Conductive Trace Fiber Optic Cable for Wireless RF Tone Tracing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fiber optic cables lack the ability to be electrically traced, making it difficult to locate and manage physical connections within networks, as they do not incorporate electrical conductors necessary for RF tone transmission, and existing solutions are invasive, costly, and unreliable.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating external, continuous, and conductive traces within recessed channels on the cable jacket, allowing for non-invasive electrical contact and RF signal propagation, combined with RFID tags for electronic identification and management of cable terminations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If fiber optic cables incorporate electrical conductors for RF tone transmission, then electrical tracing capability is improved, but cable complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the electrical conductor function from the core optical fiber structure by placing conductors in recessed channels within the cable jacket, separating the tracing function from the light transmission function while maintaining cable integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The recessed channels in the cable jacket serve as intermediaries that provide controlled access to the conductors, enabling non-invasive electrical contact for tracing while protecting the conductors and maintaining cable structure
2Ease of operation
If cable jacket is physically cut or removed to access conductors, then electrical signal injection is enabled, but fiber optic cable damage and reliability concerns increase
Solution Approach 1:
The conductors are pre-positioned in recessed channels that provide continuous external access along the cable length, eliminating the need for later invasive actions like cutting or stripping the jacket to access conductors for tracing operations
Solution Approach 2:
The cable jacket with recessed channels acts as a flexible protective shell that maintains cable integrity while providing controlled access pathways to the conductors, allowing electrical contact without compromising the jacket or fiber strength
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If optical signal is emitted along fiber length for tracing, then fiber location detection is improved, but optical attenuation and signal leakage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the optical tracing mechanism with an electrical tracing mechanism using RF tones conducted through external conductors, substituting a low-loss optical system with an electrical system better suited for external detection and tracing applications
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables wireless tracing and identification of fiber optic cables without damaging the optical fibers, reducing costs and improving network management by allowing remote and automated inventory of physical connections.
Implementation Method 1
A weak electromagnetic signature at this characteristic frequency is radiated along the entire length of the wire, whereby the wire functions as an extended wire antenna
Implementation Method 2
RFID tags for electronic identification and management of cable terminations
Data Source
AI summary
Composite fiber optic cables having exposed, conductive traces external to the cable jacket enable non-invasive, wireless electrical tone tracing of fiber optic cables. The cross sectional geometry of the fiber optic cable prevents conductive traces from short circuiting when abutting other cables or grounded conductive elements. Moreover, the structure allows convenient electrical contact to the conductive traces at any location along the longitudinal extent of the cable without requiring penetration of the cable jacket or removal of fiber optic connectors. Traceable fiber optic cables of various types are disclosed, including simplex, duplex and ribbon cables. Systems of traceable cables utilizing connectors with integrated electrical antenna elements attached to the conductive elements of cable and RFID tags for remote connector port identification are further disclosed.