Patent ID: 6751383
Filing Date: 2004-06-15
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
A loose tube, optical-ribbon cable comprising:a central tensile-strength component situated in the center of the optical-ribbon cable; a plurality of loose tubes having a bundle of optical-ribbon fibers surrounding the central tensile-strength component and disposed in parallel arrangement, one to each other, the bundle of optical-ribbon fibers being formed by laminating the optical-ribbon fibers, each optical-ribbon fiber including multiple cores of optical fibers stranded in a single row and a sheath surrounding the multiple cores of optical fibers; a plurality of circle-shaped, water-absorbing members disposed in hollows between the plurality of tubes, the members comprising a plurality of twisted yarns, some of which are water-absorbing, and a remainder of which have a certain degree of strength, each water-absorbing member comprising a predetermined number of each type of yarn that are both twisted together to maintain a shape of the circle-shaped, water-absorbing members; a water-absorbing tape for surrounding the plurality of loose tubes and the plurality of circle-shaped, water-absorbing members; and, an external sheath forming an outermost layer of the optical-ribbon cable, for protecting an interior of the loose tube, optical-ribbon cable against an external environment.