Patent ID: 7433566

Claim:
An optical fiber for transmitting optical signals comprised of light, the optical fiber comprising: a core region disposed about a longitudinal centerline and having a refractive index profile with a first maximum relative refractive index Δ1; a cladding region surrounding the core region, wherein the cladding region comprises an inner annular portion surrounding and in contact with the core region, a ring portion surrounding and in contact with the inner annular portion, and an outer annular portion surrounding and in contact with the ring portion, the inner annular portion comprising a second maximum relative refractive index Δ2, the ring portion comprising a minimum refractive index Δ MIN , and the outer annular portion comprising a third maximum relative refractive index Δ3, wherein Δ1>Δ2 >Δ MIN , and A3>ΔMIN, and Δ1>Δ3, wherein the outer annular portion comprises an outermost glass periphery; and a coating surrounding and in direct contact with the outermost glass periphery of the cladding region, the coating having a Young's modulus of elasticity greater than 30 MPa; wherein the optical fiber exhibits a microbend induced loss of less than 5 dB at a wavelength of 1550 nm as measured by a lateral load wire mesh test.