A non-metallic layer stranded optical cable with a reversal point capable of being positioned and a detection method thereof, which solves the problems of determining a reversal point of a cable core and performing an operation of drawing out an optical fiber from the optical cable. The present invention relates to a non-metallic layer stranded optical cable, and the key points of the technical solution thereof includes a cable core and a metal film provided at each reversal point of the cable core, and an outer sheath is provided on the cable core.

A method may include (1) coating a segment of fiber optic cable with an adhesive substance, (2) forming a coil of the segment of fiber optic cable, (3) deforming the coil into a noncircular shape defining a slot external to the coil while obeying a minimum bend radius requirement for the segment of fiber optic cable, and (4) activating the adhesive substance to stabilize the noncircular shape of the coil. Various other methods and apparatuses, such as those for performing the deforming operation, are also disclosed.

An image-conducting optical fiber bundle extends along a central bundle axis between image input and image output ends. The bundle is twisted along a portion of its length such that an image inputted into the image input end is angularly displaced about the central bundle axis before being outputted through the image output end. Each constituent optical fiber includes a cladding with a cladding diameter corresponding with the fiber diameter of that fiber and a core with a core diameter. The ratio of the core diameter to the cladding diameter defines a core-to-clad diameter ratio relative to each fiber. In various embodiments, at least one of fiber diameter and core-to-clad diameter ratio varies as a function of a fiber's radial displacement from the central bundle axis.

A method may include (1) coating a segment of fiber optic cable with an adhesive substance, (2) forming a coil of the segment of fiber optic cable, (3) deforming the coil into a noncircular shape defining a slot external to the coil while obeying a minimum bend radius requirement for the segment of fiber optic cable, and (4) activating the adhesive substance to stabilize the noncircular shape of the coil. Various other methods and apparatuses, such as those for performing the deforming operation, are also disclosed.

Disclosed herein is a system and method of controlling a strander by wireless visual monitoring. In certain embodiments, a stranding system includes at least one vision device mounted to a rotating structure of a strander. The at least one vision device is configured to capture a view of at least a portion of a subunit reel of at least one of a set of payoff units of the rotating structure to generate vision data. The stranding system further includes at least one wireless communication module mounted to the rotating structure to receive and wirelessly transmit the vision data over a high-bandwidth data link. The stranding system is configured to proactively identify payout hazards of the subunit package (e.g., cable crossover) to, for example, prevent damage to the strander.

Embodiments of the disclosure relate to a bundled drop assembly. The bundled drop assembly includes a central member and a first layer of subunits wound around the central member in a bundled configuration. The first layer of subunits has at least one subunit containing at least one first optical fiber, and the first layer of subunits has a first maximum cross-sectional dimension in the bundled configuration. In an unrestrained configuration, the first layer of subunits has a second maximum cross-sectional dimension that is less than twice the first maximum cross-sectional dimension.

Aspects of the technology relate to rotational electromechanical systems, in which data and or power are supplied to components while one part of the system is rotating relative to another part of the system. Repeated rotation may create strain on or otherwise cause the cables to intermittently or permanently fail. A helical cable management system is provided that enables full rotation to the extent permitted. One or more cables are wound in a helical shape around the axis of rotation, which distributes the deformation of the cable along the helical length. Rotation in one direction causes the helix diameter to increase, while rotation in the other direction causes the helix diameter to decrease. A structure is used to maintain the distance between helical turns, while permitting the increase and decrease of the helix diameter. This reduces the overall strain on the cables, which can significantly extend their useful lifetime.

Disclosed herein is a system and method of controlling a strander by wireless visual monitoring. In certain embodiments, a stranding system includes at least one vision device mounted to a rotating structure of a strander. The at least one vision device is configured to capture a view of at least a portion of a subunit reel of at least one of a set of payoff units of the rotating structure to generate vision data. The stranding system further includes at least one wireless communication module mounted to the rotating structure to receive and wirelessly transmit the vision data over a high-bandwidth data link. The stranding system is configured to proactively identify payout hazards of the subunit package (e.g., cable crossover) to, for example, prevent damage to the strander.

It is disclosed a process and an apparatus for manufacturing a figure of eight cable. An extrusion head has separate extrusion dies extruding in parallel a first and second outer sheath around a first and second core, respectively, so as to provide two separate cable elements having respective longitudinal axes laying in a first plane. While the outer sheaths are in a softened state, the cable elements are passed in parallel through a twisting die which causes their longitudinal axes to lay in a second plane forming a predetermined twisting angle with respect to the first plane. This twisting causes the outer sheaths to join together, thereby forming a figure of eight cable.

Embodiments of the disclosure relate to a method of preparing a bundled cable. In the method, a plurality of subunits is wound around a central member in one or more layers of subunits to form the bundled cable. For a section of the central member, each layer of subunits has a pitch over which a subunit of the layer of subunits makes one revolution around the section of the central member and a length of the subunit required to make the one revolution. The subunits are configured to have a nominal helical length equal to the ratio of a nominal length to a nominal pitch. Further, in the method, a measurement of the bundled cable is monitored, and a winding rate of the plurality of subunits is adjusted based on the measurement in order to account for deviations from the nominal helical length.