Optical fiber cable with controlled helix-plus-EFL values and methods therefor
AssigneeCorning Cable Systems LLC
InventorsDavid A. Seddon, William S. Jackman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Fiber optic cables, and methods of manufacturing the same, include a plurality of carriers having at least one optical fiber therein. In one embodiment, the carriers are arranged in two layers within the cable and are generally disposed about a center area of the cable. Each layer has a respective helix-plus-EFL value. A difference between the respective helix-plus-EFL values of the layers defines a differential range being, preferably, about 1% or less. Additionally, the fiber optic cables can be used in fiber optic cable systems such as dispersion managed cable systems (DMCS).
Claims40
A fiber optic cable, comprising:
- a plurality of carriers respectively having at least one optical fiber therein, said carriers defining at least two layers generally disposed about a center area of the cable;
- said layers defining a relatively inner layer of carriers being closer to said center area, and an outer layer of carriers being relatively further from said center area, said inner and outer carrier layers each comprising a respective helix-plus-EFL value, a difference between said respective helix-plus-EFL values of the layers defining a differential range, said differential range being about 1% or less.
A fiber optic cable system, comprising:
- first and second fiber optic cables, each of said first and second fiber optic cables having respective optical fibers disposed in carriers, said carriers defining at least two layers respectively in said fiber optic cables generally disposed about a center area of the respective fiber optic cables;
- said carrier layers defining a relatively inner layer of carriers being closer to said center area, and an outer layer of carriers being relatively further from said center area, said inner and outer carrier layers each comprising a respective helix-plus-EEL value, a difference between said respective helix-plus-EFL values of the layers in said fiber optic cables defining a differential range, said differential range being about 1% or less;
- and at least one optical fiber of said first fiber optic cable being optically connected to at least one optical fiber of said second fiber optic cable.
A fiber optic cable system, comprising:
- first and second fiber optic cables, each of said first and second fiber optic cables having respective optical fibers disposed in carriers, said carriers generally arranged in at least one layer respectively in said cables and are generally disposed about a center area of the respective fiber optic cables;
- said first fiber optic cable having a different number of layers than said second fiber optic cable;
- said carrier layers of said fiber optic cables comprising a respective helix-plus-EFL value, a difference between said respective helix-plus-EFL values of the layers of at least one said fiber optic cables defining a differential range, said differential range being about 1% or less;
- and at least one optical fiber of said first fiber optic cable being optically connected to at least one optical fiber of said second fiber optic cable.
A method of manufacturing a fiber optic cable, comprising:
- selecting a predetermined helix and an excess fiber length (EFL) value for respective layers of carriers of said fiber optic cable, wherein said predetermined helix and EFL values are added together to calculate a respective helix-plus-EFL value for said respective layers of carriers;
- and
- maintaining said helix and EFL values for the respective layers of carriers so that a difference between respective helix-plus-EFL values of said respective layers is about 1% or less.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.