Miniaturized Optical Fiber Drop Cable Manual Access Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing optical fiber drop cables require tools to access fibers, which can damage the delicate fibers, and there is a need for a method to access fibers manually without tools.

Innovation Solution

A drop cable design featuring a fiber section surrounded by a first material and strength members outside, with a jacket section made of a second material that can be manually torn open using score lines, allowing for manual access and separation of the jacket without damaging the fibers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If cutting or scrapping tools are used to remove jacketing material, then the jacket can be removed to access fibers, but the delicate fibers can be damaged

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to access fibersVSAvoidfiber damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The cable is divided into distinct sections: a jacket section with scores for easy tearing, a fiber section with protective coating, and the optical fibers themselves. This segmentation allows the jacket to be removed without tools while the fiber protective coating remains intact, preventing damage during the access process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The jacket section is pre-scored at predetermined locations to facilitate easy manual tearing. This preliminary preparation allows the jacket to be removed without requiring cutting tools, thereby preventing fiber damage while enabling easy access to the fibers

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of manufacture

If a single-material cable structure is used, then manufacturing is simpler, but manual access to fibers requires tools

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecable construction simplicityVSAvoidmanual fiber access

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The cable employs composite material construction with a jacket section made of one material and a fiber section made of a different material. The jacket material is designed to be easily torn along score lines, while the fiber section material provides protective coating that can be manually removed without tools, achieving both manufacturing feasibility and ease of fiber access

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

Different sections of the cable have different material properties tailored to their specific functions. The jacket section has material properties optimized for easy tearing, while the fiber section has material properties optimized for protecting the fibers during manual access, allowing each section to perform its specific function effectively

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS8942526B2Miniaturized optical fiber drop cable

Publication Date: 2015.01.27 COMMSCOPE NORTH CAROLINA LLC

AI summary

A fiber optic cable includes first and second optical fibers. A fiber section surrounds the fibers and is formed of a first material. First and second strength members are adjacent to the fiber section on opposite sides thereof. A jacket surrounds the first and second strength members and fiber section. The jacket is formed of a second material, stronger than the first material and which does not adhere to the first material. The jacket may be manually torn open to access the fiber section. The fiber section may be manually pinched and stripped cleanly from the fibers. The fiber section acts as a cocoon to protect the fibers when the jacket is opened and cleanly pulls off of the fibers by manual force.