Opto-electro Hybrid Cable Buffer Tube Hardness Design
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Opto-electro hybrid cables experience increased transmission loss due to excessive bending or twisting, which applies lateral pressure to optical fibers from surrounding electronic wires, making it difficult to suppress this pressure and maintain favorable transmission characteristics.
Innovation Solution
The use of a tube with Shore D hardness of 65 or greater to protect optical fibers, combined with tension members and fillers, accommodated in a specific density, within a sheath to absorb lateral pressure and prevent excessive bending or twisting, utilizing tetrafluoroethylene-ethylene copolymer resin for the tube and appropriate materials for electronic wires and shielding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If electronic wires are arranged on the outer circumference of optical fibers in an opto-electro hybrid cable, then the cable structure is compact and space-efficient, but lateral pressure from the electronic wires increases transmission loss in the optical fibers
Solution Approach 1:
A buffer layer with controlled Shore A hardness (40-70) is introduced as an intermediary between the optical fibers and electronic wires. This buffer layer absorbs lateral pressure from the electronic wires, preventing direct contact and pressure transmission to the optical fibers, thereby reducing transmission loss while maintaining the compact cable structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent specifies precise hardness parameters for the buffer layer (Shore A 40-70) and tube (Shore D 65 or greater) to optimize pressure distribution. By controlling the hardness parameter, the buffer layer provides sufficient cushioning against lateral pressure while maintaining structural integrity and compactness of the overall cable assembly.
2Ease of operation
If the cable is bent to a small diameter (about 30 mm), then the cable is more flexible and easier to route, but excessive lateral pressure is applied to the optical fibers increasing transmission loss
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer layer with appropriate hardness is pre-configured to provide cushioning before bending occurs. When the cable is bent to small diameters, this pre-positioned buffer layer absorbs the lateral pressure generated during bending, protecting the optical fibers from excessive stress and maintaining transmission characteristics even in flexible routing conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent specifies the buffer layer hardness (Shore A 40-70) and tube hardness (Shore D 65 or greater) to achieve optimal balance between flexibility and protection. These parameter specifications enable the cable to be bent to small diameters while the buffer layer absorbs generated lateral pressure, preventing transmission loss increase.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a partition sheet or sheath is provided to divide the accommodating space, then the optical fibers are separated from electronic wires, but it is difficult to sufficiently suppress lateral pressure when bent to small diameters
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible buffer layer and tube with specific hardness characteristics rather than rigid partition sheets. These flexible components can deform during cable bending to small diameters, maintaining spatial separation between optical fibers and electronic wires while absorbing lateral pressure, thus preventing transmission loss increase that rigid partitions would cause.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from rigid partition sheets to a buffer layer with controlled Shore A hardness (40-70) and a tube with Shore D hardness of 65 or greater. This parameter change in material hardness enables sufficient suppression of lateral pressure during bending while maintaining spatial separation, overcoming the limitation of rigid partitioning.
4Strength
If the tube has high hardness (Shore D 65 or greater), then lateral pressure resistance is improved, but the tube becomes more rigid and harder to manufacture with precise dimensions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies precise parameter ranges for tube hardness (Shore D 65 or greater) and thickness (0.05 mm or larger) to achieve optimal balance between lateral pressure resistance and manufacturability. These parameter specifications guide manufacturing processes to produce tubes with consistent properties that provide sufficient protection while remaining manufacturable with standard precision capabilities.
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
This configuration effectively prevents excessive lateral pressure and bending, maintaining favorable transmission characteristics by increasing tensile strength and reducing transmission loss even when the cable is bent to small diameters.
Implementation Method 1
the optical fibers are accommodated in a tube having Shore D hardness of 65 or greater
Implementation Method 2
it is possible to prevent the excessive lateral pressure from being applied to the optical fibers from the electronic wires
Implementation Method 3
it is possible to increase the tensile strength and to prevent the excessive tension from being applied to the optical fibers
Data Source
AI summary
According to the opto-electro hybrid cable of the invention, it is possible to prevent the excessive lateral pressure from being applied to the optical fibers from the electronic wires and the excessive bending or twisting from being generated. In addition, it is possible to increase the tensile strength and to prevent the excessive tension from being applied to the optical fibers, so that it is possible to keep the favorable transmission characteristics.