US4878732A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical communication cable with ribbon waveguide support
Assignee: Kabelmetal Electro GmbH
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Filing: 1987-03-11
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Granted: 1989-11-07
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Expires: 2007-03-11
Abstract
Abstract A light-wave conductor cable is described within the core of which there is at least one ribbon line (1) in which light-wave conductors (2) are arranged alongside of and parallel to each other. The light-wave conductors (2) are enclosed between two ribbons (3, 4) the material of which has the same coefficient of thermal expansion as the light-wave conductors (2). The ribbons (3, 4) consist preferably of fiberglass-reinforced plastic. The ribbon line (1) may be disposed within an outer jacket (20), and therein arranged straight or curved or, in the case of several ribbon lines (1), in ordered or random fashion and about a core of the light-wave conductor cable.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter Rohner
- 👤 Gerhard Ziemek
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 19:18
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/44; G02B6/4401; G02B6/4403; G02B6/441; G02B6/4479; G02B6/448
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
154 words
A communication cable comprising: a jacket of high tensile strength; a core surrounded by the jacket, there being disposed in the core at least one ribbon line comprising two ribbon-shaped supports, there being optical waveguides fixed in place extending parallel to each other between the two ribbon-shaped supports; wherein, to produce a flexible and easy treatable ribbon line of high tensile strength, the optical waveguides are laminated between the two ribbon-shaped supports of said at least one ribbon line, the ribbon-shapped supports being made of plastic which is reinforced with fiberglass, the ribbon-shaped supports having a coefficient of thermal expansion essentially equal to that of the optical waveguides, the ribbon-shaped supports each being provided on one side with an adhesive layer and being bonded both to the optical waveguides and to each other, the adhesive and the plastic providing sufficient flexibility to said ribbon line to permit a longitudinal flexing of the ribbon line.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
154 words
A communication cable comprising: a jacket of high tensile strength; a core surrounded by the jacket, there being disposed in the core at least one ribbon line comprising two ribbon-shaped supports, there being optical waveguides fixed in place extending parallel to each other between the two ribbon-shaped supports; wherein, to produce a flexible and easy treatable ribbon line of high tensile strength, the optical waveguides are laminated between the two ribbon-shaped supports of said at least one ribbon line, the ribbon-shapped supports being made of plastic which is reinforced with fiberglass, the ribbon-shaped supports having a coefficient of thermal expansion essentially equal to that of the optical waveguides, the ribbon-shaped supports each being provided on one side with an adhesive layer and being bonded both to the optical waveguides and to each other, the adhesive and the plastic providing sufficient flexibility to said ribbon line to permit a longitudinal flexing of the ribbon line.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A cable according to claim 1, wherein the cable comprises a plurality of ribbon lines, in the core of a cable, said ribbon lines being arranged in ordered fashion one above the other.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A cable according to claim 1, wherein the cable comprises a plurality of ribbon lines in the core of a cable, said ribbon lines being arranged at random therein.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
A cable according to claim 3, wherein a ribbon line is bent around its longitudinal axis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
A cable according to claim 1, wherein the width of the ribbon line is greater than the diameter of the cable, and the ribbon line is formed in curved shape within the jacket.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A cable according to claim 1, wherein the ribbon line is folded transverse to its longitudinal direction within the core of the cable.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A cable according to claim 1, wherein the ribbon line is wound around a longitudinal axis of the cable within the core of the cable.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
A cable according to claim 1, further comprising a central core element in the core of the cable; and wherein the ribbon line is bent in tubular shape around the core element, leaving a slit which is continuous in longitudinal direction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
A cable according to claim 1, further comprising a central core element in the core of the cable; and wherein the ribbon line is wound with a long lay around the core element which lay extends in the longitudinal direction of the cable.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
A cable according to claim 1, wherein the jacket is a corrugated metal jacket.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A cable according to claim 1, wherein the jacket comprises a metal ribbon which is stabilized by threads of high tensile strength.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
A cable according to claim 1, wherein hollow spaces within the jacket are filled with sealing material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
184 words
A communication cable comprising: a jacket of high tensile strength; a core surrounded by the jacket, there being disposed in the core at least one ribbon line comprising two ribbon-shaped supports, there being optical waveguides fixed in place extending parallel to each other between the two ribbon-shaped supports; wherein, to produce a flexible and easy treatable ribbon line of high tensile strength, the optical waveguides are laminated between the two ribbon-shaped supports of said at least one ribbon line, the ribbon-shaped supports being made of plastic which is reinforced with fiberglass, and the ribbon-shaped supports having a coefficient of thermal expansion essentially equal to that of the optical waveguides; and the optical waveguides are spaced apart from each other defining intermediate spaces between the optical waveguides, the ribbon-shaped supports each being provided on one side with an adhesive layer and being bonded both to the optical waveguides and to each other at the edges and in the intermediate spaces of a ribbon line, the adhesive and the plastic providing sufficient flexibility to said ribbon line to permit a longitudianal flexing of the ribbon line.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
184 words
A communication cable comprising: a jacket of high tensile strength; a core surrounded by the jacket, there being disposed in the core at least one ribbon line comprising two ribbon-shaped supports, there being optical waveguides fixed in place extending parallel to each other between the two ribbon-shaped supports; wherein, to produce a flexible and easy treatable ribbon line of high tensile strength, the optical waveguides are laminated between the two ribbon-shaped supports of said at least one ribbon line, the ribbon-shaped supports being made of plastic which is reinforced with fiberglass, and the ribbon-shaped supports having a coefficient of thermal expansion essentially equal to that of the optical waveguides; and the optical waveguides are spaced apart from each other defining intermediate spaces between the optical waveguides, the ribbon-shaped supports each being provided on one side with an adhesive layer and being bonded both to the optical waveguides and to each other at the edges and in the intermediate spaces of a ribbon line, the adhesive and the plastic providing sufficient flexibility to said ribbon line to permit a longitudianal flexing of the ribbon line.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
A cable according to claim 13, wherein the cable comprises a plurality of ribbon lines arranged alongside and spaced apart from each other.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
A cable according to claim 14, wherein at least one of said plurality of ribbon lines has a curved shape as viewed in transverse cross section of the cable.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
A cable according to claim 13, wherein a ribbon line has a curved shaped as viewed in transverse cross section of the cable.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
A cable according to claim 16, wherein a width of the ribbon line is greater than a diameter of the cable.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
A cable according to claim 16, wherein the ribbon line extends in helical fashion along the cable.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
A cable according to claim 13, wherein the ribbon line extends in helical fashion along the cable.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
208 words
A method of manufacturing a communication cable, the cable comprising: a jacket of high tensile strength; light-wave conductors within the jacket; a core and two ribbon-shaped supports surrounded by the jacket, there being disposed about the core at least one ribbon line in which the light-wave conductors are fixed in place extending parallel to each other between the two ribbon-shaped supports; and wherein the light-wave conductors are laminated between the two ribbon-shaped supports of the ribbon line, the ribbon-shaped supports each being provided on one side with an adhesive layer, the ribbon-shaped supports being bonded both to the light-wave conductors and to each other and having a coefficient of thermal expansion essentially equal to that of the light-wave conductors; the method of manufacturing the cable comprising the steps of: extending a plurality of light-wave conductors parallel to each other between two ribbon-shaped supports; providing each of the two ribbon-shaped supports on one side with an adhesive layer in order to form a ribbon line; laminating the ribbon-shaped supports to each other and to the light-wave conductors; curving the ribbon line transverse to its longitudinal direction to form a structure having an approximately circular cross-section surface; and forming a jacket of high tensile strength around the bent ribbon line.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
208 words
A method of manufacturing a communication cable, the cable comprising: a jacket of high tensile strength; light-wave conductors within the jacket; a core and two ribbon-shaped supports surrounded by the jacket, there being disposed about the core at least one ribbon line in which the light-wave conductors are fixed in place extending parallel to each other between the two ribbon-shaped supports; and wherein the light-wave conductors are laminated between the two ribbon-shaped supports of the ribbon line, the ribbon-shaped supports each being provided on one side with an adhesive layer, the ribbon-shaped supports being bonded both to the light-wave conductors and to each other and having a coefficient of thermal expansion essentially equal to that of the light-wave conductors; the method of manufacturing the cable comprising the steps of: extending a plurality of light-wave conductors parallel to each other between two ribbon-shaped supports; providing each of the two ribbon-shaped supports on one side with an adhesive layer in order to form a ribbon line; laminating the ribbon-shaped supports to each other and to the light-wave conductors; curving the ribbon line transverse to its longitudinal direction to form a structure having an approximately circular cross-section surface; and forming a jacket of high tensile strength around the bent ribbon line.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
261 words
A method of manufacturing a communication cable, the cable comprising: a jacket of high tensile strength; light-wave conductors within the jacket; a core and two ribbon-shaped supports surrounded by the jacket, there being disposed about the core at least one ribbon line in which the light-wave conductors are fixed in place extending parallel to each other between the two ribbon-shaped supports; and wherein the light-wave conductors are laminated between the two ribbon-shaped supports of the ribbon line, the light-wave conductors are spaced apart from each other defining intermediate spaces between the light-wave conductors, the ribbon-shaped supports each being provided on one side with an adhesive layer, the ribbon-shaped supports being bonded both to the light-wave conductors and to each other at the edges and in the intermediate spaces of a ribbon line, and the ribbon-shaped supports having a coefficient of thermal expansion essentially equal to that of the light-wave conductors; the method of manufacturing the cable comprising the steps of: extending a plurality of light-wave conductors parallel to and spaced apart from each other between two ribbon-shaped supports, there being intermediate spaces between the conductors; providing each of the two ribbon-shaped supports on one side with an adhesive layer in order to form a ribbon line; laminating the ribbon-shaped supports to each other at the edges and in the intermediate spaces of a ribbon line and to the conductors; curving the ribbon line transverse to its longitudinal direction to form a structure having an approximately circular cross-section surface; and forming a jacket of high tensile strength around the bent ribbon line.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
261 words
A method of manufacturing a communication cable, the cable comprising: a jacket of high tensile strength; light-wave conductors within the jacket; a core and two ribbon-shaped supports surrounded by the jacket, there being disposed about the core at least one ribbon line in which the light-wave conductors are fixed in place extending parallel to each other between the two ribbon-shaped supports; and wherein the light-wave conductors are laminated between the two ribbon-shaped supports of the ribbon line, the light-wave conductors are spaced apart from each other defining intermediate spaces between the light-wave conductors, the ribbon-shaped supports each being provided on one side with an adhesive layer, the ribbon-shaped supports being bonded both to the light-wave conductors and to each other at the edges and in the intermediate spaces of a ribbon line, and the ribbon-shaped supports having a coefficient of thermal expansion essentially equal to that of the light-wave conductors; the method of manufacturing the cable comprising the steps of: extending a plurality of light-wave conductors parallel to and spaced apart from each other between two ribbon-shaped supports, there being intermediate spaces between the conductors; providing each of the two ribbon-shaped supports on one side with an adhesive layer in order to form a ribbon line; laminating the ribbon-shaped supports to each other at the edges and in the intermediate spaces of a ribbon line and to the conductors; curving the ribbon line transverse to its longitudinal direction to form a structure having an approximately circular cross-section surface; and forming a jacket of high tensile strength around the bent ribbon line.
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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) | 1992-11-06 | 1993-05-08 | 1993-11-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-11-06 | 1997-05-08 | 1997-11-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-11-06 | 2001-05-08 | 2001-11-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |