Invisible fiber optic cable, fiber optic cable assembly, and communication system
By designing an invisible optical cable, using a transparent sheath, reinforcements, adhesive layers, and release film, the problem of insufficient reliability of optical cables is solved, and the tensile strength of the optical cable and the communication quality of the communication system are improved.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2025-07-23
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-09
AI Technical Summary
The reliability of existing optical cables is insufficient, which affects the quality of optical signal transmission in communication systems.
The cable features an invisible optical cable design, including a transparent sheath, reinforcement, adhesive layer, and release film. The transparent sheath protects the communication optical fiber and reduces the impact of external forces and contamination. The reinforcement improves tensile strength, while the adhesive layer and release film enhance installation reliability.
It improves the reliability of optical cables, reduces visibility, enhances tensile strength and temperature stability, and improves the communication quality of communication systems.
Smart Images
Figure CN2025110069_09072026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
A stealth optical cable, an optical cable assembly, and a communication system
[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202520036364.9, filed January 6, 2025, entitled "An Invisible Optical Cable, Optical Cable Assembly and Communication System"; and to Chinese Patent Application No. 202521166028.2, filed June 6, 2025, entitled "An Invisible Optical Cable, Optical Cable Assembly and Communication System", the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field
[0002] This application relates to the field of optical device technology, specifically to a stealth optical cable, an optical cable assembly, and a communication system. Background Technology
[0003] Optical fiber cable is a crucial structural component in communication systems. It is a communication cable that uses one or more optical fibers encased in a protective sheath as the transmission medium. The reliability of the optical cable directly affects the transmission quality of optical signals in the communication system.
[0004] Therefore, improving the reliability of optical cables is a problem that communication systems need to solve.
[0005] Utility Model Content
[0006] This application provides an invisible optical cable, an optical cable assembly, and a communication system, aimed at improving the reliability of the optical cable.
[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the embodiments of this application adopt the following technical solutions:
[0008] On one hand, this application provides an invisible optical cable, which includes a communication optical fiber, a reinforcing member, a transparent sheath, an adhesive layer, and a release film. The reinforcing member and the communication optical fiber are spaced apart, and the extension direction of the reinforcing member is the same as that of the communication optical fiber. The reinforcing member is made of materials including ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, glass fiber reinforced plastic, tin-plated steel wire, glass, or aramid. The transparent sheath surrounds the outer peripheral surface of the communication optical fiber and the outer peripheral surface of the reinforcing member. The adhesive layer is parallel to the extension direction of the reinforcing member and is attached to one side surface of the transparent sheath. The release film is attached to the surface of the adhesive layer opposite to the transparent sheath.
[0009] Through the above-mentioned design, the transparent sheath protects the communication optical fiber from contamination by moisture or dust, and also reduces the impact of external forces such as collisions on the fiber. It also reduces the visibility of the transparent sheath, thus minimizing the visibility of the stealth cable. The reinforcing elements improve the tensile strength of the stealth cable and reduce its shrinkage under temperature changes, thereby enhancing its reliability. The stealth cable can be installed using an adhesive layer on the mounting surface. The release film protects the adhesive layer from the surface opposite the transparent sheath, preventing dust or moisture from contaminating this area.
[0010] In some embodiments, the extension direction of the reinforcing member and the extension direction of the communication optical fiber are located in the same plane, and the extension direction of the reinforcing member is parallel to the surface of the transparent sheath.
[0011] The above setup allows for the reasonable arrangement of communication optical fibers and reinforcing components, thereby reducing the thickness of the transparent sheath and thus the overall size of the invisible optical cable.
[0012] In some embodiments, the reinforcing member includes a first reinforcing member and a second reinforcing member, the extension directions of the first and second reinforcing members being the same as the extension direction of the communication optical fiber; and the extension directions of the first and second reinforcing members, as well as the extension direction of the communication optical fiber, are located in the same plane; wherein the materials of the first and second reinforcing members are different. Through the above configuration, the first and second reinforcing members can respectively improve the performance of the stealth optical cable in different ways.
[0013] In the above embodiments, the first reinforcing member is made of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, glass fiber reinforced plastic, tin-plated steel wire, aramid fiber, glass, or optical fiber, and the second reinforcing member is made of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, glass fiber reinforced plastic, tin-plated steel wire, aramid fiber, glass, or yarn. The first reinforcing member can reduce the shrinkage of the stealth optical cable when the temperature changes, and the second reinforcing member can improve the tensile strength of the stealth optical cable.
[0014] In some embodiments, there are two first reinforcing members, which are respectively located on both sides of the communication optical fiber; there are two second reinforcing members, which are respectively located on both sides of the communication optical fiber.
[0015] With the above configuration, the two first reinforcing members are symmetrically arranged with respect to the communication optical fiber, and the two second reinforcing members are symmetrically arranged with respect to the communication optical fiber, which can balance the strength on both sides of the communication optical fiber.
[0016] In some embodiments, the diameter of the first reinforcing member is the same as the diameter of the second reinforcing member. During the formation of the first and second reinforcing members, it is not necessary to change the dimensions of the reinforcing members, which can reduce the time spent on the formation process and lower process costs.
[0017] In other embodiments, the diameter of the second reinforcing member is larger than the diameter of the first reinforcing member. The second reinforcing member is located between the first reinforcing member and the communication optical fiber. With the above arrangement, the second reinforcing member with a smaller diameter is located between the first reinforcing member and the communication optical fiber, which can make full use of the gap between the first reinforcing member and the communication optical fiber and improve the integration of the stealth cable.
[0018] In some implementations of stealth optical cables, when the reinforcing material is glass, the reinforcing material includes a glass rod (or glass filament), glass yarn, or glass fiber. The glass rod, glass yarn, or glass fiber are all transparent, which helps reduce the visibility of the stealth optical cable. Furthermore, since the glass rod, glass yarn, or glass fiber are all made of glass, they are easy to manufacture together with communication optical fibers, improving manufacturing efficiency.
[0019] In some implementations of stealth optical cables, the diameter of the glass rod or the glass fiber is larger than the diameter of the communication optical fiber, which can enhance the tensile strength of the stealth optical cable.
[0020] In some implementations of invisible optical cables, the surfaces of the glass rod, glass yarn, or glass fiber are coated. These coated glass rods, glass yarns, or glass fibers adhere more tightly to the transparent sheath, resulting in better tensile strength and bending resistance.
[0021] In some embodiments of invisible optical cables, the coating is an acrylic resin.
[0022] In some implementations of invisible optical cables, the transparent sheath includes a first surface and a second surface disposed opposite to each other. The first surface is provided with a first tear groove, and the adhesive layer is attached to the second surface. The tear groove can facilitate tearing open the communication optical fiber.
[0023] In some implementations of invisible optical cables, the first tear groove is a V-shaped groove.
[0024] On the other hand, this application provides a stealth optical cable, the stealth optical cable comprising:
[0025] A transparent optical fiber for communication; at least two reinforcing members located on both sides of the optical fiber for communication, wherein the reinforcing members and the optical fiber for communication are spaced apart, and the extending direction of the reinforcing members is the same as the extending direction of the optical fiber for communication.
[0026] The reinforcing member includes a glass rod, glass yarn, or glass fiber, wherein the diameter of the glass rod or glass fiber is larger than the diameter of the communication optical fiber.
[0027] A transparent sheath surrounds the outer peripheral surface of the communication optical fiber and the outer peripheral surface of the reinforcing member. Both the communication optical fiber and the reinforcing member are embedded in the transparent sheath and are in direct contact with the transparent sheath.
[0028] An adhesive layer, which is parallel to the extending direction of the reinforcing member and is adhered to one side surface of the transparent sheath;
[0029] Release film, wherein the release film is bonded to the surface of the adhesive layer opposite to the transparent sheath.
[0030] Through the above-described design, the transparent sheath protects the communication optical fiber from contamination by moisture or dust, and also reduces the impact of external forces such as collisions. The transparent communication cable and sheath help reduce the visibility of the stealth cable. Glass rods, glass yarns, or glass fibers are all made of glass, making them easy to manufacture alongside the communication optical fiber and improving manufacturing efficiency. Furthermore, since the reinforcing components include glass rods, glass yarns, or glass fibers, and these components are transparent, it further reduces the visibility of the stealth cable.
[0031] In some embodiments of invisible optical cables, the surface of the glass rod, glass yarn, or glass fiber is coated. These coated glass rods, glass yarn, or glass fibers adhere more tightly to the transparent sheath, resulting in better tensile strength and bending resistance.
[0032] In some embodiments of invisible optical cables, the coating is made of acrylic resin.
[0033] In some implementations of invisible optical cables, the transparent sheath includes a first surface and a second surface disposed opposite to each other. The first surface is provided with a first tear groove, and the adhesive layer is attached to the second surface. The tear groove can facilitate tearing open the communication optical fiber.
[0034] In some implementations of invisible optical cables, the reinforcing members include a first reinforcing member and a second reinforcing member, the extension directions of the first reinforcing member and the second reinforcing member are the same as the extension direction of the communication optical fiber; and the extension directions of the first reinforcing member, the second reinforcing member, and the communication optical fiber are located in the same plane; wherein, the materials of the first reinforcing member and the second reinforcing member are different.
[0035] In some implementations of stealth optical cables, two first reinforcing members are provided, with the two first reinforcing members located on both sides of the communication optical fiber; two second reinforcing members are provided, with the two second reinforcing members located on both sides of the communication optical fiber, to enhance the tensile strength of the stealth optical cable.
[0036] In some implementations of stealth optical cables, the diameter of the second reinforcing member is larger than the diameter of the first reinforcing member.
[0037] On the other hand, this application embodiment also provides an optical cable assembly, which includes a connector and the aforementioned invisible optical cable, with one end of the invisible optical cable connected to the connector.
[0038] In another aspect, embodiments of this application provide a communication system, which includes a first network device, a second network device, and the aforementioned optical cable assembly. The second network device is connected to a connector, and the first network device is connected to the end of the invisible optical cable away from the connector.
[0039] It is understood that the beneficial effects of the optical cable assembly and communication system provided in the above embodiments of this application can be referred to the beneficial effects of the invisible optical cable mentioned above, and will not be repeated here. Attached Figure Description
[0040] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in this application, the accompanying drawings used in some embodiments of this application will be briefly described below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only drawings of some embodiments of this application, and those skilled in the art can obtain other drawings based on these drawings. In addition, the drawings described below can be regarded as schematic diagrams and are not intended to limit the actual size of the product, the actual flow of the method, the actual timing of the signals, etc. involved in the embodiments of this application.
[0041] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the communication system in an embodiment of this application;
[0042] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the invisible optical cable in an embodiment of this application;
[0043] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the invisible optical cable in an embodiment of this application;
[0044] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the invisible optical cable in an embodiment of this application;
[0045] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the communication optical fiber in an embodiment of this application;
[0046] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the communication optical fiber in an embodiment of this application.
[0047] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached drawings: 10, Communication system; 20, First network device; 30, Second network device; 40, Optical cable assembly; 41, Connector; 100, Invisible optical cable; 110, Communication optical fiber; 120, Reinforcing member; 130, Sheath; 140, Adhesive layer; 150, Release film; 121, First reinforcing member; 122, Second reinforcing member; 101, First surface; 102, Second surface; 103, First tear groove; 104, Second tear groove; 105, Third surface; 111, Fiber core; 112, Cladding. Detailed Implementation
[0048] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this application clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.
[0049] Hereinafter, the terms "first," "second," etc., are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined with "first," "second," etc., may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature.
[0050] Furthermore, in the embodiments of this application, directional terms such as "up," "down," "left," "right," "horizontal," and "vertical" are defined relative to the orientation of the components shown in the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that these directional terms are relative concepts, used for relative description and clarification, and can change accordingly depending on the orientation of the components in the accompanying drawings.
[0051] In the embodiments of this application, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the term "connection" should be interpreted broadly. For example, "connection" can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium.
[0052] It should be noted that, in the description of the embodiments of this application, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "connected" and "linked" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection or an integral connection; they can also refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; or they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in the embodiments of this application according to the specific circumstances.
[0053] A terminal can also be called a terminal device, user equipment (UE), mobile station (MS), mobile terminal (MT), or station (STA), etc.
[0054] In some embodiments, the terminal may be a mobile phone, tablet computer, computer with wireless transceiver function, personal communication service (PCS) telephone, desktop computer, virtual reality (VR) terminal device, augmented reality (AR) terminal device, wireless terminal in industrial control, wireless terminal in smart home, etc.
[0055] Referring to Figure 1, the first network device 20 can be a routing and forwarding device with optical communication capabilities, such as a router or a switch. The first network device 20 can also be a broadband network gateway (BNG) or a broadband remote access optical communication device with optical communication capabilities. Similarly, the second network device 30 can be a routing and forwarding device with optical communication capabilities, or it can be a broadband network gateway or a broadband remote access optical communication device with optical communication capabilities.
[0056] Terminals can access optical communication equipment using network devices. In room 1 as shown in Figure 1, users can use terminals to establish communication connections with network devices using wireless local area network (WLAN) technology, enabling the terminals to send data packets to the optical communication equipment. The same applies to room 2 in Figure 1. For example, network devices communicate with each terminal via WLAN, and network devices are interconnected via optical fibers.
[0057] In some possible scenarios, the terminal may also use optical communication technology to establish a communication connection with the radio access network (RAN) (not shown in Figure 1) and access the optical communication equipment.
[0058] The first network device 20 or the second network device 30 is connected to the optical communication device via wireless or wired means. The embodiments of this application do not limit the number of terminal devices, network devices, and optical communication devices included in the communication system 10.
[0059] This application does not limit the application scenarios of the communication system 10. For example, the communication system 10 can be applied in scenarios such as Fiber to the Home (FTTH), Fiber to the Room (FTTR), optical distribution network (ODN), optical line terminal (OLT), optical network unit (ONU), wireless access point (AP), power over ethernet (POE) system, or optical fiber composite low-voltage cable (OPLC).
[0060] This embodiment uses a whole-house fiber optic scenario as an example to illustrate the bandwidth allocation method of the communication system 10 provided in this application. A whole-house fiber optic scenario can be achieved through FTTR technology. FTTR refers to a networking technology that uses optical fiber instead of network cables, lays optical fiber to every room, deploys optical network equipment to interconnect with the home gateway, and combines wireless communication to ensure whole-house network coverage.
[0061] In the example of Figure 1, the first network device 20 and the second network device 30 are connected via an optical fiber assembly 40. Exemplarily, the optical fiber assembly 40 includes a connector 41 and a concealed optical fiber 100. One end of the concealed optical fiber 100 is connected to the connector 41. The first network device 20 is connected to the connector 41. The second network device 30 is connected to the end of the concealed optical fiber 100 away from the connector 41.
[0062] For example, connector 41 may be an optical fiber connector. In some embodiments, the optical cable assembly 40 includes two connectors 41, which are respectively connected to the opposite ends of the invisible optical cable 100. One connector 41 is connected to the first network device 20, and the other connector 41 is connected to the second network device 30.
[0063] In some embodiments, the server and the first network device 20 may also be connected via an optical fiber assembly 40.
[0064] The reliability of the invisible optical cable 100 directly affects the communication quality between the first network device 20 and the second network device 30. The invisible optical cable 100 provided in this application embodiment has superior reliability, which is beneficial to improving the communication quality between the first network device 20 and the second network device 30, thereby improving the communication quality of the communication system 10.
[0065] Referring to Figure 2, this application embodiment provides an invisible optical cable 100, which includes a communication optical fiber 110, a reinforcing member 120, and a transparent sheath 130.
[0066] A transparent sheath 130 surrounds the outer peripheral surface of the communication optical fiber 110 and the outer peripheral surface of the reinforcing member 120. Thus, the transparent sheath 130 protects the communication optical fiber 110 from contamination by moisture or dust, and also reduces the impact of external forces such as collisions on the communication optical fiber 110. The material of the transparent sheath 130 can include transparent materials, such as polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polycarbonate (PC), polystyrene (PS), thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU), or fluoroplastics. Reducing the visibility of the transparent sheath 130 helps to lower the visibility of the invisible optical cable 100, making the cabling of the invisible optical cable 100 simpler. The aforementioned outer peripheral surface of the communication optical fiber 110 refers to the surface along the circumference of the communication optical fiber 110. Taking a cylindrical shape as an example, the outer peripheral surface of the communication optical fiber 110 is a cylindrical surface. The descriptions of the other outer peripheral surfaces in the text follow the same logic.
[0067] In some embodiments, both the communication optical fiber 110 and the reinforcing member 120 are embedded within the transparent sheath 130 and are in direct contact with the sheath 130. Embedding the reinforcing member 120 within the sheath can enhance the tensile strength of the optical cable.
[0068] This application does not limit the thickness of the transparent sheath 130. For example, the thickness of the transparent sheath 130 is 0.85mm-1.05mm. For example, the thickness of the transparent sheath 130 is 0.85mm, 0.90mm, 0.95mm, 1.00mm or 1.05mm, etc.
[0069] In embodiments where the transparent sheath 130 surrounds the outer peripheral surface of the communication optical fiber 110 and the outer peripheral surface of the reinforcing member 120, the reinforcing member 120 and the communication optical fiber 110 are spaced apart, and the extending direction of the reinforcing member 120 is the same as the extending direction of the communication optical fiber 110, that is, the extending direction of the reinforcing member 120 is parallel to the extending direction of the communication optical fiber 110. The material of the reinforcing member 120 includes: ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, glass fiber reinforced plastic, tin-plated steel wire, or aramid fiber. Reinforcing members 120 made of these materials can improve the tensile strength of the invisible optical cable 100 and reduce the shrinkage of the invisible optical cable 100 during temperature changes, thereby improving the reliability of the invisible optical cable 100.
[0070] When the reinforcing member 120 is made of glass, it includes a glass rod (or glass filament), glass yarn, or glass fiber. The glass rod, glass yarn, or glass fiber are all transparent, which helps reduce the visibility of the invisible optical cable. Furthermore, since the glass rod, glass yarn, or glass fiber are all made of glass, they are easy to manufacture together with the communication optical fiber 110, improving manufacturing efficiency.
[0071] In addition, the diameter of the glass rod or glass fiber can be larger than the diameter of the communication optical fiber, which can enhance the tensile strength of the invisible optical cable.
[0072] In addition, the glass rod, glass yarn, or glass fiber has a coating on its surface. These coated glass rods, glass yarn, or glass fibers adhere more tightly to the transparent sheath, resulting in better tensile strength and bending resistance. In some embodiments of the invisible optical cable, the coating is an acrylic resin material.
[0073] In the above embodiment, the extension direction of the reinforcing member 120 and the extension direction of the communication optical fiber 110 are located in the same plane, and the extension direction of the reinforcing member 120 is parallel to the surface of the transparent sheath 130. Through the above arrangement, the communication optical fiber 110 and the reinforcing member 120 can be arranged reasonably, thereby reducing the thickness of the transparent sheath 130 and reducing the overall size of the invisible optical cable 100.
[0074] In some embodiments, the reinforcing member 120 may include a first reinforcing member 121 and a second reinforcing member 122; wherein the extending directions of the first reinforcing member 121 and the second reinforcing member 122 are both the same as the extending direction of the communication optical fiber 110; and the extending directions of the first reinforcing member 121, the second reinforcing member 122, and the communication optical fiber 110 are located in the same plane; wherein the materials of the first reinforcing member 121 and the second reinforcing member 122 are different. This allows the first reinforcing member 121 and the second reinforcing member 122 to respectively improve the performance of the stealth optical cable 100 in different ways.
[0075] For example, the material of the first reinforcing member 121 includes ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, glass fiber reinforced plastic, tin-plated steel wire, aramid fiber, or optical fiber, and the material of the second reinforcing member 122 includes ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, glass fiber reinforced plastic, tin-plated steel wire, aramid fiber, or yarn. The first reinforcing member 121 can reduce the shrinkage of the invisible optical cable 100 when the temperature changes, and the second reinforcing member 122 can improve the tensile strength of the invisible optical cable 100.
[0076] Referring to Figures 3 and 4, in the above embodiment, two first reinforcing members 121 can be provided, with the two first reinforcing members 121 respectively located on both sides of the communication optical fiber 110; two second reinforcing members 122 can also be provided, with the two second reinforcing members 122 also respectively located on both sides of the communication optical fiber 110. The positional relationship between the first reinforcing members 121 and the second reinforcing members 122 located on the same side of the communication optical fiber 110 is not limited. That is, the first reinforcing member 121 can be located between the second reinforcing member 122 and the communication optical fiber 110, or the second reinforcing member 122 can be located between the first reinforcing member 121 and the communication optical fiber 110. With the above arrangement, the two first reinforcing members 121 and the two second reinforcing members 122 are symmetrically arranged with respect to the communication optical fiber 110, which can balance the strength on both sides of the communication optical fiber 110.
[0077] Referring to Figure 3, in some embodiments, the diameter of the first reinforcing member 121 is the same as the diameter of the second reinforcing member 122. In the process of forming the first reinforcing member 121 and the second reinforcing member 122, it is not necessary to change the size of the reinforcing member 120, which can reduce the time spent on the forming process and reduce the process cost.
[0078] Referring to FIG4, in some embodiments, the diameter of the second reinforcing member 122 is smaller than the diameter of the first reinforcing member 121. Combined with the embodiment in which the second reinforcing member 122 is located between the first reinforcing member 121 and the communication optical fiber 110, the second reinforcing member 122 with a smaller diameter is located between the first reinforcing member 121 and the communication optical fiber 110, which can make full use of the spacing between the first reinforcing member 121 and the communication optical fiber 110 and improve the integration of the invisible optical cable 100.
[0079] Referring again to Figure 2, in some embodiments, the invisible optical cable 100 provided in this application further includes an adhesive layer 140. The adhesive layer 140 is parallel to the extending direction of the reinforcing member 120, and the adhesive layer 140 is attached to one side surface of the transparent sheath 130. The invisible optical cable 100 can be installed on a mounting surface through the adhesive layer 140. The mounting surface can be the ground, wall, or desktop, etc., depending on the deployment scenario of the invisible optical cable 100. This application does not limit the material of the adhesive layer 140. Exemplarily, the material of the adhesive layer 140 includes polyacrylate pressure-sensitive adhesive, polyurethane pressure-sensitive adhesive, rubber-type pressure-sensitive adhesive, silicone pressure-sensitive adhesive, polyurethane acrylate pressure-sensitive adhesive, epoxy resin modified acrylate pressure-sensitive adhesive, UV (Ultraviolet) curable acrylate pressure-sensitive adhesive, UV curable polyurethane pressure-sensitive adhesive, UV curable elastomer pressure-sensitive adhesive, moisture-curing polyurethane, hot melt adhesive, pressure-sensitive adhesive, moisture-curing type pressure-sensitive adhesive, moisture-curing silicone material, or moisture-curing cyanoacrylate pressure-sensitive adhesive, etc. In some embodiments, the material of the adhesive layer 140 may include two or more of the aforementioned materials, such as moisture-curing polyurethane, moisture-curing silicone, or moisture-curing cyanoacrylate pressure-sensitive adhesive. This results in better adhesive performance of the adhesive layer 140. Increasing the peel strength of the adhesive layer 140 can enhance the connection strength between the invisible optical cable 100 and the mounting surface, preventing separation between the invisible optical cable 100 and the mounting surface.
[0080] This application embodiment does not limit the thickness of the adhesive layer 140. For example, the thickness of the adhesive layer 140 is 0.45mm-0.55mm. Thus, the adhesive layer 140 has strong adhesive strength, and its placement has minimal impact on the dimensions of the invisible optical cable 100. For example, the thickness of the adhesive layer 140 can be 0.45mm, 0.48mm, 0.50mm, 0.52mm, or 0.55mm, etc.
[0081] Referring to Figure 2, in some embodiments, the invisible optical cable 100 provided in this application further includes a release film 150, which is attached to the surface of the adhesive layer 140 facing away from the transparent sheath 130. The release film 150 can protect the surface of the adhesive layer 140 facing away from the transparent sheath 130, preventing dust or moisture from contaminating the surface of the adhesive layer 140 facing away from the transparent sheath 130. In the example of Figure 2, the release film 150 covers the entire surface of the adhesive layer 140 facing away from the transparent sheath 130. During the assembly of the invisible optical cable 100, the release film 150 and the adhesive layer 140 can be separated before assembling the invisible optical cable 100.
[0082] In some embodiments, the transparent sheath 130 includes a first surface 101 and a second surface 102 disposed opposite to each other. The first surface 101 is provided with a first tear groove 103, and the aforementioned adhesive layer 140 is attached to the second surface. During the connection process of the invisible optical cable 100, the first tear groove 103 can assist in peeling off the transparent sheath 130. Thus, in scenarios where the communication optical fiber 110 needs to be spliced, the transparent sheath 130 can be torn from the first tear groove 103 to expose the communication optical fiber 110, facilitating the splicing of the communication optical fiber 110.
[0083] The first tear groove 103 extends from one end of the invisible optical cable 100 to the other end. In some embodiments, the first tear groove 103 is a V-shaped groove. In other embodiments, the first tear groove 103 can be other shapes, such as a U-shaped groove or an irregularly shaped groove structure.
[0084] In some embodiments of this application, the second surface 102 is provided with a second tear groove 104. Thus, during the process of connecting the adhesive layer 140 and the transparent sheath 130, the first surface 101 and the second surface 102 of the transparent sheath 130 can be distinguished without distinguishing them, reducing the time spent on the distinction process and reducing the manufacturing cost.
[0085] In some embodiments of this application, the second surface 102 and the first surface 101 have the same shape. The first tear groove 103 and the second tear groove 104 have the same shape.
[0086] It is understood that in some embodiments of this application, the second tear groove 104 is not necessary and may be omitted.
[0087] In some embodiments of this application, the first surface 101 is a rough surface. Thus, the first surface 101 can scatter light, and during user observation, the first surface 101 has a matte texture. In some embodiments of this application, the first surface 101 can be a smooth surface.
[0088] In some embodiments of this application, the second surface 102 is a rough surface. This results in a stronger bond between the adhesive layer 140 and the second surface 102, making them less prone to separation. In some embodiments of this application, the second surface 102 can be a smooth surface.
[0089] In the example of Figure 2, the transparent sheath 130 also includes a third surface 105 connecting the first surface 101 and the second surface 102. The first surface 101 and the third surface 105 have a smooth transition. In other words, a chamfer is provided between the first surface 101 and the third surface 105. This prevents the connection between the first surface 101 and the third surface 105 from being too sharp.
[0090] The second surface 102 and the third surface 105 have a smooth transition. In other words, a chamfer is provided between the second surface 102 and the third surface 105. This avoids the junction between the second surface 102 and the third surface 105 being too sharp.
[0091] The transparent sheath 130 has a layered structure. In other words, the cross-section of the transparent sheath 130 is relatively flat. The cross-section of the aforementioned transparent sheath 130 is perpendicular to the length direction of the invisible optical cable 100. Thus, after the invisible optical cable 100 is connected to the mounting surface, the fit between the invisible optical cable 100 and the mounting surface is high, and the thickness of the invisible optical cable 100 protruding from the mounting surface is small, which can increase the aesthetics of the invisible optical cable 100. This application embodiment does not limit the width of the transparent sheath 130. For example, the width of the transparent sheath 130 is 2.9mm-3.1mm. For example, the width of the transparent sheath 130 is 2.9mm, 2.95mm, 3.0mm, 3.05mm, 3.10mm, etc.
[0092] Referring to Figures 5 and 6, the communication optical fiber 110 includes a core 111 and a cladding 112, with the cladding 112 covering the outer periphery of the core 111. The refractive index of the core 111 is greater than that of the cladding 112. The cladding 112 can reflect the optical signals transmitted within the core 111, enclosing the optical signals within the core 111 and protecting it, thus reducing optical signal loss. Furthermore, the core 111 and cladding 112 also possess good flexibility, giving the invisible optical cable 100 superior bending performance.
[0093] In Figure 5, the core 111 and cladding 112 are coaxial columnar structures. This communication optical fiber 110 is a single-core optical fiber.
[0094] The materials of the core 111 and the cladding 112 are not limited in this application embodiment. In some embodiments, the core 111 is made of silicon dioxide (SiO2), and the cladding 112 is doped silicon dioxide (SiO2), and the doping element can be, for example, pentavalent elements such as nitrogen and phosphorus.
[0095] In some embodiments, the core 111 may be made of silicon dioxide, doped silicon dioxide, polycarbonate, polymethyl methacrylate, polyacrylate copolymer, fluorinated olefin polymer, or fluorinated methyl methacrylate, etc. The cladding 112 may be made of silicon dioxide, doped silicon dioxide, fluorinated olefin polymer, fluorinated methyl methacrylate, polycarbonate, polymethyl methacrylate, or polyacrylate copolymer, etc.
[0096] This application does not limit the dimensions of the core 111 and the cladding 112. Exemplarily, the diameter of the core 111 can be 6 μm (micrometers) to 20 μm. For example, the diameter of the core 111 can be 6 μm, 7 μm, 9 μm, 10 μm, 12 μm, 15 μm, 16 μm, 18 μm, or 20 μm, etc. The diameter of the cladding 112 can be 100 μm to 140 μm. For example, the diameter of the cladding 112 can be 100 μm, 105 μm, 110 μm, 120 μm, 125 μm, 130 μm, 135 μm, 138 μm, or 140 μm, etc.
[0097] In some embodiments of this application, the communication optical fiber 110 may further include a coating layer that surrounds the outer peripheral surface of the cladding 112 and protects the cladding 112. It is understood that in some embodiments of this application, the cladding 112 is not necessary, and the communication optical fiber 110 may not have a cladding 112. In some embodiments, the coating layer is also not necessary, and the communication optical fiber 110 may not have a coating layer.
[0098] Compared to Figure 5, Figure 6 shows a different number of fiber cores 111 and a different shape of the cladding 112. In Figure 6, the cladding 112 has a ribbon structure, and the communication optical fiber 110 includes multiple fiber cores 111, all of which are disposed within the cladding 112. The communication optical fiber 110 can be considered as a ribbon fiber, and each fiber core 111 within the ribbon fiber can transmit optical signals. The communication optical fiber 110 can transmit multiple optical signals.
[0099] The embodiments of this application do not limit the number of fiber cores 111 in the fiber belt. For example, the number of fiber cores 111 can be two, three, four, five, six, eight, twelve or more.
[0100] In the description of this specification, specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.
[0101] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, and are not intended to limit them; although this application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or make equivalent substitutions for some or all of the technical features therein; and these modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application.
Claims
1. A concealed optical fiber cable (100) characterized by, The optical cable (100) comprises: a communication optical fiber (110); a reinforcing member (120) arranged in parallel with the communication optical fiber (110), and the extending direction of the reinforcing member (120) is the same as the extending direction of the communication optical fiber (110); wherein the material of the reinforcing member (120) comprises: ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, glass fiber reinforced plastic, tinned steel wire, glass or aramid fiber; a transparent sheath (130) surrounding the outer circumferential surface of the communication optical fiber (110) and the outer circumferential surface of the reinforcing member (120); a glue layer (140) parallel to the extending direction of the reinforcing member (120), and the glue layer (140) is attached to one side surface of the transparent sheath (130); a release film (150) attached to the surface of the transparent sheath (130) away from the glue layer (140).
2. The concealed optical cable (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The extending direction of the reinforcing member (120) and the extending direction of the communication optical fiber (110) are in the same plane, and the extending direction of the reinforcing member (120) is parallel to the surface of the transparent sheath (130).
3. The concealed optical cable (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The reinforcing member (120) comprises a first reinforcing member (121) and a second reinforcing member (122), the extending direction of the first reinforcing member (121) and the extending direction of the second reinforcing member (122) are the same as the extending direction of the communication optical fiber (110); and the extending direction of the first reinforcing member (121), the extending direction of the second reinforcing member (122) and the extending direction of the communication optical fiber (110) are in the same plane; wherein the material of the first reinforcing member (121) and the material of the second reinforcing member (122) are different.
4. The microcable (100) of claim 1, characterized in that, The material of the first reinforcing member (121) comprises ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, glass fiber reinforced plastic, tinned steel wire, aramid fiber, glass or optical fiber, and the material of the second reinforcing member (122) comprises ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, glass fiber reinforced plastic, tinned steel wire, aramid fiber or yarn.
5. The ribbon fiber optic cable (100) of any of claims 1-4, wherein, The first reinforcing member (121) is provided with two, and the two first reinforcing members (121) are respectively located on both sides of the communication optical fiber (110); the second reinforcing member (122) is provided with two, and the two second reinforcing members (122) are respectively located on both sides of the communication optical fiber (110).
6. The concealed optical cable (100) as claimed in claim 5, wherein, The diameter of the first reinforcing member (121) is the same as the diameter of the second reinforcing member (122).
7. The microcable (100) according to claim 5, characterized in that, The diameter of the second reinforcing member (122) is greater than the diameter of the first reinforcing member (121).
8. The ribbon fiber optic cable (100) of claims 6 or 7, wherein, The second reinforcing member (122) is located between the first reinforcing member (121) and the communication optical fiber (110).
9. The ribbon fiber optic cable (100) of any one of claims 1-4, wherein, When the material of the reinforcing member is glass, the reinforcing member comprises a glass rod, a glass yarn or a glass fiber.
10. The microcable (100) according to claim 9, characterized in that, The diameter of the glass rod or the glass fiber is greater than the diameter of the communication optical fiber.
11. The ribbon fiber cable (100) of claim 9 or 10, characterized in that, The glass rod, the glass yarn or the glass fiber has a coating on the surface.
12. The ribbon fiber optic cable (100) of claim 11, wherein, The coating is an acrylic resin.
13. The ribbon fiber optic cable (100) of any one of claims 1-12, wherein, The transparent sheath (130) comprises a first surface (101) and a second surface (102) arranged oppositely, the first surface (101) is provided with a first tear groove (103), and the adhesive layer (140) is attached to the second surface (102).
14. The ribbon fiber optic cable (100) of claim 13, wherein, The first tear groove (103) is a V-shaped groove.
15. A concealed optical cable (100) characterized by, The optical cable (100) comprises: a transparent communication optical fiber (110); at least two reinforcing members (120) arranged on both sides of the communication optical fiber, the reinforcing members (120) and the communication optical fiber (110) are arranged at intervals, and the extending directions of the reinforcing members (120) are the same as the extending direction of the communication optical fiber (110); wherein the reinforcing member comprises a glass rod, a glass yarn or a glass fiber, and the diameter of the glass rod or the glass fiber is larger than the diameter of the communication optical fiber; a transparent sheath (130) surrounding the outer circumferential surface of the communication optical fiber (110) and the outer circumferential surface of the reinforcing member (120), the communication optical fiber (110) and the reinforcing member (120) are embedded in the transparent sheath (130) and directly contact the transparent sheath (130); an adhesive layer (140) parallel to the extending direction of the reinforcing member (120), and the adhesive layer (140) is attached to one side surface of the transparent sheath (130); a release film (150) attached to the surface of the transparent sheath (130) away from the adhesive layer (140).
16. The microcable (100) of claim 15, characterized by The surface of the glass rod, the glass yarn or the glass fiber has a coating.
17. The microcable (100) according to claim 16, characterized in that The coating is an acrylic resin.
18. The ribbon fiber optic cable (100) of any of claims 15-17, wherein, The transparent sheath (130) comprises a first surface (101) and a second surface (102) arranged oppositely, the first surface (101) is provided with a first tear groove (103), and the adhesive layer (140) is attached to the second surface (102).
19. The microcable (100) according to claim 18, characterized in that, The first tear groove (103) is a V-shaped groove.
20. The ribbon fiber cable (100) of any of claims 15-19, wherein, The reinforcing member (120) comprises a first reinforcing member (121) and a second reinforcing member (122), the extending directions of the first reinforcing member (121) and the second reinforcing member (122) are the same as the extending direction of the communication optical fiber (110); and the extending directions of the first reinforcing member (121), the second reinforcing member (122) and the communication optical fiber (110) are located in the same plane; wherein the material of the first reinforcing member (121) is different from the material of the second reinforcing member (122).
21. The microcable (100) according to claim 20, characterized in that, The first reinforcing member (121) is provided with two, and the two first reinforcing members (121) are respectively located on both sides of the communication optical fiber (110); the second reinforcing member (122) is provided with two, and the two second reinforcing members (122) are respectively located on both sides of the communication optical fiber (110).
22. The microcable (100) of claim 21, characterized by The diameter of the second reinforcing member (122) is larger than the diameter of the first reinforcing member (121).
23. An optical cable assembly (40) characterized by, The optical cable assembly (40) comprises a connector (41) and the optical cable (100) according to any one of claims 1-22, one end of the optical cable (100) being connected to the connector (41).
24. A communication system (10), characterized by The communication system (10) comprises a first network device (20), a second network device (30) and the optical cable assembly (40) according to claim 23, the second network device (30) being connected to the connector (41), and the first network device (20) being connected to the other end of the optical cable (100) away from the connector (41).