AFL receives six technology patents

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Spartanburg fiber optic cable manufacturer AFL was awarded six patents during the last quarter for innovations in the connectivity, test and inspection, and fiber optic cable fields.

One connectivity patent removes the need for adhesive in the installation of the furcation unit — the “jacket” protecting optical fiber — with a larger “insertion cone target” than legacy assembly methods, according to a news release. Another invention uses clips mounted on cables to relieve stress when those cables are twisted, while the third patent features a fiber optic breakout assembly design where the inner tubes and strength filaments are bonded together and connected via furcating optical fiber.

Encircled Flux Compliant Test Apparatus and Wireless Inspection Solution patents also blazed the way for future developments in how fiber connectivity is tested and inspected. The Wireless Inspection Solution uses Wi-Fi to stream videos and images of fiber optic cables to an inspector, a tool already marketed by the company, according to the release.

The design for a high-density trunk cable — a cable with the capacity to support multiple users — with a smaller diameter than previous models also received a patent, according to the release.

Patent recipients included AFL employees Bin Liu, Wink Courchaine, Artur Bureacov, Justin Quinn, Michael Houck, Shirley Ball, Joe Cignarale, Scott Prescott, Sean Adam, Lisa Huang and Brett Villiger.