Reduced-diameter, easy-access loose tube cable
AssigneeDraka Comteq B.V.
InventorBob J. Overton
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed is an improved optical fiber that employs a novel coating system. When combined with a bend-insensitive glass fiber, the novel coating system according to the present invention yields an optical fiber having exceptionally low losses. The coating system features (i) a softer primary coating with excellent low-temperature characteristics to protect against microbending in any environment and in the toughest physical situations and, optionally, (ii) a colored secondary coating possessing enhanced color strength and vividness. The improved coating system provides optical fibers that are useful in relatively thin-walled, low-modulus buffer tubes (i.e., “flextubes”) that can be readily accessed without special tools.
Claims23
A micromodule unit, comprising:
- a micromodule, said micromodule enclosing one or more optical fibers, wherein said micromodule possesses a micromodule filling coefficient of at least about 0.3;
- wherein at least one of said optical fibers comprises a glass fiber and a primary coating surrounding said glass fiber, said primary coating possessing (i) an in situ modulus of less than 0.50 MPa and (ii) a glass transition temperature of less than −55° C.
An optical-fiber cable, comprising:
- a cable jacket;
- and
- a plurality of micromodules positioned within said cable jacket, wherein one or more of said micromodules enclose one or more optical fibers and wherein one or more of said micromodules possess a micromodule filling coefficient of at least about 0.3;
- wherein at least one of said optical fibers comprises a glass fiber and a primary coating surrounding said glass fiber, said primary coating possessing (i) an in situ modulus of less than 0.50 MPa and (ii) a glass transition temperature of less than −55° C.
A drop cable, comprising:
- a cable jacket that defines a longitudinal cavity;
- and
- a micromodule positioned within the longitudinal cavity, wherein said micromodule encloses one or more optical fibers and wherein said micromodule possesses a micromodule filling coefficient of at least about 0.3;
- wherein at least one of said optical fibers comprises a glass fiber and a primary coating surrounding said glass fiber, said primary coating possessing (i) an in situ modulus of less than 0.50 MPa and (ii) a glass transition temperature of less than −55° C.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.