Optical Cable Module Fiber Diameter Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
In high fiber density applications, existing methods for identifying optical fibers using color markings are inefficient, leading to increased production time, costs, and potential attenuation, while alternative solutions complicate cable structure and size, necessitating a more effective method to distinguish fibers beyond the limited number of available colors.
Innovation Solution
The use of optical fibers within a cable module, where fibers of the same color are differentiated by varying diameters, allowing for identification without additional markings or fiber bundles, thereby optimizing production time, costs, and cable structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If color markings are applied to optical fibers to identify them, then fiber identification is enabled, but production time increases, manufacturing costs increase, and fiber diameter increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameter of fiber diameter to enable identification. Instead of applying color markings, the invention uses fibers with different outer diameters (e.g., 250 microns vs 300 microns) to distinguish between fiber groups, thereby eliminating the need for color marking processes and reducing production time while maintaining identification capability
2Loss of information
If color markings are applied to optical fibers to identify them, then fiber identification is enabled, but manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the diameter parameter of the fibers during the manufacturing process itself, which is integrated into the existing fiber drawing process. This eliminates separate color marking operations, reducing manufacturing complexity and costs while providing effective fiber identification through diameter differences
3Loss of information
If color markings are applied to optical fibers to identify them, then fiber identification is enabled, but fiber optic attenuation is affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the fiber diameter parameter, which is a structural characteristic that does not interfere with optical transmission properties. Unlike color markings that may add layers or alter the fiber surface, diameter changes are incorporated into the fiber structure itself without adding materials that could cause attenuation, thus maintaining optical performance while enabling identification
4Loss of information
If fiber bundles or core tubes are used to isolate groups of optical fibers, then fiber identification is enabled, but cable size increases and structure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses diameter differentiation as a simple, integrated identification method that does not require additional structural elements like fiber bundles or core tubes. All fibers are housed in a single compact cable structure, and identification is achieved through the diameter parameter itself, thereby minimizing cable size and structural complexity while maintaining effective fiber group identification
5Loss of information
If fiber bundles or core tubes are used to isolate groups of optical fibers, then fiber identification is enabled, but production process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a simple diameter-based identification system that can be implemented during the standard fiber manufacturing process without requiring complex cable structuring operations. The diameter differentiation is established at the fiber level, simplifying the overall cable construction process compared to methods requiring assembly of multiple fiber bundles or core tubes
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a cable module (1) comprising a sheath (2) defining a cable module interior (3); N first optical fibers (4) extending longitudinally through the cable module interior (3), each of the N first optical fibers (4) having a unique color selected among C different colors, wherein N and C are both integers higher than 1; and M second optical fibers (5) extending longitudinally through the cable module interior (3), each of the M second optical fibers (5) having a unique color selected among said C different colors, wherein M is an integer higher than 1. The N first optical fibers (4) all have a first diameter S1 and the M second optical fibers (5) all have a second diameter S2 different from the first diameter S1.