Patent ID: 7512299

Claim:
A fiber optic cable apparatus for self-detecting faults in the fiber optic cable, the apparatus comprising: a core for receiving laser light emitted from a VCSEL laser source as a testing diagnostic for the detection of faults in the fiber optic cable; a cladding disposed around the core, the cladding having an index of refraction differential with the core thereby allowing containment of light within the core by total internal reflection within the core; a buffer disposed around the cladding, the buffer for receiving LED-emitted light as a testing diagnostic for the detection of faults in the fiber optic cable; a braiding layer disposed around the buffer for allowing LED light to transmit from the buffer; a jacket disposed around the braiding layer, the jacket having optical properties to transmit LED light launched down the fiber cross-section in response to VCSEL light having been unsuccessfully transmitted down the core; and a luminescent compound disposed in the jacket.