Continuously accessible optical cable

• US 6,718,101 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2002
• Issued: 04/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Acome
• Original Assignee: Acome
• Inventors: Brault, Dominique, Lagreve, Christian, Le Noane, Georges, Filliatre, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Zarroli, Michael C.
• Application Number:
  US10/069,493
• Publication Number:
  US 20020122639A1
• Time in Patent Office: 775 Days
• Field of Search: 385/109, 385/111
• US Class Current: 385/109
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4426 specially adapted for reducing drag caused by the wire, e.g. by oval cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4431 with provision in the protective covering, e.g. weak line, for gaining access to one or more fibres, e.g. for branching or tapping break-out terminations G02B6/4471
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4433 Double reinforcement laying in straight line with optical transmission element
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4475 with provision for lateral branching G02B6/4431 takes precedence

Abstract

The invention concerns an optical cable with continuous accessibility, comprising a closed protective sheath surrounding a cavity having in cross section two substantially perpendicular axes intersecting at the center of the cavity, and at least two optical fibers optionally organized in at least two modules and arranged such that they occupy the greater part of the cavity in the direction of the long axis but that they allow a clearance in the cavity in the direction of the shorter axis of the cavity.

Claims

1. An optical cable having optical fibers which can be accessed anywhere along the cable, comprising:

a closed protective sheath surrounding a cavity having in cross section two substantially perpendicular axes intersecting at the center of the cavity, each axis defining a width of the cavity, one width being wider than the other shorter width; and

at least two optical fibers positioned lengthwise in the cable and arranged such that they occupy the greater part of the cavity in the direction of the wide width but that they allow a clearance in the cavity in the direction of the shorter width of the cavity.

2. The cable as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fibers are organized in at least two optical modules each one comprising at least one fiber surrounded by a thin film.

3. The cable as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cavity has a shape selected in the group consisting of circular, oval and ovalized shapes.

4. The cable as claimed in claim 3, wherein the cavity has an ovalized shape.

5. The cable as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sheath has a shape selected in the group consisting of circular, oval and ovalized shapes.

6. The cable as claimed in claim 5, wherein the sheath has an ovalized shape.

7. The cable as claimed in claim 5, wherein a wide width of the sheath coincides with the wide width of the cavity.

8. The cable as claimed in claim 1, comprising further a jacket around the sheath.

9. The cable as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sheath has at least one colored thread.

10. The cable as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sheath has at least one initiator.

11. The cable as claimed in claim 10, wherein at least one initiator is colored.

12. The cable as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sheath has a region of lower thickness.

13. The cable as claimed in claim 8, wherein the jacket has at least one colored thread.

14. The cable as claimed in claim 8, wherein the jacket has at least one initiator.

15. The cable as claimed in claim 14, wherein at least one initiator is colored.

16. The cable as claimed in claim 8, wherein the jacket has a region of lower thickness.