VISUAL TRACER SYSTEM FOR FIBER OPTIC CABLE

• US 20130209045A1
• Filed: 03/27/2012
• Published: 08/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: David L. Dean, Jr.
• Inventors: Dean, David L. Jr., Hurley, William C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,620,123 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/113
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2006/12069 Organic material
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2006/12083 Constructional arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2006/12111 Fibre
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2006/1219 Polymerisation
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/00 Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/001 the light being emitted along at least a portion of the lateral surface of the fibre
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/02033 Core or cladding made from organic material, e.g. polymeric material G02B1/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/443 Protective covering
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44529 Optical means for identifying patch-cords
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/562 locatable, e.g. using magnetic means

Abstract

A fiber optic cable includes a first optical fiber, a jacket, and a second optical fiber. The first optical fiber includes a glass core and cladding. The glass core is configured to provide controlled transmission of light through the fiber optic cable for high-speed data communication. The jacket has an interior surface that defines a conduit through which the first optical fiber extends. The jacket further has an exterior surface that defines the outside of the fiber optic cable. The second optical fiber is integrated with the exterior surface of the jacket.

Claims

1. A fiber optic cable, comprising:

a first optical fiber comprising a glass core and cladding, wherein the glass core is configured to provide controlled transmission of light through the fiber optic cable for high-speed data communication;

a jacket having an interior surface that defines a conduit through which the first optical fiber extends, and further having an exterior surface that defines the outside of the fiber optic cable; and

a second optical fiber that is integrated with the exterior surface of the jacket.

2. The fiber optic cable of claim 1, wherein the second optical fiber is configured to release, along a length of the second optical fiber, at least some of light passed through the second optical fiber, and wherein the second optical is integrated with the exterior of the jacket such that the released light is visible along the outside of the fiber optic cable, thereby providing a visual trace for the fiber optic cable.

3. The fiber optic cable of claim 1, wherein second optical fiber is integrated with the exterior surface of the jacket such that when the jacket is bent to an angle, the second optical fiber is oriented at the bend to receive light provided by an external light source directed toward the second optical fiber for transmission of the light by the second optical fiber.

4. The fiber optic cable of claim 3, wherein the angle corresponds to a bend radius that is greater than the minimum bend radius of the first optical fiber.

5. The fiber optic cable of claim 3, wherein jacket is configured to allow orientation of the second optical fiber to receive light provided by the external light source at any position along the length of the jacket.

6. The fiber optic cable of claim 1, wherein the second optical fiber is plastic.

7. The fiber optic cable of claim 6, wherein the plastic of the second optical fiber is co-extrudable with at least one of polyvinyl chloride and polyethylene.

8. The fiber optic cable of claim 6, wherein the plastic of the second optical fiber comprises at least one of polystyrene, polycarbonate, and chlorinated acrylate.

9. The fiber optic cable of claim 6, wherein the plastic of the second optical fiber is a single material, and wherein the material of the jacket has a lesser index of refraction than the plastic of the second optical fiber such that the material of the jacket serves as cladding for the second optical fiber.

10. The fiber optic cable of claim 1, wherein the second optical fiber is at least partially embedded in the exterior surface of the jacket.

11. The fiber optic cable of claim 10, wherein at least a portion of the second optical fiber is directly exposed to outside of the fiber optic cable along the length of the fiber optic cable.

12. The fiber optic cable of claim 1, further comprising:

a buffer tube, wherein the first optical fiber extends through the buffer tube, which extends through the conduit of the jacket; and

strength members extending through the conduit.

13. A jacket for a cable, comprising:

an interior surface that defines a conduit configured to house a transmission element, and

an exterior surface of the jacket; and

an optical fiber integrated with the exterior surface of the jacket and configured to release, along a length of the optical fiber, at least some of light passed through the optical fiber such that the released light is visible along the exterior surface, thereby providing a visual trace.

14. The cable jacket of claim 13, wherein the optical fiber is plastic.

15. The cable jacket of claim 14, wherein the plastic of the optical fiber comprises at least one of polystyrene, polycarbonate, and chlorinated acrylate.

16. The cable jacket of claim 14, wherein the plastic of the optical fiber is a single material, and wherein the material of the jacket has a lesser index of refraction than the plastic of the optical fiber such that the material of the jacket serves as cladding for the optical fiber.

17. The cable jacket of claim 13, wherein at least a portion of the optical fiber is directly exposed on the exterior surface of the jacket, not covered by the jacket.

18. A method of manufacturing a cable, comprising:

extruding a jacket; and

integrating an optical fiber with an exterior surface of the jacket, wherein the optical fiber is configured to release, along a length of the optical fiber, at least some of light passed through the optical fiber such that the released light is visible along the exterior surface of the jacket, thereby providing a visual trace.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the optical fiber is plastic, and wherein the extruding step further includes co-extruding the optical fiber with the jacket such that the optical fiber is at least partially embedded in the jacket and is extruded with a round cross section.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the plastic of the optical fiber is a single material, and wherein the material of the jacket has a lesser index of refraction than the plastic of the optical fiber such that the material of the jacket serves as cladding for the optical fiber.