WO2004072988A1

WO2004072988A1 - Rf id prolonged body and cable

Info

Publication number: WO2004072988A1
Application number: PCT/JP2004/001580
Authority: WO
Inventors: Osamu Koyasu; Kazunaga Kobayashi; Satoru Shiobara; Ken Ohsato; Masashi Hara; Shimei Tanaka; Takeshi Honjo; Keiji Oohashi
Original assignee: Fujikura Ltd.
Priority date: 2003-02-13
Filing date: 2004-02-13
Publication date: 2004-08-26
Also published as: TW200422673A

Abstract

There are provided an RF ID prolonged body and cable having RF ID elements arranged at an appropriate interval along the cable longitudinal direction for reading cable identification information at an arbitrary position along the cable longitudinal direction even if the cable identification information has become a great amount. The RF ID prolonged body (15) includes a first attachment tape (17), a second attachment tape (19), and plenty of RF ID elements (23) arranged along the tape longitudinal direction at an appropriate interval between the first attachment tape and the second attachment tape and capable of reading/writing cable identification information for distinguishing a local cable from another cable by transmission of electro-magnetic energy. The RF ID prolonged body (15) is attached to a cable core side by side or wound laterally.

Description

Specification

RF ID continuum and cable This application is a specification of Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-34825 filed on Feb. 13, 2003 by the same applicant, and filed on Jan. 30, 2004 by the same applicant. The specification of Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-24290, incorporated herein by reference, is incorporated herein by reference. Technical field

The present invention relates to an RF ID continuous body used for identifying a cable such as an optical fiber cable and a metal cable, and a cable provided with the RF ID continuous body. Background art

For example, in cable replacement work, removal work, etc. (work related to cables), the sheath of the cable is usually identified so that the target cable can be identified (identified) from a large number of cables laid in troughs. (Skin) is directly or indirectly provided with KAKERE identification information to distinguish the cable from the other cable.

That is, cable identification information is printed on the surface of the sheath using ink, transfer paper, or laser, or a tag engraved with the cable identification information is attached to the surface of the sheath. Furthermore, as shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-21730, the two-dimensional QR code of the identification information is printed on a QR code printing paper, and the QR code printing paper is coated with a protective film on the surface of the sheath of the cable. Or sticking it. By the way, in recent years, the number of optical fiber cables consisting of optical fibers, optical fibers, and tape cores has widened from a small number of cores to a large number of cores, and the cable identification information for identifying one cable is enormous. Amount. Therefore, simply printing on the surface of the sheath, engraving in the evening, or sticking QR code printing paper on the surface of the sheath, It is not easy to attach all cable identification information of a cable. In addition, it becomes difficult to identify a target cable from a large number of cables, and the work efficiency of cable-related work is deteriorated.

Furthermore, since the printed cable identification information and the engraved cable identification information are exposed on the outside (surface) of the cable, if the cable is laid for a long time, the cable identification information may be rubbed. As a result, it becomes illegible and the cable cannot be identified. Even when the QR code printing paper is adhered to the surface of the sheath using a protective film, the protective film is peeled off from the sheath, causing the same problem as described above. Disclosure of the invention

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an RFID for cable identification that can easily and quickly identify a target cable from a large number of cables. It is an object of the present invention to provide a runner and a cable having the RFID runner.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided an R F ID run-length used to identify a cable,

A first joining tape having a first joining surface,

A second bonding tape having a second bonding surface bonded to the first bonding surface, and an appropriate spacing (including an equal spacing) along the tape longitudinal direction between the first bonding tape and the second bonding tape. A number of RFID elements that can be read and written by transmitting electromagnetic energy to the cable identification information for identifying the cable itself and other cables,

Is provided.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an RFID continuous elongated body disposed between the first joining tape and the second joining tape, and further including a tensile member extending along the longitudinal direction of the tape.

According to still another aspect of the present invention,

An RFID continuous body vertically or horizontally wound around the cable core, wherein A first joining tape having a joining surface; a second joining tape having a second joining surface joined to the first joining surface; and a long tape between the first joining tape and the second joining tape. A number of RFID elements that are arranged at appropriate intervals along the direction and that can read and write cable identification information for identifying the own cable and other cables by transmitting and receiving electromagnetic energy. When,

A sheath for covering the cable core R F ID runner,

Are provided.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cable further including a buffer layer provided between the sheath and the cable core.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, the RFID continuous body of the cable includes a tensile member disposed between the first joining tape and the second joining tape, and extending along the longitudinal direction of the tape. Cable is provided.

In this specification, the cable core includes at least a transmission path such as a single optical fiber, and a member for supporting the transmission path, such as a slot or a tensile member. "Vertical (to the cable core)" means to be placed in parallel (to the cable core), and "horizontal winding (to the cable core)" is spirally wound around (of the cable core) Means that. Therefore, a presser winding or other members may or may not be interposed between the cable core and the RFID continuous body. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an optical fiber cable according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a plan view of an RFIDD continuous body of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line I I I-I I I in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a joining tape which is a component of the RFID running body of FIG. 2,

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of an optical fiber cable according to the second embodiment of the present invention. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Same or Similar members are given the same or similar numbers.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an optical fiber cable according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the fiber cable 1 of the first embodiment has a cable core 3 as a main component. The cable core 3 has a slot 5 and a tensile strength member 7 made of a steel stranded wire disposed at the center of the slot 5. A plurality of (five in the first embodiment) storage grooves 9 are spirally formed on the outer periphery of the slot 5, and a plurality of (five in the first embodiment) optical fiber tapes are provided in each storage groove 9. The core wire 11 is housed.

The cable 1 is provided with an RFID continuous body 15 for identifying the optical fiber cable 1 described later around the cable core 3. More specifically, the RFID continuous body 15 is arranged parallel to the glass core 3 (attached vertically) or spirally wound around the cable core 3 (horizontally wound).

A presser winding 13 is provided on the outer periphery of the slot 5 so that the optical fiber ribbon 11 does not come off from the storage groove 9 and presses the RFID continuous body 15. Although the presser winding 13 is disposed outside the RFID run 15, it may be disposed inside the RFID run 15.

A buffer layer 29 made of a fibrous body such as a plastic yarn is provided outside the presser winding 13.

Outside the buffer layer 29, a sheath 27 that covers the cable core 3 and the RFID continuous body 15 is provided. The sheath 27 is made of PE (polyethylene) or PVC (polyvinyl chloride). In the first embodiment, the outer diameter of the sheath 27, in other words, the outer diameter of the optical fiber cable 1 is 18 mm.

On the surface of the sheath 27, a position indicator (not shown) indicating the position of the RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) elements 23 (not shown in FIG. 1) arranged at equal intervals in the RFID elongated body 15 Are provided at equal intervals along the longitudinal direction of the cable. The interval between the position indications is set to be the same as the interval between the RFID elements 23 in the longitudinal direction of the cable when the RFID continuous body 15 is housed inside the optical fiber cable 1.

Hereinafter, the configuration of the RF10 continuous body 15 which is a main part of the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. This will be described in detail.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the RF ID elongated body 15. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the RF ID elongated body 15 taken along line ΙΠ- における in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 3, the RF ID continuous body 15 is composed of the first bonding tape 17 and the second bonding tape 19 in the thickness direction (y direction). A plurality of RF ID elements 23 sandwiched between the first bonding tape 17 and the second bonding tape 19 in the thickness direction and arranged on both sides of the RF ID element 23 in the width direction (X direction). And a pair of tensile strength members 25 provided. The first joining tape 17 and the second joining tape 19 are adhered to each other by a thermosetting adhesive 21.

Each RF ID element 23 has an IC chip (not shown) that can read and write cable identification information for identifying its own cable and other cables by transmitting electromagnetic energy such as electromagnetic waves. The cable identification information includes the manufacturer, date of manufacture, cable product name, strip length, and the content of the optical fiber ribbon. As a method for transmitting electromagnetic energy, an electromagnetic induction method is used in the present embodiment, but a microwave method or an electromagnetic coupling method may be used. In the present embodiment, the RF ID element 23 has a cylindrical shape, and its outer diameter is 2.1 mm.

The RF ID element 23 is disposed along the tape longitudinal direction (z direction) of the first joining tape 17 and the second joining tape 19, in other words, along the core longitudinal direction of the cable core 3 (the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 1). Placed at intervals. The distance between many RF ID elements 23 in the cable longitudinal direction when housed inside the optical fiber cable 1 is the maximum communication distance between a read / write device (not shown) and the RF ID element 23 (approximately lm in the case of electromagnetic induction). ) Is set to be almost the same as

The tension member 25 is made of aramide fiber or FRP (collective name of reinforced plastic), and has a string-like shape extending in the longitudinal direction of the tape.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the first joining tape 17 and the second joining tape 19. As shown, the first joining tape 17 has a first joining surface 17 f to which the thermosetting adhesive 21 can be applied, and the second joining tape 19 can apply the thermosetting adhesive 21. It has a suitable second bonding surface 19 f. The first bonding tape 17 and the second bonding tape 19 are PET (Polyethylene terephthalate). In the present embodiment, the tape width of the first bonding tape 17 and the second bonding tape 19 is 6 mm, and the tape thickness of the first bonding tape 17 and the second bonding tape 19 is 0.1 mm (thermosetting type bonding tape). (Including 21 layers of adhesive, 0.111mm).

In the present embodiment, the first bonding surface 17f of the first bonding tape 17 and the second bonding surface 19f of the second bonding tape 19 are bonded by bonding, but are configured to be bonded by heat fusion. You may.

Next, a method of manufacturing the RF 10 continuous body 15 and the optical fiber cassette 1 of the first embodiment will be described.

After applying the thermosetting adhesive 21 to the second bonding surface 19 f of the second bonding tape 19, a plurality of RF ID elements 23 are arranged at equal intervals along the longitudinal direction of the tape, and a pair of tensile force members 25 are arranged on both sides of the plurality of RF ID elements 23 along the longitudinal direction of the tape. Next, a thermosetting adhesive 21 is applied to the first bonding surface 17 f of the first bonding tape 17, and the first bonding surface 17 f and the second bonding surface 19 f of the second bonding tape 19 are overlapped. . Finally, the first joint surface 17f and the second joint surface 19f are joined by bonding using a heating roller (not shown). As a result, the plurality of RF ID elements 23 and the pair of tensile members 25 are held in a state sandwiched between the first joining tape 17 and the second joining tape 19. As described above, the RF ID string 15 including the plurality of RF ID elements 23, the pair of tensile members 25, and the joining tape (the first joining tape 17 and the second joining tape 19) is manufactured.

Next, the RF 10 continuous body 15 is vertically or horizontally wound around the separately manufactured cable core 3, the presser winding 13 is wound, and a buffer layer 29 is provided on the outside thereof. By providing the sheath 27 outside the buffer layer 29, the optical fiber cable 1 in which the RF 10 continuous body 15 is housed is manufactured.

As described above, according to the optical fiber cable 1 of the first embodiment, the following advantages can be obtained.

(1) Since the RF ID chain 15 includes the RF ID element 23, the lead Z-light device can be operated properly even if the amount of identification information of the optical fiber cable 1 becomes enormous. All cable identification information easily and quickly Element 23 can be written. Similarly, all the cable identification information can be read from the RF ID element 23 easily and in a short time. Thus, the target optical fiber cable 1 can be easily and quickly identified from a large number of cables, and the efficiency of cable-related operations (replacing and removing cayecare, etc.) is improved.

(2) Even if a long time has passed since the installation of the optical fiber cable 1, the cassette identification information written in the RF ID element 23 will not be lost, and the optical fiber cable 1 will not be lost for a long time. Can be identified.

(3) Many RF ID elements 23 are arranged at equal intervals in the optical fiber cable 1 along the longitudinal direction of the cable, and the interval is almost the same as the maximum communication distance between the read / write device and the RF ID element 23. The optical fiber cable 1 can be identified in any work area along the optical fiber cable 1.

(4) The tensile strength member 25 provided on the RF ID continuous body 15 bears the tension acting on the optical fiber cable 1 after the cable is laid. 23 can be prevented from being damaged. This also extends the life of the RF ID element 23 and maintains the identification function of the optical fiber cable 1 for a long period of time.

(5) Since the buffer layer 29 provided outside the RF ID continuous body 15 absorbs the lateral pressure acting on the optical fiber cable 1, it is possible to prevent the RF ID element 23 from being damaged by the lateral pressure. In addition, as a result, the life of the RF ID element 23 is improved, and the identification function of the optical fiber casket 1 is maintained for a long time.

(6) Since the RF ID string 15 includes a plurality of RF ID elements 23 arranged at equal intervals along the tape longitudinal direction, the RF 10 string 15 is arranged or spiraled along the cable core 3. By wrapping in the shape, a large number of RF ID elements 23 can be easily housed at equal intervals along the longitudinal direction of the cable inside the optical fiber gable 1 (inside the sheath 27).

(7) Since the plurality of RF ID elements 23 are fixed to the bonding tapes 17 and 19, there is no displacement of the RF ID elements 23 inside the optical fiber cable 1, and the optical fiber cable 1 is stably identified. be able to. Also, individual RF ID elements No member such as a presser winding for fixing the cable to the cable core 3 is required.

(8) Since the RFID continuous body 15 has the shape of a tape, it can be placed in the optical fiber cable 1 in the same manner as a marking tape or a tear string, and the current production speed of the optical fiber cable Can be maintained.

(9) Since the RF 10 continuous body 15 can be manufactured in a separate process for the optical fiber cable manufacturing line, a device for supplying RFID elements and a position detection device for arranging RFID elements at regular intervals Need not be added to the fiber optic cable production line. Therefore, the changes required for the current optical fiber cable production line are:

One!

It is only necessary to add a feeding device for the R F ID runner 15.

(10) Since the RFID continuous body 15 has the shape of a tape having a small thickness, even if the RFID continuous body 15 is arranged along the cable core 3 or wound around the outer periphery of the cable core 3, the The outer diameter of the fiber cable 1 does not increase. Therefore, the space required for storing and laying optical fiber cables remains unchanged. (11) The RFID element 23 is disposed relatively outside the optical fiber cable 1 by arranging the RFID continuous body 15 along the cable core 3 or winding it around the outer periphery of the cable core 3. Therefore, the transmission of electromagnetic energy between the read / write device and the RFID element 23 can be efficiently performed.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of an optical fiber cable according to the second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, the optical fiber cable 31 of the second embodiment has a cable core 33 as a main constituent element. The core core 33 has a tension member 35, and the tension member 35 has a tensile member 37 arranged at the center. A plurality (12 in the second embodiment) of optical fiber cords 39 are provided on the outer periphery of the tension member 35 in a set and twisted manner. A presser winding 41 is provided on the outer periphery of the plurality of optical fiber cords 39 so that the plurality of optical fiber cords 39 do not separate from the tension member 35.

An RFID string 43 for identifying the optical fiber cable 33 is vertically or horizontally wound around the cable core 33. Since the RFID continuous body 43 has substantially the same configuration as the RFID continuous body 15 of the first embodiment, detailed description is omitted (see FIGS. 2 to 4). In FIG. 5, the RFID continuous body 43 is placed outside the holding roll 41. Although it is arranged, it may be arranged inside the presser winding 41.

A buffer layer 47 made of a fibrous body such as a plastic yarn is provided on the outer periphery of the cable core 33.

A sheath 45 is provided outside the cable core 33 to cover the cable core 33 and the RFID continuous body 43. The sheath 45 is made of PE (polyethylene) or PVC (polyvinyl chloride) or the like. In the second embodiment, the outer diameter of the sheath 45, in other words, the outer diameter of the optical fiber cable 33 is 16 mm.

On the surface of the sheath 45, position indicators (not shown) indicating the positions of the RF ID elements 23 in the RF ID elongated body 43 are attached at regular intervals along the cable longitudinal direction (the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 5). Have been. The interval of the position display is set to be the same as the interval of the RF ID elements 23 in the longitudinal direction of the cable when the RF ID continuous body 43 is housed inside the optical fiber cable 33.

According to the second embodiment, the same advantages as the first embodiment can be obtained.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the described embodiment, but can be implemented in various other modes by making appropriate changes. For example, the RF ID continuous body 15 (43) may be used for the metal cable instead of the optical fiber cables 1 and 33.

Claims

The scope of the claims

1. R F ID run-length used to identify cables,

A first bonding tape having a first bonding surface;

A second joining tape having a second joining surface joined to the first joining surface;

Capable of identifying the own cable and the other cable, which are arranged at appropriate intervals along the longitudinal direction of the tape between the first bonding tape and the second bonding tape, to read and write by transmitting electromagnetic energy And a plurality of RFID elements, and an RFID run.

2. The RFID continuous body according to claim 1, further comprising a tensile member disposed between the first joining tape and the second joining tape and extending along the longitudinal direction of the tape.

3. Cable core and

An RFID continuous body vertically or horizontally wound on the cable core, the first joining tape having a first joining surface, and the second joining tape having a second joining surface joined to the first joining surface. (2) The electromagnetic energy is used to determine the cable identification information for identifying the own cable and the other cable, which are arranged at appropriate intervals along the longitudinal direction of the tape between the bonding tape and the first bonding tape and the second bonding tape. Read by transmission ■ Writable RFID elements

A sheath covering the cable core and the RFID run;

Cable with.

4. The cable according to claim 3, further comprising a buffer layer provided between the sheath and the cable core.

5. The RFID continuous body according to claim 3, wherein the RFID continuous body has a tensile member disposed between the first bonding tape and the second bonding tape, and extending along the longitudinal direction of the tape. cable.