Exterior Optical Fiber for Visual Cable Tracing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing visual tracer systems for cables, such as fiber optic cables, are cumbersome to manufacture and use, requiring additional components and complex installations, which increase costs and complexity, making it difficult to trace individual cables in congested networks.
Innovation Solution
A method of manufacturing a cable with a plastic optical fiber integrated into the exterior of the jacket, allowing lateral light emission for visual tracing, which is co-extruded with the jacket to be partially embedded, reducing the need for auxiliary components and simplifying the manufacturing process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If LED tracks are installed separately after cable extrusion, then visual tracing capability is achieved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The optical fiber tracer is merged with the cable jacket through co-extrusion, combining two previously separate components (tracer and jacket) into a single integrated manufacturing process. This eliminates the need for separate installation steps and reduces auxiliary components while maintaining visual tracing functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical fiber is embedded into the jacket during the extrusion process itself, performing the integration action in advance rather than as a subsequent separate step. This preliminary integration simplifies manufacturing by eliminating post-extrusion installation operations.
2Ease of operation
If specialized connectors with activation features are integrated, then LED system functionality is achieved, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The active LED components and specialized connector features are extracted from the system, replacing them with a passive optical fiber that simply transmits light. The light source is provided externally through standard connectors, eliminating the need for integrated activation features and specialized components.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical fiber acts as an intermediary element that carries light from an external source through the cable length. This mediator approach allows visual tracing without requiring integrated light sources or complex activation mechanisms within the cable itself.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional opaque jacketing material is used, then cable protection is achieved, but visual tracing along cable length is prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The jacket material properties are made non-uniform along the cable length, with translucent sections positioned specifically where visual tracing is needed. The majority of the jacket remains opaque for protection, while localized translucent portions allow light transmission without compromising overall cable strength or weather resistance.
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 efficient and cost-effective visual tracing of cables without disturbing their form, fit, or function, allowing identification along the cable length and at ends, reducing clutter and congestion in network environments.
Implementation Method 1
The optical fiber is plastic and is configured to laterally release light passed through the optical fiber such that the released light is visible along the exterior surface of the optical fiber
Implementation Method 2
The extruding step further includes co-extruding the optical fiber with the jacket such that the optical fiber is at least partially embedded in the jacket
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A fiber optic cable includes a first optical fiber (314), a jacket (312), and a second optical fiber (316). The first optical fiber is configured to guide a transmission of light through the fiber optic cable. The jacket has an interior surface (318) that defines a conduit through which the first optical fiber extends, and the jacket further has an exterior surface that defines the outside of the fiber optic cable. The second optical fiber is integrated with the exterior surface of the jacket and emits light from its side for visible tracing of the cable.