An optical cable including a load bearing core includes a longitudinally and radially extending slot housing at least one optical fibre, wherein the slot has a width providing a low clearance for the optical fibre(s) housed therein and preventing two optical fibres being stuck to one another; and the slot has a depth equal to or lower than a radius of the 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.

A cable management system including cable support members held by cross-members to define a cable winding path. Certain types of cross-members are selectively configurable in a first angular position or a second angular position relative to each other. Certain types of mounting brackets hold the cross-members in the selected angular position. Certain types of the cable support members are positionable at any of a plurality of positions along the cross-members to size the cable winding path as desired. Certain types of cross-member support multiple pairs of oppositely facing cable support members to define multiple layers of the cable winding path.

An apparatus has a chassis having a base. A first wall extends substantially perpendicularly from the base at a first edge of the base. The first wall is configured to be a first attachment point for an optical cable comprising one or more optical sensors. An opposing second wall extends substantially perpendicularly from the base at a second edge of the base. A mobile attachment point is configured to be a second attachment point for the optical cable. A spring is coupled to the second wall and the mobile attachment point. The spring is configured to provide a specified force as the mobile attachment point moves.

A directed energy system includes a gimbal assembly that includes a turret configured to rotate about a first axis, and a directed energy head coupled to the turret and configured to rotate about a second axis that is orthogonal to the first axis. The system further includes an optical fiber spooling ring comprised of a fiber cable at least partially threaded through the gimbal assembly and including a plurality of optical fibers configured to transmit optical energy. The optical fiber spooling ring includes a plurality of 360 degree rotations of the fiber cable.

An apparatus includes a strain relief formed in helical shape and formed with a U-shaped channel. The strain relief can be used around a cable of a component or a spool extension of a fiber tray.

Disclosed are systems and methods that utilize multicore optical fibers for gyro coil winding. Particularly, the use of multicore fiber enables inherent thermal stability without the need for complex, tedious, and costly winding patterns. Enabling the use of level winding techniques eliminates the need for complex quadrupole winding patterns. This simplicity lends itself to advancements towards full automation of winding coils for multicore fibers, without sacrificing performance. This, in turn increases the production rate and overcomes current barriers to fiber optic gyroscope (FOG) market expansion. In accordance with the embodiments, multicore fiber can be utilized in various gyro coil winding techniques, including: level winding; Interrupted Level Wind (ILW); and Dual Axis Symmetric (DAS) winding. Furthermore, each of the multicore fiber gyro coil winding patterns can incorporate a multicore shuffle bridge. The multicore shuffle bridge is designed to provide multiple features, such as facilitating the rotation of mating cores.

A spool device (60, 90) for storing at least a portion of a telecommunications cable (800) in a storage configuration (870) includes a base (100, 600), a spool member (300, 700), and a loop engaging member (440, 740). The base (100, 600) includes a plurality of cable holders (110, 110x, 110y, 110a, 110p) configured for receiving a first portion (822, 822a, 822p) and a second portion (824, 824p) of the cable (800). The spool member (300, 700) is mounted to the base (100, 600) and includes a wrapping area (314, 714) that is configured for storing a coiled portion (826) of the cable (800). The loop engaging member (440, 740) is configured for engaging a looped portion (828) of the cable (800) and thereby secures at least the coiled portion (826) and the looped portion (828) of the cable (800). The spool device (60, 90) may be used as an adjustable overlength device for looped cable. The spool device (60, 90) may store and dispense the cable (800) while ends (802, 804) of the cable (800) remain connected to stationary first and second devices (902, 904), respectively.

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.

A spool of optical fibre comprises a spool axis and a length of optical fibre wound around the spool axis to form a plurality of wrap segments arranged axially along the spool axis, wherein adjacent wrap segments partially overlap in the axial direction. Each wrap segment comprises a first wrap layer wound in a first axial direction over a first axial distance, and a second wrap layer wound over the first wrap layer in a reverse second axial direction over a second axial distance greater than the first axial distance, the optical fibre extending from the second wrap layer of one wrap segment to the first wrap layer of an adjacent wrap segment. The spool may be mounted in a device such that the optical fibre can be despooled and deployed from the device.