Optical fiber cables
US6721480B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 22, 2003 |
| Grant date | Apr 13, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 22, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/4411
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The specification describes an improved optical fiber ribbon cable. The cable design addresses the problem of wrinkles in the cable coating that occur on the interior bend radius on moderate bending of the cable. The wrinkles are much smaller than the bend radius, and are, relatively speaking, microbends. These may cause microbending losses in the fibers even where the bend radius is relatively large. The cable design of the invention has a combination of three important features. The cable cross section is round. The encasement for the optical fiber stack is relatively hard, and is deliberately made to adhere to the optical fiber stack. Consequently the encasement medium functions as an effective stress translating medium that deliberately translates stresses on the cable to the optical fibers. The optical fibers function as compressive strength members to retard longitudinal strain on the cables, and thereby reduce wrinkling of the encasement.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.