Plastic Optical Fiber Ribbon Tensile Strength via Composite Wire
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional plastic optical fibers have weak tensile strength compared to glass optical fibers, and existing structures do not adequately enhance tensile strength during use after connection.
Innovation Solution
A plastic optical fiber ribbon is created by arranging plastic optical fibers and plastic wires with high Young's modulus in parallel, integrated with a collective coating, where the plastic wires have a larger outer diameter than the fibers and are in contact with each other, enhancing tensile strength and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a plastic optical fiber is used alone, then the structure is simple, but the tensile strength is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines plastic optical fibers with plastic wires having high Young's modulus (at least 3,000 MPa) to form a composite structure. The plastic optical fiber has a Young's modulus of 750-2,500 MPa, while the reinforcing plastic wire has a Young's modulus of at least 3,000 MPa. This composite structure integrates the optical transmission function of the fiber with the mechanical strength of the wire, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and tensile strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the reinforcing structure into separate plastic wires that are arranged parallel to the optical fiber. These discrete reinforcing elements are then integrated with the optical fiber through a collective coating, allowing for modular assembly and maintaining relative structural simplicity while achieving enhanced tensile strength.
2Strength
If plastic wires with high Young's modulus are added to reinforce the optical fiber, then the tensile strength improves, but the outer diameter increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by positioning the plastic reinforcing wires at specific locations relative to the optical fiber. The wires are arranged with their central axes parallel to the fiber's central axis in the same plane, and the outer surfaces of adjacent components are in contact. This localized arrangement provides reinforcement where needed while minimizing the overall increase in outer diameter.
3Quantity of substance
If multiple plastic optical fibers are arranged in parallel, then the transmission capacity increases, but the handling difficulty increases due to weak individual fiber strength
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple plastic optical fibers and plastic reinforcing wires into a single integrated unit called an optical fiber ribbon. The collective coating binds all components together, creating a unified structure that can be handled as one piece. This merging approach maintains the transmission capacity benefits of multiple fibers while dramatically improving handling ease through the unified ribbon structure with enhanced tensile strength.
Data Source
AI summary
To provide an optical fiber ribbon whereby a plastic optical fiber can be used in such a state that the tensile strength is good. A plastic optical fiber ribbon 10 characterized in that at least one plastic optical fiber 1 and at least one plastic wire 2 having a Young's modulus of at least 3,000 MPa are arranged so that their central axes are parallel to each other in the same plane, and integrated by a collective coating 3.