Fiber optic ribbon interconnect cable

Abstract

A fiber optic cable comprising an optical ribbon ( 20 ), a jacket ( 40 ), and a buffer material ( 30 ) between the optical ribbon ( 20 ) and the jacket ( 40 ). Buffer material ( 30 ) includes at least one volume of buffer material defining a stress-cushioning zone ( 32 ) between optical ribbon ( 20 ) and jacket ( 40 ), the stress-cushioning zone being operative to substantially decouple jacket ( 40 ) from ribbon ( 20 ) in the region of the stress-cushioning zone ( 32 ) thereby inhibiting the application of stress to optical ribbon ( 20 ). Buffer material ( 30 ) includes at least one volume of material at an intermediate buffer zone ( 35 ) held substantially tight against an intermediate portion ( 25 ) of optical ribbon ( 20 ) for inhibiting the twisting of optical ribbon ( 20 ). The volume of material at the stress-cushioning zone ( 32 ) is substantially larger than the volume of the buffer material of the intermediate buffer zone ( 35 ). Where buffer material ( 30 ) comprises tensile strength fibers, the fibers perform the dual functions of tensile strength and lateral stress-cushioning.

Accordingly, what is claimed:  
     
         1 . A fiber optic cable comprising: 
 an optical ribbon having optical fibers in a common matrix coating, a jacket, and a buffer material between said common matrix coating and said jacket;    said buffer material including at least one volume of buffer material defining a stress-cushioning zone between said optical ribbon and said jacket, said stress-cushioning zone being operative to substantially decouple said jacket from said ribbon in the region of the stress-cushioning zone thereby inhibiting the application of stress to said optical ribbon; and    said buffer material including at least one volume of material at an intermediate buffer zone held substantially tight against an intermediate portion of said optical ribbon for inhibiting the twisting of said optical ribbon.    
     
     
         2 . The fiber optic cable of  claim 1 , wherein said volume of material at said stress-cushioning zone is substantially larger than the volume of said buffer material of said intermediate buffer zone.  
     
     
         3 . The fiber optic cable of  claim 1 , wherein said buffer material comprises fibers, the fibers perform the dual functions of tensile strength for resisting tensile elongations, and perform a lateral cushioning effect in the stress-cushioning zones.  
     
     
         4 . The fiber optic cable of  claim 1 , wherein said buffer material is capable of performing the dual functions of longitudinal tensile strength and lateral cushioning in said stress-cushioning zones.  
     
     
         5 . The fiber optic cable of  claim 1 , wherein said jacket includes a linear portion.  
     
     
         6 . A fiber optic cable comprising: 
 an optical ribbon having optical fibers in a common matrix coating, a jacket, and a buffer material between said common matrix coating and said jacket;    volumes of buffer material defining stress-cushioning zones between said optical ribbon and said jacket for avoiding attenuation in the optical ribbon when the cable is stressed;    volumes of buffer material defining intermediate buffer zones; and    said buffer material being substantially non-uniformly distributed about said optical ribbon such that the volume of said buffer material in said stress-cushioning zones is substantially different than the volume of said buffering material in said intermediate buffer zones.    
     
     
         7 . The fiber optic cable of  claim 6 , wherein said buffer material increases in volume from an intermediate portion of said optical ribbon laterally toward edges of the optical ribbon.  
     
     
         8 . The fiber optic cable of  claim 6 , wherein the volume of said buffer material is generally at a maximum between end fibers of the optical ribbon and buffer walls of said jacket.  
     
     
         9 . The fiber optic cable of  claim 6 , wherein the volume of said buffer material is generally at a minimum between an intermediate portion of the optical ribbon and intermediate walls of said jacket.  
     
     
         10 . The fiber optic cable of  claim 6 , wherein said buffer zones are characterized by generally maximum distance regions defined between said jacket and said optical ribbon.  
     
     
         11 . The fiber optic cable of  claim 6 , wherein the buffer material comprises fibers.  
     
     
         12 . The fiber optic cable of  claim 11 , wherein said fibers are generally longitudinally disposed along said optical ribbon.  
     
     
         13 . The fiber optic cable of  claim 6 , wherein said optical ribbon includes at least one notch.  
     
     
         14 . The fiber optic cable of  claim 6 , wherein said jacket includes crests in said jacket adjacent said buffer zones.  
     
     
         15 . The fiber optic cable of  claim 6 , wherein said jacket includes generally convex portions facing said optical ribbon.  
     
     
         16 . The fiber optic cable of  claim 6 , wherein said jacket is non-round and non-oval.  
     
     
         17 . The fiber optic cable of  claim 6 , wherein said jacket includes a separation means.  
     
     
         18 . The fiber optic cable of  claim 6 , wherein said fiber optic cable is frangibly connected to another fiber optic cable.  
     
     
         19 . The fiber optic cable of  claim 6 , wherein multiple optical ribbons are within said jacket.  
     
     
         20 . The fiber optic cable of  claim 6 , wherein said fiber optic cable is stranded around a central member.  
     
     
         21 . The fiber optic cable of  claim 6 , wherein said buffer material is capable of performing the dual functions of longitudinal tensile strength and lateral cushioning in said stress-cushioning zones.  
     
     
         22 . The fiber optic cable of  claim 6 , wherein said jacket includes a linear portion.  
     
     
         23 . A fiber optic cable comprising: 
 an optical ribbon having optical fibers in a common matrix coating, a jacket, and a buffer material between said common matrix coating and said jacket;    volumes of buffer material defining stress-cushioning zones between said optical ribbon and said jacket for avoiding attenuation in the optical ribbon when the cable is stressed;    volumes of buffer material defining intermediate buffer zones; and    said jacket being substantially non-uniformly disposed about said optical ribbon such that said jacket adjacent said stress-cushioning zones includes respective crests from which said jacket slopes inwardly toward said intermediate buffer zones.    
     
     
         24 . The fiber optic cable of  claim 23 , wherein said jacket includes generally convex portions facing said optical ribbon.  
     
     
         25 . The fiber optic cable of  claim 23 , wherein said jacket is non-round and non-oval.  
     
     
         26 . The fiber optic cable of  claim 23 , wherein said jacket includes a separation means.  
     
     
         27 . The fiber optic cable of  claim 23 , wherein said fiber optic cable is frangibly connected to another fiber optic cable.  
     
     
         28 . The fiber optic cable of  claim 23 , wherein multiple optical ribbons are within said jacket.  
     
     
         29 . The fiber optic cable of  claim 23 , wherein said fiber optic cable is stranded around a central member.  
     
     
         30 . The fiber optic cable of  claim 23 , wherein said buffer material is capable of performing the dual functions of longitudinal tensile strength and lateral cushioning in said stress-cushioning zones.  
     
     
         31 . The fiber optic cable of  claim 23 , wherein said jacket includes a linear portion.