Patent ID: 7329829

Claim:
A method for producing an optical cable unit said method comprising the steps of: continuously forming a laminated tape being formed from a first layer of austenitic steel and a second layer of copper into a slotted tube, where said first layer of austenitic steel forms an exterior of said tube and said second layer of copper forms an interior of said tube and said first layer and said second layer are in direct contact with each other; continuously placing the at least one optical waveguide into said slotted tube; closing said slot by welding a seam using a CO 2 laser welding unit; and wherein said welding of said seam of the slotted tube is performed by operating said CO 2 laser welding unit at said seam against said exterior first layer of austenitic steel such that heat of such welding causes welding of the seam in said second underlying copper layer without being directly contacted by a beam from said CO 2 laser welding unit, where the welded seam of said second copper layer and the welded seam of said first austenitic layer are free of voids, for improving conductivity and sensitivity to environmental impact for said optical cable.