Hybrid electro-optic cable for free space laser antennas
First Claim
1. A communication cable comprising:
- a first optical fiber;
a first intermediate layer surrounding the first optical fiber, wherein the first intermediate layer includes a first electrical conductor, wherein the first electrical conductor comprises a first collection of metallic strands;
a first electrically insulating jacket surrounding the first intermediate layer;
a first metallic ferrule which couples to the first electrical conductor at a first end of the communication cable; and
a first crimping sleeve configured to slide up over a rear portion of the first metallic ferrule and to crimp the first collection of metallic strands onto said rear portion.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A hybrid cable comprising an optical fiber, an intermediate layer surrounding the optical fiber, and an electrically insulating jacket surrounding the intermediate layer. The intermediate layers include a collection of metallic strands. The hybrid cable may be used to establish simultaneous electrical and fiber-optic connection between two communication devices. Thus, the two communication devices may simultaneously transfer optical signals through the optical fiber and perform any of various electrical functions (power transfer, eye safety control) through the metallic strands. For example, an optical transceiver may couple to an optical antenna unit through the hybrid cable. Such an optical transceiver may serve as part of a point-to-point link, a point-to-multipoint link, and/or, a link between a primary transceiver unit and an optical router.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A communication cable comprising:
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a first optical fiber;
a first intermediate layer surrounding the first optical fiber, wherein the first intermediate layer includes a first electrical conductor, wherein the first electrical conductor comprises a first collection of metallic strands;
a first electrically insulating jacket surrounding the first intermediate layer;
a first metallic ferrule which couples to the first electrical conductor at a first end of the communication cable; and
a first crimping sleeve configured to slide up over a rear portion of the first metallic ferrule and to crimp the first collection of metallic strands onto said rear portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for terminating an opto-electronic cable with an opto-electronic connector, wherein the opto-electronic cable has an optical fiber, an intermediate layer comprising metallic strands surrounding the optical fiber and an electrically insulating jacket surrounding the metallic strands, the method comprising:
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fixing the optical fiber in a fiber cavity within a metallic ferrule;
placing the metallic strands in proximity to a first external end portion of the metallic ferrule; and
sliding a metallic crimping sleeve over the metallic strands to crimp the metallic strands onto the first external end portion of the metallic ferrule thereby establishing an electrical contact. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. A communication system comprising:
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a hybrid cable comprising a first optical fiber, a first intermediate layer surrounding the first optical fiber, a first jacket surrounding the first intermediate layer, wherein the first intermediate layer includes a first electrical conductor, wherein the first intermediate layer also includes first non-conductive strengthening material;
a first communication device coupled to the first optical fiber and the first electrical conductor at a first end of the hybrid cable;
a second communication device coupled to first optical fiber and the first electrical conductor at a second end of the hybrid cable. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A communication system comprising:
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a hybrid cable comprising a first optical fiber, a first intermediate layer surrounding the first optical fiber, a first jacket surrounding the first intermediate layer, wherein the first intermediate layer includes a first electrical conductor;
a first communication device coupled to the first optical fiber and the first electrical conductor at a first end of the hybrid cable; and
a second communication device coupled to first optical fiber and the first electrical conductor at a second end of the hybrid cable;
wherein the first communication device includes a light source and a safety control system, wherein the safety control system is configured to detect change in an electrical quantity associated with an electrical circuit which includes the first electrical conductor, wherein the safety control system is configured to decrease the power emitted by a light source in response to detecting the change.
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Specification