FIBER OPTIC CABLE WITH ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS

• US 20120230637A1
• Filed: 02/13/2012
• Published: 09/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bison Patent Licensing, LLC
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Kachmar, Wayne M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,739,966 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/101
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3895 identification of connection, e.g. right plug to the right socket or full engagement of the mating parts keying element on the plug or adapter G02B6/3831; keying element on the ferrule G02B6/3851; keying element for electrical connection H01R13/64
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4402 with one single optical waveguide G02B6/4429, G02B6/4439, G02B6/4479 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4416 Heterogeneous cables
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/443 Protective covering
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4432 with fibre reinforcements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4433 Double reinforcement laying in straight line with optical transmission element
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4469 Security aspects

Abstract

A fiber optic cable includes an optical fiber, a strength layer assembly disposed adjacent to the optical fiber and an outer jacket surrounding the strength layer assembly. The strength layer assembly includes a strength layer, an outer layer and an inner layer. The strength layer includes a binder and a plurality of reinforcing fibers embedded within the binder. The strength layer has a first surface and an oppositely disposed second surface. The outer layer is disposed adjacent to the first surface of the strength layer. The inner layer is disposed adjacent to the second surface of the strength layer.

Claims

1. A fiber optic cable comprising:

an optical fiber;

a strength layer assembly disposed adjacent to the optical fiber, the strength layer assembly including;

a strength layer including a binder and a plurality of reinforcing fibers embedded within the binder, the strength layer having a first surface and an oppositely disposed second surface;

an outer layer disposed adjacent to the first surface of the strength layer, the outer layer including a first conductor portion;

an inner layer disposed adjacent to the second surface of the strength layer, the inner layer including a second conductor portion;

an outer jacket surrounding the strength layer assembly.

2-12. -12. (canceled)

13. A cable having a central axis, the cable comprising:

an optical fiber;

a jacket surrounding the optical fiber; and

a strength layer positioned between the optical fiber and the jacket, the strength layer including reinforcing sheet including a plurality of reinforcing fibers, the reinforcing sheet extending around the central axis and having circumferential overlap portions that circumferentially overlap one another by at least 90 degrees.

14. The cable of claim 13, wherein circumferential overlap portions overlap one another by at least 180 degrees.

15. The cable of claim 13, wherein circumferential overlap portions overlap one another by at least 270 degrees.

16. The cable of claim 13, wherein circumferential overlap portions overlap one another by at least 360 degrees.

17. The cable of claim 13, wherein the optical fiber comprises a single coated optical fiber having an outer diameter less than or equal to 300 microns.

18. The cable of claim 17, wherein the jacket has an outer diameter less than 2 millimeters.

19. The cable of claim 17, wherein the jacket has an outer diameter less than 1.5 millimeters.

20. The cable of claim 17, wherein the jacket has an outer diameter less than 1.4 millimeters.

21. The cable of claim 17, wherein the jacket has an outer diameter less than 1.3 millimeters.

22. The cable of claim 18, wherein no buffer layer is provided between the reinforcing sheet and the single coated optical fiber.

23. The cable of claim 18, wherein single coated optical fiber is free to contact the reinforcing sheet.

24. The cable of claim 13, wherein the strength layer includes an inner side and an outer side, and wherein the cable includes a first conductive strip attached to the inner side and a second conductive strip attached to the outer side, the first and second conductive strips having lengths that extend along a length of the cable.

25. The cable of claim 24, wherein the first and second conductive strips comprise conductive tapes.

26. The cable of claim 24, wherein the first conductive strip has a transverse cross-sectional shape having a curvature that conforms to a curvature of the inner side of the reinforcing sheet, and wherein the second conductive strip has a transverse cross-sectional shape having a curvature that conforms to a curvature of the outer side of the reinforcing sheet.

27. The cable of claim 24, wherein the first and second conductive strips include conductive layers disposed on insulator layers, wherein the conductive layer of the first conductive strip faces radially toward the central axis and the insulator layer of the first conductive strip faces radially away from the central axis, and wherein the conductive layer of the second conductive strip faces radially away from the central axis and the insulator layer of the second conductive strip faces radially toward the central axis.

28. The cable of claim 27, wherein the first and second conductive strips are adhesively attached to the reinforcing sheet.

29. The cable of claim 24, wherein the first and second conductive strips are configured to carry at least 10 watts of electrical power.

30. The cable of claim 24, wherein the first and second conductive strips are configured to carry at least 15 watts of electrical power.

31. The cable of claim 24, wherein the first and second conductive strips are configured to carry from 10-30 watts of electrical power.

32. The cable of claim 24, wherein a fiber optic connector is mounted at an end of the cable, and wherein the first conductive strip is connected to ground and the second conductive strip is connected to an electrical power source.

33. The cable of claim 32, wherein the electrical power source provides at least 10 watts of electrical power.

34. The cable of claim 32, wherein the electrical power source provides at least 15 watts of electrical power.

35. The cable of claim 32, wherein the electrical power source provides 10-30 watts of electrical power.

36. The cable of claim 13, wherein the reinforcing sheet include a binder material that holds the reinforcing fibers in place relative to one another.

37. A cable having a central axis, the cable comprising:

an optical fiber;

a jacket surrounding the optical fiber;

a strength layer positioned between the optical fiber and the jacket, the strength layer including reinforcing sheet including a plurality of reinforcing fibers, the reinforcing sheet extending around the central axis to form a cylindrical shape, the strength layer includes an inner side and an outer side; and

a first conductive strip attached to the inner side of the strength layer and a second conductive strip attached to the outer side of the strength layer, the first and second conductive strips having lengths that extend along a length of the cable.

38-48. -48. (canceled)

49. A fiber optic cable comprising:

an optical fiber;

a strength layer assembly surrounding the optical fiber, the strength layer assembly including;

a strength layer having a first longitudinal side, an oppositely disposed second longitudinal side, a first surface that extends between the first and second longitudinal sides and an oppositely disposed second surface, the strength layer including a binder and a plurality of reinforcing fibers embedded within the binder, the strength layer being arranged so that the first longitudinal side overlaps second longitudinal side to form a longitudinal bore in which the optical fiber is disposed;

an outer layer disposed adjacent to the first surface of the strength layer, the outer layer having a first side end that is offset from the first longitudinal side by a first offset distance and a second side end that is offset from the second longitudinal side by a second offset distance, the outer layer including a conductive portion;

an inner layer disposed adjacent to the second surface of the strength layer, the inner layer including a second conductive portion;

an outer jacket surrounding the strength layer assembly.

50-52. -52. (canceled)