Abstract: A fiber optic cable can inhibit water, that may inadvertently enter the cable, from damaging the cable's optical fibers. The fiber optic cable can comprise buffer tubes extending along the fiber optic cable. The buffer tubes can be arranged such that a ring of buffer tubes surrounds one or more centrally located buffer tubes. Stacked ribbons of optical fibers can be disposed in each buffer tube, along with water-swellable tape and water-swellable yarn. The tape, yarn, and optical fibers can be dry or free from water-blocking gels or fluids. The water-swellable materials can provide an unexpected level of water protection. The water-swellable materials can, for example, limit flow of seawater within the buffer tubes. In an exemplary embodiment, progression of seawater can be limited to three meters or less for a twenty-four hour test period during which the seawater is under about one meter of head pressure.

Abstract: A tape can comprise a strip of dielectric material, with adhering patches of electrical conductive material. The patches can be substantially electrically isolated from one another. The strip can be disposed in a communication cable to provide a shield that is electrically discontinuous or has high resistance between opposite cable ends. Each patch can interact with electromagnetic radiation associated with electrical signals transmitting over the cable. The patches can collectively interact with the transmitting electrical signals in a cumulative or resonant manner to produce a spike in return loss at a particular frequency of the transmitting signals. The frequency location of the spike can depend upon the sizes of the patches, with size impacting manufacturability. The patches can be sized such that the spike falls within an operating frequency of the transmitting signal but is suppressed, so the cable meets return loss specifications while offering manufacturing advantage.

Abstract: A fiber optic cable can inhibit water, that may inadvertently enter the cable, from damaging the cable's optical fibers. The fiber optic cable can comprise a buffer tube defining an interior volume extending along the fiber optic cable. Optical fibers can be disposed in the interior volume of the buffer tube, along with water-swellable materials, such as tapes and yarns. The interior volume can be dry or free from water-blocking gels or fluids. The water-swellable materials can provide the fiber optic cable with an unexpected level of protection from seawater. The water-swellable materials can, for example, limit flow of seawater along the interior volume. In an exemplary embodiment, progression of seawater in the interior volume be limited to three meters or less for a twenty four hour test period during which the seawater is under about one meter of head pressure.

Abstract: A fiber optic cable can inhibit water, that may inadvertently enter the cable, from damaging the cable's optical fibers. The fiber optic cable can comprise a buffer tube defining an interior volume extending along the fiber optic cable. Optical fibers can be disposed in the interior volume of the buffer tube, along with water-swellable materials, such as tapes and yarns. The interior volume can be dry or free from water-blocking gels or fluids. The water-swellable materials can provide the fiber optic cable with an unexpected level of protection from seawater. The water-swellable materials can, for example, limit flow of seawater along the interior volume. In an exemplary embodiment, progression of seawater in the interior volume be limited to three meters or less for a twenty four hour test period during which the seawater is under about one meter of head pressure.

Abstract: The present invention provides a communication cable buffer tube having a flexural modulus ranging from about 180 kpsi to about 280 kpsi.

Abstract: The present invention provides a communication cable buffer tube having a flexural modulus ranging from about 180 kpsi to about 280 kpsi.

Abstract: A communications cable having increased fire resistance and reduced attenuation and crosstalk includes a core having at least one insulated electrical conductor, and a jacket having an inner surface and a plurality of ribs projecting radially inward from the inner surface, the ribs separated from one another by adjacent channels that extend longitudinally along the length of the cable.

Abstract: A buffer tube for use in a fiber optic cable is disclosed. The buffer tube has a flexural modulus greater than about 180 kpsi and less than about 370 kpsi, which results in a buffer tube having good crush resistance and flexibility. A particularly useful buffer tube material is an alloy of polypropylene and polyphenylene oxide, which may contain solid fillers.

Abstract: A communication cable for transmitting various communication signals. The cable comprises buffer tubes for optical fiber cables that are robust, crush resistant, flexible, and cost effective. To obtain these properties, the buffer tubes contain a polymeric mixture of high impact polystyrene and styrene-butadiene-styrene. The polymeric mixture for the buffer tubes may also contain crystalline polystyrene and/or acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene.

Abstract: A hybrid data communications cable includes optical fibers and insulated electrical conductors. The cable includes an elongated filler member having a central portion, walls extending radially from the central portion and a conduit running the length of the filler member. The optical fibers are enclosed within the conduit, and at least one insulated electrical conductor is separated from another insulated electrical conductor by one or more walls of the filler member. The cable further includes a jacket that encloses the filler member and the insulated electrical conductors.

Abstract: A buffer tube for an optical fiber cable is made from a polypropylene-polyethylene copolymer resin having nucleating agents and filler materials disbursed therein. The nucleating agents and filler materials improve compression-tension resistance and thermal expansion properties of the polypropylene-polyethylene copolymer buffer tube (32). A non-armored cable structure incoporates the present invention and is generally indicated by the numeral (30). This structure includes a single, large, gel-filled buffer tube (32) made of a polypropylene-polyethylene copolymer at least incorperating a nucleating agent. The gel in the buffer tube is a thioxotropic, water-blockable gel. The gel-filled buffer tube (32) contains a plurality of optical fibers (34). Radial strength yarns (36), made from either aramid, polyethylene, polyester, or fiberglass materials, are contra-helically stranded around the buffer tube (32) and impregnated with filling compounds such as a petroleum based hot melt filling compound.

Abstract: A buffer tube for an optical fiber cable is made from a polypropylene-polyethylene copolymer resin having nucleating agents and filler materials disbursed therein. The nucleating agents and filler materials improve compression-tension resistance and thermal expansion properties of the polypropylene-polyethylene copolymer buffer tube.

Abstract: To color code optical fibers, a ultraviolet light curable ink is mixed with a carrier fluid. The mixture is then applied to a horizontally moving optical fiber by an ink applicator using a rigid applicator die. The fiber then passes through a convection oven to evaporate the carrier fluid and a ultraviolet light radiator to cure the ultraviolet light curable ink.