Tightly Confined (i.e., Fiber Tightly Held Inside The Outer Sheath) Patents (Class 385/102)
  • Patent number: 8718425
    Abstract: A cable assembly, for example, a pulling grip for pulling a trunk cable assembly having a plurality of cable legs may include at least one pliable core for receiving the cable legs, the cable legs being wrapped at least one time around the at least one pliable core causing distal ends of the cable legs to be a distance from a furcation point, the distance being shorter than the length of the cable legs, the cable assembly further providing protection from exceeding a minimum bend radius and enabling a relatively short pulling grip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC
    Inventors: Francisco Luna Piña, Wesley Allan Yates
  • Patent number: 8718426
    Abstract: Described are new cable designs for indoor installations wherein the cable comprises a dual-layer optical fiber buffer encasement of acrylate resin. The buffer encasement has an acrylate compliant inner layer that protects the fiber and minimizes stress transfer to the fiber; and a hard, tough acrylate outer layer that provides crush resistance. The dual-layer optical fiber buffer encasement is wrapped with reinforcing yarn and encased in an outer protective jacket. A dual jacket embodiment adapted for indoor/outdoor installations is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: OFS Fitel, LLC
    Inventors: Kelvin B Bradley, Mark G Graveston, Jason Pedder, Peter A Weimann
  • Publication number: 20140119699
    Abstract: An optical fiber cable includes at least one optical fiber element and a tight buffer coating on the optical fiber element, where the tight buffer coating on the optical fiber element includes a plurality of alternating splines and grooves facing outwardly towards the outer circumference of the tight buffer coating. Additionally, an optical fiber cable can have at least one optical fiber element and at least one buffer tube surrounding the optical fiber element, where the buffer tube around the optical fiber element includes a plurality of alternating splines and grooves facing outwardly towards the outer circumference of the buffer tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: NEXANS
    Inventors: David Keller, Randie Yoder, Chris Raynor, Terry Gooch, Greg Heffner, Joshua Keller, Mike Good
  • Patent number: 8712200
    Abstract: A fiber optic cable includes an optical fiber, strength components disposed on opposite sides of the optical fiber, and a polymeric cable jacket. The optical fiber includes a glass core, a glass cladding, and a polymer coating. The cable jacket surrounds the optical fiber and the strength components. Further, the cable jacket is tightly drawn onto the optical fiber, where excess fiber length of the optical fiber is such that positive strain is present in the optical fiber at room temperature (25° C.).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC
    Inventors: George Cornelius Abernathy, Rodney Maurice Burns, Michael John Gimblet, Warren Welborn McAlpine, Allen Michael Miller, David Alan Seddon
  • Patent number: 8705921
    Abstract: A fiber optic cable includes a subunit and an outer portion. The subunit includes a subunit jacket defining a passageway interior thereto, an optical fiber extending through the passageway, and a first reinforcement material constraining the optical fiber within the subunit jacket such that the optical fiber and the subunit jacket are coupled to one another by way of the first reinforcement material. The outer portion of the fiber optic cable includes an outer jacket defining an outer periphery of the cable and a second reinforcement material between the outer jacket and the subunit jacket. The second reinforcement material includes fiberglass yarn, and hoop stress applied to the fiberglass yarn by the outer jacket constrains the fiberglass yarn such that it is positioned and oriented to provide anti-buckling support to the fiber optic cable and mitigate effects on the optical fiber of jacket shrinkage due to low temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC
    Inventors: Bradley Jerome Blazer, Andrew Scott Dodd, Dieter Erwin Kundis, Sebastian Olszewski
  • Publication number: 20140099062
    Abstract: Cables jacket are formed by extruding discontinuities in a main cable jacket portion. The discontinuities allow the jacket to be torn to provide access to the cable core. The discontinuities can be longitudinally extending strips of material in the cable jacket, and can be introduced into the extrudate material flow used to form the main portion through ports in the extrusion head. The discontinuities allow a section of the cable jacket to be pulled away from a remainder of the jacket using a relatively low peel force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2012
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Inventors: Anne Germaine Bringuier, Michael John Gimblet, Julian Latelle Greenwood, III, Samuel Don Navé
  • Patent number: 8682124
    Abstract: A fiber optic cable includes a jacket, strength members, armor, and a tear feature. The jacket is formed from a first polymeric material and defines an exterior of the cable. The jacket further forms an interior cavity configured to support an optical fiber. The strength members are each surrounded by the jacket, with the cavity separating the strength members from one another. The armor extends above the cavity and at least partially above the strength members, and has greater tensile strength than the first polymeric material. The tear feature is located beneath the armor and is formed from a second polymeric material co-extrudable with the first polymeric material. The tear feature forms a discontinuity of material within the jacket. At least one of the second polymeric material and the interface between the first and second polymeric materials yields at a lesser tearing force than the first polymeric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC
    Inventor: Eric R. Logan
  • Publication number: 20140079360
    Abstract: A fiber optic cable is disclosed that includes an optic fiber contained within a nanotube. A graphene layer covers an end-surface of the optic fiber for wear protection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Inventor: Tyson York WINARSKI
  • Publication number: 20140064669
    Abstract: An optical fiber cable includes an optical fiber; a sheet of reinforcing tape rolled around a majority of an annular sidewall of the optical fiber; and a jacket surrounding the rolled sheet of reinforcing tape. The sheet has parallel longitudinal edges that are circumferentially spaced from each other to form a longitudinal slit along a length of the sheet of reinforcing tape. The reinforcing tape is formed of a polymeric material having uni-directionally oriented molecules along the length of the sheet. The jacket is heat-bonded to the sheet of reinforcing tape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: ADC Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne M. Kachmar
  • Publication number: 20140064682
    Abstract: The embodiments disclosed herein seek to eliminate substantially all of the voids or air gaps among neighboring fibers within a CFU by wetting a plurality of optical fibers that comprises the CFU with an acrylate prepolymer resin before the plurality of the optical fibers are grouped together tightly. In one embodiment, instead of extruding a first acrylate prepolymer resin to the optical fibers immediately after a first die, the disclosed process wets the optical fibers with a first acrylate prepolymer resin prior to the first die.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: OFS FITEL, LLC
    Inventors: Harold P. Debban, Timothy Goddard, Heng Ly, Peter A. Weimann
  • Patent number: 8662165
    Abstract: A fiber support arrangement for a downhole tool includes at least one tubular and at least one bracket positioning the at least one tubular spaced radially from a downhole tool and lacking contact therewith. At least two fibers are supported at the at least one tubular with at least two of the at least two fibers having a different helical angle from one another relative to an axis of the downhole tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Denise M. Earles, Carl W. Stoesz
  • Patent number: 8660393
    Abstract: Fiber optic cables and methods of manufacturing fiber optic cables are disclosed herein. According to one embodiment, a fiber optic cable includes a plurality of optical fibers. The fiber optic cable also includes strength material having a relatively long lay length, the strength material surrounding the plurality of optical fibers and a polymer jacket surrounding the strength material. Each of the optical fibers is configured to exhibit a bend-induced optical attenuation of less than or equal to about 0.5 dB when wrapped one turn around a 10 mm mandrel at a wavelength of 850 nanometers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC
    Inventor: William Carl Hurley
  • Patent number: 8655127
    Abstract: There is provided an optical fiber cable having a plurality of optical fiber members. Each optical fiber member includes an optical fiber and a protective coating surrounding the optical fiber. A polymer coating surrounds the plurality of optical fiber members and a portion of the polymer coating is located between at least some of the optical fiber members. The optical fiber members and the polymer coating form an optical fiber unit. A tight buffer surrounds the optical fiber unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Optical Cable Corporation
    Inventors: Teddy W. Leonard, Michael A. Stover, Aaron J. Plaski
  • Publication number: 20140029903
    Abstract: A fiber optic cable includes a subunit and an outer portion. The subunit includes a subunit jacket defining a passageway interior thereto, an optical fiber extending through the passageway, and a first reinforcement material constraining the optical fiber within the subunit jacket such that the optical fiber and the subunit jacket are coupled to one another by way of the first reinforcement material. The outer portion of the fiber optic cable includes an outer jacket defining an outer periphery of the cable and a second reinforcement material between the outer jacket and the subunit jacket. The second reinforcement material includes fiberglass yarn, and hoop stress applied to the fiberglass yarn by the outer jacket constrains the fiberglass yarn such that it is positioned and oriented to provide anti-buckling support to the fiber optic cable and mitigate effects on the optical fiber of jacket shrinkage due to low temperatures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Inventors: Bradley Jerome Blazer, Andrew Scott Dodd, Dieter Erwin Kundis, Sebastian Olszewski
  • Publication number: 20140029904
    Abstract: A cable that includes a first optical fiber in a center, a first layer with a plurality of metal wires and a stainless steel tube surrounding the first optical fiber, a second optical fiber inside the stainless steel tube, and a second layer with a plurality of metal wires surrounding the first layer, wherein the first optical fiber is directly exposed to the outside environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: AFL Telecommunications LLC
    Inventor: Brian HERBST
  • Patent number: 8639075
    Abstract: A communication cable can comprise optical fibers protected by an armor, such as a corrugated metallic tube. An outer jacket can cover the armor to provide environmental protection. A net located between the outer jacket and the armor can comprise openings, with the outer jacket extending into the openings, towards the armor. The net can be wrapped, formed, or woven around the armor, for example. The net can aid a craftsperson in separating the outer jacket from the corrugated metal tube, for example in connection with servicing the cable. The openings can control coupling between the outer jacket and the armor, for example providing a desired level of friction, bonding, adhesion, adherence, fusion, and/or contact between the outer jacket and the armor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Superior Essex Communications LP
    Inventor: Julie Anne Burnett
  • Patent number: 8630520
    Abstract: An optical transmission element comprises a core section including a plurality of optical fibers where each one of the optical fibers is in contact with at least two other optical fibers. The optical transmission element also has a sheath section including a sheath layer surrounding the core section such that the sheath layer is in contact with the optical fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: CCS Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerhard Merbach, Waldemar Stöcklein, Günter Wünsch
  • Patent number: 8620124
    Abstract: A fiber optic cable includes a core and a binder film surrounding the core. The core includes a central strength member and core elements, such as buffer tubes containing optical fibers, where the core elements are stranded around the central strength member in a pattern of stranding including reversals in lay direction of the core elements. The binder film is in radial tension around the core such that the binder film opposes outwardly transverse deflection of the core elements. Further, the binder film loads the core elements normally to the central strength member such that contact between the core elements and central strength member provides coupling therebetween, limiting axial migration of the core elements relative to the central strength member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC
    Inventors: Bradley Jerome Blazer, Rodney Maurice Burns, Julian Latelle Greenwood, III, Keith Aaron Greer, Warren Welborn McAlpine
  • Patent number: 8620123
    Abstract: A fiber optic cable includes a first optical fiber, a jacket, and a second optical fiber. The first optical fiber includes a glass core and cladding. The glass core is configured to provide controlled transmission of light through the fiber optic cable for high-speed data communication. The jacket has an interior surface that defines a conduit through which the first optical fiber extends. The jacket further has an exterior surface that defines the outside of the fiber optic cable. The second optical fiber is integrated with the exterior surface of the jacket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC
    Inventors: David L. Dean, Jr., William C. Hurley
  • Publication number: 20130343712
    Abstract: Provided is an method of manufacturing an optical fiber tape core wire with which, even when the optical fiber tape core wire is separated into optical fiber wires, it can be determined which optical fiber tape core wire each optical fiber wire is associated with. A fiber running length adjustment device 13 adjusting the running lengths of the optical fiber wires 2 running from printers 8 (8A to 8D) to a tape forming device 11 is used to adjust the running lengths of all the optical fiber wires 2 between the printers 8 and the tape forming device 11 to a same length. By this adjustment, markings 6 formed on each optical fiber wire 2 (2A to 2D) can be aligned with the corresponding markings 6 formed on the other fiber wires 2 to the same position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: FUJIKURA LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi MATSUZAWA, Yukiko TAKE, Mizuki ISAJI, Ken OSATO, Naoki OKADA
  • Publication number: 20130315545
    Abstract: The present invention provides an optical fiber in which transmission loss is not easily increased when the optical fiber is dipped in water and then dried and also which has a solvent resistant property and a micro-bend resistant property. An optical fiber according to one embodiment of the present invention is an optical fiber in which at least two layers of coating resin coat the circumference of a glass optical fiber. When a Yang's modulus of the first coating layer of the coating resin is defined by PY (MPa) and an elution rate of the coating resin after dipping in 60° C. hot water for 168 hours is defined by E (mass·%), a formula of 1.8?E?8.61×PY+1.40 is satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Minoru SAITO, Minoru Kasahara, Kouji Mochizuki, Hiroki Tanaka, Yasuo Nakajima
  • Patent number: 8588567
    Abstract: An optical cable comprises a tight-buffered optical cable and a protective sleeve which surrounds the tight-buffered optical cable. An intermediate layer surrounds the protective sleeve has tension-resistant elements. Furthermore, the optical cable contains a cable sheath which surrounds the intermediate layer, and a transitional area facing its inner surface. In this transitional area, the material of the cable sheath is mixed with the tension-resistant elements of the intermediate layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: CCS Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Rainer Kamps, Dieter Erwin Kundis, Gerhard Merbach, Waldemar Stöcklein
  • Patent number: 8582942
    Abstract: A fiber optic cable can comprise technology for mitigating stress on optical fibers of the cable. The technology can protect the optical fibers from compression, such as stemming from installation, deployment, or handling. The technology can compensate for thermally induced expansion and contraction of cable elements having differing thermal expansion characteristics, arising when the cable is subjected to temperature variations. The cable can comprise a central strength member onto which an elastomeric material, such as silicone, has been applied. The elastomeric material can protect optical fibers that are located between the central strength member and an outside jacket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Superior Essex Communications LP
    Inventor: Julie Anne Burnett
  • Patent number: 8582938
    Abstract: Fiber optic distribution cables and methods for manufacturing the same are disclosed. The fiber optic distribution cables present one or more optical fibers outward of the protective covering for distribution of the same toward the subscriber. In one fiber optic distribution cable, a length of distribution optical fiber that is removed from the distribution cable and presented outward of the protective covering is longer than the opening at access location. In another embodiment, a demarcation point is provided for inhibiting the movement (i.e., pistoning) of the distribution optical fiber into and out of the distribution cable. In still another embodiment, an indexing tube is provided for indexing a tether tube within the indexing tube for providing the distribution optical fiber with a suitable excess fiber length. Additionally, other embodiments may include a fiber optic distribution cable having a dry construction and/or a non-round cross-section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC
    Inventors: Joseph T. Cody, Dennis M. Knecht, Christopher Paul Lewallen, James P. Luther
  • Patent number: 8571367
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fiber optic furcation assembly (1) which comprises an over-molded body (2) formed from a flexible material, having a first end (15) and an opposed second end (16), the first end (15) being adapted to receive a portion of a fiber optic distribution cable (3) having at least two optical fibers (7), and the second end (16) being adapted to receive a portion of at least one furcation cable jacket (13) sheathing at least one furcated optical fiber (7?) from the fiber optic distribution cable (3), at least one of the fiber optic distribution cable (3) and the furcation cable jacket (13) comprising reinforcement members (9, 12). To reduce the load of the optical fibers (7) within the furcation assembly at least a portion of the reinforcement members (9, 12) is anchored within the over-molded body (2) so as to transmit a load from the over-molded body via the anchored reinforcement members (9, 12) to the respective cable (3, 4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Nederland BV
    Inventors: Theo Van Der Meulen, Paul Schneider, Frans Van Geijn
  • Publication number: 20130279865
    Abstract: Robust fiber optic cables and assemblies having low attenuation multimode optical fibers. The cables have low attenuation in tensile and mandrel wrap tests, and can have thermoplastic urethane jackets coextruded over tensile strength members that allow the cables to be pulled by the jackets. The cables have relatively small cross-sections yet have sufficient robustness to be deployed in extreme environments such as cellular tower applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Inventor: William Carl Hurley
  • Patent number: 8538216
    Abstract: Fiber optic cables and assemblies for routing optical networks closer to the subscriber. The fiber optic cables have a small-cross section yet robust design that is versatile by allowing use in aerial application with a pressure clamp along with use in buried and/or duct applications. Additionally, the fiber optic cables and assemblies have a relatively large slack storage capacity for excess length. Assemblies include hardened connectors such as plugs and/or receptacles suitable for outdoor plant applications attached to one or more ends of the fiber optic cables for plug and play connectivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC
    Inventors: George C. Abernathy, Rodney M. Burns, Michael J. Gimblet, Warren W. McAlpine, Allen M. Miller, David A. Seddon
  • Publication number: 20130236144
    Abstract: A connecting device for a fiber optic cable includes a first part having a first housing and first and second electrical connectors located on the first housing, and a second part having a second housing and a third electrical connector located on the second housing. The second and third electrical connectors are adapted to be mechanically and electrically connect with each other or disconnected from each other. The first part further includes electrical components disposed within the first housing and electrically connected to the first and second electrical connectors. The second part receives end portions of optical fibers of the fiber optic cable, and further includes optical transceivers disposed within the second housing which are electrically connected to the third electrical connector and optically coupled to the optical fibers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: CELERITY TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Xiaolin Tong, Tony Cheng, Yumei Zhan, Junxing Cao
  • Patent number: 8525031
    Abstract: A low cost, high performance flexible reinforcement member that can be used for both optical and copper communications cable. The reinforcement members made according to the preferred process are more rigid than known reinforcement members, but are less rigid than glass pultruded rods. Communications cables utilizing these members are lightweight and exhibit an improved combination of strength and flexibility compared to traditional communications cables. Further, these communication cables may then be installed into underground ducts using more economical and faster installation techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Neptco JV LLC
    Inventors: Thomas P. Hager, Richard N. Lehman, James R. Priest
  • Publication number: 20130208283
    Abstract: Variable Sensitivity optical sensors can have a respective actual sensitivity of one or more portions of the sensor corresponding, at least in part, to a selected environment of each respective sensor portion. Some disclosed sensors have a plurality of optical conduits extending longitudinally of the sensors. At least one of the optical conduits can have at least one longitudinally extending segment having one or more optical and/or mechanical properties that differs from the optical properties of an adjacent longitudinally extending segment, providing the conduit with longitudinally varying signal propagation characteristics. An optical sensor having such optical conduits can exhibit a longitudinally varying actual sensitivity. Nonetheless, such a sensor can exhibit a substantially constant apparent sensitivity, e.g., when each respective portion of the sensor exhibits an actual sensitivity corresponding to a selected environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: FIBER SENSYS, INC.
    Inventor: Edward Tapanes
  • Publication number: 20130188915
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a plastic optical fiber unit in which a plurality of plastic optical fibers each comprising an optical fiber body and a reinforcing layer covering an outer circumference of the optical fiber body is bundled in a longitudinal direction and integrated, and a coating resin is applied so as to cover the entire bundle of the plastic optical fibers, in which the plastic optical fiber unit satisfies the relationship of 0.15?T/D?0.50 when a thickness of the reinforcing layer of the plastic optical fiber is D and a shortest distance of from the plastic optical fiber to the outer circumference of the plastic optical fiber unit is T.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: ASAHI GLASS COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventor: ASAHI GLASS COMPANY, LIMITED
  • Patent number: 8494326
    Abstract: A telecommunication cable is equipped with at least one optical fiber coated by a tight buffer layer made from a polymeric material having an ultimate elongation equal to or lower than 100% and an ultimate tensile strength equal to or lower than 10 MPa. The above combination of features of the polymeric material forming the buffer layer provides an optical fiber which is effectively protected during installation operations and during use, and at the same time can be easily stripped by an installer without using any stripping tools, simply by applying a small pressure with his fingertips and a moderate tearing force along the fiber axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Prysmian S.p.A.
    Inventors: Enrico Consonni, Davide Ceschiat
  • Publication number: 20130177282
    Abstract: This invention relates to a fiber reinforced plastic material with improved flexibility and high tensile strength for use in optic cables. The strength member composition comprises a polypropylene based thermoplastic resin, a continuous fiber having a modulus greater than 80 PGa, and talc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Inventors: Buo Chen, Bharat I. Chaudhary, Chester J. Kmiec, Jeffrey M. Cogen
  • Patent number: 8472768
    Abstract: A plastic optical fiber cable that is strong in repeated flexure, ensuring low light loss at bending with a bend radius of 2 mm. The plastic optical fiber cable is one composed of a multicore plastic optical fiber strand including 7 to 10,000 cores of transparent resin, island portions each consisting of at least one core-surrounding sheath layer of transparent resin with a refractive index lower than that of the transparent resin constituting the cores and sea portion of resin surrounding the island portions and, enclosing the multicore plastic optical fiber strand, a coating layer, characterized in that the resin constituting at least either the sheath layer or sea layer is one of 25 to 55 Shore D hardness while the resin constituting the coating layer consists of a thermoplastic resin of 500 to 2000 MP flexural modulus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Asahi Kasei E-Materials Corporation
    Inventors: Hideaki Kai, Seiji Sasho, Hajime Munekuni
  • Publication number: 20130156389
    Abstract: Disclosed is a composite optical fiber which has high flexibility and is hard to break. The composite optical fiber comprises a larger-diameter optical fiber and smaller-diameter optical fibers each having a smaller diameter than that of the larger-diameter optical fiber, wherein the larger-diameter fiber and the smaller-diameter optical fibers are so arranged that the larger-diameter fiber is surrounded by the smaller-diameter optical fibers, and the smaller-diameter optical fibers that surround the larger-diameter optical fiber are made from a plastic material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicants: Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Kuraray Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Shinji, Katashi Saito, Kiyoshi Oka
  • Patent number: 8463095
    Abstract: Cables have dielectric armor with an armor profile that resembles conventional metal armored cable. The dielectric armor provides additional crush and impact resistance for the optical fibers and/or fiber optic assembly therein. The armored cables recover substantially from deformation caused by crush loads. Additionally, the armored fiber optic assemblies can have any suitable flame and/or smoke rating for meeting the requirements of the intended space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC
    Inventors: Gregory B. Bohler, Julian L. Greenwood, III, Keith A. Greer, Wesley B. Nicholson, James A. Register, III, Kimberly D. Slan
  • Publication number: 20130129289
    Abstract: A cable assembly configured to prevent the wicking of fluid inside the cable assembly and method for producing same. The assembly includes at least one wire surrounded by an insulative wire jacket. A portion of the wire jacket is removed to expose a portion of the wire. The at least one wire is overmolded with a material that adheres to the wire jacket and the exposed portion of the wire, thereby preventing the wicking of fluid along the inside and outside surfaces of the wire jacket. Solder may be applied to the exposed portion of the wire, thereby providing a fluid barrier within the wire in instances in which the wire is stranded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Inventor: Carey S. ROLAND
  • Patent number: 8442371
    Abstract: An optical fiber cable and a tight-buffered optical fiber which suppress an increase in transmission loss in a humid and hot environment and have good manufacturability are disclosed. The tight-buffered optical fiber of the present invention comprises a glass fiber surrounded by a first coating layer and a second coating layer, the second coating layer comprising two or more layers; wherein a pull-out force is 15 N/20 mm or less in at least one pair of layers between the first coating layer and the second coating layer, or between any two layers of the second coating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Oyama, Toshiaki Ozawa
  • Publication number: 20130108228
    Abstract: Cables are constructed a jacket having an inner section within the cable jacket that facilitates access to the cable core, and which can be removed at the end of the cable during connectorization. The inner section is removed at the end of the cable to create a cavity in which fiber(s) in the cable core can buckle during connectorization to reduce strain on the fibers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Inventors: George Cornelius Abernathy, David Wesley Chiasson, Radawan Ripumaree, Alvin John McDonald, Randall Dwaine Tuttle
  • Publication number: 20130094822
    Abstract: Fiber optic cables and methods of manufacturing fiber optic cables are disclosed herein. According to one embodiment, a fiber optic cable includes a plurality of optical fibers. The fiber optic cable also includes strength material having a relatively long lay length, the strength material surrounding the plurality of optical fibers and a polymer jacket surrounding the strength material. Each of the optical fibers is configured to exhibit a bend-induced optical attenuation of less than or equal to about 0.5 dB when wrapped one turn around a 10 mm mandrel at a wavelength of 850 nanometers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Inventor: William Carl Hurley
  • Publication number: 20130089295
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a telecommunications cable having a layer constructed to resist post-extrusion shrinkage. The layer includes a plurality of discrete shrinkage-reduction members embedded within a base material. The shrinkage-reduction members can be made of a liquid crystal polymer. The disclosure also relates to a method for manufacturing telecommunications cables having layers adapted to resist post-extrusion shrinkage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: ADC Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventor: ADC Telecommunications, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8412011
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical fiber cable which can reliably prevent increased transmission loss due to damage of the optical fiber as a result of the egg-laying behavior of cicadas. The cable includes at least an optical fiber 1, tension members 6 and a sheath 3. The sheath 3 has a shore D hardness of 55 or more and a minimum distance L from a surface of the optical fiber 1 to an outer surface of the sheath 3 of greater than 0.3 mm. Further, in the cable, the surface of sheath 3 has a coefficient of friction of 0.45 or less and the sheath 3 has a shore D hardness of 57 or more. In addition, the cable is made by using a specific flame retardant composition (P) as the sheath material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Yasutomi, Masayoshi Tsukamoto, Mitsuru Iwano, Yoshihisa Rintsu, Masanobu Aragaki, Masaki Nishiguchi
  • Patent number: 8412012
    Abstract: An optical fiber cable includes an unbuffered optical fiber, a tensile reinforcement member surrounding the unbuffered optical fiber, and a jacket surrounding the tensile reinforcement member. The jacket is suitable for outside plant environment. A water blocking material is placed between the unbuffered fiber and the jacket. The unbuffered optical fiber comprises an ultra bend-insensitive fiber that meets the requirements of ITU-T G.657.B3 and exhibits an additional loss of less than approximately 0.2 dB/turn when the fiber is wrapped around a 5 mm bend radius mandrel. The optical fiber cable also exhibits an additional loss of less than approximately 0.4 dB/km at 1550 nm when the cable is subjected to ?20° C. outside plant environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: OFS Fitel, LLC
    Inventors: Stefan Jost, Elmar Staudinger, Peter A. Weimann
  • Patent number: 8412013
    Abstract: An optical fiber cable includes an elongated optical element portion having an optical fiber, a pair of tensile strength members and an outer jacket. The optical fiber is composed of one or more plastic coated optical fibers, tight-buffered optical fibers or optical ribbon fibers. The pair of tensile strength members is arranged in parallel at both sides of the optical fiber in a width direction of the optical fiber. The outer jacket covers outer circumferences of the optical fiber and the pair of tensile strength members. A frictional coefficient of the outer jacket is equal to or less than 0.20. Shore D hardness of the outer jacket is equal to or more than 60.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignees: Fujikura Ltd., Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
    Inventors: Satoru Shiobara, Shimei Tanaka, Tadayoshi Sayama, Daiki Takeda, Masashi Ohno, Naoki Okada, Keiichiro Sugimoto, Shinichi Niwa
  • Patent number: 8406591
    Abstract: A low cost, high performance, low profile flexible reinforcement member that can be used for both optical and copper communications cable. The reinforcement members made according to the preferred process are more rigid than known reinforcement members, but are less rigid than glass pultruded rods. Communications cables utilizing these members are lightweight and exhibit an improved combination of strength and flexibility compared to traditional communications cables. Further, these communication cables may then be installed into underground ducts using more economical and faster installation techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Neptco JV, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas P. Hager, Richard N. Lehman, James R. Priest
  • Publication number: 20130058613
    Abstract: An optical fiber cable includes an unbuffered optical fiber, a tensile reinforcement member surrounding the unbuffered optical fiber, and a jacket surrounding the tensile reinforcement member. The jacket is suitable for outside plant environment. A water blocking material is placed between the unbuffered fiber and the jacket. The unbuffered optical fiber comprises an ultra bend-insensitive fiber that meets the requirements of ITU-T G.657.B3 and exhibits an additional loss of less than approximately 0.2 dB/turn when the fiber is wrapped around a 5 mm bend radius mandrel. The optical fiber cable also exhibits an additional loss of less than approximately 0.4 dB/km at 1550 nm when the cable is subjected to ?20° C. outside plant environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Inventors: Stefan Jost, Elmar Staudinger, Peter A. Weimann
  • Patent number: 8388242
    Abstract: A fiber optic cable assembly includes a connector and a fiber optic cable. The connector includes a housing having a first axial end and an oppositely disposed second axial end. A ferrule is disposed in the housing. A plurality of optical fibers is mounted in the ferrule. The fiber optic cable includes an outer jacket defining a fiber passage that extends longitudinally through the outer jacket and a window that extends through the outer jacket and the fiber passage. First and second strength members are oppositely disposed about the fiber passage in the outer jacket. A plurality of optical fibers is disposed in the fiber passage. The optical fibers are joined at splices to the optical fibers of the connector. A splice sleeve is disposed over the splices. The splice sleeve is disposed in the window of the outer jacket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: ADC Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne M. Kachmar, Ronald J. Kleckowski
  • Patent number: 8391663
    Abstract: A rack cabling system including a rack having mounted thereon a first hardware component and a patch panel housing mounted on the rack adjacent the first hardware component. The patch panel housing populates no more than a three rack unit (RU space), the patch panel housing including a front end having cable pathway openings and a rear end having connector coupler plates mounted therein. The patch panel may have a first cable pathway opening located adjacent the first side of the housing and defining a primary position and a first connector coupler plate mounted on the rear adjacent on the first side and the first connector plate having a first position corresponding to the primary position of the first cable pathway opening. Cable harnesses are routed with less than three bends of the cables between the first hardware component and the patch panel housing, so that the first cable harness is terminated at the first coupler plate in the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Methode Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Carter, David E. Hildreth, Tyler M. Miller, Robert C. Neumann
  • Publication number: 20130051743
    Abstract: Cables are constructed with extruded discontinuities in the cable jacket that allow the jacket to be torn to provide access to the cable core. The discontinuities can be longitudinally extending strips of material in the cable jacket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Inventors: Michael John Gimblet, Julian Latelle Greenwood, III
  • Publication number: 20130051742
    Abstract: A drop cable assembly has a drop cable and an outer sheath formed around the drop cable that encloses and reinforces the drop cable. The drop cable is accommodated within a cavity of the outer sheath and includes strength members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Inventors: Benjamin Roberts Blackwell, Stephen Robert Horan, JR.