Tyco Electronics Subsea Communications LLC

Tycom (US) Inc.

Tyco Telecommunications (US) Inc.

Steven Bernstein

Maurice E Kordahi

Tony S Fong

Robert K Stix

Jeremiah A Mendez

Tat Chiu Lee

Maurice Kordahi

A multiple conductor optical cable may be coupled to an undersea device, such as a cable joint, branching unit, or repeater, with one or more isolated bypass conductive paths being provided across the undersea device. At least one conductor may be terminated within a housing of the undersea device and at least one conductor may be coupled to a conductive bridge member that provides the isolated bypass conductive path across the device. Multiple conductor optical cables may be coupled to undersea devices in optical networks using independent power paths, for example, to deliver power to different powered components at different voltage potentials.

Coupling multiple conductor undersea optical cables to an undersea device with an isolated bypass conductive path across the undersea device

An apparatus for retaining and protecting spliced optical fibers. Optical fibers forming an extensive network, extending a great distance, are spliced together to provide the communication medium for the network. The apparatus includes a joint box for protecting the splices. Within the joint box is at least one arcuate-shaped splice retainer. The retainer secures the splices in a static position to prevent them from being damaged. Also, the retainer may include more than one arcuate layers for storing the splices. The arcuate layers organize the splices, so they are readily identifiable and accessible. In addition, the arcuate layers make efficient use of the limited space available for storing the splices. The joint box includes a center shelf longitudinally dividing the joint box into two compartments. To accommodate more splices, an arcuate retainer may be provided in each compartment by mounting an arcuate retainer on each side of the shelf.

System for storing splices in a joint box

An apparatus for retaining and protecting spliced optical fibers that are part of cables that have ultra-high strength steel wires, in which the optical fibers are free to move within a sleeve inside of the wires. The apparatus includes ajoint box having opposing longitudinal cable termination ends. The high-strength steel wires of each cable are attached to a respective cable termination end. At least one optical fiber from each cable extends through its respective cable termination end and is spliced together to form a continuous optical fiber. The fiber or fibers are splinted and potted at locations longitudinally spaced from the splice to form ferrules. A central portion or shelf of the joint box includes fiber retaining devices which take the form of ferrule retainer assemblies. The ferrule retainer assemblies have a trough that contains and restrains a respective ferrule.

Fiber retaining system

An apparatus for retaining and protecting spliced optical fibers that are part of cables that have ultra-high strength steel wires, in which the optical fibers are free to move within a sleeve inside of the wires. The apparatus includes a joint box having opposing longitudinal cable termination ends. The high-strength steel wires of each cable are attached to a respective cable termination end. At least one optical fiber from each cable extends through its respective cable termination end and is spliced together to form a continuous optical fiber. The fiber or fibers are restrained at locations on the continuous optical fiber spaced from the splice by winding portions of the fibers around a friction imparting element, such as a drum, that includes a curved outer surface. Tension forces applied to the fiber or fibers are transferred to the drum. This arrangement immobilizes the optical fibers inside the joint box at a position spaced from the splice so that forces applied to the optical fibers are isolated from the spliced section. Additionally, this arrangement eliminates the large amount of slack of optical fiber that is normally used in a joint box and prevents the spliced optical fibers inside the joint box from moving in and out of their cables.

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Jackson, NJ, United States of America

Steven Bernstein