AFL just announced that its was awarded six new patents over the past quarter for innovative technology developments in the areas of optical connectivity, conductor accessories, specialty cables and test equipment.
- The international manufacturer of fiber-optic cable, equipment and accessories reports that its first patent from last quarter is for “Multiple Cable Size Fiber Optic Transition Assemblies.” The patent design allows the ability to create furcated AFL TRIDENT drops, from one to four fibers.
- Additionally, a patent was received for a “Rack Routing Guide.” This invention allows installers to route fibers exiting the front of panels into a system that takes up the slack when any tray inside the panel is opening.
- Two patents were received in AFL’s conductor accessories division. The first patent was for “Cable Support Devices and Assemblies.” This patent design supports enhancements to AFL’s FTTx solution, notably the end user’s focus on minimizing pole penetrations when attaching hardware. The patent's multi-drop thimble eye allows up to four drops to be dead ended at a pole using a single bolt as an attachment.
- The second patent was for conductor accessories and is titled, “Galloping Motion Disruptors and Methods for Reducing Conductor Galloping.” The company says its Galloping Motion Disruptor (GMD) technology changes the cross-sectional profile of a transmission conductor, reducing the wind energy effect that causes large movement of the conductor, which could lead to damage. This newly patented design allows easier installation and reduced shipping costs, said AFL.
- The next patent was for “Downhole Strain Sensing Cables.” This cable is is designed for installation in oil and gas downhole applications that detect ground movement or strain within the well to assist in efficient well utilization and management.
- Lastly, the AFL Test & Inspection division received a patent for “Optical Testing Devices and Related Methods.” The patent allows an OTDR to automatically initiate a test when the OTDR test jumper is connected to a network. After the test jumper has been disconnected from the network, from sensing the unloaded signal, the OTDR will automatically start another test when the test jumper is reconnected to a network.