Patent ID: 7130516

Claim:
An optical waveguide comprising: a) a core having a refractive index n co and a radius r co ; b) an inner cladding laterally surrounding the core, the inner cladding having a refractive index n ic and an outer radius of r ic ; c) an outer cladding laterally surrounding the inner cladding, the outer cladding having a refractive index n oc ; d) wherein the core, inner cladding, and outer cladding have a depressed well configuration, wherein n co >n oc >n ic , with e) the range of the ratio of the inner, depressed-well clad radius, r ic , to core radius, r co , varying from about 3.0 to 5.0; f) a +Δ of about 0.0030 to 0.0036; g) a −Δ of about −0.0018 to −0.0012; and h) a Δ Tot of about 0.0048 to 0.0052, wherein said fiber operates in three or more wavelength bands, wherein a first wavelength band is centered at about 1300 nm, and wherein a second wavelength band is centered at about 1625 nm, wherein the waveguide has a glass core and glass claddings, the waveguide further comprising a polymer coating adhered to the outer cladding, wherein the polymer coating comprises a material having a Shore D hardness value of at least 55, and further comprising a soft polymer material coating the polymer coating, wherein the soft polymer material comprises one or more coatings selected from the group of Desolite 3471-3-14, Desolite 3471-1-152A, and Shin-Etsu OF-206.