A sheathed optical fiber (15) which may be used in a package (20) in guidance systems for tethered vehicles includes a carrier (21) on which are wrapped a plurality of convolutions of the sheathed optical fiber. The sheathed optical fiber in a preferred embodiment includes a metallic tubular member (40) with optical fiber (30) being disposed in a longitudinally extending passageway (42) of the tubular member and secured therein against unintended lateral disassociation with the tubular member in a manner which minimize microbending losses. The reinforced optical fiber has mechanical ruggedness and tensile load capability which render it ideal for use in tethered vehicles.
A method of making a strippable tight buffered cable is disclosed, the cable comprising an optical waveguide fiber, a first protective coat circumscribing and in contact with the outer surface of the optical waveguide an interfacial layer circumscribing and in contact with the external surface of the first protective coating composed of particles of solid lubricant held together with a cross-linked film-forming binder, and a second protective coating circumscribing the external surface of the interfacial layer. Apparatus for making the strippable cable is also disclosed.
The present invention relates to a tight buffered optical waveguide fiber which includes an optical waveguide fiber, a first protective coating which surrounds and is in contact with an external surface of the optical waveguide fiber and an interfacial layer which surrounds and is in contact with an external surface of the first protective coating. The interfacial layer includes a surfactant and an antifoaming agent. The tight buffered optical waveguide fiber further includes a second protective coating which surrounds and is in contact with an external surface of the interfacial layer. The present invention further relates to a method of producing the tight buffered optical waveguide fiber.
The present invention relates to an optical fiber component, which includes an optical component, (e.g., a glass tube), one or more glass optical fibers attached to the surface of said component, and a surface pretreatment layer, formed from a silane applied to the surfaces of the component and the one or more glass optical fibers. Preferably, an adhesive is applied over the surface pretreatment layer to strengthen attachment of the component to the one or more glass optical fibers. A method of preparing such optical fiber components is also disclosed.
The invention relates to a waveguide comprising a transparent polymeric central core clad externally with one or more polymeric layers, at least one of the core or clad layer containing layered particles disposed in a polymeric binder, wherein a majority of the particles have a lateral dimension less than 1 micrometer.
