Abstract: Embodiments of an optical fiber cable are provided. The cable includes a cable jacket and at least one buffer tube. Each buffer tube surrounds a plurality of optical fibers. The cable jacket surrounds the at least one buffer tube. Further, a coating of superabsorbent, swellable hot melt is applied to at least one of the following locations: (i) along at least a portion of the length of at least one of the plurality of optical fibers; (ii) along at least a portion of the length of the exterior or interior surface of the at least one buffer tube; or (iii) along at least a portion of the length of the interior surface of the cable jacket. Moreover, the superabsorbent, swellable hot melt is capable of absorbing at least 50 g of water per gram of superabsorbent, swellable hot melt.

Abstract: Embodiments of an optical fiber cable are provided. The cable includes a cable jacket and at least one buffer tube. Each buffer tube surrounds a plurality of optical fibers. The cable jacket surrounds the at least one buffer tube. Further, a coating of superabsorbent, swellable hot melt is applied to at least one of the following locations: (i) along at least a portion of the length of at least one of the plurality of optical fibers; (ii) along at least a portion of the length of the exterior or interior surface of the at least one buffer tube; or (iii) along at least a portion of the length of the interior surface of the cable jacket. Moreover, the superabsorbent, swellable hot melt is capable of absorbing at least 50 g of water per gram of superabsorbent, swellable hot melt.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides coating compositions and cured products formed from the coating compositions. The cured products can be formed at high cure speeds from the coating compositions and feature low Young's modulus, high tear strength, and/or high tensile toughness. The cured products can be used as primary coatings for optical fibers. The primary coatings provide good microbending performance and are resistant to defect formation during fiber coating processing and handling operations. The coating compositions include an oligomer, an alkoxylated monofunctional acrylate monomer, and preferably, an N-vinyl amide compound.

Abstract: An optical fiber coating die assembly is provided. The optical fiber coating die assembly includes a housing defining a guide chamber having an inlet for receiving optical fiber and an outlet, a guide die located at the outlet of the guide chamber, and a sizing die. The optical fiber coating die assembly also includes a coating applicator disposed between the guide die and the sizing die, and a tube operatively coupled to the inlet of the guide chamber and axially aligned with the chamber to receive the optical fiber fed into the guide chamber and provide a barrier to air flow.

Abstract: An optical fiber draw system and method of coating an optical fiber. The system includes a furnace for heating an optical fiber preform, a draw assembly for drawing the optical fiber at a draw speed greater than 50 meters per second, a first coating applicator for applying a first coating onto the fiber, and a first curing assembly comprising a first plurality of light sources comprising light-emitting diodes for partially curing the first coating. The optical fiber draw system also includes a second coating applicator for applying a second coating onto the fiber on top of the first coating, and a second curing system comprising a second plurality of light sources for curing the second coating, wherein the first coating is further cured in the range of 15-50 percent after leaving the first curing assembly.

Abstract: The high-density FAU comprises a support substrate having a grooved front-end section that supports glass end sections of the small diameter low-attenuation optical fibers. A cover is disposed on the front-end section and secured thereto to hold the glass end sections in place. The substrate and the cover can be made of the same glass or glasses having about the same CTE. The glass end sections have a diameter d4 so that the pitch P2 of the fibers at the front end of the FAU can be equal to or greater than d4, wherein d4=2r4, with r4 being the radius of the glass end section as defined by the optical fiber cladding. The glass end section has a radius r4 less than 45 microns, allowing for a high-density FAU and a high-density optical interconnection device.

Abstract: Embodiments of an optical fiber cable are provided. The cable includes a cable jacket and at least one buffer tube. Each buffer tube surrounds a plurality of optical fibers. The cable jacket surrounds the at least one buffer tube. Further, a coating of superabsorbent, swellable hot melt is applied to at least one of the following locations: (i) along at least a portion of the length of at least one of the plurality of optical fibers; (ii) along at least a portion of the length of the exterior or interior surface of the at least one buffer tube; or (iii) along at least a portion of the length of the interior surface of the cable jacket. Moreover, the superabsorbent, swellable hot melt is capable of absorbing at least 50 g of water per gram of superabsorbent, swellable hot melt.

Abstract: An optical fiber comprising: (a) a core having an outer radius r1; (b) a cladding having an outer radius r4<32.5 microns; (c) a primary coating surrounding the cladding having an outer radius r5, a thickness tP>8 microns, in situ modulus EP?0.35 MPa and a spring constant ?P<2.0 MPa, where ?P=2EP r4/tP; and (d) a secondary coating surrounding said primary coating, the secondary coating having an outer radius r6 and a thickness tS=r6?r5, and in situ modulus ES of 1200 MPa or greater; tS>8 microns, r6?56 microns. The fiber has a mode field diameter MFD greater than 8.2 microns at 1310 nm; a fiber cutoff wavelength of less than 1310 nm; and a bend loss at a wavelength of 1550 nm, when wrapped around a mandrel having a diameter of 10 mm, of less than 1.0 dB/turn.

Abstract: An optical fiber comprising: a core having an outer radius r1; a cladding having an outer radius r4?31 microns; a primary coating surrounding the cladding having an outer radius r5, a thickness tp>10 microns, in situ modulus EP of 0.5 MPa or less, and a spring constant ?P<1 MPa, where ?P=2EP r4/tP; and a secondary coating surrounding said primary coating, the secondary coating having an outer radius r6, a thickness tS=r6-r5, in situ modulus ES of 1200 MPa or greater; tS greater than 9.5 microns, wherein r6 is 50 to 67.5 microns. The fiber has a mode field diameter MFD greater than 8.2 microns at 1310 nm; a fiber cutoff wavelength of less than 1310 nm; and a bend loss at a wavelength of 1550 nm, when wrapped around a mandrel having a diameter of 10 mm, of less than 1.0 dB/turn.

Abstract: An optical fiber comprising: a core having an outer radius r1; a cladding having an outer radius r4<45 microns; a primary coating surrounding the cladding and having an outer radius r5 and a thickness tp>8 microns, the primary coating having in situ modulus EP of 0.35 MPa or less and a spring constant ?P<1.6 MPa, where ?P=2EP r4/tP; and a secondary coating surrounding said primary coating, the secondary coating having an outer radius r6, a thickness tS=r6?r5, in situ modulus ES of 1200 MPa or greater, wherein >10 microns and r6?85 microns. The fiber has a mode field diameter MFD greater than 8.2 microns at 1310 nm; a cutoff wavelength of less than 1310 nm; and a bend loss at a wavelength of 1550 nm, when wrapped around a mandrel having a diameter of 10 mm, of less than 1.0 dB/turn.

Abstract: The present description provides reduced-diameter multimode optical fibers. The optical fibers include a reduced-diameter glass fiber and/or reduced-thickness coatings. The overall diameter of the optical fibers is less than 210 ?m and examples with diameters less than 160 ?m are presented. Puncture resistant secondary coatings enable thinning of the secondary coating without compromising protection of the glass fiber. The optical fibers are suitable for data center applications and features high modal bandwidth, low attenuation, low microbending sensitivity, and puncture resistance in a compact form factor.

Abstract: Embodiments of an optical fiber cable are provided. The cable includes a cable jacket and at least one buffer tube. Each buffer tube surrounds a plurality of optical fibers. The cable jacket surrounds the at least one buffer tube. Further, a coating of superabsorbent, swellable hot melt is applied to at least one of the following locations: (i) along at least a portion of the length of at least one of the plurality of optical fibers; (ii) along at least a portion of the length of the exterior or interior surface of the at least one buffer tube; or (iii) along at least a portion of the length of the interior surface of the cable jacket. Moreover, the superabsorbent, swellable hot melt is capable of absorbing at least 50 g of water per gram of superabsorbent, swellable hot melt.

Abstract: The present description provides multimode optical fibers with reduced cladding thickness. The optical fibers include a reduced-diameter glass fiber and/or reduced-thickness coatings. The overall diameter of the optical fibers is less than 210 ?m and examples with diameters less than 160 ?m are presented. Puncture resistant secondary coatings enable thinning of the secondary coating without compromising protection of the glass fiber. The optical fibers are suitable for data center applications and features high modal bandwidth, low attenuation, low microbending sensitivity, and puncture resistance in a compact form factor.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides optical fibers with an impact-resistant coating system. The fibers feature low attenuation. The coating system includes a primary coating and a secondary coating. The primary coating and secondary coating have reduced thickness to provide low-diameter fibers without sacrificing protection. The primary coating has high tear strength and is resistant to damage caused by mechanical force. The secondary coating has high puncture resistance. The outer diameter of the optical fiber is less than or equal to 190 ?m.

Abstract: An optical fiber includes an outer diameter less than 220 ?m, a glass fiber that includes a glass core and a glass cladding, a primary coating, and a secondary coating. The glass cladding surrounds and is in direct contact with the glass core. The primary coating surrounds and is in direct contact with the glass fiber. The primary coating can have a Young's modulus less than 0.5 MPa and a thickness less than 30.0 ?m. The secondary coating surrounds and is in direct contact with the primary coating. The secondary coating can have a thickness less than 27.5 ?m. A pullout force of the optical fiber can be less than a predetermined threshold when in an as-drawn state. The pullout force may increase by less than a factor of 2.0 upon aging the primary and secondary coatings on the glass fiber for at least 60 days.

Abstract: An optical fiber curing component includes a first tube comprising a first body defining a first interior surface and a first exterior surface, the first tube defining a first aperture and a second aperture on opposite ends of a first cavity, wherein the first tube defines a central axis extending through the first cavity; light sources coupled to the first body of the first tube and configured to emit light toward the central axis of the first tube, wherein each of the light sources intersect a common plane defined perpendicular to the central axis of the first tube; a silica glass article, having an anti-reflective coating, disposed between each of the plurality of light sources and the central axis of the first tube; and a reflective coating positioned on the interior surface of the first body and configured to reflect the light toward the central axis of the first tube.

Abstract: The high-density FAU comprises a support substrate having a grooved front-end section that supports glass end sections of the small diameter low-attenuation optical fibers. A cover is disposed on the front-end section and secured thereto to hold the glass end sections in place. The substrate and the cover can be made of the same glass or glasses having about the same CTE. The glass end sections have a diameter d4 so that the pitch P2 of the fibers at the front end of the FAU can be equal to or greater than d4, wherein d4=2r4, with r4 being the radius of the glass end section as defined by the optical fiber cladding. The glass end section has a radius r4 less than 45 microns, allowing for a high-density FAU and a high-density optical interconnection device.

Abstract: An optical fiber draw system and method of coating an optical fiber. The system includes a furnace for heating an optical fiber preform, a draw assembly for drawing the optical fiber at a draw speed greater than 50 meters per second, a first coating applicator for applying a first coating onto the fiber, and a first curing assembly comprising a first plurality of light sources comprising light-emitting diodes for partially curing the first coating. The optical fiber draw system also includes a second coating applicator for applying a second coating onto the fiber on top of the first coating, and a second curing system comprising a second plurality of light sources for curing the second coating, wherein the first coating is further cured in the range of 15-50 percent after leaving the first curing assembly.

Abstract: The systems and methods of forming optical fiber coatings with reduced defects include moving a bare optical fiber through first and second coating sub-systems. The first coating sub-system forms a first coating on the bare optical fiber by depositing a first coating material and then curing the deposited first coating material with actinic light. This process also results in the formation of stray actinic light. The process also includes moving the coated optical fiber through a second coating sub-system to form a second coating on the first coating. A light-blocking device resides between the first and second coating sub-systems to block the stray actinic light. Without the light-blocking device, the stray actinic light can enter the second coating sub-system and reach the second coating material therein and form a gel therefrom, which in turn leads to defects in the coated optical fiber exiting the second coating sub-system.

Abstract: An optical fiber includes an outer diameter less than 220 ?m, a glass fiber that includes a glass core and a glass cladding, a primary coating, and a secondary coating. The glass cladding surrounds and is in direct contact with the glass core. The primary coating surrounds and is in direct contact with the glass fiber. The primary coating can have a Young's modulus less than 0.5 MPa and a thickness less than 30.0 ?m. The secondary coating surrounds and is in direct contact with the primary coating. The secondary coating can have a thickness less than 27.5 m. A pullout force of the optical fiber can be less than a predetermined threshold when in an as-drawn state. The pullout force may increase by less than a factor of 2.0 upon aging the primary and secondary coatings on the glass fiber for at least 60 days.