Abstract: An optical fiber distribution or breakout cable for serving multiple customer premises in a multi-dwelling unit (MDU) building. The cable contains a number of bend insensitive fibers each having a different colored coating for identification. A jacket of a flame-retardant polymer compound is extruded to surround the fibers. The jacket is sufficiently opaque to hide the color coated fibers at least partially from view, and the outer diameter of the jacket is not more than about 3.5 mm. A procedure for installing the cable through a hallway of a MDU building so as to lessen any negative visual impact of the installation on observers nearby is also disclosed.

Abstract: Described are cable designs adapted for aerial installations wherein the cable comprises a bundle of multifiber tight buffer encasement units, with a conformal thin skin containment layer surrounding the bundle. The multifiber tight buffer encasement units have 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 thin skin containment layer provides cable integrity with a minimum of added size and weight. The thin skin containment layer encasement is encased in an outer protective jacket.

Abstract: An optical-fiber ribbon with reduced-diameter optical fibers is disclosed in which the optical-fiber ribbon comprises a plurality of reduced-diameter optical fibers that meet the ITU-T G.657.A1 standard or the ITU-T G.652.D standard, and a ribbon matrix surrounding the reduced-diameter optical fibers, wherein a local matrix thickness of the optical-fiber ribbon is more than about 35 microns.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides optical fiber cable having one or more filler rods. The filler rods have higher melting temperature than conventional filler rods. For some embodiments, the filler rods are made from a blend of polyethylene and polypropylene.

Abstract: A long span ADSS fiber optic cable has an outer jacket, a central tension rod member, and gel-free buffer tubes stranded around the rod member. Each tube is made of a flexible material having a determined elastic modulus, and optical fibers are contained in each tube with a water absorbent material. Water blocking yarns fill voids between the buffer tubes and surround the tubes. An inner jacket envelops the tubes and the yarns, and additional yarns are provided between the inner and the outer cable jackets. The elastic modulus of the buffer tubes is sufficiently high so that the cable sustains a compressive load of at least 220 N/cm over ten minutes with not more than a 0.1 dB increase in attenuation in any fiber. The rod member and the yarns enable the cable to span a distance of approximately 500 to 1050 feet in a NESC Heavy Load district.

Abstract: A fiber-optic system is disclosed in which a self-supporting cable comprises self-supporting break-out sub-cables, which provide fiber-optic connectivity to customer premises.

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. The protective jacket is relatively thick and rigid, having a thickness of 0.7-3.0 mm, and a modulus greater than 240 MPa.

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.

Abstract: Described are cable designs adapted for aerial installations wherein the cable comprises a bundle of multifiber tight buffer encasement units, with a conformal thin skin containment layer surrounding the bundle. The multifiber tight buffer encasement units have 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 thin skin containment layer provides cable integrity with a minimum of added size and weight. The thin skin containment layer encasement is encased in an outer protective jacket.

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.

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.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides filler rods that have higher melting temperature than the conventional filler rods and methods of making the filler rods. For some embodiments, the filler rod is made from a blend of polyethylene and polypropylene.

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.

Abstract: Described are track-resistant all dielectric self-supporting (TR-ADSS) cables with improved cable jackets. A typical TR-ADSS optical fiber cable comprises an optical fiber sub-assembly, and a cable jacket system. The cable jacket system comprises an inner jacket, an aramid strength layer and an outer jacket. The improvement in the cable jacket system results from the addition of a friction layer between the aramid strength layer and the outer jacket. The friction layer prevents unwanted slippage of the outer jacket with respect to the inner portions of the cable.

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.

Abstract: Described are track-resistant all dielectric self-supporting (TR-ADSS) cables with improved cable jackets. A typical TR-ADSS optical fiber cable comprises an optical fiber sub-assembly, and a cable jacket system. The cable jacket system comprises an inner jacket, an aramid strength layer and an outer jacket. The improvement in the cable jacket system results from the addition of a friction layer between the aramid strength layer and the outer jacket. The friction layer prevents unwanted slippage of the outer jacket with respect to the inner portions of the cable.

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.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the invention may include a plenum-rated optical fiber cables utilizing yarn coated with a flame-retarding and smoke-suppressing. According to an example embodiment of the invention, a plenum-rated optical fiber cable is provided. The plenum-rated optical fiber cable includes an optical fiber, a jacket surrounding the optical fiber, and a layer of yarn positioned between the optical fiber and the jacket. The jacket is made from a low-smoke polymer, the yarn is coated with a sufficient amount of flame-retarding and smoke-suppressing material such that the cable passes the NFPA 262 “Steiner Tunnel” fire test, whereby its flame spread is less than 5 feet, peak optical density is less than 0.50, and average optical density is less than 0.15.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the invention may include systems and methods for providing tight-buffered optical fiber having improved fiber access. According to an example embodiment of the invention, a method for making a tight buffer upcoated optical fiber having a predetermined buffer stripping force is provided. The method includes controlling residual acrylate unsaturation (RAU) and oxygen in at least an outer surface of un-buffered optical fiber to achieve a predetermined buffer stripping characteristic, applying a tight buffer composition comprising acrylate to the un-buffered optical fiber, and curing the tight buffer composition.

Abstract: Described is an optical fiber cable designed for drop cable applications that has a compact profile, and is suitable for both the indoor and outdoor portions of the installation. The new design has three functional units, an optical fiber subunit, and two strength members arranged side-by side on either side of the optical fiber. The overall cable cross section round. In a preferred embodiment, the optical fiber module of the cable has a coupled fiber design.