optical cable according to claim 4, characterized in that: The filler core is a transparent FRP or nylon rod, and the outer diameter of the filler core is the same as the outer diameter of the optical fiber. The outer diameter of the filler core is 0.25 to 0.4 mm.

8. An indoor multi-core invisible optical cable according to claim 4, characterized in that: The maximum width of the optical unit is no more than 3400 μm.

9. An indoor multi-core invisible optical cable according to claim 4, characterized in that: The minimum straight-line distance from the bottom of the upper groove to the upper surface of the uppermost optical unit is 0.1 to 0.2 mm, and the minimum straight-line distance from the top of the lower groove to the surface of the lowermost optical unit is 0.1 to 0.2 mm.

10. An indoor multi-core invisible optical cable according to claim 4, characterized in that: The width of the optical cable sheath is 2.4 to 4.0 mm, and the thickness is 1.2 to 2.0 mm. The ratio of the width to the thickness of the optical cable sheath is not less than 1.5.

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