Micromodule Optical Fiber Cable

Until recently, fiber optic cable was a bit like that old saying about death and taxes: It's there for you when you need it, but it can be rather fragile. This is especially true of glass optical fibers, which are strands of pure glass that can easily break, crack, and shatter. But now, thanks to some new technology, optical fiber cable is designed to last much longer.

The latest micromodule optical fiber cables are made from a polymer sheath with an aramid fiber stranded in between. This helps to provide both strength and flexibility, making the cables more robust and easier to handle than earlier generations of micromodule optical fiber cable. The new aramid sheaths can also help to reduce the amount of cable stress caused by movement or installation activities, which is a major problem in traditional multimode and single-mode optical fiber. This stress can cause the optical fibers within the cable to stretch, The micromodule cables which can lead to significant attenuation and data loss.

Another big advantage of the new micromodule optical fiber cable is that it can be used with different types of optical fibers, including single mode fiber, which remains the mainstay of long-distance telecommunications. SDGI's single mode fibers provide optimal performance in the 1310nm and 1550nm windows, minimizing dispersion to allow for high-speed data transmission over long distances. The new cables are also capable of withstanding higher levels of bend than previous versions, which allows for the use of more duct space and a reduction in the number of splices needed for extending networks.

One of the biggest challenges with using conventional micromodule cables is the need to furcate the individual subunits. This process can often lead to attenuation of the optical data in the cables, which is particularly problematic when the cables are being bent around corners or other tight spaces. Conventional micromodule cables may also be too thick for plenum-ratings and other cable specifications, making them unsuitable for many deployment applications.

As shown in FIG. 1, the exemplary micromodule breakout cable 10 includes a plurality of breakout units 20, each of which has twelve micromodules 60, and each of which contains a plurality of optical waveguides 66. Each of the micromodules is enclosed in a sheath of thickness 82.

The exemplary cable embodiments described in the patent application also feature a layer of strain-relief element 76, which is disposed adjacent to the inner surface of the sheath and can be compressed at different locations throughout the length of the cable. The tensile yarns in the exemplary strain-relief element can be made from a highly durable material, such as aramid or KEVLAR.

The exemplary breakout cable of the invention is configured to have desirable burn properties, a selected degree of durability, and hand accessibility. The cable can be configured to have a jacket thickness that is determined by the material modulus of the underlying sheath, as well as other factors. This helps to provide a micromodule breakout cable that is suitable for use in a variety of applications, while providing excellent burn and durability properties, compliance with plenum-ratings, and hand accessibility.