Optical fiber cable and raceway therefor

A communication system comprising:

• at least two optical communication devices;
• and
• at least one fiber-optic cable that interconnects the at least two optical communication devices, wherein each of the at least one fiber-optic cable comprises a cable segment that has a plurality of optical fibers laterally encased by a cable sheath;
• wherein the cable segment is constructed to permit relative lateral movement of at least some of the optical fibers within the cable sheath to change a cross-sectional shape of the cable segment upon bending of the cable segment greater than a predetermined degree such that the bent cable segment has a longest cross-sectional dimension A1 and a shortest cross-sectional dimension B1, and at least one of (i) A1<0.8×A0 or A1>1.2×A0, or (ii) B1<0.8×B0 or B1>1.2×B0.

A communication system comprising:

• at least two optical communication devices;
• at least one raceway having a hollow cable conduit, the hollow cable conduit having a curved portion and a straight portion connected to the curved portion, the curved portion of the hollow cable conduit having a larger cross-sectional size measured orthogonally to a main plane of the raceway than a corresponding cross-sectional size of the straight portion of the hollow cable conduit;
• and
• at least one fiber-optic cable laid in the at least one hollow cable conduit of the raceway, wherein the at least one fiber-optic cable interconnects the at least two optical communication devices, each of the at least one fiber-optic cable comprising a cable segment that has a plurality of optical fibers laterally encased by a cable sheath, the cable segment comprises one or more strength members, and the cable segment is constructed to permit lateral movement of at least some of the optical fibers with respect to the one or more strength members.

A communication system comprising:

• at least two optical communication devices;
• and
• at least one fiber-optic cable that interconnects the at least two optical communication devices, wherein each of the at least one fiber-optic cable comprises a cable segment that has a plurality of optical fibers laterally encased by a cable sheath;
• wherein the plurality of optical fibers are permitted to move laterally relative to one another to become relatively spatially rearranged from a first cross-section of the cable segment to a second cross-section of the cable segment;
• and
• wherein the cable sheath comprises a laterally stretchable material that permits a cross-sectional shape of the cable segment to change in response to movement of the optical fibers within the cable sheath.

A method of operating a communication system, the method comprising:

• providing at least two optical communication devices;
• transmitting signals between the at least two optical communication devices through at least one fiber-optic cable, wherein each of the at least one fiber-optic cable comprises a cable segment that has a plurality of optical fibers laterally encased by a cable sheath, the cable segment comprises one or more strength members;
• laterally moving at least some of the optical fibers within the cable sheath to change a cross-sectional shape of the cable segment;
• and
• laterally moving at least some of the optical fibers with respect to the one or more strength members.

A method of assembling a communication system, the method comprising:

• providing at least two optical communication devices;
• and
• interconnecting the at least two optical communication devices using at least one fiber-optic cable, wherein each of the at least one fiber-optic cable comprises a cable segment that has a plurality of optical fibers laterally encased by a cable sheath, the cable segment comprises one or more strength members;
• wherein the cable segment is constructed to permit relative lateral movement of at least some of the optical fibers within the cable sheath to change a cross-sectional shape of the cable segment and the cable segment is constructed to permit lateral movement of at least some of the optical fibers with respect to the one or more strength members.

A method of operating a communication system, the method comprising:

• providing at least two optical communication devices;
• providing at least one raceway having a hollow cable conduit, the hollow cable conduit having a curved portion and a straight portion connected to the curved portion, the curved portion of the hollow cable conduit having a larger cross-sectional size measured orthogonally to a main plane of the raceway than a corresponding cross-sectional size of the straight portion of the hollow cable conduit;
• and
• transmitting signals between the at least two optical communication devices through at least one fiber-optic cable laid in the at least one hollow cable conduit of the raceway, wherein each of the at least one fiber-optic cable comprises a cable segment that has a plurality of optical fibers laterally encased by a cable sheath, the cable segment comprises one or more strength members, and the cable segment is constructed to permit lateral movement of at least some of the optical fibers with respect to the one or more strength members.

A method of operating a communication system, the method comprising:

• providing at least two optical communication devices;
• transmitting signals between the at least two optical communication devices through at least one fiber-optic cable, wherein each of the at least one fiber-optic cable comprises a cable segment that has a plurality of optical fibers laterally encased by a cable sheath, the cable segment comprises one or more strength members,
• moving the plurality of optical fibers laterally relative to one another to become relatively spatially rearranged from a first cross-section of the cable segment to a second cross-section of the cable segment,
• laterally moving at least some of the optical fibers with respect to the one or more strength members, and
• changing a cross-sectional shape of the cable segment in response to movement of the optical fibers within the cable sheath.