Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include an optical fiber cable. The optical fiber cable includes a multi-fiber unit tube that is substantially circular and dimensioned to receive a plurality of optical fibers. The optical fiber cable also includes a plurality of partially bonded optical fiber ribbon units positioned within the multi-fiber tube. The partially bonded optical fiber ribbon units are partially bonded in such a way that each partially bonded optical fiber ribbon is formed in a substantially circular shape or a random shape. The optical fiber cable also includes at least one elastomeric strength layer formed around the partially bonded optical fiber ribbon units. The optical fiber cable also includes an outer jacket surrounding the multi-fiber tube.

Abstract: An optical fiber cable comprises an inner tube with strength members that are located external to, and alongside of, the inner tube. Water-blocking material is also located external to the inner tube. A sheath surrounds the strength members and the water-blocking material. The cable further comprises an optical fiber with a core, a trench surrounding the core, a cladding surrounding the trench, and a coating applied over the cladding. The cable comprises a fiber arrangement with N optical fibers (with N being an integer (e.g., 16, 32, 48, 96, etc.), of which at least one optical fiber has: a maximum effective area (Aeff) of approximately seventy-five square micrometers (˜75 ?m2) at a wavelength (?) of approximately 1550 nanometers (˜1550 nm); a maximum mode field diameter (MFD) of ˜8.8 ?m at ? of ˜1550 nm; a maximum cable cut-off ? of ˜1520 nm; and, a maximum attenuation of ˜0.180 decibels-per-kilometer (dB/km) at ? of ˜1550 nm.

Abstract: An optical fiber cable may include a cable jacket, a rigid tensile reinforcement member centered within the cable jacket, and a plurality of partially bonded optical fiber ribbons around the rigid tensile reinforcement member. The optical fiber cable does not include any buffer tubes but may include a cushioning layer adjacent the ribbons.

Abstract: An optical fiber cable having reduced surface friction may include a low-friction, fire retardant cable jacket structure. The cable jacket structure may include a thicker, highly fire-retardant cable jacket, and a thinner, low-friction skin layer formed over the cable jacket.

Abstract: An optical fiber cable may include a cable jacket, a central tube within the cable jacket, optical fibers within the central tube, and a number of semi-rigid rods around the central tube. Each rod may have a cross-sectional shape with an aspect ratio of at least 2:1. The rods may be helically applied around the central tube.

Abstract: A fiber-optic cable having optical fibers that are arranged as a rollable ribbon. Water-swellable material (e.g., superabsorbent liquid, superabsorbent powder, superabsorbent adhesive, etc.) is applied directly to the rollable ribbon, thereby eliminating the need to incorporate conventional water-absorbing yarns, tapes, or other such similar materials. The rollable ribbon is surrounded by a tube, with a dielectric strength member positioned external to the tube and substantially parallel to the tube. A jacket, with a ripcord along a substantial length of the jacket, surrounds the tube. Also taught is a process for manufacturing a rollable-ribbon fiber-optic cable, in which a water-swellable material is applied directly to the rollable ribbon, thereby eliminating the need to incorporate conventional water-absorbing yarns, tapes, or other such similar materials.

Abstract: An optical fiber cable may include a cable jacket, a rigid tensile reinforcement member centered within the cable jacket, and a plurality of partially bonded optical fiber ribbons around the rigid tensile reinforcement member. The optical fiber cable does not include any buffer tubes but may include a cushioning layer adjacent the ribbons.

Abstract: A fiber-optic cable having optical fibers that are arranged as a rollable ribbon. Water-swellable material (e.g., superabsorbent liquid, superabsorbent powder, superabsorbent adhesive, etc.) is applied directly to the rollable ribbon, thereby eliminating the need to incorporate conventional water-absorbing yarns, tapes, or other such similar materials. The rollable ribbon is surrounded by a tube, with a dielectric strength member positioned external to the tube and substantially parallel to the tube. A jacket, with a ripcord along a substantial length of the jacket, surrounds the tube. Also taught is a process for manufacturing a rollable-ribbon fiber-optic cable, in which a water-swellable material is applied directly to the rollable ribbon, thereby eliminating the need to incorporate conventional water-absorbing yarns, tapes, or other such similar materials.

Abstract: A fiber-optic cable having optical fibers that are arranged as a rollable ribbon. Water-swellable material (e.g., superabsorbent liquid, superabsorbent powder, superabsorbent adhesive, etc.) is applied directly to the rollable ribbon, thereby eliminating the need to incorporate conventional water-absorbing yarns, tapes, or other such similar materials. The rollable ribbon is surrounded by a tube, with a dielectric strength member positioned external to the tube and substantially parallel to the tube. A jacket, with a ripcord along a substantial length of the jacket, surrounds the tube. Also taught is a process for manufacturing a rollable-ribbon fiber-optic cable, in which a water-swellable material is applied directly to the rollable ribbon, thereby eliminating the need to incorporate conventional water-absorbing yarns, tapes, or other such similar materials.

Abstract: A high count optical fiber cable is formed of a number of sub-unit components stranded around a central tension member. Each sub-unit component is formed to include the total number of individual fibers required to populate a given equipment rack (e.g., 288 fibers, for example). The individual fibers are preferably provided using a plurality of rollable optical fiber ribbons (permitting the large number of individual fibers to be compacted into a relatively small space), with water blocking material included in each sub-unit component. The sub-unit components may be formed to include individual strength members (i.e., in the form of sub-unit cables), or as loose tubes with an outer strength member disposed to surround the sub-units. Each sub-unit component is specifically sized to match the fiber capacity of, for example, a full equipment rack, minimizing the number of physical cables required for high density applications (e.g., data centers).

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: 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.

Abstract: A fiber-optic cable having optical fibers that are arranged as a rollable ribbon. Water-swellable material (e.g., superabsorbent liquid, superabsorbent powder, superabsorbent adhesive, etc.) is applied directly to the rollable ribbon, thereby eliminating the need to incorporate conventional water-absorbing yarns, tapes, or other such similar materials. The rollable ribbon is surrounded by a tube, with a dielectric strength member positioned external to the tube and substantially parallel to the tube. A jacket, with a ripcord along a substantial length of the jacket, surrounds the tube. Also taught is a process for manufacturing a rollable-ribbon fiber-optic cable, in which a water-swellable material is applied directly to the rollable ribbon, thereby eliminating the need to incorporate conventional water-absorbing yarns, tapes, or other such similar materials.

Abstract: An optical fiber cable includes a rollable ribbon, reinforcing yarns, and a jacket. The Rollable ribbon has a plurality of optical fibers. Each optical fiber has a fiber strain greater than 0.6 percent under standard installation tensile load. The jacket encloses the rollable ribbon, the optical fibers and reinforcing yarns at a packing density greater than about 1.25 fibers per square millimeter. The combined effect of optical fibers having a fiber strain greater than 0.6 percent under standard installation tensile load and a small amount of reinforcing yarn provides the optical fiber cable with high proof strain, compact diameter, and high packing density.

Abstract: An optical fiber distribution cable for servicing living units inside a MDU building, is formed by surrounding differently colored optical fibers with a jacket having a diameter of not more than about 3.5 mm. The jacket is opaque for hiding the colored fibers at least partially from view, thus reducing or eliminating any negative visual impact of the cable when installed. The colored cable fibers are arranged so that they are visible to an installer when only the cable jacket is cut open. Connection modules are mounted at corresponding living units, and a section of the cable is placed in each module. The jacket on a cable section in a given module is cut open, and a fiber assigned to the corresponding living unit is identified by color. The fiber is cut, and a length of the fiber is removed from the cable section and stored in the given module.

Abstract: A optical fiber cable includes optical fibers, reinforcing yarns, and a jacket. Each optical fiber has a fiber strain greater than 0.6 percent under standard installation tensile load. The jacket encloses the optical fibers and reinforcing yarns at a packing density greater than about 1.25 fibers per square millimeter. The combined effect of optical fibers having a fiber strain greater than 0.6 percent under standard installation tensile load and a small amount of reinforcing yarn provides the optical fiber cable with high proof strain, compact diameter, and high packing density.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include an optical fiber cable. The optical fiber cable includes at least one multi-fiber unit tube. The multi-fiber unit tube is substantially circular and dimensioned to receive a plurality of optical fibers. The optical fiber cable also includes at least one rollable optical fiber ribbon comprising a plurality of optical fibers positioned within the at least one multi-fiber unit tube. The plurality of optical fibers in the at least one rollable optical fiber ribbon are rolled in such a way that the at least one rollable optical fiber ribbon is formed in a variable shape. The optical fiber cable also includes a jacket surrounding the at least one multi-fiber unit tube.

Abstract: A tight-buffered optical fiber cable includes an improved method of accessing the coated optical fiber. The cable can include an optical fiber having a glass core and a cladding layer. One or more coating layers can be applied about the cladding layer. A buffer jacket material can be applied onto an outer surface of the outer coating layer as a buffer jacket outer layer. The buffer jacket outer layer can have distinctive features including a low tear strength, low elastic modulus, high elongation percentage, and low peeling force. This can allow a user of the optical fiber cable to separate at least a portion of the coated optical fiber from the buffer jacket outer layer by grasping a free end of the coated optical fiber and pulling it through the outer wall of the buffer jacket outer layer, thereby tearing through the outer wall of the buffer jacket outer layer.

Abstract: A optical fiber cable includes two or more non-twisted, rollable optical fiber ribbons within a central tube. The non-twisted, rollable optical fiber ribbons define a fiber packing density within the central tube of between 6.5 and 8.5 fibers per square millimeter.

Abstract: A optical fiber cable includes optical fibers, reinforcing yarns, and a jacket. Each optical fiber has a fiber strain greater than 0.6 percent under standard installation tensile load. The jacket encloses the optical fibers and reinforcing yarns at a packing density greater than about 1.25 fibers per square millimeter. The combined effect of optical fibers having a fiber strain greater than 0.6 percent under standard installation tensile load and a small amount of reinforcing yarn provides the optical fiber cable with high proof strain, compact diameter, and high packing density.