Side-Emitting Optical Fiber Cable Tracing

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Solution Overview

Problem

In data centers and network locations, the complexity of cables leads to congestion and difficulty in tracing specific cables during moves, upgrades, or changes, as existing solutions lack efficient means to visually identify the path and terminal ends of cables.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a side-emitting optical fiber within the cable jacket, with scattering sites on its exterior surface, which scatters light to provide visibility along the cable length, allowing for tracing without the need for special equipment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If traditional cables without traceability features are used, then the cable structure remains simple and cost-effective, but the difficulty of tracing cable paths and terminal ends increases significantly in cluttered environments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedifficulty of tracing cableVSAvoidcable structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The side-emitting optical fiber is embedded within the cable jacket, nesting the tracing functionality inside the existing cable structure. This allows the cable to maintain its external simplicity while containing the optical tracing elements internally, resolving the contradiction between traceability and structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The scattering material applied to the optical fiber core creates visible light emission that appears as a glowing trace along the cable path. This optical 'color' change (from invisible infrared to visible light) enables easy detection of cable routes without adding external markers or changing the cable's physical appearance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

2Illumination intensity

If scattering material is applied frequently along the optical fiber, then the visibility and traceability of the cable improves, but the amount of scattering material required and manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisibility of cable traceVSAvoidamount of scattering material

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of applying scattering material continuously along the entire optical fiber, the patent segments the application into discrete intervals. The fiber is divided into sections with scattering material applied at spaced locations, providing sufficient visibility for tracing while significantly reducing the total quantity of scattering material needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies scattering material partially along the fiber length rather than fully covering it. This partial action provides adequate traceability for practical purposes while avoiding the excess material usage and manufacturing complexity that would result from complete coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Length of moving object

If the cable needs to span several meters across data centers to connect equipment racks, then the cable length increases, but the ability to trace the cable path through floors and conduits deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecable lengthVSAvoidtraceability over distance

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The side-emitting optical fiber provides continuous light emission along its entire length when activated, creating an unbroken visual trace that follows the cable path continuously. This continuous optical signal maintains traceability effectiveness regardless of the cable's length or the complexity of its routing through floors and conduits.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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

Enables quick and efficient identification of cable paths and terminal ends, even over significant distances, improving operational efficiency in cluttered environments by providing a visible trace of the cable in well-lit conditions.

Implementation Method 1

Scattering sites comprising scattering material disposed on the exterior surface of the core are capable of scattering light so that the scattered light is emitted from the side-emitting optical fiber at discrete locations

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight scattering: Scattering

Data Source

PatentUS10101553B2Traceable cable with side-emitting optical fiber and method of forming the same

Publication Date: 2018.10.16 CORNING OPTICAL COMMUNICATIONS LLC

AI summary

A traceable cable and method of forming the same. The cable includes at least one data transmission element, a jacket at least partially surrounding the at least one data transmission element, and a side-emitting optical fiber incorporated with and extending along at least a portion of the length of the cable. The side-emitting optical fiber can have a core, spaced apart scattering sites having scattering material disposed on an exterior surface of the core along the length of the optical fiber, and a cladding substantially surrounding the core and the scattering material. The scattering sites are capable of scattering light so that the scattered light is emitted from the side-emitting optical fiber at discrete locations proximate to the scattering sites. When light is transmitted through the core, light scattered from the side-emitting optical fiber allows the cable to be traced along at least a portion of the length thereof.