Optical Cable Groove Interposition Reduces Fiber Contact Loss
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Optical fibers in communication networks face issues with increased loss due to bending and external forces, which can lead to reduced long-term reliability and increased costs when laying multiple cables in limited conduits.
Innovation Solution
The optical cable design incorporates interpositions between optical fibers and units, which are bundled with a tape to reduce mounting density and prevent fiber contact, thereby minimizing movement and loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If optical fibers are bundled with high mounting density to reduce cable diameter, then cable size is reduced, but optical loss increases due to fiber contact and bending
Solution Approach 1:
A groove structure is introduced as an intermediary element between optical fibers. The groove is formed in the buffer layer or surrounding structure, creating a dedicated channel that separates adjacent fibers. This mediator prevents direct fiber-to-fiber contact while maintaining compact cable dimensions, thereby reducing optical loss without significantly increasing cable diameter.
Solution Approach 2:
The groove structure creates localized separation zones specifically where optical fibers are in contact. Instead of uniformly increasing cable diameter, the separation is applied locally at critical contact points through the groove geometry. This allows high-density bundling overall while providing targeted protection against fiber contact loss in specific regions.
2Loss of energy
If mounting density is reduced to prevent fiber contact and movement, then optical loss decreases, but cable diameter increases
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer layer acts as a flexible shell that envelops each optical fiber. By forming grooves within this flexible buffer structure, the system achieves fiber separation without requiring rigid, bulky protective structures. The flexible nature of the buffer layer allows the cable to maintain compact dimensions while providing adequate spacing between fibers through the groove geometry.
3Strength
If optical fibers are placed in grooves of slot rods to protect from external force, then bending strength is improved, but mounting density must be reduced leaving gaps
Solution Approach 1:
The groove structure segments the buffer layer into distinct regions, each accommodating an optical fiber. This segmentation provides mechanical protection similar to slot rods by creating individual channels for each fiber, preventing direct exposure to external forces. The segmented groove design maintains high mounting density by efficiently utilizing the cable cross-section without requiring large gaps between fibers.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An object of the present disclosure is to prevent optical fibers from moving and from having optical loss, by reducing a mounting density of the optical fibers and preventing the optical fibers from coming into contact with each other. An optical cable according to the present disclosure has a structure in which at least one or more optical fiber cores and an interposition that prevents optical fibers from coming into contact with each other are bundled by a bundle tape.