GB2354600A - Fibre optic cable with metal tracing element - Google Patents
Fibre optic cable with metal tracing element Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2354600A GB2354600A GB0018870A GB0018870A GB2354600A GB 2354600 A GB2354600 A GB 2354600A GB 0018870 A GB0018870 A GB 0018870A GB 0018870 A GB0018870 A GB 0018870A GB 2354600 A GB2354600 A GB 2354600A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- fibre optic
- optic cable
- tracing
- metal
- 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.)
- Withdrawn
Links
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
- G02B6/46—Processes or apparatus adapted for installing or repairing optical fibres or optical cables
- G02B6/56—Processes for repairing optical cables
- G02B6/562—Processes for repairing optical cables locatable, e.g. using magnetic means
-
- 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
- G02B6/4415—Cables for special applications
- G02B6/4416—Heterogeneous cables
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Optics & Photonics (AREA)
- Light Guides In General And Applications Therefor (AREA)
Abstract
A fibre optic cable preferably consisting only of a single or a pair of optical fibres is provided with a metal tracing element so that a tracing signal may be injected at one end of the cable and detected at the other end of the cable. The tracing signal assists in termination and connection operations in a building or other installation where a large number of optical fibres are laid out. The metal element may be a fine wire, foil strip or metallic layer.
Description
2354600 -I- FIBRE OPTIC CABLE WITH METAL TRACING ELEMENT Fibre optic
cables are commonly used for the transfer of data within large buildings and between adjacent buildings. In a building complex having extensive telecommunications and data transfer requirements many fibre optic cables will be laid. Initially, the cables are laid in cable ducts, in roof voids, below suspended floors, etc. by a cabling contractor. That same contractor, or another contractor will subsequently terminate the cables to provide the necessary input and output connections.
Many of the fibre optic cables used are wholly non-metallic - they will typically comprise a glass fibre core surrounded by a plastics sheath. With such cables, unless care is taken in marking the cables at the time of installation it can be difficult for the contractor effecting termination of the cables to identify which of a bundle of cables at one location corresponds to a particular cable at another location, for example in a different building or several floors removed in the same building. Conventional techniques for tracing metal cables cannot be used with fibre optic cables because they do not include any metal member to which a tracing signal can be applied.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a fibre optic cable which includes a metal element extending the length of the cable thereby permitting a tracing signal to be applied to one end of the cable and to be detected at the other end thereof.
The metal element may be in the form of a fine wire, a foil strip, or a metallic layer. The tracing element will be located beneath the outermost covering layer of the fibre optic cable so as to avoid short-circuiting between adjacent fibre optic cables. Preferably, the metal tracing element is in the form of a foil ribbon which is incorporated within the sheath of the cable.
According to another aspect of the present invention a method of tracing a fibre optic cable comprises providing the cable with a metal tracing element extending along the length thereof; applying a tracing signal to the metal tracing element adjacent one end of the cable, and detecting the tracing signal adjacent the other end of the signal.
Fibre optic cables are known which incorporate metal wires for strain relief purposes or which are hybrids of metal signal carrying wires and optical fibres. The present invention does not include such known cables but rather includes cables in which a metal tracing element is provided for the sole purpose of tracing the cable. The metal tracing elements of the present invention will, in general, have insufficient strength to act as strain relief elements and, in general, only one metal tracing element will be present so that the tracing elements is not suitable for signal carrying purposes other than carrying a cable tracing signal.
Claims (1)
- CLAIMS:1. A fibre optic cable which includes a metal element extending the length of the cable permitting a tracing signal to be applied to one end of the metal element and to be detected at the other end thereof.2. A fibre optic cable according to claim I which comprises only one optical fibre or a pair of optical fibres.3. A fibre optic cable according to claim I or claim 2 wherein the metal element is insufficiently strong to act as a strain relief element.4. A -fibre optic cable according to any preceding claim wherein the metal element is a fine wire.5. A fibre optic cable according to any of claims I to 3 wherein the metal element is a foil strip.6. A fibre optic cable according to any of claims I to 3 wherein the metal element is a metallic layer.7. A fibre optic cable according to any preceding claim wherein the metallic element is located beneath the outermost covering layer of the fibre optic cable.8. A fibre optic cable according to any preceding claim wherein only one metal tracing element is present within the fibre optic cable.9. A method Of tracing a fibre optic cable comprising providing the cable with a metal tracing element extending along the length thereof, applying a tracing signal to the metal tracing element adjacent one end of the cable and detecting the tracing signal adjacent the other end of the cable.10. A method according to claim 8 wherein the fibre optic cable comprises only a single optical fibre or a pair of optical fibres.12. A fibre optic cable substantially as hereinbefore described.13. A method of tracing a fibre optic cable substantially as hereinbefore described
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBGB9918167.9A GB9918167D0 (en) | 1999-08-02 | 1999-08-02 | Fibre optic cable with metal tracing element |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB0018870D0 GB0018870D0 (en) | 2000-09-20 |
| GB2354600A true GB2354600A (en) | 2001-03-28 |
Family
ID=10858419
Family Applications (2)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBGB9918167.9A Ceased GB9918167D0 (en) | 1999-08-02 | 1999-08-02 | Fibre optic cable with metal tracing element |
| GB0018870A Withdrawn GB2354600A (en) | 1999-08-02 | 2000-08-01 | Fibre optic cable with metal tracing element |
Family Applications Before (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBGB9918167.9A Ceased GB9918167D0 (en) | 1999-08-02 | 1999-08-02 | Fibre optic cable with metal tracing element |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (2) | GB9918167D0 (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US7376320B2 (en) | 2005-10-27 | 2008-05-20 | At&T Delaware Intellectual Property, Inc. | Methods and devices for tracing fiber optic cable |
| EP2215508A1 (en) * | 2007-11-26 | 2010-08-11 | Corning Cable Systems LLC | Fiber optic cables and assemblies for fiber toward the subscriber applications |
Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5265187A (en) * | 1992-10-28 | 1993-11-23 | Northern Telecom Limited | Distribution frame and optical connector holder combination |
| US5666453A (en) * | 1994-07-15 | 1997-09-09 | Roy Witte | Fiber optic jumper cables and tracing method using same |
-
1999
- 1999-08-02 GB GBGB9918167.9A patent/GB9918167D0/en not_active Ceased
-
2000
- 2000-08-01 GB GB0018870A patent/GB2354600A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5265187A (en) * | 1992-10-28 | 1993-11-23 | Northern Telecom Limited | Distribution frame and optical connector holder combination |
| US5666453A (en) * | 1994-07-15 | 1997-09-09 | Roy Witte | Fiber optic jumper cables and tracing method using same |
Cited By (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US7376320B2 (en) | 2005-10-27 | 2008-05-20 | At&T Delaware Intellectual Property, Inc. | Methods and devices for tracing fiber optic cable |
| US7529457B2 (en) | 2005-10-27 | 2009-05-05 | At&T Intellectual Property, I, L.P. | Methods and devices for tracing fiber optic cable |
| US7664359B2 (en) | 2005-10-27 | 2010-02-16 | At&T Intellectual Property, I,L.P. | Methods and devices for tracing fiber optic cable |
| US7961998B2 (en) | 2005-10-27 | 2011-06-14 | At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. | Methods and devices for tracing fiber optic cable |
| EP2215508A1 (en) * | 2007-11-26 | 2010-08-11 | Corning Cable Systems LLC | Fiber optic cables and assemblies for fiber toward the subscriber applications |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB9918167D0 (en) | 1999-10-06 |
| GB0018870D0 (en) | 2000-09-20 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |