Patent ID: 6449412
Filing Date: 2002-09-10
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
A fiber optical cable comprising:an optical ribbon having optical fibers in a common matrix coating, a jacket, and a buffer material between said common matrix coating and said jacket; said buffer material including at least one volume of buffer material defining a stress-cushioning zone between said optical ribbon and said jacket, said buffer material comprising fibers, the fibers performing the dual functions of (i) providing tensile strength for resisting tensile elongations, and (ii) lateral cushioning in the stress-cushioning zone, said stress-cushioning zone being operative to substantially decouple said jacket from said ribbon in the region of the stress-cushioning zone thereby inhibiting the application of stress to said optical ribbon; and said buffer material including at least one volume of material at an intermediate buffer zone held substantially tight, by a non-linear portion of said jacket, against an intermediate portion of said optical ribbon for inhibiting the twisting of said optical ribbon.