Optical Cable Removable Micromodules Longitudinal Profile
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fiber optic cables with extractable micromodules face challenges such as increased twisting and crossing of micromodules, difficulty in extraction due to thick outer sheaths, and high production costs, which hinder efficient cabling operations and pose safety risks during installation.
Innovation Solution
The cable features an internal longitudinal compartmentalization section with a tubular outer sheath that separates micromodules into subsets, eliminating the need for longitudinal reinforcements in the outer sheath, reducing sheath thickness and weight, and incorporating identification markers for easier micromodule location and extraction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the number of micromodules in the cable is increased, then the information transmission capacity is improved, but the micromodules are more likely to twist and cross each other, and extraction becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The cable is divided into multiple compartments separated by longitudinal profile members, with each compartment containing a subset of micromodules. This segmentation prevents micromodules from twisting and crossing each other even when the total number of micromodules is increased, while maintaining ease of extraction by limiting the number of micromodules in each compartment.
2Strength
If longitudinal reinforcements are embedded in the outer sheath, then the cable strength is improved, but the sheath thickness increases, making it difficult to cut and increasing production costs
Solution Approach 1:
The longitudinal reinforcements are extracted from the outer sheath and relocated to form the longitudinal profile members that create the internal compartments. This eliminates the need for a thick outer sheath with embedded reinforcements, making the sheath easier to cut while maintaining cable strength through the profile members.
Solution Approach 2:
The function of longitudinal reinforcements is merged with the compartmentalization structure. The longitudinal profile members serve dual purposes: providing structural strength and creating compartments for micromodule organization, thereby eliminating the need for separate embedded reinforcements in the outer sheath.
3Strength
If the outer sheath is made thick to include longitudinal reinforcements, then the cable strength is improved, but the weight and size of the cable increase
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcements are extracted from the outer sheath and repositioned as longitudinal profile members. This allows the outer sheath to be made thinner, reducing cable weight and size, while the profile members continue to provide the necessary structural strength and compartmentalization.
4Quantity of substance
If more than twelve micromodules are placed in the same cable, then the information transmission capacity is improved, but identification errors increase due to color combination limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The cable is segmented into multiple compartments, each containing a subset of micromodules. This segmentation allows for simplified identification within each compartment while accommodating a large total number of micromodules in the cable, reducing identification errors caused by color combination limitations.
Data Source
Figure 1~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a cable (1) having optical fibers (7) under removable micromodules, and including a longitudinal inner compartmentalizing profile member (3) and an outer sheath (2), wherein the longitudinal inner compartmentalizing profile member (3) defines, together with the outer sheath (2), at least two compartments (4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4), at least one of said compartments (4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4) receiving at least one micromodule (6).