At&t Bell Laboratories

Clyde J Lever, Jr

Parbhubhai D Patel

Kenneth M Kroupa

Tek-Che Chu

Rama Iyengar

Danny E West

Marsha S Stix

Robert J Heyda

Roger A Willby

John M Paxton

Douglas E Fritz

Seymour Shapiro

An optical fiber cable (20) includes a longitudinally extending copper core member (34). The core member is formed with at least one groove (36) in which is disposed at least one optical fiber. The optical fiber is coupled sufficiently to the core member preferably by an ultraviolet light energy cured material to substantially inhibit relative movement between the optical fiber and the core member when forces are applied to the cable. A sheath system which includes a plastic jacket (112) is disposed about the core member. The sheath system includes a strength member system which includes longitudinally extending copper wires (105, 105) and steel wires (101, 107). Disposed about the steel and copper wires is a steel shield (110) which provides hermetic protection for the optical fibers. A waterblocking material (108) is disposed among the wires and between an inner layer of the wires and the core member to cooperate with the compressive engagement of the inner layer of strength members with the core member to couple the strength members to the core member.

Underwater optical fiber cable having optical fiber coupled to grooved

An optical fiber cable (20) includes a longitudinally extending core member (34) which may be made of a plastic material. The core member is formed with at least one groove (36) in which is disposed at least one optical fiber (28). The optical fiber is coupled sufficiently to the core member, preferably by an ultraviolet light energy cured material, to inhibit substantially relative movement between the core member and the optical fiber when forces are applied to the cable. A sheath system which includes wire-like strength members and a plastic jacket (112) is disposed about the core member. A waterblocking material (108) disposed within interstices among the wire-like strength members and between an inner layer of the strength members and the core member causes coupling between the wire-like strength members and the core member.

A package (20) of wound optical fiber (22) includes a spool (23) on which are wound a plurality of layers with each layer comprising a plurality of convolutions of the optical fiber. The winding is accomplished such that each successive convolution is spaced from a preceding convolution. The spacing is such that on the third and further outer layers, each optical fiber is tangent to each of two adjacent convolutions of a previously wound layer and to one convolution of the next inner layer. Also, each convolution in each layer after an innermost layer crosses transversely optical fiber of an immediately preceding layer in two relatively closely spaced locations and such that crossovers in successive layers are staggered circumferentially of a winding surface. Because of the nesting which is caused to occur, excellent density, package rigidity and stability are achieved. Further, winding abnormalities such as crossovers are substantially reduced, resulting in a package of optical fiber which exhibits very low loss due to winding.

Optical fiber package and method of making

A protected package (20) of optical fiber includes a spool which includes a hub (22) and two spaced flanges (24,26). Optical fiber (23) is wound on the hub with an end of the fiber being accessible to allow the fiber to be tested. A strip (52) of plastic material is wrapped about the spool with longitudinal edge portions (54,54) of the strip overhanging the flanges to provide a cover (50). The protected package permits withdrawal of the fiber through a gap (64) between the cover and the flanges. Further, in a preferred embodiment, each longitudinal edge portion is provided with openings (60,60). The openings are spaced apart such that when a strip is wrapped about any of expected size spools, at least one pair of the openings will become aligned to allow insertion of fastening means (62) which function to hold the strip assembled to the spool to protect the fiber and to prevent unintended removal of the cover.

Protected optical fiber package

Growing community of inventors

Buford, GA, United States of America

Clyde J Lever, Jr