Abstract: Provided are embodiments of an optical fiber cable. The optical fiber cable includes a cable jacket with an inner surface and an outer surface in which the inner surface defines a central cable bore and in which the outer surface defines an outermost surface of the optical fiber cable. The optical fiber cable includes from 48 to 864 optical fibers disposed within the central cable bore. Further, the outer surface of the cable jacket defines a cable diameter of at least 2 mm and up to 11 mm. The optical fiber cable has a fiber density of at least 7.5 optical fibers/mm2 based on a cross-sectional area of the optical fiber cable as measured from the outer surface of the cable jacket.

Abstract: An optical communication cable is provided having a cable body with an inner surface defining a passage within the cable body and a plurality of core elements within the passage. A film surrounds the plurality of core elements, wherein the film directs a radial force inward onto the plurality of core elements to restrain and hold the plurality of core elements in place.

Abstract: A fiber optic cable includes a cable core of core elements and a protective sheath surrounding the core elements, an armor surrounding the cable core, the armor comprising a single overlap portion when the fiber optic cable is viewed in cross-section, and a jacket surrounding the armor, the jacket having at least two longitudinal discontinuities extruded therein. A method of accessing the cable core without the use of ripcords includes removing a portion of the armor in an access section by pulling the armor away from the cable core so that an overlap portion separates around the cable core as it is being pulled past the cable core. A protective sheath protects the core elements as the armor is being pulled around the cable core.

Abstract: An optical communication cable includes a cable jacket formed from a first material, a plurality of core elements located within the cable jacket, and an armor layer surrounding the plurality of core elements within the cable jacket, wherein the armor layer is a multi-piece layer having a first armor segment extending a portion of the distance around the plurality of core elements and a second armor segment extending a portion of the distance around the plurality of core elements, wherein a first lateral edge of the first armor segment is adjacent a first lateral edge of the second armor segment and a second lateral edge of the first armor segment is adjacent a second lateral edge of the second armor segment such that the combination of the first armor segment and the second armor segment completely surround the plurality of core elements.

Abstract: An optical communication cable is provided having a cable body with an inner surface defining a passage within the cable body and a plurality of core elements within the passage. A film surrounds the plurality of core elements, wherein the film directs a radial force inward onto the plurality of core elements to restrain and hold the plurality of core elements in place.

Abstract: A fiber optic cable includes a cable core of core elements and a protective sheath surrounding the core elements, an armor surrounding the cable core, the armor comprising a single overlap portion when the fiber optic cable is viewed in cross-section, and a jacket surrounding the armor, the jacket having at least two longitudinal discontinuities extruded therein. A method of accessing the cable core without the use of ripcords includes removing a portion of the armor in an access section by pulling the armor away from the cable core so that an overlap portion separates around the cable core as it is being pulled past the cable core. A protective sheath protects the core elements as the armor is being pulled around the cable core.

Abstract: An optical fiber cable including a central strength member, a first plurality of tight-buffered ribbon stacks, a binder film, and a cable sheath. The central strength member extends along a longitudinal axis of the optical fiber cable. The tight-buffered ribbon stacks are SZ-stranded around the central strength member. An interstitial space is provided between adjacent tight-buffered ribbon stacks. A binder film continuously and contiguously surrounds the first plurality of tight-buffered ribbon stacks along the longitudinal axis. The binder film includes first portions and at least one second portion. Each of the at least one second portion of the binder film extends into one of the interstitial spaces of the first plurality of tight-buffered ribbon stacks. The cable sheath continuously and contiguously surrounds the binder film along the longitudinal axis, and the cable sheath is coupled to the first portions of the binder film.

Abstract: Methods for manufacturing cables and cables assemblies include providing powder particles within a tube extruded about optical fiber. The particles may be accelerated so that as they strike the tube and mechanically attach to the tube.

Abstract: An optical communication cable includes a cable jacket formed from a first material, a plurality of core elements located within the cable jacket, and an armor layer surrounding the plurality of core elements within the cable jacket, wherein the armor layer is a multi-piece layer having a first armor segment extending a portion of the distance around the plurality of core elements and a second armor segment extending a portion of the distance around the plurality of core elements, wherein a first lateral edge of the first armor segment is adjacent a first lateral edge of the second armor segment and a second lateral edge of the first armor segment is adjacent a second lateral edge of the second armor segment such that the combination of the first armor segment and the second armor segment completely surround the plurality of core elements.

Abstract: An optical fiber cable including a central strength member, a first plurality of tight-buffered ribbon stacks, a binder film, and a cable sheath. The central strength member extends along a longitudinal axis of the optical fiber cable. The tight-buffered ribbon stacks are SZ-stranded around the central strength member. An interstitial space is provided between adjacent tight-buffered ribbon stacks. A binder film continuously and contiguously surrounds the first plurality of tight-buffered ribbon stacks along the longitudinal axis. The binder film includes first portions and at least one second portion. Each of the at least one second portion of the binder film extends into one of the interstitial spaces of the first plurality of tight-buffered ribbon stacks. The cable sheath continuously and contiguously surrounds the binder film along the longitudinal axis, and the cable sheath is coupled to the first portions of the binder film.

Abstract: An optical fiber cable includes a central element, extending along a longitudinal axis of the optical fiber cable, and a plurality of routable subunits, each routable subunit having a rigidly stranded ribbon stack and a tight buffer layer surrounding the ribbon stack, wherein the subunits are SZ-stranded around the central element to form a cable core.

Abstract: An optical communication cable is provided having a cable body with an inner surface defining a passage within the cable body and a plurality of core elements within the passage. A film surrounds the plurality of core elements, wherein the film directs a radial force inward onto the plurality of core elements to restrain and hold the plurality of core elements in place.

Abstract: An optical communication cable includes a cable jacket formed from a first material, a plurality of core elements located within the cable jacket, and an armor layer surrounding the plurality of core elements within the cable jacket, wherein the armor layer is a multi-piece layer having a first armor segment extending a portion of the distance around the plurality of core elements and a second armor segment extending a portion of the distance around the plurality of core elements, wherein a first lateral edge of the first armor segment is adjacent a first lateral edge of the second armor segment and a second lateral edge of the first armor segment is adjacent a second lateral edge of the second armor segment such that the combination of the first armor segment and the second armor segment completely surround the plurality of core elements.

Abstract: An optical fiber cable including a central strength member, a first plurality of tight-buffered ribbon stacks, a binder film, and a cable sheath. The central strength member extends along a longitudinal axis of the optical fiber cable. The tight-buffered ribbon stacks are SZ-stranded around the central strength member. An interstitial space is provided between adjacent tight-buffered ribbon stacks. A binder film continuously and contiguously surrounds the first plurality of tight-buffered ribbon stacks along the longitudinal axis. The binder film includes first portions and at least one second portion. Each of the at least one second portion of the binder film extends into one of the interstitial spaces of the first plurality of tight-buffered ribbon stacks. The cable sheath continuously and contiguously surrounds the binder film along the longitudinal axis, and the cable sheath is coupled to the first portions of the binder film.

Abstract: An optical communication cable is provided having a cable body with an inner surface defining a passage within the cable body and a plurality of core elements within the passage. A film surrounds the plurality of core elements, wherein the film directs a radial force inward onto the plurality of core elements to restrain and hold the plurality of core elements in place.

Abstract: A fiber optic cable includes a cable core of core elements and a protective sheath surrounding the core elements, an armor surrounding the cable core, the armor comprising a single overlap portion when the fiber optic cable is viewed in cross-section, and a jacket surrounding the armor, the jacket having at least two longitudinal discontinuities extruded therein. A method of accessing the cable core without the use of ripcords includes removing a portion of the armor in an access section by pulling the armor away from the cable core so that an overlap portion separates around the cable core as it is being pulled past the cable core. A protective sheath protects the core elements as the armor is being pulled around the cable core.

Abstract: An optical communication cable includes a cable jacket formed from a first material, a plurality of core elements located within the cable jacket, and an armor layer surrounding the plurality of core elements within the cable jacket, wherein the armor layer is a multi-piece layer having a first armor segment extending a portion of the distance around the plurality of core elements and a second armor segment extending a portion of the distance around the plurality of core elements, wherein a first lateral edge of the first armor segment is adjacent a first lateral edge of the second armor segment and a second lateral edge of the first armor segment is adjacent a second lateral edge of the second armor segment such that the combination of the first armor segment and the second armor segment completely surround the plurality of core elements.

Abstract: An optical fiber cable including a central strength member, a first plurality of tight-buffered ribbon stacks, a binder film, and a cable sheath. The central strength member extends along a longitudinal axis of the optical fiber cable. The tight-buffered ribbon stacks are SZ-stranded around the central strength member. An interstitial space is provided between adjacent tight-buffered ribbon stacks. A binder film continuously and contiguously surrounds the first plurality of tight-buffered ribbon stacks along the longitudinal axis. The binder film includes first portions and at least one second portion. Each of the at least one second portion of the binder film extends into one of the interstitial spaces of the first plurality of tight-buffered ribbon stacks. The cable sheath continuously and contiguously surrounds the binder film along the longitudinal axis, and the cable sheath is coupled to the first portions of the binder film.

Abstract: A fiber optic cable includes a cable core of core elements and a protective sheath surrounding the core elements, an armor surrounding the cable core, the armor comprising a single overlap portion when the fiber optic cable is viewed in cross-section, and a jacket surrounding the armor, the jacket having at least two longitudinal discontinuities extruded therein. A method of accessing the cable core without the use of ripcords includes removing a portion of the armor in an access section by pulling the armor away from the cable core so that an overlap portion separates around the cable core as it is being pulled past the cable core. A protective sheath protects the core elements as the armor is being pulled around the cable core.

Abstract: An optical cable and method for forming an optical cable is provided. The cable includes a cable jacket including an inner surface defining a channel and an outer surface. The cable includes a seam within the cable jacket that couples together opposing longitudinal edges of a wrapped thermoplastic sheet which forms the cable jacket and maintains the cable jacket in the wrapped configuration around the plurality of optical fibers. The method includes forming an outer cable jacket by wrapping a sheet of thermoplastic material around a plurality of optical core elements. The method includes laser welding together portions of thermoplastic material of opposing longitudinal edges of the wrapped sheet such that a seam is formed holding the sheet of thermoplastic material in the wrapped configuration around the core elements.