Optical telecommunications cable with metallisation for blocking diffusion - loosely holds light conductors in filling material encased in sleeve of plastics material

摘要

An optical cable for information transmission has a number of optical conductors (LW1 LWm) individually coated (CT1-CTn) with some form of synthetic material. The conductors, typically varying from 2 to 20 in number, are embedded within a material providing flexibility and resistance to water. The formed cable is covered by an outer sheath (AH) with a surface metallic coating (ME) acting as a diffusion block. Alternatively, a double sheath coating structure is used. The metal coating may be formed in a vapour deposition process, creating a layer 20 to 50 microns thick.