Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a system and method for color-coating an optical fiber. The system includes a flow controller that controllably delivers and mixes color concentrate from one or more color concentrate reservoirs with a coating material, which colored coating material is fed to a coating die through which optical fiber passes. The color concentrate reservoirs are more compact and can be made portable along with the flow controller. Thus, the entire color coating system can travel to any appropriate location in the fiber manufacturing facility, e.g., at any one of a number of draw towers. Such portability allows many different colors to be used at the same draw tower much more easily than conventional arrangements, which typically only have one color line per draw tower. The method includes providing an optical fiber, controllably delivering color concentrate with a coating material to a coating die, coating the optical fiber with the coating die, and curing the coated fiber.

Abstract: The specification describes optical fiber cables designed for microduct installations. The microduct cables are coated with a sheath having particulates added to modify the drag of the outer surface of the cable to air, and thereby facilitate air blown installation. The particulates are nanoclay, silica, alumina, or other suitable solid particles of less than 5 microns. The coating comprises a prepolymer containing the filler, and is UV cured.

Abstract: An improved optical fiber cable is fabricated from a core surrounded by a protective sheath having a radially-varying elastic modulus. The core comprises one or more longitudinally extending optical fibers. The protective sheath comprises least a first coating layer portion and a second coating layer portion. The first and second coating layer portions are comprised of a common coating material. A modifier is added to the coating material comprising the first coating layer portion. Likewise, a modifier is added to the coating material comprising the second coating layer portion. The addition of a modifier to the first coating layer portion and the addition of a modifier to the second coating layer portion cause the coating to have an elastic modulus that varies in a radial direction along radii extending outwardly from a center of the core of the cable. The core may be, for example, a single optical fiber, a bundle of optical fibers, an optical fiber ribbon, a stack of optical fiber ribbons, etc.

Abstract: An optical fiber including a layer of primary coating material having a first modulus, a layer of color coating material having a second modulus, a layer of secondary coating having a third modulus, and wherein the first modulus, the second modulus, and the third modulus are different values.

Abstract: An optical fiber product comprises an optical fiber through which optical signals can be transmitted. A primary coating comprising a foam material surrounds the optical fiber. A secondary coating surrounds the primary coating. At least one of the primary coating and the secondary coating protect the optical fiber and resists microbending forces. A method of manufacture is also provided.

Abstract: The specification describes optical fiber cables designed for microduct installations. The microduct cables are coated with a sheath having particulates added to modify the drag of the outer surface of the cable to air, and thereby facilitate air blown installation. The particulates are nanoclay, silica, alumina, or other suitable solid particles of less than 5 microns. The coating comprises a prepolymer containing the filler, and is UV cured.

Abstract: A coated fiber strand including at least one heterogeneous region present in one or more coating layers. The heterogeneous region(s) preferably comprises a material useful for coding of the fiber. The optical fiber can include a primary coating layer and a secondary coating layer where the heterogeneous region(s) defines one or more colored stripes in or on the secondary coating layer. A method for forming a coated fiber, such as an optical fiber, includes introducing at least one coating layer onto a fiber strand such that one or more coating layers cover a portion of the surface of the strand. At least one heterogeneous region is introduced into or onto one or more coating layers, and the strand is cured to provide a desired product. A desired functionality, e.g., coding, can thus be introduced onto a fiber without adversely effecting subsequent processing steps, e.g., curing of the coating layer(s).

Abstract: A coated fiber strand includes one or more coating layers located directly or indirectly on the strand and at least one heterogeneous region present in or on one or more of the coating layer(s). The heterogeneous region(s) preferably comprises a material useful for coding of the fiber. One particularly preferred embodiment relates to an optical fiber having a primary coating layer and a secondary coating layer where the heterogeneous region(s) defines one or more colored stripes in or on the secondary coating layer.

Abstract: A coated fiber strand includes one or more coating layers located directly or indirectly on the strand and at least one heterogeneous region present in or on one or more of the coating layer(s). The heterogeneous region(s) preferably comprises a material useful for coding of the fiber. One particularly preferred embodiment relates to an optical fiber having a primary coating layer and a secondary coating layer where the heterogeneous region(s) defines one or more colored stripes in or on the secondary coating layer. A method for forming a coated fiber, such as an optical fiber, includes introducing at least one coating layer onto a fiber strand such that one or more coating layers directly or indirectly cover at least a portion of the surface of the strand. The method further includes introducing at least one heterogeneous region into or onto a coating layer(s). The fiber can then be treated, e.g., cured so as to provide a desired product. By this method, a desired functionality, e.g.

Abstract: Methods are provided for making an optical fiber transmission medium which includes optical fiber (21) provided with a coating system (31) typically including two layers each of a different coating material. An inner layer (32) of a first coating material is called the primary coating and an outer layer is termed the secondary. In order to achieve desired performance characteristics, performance is related to properties of a coating system. The coating materials have well defined moduli and the second coating material has an elongation which is substantially less than in prior secondary coating materials. Adhesion levels which are optimized rather than maximized are substantially stable with respect to time. Curing of the coating materials may be accomplished simultaneously or in tandem with the application separately of the coating materials.

Abstract: An optical fiber transmission medium (30) ) includes optical fiber (21) provided with a coating system (31) typically including two layers each of a different coating material. An inner layer (32) of a first coating material is called the primary coating and an outer layer is termed the secondary. In order to achieve desired performance characteristics, performance is related to properties of a coating system. The coating materials have well defined moduli and the second coating material has an elongation which is substantially less than in prior secondary coating materials. Adhesion levels which are optimized rather than maximized are substantially stable with respect to time. Curing of the coating materials may be accomplished simultaneously or in tandem with the application separately of the coating materials.