Caboose

Sure: https://www.prysmiangroup.com/sites/default/files/business_markets/markets/downloads/datasheets/SMF---Single-Mode-Optical-Fiber-SSMF.pdf

You are right the core of most optical fibers is either 8-9um for singlemode, or 62.5 or 50um for multimode. The cladding, which is also made of glass, surrounds the core and this is almost always 125um. Often there is more than one layer that makes up the cladding glass to help reduce the bend radius before you start to attenuate your signal. You need both the core and the cladding of different refractive indexes to create total internal reflection, which is how fiber optics work over long distances with low loss.

The glass (core + clad) is the only part of the fiber that is really recyclable. Everything else is plastic that is difficult to chemically remove.

There’s a lot of really bad literature out there on fiberoptics, so I don’t really blame anyone for not knowing this stuff. Here’s a pretty good article that sums up how fiberoptics work I pulled off google: https://www.ofsoptics.com/faq-guide-to-fiber-optic-cable/how-do-communications-fiber-optic-cables-work/

Some are complex, most aren’t I’d say.

Most optical fiber is 125um of glass with 250um coating. The coating and the jacketing that make up the cable (mostly non-recyclable plastic) are the real problem.

Fiber optic cables are very much not recyclable, at least with the current recycling technologies.

1. [Strength] Throw the cran-brain on the floor
2. Dig into the cran-brain
3. Take your meds
4. [Dexterity] Try to escape your family’s Thanksgiving celebration with the cran-brain

Are you using a switch on the way in?

I think part of the problem is that it is very dependent on what the invention is. Yeah, for some nicknack, that’s a reasonable time frame. But for some kind of massive project, where distribution, complicated supply chains, and many people are involved, this time gets eaten up quick. Imagine you have an invention, thats totally cool, but 10 years of your time is taken up trying to make it at scale to make it profitable? Meanwhile, someone else can establish all those things without breaking patent, and go to market as your patent closes. You aren’t wrong, its just not always so simple.