LV12008B - EXCELLENT FIELD OF CREATIVE FIBER AND ITS PRODUCTION METHOD - Google Patents

Abstract

The object of the invention is an optical fiber cable with plane and cylindrical implementation, its construction and method of production. In the case of plane implementation the cable contains a tape-like basing of elastic material with a reflective surface. A sideway emission optical fiber, in the necessary amount, is placed on the reflective surface and it fully or partially fills up this surface. The ends of the fiber with flat surfaces perpendicular to the fiber axes directly or through an adapter are connected to at least one source of optical radiance. To the opposing end of each piece of fiber there may be a radiance reflector or another source. One and/or the other surface of the tape-like basing at least partially may be covered with sticky substance layer. In case of cylindrical implementation the cable is made of the previously mentioned tape-like structure which as a spiral or coaxial is wound on the surface of a cylindrical core of an elastic material. The core can be substituted with a tape-like basing which has the covering parts of the winding of opposing surface added with the help of sticky material.Image 3 shows the offered cable construction in a cylindrical implementation (the version of coaxial winding).<IMAGE>

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to optical fiber optical wires and their applications in light technology, in particular linear planar and cylindrical optical fiber radiators for illumination, irradiation, optical signal transmission and artistic-decorative purposes.

A number of flexible linear light source side-beam optical fiber solutions are known (U.S. Patent 4,933,815, F21Y 8/00, 1990; PCT / US89 / 05583, June 28, 1990; EP 0 381 461 A2, 1990; Latvian Patent) EN 11644 B, 20.04.1997, G02B 6/02, 1995), which provides radiation output from a fiber end to an end through its cylindrical lateral surface throughout its length or portions thereof. In order to enhance the visual effect, it is desirable to increase the area of the emitting surface, which is achieved by using several side emitting optical fibers in one place.

It is known (PCT / JP87 / 00 411, 30.12.87.) A thin linear light source having a solid flat base on which side-emitting optical fibers with an exposed and deformed core side surface are parallel. A reflective film is attached to the ends of the parallel fibers perpendicular to their axes, but the opposite ends of the fibers are joined together outside the base in a beam attached to a light source. This solution provides a thin surface radiation effect, but has the disadvantages of limited radiator length and rigidity due to the brittleness of the side-emitting fibers of the structure used.

It is known (U.S. Patent 5,333,228, G02B 6/44, 1993) a side-beam fiber-optic cable comprising a flexible tubular core with a reflective coating on the side and a certain number of multi-stranded bundles of flexible side-beam optical fibers placed outside this deck. The fiber bundles on the outside are enclosed in a cylindrical transparent protective layer. This solution provides a cylindrical surface with linear dimensions (projection of the radiating area per observer) that significantly exceed the size of individual fibers, resulting in a stronger visual effect. The disadvantages are the uneven distribution of the radiation intensity over the area of the shining surface, the labor intensive fabrication (especially by twisting the fiber bundles and placing them around the reflecting core) and the high consumption of composite fibers, which leads to high production costs.

The object of the present invention is to extend the functional capabilities of side radiation sources based on fiber optic fibers, to simplify the construction and manufacturing process, and to save labor and material resources.

The object is achieved by providing an optical fiber optic cable with a flexible material web-shaped base, at least one surface of which is at least partially covered with a reflective layer on which side-emitting optical fibers are placed parallel to the edges of the tape. One or both edges of the substrate adjacent to the fibers are at least partially covered with a layer of adhesive material which may also be applied to the opposite surface of the ribbon substrate. At least one end of each fiber is connected to a source of optical radiation. By winding this ribbon structure in a helical or coaxial (i.e., ribbon-parallel, axis-axis) fashion around a cylindrical core, a light cable with a uniformly radiating cylindrical surface is obtained.

The proposed solution is illustrated by the following drawings: FIG. 1 is a variant embodiment of a planar embodiment of a fiber optic fiber optic cable, FIG. 2 is an embodiment of a cylindrical helical winding of a fiber optic fiber optic cable, FIG. 3 is an embodiment of a cylindrical coaxial coil winding fiber optic cable.

In one embodiment of the planar embodiment (Fig. 1), the cable consists of a ribbon base 1 of a flexible material, one surface of which is partially covered by a reflective layer 2 and partly (by one side) by an adhesive layer 3. The reflective layer 2 is parallel to the edge of the ribbon. the number of side-emitting optical fibers 4 required.

In one embodiment of the cylindrical embodiment (Fig. 2), the cable is formed by spirally winding the ribbon structure described above around the cylindrical core 5 such that in each strand, the adhesive material layer 3 contacts the opposite surface of the next strand tape. at the same distance on the surface between all adjacent fibers.

In the second embodiment of the cylindrical embodiment (Fig. 3), the cable is formed by joining the opposite surfaces of the ribbed base with the layer of adhesive material 3 at the coaxial location of all the fibers, i. i. parallel to the 5 axis of the cylindrical core.

In order to produce a planar fiber-optic fiber optic cable (Fig. 1),

- initially covering one portion of the surface of the strip-like substrate 1 with a reflective layer 2 over its entire length, such as a metallic film; but the other part of this surface is covered with a layer of adhesive 3 and a non-stick protective layer;

- the substrate thus prepared is rolled up in the required length;

- the winding fibers are wound in the required number either on one coil or individually on their own coil;

- the base roll and the fiber coil (s) are fixed to the axes perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the cable to be formed;

- fibers are added to the reflecting layer by synchronously unwinding the base roll and the fiber coil;

- if necessary, the fibers are additionally covered with a protective material, such as a transparent polymer film;

- further wrapping the radiating fiber optic tape in a roll;

- cut the tape from the roll into sections of the required length;

- the ends of the lateral filaments are fastened at the ends of each section of the tape to the nozzle of the required shape and the surfaces of the ends smoothed, for example by polishing;

- the ends shall be connected to suitably prepared sources of radiation, flexible light-guide adapters and / or reflectors.

In order to make a radiating fiber optic cable in a cylindrical configuration (Fig. 2), the flexible material core 5 is coiled in a spiral manner, at the same time separating the aforementioned non-stick material protective layer in a winding process and retracted. Thanks to the interlocking portions of the opposite surface of the tape backing in the winding, the backing can replace the core so that it can be pulled out in the direction of the axis after reeling or after the cable has been laid in the protective tube and reused.

Instead of the helical winding, the cable surface may be provided with a cylindrical shape, also by connecting the side edges of the ribbon base parallel to the axis of the cylinder according to FIG. 3.

Several modifications of the fiber optic cable planar design are possible, incl. see by completely covering one or both surfaces of the tape substrate with the reflecting layer and the fibers, or by applying multiple layers of the fiber, or by additionally coating the fibers from the outside with a protective layer of translucent or partially scattering material, or by applying an adhesive layer to the opposite surface. Each of the fiber ends can be connected to a source of optical radiation or a reflector. The ends of the fibers may be enclosed in a common nozzle, the shape of which depends on the geometry of the source or adapter to be connected. For example, it is possible to use an optical fiber bundle adapter with a circular nozzle attached to the radiation source and a rectangular nozzle at the end of the emitting ribbon with the same mutual fiber arrangement as the end of the emitting ribbon.

-3Possible modifications of the cylindrical design of the fiber optic cable, for example, by means of a flexible tubular core with an outer surface of a tape base glued to its outer surface or a quasi-cylindrical (variable diameter, asymmetric) core, fiber and / or sheath.

The invention makes it possible to produce longer linear sources of optical radiation (up to 500-700 m using quartz cored side fibers compared to 30 m, typical for a prototype solution), while providing a smoother radius of the cylindrical surface of cables and significantly less labor and assembly (side-emitting optical fibers). For example, for a 1 m cable with a radius cylindrical surface diameter of 2 cm, using fiber with an outside diameter of 1 mm, the proposed solution (FIG. 2) requires about 56.5 m of fiber, while the prototype solution (eighteen 7-fiber bundles around the core 14). mm in diameter) - at least 126 m, which is 2.2 times more.

Claims (14)

Formula of the Invention. I. A fiber-optic optical fiber cable having a flat base on which the side-optical fibers, with one or more sources of optical radiation and / or reflectors different from one another and having smooth surfaces oriented perpendicular to the axis of the fibers, are placed as required, that, for the purpose of extending the functionality, a thin flexible sheet of material is used as a backing, the surface of which is partially covered with a reflecting layer having side-by-side filaments closely adjacent or spaced parallel to the edges of the tape; covered with a layer of sticky material. Cable according to Claim 1, characterized in that the reflective layer with the fibers placed on it completely covers one or both opposing surfaces of the ribbon base. Cable according to Claim 2, characterized in that the fibers are coated in several layers. Cable according to Claim 3, characterized in that the fibers are additionally covered on the outside with a protective layer of transparent or semi-diffusing material, whereas the adhesive layer is only coated on the opposite surface of the substrate and additionally coated with a protective layer of non-stick material. Cable according to Claim 4, characterized in that the surface formed by the flexible base is regularly or irregularly curved. 6. A cable according to claim 5, characterized in that the ends of the fibers are contained in a rectangular or other nozzle connected directly or through a flexible light-guide adapter to at least one radiation source or reflector. 7. A cable according to Claim 6, characterized in that the side-emitting fiber comprises a quartz core and a coating of a partially scattering material. 8. A cable having a substrate in the form of a flexible core of material with a sufficient number of side-emitting optical fibers, characterized in that, for labor-intensive and weight-saving purposes, the fiber optic ribbon structure extends helically along its length. 9. A cable according to claim 8, characterized in that the core is replaced by a flexible ribbon base to which the overlapping portions of the opposing surfaces are joined. 10. A cable according to claim 9, characterized in that the curved ribbon forms a coaxial cylindrical surface with its axis parallel to the joined lateral edges of the ribbon. II. Cable according to Claim 10, characterized in that the surface formed by the core, the fibers and / or the protective sheath is quasi-cylindrical, for example with a variable diameter, or asymmetrical. 12. A method of making a fiber optic fiber optic cable comprising: -2 The amount and length of side radiating fibers assembled and fixed to the substrate is characterized by the fact that in order to increase production speed and to provide process automation capability - initially, one surface of the strip substrate is covered with a strip of reflective layer, such as a metallic film, and the other surface of the substrate, such as one edge of the strip, is covered with a layer of adhesive and a non-sticking layer; - the substrate thus prepared is wound on a roll to the required length; - the side-emitting fibers are wound in the required number to one coil or individually to each coil; - the prepared base roller and fiber coils are fixed to the axes perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the cable to be formed; - the fibers are attached to the reflecting layer by synchronous winding of the backing roller and the fiber coil (s), for example by gluing with transparent glue; - where necessary, the fibers are coated with a protective material, such as a transparent polymer film; - the fiber-optic fiber optic ribbon cable is wound into a reel by cutting the ribbon into sections of the required length - at the ends of each section of the tape the fibers are fixed to the nozzle of the required shape and the surface of the ends smoothed, for example, by polishing; - the nozzles are connected to the appropriate adapters, sources and / or reflectors. 13. A method of making a cable comprising coating a cylindrical surface of a flexible material core with a layer of reflective material, securing the side radiating fibers to a layer of reflective material and depositing a transparent protective tube, characterized in that the uncoated core is coiled, protective layer of non-stick material; if necessary, the cored tape is retracted in the direction of the axis into a protective tube of appropriate length or covered from the outside with a layer of transparent or semi-dispersive protective material. 14. A method according to claim 13, characterized in that, in forming the winding, the tape base is not glued to the cylindrical surface of the core, but the parts covering the opposite surface of the tape are glued together, and the core is drawn out and reused after winding. 15. A method according to claim 14, characterized in that the helical winding site deflects the tape by connecting the lateral edges of the tape parallel to the axis of the cylindrical surface.