Fiber Wire Fixation Structure for Optical Submarine Repeaters

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fiber wire fixation structures in optical submarine repeaters risk microbending losses due to fiber wires crossing each other under compression.

Innovation Solution

A fiber wire fixation structure featuring a rod-shaped cushion with slits for fiber wire insertion and a cushion fixing part with a hollow tube-shaped structure, allowing the cushion to be pressed and fixed, thereby preventing fiber wires from crossing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If fiber wires are simply arranged between two cushions for fixation, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but fiber wires may cross each other causing microbending losses

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of fixation structure assemblyVSAvoidsignal transmission reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cushion is segmented with multiple slits that divide and guide individual fiber wires through separate paths. This segmentation prevents fiber wires from crossing each other while maintaining a simple cushion structure that is easy to manufacture and assemble.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Stability of the object's composition

If fiber wires are compressed between cushions to prevent movement, then fixation stability is improved, but crossed fiber wires experience excessive pressure causing microbending

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefiber wire fixation stabilityVSAvoidmicrobending loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The cushion provides localized support through slits that are positioned to match the specific routing requirements of each fiber wire. This local quality ensures that compression forces are applied uniformly along each fiber's path rather than causing concentrated stress at crossing points, preventing microbending while maintaining fixation stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Productivity

If multiple fiber wires are housed together in the optical submarine repeater, then communication capacity is improved, but the risk of fiber wire crossing and microbending increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication transmission capacityVSAvoidsignal transmission reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cushion is designed with multiple slits that segment and separate individual fiber wires throughout their length within the repeater housing. This segmentation allows multiple fiber wires to be housed together for high communication capacity while preventing them from crossing each other, thereby maintaining signal transmission reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20250035855A1Fiber wire fixation structure, optical submarine repeater, and method of assembling fiber wire fixation structure

Publication Date: 2025.01.30 NEC CORP

AI summary

A fiber wire fixation structure is disclosed. The fiber wire fixation structure includes: a rod-shaped cushion having a plurality of slits each extending in a length direction on an outer circumference of the rod-shaped cushion, the plurality of slits being configured so that a fiber wire is allowed to be inserted into each of the plurality of slits; and a cushion fixing part having a hollow tube-shaped structure, the cushion fixing part being configured so that the cushion is pressed and fixed from the outer circumference of the cushion when the cushion is pressed into a hollow space of the cushion fixing part to a predetermined position in the cushion fixing part.