US4078853A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical communication cable
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1976-02-25
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Granted: 1978-03-14
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Expires: 1996-02-25
Abstract
Abstract An optical communication cable comprises one or more cores of light-transmitting optical fibers substantially decoupled mechanically from the rest of the cable structure. Surrounding each core is an inner jacket which forms a loose-fittng enveloping structure about the core. Surrounding the inner jacket or plurality of inner jackets is an outer jacket which is reinforced with primary strength members to carry expected tensile loads and to thereby relieve the fibers of the core or cores as cable strength members. The core fibers are also buckled into a slackened state under no-load conditions to allow for stress-free elongation of the core fibers during tensile pulling of the cable. In one embodiment, each core comprises linear arrays of optical fibers packaged in a plurality of ribbon structures which are stacked and helically stranded for further strain-relief. The arrays are specifically configured to permit mass cable splicing.
Inventors
- 👤 Raymond Andrew Kempf
- 👤 Manuel Roberto Santana
- 👤 Morton I. Schwartz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 02:00
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/44; G02B6/4401; G02B6/441; G02B6/4411; G02B6/4429; G02B6/443; G02B6/4432
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
An optical communication cable comprising: at least one core, said core comprising: a compliant center member; a plurality of optical fibers packaged in units of optical fiber ribbons, said ribbons being arranged in at least one stack, said stack being helically stranded about said center member; an inner jacket surrounding said core, said inner jacket forming a loose-fitting enveloping structure sufficiently loose with respect to said core such that said core is substantially decoupled from said inner jacket; an outer jacket surrounding said inner jacket; and a plurality of primary strength members tightly coupled to said outer jacket to carry applied tensile loads.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
103 words
An optical communication cable comprising: at least one core, said core comprising: a compliant center member; a plurality of optical fibers packaged in units of optical fiber ribbons, said ribbons being arranged in at least one stack, said stack being helically stranded about said center member; an inner jacket surrounding said core, said inner jacket forming a loose-fitting enveloping structure sufficiently loose with respect to said core such that said core is substantially decoupled from said inner jacket; an outer jacket surrounding said inner jacket; and a plurality of primary strength members tightly coupled to said outer jacket to carry applied tensile loads.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
168 words
An optical communication cable comprising: at least one core, said core comprising a plurality of optical fibers being packaged in the form of optical ribbons, said ribbons being arranged in a stack and helically twisted in said core; a first layer of insulative material for thermally protecting said core; an inner jacket for forming a loose-fitting enveloping structure surrounding said core, whereby said inner jacket is being sufficiently loose with respect to said core such that said core is substantially decoupled from said inner jacket, and whereby said first layer is lined along the interior surface of said inner jacket; a second layer of insulative material surrounding said inner jacket, for preventing thermally induced shrinkage of said inner jacket; an outer jacket surrounding said second layer of insulative material; and a plurality of primary strength members tightly coupled to said outer jacket to carry applied tensile loads, wherein said core describes an undulating path with respect to the relatively straight inner jacket in which said core is contained.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
168 words
An optical communication cable comprising: at least one core, said core comprising a plurality of optical fibers being packaged in the form of optical ribbons, said ribbons being arranged in a stack and helically twisted in said core; a first layer of insulative material for thermally protecting said core; an inner jacket for forming a loose-fitting enveloping structure surrounding said core, whereby said inner jacket is being sufficiently loose with respect to said core such that said core is substantially decoupled from said inner jacket, and whereby said first layer is lined along the interior surface of said inner jacket; a second layer of insulative material surrounding said inner jacket, for preventing thermally induced shrinkage of said inner jacket; an outer jacket surrounding said second layer of insulative material; and a plurality of primary strength members tightly coupled to said outer jacket to carry applied tensile loads, wherein said core describes an undulating path with respect to the relatively straight inner jacket in which said core is contained.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
146 words
An optical communication cable comprising: at least one core, said core comprising a plurality of optical fibers being packaged in units of optical fiber ribbons, said ribbons being arranged in at least one stack and helically twisted in said core, wherein said fibers are arranged with a uniform center-to-center spacing in each said ribbon, and wherein the optical fibers at any cross-section of said core are dispersed in an x-y matrix with a substantially uniform center-to-center spacing in both the x and y directions, thereby permitting mass cable splicing; an inner jacket surrounding said core, said inner jacket forming a loose-fitting enveloping structure sufficiently loose with respect to said core such that said core is substantially decoupled from said inner jacket; an outer jacket surrounding said inner jacket; and a plurality of primary strength members tightly coupled to said outer jacket to carry applied tensile loads.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
146 words
An optical communication cable comprising: at least one core, said core comprising a plurality of optical fibers being packaged in units of optical fiber ribbons, said ribbons being arranged in at least one stack and helically twisted in said core, wherein said fibers are arranged with a uniform center-to-center spacing in each said ribbon, and wherein the optical fibers at any cross-section of said core are dispersed in an x-y matrix with a substantially uniform center-to-center spacing in both the x and y directions, thereby permitting mass cable splicing; an inner jacket surrounding said core, said inner jacket forming a loose-fitting enveloping structure sufficiently loose with respect to said core such that said core is substantially decoupled from said inner jacket; an outer jacket surrounding said inner jacket; and a plurality of primary strength members tightly coupled to said outer jacket to carry applied tensile loads.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
129 words
An optical communication cable comprising: at least one core, said core comprising a plurality of optical fibers being packaged in units of optical fiber ribbons wherein said ribbons are arranged in at least one stack and helically twisted in said core; an inner jacket surrounding said core, said inner jacket forming a loose-fitting enveloping structure sufficiently loose with respect to said core such that said core is substantially decoupled from said inner jacket; an outer jacket surrounding said inner jacket; a plurality of primary strength members tightly coupled to said outer jacket to carry applied tensile loads; and means for achieving a cross-sectional core end configuration in which the optical fibers are dispersed in a x-y matrix with a uniform center-to-center spacing in both the x and y directions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
129 words
An optical communication cable comprising: at least one core, said core comprising a plurality of optical fibers being packaged in units of optical fiber ribbons wherein said ribbons are arranged in at least one stack and helically twisted in said core; an inner jacket surrounding said core, said inner jacket forming a loose-fitting enveloping structure sufficiently loose with respect to said core such that said core is substantially decoupled from said inner jacket; an outer jacket surrounding said inner jacket; a plurality of primary strength members tightly coupled to said outer jacket to carry applied tensile loads; and means for achieving a cross-sectional core end configuration in which the optical fibers are dispersed in a x-y matrix with a uniform center-to-center spacing in both the x and y directions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
110 words
An optical communication cable comprising: at least one core comprising a plurality of optical fibers, said fibers being packaged in the form of optical ribbons; an inner cable jacket surrounding said core, said inner cable jacket forming a loose-fitting enveloping structure sufficiently loose with respect to said core such that said core is substantially mechanically decoupled from said inner cable jacket; an outer cable jacket surrounding said inner cable jacket; and a plurality of primary strength members tightly coupled to said outer cable jacket to carry applied tensile loads, wherein said ribbons describe undulating paths with respect to the relatively straight inner cable jacket in which they are loosely contained.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
110 words
An optical communication cable comprising: at least one core comprising a plurality of optical fibers, said fibers being packaged in the form of optical ribbons; an inner cable jacket surrounding said core, said inner cable jacket forming a loose-fitting enveloping structure sufficiently loose with respect to said core such that said core is substantially mechanically decoupled from said inner cable jacket; an outer cable jacket surrounding said inner cable jacket; and a plurality of primary strength members tightly coupled to said outer cable jacket to carry applied tensile loads, wherein said ribbons describe undulating paths with respect to the relatively straight inner cable jacket in which they are loosely contained.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
129 words
An optical communication cable comprising: at least one core, said core comprising a plurality of optical fibers being packaged in units of optical fiber ribbons, said ribbons being arranged in at least one stack and helically twisted in said core; an inner jacket surrounding said core, said inner jacket forming a loose-fitting enveloping structure sufficiently loose with respect to said core such that said core is substantially decoupled from said inner jacket; an outer jacket surrounding said inner jacket; a plurality of primary strength members tightly coupled to said outer jacket to carry applied tensile loads; and a layer of insulative material between said inner jacket and outer jacket, said layer having substantial thermal insulative properties to prevent shrinkage of said inner jacket during manufacture of said outer jacket.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
129 words
An optical communication cable comprising: at least one core, said core comprising a plurality of optical fibers being packaged in units of optical fiber ribbons, said ribbons being arranged in at least one stack and helically twisted in said core; an inner jacket surrounding said core, said inner jacket forming a loose-fitting enveloping structure sufficiently loose with respect to said core such that said core is substantially decoupled from said inner jacket; an outer jacket surrounding said inner jacket; a plurality of primary strength members tightly coupled to said outer jacket to carry applied tensile loads; and a layer of insulative material between said inner jacket and outer jacket, said layer having substantial thermal insulative properties to prevent shrinkage of said inner jacket during manufacture of said outer jacket.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
An optical communication cable as claimed in claim 6 wherein said fibers are arranged with a uniform center-to-center spacing in each said ribbon to facilitate mass splicing.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
104 words
An optical communication cable comprising: at least one core comprising a plurality of optical fibers; an inner jacket surrounding said core, said inner jacket forming a loose-fitting enveloping structure sufficiently loose with respect to said core such that said core is substantially decoupled from said inner jacket; an outer jacket surrounding said inner jacket; a plurality of primary strength members tightly coupled to said outer jacket to carry applied tensile loads; and a layer of insulative material between said inner jacket and outer jacket, said layer having substantial thermal insulative properties to prevent shrinkage of said inner jacket during manufacture of said outer jacket.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
104 words
An optical communication cable comprising: at least one core comprising a plurality of optical fibers; an inner jacket surrounding said core, said inner jacket forming a loose-fitting enveloping structure sufficiently loose with respect to said core such that said core is substantially decoupled from said inner jacket; an outer jacket surrounding said inner jacket; a plurality of primary strength members tightly coupled to said outer jacket to carry applied tensile loads; and a layer of insulative material between said inner jacket and outer jacket, said layer having substantial thermal insulative properties to prevent shrinkage of said inner jacket during manufacture of said outer jacket.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
An optical communication cable as claimed in claim 8 wherein said inner jacket is formed of a material having an elastic modulus of at least 7.03 × 10 6 g/cm 2 .
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
An optical communication cable as claimed in claim 8, said cable further comprising: a first layer of material between said core and inner jacket having substantial thermal insulative properties.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
An optical communication cable as claimed in claim 8 wherein said outer jacket is formed of a material having an elastic modulus of at least 7.03 × 10 6 g/cm 2 .
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
An optical communication cable as claimed in claim 8 wherein said second layer is further characterized by substantial radial compliance for reducing impact loads on said inner jacket.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
An optical communication cable as claimed in claim 12 wherein said layer of insulative material is formed of polypropylene twine.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
An optical communication cable as claimed in claim 8 wherein said core describes an undulating path with respect to the relatively straight inner jacket in which said core is contained.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
An optical communication cable as claimed in claim 14 wherein the extent of core slack due to said undulation is at most 0.2 percent.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
38 words
An optical communication cable as claimed in claim 15 wherein said primary strength members have a tensile modulus greater than 7.03 × 10 8 g/cm 2 and have an elongation at break greater than that of optical fibers.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
An optical communication cable as claimed in claim 16 wherein said primary strength members are nonmetallic.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-03-13 | 1981-09-12 | 1982-03-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-03-13 | 1985-09-12 | 1986-03-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-03-13 | 1989-09-12 | 1990-03-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |