Patent ID: 9360646
Filing Date: 2016-06-07
CPC Classification: G02B

Claim Text:
1. A fiber optic ribbon cable, comprising: a fiber optic ribbon having a bend preference, wherein the cable includes only one fiber optic ribbon, and wherein the fiber optic ribbon includes at least eight fibers; a jacket defining an exterior of the cable, wherein the outer diameter of the jacket is within 0.5 mm of 3.6 mm on average, wherein the wall thickness of the jacket is within 0.25 mm of 0.5 mm on average, and wherein the jacket forms a cavity through which extends the fiber optic ribbon, and wherein the jacket is substantially free of a bend preference, wherein the cavity of the jacket is round in cross-section and the fiber optic ribbon is oblong or rectangular in cross-section, wherein the diameter of the cavity is at least 0.2 mm greater than the width of the fiber optic ribbon, and wherein the diameter of the cavity is no more than 1.5 mm greater than the width of the fiber optic ribbon; strength members loosely positioned in the cavity between the fiber optic ribbon and the jacket, wherein the strength members are flexible in bending such that the strength members are substantially free of a bend preference; and wherein the cavity of the jacket is sized relative to the fiber optic ribbon in order to allow the fiber optic ribbon to bend and twist within the cavity with respect to the jacket as the cable bends and the strength members facilitate the relative movement between the jacket and the fiber optic ribbon by sliding along the interior of the jacket when the cable is in bending and twisting, assisting movement of the optical fibers of the fiber optic ribbon to low-stress positions within the cavity and decoupling the bend preference of the fiber optic ribbon from transfer to the jacket so handling of the cable from the exterior of the jacket is generally free of a bend preference.