JP6627486B2 - Optical fiber cable and optical fiber cable identification method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical fiber cable and an optical fiber cable identification method.

  Conventionally, when removing a predetermined optical fiber cable from a plurality of optical fiber cables in a laid state, in order to suppress erroneous removal of the optical fiber cable, there has been proposed a technique for improving the identification of an optical fiber cable to be removed. ing. For example, an optical fiber is provided on the outer periphery (outer peripheral surface) of a cable (for example, an optical fiber cable) so as to protrude from the outer peripheral surface, and light (visible light) emitted from a light source is made incident from one end of the optical fiber. A cable has been proposed in which the other end or the peripheral side of the optical fiber emits light by passing through the fiber, so that the cable can be distinguished from other cables (for example, see Patent Document 1).

JP 2001-145221 A

  However, in the above-mentioned conventional optical fiber cable, the optical fiber that emits light at the time of removal is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the optical fiber cable so as to protrude from the outer peripheral surface. For this reason, the above-mentioned optical fiber may be damaged when the optical fiber cable is laid, after the laying, or when the optical fiber cable is removed. For example, an external force such as a shock or a bending force may be applied to the optical fiber to deform the optical fiber, so that the other end or the peripheral side of the optical fiber cannot emit light. Further, the above-mentioned optical fiber may be removed from the optical fiber cable. As a result, the discrimination of the optical fiber cable may not be improved.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of further improving the identifiability of an optical fiber cable to be removed when removing a predetermined optical fiber cable from a plurality of optical fiber cables in a laid state. .

According to one aspect of the present invention,
Optical fiber,
A jacket formed of an insulating material and provided on a side circumference of the optical fiber,
It is provided along the entire length of the jacket along the axial direction of the jacket, and is formed of a material having a light-transmitting property or a material having a transparency with respect to visible light incident from a light source, and through which a visible light is transmitted. An optical fiber cable comprising: an optical unit.

According to another aspect of the present invention,
An optical fiber cable identification method for identifying an optical fiber cable to be removed when removing a predetermined optical fiber cable from a plurality of optical fiber cables in an laid state,
An optical fiber, a jacket formed of an insulating material and provided on the side circumference of the optical fiber, and provided over the entire length of the jacket along an axial direction of the jacket, and provided with visible light incident from a light source. A light-transmitting portion formed of a material having a light-transmitting property or a material having a transparent property and transmitting visible light, and the light-transmitting portion of the optical fiber cable to be removed in an laid state, A step of injecting visible light from a light source;
Visible light that is incident from the light source and passes through the light-transmitting portion radiates from the side periphery of the light-transmitting portion to the outside of the light-transmitting portion, so that the light-transmitting portion shines and identifies the optical fiber cable to be removed. Enabling method for identifying a fiber optic cable.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, when removing a predetermined | prescribed optical fiber cable from several optical fiber cables in a laying state, the identification characteristic of the optical fiber cable to be removed can be improved more.

(A) is a figure which shows schematic structure of the optical fiber cable which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention, (b)-(d) each shows the crossing which shows the modification of the optical fiber cable which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. FIG. FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an optical fiber cable according to another embodiment of the present invention.

<One embodiment of the present invention>
(1) Configuration of Optical Fiber Cable The configuration of an optical fiber cable according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1A, the optical fiber cable 10 has, for example, an optical fiber 11 for communication. The optical fiber 11 includes, for example, an optical fiber core having a core and a clad provided on a side periphery of the core (provided to cover an outer peripheral side surface of the core). The optical fiber 11 may be formed of an insulating material and have an insulating layer provided on the side circumference of the optical fiber core. Further, the optical fiber 11 may have a tensile strength layer including a tensile strength fiber such as aramid fiber between the optical fiber core wire and the insulating layer.

  An outer sheath (sheath) 12 is provided on the side circumference of the optical fiber 11. That is, the jacket 12 is provided so as to cover the outer peripheral side surface of the optical fiber 11. The outer cover 12 is formed of an insulating material that is opaque to visible light incident on a light transmitting portion 13 described below from a light source. As the insulating material, for example, a polyolefin resin material such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) can be used.

  The optical fiber cable 10 has a light transmitting portion 13 through which visible light incident from a light source is transmitted. The light transmitting portion 13 is formed of a material (resin material) having a property of transmitting visible light incident from a light source or a material having a transparency (resin material). The light transmitting portion 13 is formed so that visible light from a light source can be incident when the optical fiber cable 10 is removed. For example, one end of the light transmitting section 13 is formed so as to be optically connected to visible light emitted from a light source. The light transmitting portion 13 is formed so that the incident visible light can pass through (transmit) the light transmitting portion 13, and the visible light passes through the light transmitting portion 13 when the visible light passes through the light transmitting portion 13. It is formed so that visible light is emitted from the side circumference (outer circumference side face). The visible light is radiated from the side periphery of the light transmitting part 13 in this manner, so that the light transmitting part 13 shines and the optical fiber cable 10 to be removed can be identified. The light transmitting portion 13 is formed of, for example, acrylic. Further, visible light is emitted from the light source. For example, a light emitting diode (LED) can be used as such a light source.

  The light transmitting portion 13 is provided such that the outer peripheral side surface thereof is flush with the outer peripheral side surface of the outer cover 12. That is, the light transmitting portion 13 is provided so that the optical fiber cable 10 has an outer peripheral side surface having a circular cross section. Specifically, the light transmitting portion 13 is embedded in the outer cover 12 such that the outer peripheral side surface is located on the circumference of the outer cover 12. This prevents the light transmitting portion 13 from being damaged even when an external force such as an impact or bending is applied to the optical fiber cable 10 when, for example, the optical fiber cable 10 is laid or after the laying or removal. be able to. For example, it is possible to prevent the light-transmitting portion 13 from being deformed, the middle portion of the light-transmitting portion 13 from being broken, the light-transmitting portion 13 from being detached, and the like.

  The translucent section 13 is provided over the entire length of the jacket 12 along the axial direction (longitudinal direction) of the jacket 12. Accordingly, when the optical fiber cable 10 is removed, the optical fiber cable 10 to be removed can be cut so as to be divided into, for example, two in the axial direction (longitudinal direction). Removal of the laid optical fiber cable 10 is often performed by an operator by winding the optical fiber cable 10 little by little from one end of the laid optical fiber cable 10. At this time, if the optical fiber cable 10 can be cut into two parts as described above, the optical fiber cable 10 can be wound from both ends of the optical fiber cable 10 by two workers, for example. In addition, the efficiency of removing the optical fiber cable 10 can be improved.

  It is preferable that a plurality of light transmitting portions 13 are provided along the axial direction of the outer cover 12. For example, as shown in FIG. 1B, the light transmitting portion 13 is preferably provided at a position that divides the periphery of the outer cover 12 into two equal parts in the circumferential direction. Accordingly, even when the optical fiber cable 10 is twisted at the time of laying, after laying, or at the time of removal, it becomes easy to confirm the light transmitting portion 13 illuminated when the optical fiber cable 10 is removed. That is, the identification of the optical fiber cable 10 to be removed can be further improved. Further, as shown in FIG. 1 (c), for example, the light transmitting portion 13 is more preferably provided at a position which divides the circumference of the outer cover 12 into three equal parts in the circumferential direction. 10 can be further enhanced. Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 1 (d), it is more preferable that the light transmitting portion 13 is provided at a position which divides the circumference of the outer cover 12 into four equal parts in the circumferential direction. 10 can be further enhanced.

  On the side circumference (outer peripheral side surface) of the light transmitting portion 13, the visible light radiated from the side peripheral surface of the light transmitting portion 13 by being incident from the light source is confined inside (being radiated outside the optical fiber cable 10). A light confinement layer 14 is provided. The light confinement layer 14 is provided so as to cover the outer peripheral side surfaces of the light transmitting portion 13 and the outer cover 12, for example. The light confinement layer 14 is formed of a material (resin material) that is opaque to visible light radiated from the side periphery of the light transmitting portion 13.

  The light confinement layer 14 has a plurality of openings that expose the side peripheral surface of the light transmitting portion 13 and take out visible light radiated from the side peripheral surface of the light transmitting portion 13 (emit it to the outside of the optical fiber cable 10). The portions 14a are provided at predetermined intervals along the axial direction of the jacket 12. Each of the plurality of openings 14a is formed in an oval shape. The shape of each of the plurality of openings 14a may be an elliptical shape, a rectangular shape, or the like, as long as the side peripheral surface of the light transmitting portion 13 can be exposed.

  For example, one end of the light transmitting portion 13 is set as an incident end of visible light, and the visible light incident into the light transmitting portion 13 from the light source is totally reflected at least at the interface with the outer cover 12 while the incident end of the light transmitting portion 13 is formed. The light passes through (transmits) inside the light transmitting unit 13 from (one end of the light transmitting unit 13) to the other end. At this time, if the light confinement layer 14 is provided, the visible light incident into the light transmitting portion 13 is totally reflected at the interface with the light confinement layer 14 at a location other than the portion where the opening 14a is provided. It becomes. Therefore, the transmission distance of the visible light that has entered the light transmitting portion 13 can be made longer. That is, visible light can be transmitted to a position farther from the incident end of the light transmitting unit 13 (a position closer to the other end). Therefore, even if the length of the optical fiber cable 10 to be removed is long (the length of the optical fiber cable 10 is long), the identification of the optical fiber cable 10 to be removed can be reliably improved. Further, when removing the optical fiber cable 10 as described above, it becomes easier to cut the optical fiber cable 10 to be removed so as to be divided into two in the axial direction (longitudinal direction).

  Further, as described above, by providing the light confinement layer 14, visible light incident into the light transmitting portion 13 is totally reflected at the interface with the light confinement layer 14 except for the portion where the opening 14 a is provided. Therefore, the luminous intensity of the visible light emitted from the light transmitting portion 13 can be amplified in the light confinement layer 14. Thereby, the luminous intensity of the visible light extracted from the opening 14a can be amplified. Therefore, it is possible to further enhance the identification of the optical fiber cable 10 to be removed.

  Subsequently, a system (optical fiber cable identification system) for identifying the optical fiber cable 10 to be removed when the above-described optical fiber cable 10 in the laid state is removed will be described. The identification system for the optical fiber cable 10 includes the above-described optical fiber cable 10 which is to be removed in a laid state, and a light source. As the light source, a light source capable of entering visible light into the light transmitting portion 13 of the laid optical fiber cable 10 is used. As the light source, for example, an LED can be used. This optical fiber cable identification system, for example, removes a plurality of optical fiber cables (a plurality of (for example, several tens to several hundreds) when removing a predetermined optical fiber cable 10 from a plurality of laid optical fiber cables. This is a system capable of identifying the optical fiber cable 10 to be removed from the bundle of optical fiber cables).

(2) Identification method of optical fiber cable The identification method of the optical fiber cable described above will be described. The method for identifying an optical fiber cable according to the present embodiment is a method for identifying an optical fiber cable to be removed when a predetermined optical fiber cable is removed from a plurality of laid optical fiber cables.

  The visible light from the light source is incident on the light transmitting portion 13 of the predetermined optical fiber cable 10 (the optical fiber cable 10 having the light transmitting portion 13 described above) to be removed from the plurality of optical fiber cables in the laid state. . For example, one end of the light transmitting unit 13 is optically connected to the visible light emitted from the light source, and the visible light from the light source enters the light transmitting unit 13.

  The visible light that has entered the light transmitting portion 13 from one end of the light transmitting portion 13 passes through the light transmitting portion 13 toward the other end of the light transmitting portion 13. At this time, the visible light in the light transmitting part 13 is emitted from the side circumference of the light transmitting part 13 to the outside of the light transmitting part 13 while passing through the inside of the light transmitting part 13, so that the light transmitting part 13 shines. The optical fiber cable 10 to be removed can be identified by using the light-transmitting portion 13 as a mark.

  For example, in the method for identifying an optical fiber cable according to the present embodiment, when the optical fiber cable 10 is removed, the light transmitting part 13 is illuminated, and the optical fiber cable 10 is divided into two parts using the light transmitting part 13 as a mark. Can be cut like so. As a result, the optical fiber cable 10 can be wound from both ends of the optical fiber cable 10 by, for example, two workers, and the efficiency of the removal operation of the optical fiber cable 10 can be improved.

(3) Effects According to the Present Embodiment According to the present embodiment, one or more effects described below are obtained.

(A) By providing the above-described light transmitting portion 13 in the optical fiber cable 10, when removing the optical fiber cable 10 in the laid state, visible light enters the light transmitting portion 13 from the light source and the light transmitting portion 13 is removed. Can shine. Thereby, the identification of the optical fiber cable 10 to be removed can be improved. For example, when removing a predetermined optical fiber cable 10 from a bundle of a plurality of optical fiber cables, erroneous removal of the optical fiber cable 10 can be suppressed. Further, the conventional continuity test becomes unnecessary, and the time for removing the optical fiber cable 10 can be shortened.

(B) Further, by providing the translucent portion 13 such that the outer peripheral side surface thereof is flush with the outer peripheral side surface of the outer cover 12, that is, the translucent portion 13 does not protrude from the outer peripheral side surface of the outer cover 2. By providing the light transmitting portion 13 as described above, even when an external force such as an impact or bending is applied to the optical fiber cable 10 at the time of laying the optical fiber cable 10, after laying, or at the time of removal, the light transmitting portion 13 is provided. Can be prevented from being damaged. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the transmission of the visible light in the light transmitting unit 13 from being interrupted on the way. That is, for example, visible light that has entered the light-transmitting portion 13 from one end of the light-transmitting portion 13 can be reliably transmitted to the other end (a position closer to the other end) of the light-transmitting portion 13. Sex can be further enhanced.

(C) Providing a plurality of light-transmitting portions 13 along the axial direction of the jacket 12 may cause the optical fiber cable 10 to be twisted when the optical fiber cable 10 is laid, after the laying, and when the optical fiber cable 10 is removed. Even when the optical fiber cable 10 is removed, the light-transmitting portion 13 illuminated when the optical fiber cable 10 is removed can be easily checked. That is, the discrimination of the optical fiber cable 10 can be further improved.

(D) By providing the light confinement layer 14, the transmission distance of the visible light that has entered the light transmitting portion 13 can be made longer. Therefore, even when the length of the optical fiber cable 10 to be removed is long (the length of the optical fiber cable 10 is long), it is possible to enhance the identification of the optical fiber cable 10 to be removed. Further, the luminous intensity of visible light emitted from the light transmitting portion 13 can be amplified in the light confinement layer 14, and the luminous intensity of visible light extracted from the opening 14a can be amplified. Therefore, it is possible to further enhance the identification of the optical fiber cable 10 to be removed.

(Another embodiment of the present invention)
As described above, one embodiment of the present invention has been specifically described. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist thereof.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the light transmitting unit 13 is provided in a straight line has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the light transmitting portion 13 is preferably provided in a spiral shape so as to be wound on the side circumference of the outer cover 12. Thereby, the above-mentioned effect (c) can be more reliably obtained.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the light transmitting portion 13 is provided such that the outer peripheral side surface thereof is flush with the outer peripheral side surface of the outer cover 12 is described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the light transmitting portion 13 may be provided so as to surround a side circumference of the outer cover 12. That is, the light transmitting portion 13 may be provided concentrically with the outer cover 12 on the outer peripheral side surface of the outer cover 12. Even with such an optical fiber cable 10, the same effects as in the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

  In the optical fiber cable 10 shown in FIG. 2, the light confinement layer 14 in which the opening exposing the outer peripheral side surface of the light transmitting portion 13 is formed, is concentric with the light transmitting portion 13 on the outer peripheral side surface of the light transmitting portion 13. Provided. In this case, the shape of the opening 14a provided in the light confinement layer 14 is, for example, an oval shape as in the above-described embodiment, or the shape of the light confinement layer 14 along the axial direction of the light confinement layer 14, for example. The shape may be continuous without interruption over substantially the entire length. A plurality of such openings 14a may be provided around the light confinement layer 14 along the axial direction, and such openings (a plurality of openings) 14a may be formed in the light confinement layer 14. May be provided in a spiral shape so as to wind around the side circumference.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the light confinement layer 14 is provided has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the light confinement layer 14 may not be provided.

  Further, for example, the optical fiber cable 10 may be configured to roughen the side peripheral surface of the light transmitting unit 13 and scatter visible light emitted from the outer peripheral surface of the light transmitting unit 13. This configuration is particularly effective when the light confinement layer 14 is not provided.

  Further, the optical fiber cable 10 is not limited to a case having one optical fiber. That is, the optical fiber cable 10 may have a plurality of optical fibers according to its use or the like, and the present invention can be applied to such an optical fiber cable 10.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the optical fiber cable 10 is a round cable (that is, a cable having a circular cross section) has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, even if the optical fiber cable is a flat cable in which a plurality of optical fibers are arranged in parallel and separated from each other, and the jacket 12 is provided so as to collectively cover the side circumferences of the plurality of optical fibers. Good.

<Preferred embodiment of the present invention>
Hereinafter, the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be additionally described.

[Appendix 1]
According to one aspect of the present invention,
An optical fiber (for communication);
A jacket formed of an insulating material and provided on a side circumference of the optical fiber,
It is provided along the entire length of the jacket along the axial direction of the jacket, and is formed of a material (resin material) having a light transmitting property with respect to visible light incident from a light source (resin material) or a material having transparency (resin material). And a light transmitting portion through which visible light is transmitted.

[Appendix 2]
The optical fiber cable according to claim 1, wherein
The light-transmitting portion is provided such that the outer peripheral side surface is flush with the outer peripheral side surface of the outer cover.

[Appendix 3]
An optical fiber cable according to claim 1 or 2, wherein
A plurality of the translucent portions are provided along the axial direction of the jacket on the side circumference of the jacket.

[Appendix 4]
The optical fiber cable according to claim 3, wherein
The light-transmitting portions are provided at positions that divide the periphery of the jacket into two equal parts in the circumferential direction.

[Appendix 5]
The optical fiber cable according to claim 3, wherein
The light-transmitting portions are provided at positions that divide the periphery of the jacket into three equal parts in the circumferential direction.

[Appendix 6]
The optical fiber cable according to claim 3, wherein
The light-transmitting portions are provided at positions that divide the periphery of the jacket into four equal parts in the circumferential direction.

[Appendix 7]
The optical fiber cable according to any one of supplementary notes 1 to 6, wherein
The light-transmitting portion is provided in a spiral shape so as to be wound on a side periphery of the outer cover.

[Appendix 8]
The optical fiber cable according to claim 1, wherein
The light transmitting portion is provided so as to surround a side circumference of the outer cover.

[Appendix 9]
An optical fiber cable according to any one of supplementary notes 1 to 8, wherein
On the side circumference of the light transmitting portion, a material (resin material) that is opaque to visible light that is incident from the light source and emitted from the side circumferential surface of the light transmitting portion, A light confinement layer for confining visible light that is incident from a light source and emitted from the side peripheral surface of the light transmitting portion is provided,
The light confinement layer is provided with a plurality of openings at predetermined intervals along the axial direction of the envelope, exposing a side peripheral surface of the light transmitting portion and extracting visible light emitted from the light transmitting portion. Have been.

[Appendix 10]
An optical fiber cable according to any one of supplementary notes 1 to 9, wherein
By roughening the surface of the light transmitting portion, visible light emitted from the side peripheral surface of the light transmitting portion is diffused.

[Supplementary Note 11]
According to another aspect of the present invention,
An optical fiber cable identification method for identifying an optical fiber cable to be removed when removing a predetermined optical fiber cable from a plurality of optical fiber cables in an laid state,
An optical fiber (for communication), a jacket formed of an insulating material and provided on a side circumference of the optical fiber, and provided along the entire length of the jacket along the axial direction of the jacket and incident from a light source; A light-transmitting portion formed of a material (resin material) having a property of transmitting visible light (resin material) or a material having a transparency (resin material) and transmitting visible light; A step of causing visible light from the light source to be incident on the light transmitting portion of the optical fiber cable,
Visible light that is incident from the light source and passes through the light-transmitting portion radiates from the side periphery of the light-transmitting portion to the outside of the light-transmitting portion, so that the light-transmitting portion shines and identifies the optical fiber cable to be removed. Enabling method for identifying a fiber optic cable.

Reference Signs List 10 optical fiber cable 11 optical fiber 12 jacket 13 light-transmitting part

Claims (4)

Optical fiber,
A jacket formed of an insulating material and provided on a side circumference of the optical fiber,
It is provided along the entire length of the jacket along the axial direction of the jacket, and is formed of a material having a light-transmitting property or a material having a transparency with respect to visible light incident from a light source, and through which a visible light is transmitted. And an optical unit ,
On the side circumference of the light-transmitting portion, the light-transmitting portion is formed of a material that is opaque to visible light emitted from the light-transmitting portion and is radiated from the light source. A light confinement layer for confining visible light radiated from the side peripheral surface of the light transmitting portion.
The light confinement layer is provided with a plurality of openings at predetermined intervals along the axial direction of the envelope, exposing a side peripheral surface of the light transmitting portion and extracting visible light emitted from the light transmitting portion. its dependent <br/> optical fiber cable. 2. The optical fiber cable according to claim 1, wherein the light transmitting portion is provided such that an outer peripheral surface thereof is flush with an outer peripheral side surface of the jacket. 3. The optical fiber cable according to claim 1, wherein the light transmitting portion is provided so as to surround a side circumference of the jacket. An optical fiber cable identification method for identifying an optical fiber cable to be removed when removing a predetermined optical fiber cable from a plurality of optical fiber cables in an laid state,
An optical fiber, a jacket formed of an insulating material and provided on the side circumference of the optical fiber, and provided over the entire length of the jacket along an axial direction of the jacket, and provided with visible light incident from a light source. A light-transmitting portion formed of a material having a light-transmitting property or a material having a transparent property and transmitting visible light; and a light- transmitting portion provided on a side periphery of the light-transmitting portion and being incident from the light source. A light confinement layer formed of a material that is opaque to visible light radiated from the side peripheral surface of the light transmitting layer and confining visible light incident from the light source and radiated from the side peripheral surface of the light transmitting portion; And a plurality of openings provided in the light confinement layer at predetermined intervals along the axial direction of the outer cover, and exposing side peripheral surfaces of the light transmitting portion to extract visible light emitted from the light transmitting portion. the translucent portion of the optical fiber cable of removal will in the laying state and a part A step for entering the visible light from the light source,
Visible light that is incident from the light source and passes through the light-transmitting portion is emitted from the side periphery of the light-transmitting portion to the outside of the light-transmitting portion through the opening, so that the light-transmitting portion shines and is scheduled to be removed. Making the optical fiber cable identifiable.

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