Reinforced buffered fiber optic ribbon cable

US6421487B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• ALCATEL · FR

Inventors

• Curtis John Hutton · Hickory, US
• Justin Thompson · Huntersville, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 3, 2000
• Grant date: Jul 16, 2002
• Expiry date: May 3, 2020

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G02B6/441
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A buffered optical fiber ribbon cable includes at least one optical fiber ribbon cable, which has parallel optical fibers encased in a ribbon matrix sheath, and a ribbon buffering layer surrounding the optical fiber ribbon cable. The ribbon matrix sheath is at least partially molecularly bonded to outer coatings of the optical fibers and surrounds the parallel optical fibers, thereby holding the optical fibers immediately adjacent one another. The material of the ribbon buffering layer is preferably UV curable resin or thermoplastic material. Also, the ribbon buffering layer material may further contain imbedded reinforcement fibers for strengthening the ribbon buffering layer. The ribbon buffering layer is made of a material that allows the buffered optical fiber ribbon cable to be installed in environments independent of any additional protective cable covering. Moreover, the buffered optical fiber ribbon cable may have an optional outer buffering layer, surrounding the ribbon buffering layer, for added protection from the environment (e.g., fire retardant properties).