Crush-resistant fiber optic cable
View Patent ↗A crush-resistant fiber optic cable is disclosed, wherein the cable includes a plurality of optical fibers. The fibers are generally arranged longitudinally about a central axis, with no strength member arranged along the central axis. A tensile-strength layer surrounds the plurality of optical fibers. A protective cover surrounds the tensile-strength layer and has an outside diameter D O in the range 3 mm≦D O ≦5 mm.
1. A crush-resistant fiber optic cable having a central axis, comprising:
a plurality of optical fibers generally arranged longitudinally about the central axis, with no strength member arranged along the central axis;
a tensile-strength layer surrounding the plurality of optical fibers; and
a protective cover surrounding the tensile-strength layer and having an outside diameter D O ≦5 mm, wherein under a crush load of 100 N/cm for 10 minutes, the optical fibers exhibit a delta attenuation of less than 0.8 decibels at a wavelength of 1300 nanometers.
2. The crush-resistant fiber optic cable of claim 1 , wherein under a crush load of 100 N/cm for 10 minutes, the optical fibers exhibit a delta attenuation of less than 0.4 decibels at a wavelength of 850 nanometers.
3. The crush-resistant fiber optic cable of claim 2 , wherein the protective cover has a thickness T 50 in the range 0.75 mm≦T 50 ≦1.25 mm.
4. The crush-resistant fiber optic cable of claim 3 , wherein the outside diameter D O ≧3 mm.
5. The crush-resistant fiber optic cable of claim 4 , wherein the outside diameter D O ≦4.5 mm.
6. The crush-resistant fiber optic cable of claim 4 , wherein each optical fiber has a nominal diameter of about 250 microns.
7. The crush-resistant fiber optic cable of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of optical fibers comprises at least twelve optical fibers.
8. A crush-resistant fiber optic cable having a central axis, comprising:
a plurality of optical fibers generally arranged longitudinally about the central axis, with no strength member arranged along the central axis;
a tensile-strength layer surrounding the plurality of optical fibers; and
a protective cover surrounding the tensile-strength layer and having an outside diameter D O ≧3 mm, wherein under a crush load of 100 N/cm for 10 minutes, the optical fibers exhibit a delta attenuation of less than 0.8 decibels at a wavelength of 1300 nanometers and wherein under a crush load of 100 N/cm for 10 minutes, the optical fibers exhibit a delta attenuation of less than 0.4 decibels at a wavelength of 850 nanometers.
9. The crush-resistant fiber optic cable of claim 8 , wherein the protective cover has a thickness T 50 in the range 0.75 mm≦T 50 ≦1.25 mm.
10. The crush-resistant fiber optic cable of claim 9 , wherein the outside diameter D O ≦5 mm.
11. The crush-resistant fiber optic cable of claim 10 , wherein the outside diameter D O ≦4.5 mm.
12. The crush-resistant fiber optic cable of claim 11 , wherein each optical fiber has a nominal diameter of about 250 microns.
13. The crush-resistant fiber optic cable of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of optical fibers comprises at least twelve optical fibers.
14. The crush-resistant fiber optic cable of claim 8 , wherein under a crush load of 100 N/cm for 10 minutes, the optical fibers exhibit a delta attenuation of less than 0.3 decibels at a wavelength of 850 nanometers.
15. The crush-resistant fiber optic cable of claim 14 , wherein under a crush load of 100 N/cm for 10 minutes, the optical fibers exhibit a delta attenuation of less than 0.4 decibels at a wavelength of 1300 nanometers.
16. A crush-resistant fiber optic cable having a central axis, comprising:
a plurality of optical fibers generally arranged longitudinally about the central axis, with no strength member arranged along the central axis;
a tensile-strength layer surrounding the plurality of optical fibers; and
a protective cover surrounding the tensile-strength layer, wherein the protective cover comprises PVC and has a thickness T 50 in the range 0.75 mm≦T 50 ≦1.25 mm
wherein under a crush load of 100 N/cm for 10 minutes, the optical fibers exhibit a delta attenuation of less than 0.4 decibels at a wavelength of 850 nanometers.
17. The crush-resistant fiber optic cable of claim 16 , wherein under a crush load of 100 N/cm for 10 minutes, the optical fibers exhibit a delta attenuation of less than 0.4 decibels at a wavelength of 1300 nanometers.
18. The crush-resistant fiber optic cable of claim 17 , wherein the tensile-strength layer comprises aramid yarn.
19. The crush-resistant fiber optic cable of claim 18 , wherein each optical fiber has a nominal diameter of about 250 microns.
20. The crush-resistant fiber optic cable of claim 19 , wherein the plurality of optical fibers comprises at least twelve optical fibers.