General Cable Corporation

Arnab Sarkar

Jerzy A Olszewski

Yung-Yien Huang

The application of low loss optical fibers in optical communication systems requires that the glass fibers are suitably packaged into a cable. This invention provides a system of multiple optical fibers between two tapes or films, one of which holds the fibers on the film by pressure-sensitive adhesive and in spaced relation to one another. The fibers are covered by a second film, preferably thinner than the first film, and secured to the first film along the edges of the films to provide a laminated structure suitable for cabling. Spacers between the films eliminate asymmetric pressure of the covering film against the optical fibers which are nearest to the edges of the films; and the spacers are preferably strength members for stiffening the laminate.

Multiple fiber laminate for optical waveguides

This specification describes a novel apparatus and method for testing optical wave guides to determine the optical attenuation and to locate faults in the optical fiber. The light for test purposes is launched into the fiber by one or more light beams that surround the wave guides and that are focussed to converge from around the circumference and at the axis of the wave guide; the convergence being at low angles of incidence, so that some of the light enters the wave guide. The remaining light launched into the wave guide in opposite directions at a location, nearer to one end than to the other, is measured at opposite ends of the wave guide. The ratio of the light at the opposite ends of the wave guide and the difference in the length of travel of the light from the region of entry to each end is used to compute attenuation. Faults are found by internal reflections of the light beam in the wave guide.

Test apparatus for optical waveguides

This optical fiber cable has the optical fibers adhered to a support. An assembly including the fibers and the support is carried by a core element having a helical channel in which the fiber assembly is located and free to adjust itself to accommodate bending of the cable without subjecting the optical fibers to pressure or to bends that are excessively sharp. The construction also avoids pressure on the optical fibers from binders, core tapes, or the cable sheath when the cable is bent. It also avoids micro-bending losses. Locating of the optical fibers closer to the cable axis further decreases bending losses.

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Piscataway, NJ, United States of America

Arnab Sarkar