Fiber optic ribbon interconnect cable

US5966489A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Siecor Corporation · US

Inventors

• Shannon N. Harwell · Hickory, US
• Daniel J. Rutterman · Newton, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 30, 1997
• Grant date: Oct 12, 1999
• Expiry date: Jun 30, 2017

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G02B6/4415
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An optical cable (50) for use in a fiber optic cable assembly (10). Fiber optic cable assembly (10) comprises conventional single fiber connectors (80,82), a dual fiber connector (84), and a connector fan-out housing (86). Dual fiber connector (84) is of the type used to interface with, for example, an opto-electrical and electro-optical transducer. Fiber optic cable (50) comprises a ribbon (20). Ribbon (20) includes optical fibers (24), a variable spacing section (23), and a transition section (27) inside connector housing (86). Optical fibers (24) are spaced at a nominal fiber-to-fiber distance, defined as spacing S, in cable section (21). Variable spacing section (23) comprises sub-carrier sections (22a,22b) comprising plastic tubes, e.g. furcation tubing, the spacing of which is variable. Spacing S matches the spacing needed in an electrical system to avoid crosstalk.