Fiber Optic Cables and Methods for Forming the Same

• US 20100239216A1
• Filed: 06/04/2010
• Published: 09/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kevin Paschal, Nathan Hatch
• Original Assignee: Kevin Paschal, Nathan Hatch
• Inventors: Paschal, Kevin, Hatch, Nathan
• Granted Patent: US 8,718,427 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/113
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3885 Multicore or multichannel optical connectors, i.e. one single ferrule containing more than one fibre, e.g. ribbon type optical ribbon cable G02B6/4403, G02B6/448
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/38875 Protection from bending or twisting
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3888 Protection from over-extension or over-compression
• 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

Abstract

A loose tube optical fiber cable includes at least one cable unit. Each cable unit includes a plurality of loose, non-buffered optical fibers, a strength yarn at least partially surrounding the non-buffered optical fibers, and a jacket surrounding the strength yarn and the non-buffered optical fibers.

Claims

1. A loose tube optical fiber cable comprising:

a plurality of loose, non-buffered optical fibers;

a strength member that completely surrounds the non-buffered optical fibers; and

a jacket surrounding the strength member, the jacket defining a passage through which the strength member and the non-buffered optical fibers extend;

wherein the non-buffered optical fibers are loose with respect to all optical fibers surrounded by the jacket so that they have no particular fixed relative orientation;

wherein the non-buffered optical fibers float within the strength member; and

wherein at least 30% of the volume of the passage is not filled by the optical fibers or the strength member.

2. The cable of claim 1, wherein each of the non-buffered optical fibers includes a core, a cladding surrounding the core, and a coating layer surrounding the cladding.

3. The cable of claim 2, wherein the coating layers of at least some of the non-buffered optical fibers contact the strength member.

4. The cable of claim 3, wherein the coating layer of each non-buffered optical fiber is formed of acrylate.

5. The cable of claim 4, wherein the strength member floats within the jacket.

6. A connectorized cable assembly comprising:

a loose tube optical fiber cable including a plurality of non-buffered optical fibers, a strength member that at least partially surrounds the non-buffered optical fibers and a jacket surrounding the strength member and the non-buffered optical fibers;

a first optical fiber connector assembly installed on a first end of the loose tube optical fiber cable; and

a second optical fiber connector assembly installed on a second end of the loose tube optical fiber cable;

wherein the strength member extends continuously from the first optical fiber connector assembly to the second optical fiber connector assembly and is configured to provide strain relief at both the first and second optical fiber connector assemblies.

7. The connectorized cable assembly of claim 6, wherein the non-buffered optical fibers are loose with respect to all optical fibers surrounded by the jacket so that the non-buffered optical fibers have no particular fixed relative orientation.

8. The connectorized cable assembly of claim 6, wherein the plurality of non-buffered optical fibers have a ribbonized configuration within at least part of the first optical fiber connector assembly and within at least part of the second optical fiber connector assembly, and have a loose tube configuration outside the first and second optical fiber connector assemblies.

9. The connectorized cable assembly of claim 8, wherein the first optical fiber connector assembly includes a connector housing and a strain relief boot, and wherein the plurality of optical fibers have a loose configuration in a rear section of the strain relief boot.

10. The connectorized cable assembly of claim 6, wherein the non-buffered optical fibers float within the strength member.

11. The connectorized cable assembly of claim 10, wherein the strength member floats within the jacket.

12. The connectorized cable assembly of claim 6, wherein the strength member completely surrounds the non-buffered optical fibers.

13. A connectorized cable assembly comprising:

a loose tube optical fiber cable including;

a plurality of loose, non-buffered optical fibers;

a strength member at least partially surrounding the non-buffered optical fibers; and

a jacket surrounding the strength member and the non-buffered optical fibers;

wherein the non-buffered optical fibers are loose with respect to all optical fibers surrounded by the jacket so that they have no particular fixed relative orientation; and

an optical fiber connector installed on the loose tube optical fiber cable, wherein the strength member is secured to the optical fiber connector to provide strain relief between the loose tube optical fiber cable and the optical fiber connector.

14. The connectorized cable assembly of claim 13, wherein the jacket defines a passage through which the strength member and the non-buffered optical fibers extend and at least 30% of the volume of the passage is not filled by the optical fibers or the strength member.

15. The connectorized cable assembly of claim 14, wherein between about 50 and 60% of the volume of the passage is not filled by the optical fibers or the strength member.

16. The connectorized cable assembly of claim 13, wherein each of the non-buffered optical fibers includes a core, a cladding surrounding the core, and an acrylate coating layer surrounding the cladding.

17. The connectorized cable assembly of claim 16, wherein the coating layers of at least some of the non-buffered optical fibers contact the strength member.

18. The connectorized cable assembly of claim 13, wherein the strength member is directly secured to the optical fiber connector by crimping of the optical fiber connector.

19. The connectorized cable assembly of claim 13, wherein the strength member completely surrounds the non-buffered optical fibers.

20. The connectorized cable assembly of claim 13, wherein the plurality of non-buffered optical fibers have a ribbonized configuration within at least part of the optical fiber connector, and have a loose tube configuration outside the optical fiber connector.

21. The connectorized cable assembly of claim 13, wherein the optical fiber connector includes a connector housing and a strain relief boot, and wherein the plurality of optical fibers have a loose configuration in a rear section of the strain relief boot.