TRACEABLE END POINT CABLE ASSEMBLY HAVING A TRACING WAVEGUIDE

• US 20180172925A1
• Filed: 12/15/2017
• Published: 06/21/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2016
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bauco, Anthony Sebastian, Butler, Douglas Llewellyn, Collier, Adam Kent, ten Have, Eric Stephan, Jones, Ashley Wesley, Lail, Jason Clay
• Application Number:
  US15/843,434
• Publication Number:
  US 20180172925A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0006 Coupling light into the fibre in general G02B6/4298
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0008 the light being emitted at the end of the fibre
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/245 Removing protective coverings of light guides before coupling
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/262 Optical details of coupling light into, or out of, or between fibre ends, e.g. special fibre end shapes or associated optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3809 without a ferrule embedding the fibre end, i.e. with bare fibre end
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3855 characterised by the method of anchoring or fixing the fibre within the ferrule G02B6/3854 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3873 Connectors using guide surfaces for aligning ferrule ends, e.g. tubes, sleeves, V-grooves, rods, pins, balls
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3878 comprising a plurality of ferrules, branching and break-out means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3893 Push-pull type, e.g. snap-in, push-on
• 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 6/4292 the light guide being disconnectable from the opto-electronic element, e.g. mutually self aligning arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/43 Arrangements comprising a plurality of opto-electronic elements and associated optical interconnections
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4416 Heterogeneous cables
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44529 Optical means for identifying patch-cords
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4459 Ducts; Conduits; Hollow tubes for air blown fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4482 Code or colour marking
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/562 locatable, e.g. using magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/136 having patch field management or physical layer management arrangements

Abstract

A traceable cable assembly includes a traceable cable, a first connector at a first end of the traceable cable, and a second connector at a second end of the traceable cable assembly. The traceable cable has at least one data transmission element, a jacket at least partially surrounding the data transmission element, and an optical fiber extending along at least a portion of the length of the traceable cable. The optical fiber includes a first end having a first bend and a second end having a second bend. The first and second bends may be equal to or less than ninety degrees so that the optical fiber facilitates identification of the second connector when a launch light is injected in the first end of the optical fiber, and the optical fiber facilitates identification of the first connector when the launch light is injected in the second end of the optical fiber.

Claims

1. A traceable cable assembly, comprising:

a traceable cable, comprising;

at least one data transmission element;

a jacket at least partially surrounding the at least one data transmission element;

an optical fiber extending along at least a portion of a length of the traceable cable, wherein the optical fiber comprises a first end and a second end, wherein the first end comprises a first bend and the second end comprises a second bend; and

a first connector provided at a first end of the traceable cable and a second connector provided at a second end of the traceable cable;

wherein the first bend is equal to or less than ninety degrees and the second bend is equal to or less than ninety degrees;

wherein the optical fiber facilitates identification of the second connector when a launch light is injected in the first end of the optical fiber; and

wherein the optical fiber facilitates identification of the first connector when the launch light is injected in the second end of the optical fiber.

2. The traceable cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the first bend is located in the first connector and the second bend is located in the second connector.

3. The traceable cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the first end of the optical fiber is located inside the first connector and the second end of the optical fiber is located inside the second connector.

4. The traceable cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the first end of the optical fiber is located outside the first connector and the second end of the optical fiber is located outside the second connector.

5. The traceable cable assembly of claim 4, wherein the optical fiber passes through the first connector and the first end of the optical fiber protrudes from the first connector.

6. The traceable cable assembly of claim 5, wherein the optical fiber passes through the second connector and the second end of the optical fiber protrudes from the second connector.

7. The traceable cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the first end of the optical fiber is substantially flush with an exterior surface of the first connector and the second end of the optical fiber is substantially flush with an exterior surface of the second connector.

8. The traceable cable assembly of claim 7, wherein the first end of the optical fiber is substantially flush with a side surface of the first connector and the second end of the optical fiber is substantially flush with a side surface of the second connector.

9. The traceable cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the optical fiber comprises a core and a cladding, wherein the cladding is at least partially removed at the first end and at the second end of the optical fiber.

10. The traceable cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the first end of the optical fiber comprises a first diffusing element and the second end of the optical fiber comprises a second diffusing element.

11. The traceable cable assembly of claim 10, wherein the first diffusing element is selected from the group comprising a layer of TiO2 impregnated material, a roughened surface, a conical-shaped end, a reflective surface, a refractive surface and a parabolic-shaped end.

12. The traceable cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the first end of the optical fiber is capable of illuminating at least a portion of the first connector when light is launched into the second end of the optical fiber, and wherein the second end of the optical fiber is capable of illuminating at least a portion of the second connector when light is launched into the first end of the optical fiber.

13. The traceable cable assembly of claim 1, further comprising a light injection tool for injecting light into a side surface of the first connector or a side surface of the second connector.

14. The traceable cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the first bend of the optical fiber is configured to allow for injection of light when the first connector is engaged in a first connector receptacle.

15. The traceable cable assembly of claim 14, wherein the second bend of the optical fiber is configured to allow for injection of light when the second connector is engaged in the second connector receptacle.

16. A method of forming a traceable cable system, comprising:

forming a traceable cable having a data transmission element, an optical fiber, and a jacket at least partially surrounding the data transmission element and the optical fiber so that the optical fiber extends along at least a portion of a length of the traceable cable;

forming a first bend at a first end of the optical fiber;

forming a second bend at a second end of the optical fiber, wherein the first bend is equal to or less than ninety degrees and the second bend is equal to or less than ninety degrees;

securing a first connector to a first end of the traceable cable; and

securing a second connector to a second end of the traceable cable.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising positioning the first bend of the optical fiber in the first connector and positioning the second bend of the optical fiber in the second connector.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising positioning the first end of the optical fiber in the first connector and positioning the second end of the optical fiber in the second connector.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising removing at least part of a cladding of the optical fiber from the first end of the optical fiber and removing at least part of the cladding of the optical fiber from the second end of the optical fiber.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising incorporating a first light diffusing element at the first end of the optical fiber and incorporating a second light diffusing element at the second end of the optical fiber.

21. The method of claim 16, further comprising forming at least part of the first and second connectors of a translucent material.

22. The method of claim 16, further comprising aligning the first end of the optical fiber with an exterior surface of the first connector and aligning the second end of the optical fiber with an exterior surface of the second connector.

23. The method of claim 16, further comprising aligning the first end of the optical fiber with an exterior, side surface of the first connector and aligning the second end of the optical fiber with an exterior, side surface of the second connector.

24. A traceable cable assembly, comprising:

a traceable cable, comprising;

at least one data transmission element,

a jacket at least partially surrounding the at least one data transmission element, and

a tracing optical fiber extending along at least a portion of a length of the traceable cable, wherein the tracing optical fiber comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the tracing optical fiber comprises a first bend that is equal to or less than ninety degrees and wherein the second end of the tracing optical fiber comprises a second bend that is equal or less than ninety degrees;

a first connector provided at a first end of the traceable cable and a second connector provided at a second end of the traceable cable, wherein the first bend of the tracing optical fiber is located in the first connector and the second bend of the tracing optical fiber is located in the second connector, wherein the first end of the tracing optical fiber is substantially flush with an exterior, side surface of the first connector and the second end of the tracing optical fiber is flush with an exterior, side surface of the second connector;

wherein the tracing optical fiber facilitates identification of the second connector when a launch light is injected in the first end of the tracing optical fiber; and

wherein the tracing optical fiber facilitates identification of the first connector when the launch light is injected in the second end of the tracing optical fiber.