WO2001050169A1 - Cable optique presentant une terminaison electrique - Google Patents

Cable optique presentant une terminaison electrique Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2001050169A1
WO2001050169A1 PCT/EP2000/013369 EP0013369W WO0150169A1 WO 2001050169 A1 WO2001050169 A1 WO 2001050169A1 EP 0013369 W EP0013369 W EP 0013369W WO 0150169 A1 WO0150169 A1 WO 0150169A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
optical
opto
optical cable
lens
end portion
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/EP2000/013369
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Guido Oliveti
Original Assignee
Pirelli Cavi E Sistemi S.P.A.
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 Pirelli Cavi E Sistemi S.P.A. filed Critical Pirelli Cavi E Sistemi S.P.A.
Priority to AU28445/01A priority Critical patent/AU2844501A/en
Publication of WO2001050169A1 publication Critical patent/WO2001050169A1/fr

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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
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/42—Coupling light guides with opto-electronic elements
    • G02B6/4201—Packages, e.g. shape, construction, internal or external details
    • G02B6/4246—Bidirectionally operating package structures
    • 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
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/42—Coupling light guides with opto-electronic elements
    • G02B6/4201—Packages, e.g. shape, construction, internal or external details
    • G02B6/4204—Packages, e.g. shape, construction, internal or external details the coupling comprising intermediate optical elements, e.g. lenses, holograms
    • 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
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/42—Coupling light guides with opto-electronic elements
    • G02B6/4201—Packages, e.g. shape, construction, internal or external details
    • G02B6/4219—Mechanical fixtures for holding or positioning the elements relative to each other in the couplings; Alignment methods for the elements, e.g. measuring or observing methods especially used therefor
    • G02B6/4236—Fixing or mounting methods of the aligned elements
    • G02B6/424—Mounting of the optical light guide
    • 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
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/42—Coupling light guides with opto-electronic elements
    • G02B6/4201—Packages, e.g. shape, construction, internal or external details
    • G02B6/4219—Mechanical fixtures for holding or positioning the elements relative to each other in the couplings; Alignment methods for the elements, e.g. measuring or observing methods especially used therefor
    • G02B6/4236—Fixing or mounting methods of the aligned elements
    • G02B6/4244—Mounting of the optical elements
    • 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
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/42—Coupling light guides with opto-electronic elements
    • G02B6/4201—Packages, e.g. shape, construction, internal or external details
    • G02B6/4219—Mechanical fixtures for holding or positioning the elements relative to each other in the couplings; Alignment methods for the elements, e.g. measuring or observing methods especially used therefor
    • G02B6/4236—Fixing or mounting methods of the aligned elements
    • G02B6/4245—Mounting of the opto-electronic elements
    • 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
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/42—Coupling light guides with opto-electronic elements
    • G02B6/4292—Coupling light guides with opto-electronic elements the light guide being disconnectable from the opto-electronic element, e.g. mutually self aligning arrangements

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an electrically terminated optical fibre cable. More m particular, the present invention relates to an electrically terminated optical fibre cable comprising, m turn, an optical fibre and an opto-elecronic end portion permanently connected to an end of the optical cable, a method for producing an electrically terminated optical cable and a unit comprising an opto-electromc conversion device and an optical lens.
  • electric cables have a relatively narrow band, and they are becoming a bottleneck with respect to the band of signals to be transmitted. Moreover, they present problems of electromagnetic interferences, of impedance matching, and they are difficult to be introduced into the appropriate raceways of a building since they are stiff. In addition, being bulky, they significantly reduce the number of cables that can be inserted into a raceway. Moreover, due to electrical safety requirements, they require the arrangement of separate raceways from those used for distributing electric energy. Thus, the research is investigating the possibility of using optics not ust m the long-distance transmission of signals, but also m the signal distribution networks from a common branch point to a plurality of user apparatuses.
  • optical -fibre cables are suitable to be inserted into the appropriate raceways of a building since they are not too bulky, they are flexible, light, free from electromagnetic interferences, and their bending loss is very low. Moreover, they are suitable to be inserted into the same raceways used for distributing electric energy. Additionally, optical fibres potentially have a very wide band, low attenuation values, and they are transparent to the bit rate, to the format and to the code of transmission.
  • optical-fibre cables require the use of opto-electromc conversion devices to convert electric signals into corresponding optical signals, and vice versa.
  • the conversion of an electric signal into a corresponding optical signal is conventionally carried out by modulating the intensity of a light emitted by an optical source.
  • the modulation is associated with the information conveyed by the electric signal, and the conversion of an optical signal into a corresponding electric signal is conventionally carried out by means of a photodetector.
  • an optical connector is a device comprising two parts that can be repeatedly connected to and disconnected from one another, and which must be attached to an end of the optical cable and to the optical source or to the photo-receiver respectively.
  • an installation of an optical cable suitable to connect, inside a building, a user apparatus to a central distribution unit requires the implementation of the following steps: passing the optical cable along an appropriate raceway of the building; cutting the optical cable according to the desired length; fastening two parts of two connectors to the two ends of the cable m the proximity of the user apparatus and of the central unit; optionally fastening the other two parts of the two connectors to an optical source and to a photodetector (if the optical source and the photodetector are not already provided with connectors) ; and finally, connecting the two parts of each optical connector so as to connect, m a removable way, one end of the optical cable to the optical source and the other end of the cable to the photodetector, respectively m the proximity of the central unit and of the user apparatus.
  • the Applicant faced the problem of reducing said costs by manufacturing an electrically terminated optical-fibre cable, that is to say, having at least one end optically aligned with and permanently connected to, an opto- electronic conversion device.
  • US 3 792 284 describes an electro-optical link for transmitting signals comprising an optical-f bre guide, a light emitting diode (LED), and a photodiode.
  • One end of the guide and the LED (or the photodiode) are mounted m fixed relationship with one another m a coupling unit having electrical connectors suitable to be inserted into a receptacle of an outer unit.
  • the coupling between one end of the optical fibre and the LED (or photodiode) is carried out by placing them in front of one another.
  • US 3 878 397 describes an electro-optical transmission line wherein an electric signal is converted to an optical output signal by a LED and the optical signal is transmitted by an optical fibre bundle to a diode which converts the optical signal back to an electrical signal.
  • the optical fibres are made of plastic or quartz. The coupling between one end of the optical fibre bundle and the LED (or photodiode) is carried out by placing them m front of one another.
  • US 4 595 839 describes an optical cable having two plastic or glass optical fibres and, at its two ends, two connectors. Each of the latter comprises a light source and a light detector respectively coupled to two ends of the optical fibres. The ends of the optical fibres are aligned with the respective light source or with the respective light detector through a ferrule housing the end of the fibre and an alignment guide which m turn houses the ferrule on one side, and the light source or the detector on the opposed side.
  • US 4 756 593 describes a connector comprising a plug and a socket.
  • the plug is fastened to an end of an optical cable and comprises a LED for converting electric signals into optical signals and for sending them to the optical cable, and a photodiode for receiving the optical signals from the optical cable and converting them into electric signals.
  • US 4 767 168 describes a hybrid cable having at least one optical fibre, a metal conductor, an input connector and an output connector.
  • One of the two input and output connectors is provided with a light source for converting electric signals into optical signals, and the other one is provided with a photodetector for converting optical signals into electric signals.
  • US 5 325 453 describes a signal transmission line comprising a polymeric optical wave guide and two connection elements connected to the two ends of the wave guide.
  • the transmission line is bi- directional; each connector comprises a light source, a photodiode (each having a portion of wave guide glued on their output) and a mixer.
  • the light coming from the wave guide is sent by the mixer to the portion of wave guide glued to the output of the photodiode, whereas the light emitted by the light source on the portion of wave guide glued to it is sent by the mixer along the polymeric wave guide .
  • the Applicant faced the problem of providing an electrically terminated optical cable comprising an optical fibre and an opto-electromc conversion device that is relatively cheap and at the same time guarantees a precise alignment between the optical fibre and the opto-electromc conversion device.
  • the present invention relates to an electrically terminated optical cable comprising :
  • an optical focusing lens having an elongated shape and a first endface optically aligned with, and mechanically connected to, the optical port of said opto-electromc conversion device, and
  • optical-electromc end portion or opto-electromc conversion device respectively refers to an end portion or to a device carrying out an opto-elect ⁇ c and/or electro- optical conversion.
  • the opto-electromc conversion device, the optical lens and the optical fibre housed into the ferrule are arranged with respect to one another so as to allow a transfer of optical power between the opto-electromc conversion device and the optical fibre equal to at least 5%. Typically, equal to at least 10%. Preferably, to at least 50%.
  • the alignment of the optical fibre with the optical port of the opto-electromc conversion device is obtained by means of a suitable coupling of the opto- electronic conversion device, of the optical fibre, of an optical lens, of a ferrule and of a sleeve.
  • the precision of alignment is obtained thanks to the fact that the optical lens is optically aligned with and connected to, the optical port of the opto-electromc conversion device; that an end portion of the optical fibre is firmly housed into the ferrule, and that the ferrule and the lens are housed into the sleeve so as to optically align the optical fibre with the optical lens.
  • the optical alignment between the optical fibre and the optical port of the opto-electromc conversion device is thus obtained with a single step of precise optical alignment (that one between the optical lens and the opto-electromc conversion device) and with simple steps of mechanical coupling (insertion of the end portion of the optical fibre into the ferrule and insertion of the ferrule and of the lens into the sleeve) .
  • said step itself can be carried out during the step of production of the opto-electromc conversion device m which, since a series of precision operations are needed for producing the conversion device, the presence of a suitable precision assembly bench is already provided;
  • ferrules, optical lenses and sleeves with manufacture tolerance up to one micrometer are available on the market at a low price
  • the electrically terminated optical cable of the present invention advantageously allows obtaining a high precision coupling between optical fibre and opto-electromc conversion device at a relatively low cost.
  • the present invention advantageously allows obtaining an optical cable aligned with and permanently connected to, an opto-electromc conversion device with a high alignment precision and at a very low cost with respect to the prior art wherein the optical cable is detachably connected to an opto-electromc conversion device by means of a conventional optical connector.
  • optical fibre of the invention guarantees an alignment precision also m the range of micrometers, at a low cost, said optical fibre can advantageously be single-mode.
  • a single-mode optical fibre has a core with a very small diameter (typically, equal to 7 - 10 ⁇ m with respect to that, for example, of 50 - 70 ⁇ m of a glass multi-mode optical fibre, or more than 100 ⁇ m of a polymeric multi -mode optical fibre) , it requires an alignment with the opto-electromc conversion device m the range of one or some micrometers.
  • the optical cable of the invention is capable of guaranteeing at low cost an alignment precision m the range of one micrometer, it advantageously allows a low- cost use of single-mode optical fibres m signal distribution systems to a plurality of user apparatuses.
  • said optical lens has a substantially cylindrical shape.
  • it is a GRINTM lens.
  • said GRIN IM lens has such a pitch as to focus the light m output from the optical port of said opto-electromc conversion device to the input of said optical fibre housed into said ferrule, or vice versa, to focus the light m output from said optical fibre to the input of the optical port of said opto-electromc conversion device.
  • said GRIN 1M lens has a pitch equal to 0.5 or to an integer multiple of 0.5.
  • said ferrule has a substantially cylindrical shape with a substantially central hole suitable to house the end portion of said optical fibre.
  • said optical fibre has a glass core and cladding with an outer protective coating of a polymeric material.
  • the core of said optical fibre has a diameter smaller than or equal to, 20 ⁇ m. More preferably, said diameter is comprised between 3 and 15 ⁇ m. Even more preferably, it is comprised between 5 and 10 ⁇ m.
  • the diameter of the outer protective coating is equal to about 250 ⁇ m.
  • the outer diameter of the cladding typically is of atiout 125 ⁇ m.
  • the end portion of said at least one optical fibre is stripped of the outer protective coating.
  • the substantially central hole of said ferrule has a diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the end portion of the optical fibre. More preferably, the substantially central hole of said ferrule has a diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the end portion of the optical fibre, stripped of the outer protective coating.
  • the difference between the diameter of said substantially central hole of said ferrule and the diameter of the end portion of said optical fibre is smaller than or equal to, 1.5 ⁇ m.
  • said difference is less than or equal to, l ⁇ m. More preferably, it is less than or equal to, 0.5 ⁇ m.
  • a deviation lower than or equal to, 1.5 ⁇ m Preferably, said deviation is lower than or equal to, 1 ⁇ m. More preferably, it is lower than or equal to 0.5 ⁇ m.
  • the axes of symmetry of said optical lens and of said ferrule substantially coincide into said sleeve .
  • said ferrule and said optical lens have a substantially equal outer diameter.
  • said sleeve has a substantially cylindrical hollow body with an inner diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the ferrule and of the optical lens. More preferably, said sleeve is made of an elastic material, with a diameter substantially smaller than the outer diameter of the ferrule and of the optical lens, and with a longitudinal slot extending from side to side. In this way, said sleeve is adapted to enlarge so as to receive said ferrule and said optical lens, holding them into position once they have been inserted into it with an endface of the one towards the endface of the other one.
  • said sleeve is made of a metal material (for example, steel) or of zirconia.
  • said opto-electromc conversion device comprises a laser source.
  • suitable laser sources are Fabry-Perot lasers, VCSEL (vertical cavity surface emitting laser) lasers, and single- frequency lasers such as, for example, DFB or DBR semiconductor lasers .
  • it is a single transversal mode laser source .
  • said opto- electronic conversion device comprises a photodetector.
  • said photodetector is a photodiode.
  • it is a PIN photodiode.
  • said optical cable is shorter than 2 km.
  • it is arranged m a plurality of standard lengths such as, for example, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 m.
  • said optical cable also comprises a plastic sheath suitable to contain said optical fibre.
  • said optical cable also comprises a strength member.
  • said strength member comprises a plurality of conventional longitudinal yarns, flexible and with tensile strength, arranged between said optical fibre and said sheath of said optical cable.
  • said yarns are made of KevlarTM.
  • said yarns allow withstanding possible outer tractive forces applied to the cable.
  • said plurality of longitudinal yarns exiting from said optical cable is arranged so as to coat said opto-electromc end portion. This advantageously allows protecting it from possible tractive forces applied to the electrically terminated optical cable.
  • the maximum transverse dimension of the opto-electronic end portion is greater than the diameter of the outer sheath of the optical cable by at most 4 mm. More preferably, by at most 3 mm. Even more preferably, by at most 1 mm.
  • the opto-electronic end portion of the electrically terminated optical cable has a transverse dimension smaller than 7 mm. More preferably, smaller than 5 mm. Even more preferably, smaller than 4 mm.
  • the outer sheath of the optical cable has a diameter comprised between 2 and 7 mm. More preferably, said diameter is comprised between 2 and 5 mm.
  • said optical cable also comprises an additional optical fibre.
  • said opto- electromc end portion of said electrically terminated optical cable also comprises:
  • an additional optical focusing lens having an elongated shape and a first endface optically aligned with, and mechanically connected to, the optical port of said additional opto-electromc conversion device;
  • said additional optical fibre As regards the structural and functional characteristics of said additional optical fibre, said additional optoelectronic conversion device, said additional optical lens, said additional ferrule and said additional sleeve, reference shall be made to what previously described.
  • the electrically terminated optical cable of the invention also comprises a second optoelectronic end portion permanently connected to an opposed end of said optical cable.
  • the optical cable of the invention is electrically terminated at both ends.
  • the present invention also relates to a unit comprising an opto-electromc conversion device, with an optical port and an electric port, and an optical focusing lens, with a substantially cylindrical shape, characterised m that said optical lens is optically aligned with and fastened to, the optical port of said opto-electronic conversion device.
  • Said unit advantageously allows optically aligning and connecting an opto-electronic conversion device and an optical fibre with high precision and very easily.
  • the present invention relates to a method for producing an electrically terminated optical cable comprising an optical fibre and an opto-electronic conversion device permanently connected to said optical fibre, said method comprising the following steps:
  • step b) is carried out m an active way. That is to say, it is carried out by measuring the optical power transmitted by the optical port of the opto- electromc conversion device to the optical lens or, vice versa, by the optical lens to the optical port of tne opto- electronic conversion device, reciprocally arranging said optical lens and said optical port so as to obtain a suitable transfer of optical power from the one to the other one .
  • step c) is carried out by means of gluing.
  • m step d) the endface of said ferrule and the second endface of said optical lens are arranged, inside said sleeve, one against the other one.
  • the present invention relates to an electrically terminated optical cable comprising:
  • an optical cable comprising an optical fibre and a strength member comprising a plurality of longitudinal yarns, flexible and with tensile strength
  • an opto-electromc end portion permanently connected to an end of said optical cable, said end portion comprising an opto-electromc conversion device ,- characterised m that said plurality of longitudinal yarns is arranged so as to coat said opto-electromc end portion and is fastened to it.
  • the present invention also relates to an electrically terminated optical cable comprising:
  • an optical cable comprising an optical fibre and a strength member comprising a plurality of longitudinal yarns, flexible and with tensile strength
  • said opto-electronic end portion permanently connected to an end of said optical cable, said opto-electronic end portion comprising a unit comprising an opto-electromc conversion device, having an optical port and an electric port, and an optical focusing lens, with a substantially cylindrical shape, said optical lens being optically aligned with and fastened to, the optical port of said opto-electronic conversion device; wherein said plurality of longitudinal yarns is arranged so as to coat said opto-electronic end portion and is fastened to it.
  • FIG. 1 shows a portion of an electrically terminated optical cable of the invention
  • Figure 2 shows elements comprised m the end portion of Figure 1.
  • Figure 1 shows an electrically terminated optical cable 1 according to an embodiment of the invention, comprising an optical cable 9 having two ends and an opto-electromc end portion 10 permanently connected to one of the two ends.
  • the optical cable 9 comprises two single-mode optical fibres (not shown) , a plastic coating to cover both the fibres, and an outer plastic sheath.
  • Each optical fibre s of the SMR model produced by the manufacturing firm FIBRE OTTICHE SUD F.O.S. S.p.A. with a core, a cladding with an outer diameter equal to 125 ⁇ m, and an outer acrylate coating with outer diameter of 250 ⁇ m. In addition, they have a nominal attenuation equal to 0.2 dB/Km.
  • the optical cable 9 comprises a plurality of longitudinal yarns made of KevlarTM (not shown) that are flexible and tensile resistant.
  • Kevlar 1M yarns are arranged between the plastic coating of the two optical fibres and the outer plastic sheath.
  • the optical cable 9 is of the type described m the Patent Application EP 0 829 742 filed by the Applicant .
  • the opto-electromc end portion 10 comprises a container 2 of which a first portion 17 is suitable to house one of the two ends of the optical cable 9, two end portions of the two optical fibres and two ends of two ferrules 5, whereas a second portion 18 is suitable to house the two ferrules 5, two optical lenses 11, two sleeves 6, a first and a second opto-electromc conversion device 12 and 13, an electronic card 14 and two electric cables 15 (Figure 2)
  • said container 2 is made of plastic, and it is suitable to house the above components m a reciprocally fixed position. Moreover, m the embodiment shown, it has a substantially parallelepiped shape, a length of about 40 mm, a height of about 3 mm and a width of about 5 mm.
  • the first portion 17 of said container 2 has a groove 3 for housing an end of the optical cable, two grooves 4 for housing the ends of the two optical fibres exiting from the optical cable 9, and two holes 16 for housing two ends of the ferrules 5.
  • the second portion 18 of said container 2 is provided with two longitudinal holes 19 suitable to house the two sleeves 6, and with a support base 20 for housing the electronic card 14, the two opto-electromc conversion devices 12 and 13 and the two electric cables 15.
  • the two ferrules 5 have a cylindrical shape with a substantially central hole 8 suitable to nouse two end portions of the two optical fibres
  • ferrules 5 are produced and marketed by the firm HIROSE, JP, and their manufacture tolerance is m the range of 1 ⁇ m.
  • the two optical lenses 11 are conventional GRINTM lenses with a cylindrical shape.
  • said optical lenses 11 are produced and marketed by the firm NSG America, and their manufacture tolerance is m the range of 1 ⁇ m.
  • both ferrules 5 and the optical lenses 11 have an outer diameter of about 1.249 mm, and a length of about 5 mm.
  • each sleeve has an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of ferrules 5 and of the optical lenses 11 so as to tightly house them inside it.
  • the sleeve has an inner diameter of about 1.2 mm.
  • a longitudinal groove allows sleeves 6 to enlarge so as to receive the ferrules 5 and the optical lenses 11 inside it.
  • each sleeve 6, ferrule 5 has an endface m contact with an endface of the optical lens 11.
  • each sleeve 6, ferrule 5 and the optical lens 11 are interspaced by means of a transparent element (for example, of glass) or of a mechanical abutment surface inside the sleeve 6.
  • the GRINTM optical lens 11 optically aligned with and fastened to, the optical port of the laser source 12 has a selected pitch so as to focus the light exiting from said optical port onto the end of the corresponding optical fibre.
  • the GRIN rM optical lens 11 optically aligned with and fastened to, the optical port of photo-receiver 13 has a selected pitch so as to focus the light exiting from said optical fibre onto the optical port of photo-receiver 13.
  • Both the first and the second opto-electromc conversion device 12 and 13 have an optical port and an electric port (not shown) .
  • the first opto-electromc conversion device 12 is a laser source of the VCSEL type, with emission at wavelength of about 1300 nm, and having a diameter of about 1.5 mm and length of about 3 mm.
  • the laser source 12 is housed into a PILL package, and the optical lens is glued directly onto the package .
  • the second opto-electronic conversion device 13 is a PIN photodiode produced by the manufacturing firm EPITAXY with a reception band of about 1 GHz, and an active area of about 100 ⁇ m.
  • the electronic card 14 is a conventional device the characteristics of which will be obvious to the man skilled m the art on the basis of the present description and without departing from the scope of the invention.
  • the electric cables 15 are, for example, conventional coaxial cables. Typically, they are less than 2 m long. Preferably, their length is comprised between 0.5 and 1 m.
  • the electric cables 15 can be copper pairs .
  • each optical lens 11 is optically aligned with and fastened to, the optical port of the respective optoelectronic conversion device 12, 13.
  • optical alignment for example, can be conventionally carried out m an active way whereas the fastening can be carried out through gluing.
  • sleeves 6 are inserted into the longitudinal holes 19 of the second portion 18 of container 2.
  • said holes 19 have apertures with such dimensions as to prevent the passage of sleeves 6.
  • the latter are introduced into holes 19 through apertures located on the opposed side with respect to cable 9 and once inserted into said holes 19, they are locked inside them by the apertures of the holes 19 located on the side of the optical cable 9, on the one side, and by the electronic card 14, which is afterwards laid onto the support base 20, on the opposed side.
  • the end portions of the optical fibres exiting from the optical cable 9 are stripped of their outer acrylate coating, they are made pass through the two holes 16 of the first portion 17 of container 2; they are coated with a glue and inserted into the substantially central hole 8 of ferrules 5, where they are shortly let slide backwards and forwards so as to evenly distribute the glue inside the hole 8.
  • the end portions of optical fibre Once the end portions of optical fibre have been glued inside hole 8, they are cut lying flush the endfaces of ferrules 5 located at the opposed side of the optical cable 9, and said faces are polished through lapping .
  • ferrules 5 and the optical lenses 11 are inserted into the second portion 18 of container 2, inside sleeves 6, with the endfaces of ferrules 5, lying flush with which are the ends of the optical fibres, m contact with the endfaces of the respective optical lenses 11.
  • the second portion 18 of container 2 is suitable to loosely house sleeves 6 so as to allow them to slightly enlarge during the introduction of ferrules 5 and of the optical lenses 11.
  • the plurality of KevlarTM yarns exiting from the optical cable 9 is wound around and fastened to the end portion 10 so as to impart tensile strength to it.
  • KevlarTM fibres continue beyond the end portion 10 and they are wound also around the electric cables 15.
  • the end of the optical cable 9, the end portion 10 and, in case, the electric cables 15, enveloped m the plurality of Kevlar-" 4 yarns, are covered with a sheath made of a heat-shnnkable material. The latter is then heated so as to make the sheath adhere to the end of the optical cable 9, to the end portion 10, and m case, to the electric cables 15 so as to make them suitably impermeable to outer agents.
  • the optical cable 9 comprises one or more electric conductors, for example, adapted to transport a supply current .
  • the variant of the optical cable 9 without electric conductors is preferred since it has the advantage that it can be inserted into the same raceways used for distributing electric energy without any problems of electric safety.
  • the GRINTM optical lens 11, optically aligned with and fastened to, the optical port of the laser source 12 has a selected pitch so as to focus the light exiting from said optical port onto the end of the corresponding optical fibre.
  • the GRINTM optical lens 11 optically aligned with and fastened to, the optical port of photo-receiver 13 has a selected pitch so as to focus the light exiting from the corresponding optical fibre onto the optical port of photo-receiver 13.
  • the opto-electromc end portion 10 of the electrically terminated optical cable 1 thus guarantees a high precision of optical coupling between the opto-electro c conversion devices 12, 13 and the corresponding optical fibres.
  • the bi -directional optical cable 9 comprises two optical fibres respectively connected to the laser sources 12 and to photo-receiver 13, according to a variant (not shown) the optical cable 9 can comprise a singe optical fibre connected, by means of a conventional optical coupler or an optical circulator, both to the laser source 12 and to photo-receiver 13.
  • the optical signals travelling into the two directions have two different wavelengths and the couplers are advantageously wavelength selective, such as for example, conventional wavelength multiplexing/ demultiplexing devices.
  • the electrically terminated optical cable 1 has a single opto-electromc end portion 10. That is to say, the optical cable 9 is permanently electrically terminated only at one end.
  • the electrically terminated optical cable 1 has a further opto-electronic end portion
  • the optical cable is electrically terminated at the two ends;
  • the coupled power m optical fibre is equal to -10 dBm
  • the electrically terminated optical cable of the invention has a power budget equal to 20 dB. In other words, power losses up to a maximum of 20 dB are allowed along the electrically terminated optical cable.
  • the electrically terminated optical cable 1 of Figure 1 can be used for a bi-directional transmission of optical signals between an optical apparatus and an electric apparatus .
  • the electric carjles 15 of the opto-electromc end portion 10 of the cable of the invention can be directly connected to the electric connections of the user apparatus .
  • the electrically terminated optical cable 1 can be made pass along the raceway of a building, which connects the electric user apparatus to the distribution unit, from the optical end not connected to the optoelectronic end portion 10 since the dimensions of said optical end are typically smaller than those of said optoelectronic end portion 10.
  • the electrically terminated optical cable of the invention can be directly connected to an electric user apparatus and to an electric distribution unit without having to use any optical connector for the connection to the opto-electronic conversion devices.
  • the electrically terminated optical cable 1 must be made pass along the appropriate raceway through one of the opto-electronic end portions 10. This is not an obstacle because, as described above, said end portions of the electrically terminated optical cable of the invention can be miniaturised. In particular, they can have transverse dimensions in the range of some millimetres .

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Optical Couplings Of Light Guides (AREA)

Abstract

Câble optique (1) possédant une terminaison électrique et comprenant: un câble optique (9) composé d'une fibre optique et d'une partie d'extrémité optoélectronique (10) reliée en permanence à une extrémité dudit câble optique (9); ladite partie d'extrémité (10) et, à son tour, composée d'un dispositif de conversion optoélectronique (12, 13) possédant un accès électrique et un accès optique; d'une férule (5) logeant fermement une partie d'extrémité de ladite fibre optique, de sorte que cette dernière possède une extrémité alignée sur une face d'extrémité de ladite férule (5); d'une lentille de concentration optique (11) possédant une forme allongée et dont une première face d'extrémité est alignée optiquement sur l'accès optique dudit dispositif de conversion optoélectronique (12, 13) et accouplée mécaniquement audit dispositif; d'un manchon (6) logeant étroitement ladite férule (5) et ladite lentille optique (11), ladite face d'extrémité de ladite férule (5) et une deuxième face d'extrémité de ladite lentille optique (11) se faisant face, de façon à aligner optiquement ladite lentille optique (11) sur ladite fibre optique logée dans ladite férule (5).
PCT/EP2000/013369 1999-12-31 2000-12-27 Cable optique presentant une terminaison electrique WO2001050169A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU28445/01A AU2844501A (en) 1999-12-31 2000-12-27 Electrically terminated optical fibre cable

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP99830830.8 1999-12-31
EP99830830 1999-12-31
US18107700P 2000-02-08 2000-02-08
US60/181,077 2000-02-08

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2001050169A1 true WO2001050169A1 (fr) 2001-07-12

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/EP2000/013369 WO2001050169A1 (fr) 1999-12-31 2000-12-27 Cable optique presentant une terminaison electrique

Country Status (2)

Country Link
AU (1) AU2844501A (fr)
WO (1) WO2001050169A1 (fr)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2891371A1 (fr) * 2005-09-23 2007-03-30 Thales Sa Canon de conversion electro-optique pour connexion de fond de chassis
WO2009132706A1 (fr) * 2008-04-30 2009-11-05 Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (Publ) Dispositif, système et procédé pour réseaux de fibres optiques
CN103995325A (zh) * 2014-06-11 2014-08-20 苏州旭创科技有限公司 光收发模块

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US3792284A (en) * 1972-10-13 1974-02-12 Gte Sylvania Inc Electro-optic transmission link
US3878397A (en) * 1973-06-29 1975-04-15 Itt Electro-optical transmission line
US4595839A (en) * 1982-09-30 1986-06-17 Tetra-Tech, Inc. Bidirectional optical electronic converting connector with integral preamplification
US4756593A (en) * 1985-12-11 1988-07-12 Hitachi, Ltd. Connector comprising a plug having a built-in optoelectronic conversion means and a socket
US4767168A (en) * 1986-12-24 1988-08-30 Prestolite Wire Corporation Hybrid connector cable system
US5325453A (en) * 1990-02-17 1994-06-28 Stribel Gmbh Signal transmission line
US5963684A (en) * 1997-02-13 1999-10-05 Lucent Technologies Inc. Multiple-wavelength optical transceiver

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3792284A (en) * 1972-10-13 1974-02-12 Gte Sylvania Inc Electro-optic transmission link
US3878397A (en) * 1973-06-29 1975-04-15 Itt Electro-optical transmission line
US4595839A (en) * 1982-09-30 1986-06-17 Tetra-Tech, Inc. Bidirectional optical electronic converting connector with integral preamplification
US4756593A (en) * 1985-12-11 1988-07-12 Hitachi, Ltd. Connector comprising a plug having a built-in optoelectronic conversion means and a socket
US4767168A (en) * 1986-12-24 1988-08-30 Prestolite Wire Corporation Hybrid connector cable system
US5325453A (en) * 1990-02-17 1994-06-28 Stribel Gmbh Signal transmission line
US5963684A (en) * 1997-02-13 1999-10-05 Lucent Technologies Inc. Multiple-wavelength optical transceiver

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2891371A1 (fr) * 2005-09-23 2007-03-30 Thales Sa Canon de conversion electro-optique pour connexion de fond de chassis
WO2007036458A1 (fr) * 2005-09-23 2007-04-05 Thales Canon de conversion electro-optique pour connexion de fond de chassis
WO2009132706A1 (fr) * 2008-04-30 2009-11-05 Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (Publ) Dispositif, système et procédé pour réseaux de fibres optiques
US8616786B2 (en) 2008-04-30 2013-12-31 Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (Publ) Device, system and method for optical fiber networks
CN103995325A (zh) * 2014-06-11 2014-08-20 苏州旭创科技有限公司 光收发模块
CN103995325B (zh) * 2014-06-11 2016-04-06 苏州旭创科技有限公司 光收发模块

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