Patent EP0422764A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0422764A2
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EP
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Coated optical fibers and cables and method
Assignee: Corning Inc
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Filing: 1990-08-13
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2010-08-13
Abstract
Abstract Optical communication media particularly adapted for blow-in installation, including single optical fibers and lightweight flexible optical cables comprising one or more glass optical fibers in a multilayer polymer coating, are disclosed. The multilayer coating includes a textured polymer outer layer and at least one soft buffer layer positioned between the textured polymer outer layer and the glass optical fiber or fibers, the buffer layer comprising a low Tg polymer and preferably having a layer thickness at least sufficient to maintain thermally induced microbending loss in the optical communication medium below about 0.5 db/km at medium operating temperatures in the range of 0 DEG C to -60 DEG C.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael Bruce Cain
- 👤 Robert Brett Desorcie
- 👤 Rengan Kannabiran
- 👤 Gitimoy Kar
- 👤 Eric Hector Urruti
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 09:38
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/44; G02B6/4401; G02B6/4429; G02B6/4438; C; C03; C03C; C03C25/00; C03C25/10; C03C25/104; C03C25/1065; G02B6/4403; G02B6/443; G02B6/4431; G02B6/4479; G02B6/4482; G02B6/46; G02B6/50; G02B6/52
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
58 words
An optical fiber communication medium comprising one or more optical fibers in a multilayer polymer coating, wherein the multilayer coating includes a textured polymer outer layer and at least one soft buffer layer positioned between the textured polymer outer layer and the glass optical fiber or fibers, and wherein the buffer layer comprises a low T g polymer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
58 words
An optical fiber communication medium comprising one or more optical fibers in a multilayer polymer coating, wherein the multilayer coating includes a textured polymer outer layer and at least one soft buffer layer positioned between the textured polymer outer layer and the glass optical fiber or fibers, and wherein the buffer layer comprises a low T g polymer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
Optical fiber medium according to claim 1 comprising at least one glass fiber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
Optical fiber medium in accordance with claim 2 wherein the soft buffer layer consists essentially of the low T g polymer and has a layer thickness at least sufficient to maintain thermally induced microbending loss in the medium below about 0.5 bd/km at medium operating temperatures in the range of 0°C to -60°C.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
Optical fiber medium in accordance with claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein the textured outer coating layer is disposed directly on the low T g polymer buffer layer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
Optical fiber medium in accordance with claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein the multilayer coating comprises a primary acrylate coating on the fiber, a low T g polymer buffer layer disposed over the primary acrylate coating, and a textured polymer outer layer disposed over the low T g polymer buffer layer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
Optical fiber medium in accordance with any one of claims 1-5 wherein the low T g polymer is selected from the group consisting of silicone elastomers and low glass transition temperature acrylate polymers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
Optical fiber medium in accordance with any one of claims 1-6, wherein the textured polymer outer layer is a foamed polyvinyl chloride layer or flame retardant layer, optionally comprising a colorant.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
74 words
Optical fiber medium according to any of claims 1-7, characterized by its assembly to form an optical cable comprising one or more glass optical fibers disposed together in a multilayer polymer coating, wherein the multilayer coating includes a textured polymer outer layer and at least one soft buffer layer positioned between the textured polymer outer layer and each of the glass optical fibers, and wherein the buffer layer comprises a low T g polymer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
61 words
Optical fiber medium in accordance with claim 8 which comprises, as the core element in the cable, up to 8 glass optical fibers disposed in fiber-parallel bundled array, and wherein the soft buffer layer is provided by a low T g polymer matrix encasing the glass optical fibers and interposed between each of the fibers and the textured polymer outer layer.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
34 words
A method for making an optical fiber medium or cable according to any of the preceding claims, which comprises the step of applying to a pre-coated optical fiber or cable an outer coating layer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
64 words
Method in accordance with claim 10 wherein the outer coating layer is provided by the steps of: applying to the precoated optical fiber or cable a layer of polyvinyl chloride plastisol comprising a chemical blowing agent, preferably as a liquid coating, and heating the polyvinyl chloride plastisol to a temperature sufficient to foam, gel and fuse the plastisol to an integral adherent foam layer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
Method in accordance with claim 11 which comprises the further step of cooling the adherent foam layer for a time at least sufficient to rigidify the layer, optionally by contacting the layer with a water spray.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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