Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US20100119202?dq=5,987,610
Timestamp: 2017-12-13 21:13:47
Document Index: 615258501

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', 'Application No. 61', 'Application No. 61']

Patent US20100119202 - Reduced-Diameter Optical Fiber - Google Patents
Disclosed is a reduced-diameter 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/US20100119202?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US20100119202 - Reduced-Diameter Optical Fiber
Publication number US20100119202 A1
Application number US 12/614,011
Also published as CN102272635A, CN102272635B, EP2344911A2, EP2344911B1, US8600206, US9244220, US20140086548, WO2010053356A2, WO2010053356A3
Publication number 12614011, 614011, US 2010/0119202 A1, US 2010/119202 A1, US 20100119202 A1, US 20100119202A1, US 2010119202 A1, US 2010119202A1, US-A1-20100119202, US-A1-2010119202, US2010/0119202A1, US2010/119202A1, US20100119202 A1, US20100119202A1, US2010119202 A1, US2010119202A1
Patent Citations (99), Referenced by (129), Classifications (8), Legal Events (2)
Reduced-Diameter Optical Fiber
US 20100119202 A1
Disclosed is a reduced-diameter 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 with excellent low-temperature characteristics to protect against microbending in any environment and in the toughest physical situations and, optionally, (ii) a colored secondary coating possessing enhanced color strength and vividness. The secondary coating provides improved ribbon characteristics for structures that are robust, yet easily entered (i.e., separated and stripped).
The optional dual coating is specifically balanced for superior heat stripping in fiber ribbons, with virtually no residue left behind on the glass. This facilitates fast splicing and terminations. The improved coating system provides optical fibers that offer significant advantages for deployment in most, if not all, fiber-to-the-premises (FTTx) systems.
1. A reduced-diameter optical fiber, comprising:
a substantially cured primary coating surrounding said glass fiber, wherein said primary coating defines a primary coating layer; and
a secondary coating surrounding said primary coating, wherein said secondary coating defines a secondary coating layer;
wherein the optical fiber has an outer diameter of less than about 210 microns; and
wherein the optical fiber has microbending performance that is at least comparable to that of a conventional 242-micron single-mode fiber.
2. An optical fiber according to claim 1, wherein, at a wavelength of 1310 nanometers, the optical fiber possesses absolute fiber attenuation of less than 2.0 dB/km as measured at 23° C., −40° C., and/or −60° C. in accordance with a modified IEC TR62221 fixed-diameter sandpaper drum test (“Reduced-Diameter Optical-Fiber Microbend Sensitivity Test”) in which a 440-meter fiber sample is wound in a single layer at about 1,470 mN on a 300-mm diameter quartz drum that is wrapped with 320-grit sandpaper to create a rough surface.
3. An optical fiber according to claim 1, wherein, at a wavelength of 1550 nanometers, the optical fiber possesses absolute fiber attenuation of less than 2.0 dB/km as measured at 23° C., −40° C., and/or −60° C. in accordance with a modified IEC TR62221 fixed-diameter sandpaper drum test (“Reduced-Diameter Optical-Fiber Microbend Sensitivity Test”) in which a 440-meter fiber sample is wound in a single layer at about 1,470 mN on a 300-mm diameter quartz drum that is wrapped with 320-grit sandpaper to create a rough surface.
4. An optical fiber according to claim 1, wherein the optical fiber has mechanical reliability that is at least comparable to that of a conventional 242-micron single-mode fiber.
5. A plurality of optical fibers according to claim 1, wherein, at the 50th percentile of the optical-fiber tensile-strength distribution, the tensile strength at fiber failure is at least 550 kpsi and, at the 15th percentile of the optical-fiber tensile-strength distribution, the tensile strength at fiber failure is at least about 455 kpsi.
6. A plurality of optical fibers according to claim 1, wherein the optical fibers have a dynamic fatigue stress corrosion factor (n-value) of at least 18.
7. An optical fiber according to claim 1, wherein said primary coating layer has an outer diameter between 135 microns and 175 microns.
8. An optical fiber according to claim 1, wherein said primary coating layer has an outer diameter of 160 microns or less.
9. An optical fiber according to claim 1, wherein said substantially cured primary coating possesses an in situ modulus of between 0.2 MPa and 0.5 MPa.
10. An optical fiber according to claim 1, wherein said substantially cured primary coating possesses a glass transition temperature of less than about −55° C.
11. An optical fiber according to claim 1, wherein the optical fiber meets the ITU-T G.657.A standard and/or the ITU-T G.657.B standard.
12. An optical fiber according to claim 1, wherein the optical fiber is a multimode fiber.
13. A cable or a buffer tube containing one or more optical fibers according to claim 1.
14. An FTTx installation comprising one or more optical fibers according to claim 1.
15. An optical fiber possessing a coating system that reduces stress-induced microbending, the optical fiber comprising:
a glass fiber having a diameter of about 125 microns; and
a substantially cured primary coating surrounding said glass fiber, said substantially cured primary coating possessing (i) an in situ modulus of less than about 0.65 MPa and (ii) a glass transition temperature of less than about −50° C., wherein said primary coating defines a primary coating layer having an outer diameter of less than about 175 microns.
16. An optical fiber according to claim 15, wherein said substantially cured primary coating possesses an in situ modulus of less than about 0.5 MPa.
17. An optical fiber according to claim 16, wherein said substantially cured primary coating possesses an in situ modulus of more than about 0.2 MPa.
18. An optical fiber according to claim 15, wherein said substantially cured primary coating possesses an in situ modulus of between about 0.3 MPa and 0.4 MPa.
19. An optical fiber according to claim 15, wherein said primary coating layer has an outer diameter of between 150 microns and 160 microns.
20. An optical fiber according to claim 15, wherein the optical fiber has an outer diameter of between 150 microns and 230 microns.
21. An optical fiber according to claim 1, wherein the optical fiber has an outer diameter of less than about 205 microns.
22. An optical fiber according to claim 15, further comprising a secondary coating layer, wherein said primary coating layer has an outer diameter of between about 152.5 microns and 157.5 microns and said secondary coating layer has an outer diameter of between about 192 microns and 202 microns.
23. An optical fiber according to claim 15, wherein said glass fiber is a full-solid structure.
24. An optical fiber according to claim 15, wherein said glass fiber includes regular or random holes.
25. A plurality of optical fibers according to claim 15, wherein, at the 50th percentile of the optical-fiber tensile-strength distribution, the tensile strength at fiber failure is at least about 650 kpsi.
26. A plurality of optical fibers according to claim 15, wherein the optical fibers have a dynamic fatigue stress corrosion factor (n-value) of at least 20.
27. An optical fiber according to claim 15, wherein, at a wavelength of 1550 nanometers, the optical fiber possesses fiber attenuation of less than 1.5 dB/km as measured at 23° C. in accordance with a modified IEC TR62221 fixed-diameter sandpaper drum test (“Reduced-Diameter Optical-Fiber Microbend Sensitivity Test”) in which a 440-meter fiber sample is wound in a single layer at about 1,470 mN on a 300-mm diameter quartz drum that is wrapped with 320-grit sandpaper to create a rough surface.
28. An optical fiber according to claim 15, wherein the optical fiber is a single-mode fiber.
29. An optical fiber according to claim 15, wherein the optical fiber meets the ITU-T G.657.A standard and/or the ITU-T G.657.B standard.
30. An optical fiber according to claim 15, wherein the optical fiber is a multimode fiber.
31. A cable or a buffer tube containing one or more optical fibers according to claim 15.
32. An optical module or enclosure receiving at least a portion of one or more optical fibers according to claim 15.
33. An FTTx installation comprising one or more optical fibers according to claim 15.
34. A reduced-diameter optical fiber, comprising:
a glass fiber having a diameter of about 125 microns;
a secondary coating surrounding said primary coating, wherein said secondary coating defines a secondary coating layer having an outer diameter of less than about 210 microns;
wherein the optical fiber has mechanical reliability that, with respect to tensile strength and/or dynamic fatigue stress corrosion factor, is comparable to or better than that of a conventional 242-micron single-mode fiber;
wherein the optical fiber has microbending performance that is comparable to or better than that of a conventional 242-micron single-mode fiber; and
wherein the optical fiber is compliant with the ITU-T G.657.B standard.
35. A plurality of optical fibers according to claim 34, wherein, at the 50th percentile of the optical-fiber tensile-strength distribution, the tensile strength at fiber failure is at least about 600 kpsi and, at the 15th percentile of the optical-fiber tensile-strength distribution, the tensile strength at fiber failure is at least about 500 kpsi.
36. A plurality of optical fibers according to claim 34, wherein the optical fibers have a dynamic fatigue stress corrosion factor (n-value) of at least 19.
37. An optical fiber according to claim 34, wherein, at a wavelength of 1310 nanometers and at a wavelength of 1550 nanometers, the optical fiber possesses absolute fiber attenuation of less than 1.5 dB/km as measured at 23° C., −40° C., and −60° C. in accordance with a modified IEC TR62221 fixed-diameter sandpaper drum test (“Reduced-Diameter Optical-Fiber Microbend Sensitivity Test”) in which a 440-meter fiber sample is wound in a single layer at about 1,470 mN on a 300-mm diameter quartz drum that is wrapped with 320-grit sandpaper to create a rough surface.
38. An optical fiber according to claim 34, wherein said substantially cured primary coating possesses an in situ modulus of less than about 0.5 MPa.
39. An optical fiber according to claim 34, wherein said primary coating layer has an outer diameter of less than about 165 microns.
40. An optical fiber according to claim 34, wherein said glass fiber is a full-solid structure.
41. A cable or a buffer tube containing one or more optical fibers according to claim 34.
This U.S. nonprovisional application hereby claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/112,595 for a Microbend-Resistant Optical Fiber (filed Nov. 7, 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), each of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
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 various structures, such as buffer tubes and cables.
This application further incorporates entirely by reference the following commonly assigned patents, patent application publications, and patent applications: U.S. Pat. No. 4,838,643 for a Single Mode Bend Insensitive Fiber for Use in Fiber Optic Guidance Applications (Hodges et al.); U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US2007/0127878 A1 for a Single Mode Optical Fiber (de Montmorillon et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 7,587,111 for a Single-Mode Optical Fiber (de Montmorillon et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 7,356,234 for a Chromatic Dispersion Compensating Fiber (de Montmorillon et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 7,483,613 for a Chromatic Dispersion Compensating Fiber (de Montmorillon et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 7,555,186 for an Optical Fiber (Flammer et al.); U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/098,804 for a Transmission Optical Fiber Having Large Effective Area (Sillard et al.), filed Apr. 7, 2008; U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US2009/0252469 A1 for a Dispersion-Shifted Optical Fiber (Sillard et al.); U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/436,423 for a Single-Mode Optical Fiber Having Reduced Bending Losses, filed May 6, 2009, (de Montmorillon et al.); U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/436,484 for a Bend-Insensitive Single-Mode Optical Fiber, filed May 6, 2009, (de Montmorillon et al.); U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/489,995 for a Wavelength Multiplexed Optical System with Multimode Optical Fibers, filed Jun. 23, 2009, (Lumineau et al.); U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/498,439 for a Multimode Optical Fibers, filed Jul. 7, 2009, (Gholami et al.); U.S. Patent Application No. 61/101,337 for a Bend-Insensitive Optical Fiber, filed Sep. 30, 2008, (de Montmorillon et al.); U.S. Patent Application No. 61/112,006 for a Bend-Insensitive Single-Mode Optical Fiber, filed Nov. 6, 2008, (de Montmorillon et al.); U.S. Patent Application No. 61/112,374 for a Bend-Insensitive Single-Mode Optical Fiber, filed Nov. 7, 2008, (de Montmorillon et al.).
In particular and as set forth herein, it has been unexpectedly discovered that the pairing of a bend-insensitive glass fiber (e.g., Draka Comteq's single-mode glass fibers available under the trade name BendBrightXS®) and a primary coating having very low modulus (e.g., DSM Desotech's UV-curable urethane acrylate product provided under the trade name DeSolite® DP 1011) achieves optical fibers having exceptionally low losses (e.g., reductions in microbend sensitivity of at least 10×(e.g., 40× to 100× or more) as compared with a single-mode fiber employing a conventional coating system). Draka Comteq's bend-resistant, single-mode glass fiber available under the trade name BendBrightXS® employs a trench-assisted design that reduces microbending losses.
Those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that, at room temperature, such fiber crossovers can sometimes cause added loss (i.e., if the optical fiber is very sensitive) but that typically little or no added loss is observed. Consequently, the drum (with wound fiber) was temperature cycled twice from about room temperature through (i) −40° C., (ii) −60° C., (iii)+70° C., and (iv) +23° C. (i.e., near room temperature) while making loss measurements at 1550 nanometers. In both temperature cycles, fiber attenuation was measured after one hour at each test temperature.
For example, yarns, nonwovens, fabrics (e.g., tapes), foams, or other materials containing water-swellable material and/or coated with water-swellable materials (e.g., including super absorbent polymers (SAPs), such as SAP powder) may be employed to provide water blocking and/or to couple the optical fibers to the surrounding buffer tube and/or cable jacketing (e.g., via adhesion, friction, and/or compression). Exemplary water-swellable elements are disclosed in commonly assigned 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.), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Moreover, an adhesive (e.g., a hot-melt adhesive or curable adhesive, such as a silicone acrylate cross-linked by exposure to actinic radiation) may be provided on one or more passive elements (e.g., water-swellable material) to bond the elements to the buffer tube. An adhesive material may also be used to bond the water-swellable element to optical fibers within the buffer tube. Exemplary arrangements of such elements are disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 7,599,589 for a Gel-Free Buffer Tube with Adhesively Coupled Optical Element (Overton et al.), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Such optical fiber cables may be installed within ducts, microducts, plenums, or risers. By way of example, an optical fiber cable may be installed in an existing duct or microduct by pulling or blowing (e.g., using compressed air). An exemplary cable installation method is disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 7,574,095 for a Communication Cable Assembly and Installation Method, (Lock et al.), and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US2008/0317410 for a Modified Pre-Ferrulized Communication Cable Assembly and Installation Method, (Griffioen et al.), each of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
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. 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U.S. Classification 385/141, 385/28, 385/100
Cooperative Classification C03C25/106, G02B6/02395
European Classification G02B6/02, C03C25/10P2D2
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:OVERTON, BOB J.;REEL/FRAME:024258/0524