Functionally strained optical fibers

Details Functionally strained optical fibers Functionally strained optical fibers

2007-03-13

2007-03-13

Duverne, J. F. (Department: 2839)

Optical waveguides

Optical transmission cable

Ribbon cable

Reexamination Certificate

active

11092626

ABSTRACT:
The present invention introduces a concept of “smart” ribbons, which use functionally tensioned optical fibers during the manufacture of fiber optic ribbons to create fiber ribbons with controlled geometrical configuration, optimized strain distribution and reduced attenuation. The ribbons may have flat or bowed cross section and be straight along the length or curved in its plane, or twisted unidirectionally, or periodically. These shapes and residual stress-strain state are induced and controlled by using tension functions instead of traditional constant-value tension per fiber during the ribbon manufacture. Further, the present invention reduces signal loss and/or attenuation in ribbon fibers caused by an increase in the strain variation from tensile strain to compressive strain along the length of the individual fibers when ribbons are manufactured, stacked, stranded around a strength member or twisted and bent during cable installation. In a first embodiment of the present invention, either a symmetric or non-symmetric load distribution is applied across the fibers being placed or drawn into a ribbon structure to eliminate or control residual twist in a completed fiber ribbon. Additionally, in the present invention, the load distribution on the fibers of a ribbon can be varied (e.g. periodically changed) along the length of the ribbon to provide a ribbon with the required design characteristics for any particular application. In a second embodiment of the invention, a fiber optic ribbon is made up of a plurality of sub-unit ribbons arranged in substantially the same plane. Each sub-unit ribbon includes a plurality of optical fibers coated by sub-unit matrices.

REFERENCES:
patent: 4635430 (1987-01-01), Missout et al.
patent: 4757675 (1988-07-01), Oglesby et al.
patent: 4787702 (1988-11-01), Khalil
patent: 4805392 (1989-02-01), Seveso et al.
patent: 4833871 (1989-05-01), Ogawa et al.
patent: 5029816 (1991-07-01), Langston
patent: 5331796 (1994-07-01), Varga
patent: 5487261 (1996-01-01), Varga
patent: 5531064 (1996-07-01), Sawano et al.
patent: 5608832 (1997-03-01), Pfandl et al.
patent: 5621842 (1997-04-01), Keller
patent: 5651082 (1997-07-01), Eoll
patent: 5761363 (1998-06-01), Mills
patent: 5768460 (1998-06-01), Levi et al.
patent: 5809195 (1998-09-01), Brown et al.
patent: 5905835 (1999-05-01), Bourghelle et al.
patent: 6028976 (2000-02-01), Sato et al.
patent: 6072922 (2000-06-01), Albin et al.
patent: 6237316 (2001-05-01), Saito et al.
patent: 6256090 (2001-07-01), Chen et al.
patent: 6321013 (2001-11-01), Hardwick, III et al.
patent: 6898355 (2005-05-01), Johnson et al.
patent: 2005/0112396 (2005-05-01), Sue et al.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Functionally strained optical fibers does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Functionally strained optical fibers, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Functionally strained optical fibers will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3729091