High density fiber optic cable

• US 20050196113A1
• Filed: 05/09/2005
• Published: 09/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hurley, William C., Easton, Martyn N.
• Granted Patent: US 7,113,680 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/109
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/441 built up from sub-bundles G02B6/4429, G02B6/4439, G02B6/4479 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/443 Protective covering
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44384 the means comprising water blocking or hydrophobic materials G02B6/4439, G02B6/4479 take precedence

Abstract

A fiber optic cable includes at least one at least one bundle having a plurality of non-tight buffered optical fibers and a binder element for maintaining the integrity of the bundle. The binder element may be, for example, a binder thread. The fiber optic cable may exclude a grease or a grease-like composition being in contact with the at least one bundle for filling interstices of the cable thereby blocking water from flowing through the cable. The fiber optic cable also includes a separation layer for inhibiting adhesion between the bundles of optical fibers and the cable jacket. In another embodiment, a fiber optic cable includes a plurality of optical fibers and a binder element forming at least one bundle. The at least one bundle is surrounded by an armor layer and the fiber optic cable excludes a cable jacket within the armor layer.

Claims

1-32. -32. (canceled)

33. A fiber optic breakout cable comprising a plurality of cable units disposed within an outer jacket, wherein each of the plurality of cable units comprises:

at least one bundle, the at least one bundle comprising a plurality of non-tight buffered optical fibers and a binder element for maintaining the plurality of non-tight buffered optical fibers in the at least one bundle;

a separation layer contacting a portion of the at least one bundle; and

a cable unit jacket contacting at least a portion of the separation layer, wherein the separation layer inhibits adhesion between the at least one bundle and the unit cable jacket and wherein the fiber optic breakout cable excludes a grease or a grease-like composition being in contact with the at least one bundle for filling interstices of the cable thereby blocking water from flowing through the cable.

34. The fiber optic breakout cable of claim 33, wherein the plurality of cable units each have twelve optical fibers.

35. The fiber optic breakout cable of claim 33, wherein the plurality of cable units have a diameter of about 4 millimeters or less.

36. The fiber optic breakout cable of claim 33, the binder element being selected from a binder thread, a binder yarn, a thin film, and a tape.

37. The fiber optic breakout cable of claim 33, the binder element being a binder thread encirling the plurality of non-tight buffered optical fibers.

38. The fiber optic breakout cable of claim 33, the separation layer being selected from a fiberglass yarn, an aramid yarn, an armor layer, a water-swellable tape, a thin film, and a soft housing.

39. The fiber optic breakout cable of claim 33, the separation layer having a tensile strength characteristic.

40. The fiber optic breakout cable of claim 33, the plurality of cable units being stranded around a central member.

41. The fiber optic breakout cable of claim 33, further including an armor layer.

42. The fiber optic breakout cable of claim 33, further including a plurality of strength members disposed within the outer jacket.

43. The fiber optic breakout cable of claim 33, the plurality of non-tight buffered optical fibers further including a tight buffered layer.

44. A fiber optic breakout cable comprising two cable units disposed within an outer jacket, wherein one of the cable cable units comprises:

at least one bundle, the at least one bundle comprising a plurality of non-tight buffered optical fibers and a binder element for maintaining the plurality of non-tight buffered optical fibers in the at least one bundle;

a separation layer contacting a portion of the at least one bundle; and

a cable unit jacket having a diameter of about 4 millimeters or less, wherein the cable unit jacket contacts at least a portion of the separation layer, wherein the separation layer inhibits adhesion between the at least one bundle and the unit cable jacket and wherein the fiber optic breakout cable excludes a grease or a grease-like composition being in contact with the at least one bundle for filling interstices of the cable thereby blocking water from flowing through the cable.

45. The fiber optic breakout cable of claim 44, wherein the plurality of cable units each have twelve optical fibers.

46. The fiber optic breakout cable of claim 44, the binder element being selected from a binder thread, a binder yarn, a thin film, and a tape.

47. The fiber optic breakout cable of claim 44, the binder element being a binder thread encirling the plurality of non-tight buffered optical fibers.

48. The fiber optic breakout cable of claim 44, the separation layer being selected from a fiberglass yarn, an aramid yarn, an armor layer, a water-swellable tape, a thin film, and a soft housing.

49. The fiber optic breakout cable of claim 44, the separation layer having a tensile strength characteristic.

50. The fiber optic breakout cable of claim 44, further including an armor layer.

51. The fiber optic breakout cable of claim 44, further including a plurality of strength members disposed within the outer jacket.

52. The fiber optic breakout cable of claim 44, the plurality of non-tight buffered optical fibers further including a tight buffered layer.

53. A fiber optic cable comprising:

at least one bundle, the at least one bundle comprising twelve non-tight buffered optical fibers and a binder element for maintaining the non-tight buffered optical fibers in the at least one bundle;

a separation layer contacting a portion of the at least one bundle; and

a cable jacket contacting at least a portion of the separation layer, wherein the separation layer inhibits adhesion between the at least one bundle and the cable jacket and wherein the fiber optic cable excluding a grease or a grease-like composition being in contact with the at least one bundle for filling interstices of the cable thereby blocking water from flowing through the cable.

54. The fiber optic breakout cable of claim 53, wherein the plurality of cable units have a diameter of about 5 millimeters or less.

55. The fiber optic breakout cable of claim 53, the binder element being selected from a binder thread, a binder yarn, a thin film, and a tape.

56. The fiber optic breakout cable of claim 53, the binder element being a binder thread encirling the plurality of non-tight buffered optical fibers.

57. The fiber optic breakout cable of claim 53, the separation layer having a tensile strength characteristic.