Bell Telephone Laboratories

Western Electric Company, Inc.

Lucent Technologies Inc.

Charles J Aloisio, Jr

George S Brockway

Carl Raymond Taylor

Alvin C Levy

Randy G Schneider

George M Yanizeski

Lee L Blyler

Arthur C Hart

Ray R Cammons

Tracy E Brewer

Shahabuddin Siddiqui

Leonardo M Penn

James V Smith, Jr

Theatrice S Penn

Terrence A Lenahan

The present invention provides an optical detection system for detecting surface qualities on an optical fiber. The system comprises a light source for projecting a beam of light onto the outer surface of an optical fiber. An optical detector positioned adjacent the optical fiber receives light reflected from the outer surface of the optical fiber and generates an electrical output signal which is delivered to a signal processing device. The signal processing device analyzes the electrical output signal to determine whether one or more surface qualities exist on the outer surface of the optical fiber. In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the optical detection system is used to detect surface qualities that include ink skips, i.e., locations on the outer surface of the optical fiber that do not contain any ink. The signal processing device comprises a computer that records the intensity of the light received by the optical detector array, which corresponds to the magnitude of the electrical signal generated by the optical detector array, along with the location along the optical fiber that corresponds to the electrical output signal. This data can be used by the computer to determine the amount of ink existing at a particular location on the optical fiber, the size and location of an ink skip and the opacity of the ink.

Method and apparatus for detecting surface qualities on an optical fiber

A cable which is capable of being made in a large pair size and yet which has excellent mechanical properties that maintain its integrity notwithstanding extremes in temperature during installation and shipping as well as during the rigors of installation includes a sheath system having a corrugated steel outer shield that is adhesively bonded to a plastic jacket. The corrugated steel shield which is formed to have a longitudinal overlapped seam that is preferably unsealed encloses an aluminum inner shield that in turn encloses a multiconductor core. Advantageously, the sheath system includes a plastic jacketing material which is capable of resisting biaxial stresses which are aggravated in a bonded sheath system. This results in jacket integrity about the longitudinal seam of the outer shield notwithstanding a notched cross-section and an unsupported bridged portion of the plastic jacket adjacent to the seam. Of additional benefit is a further characterization of the plastic as being one which because of its relatively low elastic modulus at conventional extrusion times and temperatures is caused to fill substantially the corrugations of the outer shield. The jacket plastic forms a surface-to-surface bond with the shield that is sufficient to prevent delamination of the outer shield and the jacket and to prevent buckling of the jacket during exposure to temperature extremes.

Bonded sheath cable

A technique is shown for injection molding knockout sections in plastic parts. Through the introduction of a weld line in a controlled manner, removable sections of any geometry may be incorporated in a part. By varying the weld line geometry, knockout forces may be varied over a wide range. An example of a circular knockout in polycarbonate material is shown.

Injection molded knockout

A coating material is applied to drawn lightguide fiber in a manner which substantially prevents the inclusion of bubbles and which causes the fiber to be disposed substantially concentrically within the coating layer. The lightguide fiber is advanced through a continuum of coating material, which extends from a free surface of a reservoir and through first and second dies that are arranged in tandem, at a velocity which causes air to be entrained in the coating material. A pressure gradient is established between portions of the first die adjacent to its exit orifice. The first die communicates with the reservoir and is spaced from the second die to provide a chamber which communicates with a pressurized supply of the coating material. The pressurized flow sufficiently enhances the pressure gradient in the first die and establishes sufficient volumetric flow of coating material upwardly through the first die to cause any bubbles in the coating material on the advancing fiber to be removed by recirculating streamlines and to be moved upwardly into the reservoir. Not only is the coating in the fiber substantially free of entrained air as it leaves the second die, but the fiber is disposed concentrically within the coating because of a precentering effect of the first die and enhanced self-centering caused by pressure in the chamber.

Methods of and apparatus for coating lightguide fiber

The specification describes techniques for coating fiber waveguides by passing the fiber through a reservoir of coating material while preventing the gross accumulation of bubbles in the reservoir. Preventing accumulation of bubbles improves coating concentricity and quality.

Method for coating fiber waveguides

A cable which is capable of being made in a large pair size and yet which has excellent mechanical properties that maintain its integrity notwithstanding extremes in temperature during installation and shipping as well as during the rigors of installation includes a sheath system having a corrugated steel outer shield that is adhesively bonded to a plastic jacket. The corrugated steel shield which is formed to have a longitudinal overlapped seam that is preferably unsealed encloses an aluminum inner shield that in turn encloses a multiconductor core. Advantageously, the sheath system includes a plastic jacketing material which is capable of resisting biaxial stresses which are aggravated in a bonded sheath system. This results in jacket integrity about the longitudinal seam of the outer shield notwithstanding a notched cross-section and an unsupported bridged portion of the plastic jacket adjacent to the seam. Of additional benefit is a further characterization of the plastic as being one which because of its relatively low elastic modulus at conventional extrusion times and temperatures is caused to substantially fill the corrugations of the outer shield. The jacket plastic forms a surface-to-surface bond with the shield that is sufficient to prevent delamination of the outer shield and the jacket and to prevent buckling of the jacket during exposure to temperature extremes.

Growing community of inventors

Atlanta, GA, United States of America

Charles J Aloisio, Jr