Optical Cable Fiber Bundle Layout for Low-Loss Bending
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical cables face issues with stress and damage to optical fibers due to improper excess group length (EGL) of optical fiber bundles, leading to deteriorated bending properties and optical loss during cable bending or laying.
Innovation Solution
The optical cable design incorporates an optical fiber bundle with an optimal excess group length (EGL) determined by considering the bending properties and lossless bending radius, ensuring the ratio of EGL to tubular member length satisfies the formula ε≤2R2R-H-1, where R is the lossless bending radius and H is the diameter based on the cross-sectional area with a spiral trajectory.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the optical fiber bundle length is increased to provide excess group length (EGL), then bending properties are improved, but the optical fiber bundle becomes excessively pressurized and stress is applied to the optical fibers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the excess group length (EGL) of the optical fiber bundle within a specific range (0.1-5% of the optical cable length). This quantitative parameter optimization resolves the contradiction by finding the optimal value that provides sufficient bending buffer without causing excessive pressurization and stress on the optical fibers.
2Stress or pressure
If the optical fiber bundle length is decreased to reduce pressurization, then stress on optical fibers is reduced, but bending properties deteriorate and optical loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by establishing a minimum EGL threshold (0.1% of optical cable length) that ensures sufficient bending buffer is maintained. This parameter specification guarantees that the optical fiber bundle retains adequate length to accommodate bending without causing optical loss or deteriorating bending properties, while simultaneously reducing unnecessary pressurization.
3Ease of manufacture
If the optical fiber bundle length is not optimized, then manufacturing is simpler, but damage to optical fibers occurs during cable bending or laying
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating and pre-setting the optimal EGL of the optical fiber bundle during the manufacturing stage. This advance preparation ensures that the optical fiber bundle has the appropriate length configuration before the cable is installed, thereby preventing damage during subsequent bending or laying operations without complicating the manufacturing process.
4Reliability
If the optical fiber bundle length is excessively increased, then bending buffer is sufficient, but the optical cable structure becomes complex and space efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by setting an upper limit on the EGL (5% of optical cable length). This parameter constraint ensures that the optical fiber bundle length is sufficient to provide bending buffer while preventing excessive length that would lead to structural complexity and reduced space efficiency in the optical cable.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to an optical cable in which an optical fiber bundle with clustered or bundled optical fibers is accommodated in a tubular member and the optical fibers are formed in an excess group length (EGL) by modeling considering bending properties of the optical cable or a lossless bending radius of the optical fibers of the optical fiber bundle, thereby minimizing stress, damage or optical loss of the optical fibers in the optical fiber bundle.