Multi-fiber, fiber optic cable assemblies providing constrained optical fibers within an optical fiber sub-unit, and related fiber optic components, cables, and methods
First Claim
1. A fiber optic cable assembly, comprising:
- a fiber optic cable comprising a cable jacket, one or more cable strength members disposed within the cable jacket, and one or more optical fiber sub-units disposed within the cable jacket;
a plurality of optical fibers and one or more sub-unit strength members disposed adjacent to each other in a sub-unit jacket in each of the one or more optical fiber sub-units such that movement of the plurality of optical fibers is constrained by an interior wall of the sub-unit jacket and the one or more sub-unit strength members;
an end portion of the fiber optic cable comprising end portions of the one or more optical fiber sub-units and end portions of the one or more cable strength members both exposed from an end portion of the cable jacket; and
a furcation assembly receiving the end portion of the fiber optic cable at a first end of the furcation assembly, the furcation assembly terminating the end portion of the cable jacket and the end portions of the one or more cable strength members, and the end portions of the one or more optical fiber sub-units extending through and from a second end of the furcation assembly;
the one or more cable strength members are disposed within the cable jacket in a first length, and the one or more optical fiber sub-units are disposed within the cable jacket in a second length, the second length greater than the first length.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Multi-fiber, fiber optic cable assemblies and related fiber optic components, cables, and methods providing constrained optical fibers within an optical fiber sub-unit are disclosed. The optical fiber sub-unit(s) comprises optical fibers disposed adjacent a sub-unit strength member(s) within a sub-unit jacket. Movement of optical fibers within a sub-unit jacket can be constrained. In this manner, the optical fibers in an optical fiber sub-unit can be held together within the optical fiber sub-unit as a unit. As a non-limiting example, the optical fiber sub-unit(s) may be exposed and constrained in a furcation assembly as opposed to the optical fibers, thereby reducing complexity in fiber optic cable assembly preparations. Constraining the optical fibers may also allow optical skew, reduction of entanglement between the optical fibers and the cable strength members to reduce or avoid optical attenuation, and/or allow the optical fibers to act as anti-buckling components within the fiber optic cable.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A fiber optic cable assembly, comprising:
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a fiber optic cable comprising a cable jacket, one or more cable strength members disposed within the cable jacket, and one or more optical fiber sub-units disposed within the cable jacket; a plurality of optical fibers and one or more sub-unit strength members disposed adjacent to each other in a sub-unit jacket in each of the one or more optical fiber sub-units such that movement of the plurality of optical fibers is constrained by an interior wall of the sub-unit jacket and the one or more sub-unit strength members; an end portion of the fiber optic cable comprising end portions of the one or more optical fiber sub-units and end portions of the one or more cable strength members both exposed from an end portion of the cable jacket; and a furcation assembly receiving the end portion of the fiber optic cable at a first end of the furcation assembly, the furcation assembly terminating the end portion of the cable jacket and the end portions of the one or more cable strength members, and the end portions of the one or more optical fiber sub-units extending through and from a second end of the furcation assembly; the one or more cable strength members are disposed within the cable jacket in a first length, and the one or more optical fiber sub-units are disposed within the cable jacket in a second length, the second length greater than the first length. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of assembling a fiber optic cable assembly, comprising:
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disposing one or more cable strength members within a cable jacket of a fiber optic cable in a first length; disposing a plurality of optical fibers and one or more sub-unit strength members adjacent to each other in a sub-unit jacket in each of one or more optical fiber sub-units such that movement of the plurality of optical fibers is constrained by an interior wall of the sub-unit jacket and the one or more sub-unit strength members; disposing the one or more optical fiber sub-units within the cable jacket in a second length, the second length greater than the first length; exposing end portions of the one or more optical fiber sub-units and end portions of the one or more cable strength members from an end portion of the cable jacket; receiving the end portion of the fiber optic cable at a first end of a furcation assembly; terminating the end portion of the cable jacket and the end portions of the one or more cable strength members in the furcation assembly; and extending the end portions of the one or more optical fiber sub-units through the furcation assembly and from a second end of the furcation assembly. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A fiber optic cable, comprising:
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a cable jacket; one or more cable strength members disposed within the cable jacket in a first length; and one or more optical fiber sub-units disposed within the cable jacket in a second length, the second length greater than the first length, the one or more optical fiber sub-units each comprising a plurality of optical fibers and one or more sub-unit strength members disposed adjacent to each other in a sub-unit jacket such that movement of the plurality of optical fibers is radially constrained by an interior wall of the sub-unit jacket and the one or more sub-unit strength members, and the plurality of optical fibers are in friction contact with the one or more sub-unit strength members constraining relative longitudinal movement of the plurality of optical fibers within the sub-unit jacket; the one or more optical fiber sub-units disposed adjacent to the one or more cable strength members within the cable jacket; and the one or more optical fiber sub-units are disposed within the cable jacket adjacent to the one or more cable strength members to allow movement between the one or more optical fiber sub-units and the one or more cable strength members within the cable jacket. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification