Optical cable housing an optical unit surrounded by a plurality of gel layers
First Claim
1. An optical fiber cable, comprising:
- a buffer tube;
an optical unit disposed in the buffer tube, the optical unit including at least one optical fiber; and
at least first and second gel layers interposed between the buffer tube and the optical unit, wherein the first gel layer surrounds the optical unit, the second gel layer surrounds the first gel layer, and the first and second gel layers have different rheological properties.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An optical fiber cable including a buffer tube wherein the optical unit is maintained in an axial center location of the buffer tube and protected from contact with an inner wall of the buffer tube. At least first and second gel layers are interposed between the buffer tube and the optical unit, wherein the first gel layer surrounds the optical unit, the second gel layer surrounds the first gel layer, and the first and second gel layers have different rheological properties. The inner gel layer may have a yield stress and a viscosity which are lower than a yield stress and a viscosity of the outer gel layer. The lower yield stress and viscosity of the inner gel layer serves to maintain the optical unit in an axial center position within the buffer tube and facilitates easy re-positioning of the optical unit to the axial center position when the buffer tube is flexed or bent. As a result, the optical unit may be maintained in a low stress state and stress-induced attenuation may be prevented.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. An optical fiber cable, comprising:
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a buffer tube;
an optical unit disposed in the buffer tube, the optical unit including at least one optical fiber; and
at least first and second gel layers interposed between the buffer tube and the optical unit, wherein the first gel layer surrounds the optical unit, the second gel layer surrounds the first gel layer, and the first and second gel layers have different rheological properties. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An optical fiber cable, comprising:
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a buffer tube;
an optical unit disposed in the buffer tube, the optical unit including at least one optical fiber; and
a plurality of gel layers interposed between the buffer tube and the optical unit, wherein a first gel layer surrounds the optical unit, a second gel layer surrounds the first gel layer, and gel layers have different rheological properties including at least one of viscosity and yield stress. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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28. An optical fiber cable, comprising:
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an optical unit including at least one optical fiber; and
a first gel layer disposed around the optical unit; and
a second gel layer disposed around the first gel layer, wherein the first and second gel layers are in contact with each other and have different rheological properties including at least one of viscosity and yield stress. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31)
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Specification