OPTICAL CABLE, COMMUNICATION DEVICE AND OPTICAL COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- ES · ES
- Patent Type
- Utility models
- Current Assignee / Owner
- HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2023-07-17
- Publication Date
- 2026-08-05
Abstract
Description
OPTICAL CABLE, COMMUNICATION DEVICE AND COMMUNICATION SYSTEM OPTICS TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION This application relates to the field of communication technologies and, in particular, to optical cable, a communication device and an optical communication system. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION With the rapid development of fiber optic communication technologies, technologies such as fiber to the home (FTTH) and fiber to the room (FTTR) have been widely applied to communication scenarios. Fiber to the home involves installing optical fibers in each room to connect an optical network unit (ONU) in a communication system to an optical line terminal (OLT) in each room. Optical fibers have strong transmission capacity, high transmission rates, longer lifespans, and lower signal attenuation, making them ideal for fiber-to-the-room deployments. In general, optical fibers are routed openly within a room, and the optical cables used are typically transparent, invisible fiber optic cables to minimize the impact on the wall's aesthetics. For example, an invisible fiber optic cable with a hot-melt adhesive layer on a surface is solid at room temperature and barely bonds, making it easy to coil the cable. During actual deployment, the hot-melt adhesive layer is heated and melted using a hot-melt tool to create a bonding property, allowing the fiber optic cable to be joined and secured to a wall. This implementation process is complex and requires additional tools, resulting in low deployment efficiency. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This application discloses an optical cable, a communication device, and an optical communication system. The optical cable's bonding portion consists of a hot-melt pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, while the jacket and bonding portions are integrated mechanical members. The optical cable surface also has a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer. During actual deployment, the optical cable can be bonded by directly extruding the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, which is easy to operate and significantly improves the deployment and installation efficiency of the optical cable. According to the first aspect of this application, an optical cable is disclosed, comprising a main optical fiber, a jacket portion, and a bonding portion. The main optical fiber is located within the jacket portion, and the jacket portion insulates and protects the optical fiber. The bonding portion is located on an outer side surface of the jacket portion, and the optical cable can be joined and secured using the bonding portion. The bonding portion is an adhesive layer formed using a pressure-sensitive hot melt adhesive, and the cladding portion and bonding portion are an integrated mechanical member. The pressure-sensitive hot melt adhesive has a melting point range close to that of the cladding molding material, allowing both to be molten within a specific temperature range. The molten cladding molding material and the molten pressure-sensitive hot melt adhesive can be formed as a single unit on the perimeter of the optical fiber using a one-step co-extrusion process. The interfaces of the cladding portion and bonding portion are mutually integrated to form an integrated mechanical member, resulting in an optical cable with a pressure-sensitive adhesive.For example, the lining and bonding parts are co-extruded simultaneously using a two-layer co-extrusion process. Specifically, the molding material for the lining part is heated to a molten state, the pressure-sensitive hot-melt adhesive for the bonding part is also heated to a molten state, and the two molten materials are combined in a two-layer co-extrusion machine and then synchronously co-extruded to form the lining and bonding parts. This ensures that the interfaces between the bonding and lining parts are mutually integrated and tightly bonded to form a single, integrated structure. Compared to an optical cable with an adhesive formed by secondary injection molding, the molten jacket and bonding jacket molding materials are combined and then co-extruded simultaneously. This results in a higher degree of fusion at the jacket and bonding interfaces, effectively improving the bond strength between them. This reduces or eliminates the risk of cable drop and enhances the reliability of the connection and deployment. Furthermore, the jacket and bonding jacket can be formed directly as a unit through one-step co-extrusion on the periphery of the main optical fiber, further improving the overall molding efficiency of the optical cable. Pressure-sensitive hot melt adhesive also has the characteristic of a pressure-sensitive adhesive, and it can be bonded by extrusion. During the actual deployment, the bonding portion of the optical cable is in contact with a wall, and this portion can be bonded and fixed to the wall by extruding or pressing the optical cable to apply force to the bonding portion. In this way, the optical cable is bonded quickly, stably, and reliably to the wall, eliminating the need to repeatedly apply or heat an adhesive layer to the optical cable. The operation is simple and convenient, significantly improving the efficiency of optical cable deployment. The optical cable also includes a plurality of reinforcing members. These members are located within the sheath and at intervals around the periphery of the main optical fiber. The reinforcing members support the sheath and reduce or prevent damage to the main optical fiber in scenarios such as extrusion or crushing by a heavy object. Furthermore, the reinforcing members enhance the tensile and flexural strength of the entire optical cable, enabling it to withstand relatively high construction pressures and reduce or prevent damage to the main optical fiber caused by excessive tensile force or excessive bending angles during deployment and installation. In one possible example, the base material of the pressure-sensitive hot melt adhesive is the same as the base material in the molding material of the sheath section, where the base material is a main component material forming a single substance, such that the main components of the sheath and bonding sections are the same. This allows the pressure-sensitive hot melt adhesive and the molding material of the sheath section to be fused together, forming the sheath and bonding sections into an integrated structure through double-layer co-extrusion. This further enhances the fusion strength between the sheath and bonding sections, improves the bonding strength between them, and further ensures the reliability of the optical cable deployment. In one possible example, the molding material for the lining component includes at least polyurethane, and the pressure-sensitive hot melt adhesive includes at least one polyurethane adhesive. This facilitates coextrusion provided that a bonding capacity requirement is met and costs remain relatively low. In one possible example, at least part of the outer side surface of the cladding portion might be a flat surface, and the bonding portion is located on this flat surface. On one hand, the contact fusion area between the bonding portion and the cladding portion can be expanded, further enhancing the bond strength between them. On the other hand, the bonding portion itself might also be a flat surface, so the bond between the bonding portion and the wall is a surface contact bond. This further increases the bonding area between the bonding portion and the wall, improving the reliability of the optical cable deployment. In one possible example, the sheathing portion includes a main body portion and an extension portion. The main optical fiber is located within the main body portion, and the bonding portion covers both the main body portion and the extension portion. The extension portion can be considered as a part extending from the main body portion, increasing the lateral area of the sheathing portion and thus the area of the bonding portion. This, in turn, increases the bonding area between the optical cable and the wall, improving the reliability and durability of the optical cable connection. In one possible example, the extension portion is located on one side of the main body portion in a width direction, and its thickness is less than that of the main body portion. The thinner extension portion helps reduce bending stress on the entire optical cable, facilitates cable routing at bending points, and can minimize cable deformation during bending, thus improving the cable's appearance. In one possible example, the extension portion is located on both sides of the main body portion in the width direction, and can also widen the width of the optical cable, to further increase the joining area of the joining part and enrich the structural design of the optical cable, so that the optical cable can be used in a plurality of scenarios. In one possible example, the width of the splice section is greater than 2 mm. This relatively large width helps improve the reliability of the optical cable splice while ensuring characteristics such as optical cable tension. In one possible example, the width of the joining section is 3.6 mm. This joining section offers improved bonding reliability and meets the bonding requirements of optical cables. In one possible example, at least one reinforcing member is an auxiliary optical fiber, and this auxiliary fiber can also be configured to transmit an optical signal. After the main optical fiber is damaged, the auxiliary optical fiber can be spliced in and used to transmit a signal without replacing the entire optical cable. This simplifies optical cable maintenance and helps reduce maintenance and replacement costs. In another possible example, a release film is also included. The release film is positioned on the bonding side and oriented opposite the sheathing side. The release film acts as an insulator, preventing mutual adhesion between the bonding side after the optical cable is wound, thus facilitating the winding process. In one possible example, a groove is exposed on at least one lateral surface of the cladding portion in one thickness direction, and the groove extends from one end of the cladding portion to one end of the cladding portion in a longitudinal direction. When the optical cable is installed, the cladding portion can be peeled away from the groove to quickly expose one end of the main optical fiber, allowing the main optical fiber to be connected to a device in the optical communication system, thus improving installation efficiency. In one possible example, the optical cable is an invisible optical cable, so the aesthetics of the optical cable deployment can be improved. According to a second aspect of this application, a communication device is disclosed, which includes at least one body and any optical cable described above, wherein the optical cable is connected to the body, so that the body can be connected to another communication device by using the optical cable, to implement the transmission of signals between two communication devices. According to the third aspect of this application, an optical communication system is disclosed, comprising at least a first communication device, a second communication device, and any optical cable described above. The first communication device and the second communication device are connected using the optical cable, thus enabling optical signal transmission between them. Furthermore, the optical cable offers excellent connection reliability, ensuring signal transmission within the optical communication system and enhancing the aesthetics of the system's indoor installation. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a schematic diagram of an optical cable structure according to one embodiment of this application. FIGURE 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an optical cable according to one embodiment of this application. FIGURE 3 is a schematic diagram of the dimensions of an optical cable according to one embodiment of this application. FIGURE 4 is a schematic diagram of another optical cable structure according to one embodiment of this application. FIGURE 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of another optical cable according to one embodiment of this application. FIGURE 6 is a schematic diagram of the dimensions of another optical cable according to one embodiment of this application. FIGURE 7 is a schematic flow diagram of the molding of an optical cable according to one embodiment of this application. Descriptions of the reference numbers: 10. Optical cable; 1.- main optical fiber; 2. lining part; 21.- main body part; 21.- extension portion; 21.- slot; 2.- joining part; 3. Reinforcement member; and 4. Liberation film. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The terms used in the realizations of this request are used only to explain specific realizations of this request, but are not intended to limit this request. The realizations of this application provide an optical cable, which can be used in an optical communication system, and is configured to implement a connection between devices to achieve optical signal transmission between them. For example, the optical cable can be used in a fiber optic cable for a home FTTH communication system, or the optical cable can be used in a fiber optic cable for a room FTTR communication system. Generally, in a fiber-to-the-room FTTR solution, an Optical Network Unit (ONU) can be connected to a user's home main Optical Network Terminal (ONT) to implement fiber in the home, and then the main Optical Network Terminal (e.g., a main Optical Modem Device) is connected to an Optical Line Terminal (OLT) (e.g., an Information Box Device) in each room by using an optical cable, to ensure that each room has a stable network point, thus forming a fully optical home network group scenario. Optical cable typically consists of a sheath and a main optical fiber located within the sheath. Optical cable is usually routed openly within a room. For example, a common optical cable is an adhesive-free optical cable, meaning no bonding layer is formed outside the sheath. During deployment, the optical cable can be attached to a wall using an on-site adhesive layer or a fastener such as a hook or screw. However, the hook or screw structure is likely to create an aesthetic problem. In a bonding solution, however, a hot-melt adhesive tape, glass adhesive tape, or other adhesive layer is typically applied to the sheath surface, and the optical cable is then bonded using this adhesive layer. During deployment, the adhesive layer must be repeatedly applied to an outer surface of the optical cable before the cable is bonded.As a result, the efficiency of the implementation is very low. In the related technology, there is also an optical cable with a hot-melt adhesive. The hot-melt adhesive solidifies at room temperature and has no bonding capacity, which facilitates the winding of the optical cable. During actual deployment, the hot-melt adhesive on the surface must be melted using a hot-melt tool so that the adhesive has bonding capacity. The optical cable is then fixed to the wall using the hot-melt adhesive. To reduce or prevent damage to the cable jacket when a hot-melt adhesive layer melts during hot processing, the melting point range of the hot-melt adhesive is very different from that of the jacket. Therefore, during actual processing, a hot-melt adhesive layer is integrally formed on the surface of the jacket by secondary injection molding or secondary extrusion molding.For example, the sheath is formed by injection molding using a molding tool, and the hot-melt adhesive layer is then formed onto the sheath's surface by injection molding again using the same mold after demolding. This molding process is complex, and the bonding interface between the hot-melt adhesive layer and the optical cable is relatively weak. Because of this, there is a risk of the optical cable falling off during deployment, reducing the reliability and durability of the cable joint. Furthermore, during deployment, the hot-melt tool must be used continuously to heat the adhesive before the joint is made. These operations are complex, and deployment efficiency is relatively low. Additionally, the sheath is likely to burn during the heating process, negatively impacting the cable's appearance. Alternatively, in the related art, there is also an optical cable with a double-sided tape, and the optical cable is attached to a wall using the double-sided tape. The double-sided tape can also be integrated with the liner by injection molding. One specific form of injection molding is two-color injection molding, implemented using a two-color injection molding machine. Two-color injection molding is also a type of secondary injection molding, meaning that the liner and the double-sided tape are also formed by injection molding sequentially. A specific process principle is as follows: Using a two-color injection molding machine, a liner is first formed through injection molding without demolding.Next, a double-sided tape is injection-molded onto one surface of the cable jacket, so that the cable jacket surface has the double-sided tape. During deployment, the cable can be attached directly to the wall using the double-sided tape. However, optical cables with adhesive must be formed by secondary injection molding, and the molding process is complex. Furthermore, for optical cables formed through secondary injection molding, the bonding strength at the interface between the jacket and the adhesive tape is weak, and there is a risk of it falling off during actual deployment. Furthermore, a typical optical cable, whether adhesive-free or adhesive-coated, generally has a conventional width, typically between 1.5 mm and 2 mm, and a height between 1.2 mm and 1.9 mm. The maximum width of the adhesive layer formed on the surface of the optical cable is also less than 2 mm, making it relatively small. Therefore, the strength of the connection between the optical cable and the wall cannot be guaranteed, and there is also a risk of it falling out, resulting in poor reliability and durability of the optical cable connection. In view of this, the realizations of this application provide an optical cable. One of the bonding parts of the optical cable is a hot-melt pressure-sensitive adhesive layer. During deployment, the optical cable can be directly bonded to a wall by extrusion, which facilitates deployment and significantly improves deployment efficiency. Furthermore, the bonding part is a pressure-sensitive hot-melt adhesive, and the melting point range of the pressure-sensitive hot-melt adhesive is slightly different from the melting point range of a jacket. The molten pressure-sensitive hot-melt adhesive and the molten molding material of a jacket portion are combined and co-extruded simultaneously to integrally form a single, integrated structure. This greatly increases the bonding strength at the interface between the jacket portion and the bonding portion, improving the ease of construction and the reliability of the optical cable connection. The optical cable provided in the embodiments of this application is described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings. FIGURE 1 is a schematic diagram of an optical cable structure according to one embodiment of this application. With reference to FIGURE 1. An optical cable 100 may include a main optical fiber 10, and the main optical fiber 10 is configured to transmit an optical signal. A longitudinal extension direction of the main optical fiber is used as a longitudinal direction of the optical cable 100, for example, the "y" direction in Figure 1. A width direction of the optical cable 100 is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, for example, an "x" direction in the figure. A thickness direction of the optical cable 100 is perpendicular to both the longitudinal and width directions, for example, a "z" direction in the figure. Optical cable 100 may also include a jacket portion 21. The main optical fiber 10 is located within jacket portion 21, and jacket portion 21 is wrapped in a full extension direction (the longitudinal y direction) around the main optical fiber 10. Jacket portion 21 insulates and protects the main optical fiber 10, to prevent the main optical fiber 10 from being damaged due to collision with an external environment or extrusion during transport, deployment, or similar. When optical cable 100 is installed, for example, when implementing a connection between a first communication device (e.g., an optical modem device) and a second communication device (e.g., an optical line terminal) in an optical communication system using optical cable 100, the sheath portion 21 at one end of optical cable 100 can be stripped, exposing the main optical fiber 10. The main optical fiber 10 is then connected to the optical modem device by means of an optical fiber splice or a connector. Similarly, the sheath portion 21 at the other end of optical cable 100 is stripped, exposing the main optical fiber 10 inside. This allows for a connection between the main optical fiber 10 and the optical line terminal, thus connecting the two devices and enabling optical signal transmission between them. Optical cable 100 may also include a joining part 22. The joining part 22 is located on an external side surface of the sheath part 21; for example, the joining part 22 is arranged on a side surface of the sheath part 21 in the thickness direction (the z-direction), and the joining part 22 has a joining capability. Optical cable 100 can be deployed and secured using the joining part 22. For example, optical cable 100 can be joined and fixed to a wall using the joining part 22. It should be understood that the joining part 22 is arranged along the entire extension direction of the sheath part 21. With reference to FIGURE 1. The joining part 22 can be located only on one side surface of the lining part 21. Certainly, in some other examples, the joining parts 22 can be arranged on a plurality of side surfaces of the lining part 21, or the joining parts 22 can be arranged on all peripheral side surfaces of the lining part. Bonding part 22 is a hot-melt pressure-sensitive adhesive layer; that is, bonding part 22 is a bonding layer formed using a pressure-sensitive hot-melt adhesive material. A pressure-sensitive hot-melt adhesive has a hot-melt characteristic. At normal temperatures, the pressure-sensitive hot-melt adhesive is in a solid state, and it is in a molten state after being heated to its melting point. The pressure-sensitive hot-melt adhesive also has a pressure-sensitive adhesive characteristic, and the pressure-sensitive hot-melt adhesive layer can be bonded and fixed by extrusion. The bonding part 22 is an adhesive layer formed using a pressure-sensitive hot melt adhesive. The melting point range of the pressure-sensitive hot melt adhesive is close to that of the molding material of the jacket part 21, and both the hot melt adhesive and the molding material are molten within a specific temperature range. The molten molding material of the jacket part and the molten pressure-sensitive hot melt adhesive are formed as a single unit on the periphery of the optical fiber using a one-step co-extrusion process. The interfaces of the jacket part 21 and the bonding part 22 are then integrated to form a single mechanical member, resulting in the 100 optical cable with a pressure-sensitive adhesive.For example, liner part 21 and joining part 21 can be co-extruded simultaneously using a two-layer co-extrusion process. Specifically, the molding material for liner part 21 is heated to a molten state, the pressure-sensitive hot melt adhesive for joining part 22 is heated to a molten state, and the two molten materials are combined in a two-layer co-extrusion machine and then synchronously co-extruded to form liner part 21 and joining part 22, so that the interfaces of joining part 22 and liner part 21 are mutually integrated and tightly bonded to form an integrated structure. Compared to a related technology where an optical cable is formed with double-sided tape or a hot-melt adhesive layer using secondary injection molding, the molding material of the jacket portion 21 and the molding material of the bonding portion 22, both in a molten state, are combined and co-extruded simultaneously to form a single, integrated structure. This results in a higher degree of fusion at the interfaces between jacket portion 21 and bonding portion 22, effectively improving the bond strength between them, reducing or preventing the risk of the optical cable 100 falling out, and enhancing the reliability of the connection and deployment of the optical cable 100.Furthermore, the jacket portion 21 and the joining portion 22 can be formed directly together by one-time co-extrusion on a periphery of the main optical fiber, which helps to improve the molding efficiency of the optical cable 100. During the actual deployment, the 22 joint of the 100 optical cable is in contact with a wall. This joint can be attached and secured to the wall by extruding or pressing the 100 optical cable to apply force to the joint. This method ensures the 100 optical cable is quickly, stably, and reliably attached to the wall, eliminating the need for repeated gluing or heating of an adhesive layer. The operation is simple and convenient, significantly improving the efficiency of the 100 optical cable deployment. The molding material of the lining part 21 may include a polyurethane material, a polyvinyl chloride material (polyvinyl chloride, PVC for short), a nylon material, or similar materials. The molding material for joining part 22 may include polyurethane. Certainly, in some other examples, the molding material for joining part 22 may also be a pressure-sensitive hot melt adhesive of another type, for example, a resin material, a rubber material, and the like. In one possible example, the base material of the pressure-sensitive hot melt adhesive can be the same as the base material of the molding material for sheath part 21, where the base material is a major component material that forms a single substance. This facilitates the fusion of the pressure-sensitive hot melt adhesive and the molding material of the sheath part, forming sheath part 21 and bonding part 22 into an integrated structure through double-layer co-extrusion. This further enhances the fusion strength between sheath part 21 and bonding part 22, improves the bonding strength between the two, and further ensures the reliability of the optical cable deployment. For example, the pressure-sensitive hot melt adhesive might be a polyurethane adhesive, and the base material of the pressure-sensitive hot melt adhesive might also be a polyurethane material. The adhesive might also include a tackifier, a modifier, a filler, and so on. The base material of the liner molding material might be polyurethane, and the liner molding material might alternatively be another modifier or functional material. Since both the liner base material and the pressure-sensitive hot melt adhesive are polyurethane materials, coextrusion can be implemented provided that a bonding capacity requirement is met and costs are relatively low. Certainly, in some other examples, the base material of the pressure-sensitive hot melt adhesive may also be different from the base material of the molding material of the liner part, and the two have good compatibility, so that the molten pressure-sensitive hot melt adhesive and the molding material of the liner part are co-extruded at the same time to form the liner part and the bonding part that are in an integrated structure. With reference to Figure 1, at least a portion of an external side surface of the sheath portion 21 can be configured as a flat surface, and the bonding portion 22 can be located on this flat surface. On one hand, the contact fusion area of the bonding portion 22 and the sheath portion 21 can be expanded, further enhancing the bond strength between them. On the other hand, the bonding portion 22 can also be a flat surface, so that the bond between the bonding portion 22 and the wall is a surface contact bond. This further increases the bonding area between the bonding portion 22 and the wall, enhancing the reliability of the 100 optical cable deployment. There can be various cross-sectional shapes (a cross-section formed in a thickness z direction) of lining part 21. For example, as shown in FIGURE 1, the cross-sectional shape of lining part 21 can be a butterfly shape. Certainly, in some other examples, the cross-sectional shape of lining part 21 can also be a regular or irregular shape such as a rectangle, a square, or a triangle. In this implementation of this application, an example is used in which the cross-sectional shape of the sheath portion 21 is butterfly-shaped. Still referring to FIGURE 1, slots 213 can be provided on two lateral surfaces of the sheath portion 21 in the thickness direction. When the optical cable 100 is installed, the sheath portion 21 can be torn off at the slot 213 to quickly expose a portion of the main optical fiber 10, so that the main optical fiber 10 can be connected to a device in the optical communication system, thereby improving installation efficiency. Slot 213 can extend in a longitudinal direction across the entire liner portion 21, and it is easier to quickly tear liner portion 21 off slot 213, thus improving the installation efficiency of the 100 optical cable. Slots 213 are provided on two opposite side surfaces, so that the lining part 21 can be quickly split into two parts, and the main optical fiber 10 can be exposed more conveniently and quickly. A cross-sectional shape of groove 213 can be a triangle. For example, as shown in FIGURE 1, a lower groove portion of groove 213 is formed at an upper corner of the triangle, and the lining portion 21 is more easily removed. Certainly, in some other examples, the cross-sectional shape of groove 213 can be either a regular or irregular shape such as a square or an inverted trapezoid. Alternatively, in some other examples, the groove 213 can be formed only on one side of the lining part 21 in the thickness direction, so that the lining part 21 can be easily peeled off in the groove. Still with reference to FIGURE 1. To facilitate the winding of the optical cable 100, the optical cable 100 may also include a release film 40. The release film 40 may be a layer of a flexible film. The release film 40 is arranged on one side of the bonding portion 22 and is oriented in the opposite direction to the sheathing portion 21, and the release film 40 covers the entire bonding portion 22. The release film 40 has an insulating function, preventing mutual adhesion caused by the bonding portion 22 after the optical cable 100 is wound, thus facilitating the winding process. The molding material for release film 40 can be polyethylene (PE for short), polypropylene (PP for short), or similar. The release film 40 can be attached to an outer surface of the joining part 22 by roller pressing. During the actual deployment, the release film 40 can be peeled off manually or using a tool to expose the joining part 22. The joining part 22 is then attached to the wall, and the optical cable 100 can be attached and deployed to the wall by extruding or pressing the optical cable 100. Still with reference to FIGURE 1. The optical cable 100 may further include a reinforcing member 30. There may be a plurality of reinforcing members 30. The reinforcing member 30 and the main optical fiber 10 may extend from a first end, head, to a second end, tail, of the optical cable 100 in the longitudinal direction of the optical cable 100. The plurality of reinforcing members 30 can be located in the sheath portion 21, and the plurality of reinforcing members can be arranged at intervals around the periphery of the main optical fiber 10. The reinforcing members can support the sheath portion 21 and can reduce or prevent damage to the main optical fiber 10 in scenarios such as extrusion or crushing by a heavy object. Furthermore, the reinforcing member 30 can further enhance the tensile and flexural strength of the entire optical cable 100, enabling the optical cable 100 to withstand relatively high construction pressure and reduce or prevent damage to the main optical fiber 10 caused by excessively high tensile force or excessively large bending angles during deployment and construction. At least one of the plurality of 30n reinforcing members can be an auxiliary optical fiber, and the auxiliary optical fiber can also be configured to transmit an optical signal. After the main optical fiber 10 is damaged, the auxiliary optical fiber can be spliced, and the auxiliary optical fiber is used to transmit a signal without replacing the entire optical cable 100. This simplifies the maintenance of the optical cable 100 and helps reduce maintenance and replacement costs. Certainly, in some other examples, the reinforcing member 30 can alternatively be another mechanical part capable of providing reinforcement and support. For example, the reinforcing member 30 can alternatively be another metallic mechanical part. In this embodiment of the application, an example is used in which the entire plurality of reinforcing members 30 are auxiliary optical fibers for the purposes of the description. The main optical fiber 10 can be located in a central position within the sheath portion 21, and the plurality of reinforcing members 30 can be evenly distributed around the periphery of the main optical fiber 10 to protect it in multiple dimensional directions. Alternatively, the plurality of reinforcing members 30 can be distributed on one or both sides of the main optical fiber 10 in a given direction. For example, the plurality of reinforcing members 30 can be distributed on two sides of the main optical fiber 10 in either the width or thickness direction to ensure that the main optical fiber 10 is well supported and protected. It should be noted that the main optical fiber and the auxiliary optical fiber can be bare optical fibers, meaning that the outer surface of the main and auxiliary optical fibers is not encased in any other structure. For example, the main and auxiliary optical fibers can be bare optical fibers with a width (i.e., diameter) of 250 µm. Alternatively, the main optical fiber may consist of a bare optical fiber and an outer sheath. The outer sheath wraps around the periphery of the bare optical fiber to form the main optical fiber, and the main optical fiber is entirely contained within the sheath. For example, the bare optical fiber of the main optical fiber may be 250 µm wide, and the outer sheath is arranged around the periphery of the main optical fiber, resulting in a total width of 900 µm. Consequently, the auxiliary optical fiber may also consist of a bare optical fiber and an outer sheath, and its width, structure, and other characteristics may be consistent with those of the main optical fiber. The molding material for the outer lining can be consistent with the molding material for the lining part. For example, the molding material for the outer lining can include polyurethane, nylon, silicone rubber, and similar materials. To improve aesthetics, the 100 optical cable provided in the embodiments of this application can be an invisible optical cable. For example, the 100 optical cable can be a transparent optical cable, the main optical fiber 10 and the auxiliary optical fiber of the 100 optical cable can be uncolored optical fibers, and the sheath portion 21, the bonding portion 22, the release film 40, the outer sheath of the main optical fiber, and similar components can be made of transparent materials. Certainly, in some other examples, the invisible 100 optical cable could be a translucent optical cable, or the 100 optical cable could be an optical cable of a different color. For example, the color of the 100 optical cable could be close to or the same as a wall color. For example, the 100 optical cable could also be a clear white optical cable. FIGURE 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an optical cable according to an embodiment of this application. To further improve the bonding reliability of optical cable 100, with reference to FIGURE 2, the sheath portion 21 may include a main body portion 211 and an extension portion 212. The main optical fiber 10 and the auxiliary optical fiber may be located in the main body portion 211, and the extension portion 212 may be considered as extending from the main body portion 211, thereby increasing the lateral area of the sheath portion 21. For example, the extension portion 212 and the main body portion 211 may be distributed in the width direction, and the extension portion 212 may be considered as extending from the main body portion 211 in the width direction, thus increasing the width of the entire sheath portion 21, i.e., increasing the lateral area of the sheath portion 21. The joining part 22 covers the main body portion 211 and the extension portion 212, and the extended extension portion 212 can provide more layout space for the joining part 22, thus significantly increasing the width of the joining part 22, increasing the joining area between the optical cable 100 and the wall, and improving the reliability and durability of the joining of the optical cable 100. In one possible example, a cross-section of the main body portion 211 is butterfly-shaped. With reference to Figure 2, the extension portion 212 can be located on one side of the main body portion 211 in the width direction. The extension portion 212 can be considered as extending from one side of the main body portion 211 in the width direction. The joining portion 22 covers both the main body portion 211 and the extension portion 212. A thickness of the extension portion 212 can be consistent with a thickness of the main body portion 211, i.e., the extension portion 212 can be considered as a part formed by extending the entire main body portion 211 in the width direction. Alternatively, with reference to FIGURE 2, the thickness of the extension portion 212 can be less than the thickness of the main body portion 211. The smaller thickness of the extension portion 212 helps to reduce bending stress on the entire optical cable 100, facilitates the arrangement of the optical cable 100 at a bending point, and can reduce deformation of the optical cable 100 during bending, thereby improving the aesthetics of the optical cable 100. For example, the thickness of the extension portion 212 may be in a range of 0.2 mm to 1 mm. The extension portion can be formed integrally with the lining portion in an extrusion process. For example, a specific die is used to integrally extrude the lining portion, the extension portion, and the joining portion. Certainly, in some other examples, the extension portion can also be formed separately from the lining part; for example, an integrated structure of the lining part and the extension portion can be formed by secondary injection molding. FIGURE 3 is a schematic diagram of the size of an optical cable according to one embodiment of this application. For example, with reference to FIGURE 3, the size of the main body portion 211 can be similar to the conventional size of a butterfly optical cable in the related art. For example, a thickness h1 of the main body portion 211 can be in the range of 0.7 mm to 0.9 mm, and a width w1 of the main body portion 211 can be in the range of 1.0 mm to 1.2 mm. The overall width W of the optical cable 100 can be in the range of 1.8 mm to 3.8 mm, and the width of the joining part 22 can be consistent with the overall width W of the optical cable 100. For example, the width of splice 22 can be greater than 2 mm, so that splice 22 has a relatively large width. This helps improve the splice reliability of the optical cable 100 while ensuring characteristics such as the tension of the optical cable 100. Furthermore, the width of the 22 joining part can be 3.6 mm, which has a relatively good joining reliability, and can meet the joining requirement of the 100 optical cable. The thickness h2 of the joining part 22 can be in the range of 0.3 mm to 0.7 mm. For example, the thickness of the joining part 22 can be 0.3 mm, to ensure that the joining part 22 has excellent bonding strength. The width of the extension portion 212 can be in the range of 0.6 mm to 2.8 mm, so that the entire optical cable 100 has a relatively small bending stress and a relatively small bending deformation, thus ensuring the widths of the extension portion 212 and the joining portion 22, and ensuring the reliability of the optical cable 100. The thickness of the release film 40 can be in a range of 0.015 mm to 0.2 mm, to ensure the flexibility of the release film 40, thus facilitating the tearing of the release film 40. The width of the release film 40 can be consistent with the width of the bonding part 22. Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of another optical cable structure according to one embodiment of this application. Figure 5 is a cross-sectional schematic view of another optical cable according to one embodiment of this application. With reference to FIGURE 4, in another possible example, the entire optical cable 100 can be butterfly-shaped. With reference to FIGURE 5, the extension portion 212 can be located on either side of the main body portion 211 in the width direction. The joining portion 22 covers both the main body portion 211 and the extension portion 212. The extension portion 212 can be considered as extending from the main body portion 211 in a butterfly shape in the width direction, thus increasing the width of the optical cable 100. In this way, the joining area of the joining portion 22 is increased, enriching the structural design of the optical cable 100. Consequently, the thickness of the extension portion 212 may be the same as the thickness of the main body portion 211, or the thickness of the extension portion 212 may be less than the thickness of the main body portion 211. FIGURE 6 is a schematic diagram of one size of another optical cable according to one embodiment of this application. For example, with reference to FIGURE 6, the width W of the entire optical cable 100 can be consistent with a width of the sheath portion 21 and can be in the range of 1.8 mm to 3.8 mm, and a thickness h1 of the sheath portion 21 can be in the range of 0.7 mm to 0.9 mm. The width of the splice section 22 can be consistent with a total optical cable width of 100. For example, the width of the splice section 22 can also be greater than 2 mm. In fact, the width of the splice section 22 can be 3.6 mm. The thickness h2 of the splice section 22 can be in the range of 0.3 mm to 0.7 mm. The thickness of the release film 40 can also be in a range of 0.015 mm to 0.2 mm, and the width of the release film 40 can be consistent with the width of the bonding part 22. FIGURE 7 is a schematic flow diagram of the molding of an optical cable according to one embodiment of this application. In this implementation of this application, in an actual molding process, with reference to FIGURE 7, for example, the main optical fiber 10 and the auxiliary optical fiber can be placed in an optical fiber unwinding frame 200 and then preheated. The main optical fiber 10 and the auxiliary optical fiber then enter a multi-layer extruder 300, and the lining part molding material and the pressure-sensitive hot melt adhesive, which are in a molten state, are added to the multi-layer extruder 300. The lining part molding material and the pressure-sensitive hot melt adhesive are extruded simultaneously using a double-layer co-extrusion process, and are wrapped on the outside of the main optical fiber 10 and the auxiliary optical fiber to form the lining part 21 and the bonding part 22 into an integrated structure.The main optical fiber 10 and the auxiliary optical fiber are located in the jacket portion 21, and the bonding portion 22 is firmly attached to a side surface of the jacket portion 21. After cooling by a cooling apparatus 400 and drying by a drying apparatus 500, a release film 40 can be applied, by roller pressing, to one side of the bonding portion 22, oriented opposite the jacket portion. Finally, the optical cable is wound using a pulling apparatus 600 and a winding apparatus 700 to form a wound optical cable. In other words, the jacket portion 21 and the bonding portion 22 can be formed as a single unit on the surface of the optical fiber by extrusion in one step. The entire molding process is relatively continuous, simple, fast, and easy to implement, which helps improve the molding efficiency of the optical cable. It should be noted that the values and ranges of values in this application are approximate, and an error may exist within a specific range due to the impact of the manufacturing process. For example, an error value might be ±0.2 or ±0.1, and a person skilled in the art might consider this error negligible. An implementation of this application further discloses a communication device. The communication device may be any communication device that transmits information using a light wave. For example, the communication device may be an optical transceiver (including a transmitting device, a receiving device, a transceiver device, or the like), an optical filter, an optical fiber connector, optical communication instrumentation, a communication power supply, or the like. The communication device may include a body and an optical cable. The optical cable is connected to the body, allowing the body to connect to another communication device using the optical cable, thus enabling signal transmission between the two devices. Implementing this application also discloses a wireless communication system. The communication system may be a fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) communication system, a fiber-to-the-room (FTTR) communication system, or similar systems as described above. An optical communication system may include a first communication device, a second communication device, and an optical cable. The first and second communication devices are connected using the optical cable, so the optical signal transmission between them is implemented through the optical cable. In describing the implementations of this application, it should be noted that, unless explicitly specified or defined otherwise, terms such as "install," "connect," and "connection" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, a connection could be a fixed connection, an indirect connection through an intermediary, internal communication between two components, or an interactive relationship between two components. A person skilled in the art may understand specific meanings of the above terms in the implementations of this application based on specific cases. Terms such as "first," "second," "third," "fourth," and the like (if any) are intended to distinguish between similar objects but do not necessarily indicate a specific order or sequence. Finally, it should be noted that prior embodiments are used merely to describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, but not to limit the technical solutions. Although the embodiments of this application are described in detail with reference to prior embodiments, a person skilled in the art should understand that the technical solutions registered in prior embodiments may still be modified, or some or all of their technical features may be replaced in an equivalent manner. However, such modifications or replacements do not depart from the scope of the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application.
Claims
1. An optical cable, characterized in that it comprises a main optical fiber (10), a jacket portion (21), and a bonding portion (22), wherein the main optical fiber (10) is located within the jacket portion (21), and the bonding portion (22) is located on an outer lateral surface of the jacket portion (21); the bonding portion (22) is an adhesive layer formed using a pressure-sensitive hot-melt adhesive, and the jacket portion (21) and the bonding portion (22) are an integrated mechanical member; and further comprising a reinforcing member (30), wherein the reinforcing member (30) is located within the jacket portion (21), and the reinforcing member (30) is disposed on a periphery of the main optical fiber (10).
2. The optical cable according to claim 1, characterized in that a base material of the pressure-sensitive hot melt adhesive is the same base material as the molding material of the sheath portion (21). 3.The optical cable according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the molding material of the sheath portion (21) comprises at least polyurethane, and the pressure-sensitive hot melt adhesive comprises at least one polyurethane adhesive.
4. The optical cable according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least a portion of an outer side surface of the sheath portion (21) is a flat surface, and the joining portion (22) is located on the flat surface.
5. The optical cable according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the sheath portion (21) comprises a main body portion (211) and an extension portion (212), the main optical fiber (10) is located in the main body portion (211), and the joining portion (22) covers the main body portion (211) and the extension portion (212). 6.The optical cable according to claim 5, characterized in that the extension portion (212) is located on one side of the main body portion (211) in a direction transverse to the cable, and the thickness of the extension portion (212) is less than the thickness of the main body portion (211).
7. The optical cable according to claim 5, characterized in that the extension portion (212) is located on two sides of the main body portion (211) in a direction transverse to the cable.
8. The optical cable according to claim 5, characterized in that the transverse dimension of the joining portion (22) is greater than 2 mm.
9. The optical cable according to claim 8, characterized in that the transverse dimension of the joining portion (22) is 3.6 mm.
10. The optical cable according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the reinforcing member (30) is an auxiliary optical fiber. 11.The optical cable according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a release film (40), wherein the release film (40) is disposed on a side that is the side where the joining portion (22) is located and is oriented in the opposite direction to the sheath portion (21).
12. The optical cable according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a groove (213) is provided on at least one lateral surface of the sheath portion (21) in a thickness direction, and the groove (213) extends in a longitudinal direction of the sheath portion (21) from a first end to a second end of said sheath portion (21).
13. The optical cable according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the optical cable (100) is a transparent or translucent optical cable. 14.A communication device, characterized in that it comprises at least one body and the optical cable (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the optical cable (100) is connected to the body.
15. An optical communication system, characterized in that it comprises at least a first communication device, a second communication device, and the optical cable (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the first communication device and the second communication device are connected by the optical cable (100).