Compartmentalized Patents (Class 385/105)
  • Patent number: 7693375
    Abstract: A fiber optic cable includes at least one optical waveguide, at least one dry insert and a cable jacket. The at least one optical waveguide and at least one dry insert are at least partially disposed within a cavity of the cable jacket. In one embodiment, the cable includes a first dry insert and a second dry insert disposed within the cavity so that the at least one optical waveguide is disposed between the first dry insert and the second dry insert, thereby providing a dry cable core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC
    Inventors: Riley S. Freeland, David Alan Seddon, Kenneth D. Temple, Jr., Anne G. Bringuier, Jody L. Greenwood
  • Patent number: 7650055
    Abstract: An environmentally sealed closure, such as a terminal for terminated ends of fiber optic cables, includes a housing having a wall defining an interior volume. A floating sealing assembly is provided including a first plate, a seal member and a second plate arranged in a stack within the interior volume. The seal member has an outer sealing edge for contacting the wall of the housing, which may be straight and/or chamfered. Fiber optic cables extend through the sealing assembly so that the terminated ends are within the splice area. The floating sealing assembly is compressed so as to place the outer sealing edge of the seal member in sealing contact with the wall of the housing. When a pressure differential exists between the splice area and the outside of the housing only one of the first or second plates moves along the longitudinal axis to further compress the seal member and increase sealing between the outer sealing edge and the housing wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC
    Inventors: Terry Dean Cox, Ziwei Liu, Marcel G. Mures, Diana Rodriguez, Howard C. Schwartz, Kevin L. Strause
  • Publication number: 20090274426
    Abstract: A fiber optic cable is that includes at least one optical fiber and a protective layer generally disposed about the optical fiber. A cable jacket surrounds an outer surface of the protective layer, and a control layer is interposed between a portion of the protective layer and a portion of the cable jacket. The control layer includes one or more apertures extending therethrough, thereby creating a predetermined bond between the protective layer and the cable jacket. By way of example, the protective layer is an armor layer, buffer tube, or other suitable cable component where a predetermined bond to the cable jacket is desired so the craft can easily remove a portion of the cable jacket. The plurality of apertures can have any suitable size, shape, and/or arrangement for influencing the desired bond strength. A method of manufacturing the fiber optic cable is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Inventor: Jason C. Lail
  • Patent number: 7596291
    Abstract: A cable assembly comprising a fiber optic cable and one or more attachment points to allow one or more tethers to optically connect to optical fibers within the cable. The cable assembly may be used as a drop cable for extending optical connections to a plurality of points. An attachment structure is provided for maintaining the tether to the cable to prevent damage to the tether. The attachment structure provides a loose attachment to allow the tether to move relative to the distribution cable, so the tether can move in a generally translational movement, is able to slightly twist, and to have limited lateral movement during coiling, installation, and removal of the cable assembly. This loose attachment structure may prevent damage to the tether due to forces being placed on the cable, such as during coiling or uncoiling of the cable. In one exemplary embodiment, the attachment structure is attached to the cable and receives the tether.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC
    Inventors: Joseph T. Cody, Radawan Hall, Stephen R. Horan, Jr., James P. Luther
  • Publication number: 20090220188
    Abstract: A fault detection system for subsea pipeline DEH cable includes fiber optic element(s) (7) provided along the cable section concerned and located outside at least some of the cable insulation (2,3,4). The fiber optic element(s) are adapted to be influenced by fault inducing effects or damages to said cable section, so as to bring about an optical signal indicating a fault condition. The main feature of the invention is that said fiber optic element(s) (7) extend(s) inside a tubular, electrically conductive metal element (7a) adapted to melt down in the case of a fault current flowing therethrough as a result of damage to the cable insulation (2,3,4) at a point along said cable section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Inventor: Jarle Jansen Bremnes
  • Patent number: 7529450
    Abstract: A fiber optic cable can comprise small spheres or balls disposed in the cable's interstitial spaces, for example between the cable's optical fibers and a surrounding buffer tube. The spheres can comprise foam rubber, closed-cell or open-cell porous polymer, or some other soft material. Typical diameters for the spheres can be in a range of 1 to 2.5 millimeters. A soft composition of the spheres can cushion the optical fibers and physically impede water ingress into the cable. Additional fiber protection can arise from the ability of the loose spheres to rotate individually, in a ball-bearing effect. Thus, sphere-to-sphere motion can absorb physical stresses associated with bending, twisting, bumping, and stretching the cable during installation, thereby shielding the fibers from damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Superior Essex Communications LP
    Inventor: Thomas C. Cook
  • Publication number: 20090059966
    Abstract: The present invention enables putting much more optic fibers per cable, such as for example even 1,000 or 10,000 times more than the prior art, with an increase in cost that is orders of magnitude smaller. One of the most important variations is using multi-fiber flexible flat jackets that can move freely within the cable's pipe, preferably only in one direction. Preferably at certain intervals (for example every few dozen centimeters or more or 1 or 2 meters or more) the flat jackets are preferably stitched together to each other and/or for example glued and/or otherwise coupled to each other in a way that preferably does not apply pressure to the optic fibers, and preferably are also coupled, preferably at the stitch position, also to the cable, in order to prevent undesired sliding movement of the jackets against each other and/or against the pipe and/or rotating out of orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventors: Yaron Mayer, Al J.C. Baur
  • Patent number: 7466888
    Abstract: A buffer tube having therein a ribbon stack formed of optical fiber ribbons, and at least one filler ribbon provided on at least a top or bottom surface of the ribbon stack. The filler ribbon is provided to increase coupling between the ribbon stack and the buffer tube and to reduce fiber attenuation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Draka Comteq BV
    Inventors: Justin Quinn, Patrick King Strong
  • Patent number: 7463803
    Abstract: A substantially flat fiber optic drop cable assembly comprises: a fiber optic connector comprising a fiber optic ferrule and a housing; a crimp body coupled to the housing of the fiber optic connector; a fiber optic cable comprising a pair of strength members disposed partially within the fiber optic cable; a first sheath disposed between the fiber optic connector and the fiber optic cable, the first sheath coupled to the crimp body; a second sheath disposed between the fiber optic connector and the fiber optic cable, the second sheath coupled to the fiber optic cable; and a demarcation element joining the first sheath and the second sheath, wherein the demarcation element comprises a substantially tubular element; wherein the pair of strength members are configured to engage the crimp body about the first sheath, the second sheath, and the demarcation element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC
    Inventors: Joseph T Cody, Radawan Hall, Christopher Paul Lewallen, James P. Luther
  • Patent number: 7433564
    Abstract: An optical phase modulator made of lithium niobate or the like phase-modulates the output light of a single-wavelength laser light source 20 that emits CW light, and the phase-modulated light is inputted to a dispersion medium 22. The positive chirp and negative chirp of light to which frequency chirp is applied by phase modulation draw near in the dispersion medium and an optical pulse is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Fumio Futami, Shigeki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7391943
    Abstract: A fiber optic cable includes a messenger section having at least one strength member, a carrier section having at least one optical fiber therein, and a common jacket that forms a common jacket. In one embodiment, the carrier jacket has a preferential tear portion adjacent to the at least one optical fiber with a substantially continuous outer surface in the carrier jacket adjacent to the preferential tear portion. The preferential tear portion may be defined by at least one of: at least one internal void, at least one weld line, and at least one wing extending from a tape disposed about the one or more optical fibers. Various alternatives are possible. For example, the carrier jacket may also or alternatively include at least one gripping area extending for enhancing the gripping of the carrier section when pulling apart the carrier section and messenger section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC
    Inventors: Bradley J. Blazer, George Neill Abernathy, Gregory A. Lochkovic, Reginald Roberts
  • Patent number: 7346244
    Abstract: A foam polymer jacketed rigid strength member for a fiber optic cable is disclosed, as is the method for its production. The foam jacket is made by feeding into an extruder a base polymer material, preferably a resin, such as polypropyene. The base material is melted in the extruder and a blowing agent is admixed. As the mixture exits the extruder, the polymer is expanded into a cellular foam. The polymer is foamed onto a rigid strength member by means of a crosshead. The resulting jacketed rigid strength member demonstrates improved resistance to thermal contractions reducing the contribution of stresses in the fiber optic cable components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Draka Comteq B.V.
    Inventors: Russell W. Gowan, Brian Risch, Wayne Cheatle
  • Patent number: 7336885
    Abstract: A test apparatus including an optical coupler for optically coupling a main frame and a test head is provided. The optical coupler has a plurality of optical fiber cables, a cable storage chain for bundling a stored portion except for a non-stored portion in a part of the test head side and a non-stored portion in a part of the main frame side of the plurality of optical fiber cables and storing the same, a test head side cable storage unit provided at the boundary between the non-stored portion and the stored portion of the plurality of optical fiber cables on the test head side and being capable of adjusting a length for storing therein the non-stored portion on the test head side and a main frame side cable storage unit provided at the boundary between the non-stored portion and the stored portion of the plurality of optical fiber cables on the main frame side and being capable of adjusting a length for storing therein the non-stored portion on the main frame side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Advantest Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Ono, Toshiyuki Okayasu, Akihiro Fujimoto, Masashi Shibata
  • Patent number: 7310470
    Abstract: Optical fiber repair apparatus include a longitudinally extending closure frame having a longitudinally extending optical fiber receiving groove in a face thereof. An adjustable guide member on the closure frame is longitudinally movable thereon to adjust a position of an optical fiber of a first optical fiber cable in the groove. A first attachment member is configured to couple the first optical fiber cable to the guide member with the optical fiber of the first optical fiber cable extending into the optical fiber receiving groove. A retainer is configured to couple a second optical fiber cable to the closure frame with an optical fiber of the second optical fiber cable extending into the optical fiber receiving groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Craig Ray, Jackie Moore
  • Patent number: 7277615
    Abstract: A fiber optic cable and a method of making the same include at least one optical waveguide, at least one dry insert and a cable jacket. The at least one optical waveguide and at least one dry insert are at least partially disposed within a cavity of the cable jacket. In one embodiment, the cable includes a first dry insert and a second dry insert disposed within the cavity so that the at least one optical waveguide is disposed between the first dry insert and the second dry insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Corning Cable Systems, LLC.
    Inventors: Jody L. Greenwood, Kenneth D. Temple, Jr., Keith H. Lail, David A. Seddon, Randall Tuttle
  • Patent number: 7224872
    Abstract: An array of fiber optic hydrophones or geophones is formed by winding of optical fiber around a continuous, yet flexible cylindrical core. The cylindrical core contains an elastomer filled with a specified percentage of voided plastic microspheres. The elastomer provides the necessary radial support of the optical fiber, and with the included voided microspheres, provides sufficient radial compliance under acoustic pressure for proper operation of the hydrophone. The cylindrical core can be made in very long sections allowing a plurality of fiber optic hydrophones to be wound onto it using a single optical fiber, with individual hydrophone elements separated by integral reflectors such as Fiber Bragg Gratings (FBSs). The center of the core may include a strength member and a central hollow tube for the passing of additional optical fibers. The aforementioned hydrophone array is then packaged within a protective outer coating or coatings as required for the specified application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Sabeus, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric L. Goldner, William Briggs
  • Patent number: 7221833
    Abstract: Disclosed is an optical cable with a secondary sheath for surrounding and protecting a plurality of optical fiber units in which at least 1-core optical fiber is mounted in a buffer tube, wherein the secondary sheath is made of a mixture including 100 parts by weight of base resin selected from the group consisting of low density polyethylene, linear low density polyethylene, and their mixture; and 0.2 to 60 parts by weight of inorganic additive. The secondary sheath of this optical cable shows excellent cutting and tear characteristics and ensures easy contact and divergence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: LG Cable, Ltd.
    Inventors: Do-Hyun Park, Gi-Joon Nam
  • Patent number: 7190866
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a distribution fiber optic cable is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of providing a plurality of optical fibers for a cable core. Transitioning at least one of the plurality of optical fibers between a first location and a second location, where one of the locations is disposed within the cable core and the other location is disposed apart from the cable core and applying a cable jacket. In other embodiments, the cable can be a portion of a cable assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Corning Cable Systems, LLC.
    Inventors: Jody L. Greenwood, David L. Dean, Jr., Kenneth D. Temple, Jr., Keith H. Lail
  • Patent number: 7153570
    Abstract: An optical fiber cord which is a single core optical fiber cord having an outer diameter of 1.2 mm or less, and has a structure in which an optical fiber core wire having a resin coating is provided at the center, a tensile-strength-fiber layer is provided around the outer periphery of the optical fiber core wire, and a coating layer is further provided around the outer periphery of the tensile-strength-fiber layer, wherein the coating layer is composed of a non-halogen fire-retardant resin, is disclosed. This optical fiber cord has excellent fire retardant, mechanical and handling properties, although the outer diameter thereof is made smaller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fuminori Nakajima, Nobuhisa Ishii, Masao Tachikura, Shigenori Uruno, Hisashi Izumita, Hitoshi Ishimaru, Kuniaki Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 7123801
    Abstract: Optical fiber cables with a central strength member encircled by a jacket having ducts which are disposed around the strength member and which receive one or more optical fibers with jacket material between the ducts and the outer surface of the jacket. The optical fibers are free to move in the ducts, and preferably, the optical fibers are tight buffered. Portions of the jacket intermediate the ducts connect to the strength member which resists longitudinal movement of the jacket relative to the core. However, the jacket can be separated from the core by manual pulling force after the jacket is axially and radially cut at a pair of diametrically opposite ducts. Preferably, the jacket has outer surface indicia showing the positions of the slots, and the cables can include water blocking materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Prysmian Communications Cables and Systems USA, LLC
    Inventor: Jon Fitz
  • Patent number: 7027695
    Abstract: A fiber transition segment for transitioning an optical fiber from a hydrophone module to the central axis of the module. The segment comprises a conical, elongated element and a cylindrical portion of reduced diameter that protrudes longitudinally from the wide end of the conical element. The cylindrical portion is reciprocally mounted within an interconnect spring at the end of the hydrophone assembly. The fiber transition segment has a helical internal groove for receiving the optical fiber from the interconnect spring. The groove is aligned with and approximately matches the pitch of the groove in the interconnect spring to provide a smooth transition to the fiber transition segment and then to the central axis of the module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald A. Cooke, Kenneth M. McGovern
  • Patent number: 6973243
    Abstract: A cable wherein even when there is a substantial volume of cable identifying information for identifying the cable, all of that cable identifying information can be simply and speedily written-in. This cable has a cable core, an integrated member with a chain of RFIDs including a plurality of RFID elements arranged at suitable intervals along a longitudinal direction of the cable core, to and from which cable identifying information can be written-in and read-out by transmission of electromagnetic energy, and a transmission coaxial cable for collectively writing-in cable identifying information to all of the RFID elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Fujikura Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Koyasu, Kazunaga Kobayashi, Satoru Shiobara, Ken Osato, Masashi Hara, Shimei Tanaka, Takeshi Honjo, Keiji Ohashi
  • Patent number: 6941050
    Abstract: The invention relates to the field of electrical insulators, and in particular to the field of electrical insulators for optical phase conductors (OPPCs). The electrical insulator comprises a dielectric rod (1) having at least one slot (10), a flexible optical fiber cable (2) situated in the slot (10), a dielectric material (8) filling the slot (10) and holding the cable (2) in the slot (10) without stressing it, and a dielectric covering (3) surrounding the rod (1) and presenting outwardly-directed projections (30) in the form of skirts, the entire space situated between the rod (1) and the cable (2) being filled with said dielectric filler and holding material (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Alcatel
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Bonicel, Renaud Le Gac
  • Patent number: 6937801
    Abstract: A fiber optic cable is provided that includes a plurality of lengthwise extending, non-jacketed bundles of optical fibers and a cable jacket surrounding the bundles of optical fibers. Each bundle of optical fibers may include a binder, such as a binder thread, for maintaining the integrity of the bundle. The binder may include, for example, a binder thread formed of an air entangled, textured, continuous multi-filament thread. The fiber optic cable may also include a separation element for preventing adhesion between the bundles of optical fibers and the cable jacket without having to separately jacket each bundle of optical fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC
    Inventors: Warren W. McAlpine, William C. Hurley, Richard S. Wagman, James L. Baucom, Scott A. McDowell
  • Patent number: 6915050
    Abstract: An optical fiber cable including a slotted core (3) having a suitable number of slots (7) and identification members (25) disposed in a designated slot (7B) of the slots (7) for identifying cable information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Fujikura Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Koyasu, Kazunaga Kobayashi, Satoru Shiobara, Ken Ohsato, Masashi Hara, Shimei Tanaka, Takeshi Honjyou, Keiji Ohashi
  • Patent number: 6893719
    Abstract: A single core optical fiber cord having an outer diameter of 1.2 mm or less, and having a structure in which an optical fiber core wire having a resin coating provided at the center, a tensile-strength-fiber layer around the periphery of the optical fiber core wire, and a coating layer around the outer periphery of the tensile-strength-fiber layer is provided. The coating layer can be composed of a non-halogen fire-retardant resin. The optical fiber cord has excellent fire retardant, mechanical and handling properties, although the outer diameter thereof is 1.2 mm or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignees: The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd., Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation, Okano Electric Wire Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fuminori Nakajima, Nobuhisa Ishii, Masao Tachikura, Shigenori Uruno, Hisashi Izumita, Hitoshi Ishimaru, Kuniaki Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 6895150
    Abstract: A cable, and process for manufacture thereof, containing optical transmission elements. The cable having the following characteristics: a central element stretching in the direction of the cable longitudinal axis, where the central element has at least one slot open to the outside and where the slot runs on the outside of the central element in a helix or screw-like manner, with periodically changing rotation direction; several optical fiber ribbons arranged inside the slot in a stack, situated one above the other, where an additional equal lay stranding is applied to the SZ-stranding imposed by the slot path; and a single or multi-layer jacket surrounds the central element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: CCS Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Andreas Stingl
  • Patent number: 6873772
    Abstract: A tape optical fiber cord with an optical fiber array has, at its one end, a half pitch fiber array connected to an optical waveguide. Connectors are connected respectively to connector-side optical fibers located at the other end of the tape optical fiber cord. A branching case for branching the connector-side optical fibers is provided in a position between both ends of the cord. One end of a tape fiber comprising tapes arranged in two columns of two stages is fixed to the half pitch fiber array, and the other end is fixed in a fixation section within the branching case to the case. In the portion intermediate between the two fixed portions, the connector-side optical fibers are separated one by one, and the outside of the separated optical fibers is covered with a protective tube while leaving a space between the protective tube and the separated optical fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Ken-ichi Nakaya
  • Patent number: 6856736
    Abstract: An optical-waveguide cable which is distinguished by a dispersion that avoids non-linearities in conjunction with a relatively low attenuation comprises at least one first section (a), which has fibers of a first type (H) which are designed as high-level fiber, and at least one second section (b), which has fibers of a second type (N) which are designed as low-level fiber, the fibers of the first type (H) being connected to the fibers of the second type (N) at at least one transition point (U) between the first and second sections (a, b), and the fibers of the first type (H) having a larger mode field diameter and a higher dispersion than the fibers of the second type (N).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: CCS Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Bernhard A. M. Deutsch, Gunter Zeidler
  • Patent number: 6827493
    Abstract: The invention is a bearing unit and bearing system for supporting a large rotatable element, such as a mooring turret. The bearing unit includes a hydrostatic suspension system which enables the bearing unit to accommodate fabrication tolerances and also enables the bearing unit to conform to relative movements between the ship and the turret, thereby providing a compliant bearing system. The system includes multiple bearing units of the invention which serve as thrust and/or radial bearings for supporting the turret. By manifolding a plurality of bearing units together in a fluidly-isolated group, the pressure applied to the bearing units in that group is self-equalizing so that all the bearing units act in unison to equally support the load, while also allowing some degree of self-alignment and tilting of the load. As a result, the bearing system emulates a self-aligning bearing system and is able to compensate for axial and angular misalignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: Prosafe Production PTE LTD
    Inventor: Alan Gregory Hooper
  • Patent number: 6829420
    Abstract: To provide an optical fiber cable having a plurality of GI-POFs and a resin cable body confining these, and excellent in the thermal durability, pressure resisting property and flexural mechanical property, wherein the increase of the attenuation of the light is suppressed. The resin cable body has as many holes as the number of the GI-POFs, extending longitudinally therethrough, and the GI-POFs are distributed and arranged one by one in the holes so that they are freely movable in two directions perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: Asahi Glass Company, Limited
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Matsuyama, Seigo Kotera, Yoshinobu Takano
  • Patent number: 6826338
    Abstract: An optical fiber cable including an axial portion and a plurality of portioning plate portions housed in a space encircled by a sheath; and the axial portion and the portioning plate having a sectional shape that the partitioning plate portions radially extend toward an inner circumferential surface of the sheath from the axial portion; wherein the space is divided into a plurality of partitioned slots by the partitioning plate portions having leading ends provided with enlarged portions in contact with the inner circumferential surface of the sheath and connecting portions connecting the enlarged portions to the axial portion, and optical fibers are distributed so that two or more optical fibers are not provided in a single partitioned slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Asahi Glass Company, Limited
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Matsuyama
  • Patent number: 6819861
    Abstract: A beam collecting device and a laser emission device are disclosed incorporating a laminated optical waveguide array and refraction means therein. The laminated optical waveguide array is composed of a plurality of plate-like optical waveguides made of a material having a predetermined refractive index and a plurality of spacer members having a lower refractive index than that of said optical waveguides and arranged alternately with said optical waveguides. The spacer members take the form of cylindrical members, spherical members or plate-like members. The beam collecting device and laser emission device comprise a semiconductor laser array having a plurality of laser emitting parts arranged in fast and slow axis directions, the optical waveguide array, optical fibers and a collective lens. The laser emitting parts are divided into plural groups separated in the slow axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Toyoda Koki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiromichi Ota, Yoshinobu Katoh, Yasuo Niino
  • Patent number: 6728454
    Abstract: Disclosed is a premises-fiber optical cable with a S-Z stranded-strength member, comprising: a plurality of inner tightly-coated optical fibers disposed at the central region of the optical cable and being S-Z type stranded; a plurality of inner yarns S-Z type-stranded for surrounding the inner tightly-coated optical fibers; a plurality of outer tightly-coated optical fibers S-Z type-stranded for surrounding the inner tightly-coated optical fibers and the inner yarns; a plurality of spirally-stranded outer yarns surround the outer tightly-coated optical fibers; and, an outer jacket disposed at the outer region of the optical cable for surrounding the outer yarns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ho-Soon Lee
  • Patent number: 6728451
    Abstract: An optical fiber holding structure is used to restrain high fiber count fibers or to provide splice protection in a cable joint. Layers of fibers are inserted between a compliant splint member and a semi-rigid splint member, which are positioned within an outer gripping tube such as a heat shrink tube. Optionally, an internal support can be positioned between the layers of fibers. The assembly is heated causing the heat shrink tube to apply a gripping force to the splint members and fibers supported therebetween. Where more than two layers of fibers are being restrained, internal supports can be positioned between each of the fiber layers. One type of internal support includes a rigid beam coated with a compliant material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Tyco Telecommunications (US) Inc.
    Inventor: Maurice Kordahi
  • Patent number: 6711329
    Abstract: Flame-retardant flexible tubing bundle construction particularly adapted for use as a conduit for the installation within a plant, building, or other facility of optical fiber cables or other signaling, sensing, or control devices. The tubing bundle construction extends in an axial direction along a central longitudinal axis to an indefinite length, and in a radial direction circumferentially about the longitudinal axis. The construction includes, typically, a plurality of plastic tube members each extending axially along the longitudinal axis and being arranged with the other tube members radially about the longitudinal axis to form a bundle. At least one thermal transfer layer may be provided to surround the tube member bundle. The thermal transfer layer, in turn, is surrounded by at least one fire-resistant layer which is formed of a fibrous material such as an aramid fiber tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventor: Dale J. Zelesnik
  • Patent number: 6697710
    Abstract: A gas pipe explorer formed of a plurality of connecting elements, and an articulation element between the connected elements. The connected elements include drive capabilities, and the articulation element allows the connected elements to traverse gas pipes of arbitrary shapes and sizes. A sensor may sends the characteristics of the gas pipe, and the communication element may send back those sends characteristics. The communication can be wired, over a tether connecting the device to a remote end. Alternatively, the connection can be wireless, driven by either a generator or a battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventor: Brian Wilcox
  • Patent number: 6671440
    Abstract: A flexible innerduct structure is configured to contain a cable within a conduit. The innerduct structure includes a pair of adjacent strip-shaped layers of flexible material that are joined along their longitudinal edges to define a channel through which the cable can extend longitudinally through the innerduct structure between the layers. The adjacent layers have differing widths between their longitudinal edges, whereby the wider layer bulges away from the narrower layer to impart an open configuration to the channel. Other features of the innerduct structure relate to the material of which it is formed. Such features includes the structure of the material, such as a woven structure, and further include properties such as melting point, tensile strength, elongation, coefficient of friction, crimp resistance and compression recovery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventor: David Drew Morris
  • Patent number: 6636673
    Abstract: A fiber optic interconnect cable having at least one optical fiber ribbon surrounded by a cable jacket with substantial hoop strength, the cable jacket having a top wall, a bottom wall, and sidewalls. The sidewalls being thicker than the top and bottom walls. The jacket being formed of a material having a hardness for cable performance characteristics, the hardness being between a Shore A hardness of about 85 and a Shore D hardness of about 70. Other embodiments include a core formed as a generally rod-shaped structure with a plurality of slots formed in an outer surface thereof. The plurality of slots extending generally lengthwise along the core and an outer jacket surrounding the core. At least one interconnect ribbon cable is disposed in at least one of the slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC
    Inventors: James A. Register, III, Samuel D. Navé, Martyn Easton
  • Patent number: 6621963
    Abstract: A submarine casing for a submarine cable is shielded by a metal sheath from the deleterious effects of hydrogen generated from a sea-earth by electrolysis. Cylindrical parts (3,4) are covered by a wrapped metal sheet (8) and tapering parts by a fitted or shrunk sleeve (9) overlapping the sheets and having a metal lining (10), making up the sheath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Alcatel
    Inventors: Philip Andrew Norman, Peter Worthington
  • Patent number: 6621964
    Abstract: A fiber optic cable having at least one interface being formed by a plurality of adjacent support members. Adjacent the interface is at least one retention area having an optical fiber component disposed therein. The retention area is disposed generally longitudinally and non-helically relative to an axis of the cable. The cable can also include a cable jacket substantially surrounding the support members, a cushioning zone adjacent the optical fiber component, a water-blocking component and/or an interfacial layer at least partially disposed between an outer surface of the support members and the cable jacket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC
    Inventors: Chris M. Quinn, Douglas S. Hedrick
  • Patent number: 6614970
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cable having a substantially gastight metal tube receiving at least one optical conductor and a hydrogen-absorbent substance. The inside face of the tube is covered with a layer of a catalyst substance such as nickel or chromium for catalyzing the reaction whereby the hydrogen-absorbent substance absorbs hydrogen. Said layer is itself covered with at least one layer of hydrogen-absorbent substance which constitutes a filler material for filling the tube, or which merely forms a layer deposited on the layer of catalyst substance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Alcatel
    Inventor: Jean-Pierre Bonicel
  • Patent number: 6603908
    Abstract: A buffer tube design that allows easy access to signal carrying fibers disposed within the buffer tube with risk of damaging the signal carrying fibers. The buffer tube can be made with a ripcord disposed within. Additionally, the buffer tube has the mechanical properties that allow the ripcord to be pulled through the tube wall with less energy than is required to bend the signal carrying fibers within. The buffer tube can also be designed without a ripcord in such a way that the mechanical properties allow the tube to be hand torn using a lower amount of energy than required to bend the signal carrying fibers within.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Alcatel
    Inventors: George John Dallas, Jeff Barker, Goeff Witt
  • Publication number: 20030082380
    Abstract: Fiber reinforcement rods having a combination of reinforcing fiber members coated with a UV curable vinyl ester resin material and a polybutylene terephthalate/polyether glycol or ethylene acrylic acid topcoat layer. The reinforcing fiber members may be S-type fiber members, E-type glass fiber members, a combination thereof, or E-type glass fiber members and/or S-type glass fiber members with high strength synthetic strands of poly(p-phenylene 2,6 benzoisoxazole fiber members. The topcoat layer provides enhanced properties of specific adhesion, enhanced environmental protection, resistance to surface fiber breakage, and to some degree resistance from delamination. The fiber reinforcement rod permits higher translation of strain energy due to reduced defects and residual stresses to allow a tougher and more resilient cured composite rod to be used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2001
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Inventors: Thomas P. Hager, Richard N. Lehman
  • Publication number: 20030077055
    Abstract: An optical fiber preform is made by modifying a conventional preform tube having a cladding zone and a core zone, before its thermal collapse normally followed by fiber drawing. The modification is accomplished by depositing, e.g. by MCVD, a thin protective layer of a light-transmissive material, e.g. silica, on the inner surface of the preform tube, over the core zone, before the collapse step. The material of the protective layer has a higher viscosity than the material of the core zone. The protective layer is deposited over the inner (core) zone of the preform tube and its thickness and composition is selected to prevent excessive viscosity drop of the typically alumina-doped core zone during the collapse step. The provision of the protective, viscosity-controlling protective layer is helpful in maintaining good roundness of the collapsed preform tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Applicant: JDS Uniphase Corporation
    Inventors: Richard P. Tumminelli, Ying Hua Zhang, Brian M. LaLiberte, Alexander Yusim
  • Patent number: 6512870
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for removing the residual torsion in the optical fiber ribbons of an optical fiber cable of the type used in the telecommunications industry. The cable (1) comprises a central core, a plurality of substantially helical grooves located in the central core, a plurality of optical fiber ribbons (11) located inside the grooves, and an outer protective sheathing. An intermediate portion of the cable, having a fixed length, comprises respective intermediate uncut portions of exposed ribbons which have been freed from the central core and the protective sheathing. The device comprises a spool (20) adapted to be wound up with at least some of the exposed ribbon. When the ribbons are wound onto the spool, the portions of the ribbons dowstream from the spool are free from residual torsion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Saverio Ciciriello, Fabrizio Caroti
  • Publication number: 20020182410
    Abstract: A radiation-curable composition is disclosed. An fluorinated oligomer is combined with a diluent monomer and a photoinitiator to form the radiation-curable coating composition. The fluorinated oligomer is substantially free of isocyanate groups. The radiation-curable compositions provide a suitable coating for substrates, are resistant to penetration by water and liquid hydrocarbons, retain their physical properties over a wide temperature range and exhibit immeasurably low surface friction properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2002
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Inventors: David M. Szum, Kevin P. Murray, John M. Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 6449413
    Abstract: A curable composition is disclosed that is useful for securing color coded optical fibers in a matrix of an optical fiber cable. The matrix material can be stripped from the individual fibers without removing the color coding associated with the individual fibers. The matrix material is also resistant to solvents used in the stripping process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Borden Chemical, Inc.
    Inventor: David C. Duecker
  • Patent number: 6438300
    Abstract: An apparatus for retaining and protecting spliced optical fibers that are part of cables that have ultra-high strength steel wires, in which the optical fibers are free to move within a sleeve inside of the wires. The apparatus includes ajoint box having opposing longitudinal cable termination ends. The high-strength steel wires of each cable are attached to a respective cable termination end. At least one optical fiber from each cable extends through its respective cable termination end and is spliced together to form a continuous optical fiber. The fiber or fibers are splinted and potted at locations longitudinally spaced from the splice to form ferrules. A central portion or shelf of the joint box includes fiber retaining devices which take the form of ferrule retainer assemblies. The ferrule retainer assemblies have a trough that contains and restrains a respective ferrule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: TyCom (US) Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Bernstein, Maurice E. Kordahi
  • Patent number: 6415084
    Abstract: A complex cable for under-floor wiring can be wired in restricted spacious office floors and lowers installation costs. The complex cable includes a fiber-optic cable and a plurality of communications cables for data transmission. The fiber-optic cable includes a plurality of fiber-optic cords, a plurality of interposition members and a plastic tape assembling the cords and members all from outside. The communications cables include respectively a plurality of twin-wire strands and a plastic tape assembling the strands from outside. The fiber-optic cable is surrounded by a plurality of communications cables in parallel relation to one another over the length of the fiber-optic cable. The fiber-optic cable and the communications cables are further wrapped by a plastic tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tetsuya Iwasaki