Optical Cable Laying Strip System for Road Surface Installation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for laying optical cables require civil engineering works such as digging or excavating, which are labor-intensive and obstructive, and lack efficient solutions for stable placement and removal without new infrastructure.

Innovation Solution

The method involves embedding optical cables between two laying strips on a road or wall surface, with preventive measures like concave-convex shaped portions or staples to maintain contact and prevent separation, and incorporating trays for connection units to eliminate the need for additional housing or protection structures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If optical cables are laid using traditional methods (buried in pipelines or mounted on utility poles), then stable placement and protection are achieved, but civil engineering works such as digging and excavating are required, which are labor-intensive and obstructive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestable placementVSAvoidcivil engineering works

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the optical cable laying process from traditional civil engineering infrastructure (pipelines, utility poles) and places it directly on road surfaces using simple laying strips. This removes the need for digging and excavating while maintaining cable protection through the laying strip structure itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The laying strips act as flexible protective shells that directly cover and protect the optical cables on the road surface. These thin film-like structures provide protection without requiring heavy civil engineering infrastructure, eliminating the need for digging while maintaining cable stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Reliability

If connection units are accommodated in traditional housings such as closures, then protection is achieved, but additional spaces for housing and protecting pull-up ports are required, which must be prepared before cable laying

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveprotectionVSAvoidadditional housing structures

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the functions of cable protection, connection unit housing, and pull-up port protection into a single integrated laying strip structure. The laying strip itself serves as the housing for connection units and provides protection for pull-up ports, eliminating the need for separate closures and additional protective structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The laying strip is designed as a multi-functional element that simultaneously protects the optical cable, houses connection units, and protects pull-up ports. This universal structure performs multiple protective functions that traditionally required separate components, simplifying the overall system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If extra-length portions of optical cables are protected using boxes on the ground, then future connection and branching are enabled, but the boxes become obstructive factors for road traffic

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefuture connection and branchingVSAvoidroad traffic obstruction

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent moves the cable protection and connection functions from the vertical dimension (boxes on the ground surface) to the horizontal dimension (integrated within the laying strip structure). The laying strip accommodates extra-length portions and connection units within its structure, keeping them flush with the road surface rather than protruding above it, thus eliminating traffic obstruction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Ease of manufacture

If optical cables are laid without civil engineering works using simple methods, then labor costs are reduced, but the cables lack stable placement and require additional protective structures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveno civil engineering worksVSAvoidstable placement

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The laying strips serve as flexible protective shells that provide stable placement for optical cables directly on the road surface. These thin film structures eliminate the need for civil engineering works while maintaining cable stability through their adhesion and structural design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The laying strips are composed of composite materials that combine adhesive properties with structural integrity. This allows them to adhere firmly to the road surface providing stable cable placement, while remaining simple to apply without requiring civil engineering infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentUS12253735B2Optical cable laying method

Publication Date: 2025.03.18 NIPPON TELEGRAPH & TELEPHONE CORP

AI summary

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a method of laying an optical cable that is capable of laying and removing the optical cable in a stable place without civil engineering works. To achieve the above-mentioned object, a method of laying an optical cable according to the present disclosure includes laying the optical cable and two laying strips on a road surface or a wall surface so that the optical cable is sandwiched between side surfaces of the two laying strips.