Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US8041167?dq=7,346,539
Timestamp: 2014-12-18 03:57:07
Document Index: 67674448

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 61', 'Application No. 61', 'Application No. 61', 'Application No. 61', 'Application No. 61', 'Application No. 61', 'Application No. 61', 'Application No. 61', 'Application No. 61', 'Application No. 61']

Patent US8041167 - Optical-fiber loose tube cables - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsDisclosed 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...http://www.google.com/patents/US8041167?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US8041167 - Optical-fiber loose tube cablesAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS8041167 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 12/614,754Publication dateOct 18, 2011Filing dateNov 9, 2009Priority dateNov 9, 2007Also published asUS20100092140Publication number12614754, 614754, US 8041167 B2, US 8041167B2, US-B2-8041167, US8041167 B2, US8041167B2InventorsBob J. OvertonOriginal AssigneeDraka Comteq, B.V.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (110), Non-Patent Citations (41), Referenced by (11), Classifications (16), Legal Events (1) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetOptical-fiber loose tube cablesUS 8041167 B2Abstract 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 improved coating system provides optical fibers that are useful in buffer tubes and cables having relatively high filling coefficients and fiber counts.
a plurality of discrete optical fibers enclosed within said polymeric tube;
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.;
wherein the buffer tube possesses a buffer-tube filling coefficient of at least about 0.35.
2. A buffer tube according to claim 1, wherein one or more of said optical fibers meet the ITU-T G.657.A standard and/or the ITU-T G.657.B standard.
3. A buffer tube according to claim 1, wherein said primary coating possesses an in situ modulus of between 0.2 MPa and 0.5 MPa.
4. A buffer tube according to claim 1, wherein said primary coating possesses a glass transition temperature of less than about −60� C.
5. A buffer tube according to claim 1, wherein the buffer tube possesses a buffer-tube filling coefficient of at least about 0.5.
6. A buffer tube according to claim 1, wherein:
the buffer tube comprises at least twelve bend-insensitive optical fibers; and
the polymeric tube has an inner diameter of less than about 1.3 millimeters.
7. A buffer tube according to claim 1, wherein the polymeric tube has an inner diameter of less than about 1.0 millimeters.
8. A buffer tube according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said optical fibers has an outer diameter of less than 230 microns.
9. An optical-fiber cable, comprising:
one or more buffer tubes positioned with said polymeric cable jacket, wherein one or more of said buffer tubes enclose a plurality of discrete bend-insensitive optical fibers;
wherein at least one of said bend-insensitive 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.;
wherein one or more of said buffer tubes possess a buffer-tube filling coefficient of at least about 0.35.
10. An optical-fiber cable according to claim 9, wherein as determined by the USDA Rural Electrification Administration mid-span temperature cycle test, (i) each said optical fiber that is enclosed within a buffer tube has increased attenuation of less than 0.1 dB and (ii) all said optical fibers enclosed within said buffer tubes have a mean increased attenuation of less than 0.05 dB.
11. An optical-fiber cable according to claim 9, wherein, in accordance with the GR-20-CORE mid-span standard, said optical fibers enclosed within said buffer tubes have a mean increased attenuation of less than 0.15 dB at a wavelength of 1550 nanometers.
12. An optical-fiber cable according to claim 9, wherein the optical-fiber cable possesses a cumulative buffer-tube filling coefficient of at least about 0.6.
13. An optical-fiber cable according to claim 9, wherein one or more of said buffer tubes possess a buffer-tube filling coefficient of at least about 0.75.
14. An optical-fiber cable according to claim 9, wherein the optical fiber cable possesses a cable filling coefficient of at least about 0.13.
15. An optical-fiber cable according to claim 9, wherein the optical fiber cable possesses a cable filling coefficient of between about 0.16 and 0.24.
16. An optical-fiber cable according to claim 9, wherein the optical fiber cable possesses a cable fiber density of about 4.0 fibers/mm2 or more.
17. An optical-fiber cable according to claim 9, wherein one or more of said bend insensitive optical fibers meet the ITU-T G.657.A standard and/or the ITU-T G.657.B standard.
18. An optical-fiber cable according to claim 9, wherein said bend-insensitive optical fibers comprise one or more multimode optical fibers.
19. An optical-fiber cable according to claim 9, wherein said primary coating possesses an in situ modulus of less than about 0.4 MPa.
20. An optical-fiber cable, comprising:
one or more buffer tubes positioned with said cable jacket, wherein one or more of said buffer tubes enclose a plurality of discrete optical fibers;
wherein as determined by the USDA Rural Electrification Administration mid-span temperature cycle test, (i) each said optical fiber that is enclosed within a buffer tube has increased attenuation of less than 0.1 dB and (ii) all said optical fibers enclosed within said buffer tubes have a mean increased attenuation of less than 0.05 dB;
21. An optical-fiber cable according to claim 9, comprising:
a strength member centrally positioned within said polymeric cable jacket; and
a plurality of buffer tubes, said buffer tubes being (i) positioned acentrically within said polymeric cable jacket and (ii) stranded about said strength member. Description
This application further claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/112,863 for Bend-Insensitive-Fiber Loose Tube Cables (filed Nov. 10, 2008), U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/177,996 for a Reduced-Diameter Optical Fiber (filed May 13, 2009) and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/248,319 for a Reduced-Diameter Optical Fiber (filed Oct. 2, 2009).
FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention embraces optical fibers possessing an improved coating system that reduces stress-induced microbending. The present invention further embraces the deployment of such optical fibers in buffer tubes and cables that have relatively high filling coefficients and fiber counts.
FIG. 13 schematically depicts a cross-sectional view of an exemplary optical-fiber cable according to the present invention.
* * * Those having ordinary skill in the art will recognize cable designs are now employing smaller diameter buffer tubes and less expensive materials in an effort to reduce costs. Consequently, when deployed in such cable designs, single-mode optical fibers are less protected and thus more susceptible to stress-induced microbending. As noted, the present invention provides an improved coating system that better protects optical fibers against stresses caused by external mechanical deformations and by temperature-induced, mechanical property changes to the coatings.
As disclosed herein, the optical fiber according to the present invention includes a primary coating possessing lower modulus and lower glass transition temperature than possessed by conventional single-mode fiber primary coatings. Even so, the improved primary coating formulation nonetheless facilitates commercial production of the present optical fiber at excellent processing speeds (e.g., 1,000 m/min or more). In this regard, the primary coating employed in the optical fibers of the present invention possesses fast curing rates�reaching 50 percent of full cure at a UV dose of about 0.3 J/cm2, 80 percent of full cure at a UV dose of about 0.5 J/cm2, and 90 percent of full cure at a UV dose of about 1.0 J/cm2 as measured on a standard 75-micron film at 20� C. and atmospheric pressure (i.e., 760 torr) (i.e., standard temperature and pressure�STP).
* * * FIG. 2 schematically depicts the observed relationship between the in situ modulus of a primary coating and the attenuation (added loss) of the optical fiber, here a 50-micron graded-index multimode fiber. The primary coating modulus is measured as cured on the glass fiber and the added loss is measured using a fixed-diameter sandpaper drum procedure in accordance with the IEC TR62221 microbending-sensitivity technical report and standard test procedures (e.g., IEC TR62221, Method B, Ed. 1), which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
* * * EXAMPLE 1 Comparison of Mechanical Properties FIGS. 3 and 4, respectively, depict dynamic mechanical properties of a typical commercial primary coating (i.e., the conventional primary coating) and an exemplary primary coating used in making the optical fibers according to the present invention. The conventional primary coating was a UV-curable urethane acrylate provided by DSM Desotech (Elgin, Ill.) under the trade name DeSolite� DP 1007. The exemplary primary coating according to the present invention (i.e., employed to form optical fibers of the present invention) was a UV-curable urethane acrylate provided by DSM Desotech (Elgin, Ill.) under the trade name DeSolite� DP 1011.
* * * As set forth in Examples 2 and 3 (below), two different methods were used to evaluate the respective microbend sensitivities of glass fibers coated with (i) a typical commercial primary coating (i.e., the conventional primary coating) and (ii) an exemplary primary coating according to the present invention. As with Example 1 (above), the conventional primary coating was a UV-curable urethane acrylate provided by DSM Desotech (Elgin, Ill.) under the trade name DeSolite� DP 1007, and the exemplary primary coating according to the present invention (i.e., employed to form optical fibers of the present invention) was a UV-curable urethane acrylate provided by DSM Desotech (Elgin, Ill.) under the trade name DeSolite� DP 1011.
* * * In accordance with the foregoing, it has been found that, as compared with a conventional coating system, the present coating system provides significant microbending improvement when used in combination with a conventional single-mode glass fiber.
* * * The optical fibers according to the present invention typically further include a tough secondary coating to protect the primary coating and glass fiber from damage during handling and installation. For example, the secondary coating might have a modulus of between about 800 MPa and 1,000 MPa (e.g., about 900 MPa) as measured on a standard 75-micron film. As disclosed herein, this secondary coating may be inked as a color code or, preferably, may be color-inclusive to provide identification without the need for a separate inking process.
* * * Employing Draka Comteq's bend-resistant, single-mode glass fiber available under the trade name BendBrightXS� (or the trade name BendBright-Elite�) with the present dual-coating system, which includes a low-modulus primary coating, has been found to reduce microbending sensitivity by between about one to two orders of magnitude relative to standard single-mode fiber (SSMF) at the key transmission frequencies of 1550 nanometers and 1625 nanometers. As noted, such optical fiber not only provides outstanding resistance to microbending and macrobending, but also complies with the ITU-T G.657.A/B and ITU-T G.652.D requirements.
* * * In another aspect, the bend-insensitive optical fibers according to the present invention facilitate the reduction in overall optical-fiber diameter. As will be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art, a reduced-diameter optical fiber is cost-effective, requiring less raw material. Moreover, a reduced-diameter optical fiber requires less deployment space (e.g., within a buffer tube and/or fiber optic cable), thereby facilitating increased fiber count and/or reduced cable size.
* * * As noted, the optical fiber according to the present invention may include one or more coating layers (e.g., a primary coating and a secondary coating). At least one of the coating layers�typically the secondary coating�may be colored and/or possess other markings to help identify individual fibers. Alternatively, a tertiary ink layer may surround the primary and secondary coatings.
* * * Accordingly, the optical fiber (e.g., the bend-insensitive optical fiber) as herein disclosed may be included in buffer tubes and cables having relatively high filling coefficients and fiber counts.
To minimize optical attenuation in fiber optic cables (e.g., long-haul, outside plant cables), optical fibers have typically been placed inside buffer tubes. These buffer tubes are typically reinforced and protected by additional layers of plastic, metal, and/or fiberglass. In such designs, the optical fibers are allowed to �float� in an unstressed state inside the buffer tube as the surrounding cable expands and contracts during installation and use. The dimensions of the hollow space (i.e., cavity) inside the buffer tube and of all of the surrounding cable components are typically selected so as not to allow the application of undue mechanical forces on the optical fibers during cable installation and use. The boundaries of optical-fiber-cable design have been limited by how much stress (e.g., tensile stress or bending stress) can be applied to an optical fiber (both short term and long term) and by how much attenuation the optical fiber experiences as a result of microbending and macrobending during cable expansion and contraction (e.g., thermal contraction and/or post-extrusion shrinkage). In other words, the density of optical fibers within buffer-tube cables has been limited by such constraints. On the other hand, it is desirable to design cables and buffer tubes with high optical-fiber density to reduce cable diameter and cost.
One of the most difficult environments for optical-fiber buffer tubes is where an optical-fiber cable has been mid-span accessed. Here, some length of buffer tube (e.g., between about 16 and 24 feet) is stored inside a closure without being attached to a rigid, low-thermal-shrinkage cable component. In this regard, such a rigid cable component can include a glass-reinforced member or a steel member, either of which can be configured centrally or radially (e.g., embedded in the cable jacketing), to restrict dimensional changes in the buffer tube. In such configurations, the buffer tubes are allowed to expand and contract without restriction. Cable components are typically designed to give acceptable performance under such field conditions. Harsh environmental conditions require a buffer-tube inner diameter sufficiently large so that the shrinkage of the buffer tube, whether temporary or permanent, does not cause excessive buckling and bending of the optical fiber.
Most commercially available loose buffer tubes that contain up to 12 optical fibers range in outer diameter from about 2.5 millimeters to about 3.0 millimeters and have inner diameters from 1.5 millimeters to 2.5 millimeters. Standard optical fibers have outer diameters of between about 235 microns and about 265 microns. Thus, conventional buffer tubes containing 12 optical fibers typically have fill ratios (i.e., fiber cross sectional area/tube inner cross-sectional area) between about 20 and 30 percent.
As a result of cost and performance improvements, the fiber optic cable industry has effectively standardized most cable designs and dimensions. This standardization is possible because most manufacturers use optical fibers with similar bend sensitivities.
Existing fiber optic cables provide adequate performance, but there remains a desire for lower-priced fiber optic cables that can be produced at a reduced cost. It is also desirable to produce fiber optic cables with smaller diameters and improved handling that can function well in harsh environments.
Thus, a need exists for optical-fiber-cable designs with high optical-fiber densities that are able to withstand difficult environments such as mid-span storage.
Accordingly, one or more optical fibers according to the present invention may be loosely positioned within a buffer tube, thereby forming a loose buffer tube. One or more of such buffer tubes may be enclosed within an outer protective sheath (i.e., cable jacket) forming an optical-fiber cable. Because of the improved microbend and macrobend insensitivity possessed by the optical fibers as disclosed herein, optical-fiber cables and buffer tubes containing such optical fibers are capable of having relatively high cable filling coefficients and buffer-tube filling coefficients. At the same time, such optical-fiber cables and buffer tubes demonstrate exceptional performance when subjected to temperature cycling testing (e.g., cable temperature cycling and mid-span temperature cycling).
As used herein, the term �cable filling coefficient� of an optical-fiber cable refers to the ratio of the sum of the cross-sectional areas of all of the optical fibers within the optical-fiber cable versus the inner cross-sectional area of the optical-fiber cable (i.e., defined by the inner boundary of the protective outer sheath). As used herein and unless otherwise noted, the term �cable filling coefficient� employs the inner cross-sectional area of the optical-fiber cable.
Conversely, the term �outer cable filling coefficient� specifically refers to the ratio of the sum of the cross-sectional areas of all of the optical fibers within the optical-fiber cable versus the outer cross-sectional area of the optical-fiber cable (i.e., defined by the outer boundary of the protective outer sheath).
Optical-fiber cables of the present invention can have relatively high cable fill ratios (i.e., cable filling coefficients). In this regard, optical-fiber cables having higher fill ratios are desirable because they increase the optical throughput (i.e., the amount of information that can be passed through the cable) while decreasing the installation space that the optical-fiber cable requires.
As used herein, the term �cable fiber density� of an optical-fiber cable refers to the ratio of the total number of optical fibers within the optical-fiber cable versus the cross-sectional area of the optical-fiber cable as defined by the outer boundary of the protective outer sheath. Optical-fiber cables having higher cable fiber densities are desired. Such high-fiber-density cables have an increased number of optical fibers and/or require less space for installation.
As used herein, the term �buffer-tube filling coefficient� refers to the ratio of the total cross-sectional area of the fibers within a buffer tube versus the inner cross-sectional area of that buffer tube (i.e., defined by the inner boundary of the buffer tube). Optical-fiber cables of the present invention include buffer tubes having a relatively high buffer-tube filling coefficient.
Generally, optical-fiber cables with higher buffer-tube filling coefficients are more susceptible to attenuation over the length of the optical-fiber cable. Cables containing buffer tubes having a lower buffer-tube filling coefficient are less susceptible to attenuation when subjected to temperature cycles and are typically more suitable for mid-span storage.
That said, cables containing the present bend-insensitive optical fibers can have relatively high buffer-tube filling coefficients while also exhibiting low susceptibility to attenuation when subjected to temperature cycles.
The optical-fiber cables according to the present invention meet or exceed certain Telcordia Technologies generic requirements for optical-fiber cables as set forth in GR-20-CORE (Issue 2, July 1998; Issue 3, May 2008), such as low-temperature and high-temperature cable bend (6.5.3), impact resistance (6.5.4), compression (6.5.5), tensile strength of cable (6.5.6), cable twist (6.5.7), cable cyclic flexing (6.5.8), mid-span buffer tube performance of stranded cable (6.5.11), temperature cycling (6.6.3), cable aging (6.6.4), cable freezing (6.6.5), and water penetration (6.6.7). These GR-20-CORE generic requirements (i.e., Issue 2, July 1998, and Issue 3, May 2008, respectively) are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
Moreover, the optical-fiber cables according to the present invention possess outstanding performance when subjected to extreme temperature variations. In this regard, the present optical-fiber cables demonstrate exceptional resistance to attenuation as determined by temperature cycle testing. For example, under testing conditions modified from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Bulletin 1753F-601 (PE-90) (Rural Electrification Administration), the present optical-fiber cables demonstrate mean increases in optical-fiber attenuation of less than 0.05 dB. Furthermore, each optical fiber that is enclosed within a buffer tube typically demonstrates increased optical-fiber attenuation of less than 0.1 dB. See Appendix I (extract from USDA Bulletin 1753F-601) from U.S. Patent Application No. 61/096,750 for a High-Fiber-Density Optical Fiber Cable (filed Sep. 12, 2008) (Lovie et al.), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
* * * Fiber optic cables suitable for mid-span storage are typically subjected to a mid-span temperature cycle test, which assures certain minimum performance specifications for fiber optic cables. As noted, one such test can be found in Bulletin 1753F-601 (PE-90) from the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Electrification Administration, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
According to the USDA Rural Electrification Administration mid-span standard, loose-tube cables intended for mid-span applications with tube storage should meet the following mid-span test without exhibiting an increase in fiber attenuation greater than 0.1 dB and a maximum average increase over all fibers of 0.05 dB.
The attenuation of the optical fibers is measured at 1550�10 nanometers (nm). The supplier of the optical-fiber cable must certify that the performance of lower specified wavelengths complies with the mid-span performance requirements.
After measuring the attenuation of the optical fibers, the cable is tested per the FOTP-3 temperature-cycling standard. Temperature cycling, measurements, and data reporting must conform to the FOTP-3 standard. The test is conducted for at least five complete cycles. The following detailed test conditions are applied (i.e., using the environmental chamber) to the enclosure containing the optical-fiber cable: (A) loose-tube single-mode optical cable sample shall be tested; (B) an 8-inch to 12-inch diameter optical buried distribution pedestal or a device that mimics their performance shall be tested; (C) mid-span opening for installation of loose-tube single-mode optical cable in pedestal shall be 6.096 meters (20 feet); (D) three hours soak time (i.e., exposure time); (E) Test Condition C-2, minimum −40� C. (−40� F.) and maximum 70� C. (158� F.); (F) a statistically representative amount of transmitting fibers in all express buffer tubes passing through the pedestal and stored shall be measured; and (G) the buffer tubes in the enclosure or pedestal shall not be handled or moved during temperature cycling or attenuation measurements.
Additionally, buffer-tube embodiments according to the present invention may be tested under harsher conditions than required by the USDA Rural Electrification Administration mid-span standard. For example, embodiments of the present invention may be soaked at 70� C. for 14 hours, which is longer than the three hours required by the testing conditions set forth in the aforementioned USDA bulletin. Typically, under these harsher conditions only one temperature cycle is performed.
Embodiments of the present invention may also pass a mid-span temperature cycle test with conditions similar to FOTP-3 with the exception that the soak time at −40� C. was reduced from three hours to one hour. This change of conditions probably would not affect the results of the test because the change in dimensions of the buffer tubes at low temperatures should be exclusively due to the coefficient of expansion (i.e., reversible thermal contraction and expansion).
Optical-fiber cables in accordance with the present invention should meet the minimum performance specifications required by the USDA Rural Electrification Administration mid-span standard.
* * * Another mid-span standard is defined by Telcordia Technologies generic requirements for optical-fiber cables as set forth in GR-20-CORE (Issue 2, July 1998; Issue 3, May 2008; Mid-Span Buffer Tube Performance of Stranded Cable�6.5.11), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety and hereinafter referred to as the �GR-20-CORE mid-span standard.� This GR-20-CORE mid-span standard is less rigorous than the foregoing mid-span temperature cycle test standard defined by the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Electrification Administration. Accordingly, the optical-fiber cables that meet the aforementioned Rural Electrification Administration's mid-span temperature cycle test should also meet or exceed the GR-20-CORE mid-span standard.
To satisfy the GR-20-CORE generic requirements with respect to mid-span buffer-tube performance, loose-tube single-mode cables should exhibit an average change in fiber attenuation of no more than 0.15 dB at 1550 nanometers after mid-span testing. According to the generic requirements for optical-fiber cables as set forth in GR-20-CORE (Mid-Span Buffer Tube Performance of Stranded Cable�6.5.11), �[s]tranded loose-tube cables designed to have loose tubes stored in a pedestal or closure shall be capable of having a minimum of 14 feet of expressed buffer tube stored in a pedestal or closure in normal outside plant conditions without experiencing any unacceptable loss in the optical fibers stored in the expressed tubes.�
* * * In view of the foregoing and as noted, exemplary optical-fiber cables according to the present invention include a plurality of buffer tubes positioned within a polymeric cable sheath. In one exemplary embodiment, the optical-fiber cable includes 144 optical fibers apportioned across twelve buffer tubes (e.g., twelve buffer tubes, each enclosing twelve optical fibers). In this regard, the present optical-fiber buffer tubes typically include a plurality of discrete optical fibers (i.e., non-ribbonized optical fibers). By way of example, the present optical-fiber buffer tubes may include a bundle of 12 or 24 discrete optical fibers.
FIG. 13 depicts an exemplary optical-fiber cable 20 in accordance with the present invention. The optical-fiber cable 20 includes six buffer tubes 21, each of which contains 24 optical fibers 22. The buffer tubes 21 are stranded about a central strength member 23, which is centrally positioned with a cable jacket 24.
In other exemplary embodiments, the optical-fiber cables according to the present invention typically include buffer tubes that possess buffer-tube filling coefficients of at least about 0.35. In such embodiments, buffer tubes containing about 12 optical fibers typically have an inner diameter of less than about 1.46 millimeters (e.g., 1.3 millimeters or less). By way of illustration, exemplary buffer tubes might possess an outer diameter of less than about 2.5 millimeters, typically less than about 2.3 millimeters (e.g., between about 2.0 millimeters and 2.2 millimeters).
In another embodiment, the present optical-fiber cable includes buffer tubes that possess buffer-tube filling coefficients of at least about 0.5, such as more than about 0.6. In such embodiments, buffer tubes containing about 12 optical fibers typically have an inner diameter of less than about 1.2 millimeters.
In yet another embodiment, the present optical-fiber cable includes buffer tubes that possess buffer-tube filling coefficients of at least about 0.65 (e.g., 0.75 or more). In such embodiments, buffer tubes containing about 12 optical fibers typically have an inner diameter of less than about 1.07 millimeters (e.g., no more than about 1.0 millimeter).
Decreased buffer-tube diameter (and thus reduced cross-sectional area) facilitates decreased cable dimensions without requiring a corresponding decrease in data transmission capability. Moreover, the present optical-fiber cable can be deployed without the constituent optical fibers suffering unsatisfactory microbending and/or macrobending.
Those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that, to the extent that the optical fibers in the fiber optic cable are equally apportioned among the buffer tubes, the buffer-tube filling coefficient for the particular buffer tubes will equal the optical-fiber cable's cumulative buffer-tube filling coefficient. That said, it is within the scope of the present invention to unequally apportion optical fibers within the plurality of buffer tubes. Similarly, it is within the scope of the present invention to include within the fiber optic cables one or more optical fibers that are not enclosed within a buffer tube. Indeed, it is within the scope of the invention to position the present bend-insensitive optical fibers directly in a cable (i.e., a buffer-tube-free cable, such as a buffer-tube-free drop cable).
Smaller fiber optic cable structures provide numerous benefits, of course, such as reducing material usage (and thus cost) and permitting deployments in tight enclosures.
Using the present bend-insensitive optical fibers in fiber optic cables according to the present invention makes practicable higher cable filling coefficients (and cable fiber densities, too). By way of non-limiting example, it is thought that employing bend-insensitive optical fibers facilitates the achievement of cable filling coefficients of at least about 0.13 (e.g., between about 0.16 and 0.24), and perhaps 0.30 or more. It is also thought that employing bend-insensitive optical fibers facilitates the achievement of cable fiber densities of about 2.5 fibers/mm2 (e.g., between about 2.9 fibers/mm2 and 3.4 fibers/mm2) and perhaps 4.0 fibers/mm2 or more.
Moreover, employing reduced-diameter optical fibers (e.g., 200-micron-diameter bend-insensitive optical fibers) may facilitate further increases with respect to cable fiber densities (e.g., 10 percent or more). For example, employing a 200-micron bend-insensitive optical fiber rather than a 250-micron optical fiber can readily provide a 15-25 percent increase in cable fiber density (e.g., upwards of 5.0 fibers/mm2 or more).
* * * This application further incorporates entirely by reference the following commonly assigned patents, patent application publications, and patent applications: U.S. Pat. No. 5,574,816 for Polypropylene-Polyethylene Copolymer Buffer Tubes for Optical Fiber Cables and Method for Making the Same; U.S. Pat. No. 5,717,805 for Stress Concentrations in an Optical Fiber Ribbon to Facilitate Separation of Ribbon Matrix Material; U.S. Pat. No. 5,761,362 for Polypropylene-Polyethylene Copolymer Buffer Tubes for Optical Fiber Cables and Method for Making the Same; U.S. Pat. No. 5,911,023 for Polyolefin Materials Suitable for Optical Fiber Cable Components; U.S. Pat. No. 5,982,968 for Stress Concentrations in an Optical Fiber Ribbon to Facilitate Separation of Ribbon Matrix Material; U.S. Pat. No. 6,035,087 for an Optical Unit for Fiber Optic Cables; U.S. Pat. No. 6,066,397 for Polypropylene Filler Rods for Optical Fiber Communications Cables; U.S. Pat. No. 6,175,677 for an Optical Fiber Multi-Ribbon and Method for Making the Same; U.S. Pat. No. 6,085,009 for Water Blocking Gels Compatible with Polyolefin Optical Fiber Cable Buffer Tubes and Cables Made Therewith; U.S. Pat. No. 6,215,931 for Flexible Thermoplastic Polyolefin Elastomers for Buffering Transmission Elements in a Telecommunications Cable; U.S. Pat. No. 6,134,363 for a Method for Accessing Optical Fibers in the Midspan Region of an Optical Fiber Cable; U.S. Pat. No. 6,381,390 for a Color-Coded Optical Fiber Ribbon and Die for Making the Same; U.S. Pat. No. 6,181,857 for a Method for Accessing Optical Fibers Contained in a Sheath; U.S. Pat. No. 6,314,224 for a Thick-Walled Cable Jacket with Non-Circular Cavity Cross Section; U.S. Pat. No. 6,334,016 for an Optical Fiber Ribbon Matrix Material Having Optimal Handling Characteristics; U.S. Pat. No. 6,321,012 for an Optical Fiber Having Water Swellable Material for Identifying Grouping of Fiber Groups; U.S. Pat. No. 6,321,014 for a Method for Manufacturing Optical Fiber Ribbon; U.S. Pat. No. 6,210,802 for Polypropylene Filler Rods for Optical Fiber Communications Cables; U.S. Pat. No. 6,493,491 for an Optical Drop Cable for Aerial Installation; U.S. Pat. No. 7,346,244 for a Coated Central Strength Member for Fiber Optic Cables with Reduced Shrinkage; U.S. Pat. No. 6,658,184 for a Protective Skin for Optical Fibers; U.S. Pat. No. 6,603,908 for a Buffer Tube that Results in Easy Access to and Low Attenuation of Fibers Disposed Within Buffer Tube; U.S. Pat. No. 7,045,010 for an Applicator for High-Speed Gel Buffering of Flextube Optical Fiber Bundles; U.S. Pat. No. 6,749,446 for an Optical Fiber Cable with Cushion Members Protecting Optical Fiber Ribbon Stack; U.S. Pat. No. 6,922,515 for a Method and Apparatus to Reduce Variation of Excess Fiber Length in Buffer Tubes of Fiber Optic Cables; U.S. Pat. No. 6,618,538 for a Method and Apparatus to Reduce Variation of Excess Fiber Length in Buffer Tubes of Fiber Optic Cables; U.S. Pat. No. 7,322,122 for a Method and Apparatus for Curing a Fiber Having at Least Two Fiber Coating Curing Stages; U.S. Pat. No. 6,912,347 for an Optimized Fiber Optic Cable Suitable for Microduct Blown Installation; U.S. Pat. No. 6,941,049 for a Fiber Optic Cable Having No Rigid Strength Members and a Reduced Coefficient of Thermal Expansion; U.S. Pat. No. 7,162,128 for Use of Buffer Tube Coupling Coil to Prevent Fiber Retraction; U.S. Pat. No. 7,515,795 for a Water-Swellable Tape, Adhesive-Backed for Coupling When Used Inside a Buffer Tube (Overton et al.); U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0292262 for a Grease-Free Buffer Optical Fiber Buffer Tube Construction Utilizing a Water-Swellable, Texturized Yarn (Overton et al.); European Patent Application Publication No. 1,921,478 A1, for a Telecommunication Optical Fiber Cable (Tatat et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 7,570,852 for an Optical Fiber Cable Suited for Blown Installation or Pushing Installation in Microducts of Small Diameter (Nothofer et al.); U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2008/0037942 A1 for an Optical Fiber Telecommunications Cable (Tatat); U.S. Pat. No. 7,599,589 for a Gel-Free Buffer Tube with Adhesively Coupled Optical Element (Overton et al.); U.S. Pat. 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No. 12/506,533 for a Buffer Tube with Adhesively Coupled Optical Fibers and/or Water-Swellable Element, filed Jul. 21, 2009, (Overton et al.); U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/557,055 for an Optical Fiber Cable Assembly, filed Sep. 10, 2009, (Barker et al.); U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/557,086 for a High-Fiber-Density Optical Fiber Cable, filed Sep. 10, 2009, (Lovie et al.); U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/558,390 for a Buffer Tubes for Mid-Span Storage, filed Sep. 11, 2009, (Barker); U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/614,692 for Single-Fiber Drop Cables for MDU Deployments, filed on Nov. 9, 2009, (Overton); U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/615,003 for a Reduced-Size Flat Drop Cable, filed on or about Nov. 9, 2009, (Overton); U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/615,106 for ADSS Cables with High-Performance Optical Fiber, filed on or about Nov. 9, 2009, (Overton); U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/615,698 for Reduced-Diameter Ribbon Cables with High-Performance Optical Fiber, filed on or about Nov. 10, 2009, (Overton); U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/615,737 for a Reduced-Diameter, Easy-Access Loose Tube Cable, filed on or about Nov. 10, 2009, (Overton); U.S. Patent Application No. 61/112,845 for Single-Fiber Drop Cables for MDU Deployments, filed Nov. 10, 2008, (Overton); U.S. Patent Application No. 61/112,863 for Bend-Insensitive-Fiber Loose Tube Cables, filed Nov. 10, 2008, (Overton); U.S. Patent Application No. 61/112,912 for a Reduced-Size Flat Drop Cable with Bend-Insensitive Fiber, filed Nov. 10, 2008, (Overton); U.S. Patent Application No. 61/112,926 for ADSS Cables with Bend-Insensitive Fiber, filed Nov. 10, 2008, (Overton); U.S. Patent Application No. 61/112,965 for Reduced-Diameter Ribbon Cables with High-Performance Optical Fiber, filed Nov. 10, 2008, (Overton); U.S. Patent Application No. 61/113,067 for a Reduced-Diameter, Easy-Access Loose Tube Cable, filed Nov. 10, 2008, (Overton).
* * * In the specification and/or figures, typical embodiments of the invention have been disclosed. The present invention is not limited to such exemplary embodiments. The figures are schematic representations and so are not necessarily drawn to scale. Unless otherwise noted, specific terms have been used in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation.
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