Abstract: Disclosed herein is an optical cable comprising a support; flexible protective tubes helically wound around the support, each flexible protective tube comprising an optical fiber comprising an optical core; a cladding disposed on the core; and a primary coating external to the cladding; and a deformable material surrounding the optical fiber; an outer jacket surrounding the flexible protective tubes; wherein each optical fiber is about 0.5% to about 1.

Abstract: A torch for fabricating optical fiber preforms may include a body having a surface and two or more slit-shaped orifices oriented parallel or substantially parallel to each other along the surface. The torch body may further include two or more conduits connected to corresponding orifices. The torch may be used by orienting it relative to a preform substrate, and simultaneously emitting two or more gases from corresponding orifices toward the surface of the preform substrate, such that the gases are involved in a reaction to form a soot.

Abstract: A tool device for installing an optical fiber inside a user premises includes a neck, a coupling joined to the neck for attachment to a leading end of an adhesive syringe or an extension pole, and a head joined to a leading portion of the neck. The head has a leading edge of a certain width, and a passageway for receiving an optical fiber and guiding the fiber to a position proximate to the leading edge. The width of the leading edge is such that when the edge is held transversely across a structural corner containing an adhesive bead, and an optical fiber is received in the passageway in the head and directed ahead of the leading edge, the edge embeds the fiber in the bead when the edge is swept along the corner with the optical fiber positioned between the edge and the adhesive bead.

Abstract: A hollow core fiber (HCF) has a cross section with a substantially-circular hollow core in a cladding lattice, an axial center and a reference direction that extends radially in one direction from the axial center. The HCF comprises modified holes that are located along linear paths that extend radially outward from the axial center. The modified holes, which are located at various radial distances from the axial center and at various azimuthal angles from the reference direction, have non-uniform modified properties. These non-uniform modified properties include radially-varying properties, azimuthally-varying properties, or a combination of radially-varying and azimuthally-varying properties.

Abstract: A distributed sensing optical fiber cable is proposed. An optical fiber is positioned at the center of the cable and includes a core region, at least one cladding layer surrounding the core region, a protective coating covering the at least one cladding layer, and a tight buffer of elastomeric thermoplastic material disposed to surround the protective coating. The remainder of the cable structure includes a pair of strength members disposed longitudinally on either side of the optical fiber (the strength members formed of a glass-based, memory-less material) and a hard plastic jacket formed to encase the optical fiber and the pair of strength members, the plastic jacket preferably exhibiting an essentially rectangular profile.

Abstract: A length of optical fiber has a core, a cladding layer surrounding the core and a coating layer applied over the cladding layer along the fiber for protecting the fiber. The coating layer is applied so that gaps of a certain width are defined intermittently in the coating layer over the length of fiber. The gaps in the coating layer have a depth D that is set to expose the cladding layer enough within the gaps so that the exposed cladding layer and the surrounded core can be fusion spliced or terminated with minimal if any required stripping of the coating layer off of the cladding layer.

Abstract: Systems for holding optical fibers in a predefined orientation and cleaving the optical fibers are shown. In one embodiment, the system comprises a substrate structure with a groove along the top surface of the substrate. The groove extends from the substrate front edge in a direction that is parallel to the orientation of an optical fiber and is dimensioned to receive a portion of a bare optical fiber. The substrate structure also comprises a transverse structure on the top surface, which crosses the groove at an angle. The transverse structure receives ultraviolet light (UV) curable material, which secures the end of the bare optical fiber within the groove. Securing the bare optical fiber allows for proper tension to be applied during cleaving.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a coating composition comprising a silsesquioxane component having one or more reactive functional groups that render it curable using ultraviolet radiation; where the one or more reactive functional groups are selected from the group consisting of an acrylate, a vinyl ether, or an epoxy; and optionally, a co-reactive non-silsesquioxane monomer and/or an oligomer having one or more reactive functional groups that are curable using ultraviolet radiation and are selected from the group consisting of free radically curable acrylates, cationically curable epoxies, and cationically curable vinyl ethers; where the coating composition is disposed and cured on an optical article; where the optical article is at least one of an optical fiber or an optical planar waveguide; and where the average functionality of the composition is greater than one.

Abstract: A safety device for modules that store windings of communication lines, includes a metallic rod whose ends are configured to receive metallic screws to secure the rod on a base of a given module. End sections of the rod extend to a height at least equal to the height of the stored windings. Intermediate sections of the rod extend in opposite directions from the end sections, substantially parallel to the module base. Outer ends of the intermediate sections at least coincide with the outer periphery of the stored windings. A central section of the rod has opposite ends adjoining the outer ends of the intermediate sections. The central section rises over a path that at least coincides with the outer periphery of the stored windings. The end sections of the rod capture the windings, and the central section prevents them from dropping below the module during a building fire.

Abstract: A fiber optic cable connecter assembly includes a terminal wall having a port, an adapter at the port having one end for mating with a first fiber optic cable at the front of the wall and a second end for mating with a second cable at the back, and a spacer having an axial bore and a leading portion for engaging the port in sealing relationship. A cap has an axial bore, and a leading portion for engaging a rear portion of the spacer. A cable grommet/boot has a passage for receiving the first cable, and a leading end for engaging the rear portion of the spacer in sealing relationship. The rear portion of the grommet/boot protrudes from the back of the cap to act as a boot when the cap engages the spacer, after the first cable is connected to the adapter and the spacer engages the port.

Abstract: A hollow core fiber (HCF) has a cross section with a substantially-circular hollow core in a cladding lattice, an axial center and a reference direction that extends radially in one direction from the axial center. The HCF comprises modified holes that are located along linear paths that extend radially outward from the axial center. The modified holes, which are located at various radial distances from the axial center and at various azimuthal angles from the reference direction, have non-uniform modified properties. These non-uniform modified properties include radially-varying properties, azimuthally-varying properties, or a combination of radially-varying and azimuthally-varying properties.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a composition for coating an optical fiber comprising a free radically curable acrylate and/or a methacrylate functionalized oligomer having a density of less than 1.0 g/cm3; where the acrylate and/or the methacrylate functionalized oligomer has a functionality of 1 or more; a photoinitiator; and optionally a free radically curable acrylate and/or methacrylate diluent monomer that has a density of less than 1.0 g/cm3; where the coating composition is disposed and cured on an optical fiber; where the density of the cured coating is less than 1.0 g/cm3; and where the average functionality of the composition is greater than one.

Abstract: A hollow core optical fiber and cable combination is configured to exhibit minimal SNR and loss degradation. This is achieved by either: (1) reducing the coupling between the fundamental and other (unwanted) modes propagating within the hollow core fiber, or (2) increasing the propagation loss along the alternative. The first approach may be achieved by designing the cable to minimize perturbations and/or designing the hollow core fiber to fully separate the fundamental mode from the unwanted modes so as to reduce coupling into the unwanted modes. Whether through fiber design or cable design, the amount of light coupled into unwanted modes is reduced to acceptable levels. The second approach may be realized through either fiber design and/or cable design to suppress the light in unwanted modes so that an acceptably low level of light is coupled back into the fundamental mode.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an optical fiber having an optically uniform coating having no physical defects in the coating greater than 100 micrometers in size over a length of 50 meters or greater.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method comprising injecting light of a first wavelength ?1 into a wavelength division multiplexer; injecting light of a second wavelength ?2 into the wavelength division multiplexer; combining the light of the first wavelength ?1 and the light of the second wavelength ?2 in the wavelength division multiplexer to produce light of a third wavelength ?3; and reflecting the light of the third wavelength ?3 in a dual-Brillouin peak optical fiber that is in communication with the wavelength divisional multiplexer; wherein the dual-Brillouin peak optical fiber has at least two Brillouin peaks, such that an amplitude A1 of at least one of said Brillouin peaks is within 50% to 150% of an amplitude A2 of another Brillouin peak 0.5A2?A1?1.5A2; wherein the dual-Brillouin peak optical fiber generates a Brillouin dynamic grating that reflects an improved back-reflected Brillouin signal of the combined light.

Abstract: An indoor optical fiber backbone cable may include a cable jacket, at least one ribbon bundle having two or more partially bonded optical fiber ribbons contained within the cable jacket, and two or more reinforcing yarns. The cable jacket may have an outside diameter not greater than 8.0 mm. The optical fiber ribbons may be contained at a packing density in a range from 1.0 to 5.0 fibers/mm2 with respect to the outside diameter of the cable jacket. The optical fiber cable may be devoid of tensile reinforcement members other than the reinforcing yarns.

Abstract: A guide tool device for an optical fiber or cord includes a tool base that mounts on an adhesive syringe. A cord guide head has a flat leading edge, a key removably insertable into a keyway in the tool base, a guide channel for guiding a fiber toward the leading edge, and a tube for receiving an adhesive. An opening in the guide channel communicates adhesive from the tube into the channel, for applying the adhesive along a fiber while it is guided toward the leading edge on the guide head. A fitting is arranged to connect in sealing relationship with a distal end of the syringe, and a flexible tubing is connected between the fitting and the other end of the tube on the cord guide head. When urged toward the distal end of the syringe, the adhesive is communicated into the guide channel in the cord guide head.

Abstract: An optical fiber distribution module includes a base having a surrounding wall, a cover, and a sealing element in the cover. A pair of cable ports are formed in the base wall to pass an outdoor fiber distribution cable through an interior region of the module. One or more fiber ports in the wall pass corresponding drop fibers from the interior region where the fibers connect to designated fibers of the distribution cable, to a number of premises for which the fibers are designated inside a multi-dwelling unit building. Grommet seals are dimensioned and formed to be inserted in any unused fiber ports, and to surround the distribution cable and the drop fibers in their corresponding ports. The grommet seals cooperate with the sealing element in the cover to seal all the ports from the environment when the module is closed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a coating composition comprising a silsesquioxane component having one or more reactive functional groups that render it curable using ultraviolet radiation; where the one or more reactive functional groups are selected from the group consisting of an acrylate, a vinyl ether, or an epoxy; and optionally, a co-reactive non-silsesquioxane monomer and/or an oligomer having one or more reactive functional groups that are curable using ultraviolet radiation and are selected from the group consisting of free radically curable acrylates, cationically curable epoxies, and cationically curable vinyl ethers; where the coating composition is disposed and cured on an optical article; where the optical article is at least one of an optical fiber or an optical planar waveguide; and where the average functionality of the composition is greater than one.

Abstract: An optical fiber cable includes a cable jacket, a multiple-channel separator within the cable jacket, a plurality of fiber subunits within the cable jacket, and one or more strength members. The separator is made of a fire retardant material devoid of any embedded strength members. Each fiber subunit may include multiple optical fibers and extend within a respective separator channel. The one or more strength members are configured to provide tensile strength to the optical fiber cable.