Back to results
US 9,176,293 B2Granted
Buffered fibers with access features
AssigneeCorning Cable Systems LLC
InventorSamuel Don Navé
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Buffered optical fibers are formed by extruding discontinuities in the buffer layer. The discontinuities allow the buffer layer to be torn to provide access to the buffered optical fiber. The discontinuities can be longitudinally extending strips of material in the buffer layer, and can be introduced into the extrudate material flow used to form the first section of the buffer layer in the extrusion head.
Claims19
A buffered optical fiber, comprising:
- an optical fiber having a longitudinal length;
- and
- an extruded buffer layer surrounding and in contact with the optical fiber along the longitudinal length, the buffer layer comprising:
- a main portion of a first extruded polymeric material;
- at least one discontinuity of a second polymeric material coextruded in the main portion, the discontinuity extending along the longitudinal length of the optical fiber, and the first polymeric material being different from the second polymeric material;
- and
- a bond formed during coextrusion between the discontinuity and the main portion such that the buffer layer comprises a cohesive composite polymer structure that is separable at the discontinuity to provide access to the optical fiber,
- wherein the buffer layer has an outside diameter of less than 1100 microns.
5 more elements
A buffered optical fiber, comprising:
- an optical fiber having a longitudinal length, wherein the optical fiber includes a silica-based core, a silica-based cladding surrounding the core, and at least one coating surrounding the cladding;
- and
- a buffer layer extruded directly over the optical fiber and abutting the coating along the longitudinal length, the buffer layer comprising:
- a main portion of a first extruded polymeric material;
- at least one discontinuity of a second polymeric material coextruded in the main portion, the discontinuity extending along the longitudinal length of the optical fiber, and the first material being different from the second material;
- and
- a bond formed during coextrusion between the discontinuity and the main portion such that the buffer layer comprises a cohesive composite polymer structure that is separable at the discontinuity to provide access to the optical fiber.
4 more elements
A buffered optical fiber, comprising:
- an optical fiber;
- and
- a buffer layer surrounding the optical fiber, the buffer layer comprising:
- a first section of a first extruded polymeric material;
- and
- a second section of a second extruded polymeric material coextruded with the first section to form a bond with the first section at at least one interface;
- wherein
- the bond between the first section and the second section allows the buffer layer to be a cohesive composite polymer structure that is in contact with the optical fiber and separable along the interface to provide access to the optical fiber, and
- the buffer layer has an outside diameter of less than 1100 microns.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.