Optically conductive hybrid cable

A high bandwidth hybrid cable for connecting wireless communication elements, comprising:

• an optical fiber having a core region and a cladding region formed around the core region;
• at least one first electrically conductive carbon structure formed around the optical fiber;
• at least one coating region formed around the first electrically conductive carbon structure,
• wherein the at least one coating region includes:
• at least one second electrically conductive carbon structure, and
• an electrically insulating material coupled between the first electrically conductive carbon structure and the second electrically conductive carbon structure,
• wherein the resistivity of the first and second electrically conductive carbon structures is at least 1.0 ohm-centimeters and
• wherein the weight percent of the first and second electrically conductive carbon structures is within a range from 0.05% to 10%,
• wherein the entire portion of the second electrically conductive carbon structure is formed within an outermost portion of the coating region in such a way that the coating region does not completely surround the second electrically conductive carbon structure and in such a way that an outer surface of the second electrically conductive carbon structure tangentially extends from ends of an outer surface of the coating region,
• wherein the hybrid cable provides optical energy transmission via the optical fiber, and
• wherein the hybrid cable provides electrical energy transmission via the at least one first and second electrically conductive carbon structures.

A high bandwidth hybrid cable for connecting wireless communication elements, comprising:

• a plurality of optical fibers, each of the optical fibers having a core region, a cladding region formed around the core region and at least one coating region formed around the cladding region,
• at least one multi-fiber unit tube, wherein the at least one multi-fiber unit tube is dimensioned to receive the plurality of optical fibers;
• a jacket surrounding the at least one multi-fiber unit tube;
• at least one first electrically conductive carbon structure;
• at least one second electrically conductive carbon structure;
• and
• an electrically insulating material coupled between the first electrically conductive carbon structure and the second electrically conductive carbon structure,
• wherein the resistivity of the first and second electrically conductive carbon structures is at least 1.0 ohm-centimeters and
• wherein the weight percent of the first and second electrically conductive carbon structures is within a range from 0.05% to 10%,
• wherein the entire portion of at least one of the first electrically conductive carbon structure and the second electrically conductive carbon structure is formed within an outermost portion of the coating region in such a way that the coating region does not completely surround the electrically conductive carbon structure and in such a way that an outer surface of the electrically conductive carbon structure tangentially extends from ends of an outer surface of the coating region,
• wherein the hybrid cable provides optical energy transmission via the plurality of optical fibers, and
• wherein the hybrid cable provides electrical energy transmission via the at least one first and second electrically conductive carbon structures.

A system for transmitting optical energy and electrical energy between wireless communication elements, comprising:

• at least one source of optical energy and electrical energy;
• a high bandwidth hybrid cable coupled to the at least one source for transmitting optical energy and electrical energy from the at least one source;
• and
• at least one receiver coupled to the hybrid cable for receiving optical energy and electrical energy transmitted from the at least one source via the high bandwidth hybrid cable,
• wherein the high bandwidth hybrid cable includes at least one length of optical fiber having
• a core region
• a cladding region formed around the core region, and
• at least one coating region formed around the cladding region, wherein the at least one coating region includes:
• at least one first electrically conductive carbon structure,
• at least one second electrically conductive carbon structure, and
• an electrically insulating material coupled between the first electrically conductive carbon structure and the second electrically conductive carbon structure,
• wherein the resistivity of the first and second electrically conductive carbon structures is at least 1.0 ohm-centimeters and
• wherein the weight percent of the first and second electrically conductive carbon structures is within a range from 0.05% to 10%,
• wherein the entire portion of at least one of the first electrically conductive carbon structure and the second electrically conductive carbon structure is formed within an outermost portion of the coating region in such a way that the coating region does not completely surround the electrically conductive carbon structure and in such a way that an outer surface of the electrically conductive carbon structure tangentially extends from ends of an outer surface of the coating region,
• wherein the hybrid cable provides optical energy transmission via the optical fiber, and
• wherein the hybrid cable provides electrical energy transmission via the at least one first and second electrically conductive carbon structures.