GB2187865A - Optical wave guide ribbon cable - Google Patents

Optical wave guide ribbon cable Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2187865A
GB2187865A GB08705917A GB8705917A GB2187865A GB 2187865 A GB2187865 A GB 2187865A GB 08705917 A GB08705917 A GB 08705917A GB 8705917 A GB8705917 A GB 8705917A GB 2187865 A GB2187865 A GB 2187865A
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GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
owgs
ribbon
locations
ribbon cable
cable
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB08705917A
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GB2187865B (en
GB8705917D0 (en
Inventor
Peter Rohner
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Kabelmetal Electro GmbH
Original Assignee
Kabelmetal Electro GmbH
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Kabelmetal Electro GmbH filed Critical Kabelmetal Electro GmbH
Publication of GB8705917D0 publication Critical patent/GB8705917D0/en
Publication of GB2187865A publication Critical patent/GB2187865A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2187865B publication Critical patent/GB2187865B/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/44—Mechanical structures for providing tensile strength and external protection for fibres, e.g. optical transmission cables
    • G02B6/4401—Optical cables
    • G02B6/4403—Optical cables with ribbon structure

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Light Guides In General And Applications Therefor (AREA)
  • Mechanical Coupling Of Light Guides (AREA)

Abstract

A ribbon cable 1 is specified which has optical wave guides 2 which are joined, e.g. as at 4 and 8, only in relatively narrow areas 3. The optical wave guides 2 are located next to each other with the predeterminated spacing in the areas 3. The distance between two areas 3 is large compared with width of the areas 3. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Optical wave guide ribbon cable The invention relates to a ribbon cable in which at least two optical wave guides extend parallel to each other and are held together by fastening means (cf. German Offenlegungsschrift 2,815,514).
Optical wave guides, briefly called "OWGs" in the text which follows, are being used more and more frequently in place of the familiar metallic conductors, inter alia in telecommunications engineering. Like metallic conductors, they are commonly combined together in lines or cables ("OWG cables"). In this arrangement, the OWGs can be present as solid cores or as hollow cores. They can be processed individually or combined into bundles. It is also known to combine the OWGs into a unit in the form of a ribbon cable before further processing.
In the ribbon cable known from German Offenlegungsschrift 2,815,514, the OWGs, positioned with relatively large distances between one another, are bonded to at least one ribbon-like carrier which extends over the entire length of the cable. In this manner, an OWG arrangement is provided which can be further processed without difficulties, in the production of the desired OWG cable. With this arrangement, however, although the ribbon-like carrier enables the OWGs to be held together, a structure is produced which cannot be easily bent transversely to the direction of the ribbon. If such a ribbon cable is to be incorporated in an OWG cable, additional measures must be taken to ensure that no bending load on the ribbon cable can occur in the transverse direction.In a cable according to this German document, this is achieved by the use of a moulded body in which longitudinally continuous openings for accommodating ribbon cables comprising OWGs are provided.
German Offenlegungsschrift 2,815,514 does not give any indication of how the OWGs of these ribbon cables can be further connected, i.e. connected to further components.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a ribbon cable which contains OWGs, which can be easily bent in all directions and which facilitates the through-connection of the OWGs to other components.
According to the invention, there is provided a ribbon cable in which at least two optical wave guides extend parallel to one another and are held together by fixing means, wherein the optical wave guides are fixed at locations which are separated from one another and which follow one behind another in the longitudinal direction of the ribbon cable, the optical waveguides being disposed at the said locations across the entire width of the ribbon cable with predetermined screen line distances, whereby simultaneous throughconnection of all the optical wave guides of the ribbon cable is obtainable by means of a splicing device or a connecting element.
In this ribbon cable, the OWGs are joined to one another only at the locations mentioned, which are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the ribbon cable, in whatever manner is desired, though in a definite predetermined arrangement. The present ribbon cable can therefore be easily bent in all directions, since the OWGs are not attached to each other in the areas between the specified locations, but can be individually bent. Nethertheless, the ribbon cable can be easily further processed, in the production of an OWG cable, since, in the stretched condition of the ribbon cable, the OWGs take up their proper positions next to one another.
Special kinking protection within an OWG cable is not needed. However, despite the good flexibility of the ribbon cable, throughconnecting the OWGs of the ribbon cable is facilitated since the OWGs are located next to one another at predetermined spacings, at the specified locations. As a result, the OWGs can all be simultaneously through-connected with the OWGs of another ribbon cable of the same construction, using a splicing device.
However, it is also possible to connect them with a connecting element which, for example, simultaneously provides all the OWGs with a path into whatever device or equipment they are to serve.
Another advantage of this ribbon cable is that any serviceable materials can be used for fixing the OWGs. Because relatively little material is needed for fixing the OWGs, different temperature coefficients compared with the glass fibres of the OWGs will have scarcely any effect on their attenuation characteristics.
The invention is described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawing, in which: Figure 1 shows a piece of a ribbon cable according to the invention, Figures 2 to 5 show different means of fixing the OWGs, on an enlarged scale, and Figures 6 and 7 show two different embodiments of the ribbon cable, also on an enlarged scale compared with Fig. 1.
Fig. 1 shows a piece of a ribbon cable (1) in which a plurality of OWGs (2) extend parallel to each other. In the embodiment shown, eight OWGs (2) are provided. The OWGs (2) are not fixed over their entire length, but are fixed only at relatively short locations (3). The ratio of the axial length (L) of the locations (3) to the length of the distances, designated by (A), between two such locations (3) is about 1:10.
Any applicable type of fixing and manner of fixing may be adopted for fixing the OWGs (2) at the locations (3). The OWGs (2) can be bonded or welded to each other, for example.
However, they can also be bonded or welded to a common carrier, independently of each other. The use of ultrasonics for welding is advantageous particularly in the latter case.
The common carrier can have a width comparable to the width of the fixing locations (3).
However, in principle, a ribbon-shaped carrier can also be used which extends over the entire length of the ribbon cable (1) but on which the OWGs (2) are fixed only at the locations (3).
Fig. 2 is a cross-section through a ribbon cable (1) in which the OWGs (2) are secured to each other via their sheaths. The joint occurs at each location (3) of the ribbon cable (1) over its entire width, the OWGs (2) being positioned at a predetermined fixing spacing next to one another. The centre-to-centre distance (M) between adjacent OWGs (2) is preferably the same over the entire width of the ribbon cable (1), so that, with eight OWGs, the distance of the centres of the two outer OWGs (2) from each other is 7xM. In principle, the distance between OWGs (2) can be increased in the centre of the ribbon cable (1), particularly with larger numbers of OWGs (2), so that the OWGs (2) are divided into two groups.In both cases, it is ensured that all OWGs (2) of the ribbon cable (1), if it is cut in the area of a fixing location (3), can be simultaneously through-connected, for example by means of a splicing device. However, a prepared connecting element can also be simultaneously connected to all OWGs (2).
The above statements also apply to the variants of the ribbon cable (1) shown in Figs. 3 to 5. In the case of Fig. 3, the OWGs (2) are fixed on a common carrier (4). In this embodiment, the OWGs (2) are not bonded to each other, but only to the carrier (4).
In the case of Fig. 6, the carrier (4) comprises strips (5) of a suitable plastics material.
However, a material other than a plastics material can also be used for the strips (5). The strips (5) extend transversely to the longitudi nal direction of the OWGs (2), and extend over the entire width of the ribbon cable (1).
For the sake of simplicity, only three OWGs (2) are shown in Fig. 6.
The carrier (4) can also comprise a ribbon (6) which extends over the entire length of the ribbon cable (1). In the case of Fig. 7, the OWGs (2), only three of which again are shown, are secured to the ribbon (6) at the locations (3), whereas there is no bond between OWGs (2) and ribbon (6) in the areas lying between the locations (3).
As shown in Fig. 4, the OWGs (2) can also be fixed at the locations (3) by a surrounding ribbon (7), which is bonded or welded to the OWGs (2). As shown in Fig 5, another possible method of fixing the OWGs (2) is that in which a sheathing (8) is injection-moulded on to them, by means of specialised injectionmoulding equipment, at the locations (3).
As previously mentioned, the ribbon cable (1) described has the advantage that a simultaneous connection of all OWGs (2) is possible, in the areas in which the spacing of the OWGs (2) is fixed. However, due to the construction described, the ribbon cable (1) also remains quite flexible overall, so that it can be utilised for OWG cables without problems. In particular, it can be bent in all directions. This also applies to the embodiment of Fig. 7, in which the ribbon (6) can be considered as meraly an additional protection of the OWGs (2) against mechanical damage. If such a ribbon (6) is designed to have significant tensile strength, it is capable, in particular, of relieving the OWGs (2) of stresses represented by tensile loads. This embodiment also offers the possibility that the ribbon cable (1) can be utilised for an OWG cable in a wound-on state.In this context, "wound-on" refers to winding about the longitudinal axis of the ribbon cable (1) with a long lay.
It will be understood that the invention has been described above purely by way of example, and that various modifications of detail can be made within the ambit of the invention.
Thus, whereas the ribbon cable of Fig. 1 has an L/A ratio of about 1:10, the L/A ratio may for instance lie more broadly within the range 1:5 to 1:15, e.g. within the range 1:8 to 1:12.
1. A ribbon cable in which at least two optical wave guides extend parallel to one another and are held together by fixing means, wherein the optical wave guides are fixed at locations which are separated from one another and which follow one behind another in the longitudinal direction of the ribbon cable, the optical waveguides being disposed at the said locations across the entire width of the ribbon cable with predetermined screen line distances, whereby simultaneous throughconnection of all the optical wave guides of the ribbon cable is obtainable by means of a splicing device or a connecting element.
2. A cable according to claim 1, wherein the optical wave guides have sheaths through which they are directly joined to one another at the said locations.
3. A cable according to claim 1, wherein the optical wave guides at the said locations are each secured to ribbon-like strips extending transversely to their longitudinal direction.
4. A cable according to claim 1, wherein the optical wave guides are secured at the said locations at predetermined distances to a ribbon extending over the entire length of the ribbon cable.
5. A cable according to claim 1, wherein the optical wave guides are fixed by means of ribbons surrounding them at the said locations, these surrounding ribbons being bonded or welded to the optical wave guides.
6. A cable according to claim 1, wherein the optical wave guides are fixed at the said
**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (10)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. to a common carrier, independently of each other. The use of ultrasonics for welding is advantageous particularly in the latter case. The common carrier can have a width comparable to the width of the fixing locations (3). However, in principle, a ribbon-shaped carrier can also be used which extends over the entire length of the ribbon cable (1) but on which the OWGs (2) are fixed only at the locations (3). Fig. 2 is a cross-section through a ribbon cable (1) in which the OWGs (2) are secured to each other via their sheaths. The joint occurs at each location (3) of the ribbon cable (1) over its entire width, the OWGs (2) being positioned at a predetermined fixing spacing next to one another. The centre-to-centre distance (M) between adjacent OWGs (2) is preferably the same over the entire width of the ribbon cable (1), so that, with eight OWGs, the distance of the centres of the two outer OWGs (2) from each other is 7xM. In principle, the distance between OWGs (2) can be increased in the centre of the ribbon cable (1), particularly with larger numbers of OWGs (2), so that the OWGs (2) are divided into two groups.In both cases, it is ensured that all OWGs (2) of the ribbon cable (1), if it is cut in the area of a fixing location (3), can be simultaneously through-connected, for example by means of a splicing device. However, a prepared connecting element can also be simultaneously connected to all OWGs (2). The above statements also apply to the variants of the ribbon cable (1) shown in Figs. 3 to 5. In the case of Fig. 3, the OWGs (2) are fixed on a common carrier (4). In this embodiment, the OWGs (2) are not bonded to each other, but only to the carrier (4). In the case of Fig. 6, the carrier (4) comprises strips (5) of a suitable plastics material. However, a material other than a plastics material can also be used for the strips (5). The strips (5) extend transversely to the longitudi nal direction of the OWGs (2), and extend over the entire width of the ribbon cable (1). For the sake of simplicity, only three OWGs (2) are shown in Fig. 6. The carrier (4) can also comprise a ribbon (6) which extends over the entire length of the ribbon cable (1). In the case of Fig. 7, the OWGs (2), only three of which again are shown, are secured to the ribbon (6) at the locations (3), whereas there is no bond between OWGs (2) and ribbon (6) in the areas lying between the locations (3). As shown in Fig. 4, the OWGs (2) can also be fixed at the locations (3) by a surrounding ribbon (7), which is bonded or welded to the OWGs (2). As shown in Fig 5, another possible method of fixing the OWGs (2) is that in which a sheathing (8) is injection-moulded on to them, by means of specialised injectionmoulding equipment, at the locations (3). As previously mentioned, the ribbon cable (1) described has the advantage that a simultaneous connection of all OWGs (2) is possible, in the areas in which the spacing of the OWGs (2) is fixed. However, due to the construction described, the ribbon cable (1) also remains quite flexible overall, so that it can be utilised for OWG cables without problems. In particular, it can be bent in all directions. This also applies to the embodiment of Fig. 7, in which the ribbon (6) can be considered as meraly an additional protection of the OWGs (2) against mechanical damage. If such a ribbon (6) is designed to have significant tensile strength, it is capable, in particular, of relieving the OWGs (2) of stresses represented by tensile loads. This embodiment also offers the possibility that the ribbon cable (1) can be utilised for an OWG cable in a wound-on state.In this context, "wound-on" refers to winding about the longitudinal axis of the ribbon cable (1) with a long lay. It will be understood that the invention has been described above purely by way of example, and that various modifications of detail can be made within the ambit of the invention. Thus, whereas the ribbon cable of Fig. 1 has an L/A ratio of about 1:10, the L/A ratio may for instance lie more broadly within the range 1:5 to 1:15, e.g. within the range 1:8 to 1:12.
1. A ribbon cable in which at least two optical wave guides extend parallel to one another and are held together by fixing means, wherein the optical wave guides are fixed at locations which are separated from one another and which follow one behind another in the longitudinal direction of the ribbon cable, the optical waveguides being disposed at the said locations across the entire width of the ribbon cable with predetermined screen line distances, whereby simultaneous throughconnection of all the optical wave guides of the ribbon cable is obtainable by means of a splicing device or a connecting element.
2. A cable according to claim 1, wherein the optical wave guides have sheaths through which they are directly joined to one another at the said locations.
3. A cable according to claim 1, wherein the optical wave guides at the said locations are each secured to ribbon-like strips extending transversely to their longitudinal direction.
4. A cable according to claim 1, wherein the optical wave guides are secured at the said locations at predetermined distances to a ribbon extending over the entire length of the ribbon cable.
5. A cable according to claim 1, wherein the optical wave guides are fixed by means of ribbons surrounding them at the said locations, these surrounding ribbons being bonded or welded to the optical wave guides.
6. A cable according to claim 1, wherein the optical wave guides are fixed at the said
locations by means of a sheathing which is injection-moulded on to them.
7. A ribbon according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the ratio L/A is between 1:5 and 1:15, A being the axial distance between the locations specified and L being the axial length of these locations.
8. A ribbon according to claim 7, wherein the ratio L/A is between 1:8 and 1:12.
9. A ribbon according to claim 8, wherein the ratio L/A is substantially 1:10.
10. A ribbon according to claim 1, substantially as described with reference to any Figure or Figures of the accompanying drawing.
GB8705917A 1986-03-13 1987-03-12 Optical wave guide ribbon cable Expired GB2187865B (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE19863608309 DE3608309A1 (en) 1986-03-13 1986-03-13 TAPE LINE WITH FOCUS

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB8705917D0 GB8705917D0 (en) 1987-04-15
GB2187865A true GB2187865A (en) 1987-09-16
GB2187865B GB2187865B (en) 1989-11-15

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB8705917A Expired GB2187865B (en) 1986-03-13 1987-03-12 Optical wave guide ribbon cable

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JP (1) JPS62229212A (en)
DE (1) DE3608309A1 (en)
GB (1) GB2187865B (en)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0371204A2 (en) * 1988-11-29 1990-06-06 KABEL RHEYDT Aktiengesellschaft Method of manufacturing a light wave guide ribbon
WO1996038751A2 (en) * 1995-06-01 1996-12-05 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Fiber optic ribbon cable and method for its manufacture
EP1037083A1 (en) * 1999-03-12 2000-09-20 Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (Publ) Holding ribbonized optical fibers
US6215068B1 (en) 1990-12-13 2001-04-10 Kabelschlepp Gmbh Line guiding assembly
WO2003100495A1 (en) * 2002-05-28 2003-12-04 Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. Optical fiber tape core

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE4122603A1 (en) * 1991-07-08 1993-01-21 Siemens Ag Planar holder for individual optical fibres - has two opposing side plates between which optical fibres are sandwiched in parallel
DE19705648A1 (en) * 1997-02-14 1998-08-20 Alsthom Cge Alcatel Arrangement for branching off from telecommunication cable having several elements with optical fibres

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0109222A1 (en) * 1982-11-01 1984-05-23 AMP INCORPORATED (a New Jersey corporation) Apparatus and method for extruding flat multiconductor cable

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE7024588U (en) * 1970-07-01 1971-05-06 Diehl Multi-conductor cable for low current
GB1425928A (en) * 1972-11-10 1976-02-25 Bicc Ltd Optical guides
GB1559026A (en) * 1977-04-13 1980-01-09 Bicc Ltd Optical guides
DE8203814U1 (en) * 1982-02-12 1982-08-12 Steckermeier, Johann, 8332 Massing Insulated cable, in particular flat electric cable
GB8526107D0 (en) * 1985-10-23 1985-11-27 Telephone Cables Ltd Optical fibre cable
DE3603713A1 (en) * 1986-02-06 1987-08-13 Kabelmetal Electro Gmbh METHOD FOR PRODUCING A TAPE LINE CONTAINING A FIBER

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0109222A1 (en) * 1982-11-01 1984-05-23 AMP INCORPORATED (a New Jersey corporation) Apparatus and method for extruding flat multiconductor cable

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0371204A2 (en) * 1988-11-29 1990-06-06 KABEL RHEYDT Aktiengesellschaft Method of manufacturing a light wave guide ribbon
EP0371204A3 (en) * 1988-11-29 1991-03-27 KABEL RHEYDT Aktiengesellschaft Method of manufacturing a light wave guide ribbon
US6215068B1 (en) 1990-12-13 2001-04-10 Kabelschlepp Gmbh Line guiding assembly
WO1996038751A2 (en) * 1995-06-01 1996-12-05 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Fiber optic ribbon cable and method for its manufacture
WO1996038751A3 (en) * 1995-06-01 1997-02-27 Minnesota Mining & Mfg Fiber optic ribbon cable and method for its manufacture
EP0978744A2 (en) * 1995-06-01 2000-02-09 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Method of manufacture of a fiber optic ribbon cable with connector assemblies
EP0978744A3 (en) * 1995-06-01 2000-02-23 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Method of manufacture of a fiber optic ribbon cable with connector assemblies
EP1037083A1 (en) * 1999-03-12 2000-09-20 Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (Publ) Holding ribbonized optical fibers
US6442317B1 (en) 1999-03-12 2002-08-27 Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson Holding ribbonized optical fibers
WO2003100495A1 (en) * 2002-05-28 2003-12-04 Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. Optical fiber tape core
US7116872B2 (en) 2002-05-28 2006-10-03 Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. Optical fiber tape core

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE3608309C2 (en) 1991-07-25
GB2187865B (en) 1989-11-15
GB8705917D0 (en) 1987-04-15
DE3608309A1 (en) 1987-09-17
JPS62229212A (en) 1987-10-08

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PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 19940312