Optical Fiber Cable Sheath Segmentation for Low Loss and Easy Stripping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical fiber cables face issues with transmission loss due to differential contraction of inner and outer sheaths caused by differing thermal expansion coefficients, leading to residual stress, and difficulty in stripping work due to integrated sheath configurations.
Innovation Solution
An optical fiber cable design featuring integrated and non-integrated regions on the outer surface of the first protective layer, with a reinforcing member and a second protective layer, using a wrapping tape to control thermal contraction and facilitate stripping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the inner sheath and outer sheath are integrated throughout in circumferential direction, then transmission loss is suppressed, but stripping work becomes difficult to perform
Solution Approach 1:
The optical fiber cable is divided into multiple circumferential regions: integrated regions where the inner sheath and outer sheath are fixed together to suppress transmission loss, and non-integrated regions where they are separated to enable stripping work. This segmentation allows different portions of the cable to serve different functions simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
Different circumferential portions of the sheath structure have different properties: some portions have integrated inner and outer sheaths for transmission stability, while other portions have non-integrated sheaths for ease of stripping. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between transmission performance and workability.
2Device complexity
If tension member is embedded in only one of the inner sheath and outer sheath, then device complexity is reduced, but differential contraction occurs due to different coefficients of linear expansion
Solution Approach 1:
The cable structure is segmented into integrated and non-integrated circumferential regions, allowing the tension member to be embedded in only one sheath while maintaining overall structural stability through the integrated regions.
Solution Approach 2:
By changing the structural parameters (integrated vs non-integrated regions), the cable achieves both simplified tension member configuration and uniform contraction behavior through the coordinated interaction of different regions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design effectively suppresses transmission loss and improves stripping workability by minimizing differential contraction and enhancing structural integrity while allowing easier sheath removal.
Implementation Method 1
the inner sheath and the outer sheath may contract in a longitudinal direction of the optical fiber cable due to an influence of an external environment... when a temperature decreases
Data Source
AI summary
An optical fiber cable includes: a core including an optical fiber; a first protective layer covering the core; and a second protective layer covering the first protective layer. An outer circumferential surface of the first protective layer has: one or more integrated regions fixed to or in pressure contact with the second protective layer; and one or more non-integrated regions neither fixed to nor in pressure contact with the second protective layer.