Abstract:
A fiber optic cable comprising at least one light transmitter extending longitudinally along the cable and a body encompassing the light transmitter. The body includes an exposed surface having an array of fastener elements extending therefrom. The fastener elements arranged and constructed to engage mating fastener elements associated with a supporting surface to selectively secure the cable to the supporting surface.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]     This invention relates to lighting and data transfer components, and more particularly to light transmission fibers.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     An optical fiber is a transparent thin fiber, usually made of glass or plastic, for transmitting light. The optical fiber can be used as a medium for telecommunication and networking because it is flexible and can be bundled as cables. In addition to transferring data, fibers can also be used as light guides or fiber optic illuminators.  
         [0003]     The light transmitted through the fiber is confined due to total internal reflection within the material. This is an important property that eliminates signal crosstalk between fibers within the cable and allows the routing of the cable with twists and turns. Because of the remarkably low loss and excellent linearity and dispersion behavior of single-mode optical fiber, data rates of up to 40 gigabits per second are available in real-world use on a single wavelength. Wavelength division multiplexing can then be used to allow many wavelengths to be used at once on a single fiber, allowing a single fiber to bear an aggregate bandwidth measured in terabits per second.  
         [0004]     Optical fiber is used in vehicles such as airplanes and automobiles. Optical fiber is used in automobiles that have a Media Oriented Systems Transport (MOST) bus. The MOST bus is a multimedia fiber-optic point-to-point network implemented in a ring, star or daisy-chain topology over plastic optical fibers. The MOST bus specifications define a Physical (Electrical and Optical parameters) Layer as well as an Application Layer, a Network Layer, and Medium Access Control. The MOST bus provides an optical solution for automotive media networks such as video and audio.  
         [0005]     Fiber optic light guides are used in applications where bright light needs to be brought to bear on a target without a clear line-of-sight path. Fiber optic illuminators can create a uniform visual effect over lengths of up to 130 feet/40 meters, depending on the illuminator and desired level of brightness.  
         [0006]     Light emitters are a key element in any fiber optic system. Lasers or Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) may be used as light emitters to illuminate light guides or fiber optic illuminators. An LED converts the electrical signal into a corresponding light signal that can be injected into the fiber. The light emitter is an important element because its characteristics often strongly influence the final performance limits of a given link. LEDs are complex semiconductors that convert an electrical current into light. The conversion process is fairly efficient in that it generates little heat compared to incandescent lights. LEDs are of interest for fiber optics because of five inherent characteristics: 1) They are small, 2) They possess high radiance (i.e., They emit lots of light in a small area), 3) The emitting area is small, comparable to the dimensions of optical fibers 4) They have a very long life, offering high reliability and 5) They can be modulated (turned off and on) at high speeds.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0007]     In general, in one aspect, an elongated fiber optic cable includes at least one light transmitter extending longitudinally along the cable and a body encompassing the light transmitter. The body includes an exposed surface with an array of fastener elements extending from the body. The fastener elements are arranged and constructed to engage mating fastener elements associated with a supporting surface to selectively secure the cable to the supporting surface.  
         [0008]     In some embodiments, the light transmitter may be a plastic optical fiber. In other embodiments, the light transmitter may be a glass optical fiber. In some embodiments, the optical fiber may be conducive to the transmission of light along the length of the fiber. In some other embodiments, the optical fiber may be conducive to the transmission of light from a proximate end of the fiber to a distal end of the fiber. In some embodiments, the elongated fiber optic cable may further comprise a light emitting diode device secured to the distal end of the fiber. In some embodiments, the fastener elements may comprise engageable heads. In some embodiments, the fastener elements comprise loop-engageable heads. In some embodiments, the fastener elements may comprise molded stems with downwardly directed molded ends. In some embodiments, the fastener elements are shaped to engage exposed loop fibers associated with the supporting surface. In some embodiments, the base may be a strip-form base.  
         [0009]     In some embodiments, the exposed surface of the body comprises a first broad surface of thermoplastic resin, wherein the array of fastener elements are raised projections of the thermoplastic resin. In some other embodiments, the exposed surface of the body comprises a second broad surface of thermoplastic resin, wherein the array of fastener elements are raised projections of the thermoplastic resin. In some other embodiments, the array of fastener elements are substantially coextensive with said first broad surface of the body. In some embodiments, the array of fastener elements form a longitudinal band of fastener elements extending between lateral edge regions of the cable, the lateral edge regions being void of said fastener elements.  
         [0010]     In some embodiments, the body comprises a laminate, the laminate including a first and a second layer of thermoplastic resin and an adhesive layer disposed therebetween, the first layer defining a first broad surface of the exposed surface, the second layer defining a second broad surface of the exposed surface, said array of fastener elements comprising raised projections of the thermoplastic resin of at least one of the first and the second broad surfaces. The exposed surface may further comprise a second broad surface of thermoplastic resin and a second array of fastener elements, in which the fastener elements comprise raised projections of the thermoplastic resin extending from the second broad surface. The array of fastener elements may be substantially coextensive with the first broad surface of the body. In other embodiments, the array of fastener elements may form a longitudinal band of fastener elements extending between lateral edge regions of the cable and the lateral edge regions are void of the fastener elements.  
         [0011]     In some embodiments, the body comprises a laminate, the laminate includes a first and second layer of thermoplastic resin and an adhesive layer disposed between the layers, the first layer defines a first broad surface of the exposed surface, the second layer defines a second broad surface of the exposed surface, the array of fastener elements comprises raised projections of the thermoplastic resin of at least one of the first and second broad surfaces. In some cases, the body comprises a unitary structure of thermoplastic resin, in which the unitary structure defines a first and a second broad surface of the exposed surface, the array of fastener elements comprise raised projections of the thermoplastic resin of at least one of the first and second broad surfaces. In other embodiments, the body also comprises a first and second layer of thermoplastic resin with the conductors disposed between the first and second layer of thermoplastic resin, the first and second layers permanently welded to one another in a manner to encompass and isolate the optical fibers from one another, the array of fastener elements comprises raised projections of the thermoplastic resin of an exposed surface of one of the first and second layers. The fastener elements may be exposed loop fibers. In some cases, the body comprises a thermoplastic resin and the exposed loop fibers are part of a web of fibers, the web being attached to the body by encapsulation of fibers of the web by the thermoplastic resin. The web of fibers is a nonwoven material. In another aspect, the lighting device defines a fixed cable length between opposite longitudinal ends, the cable further comprising an optical connector optically attached to at least one of the light transmitters and mechanically attached to the cable at one of said longitudinal ends.  
         [0012]     In some embodiments, the lighting device may further comprise a heat management system associated with the resin base sheet and arranged to conduct heat from the base of the light emitting diode device. In other embodiments, the heat management system may also comprise molded standoffs integral with the base defining air passages for convective heat transfer. In other embodiments, the heat management system may comprise a thermal conductive portion exposed for engagement by the light emitting diode device for conductive heat transfer. In other embodiments, the thermal conductive portion includes a phase change material. In other embodiments, the resin base sheet may comprise additives that increase the thermal conductivity of the resin base sheet. In other embodiments, the additives are chosen from the group consisting of titanium nitride, boron nitride, silica, aluminum oxide, and ceramic particles. In other embodiments, the heat management system may comprise radiative structures which are comprised of material with a high thermal conductivity in contact with the light emitting diode device. In other embodiments, the heat management system comprises a peltier junction with a hot-side of greater surface area than an associated cold side. In other embodiments, the resin base sheet may comprise a resin that preserves a thermo-formed shape for temperatures up to 350 degrees Centigrade. In other embodiments, the heat management system may comprises a fan proximate the light emitting diode devices. The fan is less than 30 mm in diameter.  
         [0013]     In general, in another aspect, a method of continuously forming an optical fiber cable includes introducing a moldable resin into a gap formed adjacent a peripheral surface of a rotating mold roll, the mold roll defining an array of cavities therein, the moldable resin being introduced under pressure and temperature conditions selected to cause the moldable resin to at least partially fill the cavities to form fastener element stems integrally with and extending from one broad surface of a strip of said moldable resin, while introducing at least one longitudinally continuous optical fiber to the gap so as to cause the optical fiber to become an integral part of the strip of moldable resin from which the fastener element stems extend and introducing a laminating material wherein the laminating material covers the optical fiber.  
         [0014]     In some embodiments, the laminating material is simultaneously introduced into the gap. In some embodiments, the laminating material is introduced after the mold roll. In some embodiments, the method further comprises providing a heat management system to conduct heat from the cable and supporting the heat management system on the resin base. In some embodiments, the cavities of the mold roll are shaped to mold distal heads on the fastener element stems, the distal heads being shaped to overhang the broad surface of the strip of laminating material so as to be engageable with exposed loop fibers. In some embodiments, each of the stems defines a tip portion and the method further includes deforming the tip portion of a plurality of said stems to form engaging heads overhanging the broad side of the strip of material, the engaging heads being shaped to be engageable with exposed loop fibers. In some embodiments, the gap includes a nip defined between the rotating mold roll and a counter-rotating pressure roll. In some embodiments, the gap includes a nip defined as the space between the rotating mold roll and a counter-rotating mold roll, each of said rotating mold roll and said counter-rotating mold roll defining an array of cavities therein, the moldable resin being introduced under pressure and temperature conditions selected to cause the material to at least partially fill the array of cavities of each of said rotating and said counter-rotating mold roll to form fastener element stems integrally with and extending from each of opposite broad sides of the strip of said moldable resin. In some embodiments, the moldable resin includes a layer of thermoplastic resin and a film backing, the film backing carrying the optical fibers on a surface thereof, the layer of thermoplastic resin being introduced to the gap directly adjacent the rotating mold roll, the film backing carrying the optical fibers being introduced to the gap under pressure and temperature conditions which cause the film backing to become permanently bonded to the thermoplastic resin to at least partially envelop the optical fibers. In some embodiments, the moldable resin includes a first and a second film of thermoplastic resin, wherein the optical fibers and the first and second films are introduced to the gap with the optical fibers disposed between the first and the second film, said first film being introduced directly adjacent the rotating mold roll under temperature and pressure conditions that cause the first and second films to become permanently bonded to each other in a manner enveloping the optical fibers. In some embodiments, the method further includes severing longitudinally the laminating material after solidification to form two optical fiber cables downstream of the gap. In some embodiments, each cable contains at least one of the optical fiber.  
         [0015]     In general, in another aspect, a method of continuously forming an optical fiber cable includes introducing molten resin into a gap formed adjacent a rotating mold roll, the mold roll having a peripheral surface defining an array of molding cavities therein, under pressure and temperature conditions selected to cause the resin to fill the mold cavities and form an array of fastener element stems integrally molded with and extending from a broad strip of resin; while simultaneously introducing a preformed optical fiber ribbon-type cable to the nip adjacent the pressure roll, such that the broad strip of resin becomes permanently bonded to a broad side of the ribbon-type cable such that the fastener element stems are exposed.  
         [0016]     In general, in another aspect, a method of continuously forming an optical fiber cable comprising providing a fastener tape of continuous length, the fastener tape comprising a base of thermoplastic resin and defining a first and a second, opposite, broad surface, the array of loop engageable fastener elements comprising protrusions of the thermoplastic resin of the first surface, and an array of loop-engageable fastener elements, arranging a backing film of continuous length adjacent the fastener tape, the backing film defining a broad surface, the broad surface of the backing film being arranged to face the second broad surface of the fastener tape, disposing a plurality of spaced apart optical fibers of continuous length between the second broad surface of the fastener tape and the broad surface of the backing film and permanently attaching the fastener tape to the backing film with the plurality of optical fibers enveloped therebetween.  
         [0017]     In some embodiments, the method may further includes permanently attaching the fastener tape to the backing film by heat welding along locations between the optical fibers.  
         [0018]     In general, in another aspect, a method of forming an optical fiber cable comprises introducing a strip of laminating material into a gap formed adjacent a peripheral surface of a rotating roll, while introducing a continuous strip of loop material having hook-engageable fiber portion to the gap along the surface of the roll, under conditions selected to cause the loop material to become at least partially embedded in the laminating material to permanently bond the loop material to the laminating material while leaving the hook-engageable fiber portions exposed for engagement, and introducing at least two longitudinally continuous and spaced apart optical fibers to the gap so as to cause the material to envelop and isolate the optical fibers in the gap to form a multi-optical fibers cable having engageable loops extending from an outer surface thereof.  
         [0019]     The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0020]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  shows a laminated fiber optic cable;  
         [0021]      FIGS. 1C and 1D  shows an unlaminated fiber optic cable;  
         [0022]      FIG. 1E  shows a fiber optic cable used to transmit data;  
         [0023]      FIG. 1F  shows a fiber optic cable used as a light guide;  
         [0024]      FIG. 1G  shows a fiber optic cable used as a fiber optic illuminator;  
         [0025]      FIG. 1H  shows a fiber optic cable used used as a fiber optic illuminator with voids in the laminate;  
         [0026]      FIG. 2-2E  illustrates one method and apparatus for producing a laminated fiber optic cable.  
         [0027]      FIGS. 3 and 3 A illustrates another method and apparatus for producing an unlaminated fiber optic cable.  
         [0028]      FIG. 4  illustrates another method and apparatus for producing an unlaminated fiber optic cable.  
         [0029]      FIG. 5A-5B  illustrates another method and apparatus for producing an unlaminated fiber optic cable.  
         [0030]      FIG. 6  illustrates another method and apparatus for producing the above described fiber optic cable.  
         [0031]      FIG. 7  illustrates another method and apparatus for producing the above described fiber optic cable.  
         [0032]      FIG. 8  illustrates another method and apparatus for producing the above described fiber optic cable.  
         [0033]      FIG. 9A -E illustrates another method and apparatus for producing the above described fiber optic cable.  
         [0034]      FIG. 10A-10E  illustrates a variety of fiber optic cable having molded fasteners. 
     
    
       [0035]     Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0036]     The apparatus and methods disclosed in this application build upon the continuous extrusion/roll-forming method for molding fastener elements on an integral, sheet-form base described by Fischer in U.S. Pat. No. 4,794,028, the nip lamination process described by Kennedy et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,260,015, method for forming an elongated electrical cable described by Gallant et al. in U.S. application Ser. No. 10/423,816 and the methods and apparatuses of U.S. Application 60/703,330 the entire contents of these documents are incorporated herein by reference. Generally, any of the methods described in Gallant may be used in order to produce a continuous fiber optic cable. The process to produce a continuous optical fiber is almost the same except that unlike the electrical cables in Gallant, the optical fibers do not need to be insulated from one another. The reader is referred to these publications for further information. The relative position and size of the rolls and other components is not to scale.  
         [0037]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  is a fiber optic cable  2  comprised of a substrate  4  with an array of fastener elements  6  on the front side and at least one optical fiber  8  fixed or embedded on the back side. In some embodiments, the optical fiber  8  is covered by a laminate  9 . In some embodiments, the optical fiber  8  may each be a bundle of multiple optical fibers. In some embodiments, the optical fibers  8  may vary in length so that the endpoint of each optical fiber  8  may be distributed to different locations. The laminate  9  may be either opaque or translucent. The optical fiber may be used to transmit data, transmit light from one end of the cable to the other end of the cable, as in a light guide, or transmit light along the length of the cable, as in a fiber optic illuminator.  
         [0038]      FIGS. 1C and 1D  is a fiber optic cable  3  comprised of a substrate  4  with an array of fastener elements  6  on the front side and at least one optical fiber  8  fixed or embedded on the back side. In this embodiment the optical fiber  8  is exposed.  
         [0039]      FIGS. 1E  is a fiber optic cable  2  with a light emitter  5 , such as a laser, an LED or any other type of light emitter compatible with optical fibers. In some embodiments, the light emitter is connected to a light guide  7  which is then connected to the fiber optic cable  2 . In some embodiments, the light emitter is connected directly to the fiber optic cable  2 . In some embodiments, such as in  FIG. 1E , the fiber optic cable  2  may be used to transfer data to a receiver  15  which demodulates the signal from the light emitter  5 . The connectors  17  may be selected from standard fiber optic connectors such as an ST connector (a slotted bayonet type connectors), an SC Connector (a push/pull type connector) or any connector known in the industry.  
         [0040]     In some embodiments, such as in  FIG. 1F , the fiber optic cable  2  may be used to as a light guide  11  to illuminate a desired object or space. In some embodiments, such as in  FIG. 1G , the fiber optic cable  2  may be used to as a fiber optic illuminator  13  to illuminate an area along the entire length of the fiber optic cable  2 . In some embodiments, such as in  FIG. 1H , the fiber optic cable  2  may be used to as a fiber optic illuminator  13  to illuminate predetermined points  19  along the length of the fiber optic cable  2  or they may be used to create patterns which display such things as logos, trademarks, names and designs to name a few.  
         [0041]      FIG. 2  illustrates one method and apparatus for producing a laminated fiber optic cable  2 . An extrusion head  10  supplies a continuous sheet of molten resin  12  to a nip  14  between a rotating mold roll  16  and a counter-rotating pressure roll  18  (nip arrangement illustrated in  FIG. 2A ). The mold roll  16  contains an array of miniature, fastener element shaped mold cavities  20  extending inward from its periphery for molding the fastener protrusions. Pressure in nip  14  forces resin into the fastener element cavities  20  and forms the substrate  4 . Along with the molten resin  12 , a continuous optical fiber  8  is fed into nip  14 , where it is bonded with resin  12  and becomes permanently secured to the back face of the substrate  4 . Along with the molten resin  12  and the continuous optical fiber  8 , a laminate  9  is fed into nip  14 , where it is bonded with resin  12  and becomes permanently secured to the back face of the substrate  4  while covering the optical fiber  8 . The resulting fiber optic cable  2  is cooled on the mold roll  16  until the solidified fastener elements are stripped from their fixed cavities by a stripper roll  22 . The laminated fiber optic cable  2  that is stripped from the mold roll  16  includes fastener elements  6 , an optical fiber  8  and a laminate  9  as shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0042]     Referring to  FIG. 2C , a nip arrangement includes channels  23  on a mold roll  16  in order to isolate and keep the optical fibers a predetermined distance apart. Referring to  FIG. 2D , a nip arrangement includes channels  23  on a mold roll  16  created by using spacer rings in order to isolate and keep the optical fibers a predetermined distance apart. The tooling of these rolls can be accomplished in many different ways to produce a variety of different optical fiber layouts as shown in  FIG. 2E , including embodiments in which the optical fiber  8  is incorporated within the fastener element  6 .  
         [0043]     By replacing the nip arrangement  FIG. 2A  with the nip arrangement shown in  FIG. 2B , the protrusions  25  will cause voids  19  to be created in the laminate  9 . The laminated fiber optic cable  2  that is stripped from the mold roll  16  includes fastener elements  6 , an optical fiber  8 , a laminate  9  and voids  19  as shown in  FIG. 1H .  
         [0044]      FIG. 3  illustrates another method and apparatus for producing an unlaminated fiber optic cable  3 . In this method, optical fiber  8  and a continuous strip of loop material  24  are fed into nip  14  along with extruded resin  12 . Nip  14  is formed between mold roll  16  and pressure roll  18 . In this embodiment, mold roll  16  lacks fastener element forming cavities. The optical fiber  8  and the loop material  24  are bonded to the substrate  4  by pressure in the nip  14 . The resulting fiber optic cable  2  is cooled on the mold roll  16  until the solidified fastener elements are stripped from their fixed cavities by a stripper roll  22 . The unlaminated fiber optic cable  3  that is stripped from the mold roll  16  includes fastener elements  6 , and at least one optical fiber  8 .  
         [0045]      FIG. 3A  illustrates another method and apparatus for producing an optical fiber cable  2 . In this method, optical fiber  8  is fed into nip  14  along with extruded resin  12 . Nip  14  is formed between mold roll  16  and pressure roll  18 . In this embodiment, the mold roll  16  contains an array of miniature, fastener element shaped mold cavities  20  extending inward from its periphery for molding the fastener protrusions. Pressure in nip  14  forces resin into the fastener element cavities  20  and forms the substrate  4 . The optical fiber  8  is bonded to the substrate  4  by pressure in the nip  14 . The unlaminated fiber optic cable  3  is cooled on the mold roll  16  until the solidified fastener elements are stripped from their fixed cavities by a stripper roll  22 . Along with the unlaminated fiber optic cable  3 , a laminating material is fed into a front face idler  26 , where it becomes permanently secured to the back face of the substrate  4  while covering the optical fiber  8 . The laminated fiber optic cable  2  that is emerges from the front face idler  26  includes fastener elements  6 , an optical fiber  8  and a laminate  9  as shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0046]      FIG. 4  illustrates another method and apparatus for producing an unlaminated fiber optic cable  3 . An extrusion head  10  supplies a continuous sheet of molten resin  12  to a nip  14  between a rotating mold roll  16  and a counter-rotating pressure roll  18  (nip arrangement illustrated in  FIG. 2A ). The mold roll  16  contains an array of miniature, fastener element shaped mold cavities  20  extending inward from its periphery for molding the fastener protrusions. Pressure in nip  14  forces resin into the fastener element cavities  20  and forms the substrate  4 . The substrate  4  is cooled on the mold roll  16  until the solidified fastener elements are stripped from their fixed cavities by a stripper roll  22 . The substrate  4  is then fed through a front face idler  26  that is heated and has a contoured surface to bond the optical fiber  8  and the substrate  4  in desired areas while not damaging the fastener elements  6 . The unlaminated fiber optic cable  3  that is stripped from the mold roll  16  includes fastener elements  6 , and at least one optical fiber  8 .  
         [0047]      FIG. 5A  illustrates another method and apparatus for producing an unlaminated fiber optic cable  3 . The contoured surface of an extrusion head  40  (sometimes called an injection head) is placed adjacent a mold roll  16  (mold roll  16  once again lacking fastener protrusion shaped cavities to produce the fastener elements  6 ), and a continuous flow of molten resin  12  is injected under pressure into the gap  42  defined between head  40  and mold roll  16 , filling gap  42  and forming the front and back faces of the substrate. A strip of loop material  24  is fed through a predetermined region of gap  42 , and held up against the surface of mold roll  16  by resin pressure in the gap. Optical fiber  8  is laminated to the back face of the substrate while the molded product is retained on mold roll  16 , by pressure supplied by pressure roll  18 . The unlaminated fiber optic cable  3  that is stripped from the mold roll  16  includes fastener elements  6 , and at least one optical fiber  8 .  
         [0048]      FIG. 5B  illustrates another method and apparatus for producing an unlaminated fiber optic cable  3 . The contoured surface of an extrusion head  40  is placed adjacent a mold roll  16  (mold roll  16  once again lacking fastener protrusion shaped cavities to produce the fastener elements  6 ), and a continuous flow of molten resin  12  is injected under pressure into the gap  42  defined between head  40  and mold roll  16 , filling gap  42  and forming the front and back faces of the substrate. A strip of loop material  24  is fed through a predetermined region of gap  42 , and held up against the surface of mold roll  16  by resin pressure in the gap. After the substrate  4  emerges from the gap  42 , an optical fiber  8  is where it becomes permanently secured to the back face of the substrate  4  while the unlaminated fiber optic cable  3  is retained on mold roll  16 , by pressure supplied by pressure roll  18 . The unlaminated fiber optic cable  3  that is stripped from the mold roll  16  includes fastener elements  6 , and at least one optical fiber  8 .  
         [0049]      FIG. 6  illustrates another method and apparatus for producing the above described fiber optic cable  2 . In this embodiment extrusion head  10  supplies resin flows or films  12 ,  52  into nip  14  formed by mold roll  16  (the mold roll having fixed fastener element molding cavities  20 ) and pressure roll  18 , respectively. The arrangement of nip  14  is as described above in reference to  FIGS. 2 and 2 A. Simultaneous with the resin feed, at least one strand of bare optical fiber  8  is fed through an extrusion die of extruder head  10  into nip  14  between the separate resin flows or films  12 ,  52 . Pressure and temperature conditions in nip  14  force resin flow or film  12 ,  52  to flow into the molding cavities, encapsulates optical fiber  8  within resins  12 ,  52 , and bonds separate resin flows or films  12 ,  52  to create an integral cable product having at least one optical fiber  8  within a substrate and fastener protrusions extending from a surface of the substrate. The laminated fiber optic cable  2  that emerges from the nip  14  includes fastener elements  6 , an optical fiber  8  and a laminate  9  as shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0050]      FIG. 7  illustrates another method and apparatus for producing the above described fiber optic cable  2 . Multiple optical fibers  8  and a laminate  9  are fed into nip  14  formed by rotating mold roll  16  and counter-rotating pressure roll  18 . Optical fibers  8  are laterally spaced apart from one another as they enter nip  14 . In order to control the lateral position of the wires as they enter the nip, pressure roll  18  is provided with individual grooves, one for each wire introduced, to prevent the wires from wandering laterally as they approach the nip  14 . Simultaneously with the optical fibers  8  and a laminate  9 , molten resin  12  is introduced to nip  14  from extruder head  10 . Pressure and temperature conditions in the nip  14  cause the molten resin  12  to fill fastener element shaped mold cavities  20  in mold roll  16  and ensures that the optical fibers  8  becomes permanently secured to the back face of the substrate  4 . As the cooled mold roll continues to rotate, the resin and optical fibers  8  remain adjacent the periphery of the mold roll  16  until take-off rollers  56  and  58  strip the laminated fiber optic cable  2  from the mold roll  16 , thus extracting the now solidified hooks  6  from their respective cavities  20 . The laminated fiber optic cable  2  that emerges from the take-off rollers  56  and  58  includes fastener elements  6 , an optical fiber  8  and a laminate  9  as shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0051]      FIG. 8  illustrates another method and apparatus for producing the above described fiber optic cable  2 . This is a technique for avoiding any potential problems of centering optical fiber  8  by forming the fiber optic cable  2  in a two step process. Initially, an intermediate product  60  is formed by feeding optical fiber  8  and laminate  9  into a nip  14  formed by two pressure rolls  62  and  64 . Similar to the pressure roll  18  described above with reference to  FIG. 7 , lower pressure roll  64  has peak and valley forming grooves on its surface to aid in guiding the wires laterally. Upper pressure roll  62  has a flat peripheral surface which forms a flat upper surface of the intermediate product  60 . Intermediate product  60  is then fed into a nip  14  formed by a grooved pressure roll  18  and a mold roll  16  having fastener element shaped mold cavities  20 . Simultaneously with intermediate product  60 , molten resin  12  is introduced from extruder head  10  to the nip  14  directly adjacent the periphery of the mold roll  16  and fastener element shaped mold cavities  20  are formed in a manner similar to that described above with reference to  FIG. 20 . As the cooled mold roll continues to rotate, the resin and optical fibers  8  remain adjacent the periphery of the mold roll  16  until take-off rollers  56  and  58  strip the laminated fiber optic cable  2  from the mold roll  16 , thus extracting the now solidified hooks  6  from their respective cavities  20 . The laminated fiber optic cable  2  that emerges from the take-off rollers  56  and  58  includes fastener elements  6 , an optical fiber  8  and a laminate  9  as shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0052]      FIG. 9A -D illustrates another method and apparatus for producing the above described fiber optic cable  2 . The method is a lamination process in which a pre-formed hook tape  70 , spaced apart optical fibers  8  and a laminate  9  are simultaneously fed between two pressure rollers  74 ,  76 . Pre-formed hook tape  70  is made of a thermoplastic resin, hook tape  70  having a base  78  defining first and second surfaces  80 ,  82 . Hooks  84  are protrusions of the thermoplastic resin of first surface  80  and are suitable for engaging a loop material. Hook tape  70  is fed between the two pressure rollers  74  and  76  with its hook-bearing first surface  80  immediately adjacent the peripheral surface of the first pressure roll  74 . The laminate  9  defines a first surface  86  and a second surface  88  and is fed between rolls  74  and  76  with its first surface  86  immediately adjacent the peripheral surface of pressure roll  76 .  
         [0053]     Simultaneously with hook tape  70  and laminate  9 , a plurality of optical fibers  8  is introduced between pressure rollers  74 ,  76  in laterally spaced apart fashion. Optical fibers  8  are positioned between second surface  82  of hook tape  70  and second surface  88  of laminate  9 . Pressure roll  74  has a series of protruding rings  90  arranged to contact first surface  92  of hook tape  70  only along regions  94  of the fiber optic cable  2  that lie between the spaced-apart optical fibers  8 . Rolls  74  and  76  are heated and positioned to create pressure in the regions  94  corresponding to each ring  90  such that thermal bonding occurs along the contacted regions of fiber optic cable  2 . The thermal bonding lines act to permanently weld hook tape  70  to laminate  9  in a manner that isolates optical fibers  8  from one another. Pre-formed hook tape  70  can be provided with regions  94  distinguished by flat areas (as illustrated in  FIG. 9B ) on first surface  80 , i.e., areas lacking rows of hooks  84 . Alternatively, first surface  80  of pre-formed hook tape  70  can have a uniform array of hooks  84  across its surface, the hooks in regions  94  subsequently coming into contact with rings  90  whereby the hooks  94  are melted and or crushed by the applied pressure and heat. Either way, the hooks remaining on first surface  80 , i.e., those positioned between rings  90  during the lamination process, are sufficient to provide the necessary fastening capability with mating loop materials.  
         [0054]     In another alternative, pressure roll  74  acts as an anvil (rotary or stationary) while pressure roll  76  is ultrasonically vibrated at a frequency which causes hook tape  70  to be welded to laminate  9  along the regions  94  where rings  90  contact hook tape  70 .  
         [0055]     Referring again to  FIG. 9A  and now also to  FIG. 9E , fiber optic cable  2  is made by yet another laminating method. Hook tape  70  (as described above with reference to  FIGS. 9A and 9B ) is provided with a layer of adhesive  98  (shown as dashed lines in  FIG. 9A ) applied to its second surface  82  as it is fed between smooth pressure rolls  74  and  76 . Similarly, laminate  9  is provided with a layer of adhesive  100  (dashed lines) applied to its second surface  88  as it is fed between rolls  74  and  76 . However, unlike the methods discussed above, in this particular example rolls  74  and  76  both have a smoother outer surface, i.e., neither roll has the pressure rings  90  discussed above with reference to  FIG. 9D . Optical fibers  8  are introduced between the rolls so as to be sandwiched between the hook tape  70  and laminate  9 . The smooth pressure rolls are arranged to cause the adhesive  98  on second surface  82  of hook tape  70  and the adhesive  100  on second surface  88  of laminate  9  to contact one another, thereby bonding them together. The adhesive also contacts the optical fibers  8 , at least partially encompassing them and acting in combination with the hook tape  70  and/or laminate  9  to envelop isolate the optical fibers  8  from one another. It is also possible to eliminate one of the adhesive layers  98 ,  100 , the remaining adhesive layer being sufficient to bond hook tape  70  to laminate  9  while isolating the optical fibers  8  between the layers. It should be noted that in the adhesive laminating examples just discussed, the hooks  84  are not permanently deformed to any significant extent by their passage through the smooth pressure rollers. Rather the hooks are resilient enough to withstand the pressures applied by the unheated rolls.  
         [0056]      FIG. 10A  illustrates a fiber optic cable  110  having optical fibers  8  extending from vias  112 , on the opposing side are fastener elements  6 . In  FIG. 10B  an optical fiber  8  is wrapped by a strand of fastener element  114 . This allows a single optical fiber  8  to be placed in any orientation. In  FIG. 10C , an optical fiber  8  is wrapped in a sheet of fastener elements. In  FIG. 10D  and  FIG. 10C  an optical fiber  8  is wrapped in a sheet of fastener elements  118  in which designs  120  have been manufactured allowing the light from the optical fiber  8  to emit through the design  120 . The designs  120  could be on either side of the fiber optic cable.  
         [0057]     In some embodiments, a clear thermoplastic is used to create transparent areas in which the light from the optical fiber is emitted. In some embodiments, the fastener elements are manufactured on both sides of the optical fiber cable. In some other embodiments, the fastener element is manufactured from the clear thermoplastic thereby allowing the light from the optical fiber to be emitted the fastener element.  
         [0058]     A number of embodiments of the invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.