Cable for conducting simultaneously electricity and light

• US 5,146,528 A
• Filed: 06/18/1990
• Issued: 09/08/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Deutsche Thomson-Brandt GmbH Postfach
• Original Assignee: Deutsche Thomson-Brandt Gmbh (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Gleim, Gunter, Quandt, Siegfried
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, John D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Heartney, Phan T.
• Application Number:
  US07/499,258
• Time in Patent Office: 813 Days
• Field of Search: 350/96.2, 350/96.21, 350/96.23, 385/100, 385/101, 385/102, 385/103-114, 385/125
• US Class Current: 385/101
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4402 with one single optical waveguide G02B6/4429, G02B6/4439, G02B6/4479 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4415 Cables for special applications G02B6/4429, G02B6/4439, G02B6/4479 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4416 Heterogeneous cables

Abstract

A cable (K) comprises at least one lead (A) and at least one insulating layer (I). In communication technology, communications are transmitted between two apparatuses by cables of various types. In order to reduce to a minimum the number of cables and cable connections necessary, cables with a high transmission capacity are preferred. In order to substantially increase the transmission capacity of a cable (K) with at least one lead (A) and at least one insulating layer (I), the insulating layer (I) is made for optical transmission purposes of an optically conductive material. Optical transmission channels can be obtained using optically conductive materials for the insulating layers of all cables with one or more insulating layers, for example flat cables, coaxial cables, mains cables, etc., without having to increase the cross-section of the cable or to provide separate connections for additional cables in the appliances to be connected.

Claims

1. A cable for conducting simultaneously electricity and light, comprising:

at least one electrically conducting core; and

at least one layer of insulation surrounding said core;

said layer of insulation being comprised of optically conductive material for conducting light therethrough, so that electrical signals can be conducted through said core simultaneously with light signals through said insulation layer;

a connector secured to at least one end of said cable and resting against said optically conductive insulation layer for producing an optical coupling;

said connector having a portion resting against said insulation layer, said portion being transparent and comprised of optically conductive material or producing an optical transmission channel;

said insulation layer being a cylindrically-shaped glass filament having an inside surface, said core being fused to said inside surface;

said insulation layer comprising at least two sub-layers;

at least one optically insulating intermediate layer between said two sub-layers, said sub-layers being optically conductive.

2. A cable for conducting simultaneously electricity and light, comprising:

at least one electrically conducting core for conducting electrical signals in absence of an electrical field; and

at least one layer of insulation surrounding said core;

said layer of insulation being comprised of optically conductive material for conducting light therethrough, so that electrical signals can be conducted through said core simultaneously with light signals through said insulation layer, said conducting core and said insulation layer being free of an electrical field.

3. A cable as defined in claim 2, including a connector secured to at least one end of said cable and resting against said layer of insulation comprised of optically conductive material, said connector being transparent where said connector rests against said optically conductive layer of insulation to produce an optical coupling.

4. A cable as defined in claim 3, wherein said connector has a portion resting against said optically conductive insulation layer, said portion of said connector being comprised of optically conductive material for producing an optical transmission channel.

5. A cable as defined in claim 2, including an electrically conductive layer surrounding said layer of insulation and being an outer electrical conductor spaced from said core by said insulation layer, so that said cable is a coaxial cable;

said insulation layer dielectric and being optically conductive.

6. A cable as defined in claim 5, wherein said insulation layer comprises a cylindrically-shaped glass filament with an inside surface, said core comprising an inner conductor fused to said inside surface of said cylindrically-shaped glass filament.

7. A cable as defined in claim 2, wherein said insulation layer comprises at least two sub-layers to form two optically-insulated transmission channels;

and at least one optically insulating intermediate layer located between said two sublayers, said sublayers being comprised of optically conductive material.

8. A cable as defined in claim 2, wherein said cable has a ribbon-shape, a plurality of insulating layers surrounding a plurality of electrically conducting cores and being optically conductive, said optically conductive insulation layers being optically insulated from each other.