Optical communication cable
First Claim
1. An optical communication cable comprising:
- a cable body including a passage within the cable body;
a first core element located in the passage of the cable body, the first core element including an outer surface and a first optical transmission element;
a second core element located in the passage of the cable body, the second core element including an outer surface and a second optical transmission element;
a strength member located in the passage of the cable body, wherein the first core element and the second core element are wound around the strength member; and
a film formed from a first polyethylene material located within the passage of the cable body, the film surrounding the first core element, the second core element and the strength member, wherein the film applies a radial inwardly directed force to the outer surface of the first core element and the outer surface of the second core element;
wherein the cable body is formed from a second polyethylene material different from the first polyethylene material, the cable body surrounding the film, the cable body having an inner surface that faces the outer surface of the film, wherein the outer surface of the film and the inner surface of the cable body contact one another at an interface therebetween where the first and second polyethylene materials are bonded to one another, facilitating simultaneous opening or removal of the cable body and film together.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An optical communication cable is provided. The cable includes a plurality of elongate optical transmission elements wrapped around an elongate central strength member such that a portion of the length of the plurality of wrapped elongate optical transmission elements form a spiral portion around the elongate central strength member. The cable includes an elastic sleeve surrounding the plurality of elongate optical transmission elements, and the elastic sleeve is formed from an extruded first material. The cable includes a cable body formed from an extruded second material different from the first material, and the cable body surrounds the film, and the cable body has an inner surface that faces the outer surface of the film.
375 Citations
30 Claims
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1. An optical communication cable comprising:
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a cable body including a passage within the cable body; a first core element located in the passage of the cable body, the first core element including an outer surface and a first optical transmission element; a second core element located in the passage of the cable body, the second core element including an outer surface and a second optical transmission element; a strength member located in the passage of the cable body, wherein the first core element and the second core element are wound around the strength member; and a film formed from a first polyethylene material located within the passage of the cable body, the film surrounding the first core element, the second core element and the strength member, wherein the film applies a radial inwardly directed force to the outer surface of the first core element and the outer surface of the second core element; wherein the cable body is formed from a second polyethylene material different from the first polyethylene material, the cable body surrounding the film, the cable body having an inner surface that faces the outer surface of the film, wherein the outer surface of the film and the inner surface of the cable body contact one another at an interface therebetween where the first and second polyethylene materials are bonded to one another, facilitating simultaneous opening or removal of the cable body and film together. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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9. An optical communication cable comprising:
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a cable body including a bore within the cable body; an elongate central strength member located in a central area of the bore; a plurality of elongate optical transmission elements wrapped around the elongate central strength member such that a portion of a length of the plurality of wrapped elongate optical transmission elements forms a spiral portion around the elongate central strength member; and an extruded membrane surrounding the plurality of elongate optical transmission elements, the extruded membrane formed from a first material, wherein the extruded membrane is contiguous in a circumferential direction around the elongate optical transmission elements and is contiguous in an axial direction for at least one revolution of the elongate optical transmission elements around the elongate central strength member within the spiral portion, wherein the membrane contacts an outer surface of each of the plurality of elongate optical transmission elements within the spiral portion; wherein the membrane forms an undulating pattern in cross-section, which includes interspaced convex portions and concave portions as the extruded membrane contacts and extends between each of the plurality of elongate optical transmission elements within the spiral portion, and wherein the membrane applies a radial inwardly directed force to the outer surface of the plurality of elongate optical transmission elements, limiting the elongate optical transmission elements from unwinding from around the elongate central strength member; wherein the cable body is formed from an extruded second material, the cable body surrounding the membrane, the cable body having an inner surface that faces the outer surface of the membrane. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21)
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22. An optical communication cable, comprising:
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a cable jacket having an inner surface that defines a cavity, wherein the optical communication cable has an outer diameter of no greater than 12 millimeters; a central strength member located in a central area of the cavity; buffer tubes wrapped around the central strength member in an SZ stranding pattern, wherein the buffer tubes each have an inner diameter of between 0.5 and 3.0 millimeters, wherein the buffer tubes carry optical fibers, wherein the optical fibers in the buffer tubes have EFL of about 0.1% or less per optical fiber on average; and a thin film binder surrounding the buffer tubes, the thin film binder formed from a first polymer, wherein the thin film binder is contiguous in a circumferential direction around the buffer tubes and is contiguous in an axial direction for at least one revolution of the buffer tubes around the central strength member within the SZ stranding pattern, wherein the thin film binder forms an undulating pattern in cross-section, which includes interspaced convex portions and concave portions as the thin film binder contacts and extends between individual ones of the buffer tubes, and wherein the thin film binder applies a radial inwardly directed force to the outer surface of the buffer tubes, limiting the buffer tubes from unwinding from around the central strength member; wherein the cable jacket is formed from a second polymer, the cable jacket surrounding the thin film binder, the cable jacket having an inner surface that faces the outer surface of the thin film binder. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. An optical communication cable comprising:
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a cable jacket having an inner surface that defines a cavity, wherein the optical communication cable has an outer diameter of no greater than 12 millimeters; a first buffer tube located in the cavity of the cable jacket, the first buffer tube including an outer surface, wherein the first buffer tube has an inner diameter of between 0.5 and 3.0 millimeters, wherein the first buffer tube carries optical fibers, wherein the optical fibers in the first buffer tube have EFL of about 0.1% or less per optical fiber on average; a second buffer tube located in the cavity of the cable jacket, the second buffer tube including an outer surface, wherein the second buffer tube has an inner diameter of between 0.5 and 3.0 millimeters, wherein the second buffer tube carries optical fibers, wherein the optical fibers in the second buffer tube have EFL of about 0.1% or less per optical fiber on average; a central strength member located in the cavity of the cable jacket, wherein the first and second buffer tubes are wound around the central strength member, wherein the first and second buffer tubes are wrapped around the central strength member in an SZ stranding pattern; and a thin film binder formed from a first polyethylene material located within the cavity of the cable jacket, the thin film binder surrounding the first buffer tube, the second buffer tube and the central strength member, wherein the thin film binder applies a radial inwardly directed force to the outer surfaces of the first and second buffer tubes; wherein the cable body is thicker than the film; wherein the cable jacket is formed from a second polyethylene material different from the first polyethylene material, the cable jacket surrounding the thin film binder, the cable jacket having an inner surface that faces an outer surface of the thin film binder, wherein the outer surface of the thin film binder and the inner surface of the cable jacket contact one another at an interface therebetween where the first and second polyethylene materials are bonded to one another, facilitating simultaneous opening or removal of the cable jacket and thin film binder together. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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Specification