Patent · US Expired

Method for accessing optical fibers in the midspan region of an optical fiber cable

US6134363A · kind A · utility

102Cited by
17References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 18, 1999
Grant dateOct 17, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 18, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02B6/4431
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method for accessing optical fibers in a midspan region of an optical fiber cable is disclosed. The method of the present invention begins by providing an optical fiber cable having at least one optical fiber disposed within a channel defined by a jacket, the jacket having two reinforcing rods embedded therein. Next, the jacket material adjacent to the reinforcing rods is removed to partially expose the reinforcing rods. Then, the jacket material is cut substantially semi-circumferentially between the reinforcing rods at a leading position. Finally, the jacket material is pulled at the leading position radially away from the cable so as to cause the jacket material disposed between the reinforcing rods and the channel to separate. This will permit access to the optical fibers disposed in the jacket through an opening resulting from the separation of the jacket material.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.