Tape-shaped optical fiber cable

Abstract

A tape-shaped optical fiber cable has: a tape member formed of a fiber material and a cured resin formed around the fiber material; and an optical fiber embedded in the tape member. The optical fiber is covered by a covering material, the fiber material comprises a bidirectional fiber material. The optical fiber is embedded in the tape member such that one fiber array direction of the bidirectional fiber material is parallel to a longitudinal direction of the optical fiber and the other fiber array direction of the bidirectional fiber material is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The preferred embodiments according to the invention will be explained below referring to the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a tape-shaped optical fiber cable in a preferred embodiment according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view showing a making method of the tape-shaped optical fiber cable shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of a partially removed tape material of the tape-shaped optical fiber cable shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4A is a perspective view showing a method of installing the tape-shaped optical fiber cable shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4B is a perspective view showing a method of installing the tape-shaped optical fiber cable shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5A is a cross sectional view showing an example of a holey optical fiber cable;

FIG. 5B is a cross sectional view showing an another example of a holey optical fiber cable;

FIG. 6 is a graph showing relationships between a loss increment and pressures (lateral pressures) of HF and SMF;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view showing an optical fiber with a high relative refractive index difference and a graph showing a refractive index distribution on a cross section of the optical fiber;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a tape-shaped optical fiber cable with plural covered optical fibers;

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view showing an enlarged substantial part of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the conventional tape-shaped optical fiber cable; and

FIG. 11 is a graph showing a backscattered light spectrum.

Claims

1. A tape-shaped optical fiber cable, comprising: a tape member comprising a fiber material and a cured resin formed around the fiber material; andan optical fiber embedded in the tape member,wherein the optical fiber is covered by a covering material,the fiber material comprises a bidirectional fiber material, andthe optical fiber is embedded in the tape member such that one fiber array direction of the bidirectional fiber material is parallel to a longitudinal direction of the optical fiber and an other fiber array direction of the bidirectional fiber material is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber.

2. The tape-shaped optical fiber cable according to claim 1, wherein: the cable comprises a thickness of 46 to 225 μm.

3. The tape-shaped optical fiber cable according to claim 1, wherein: the optical fiber comprises a holey fiber or a photonic crystal fiber, each of which comprising a plurality of holes formed in a clad thereof.

4. The tape-shaped optical fiber cable according to claim 1, wherein: the optical fiber comprises a relative refractive index difference of 0.6 to 3.0%.

5. The tape-shaped optical fiber cable according to claim 1, wherein: the covering material comprises a polyimide resin.

6. The tape-shaped optical fiber cable according to claim 1, wherein: the fiber material comprises at least one of a glass fiber, an aramid fiber, a carbon fiber, and a poly-p-phenylene benzo bisoxazole (PBO) fiber.

7. The tape-shaped optical fiber cable according to claim 1, wherein: the cured resin comprises at least one of an unsaturated polyethylene resin, a vinyl ester resin, an epoxy resin, a polyimide resin, a polyphenylene sulfide resin, a polyether ether ketone resin, and a polybutene resin.

8. The tape-shaped optical fiber cable according to claim 1, wherein: the tape member comprises a notch formed at a side thereof.

9. The tape-shaped optical fiber cable according to claim 1, wherein: the optical fiber comprises a fiber Bragg grating formed therein.

10. The tape-shaped optical fiber cable according to claim 1, wherein: a tip portion of the optical fiber protrudes from the tape member, anda protective material to protect the optical fiber is formed on the tip portion.