Description:TECHNICAL FIELD
The present disclosure relates to the field of optical fiber cables and, in particular, relates to an optical fiber cable with plurality of slots.

BACKGROUND
Optical fibers are widely used to transmit information or data in form of light from one place to another. The optical fibers are disposed within the optical fiber cable. The optical fiber cables are widely known in the prior art. Specifically, Water penetration through the cable core can cause mechanical and/or optical degradation in optical fibers. Conventionally water swellable yarns (WSYs) are placed inside an optical fiber cable along with one or more optical fibers and additionally a water blocking tape (WBT) is wrapped around a core of the optical fiber cable. However, due to uneven distribution of water blocking elements, the optical fiber cable often fails. Similarly, for an optical fiber cable with requirement on fire retardancy, one or more fire retardant components are not distributed uniformly in conventional optical fiber cables. For example, the reference US10983294B2 discloses a cable core with conventional solid slot and buffer tubes with fibers positioned in each slot. US10983294B2 further discloses a water blocking tape (WBT) wrapped around the slot. Another reference WO2023282284A1 discloses a conventional solid slot and a WBT in each slot over a bundle of optical fibers. Another reference JP2022013026A discloses about a conventional solid slot having a strength member embedded at centre and having optical fiber ribbons and cushioning material placed in slots.
In light of the above stated discussion, to overcome the above stated disadvantages of the conventional optical fiber cables, there is a need for an optical fiber cable with uniform distribution of water absorption and/or fire retardancy properties of components inside the optical fiber cable.

SUMMARY
In an aspect of the present disclosure, an optical fiber cable is disclosed. The optical fiber cable has a plurality of optical fibers, a deformable skeleton structure, and a sheath that surrounds the plurality of optical fibers and the deformable skeleton structure such that the sheath and the deformable skeleton structure forms a plurality of slots. Specifically, one or more optical fibers of the plurality of optical fibers are positioned inside one or more slots of the plurality of slots.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Having thus described the disclosure in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying figures, where:
FIG. 1 illustrates a cross sectional view of an optical fiber cable.
FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an optical fiber cable.
FIG. 3 illustrates a cross sectional view of an optical fiber cable.
FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an optical fiber cable.
It should be noted that the accompanying figures are intended to present illustrations of exemplary aspects of the present disclosure. These figures are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. It should also be noted that accompanying figures are not necessarily drawn to scale.

DEFINITIONS
The term “optical fiber” as used herein refers to a light guide that provides high-speed data transmission. The optical fiber has one or more glass core regions and one or more glass cladding regions. The light moving through the glass core regions of the optical fiber relies upon the principle of total internal reflection, where the glass core regions have a higher refractive index (n1) than the refractive index (n2) of the glass cladding region of the optical fiber.
The term “optical fiber cable” as used herein refers to a cable that encloses a plurality of optical fibers.
The term “intermittently bonded ribbon (IBR)” as used herein refers to an optical fiber ribbon having a plurality of optical fibers such that the plurality of optical fibers is intermittently bonded to each other by a plurality of bonded portions that are placed along the length of the plurality of optical fibers. The plurality of bonded portions is separated by a plurality of unbonded portions.
The term “Bending stiffness” as used herein refers to a resistance of a member against bending deformation.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The detailed description of the appended drawings is intended as a description of the currently preferred aspects of the present disclosure, and is not intended to represent the only form in which the present disclosure may be practiced. It is to be understood that the same or equivalent functions may be accomplished by different aspects that are intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.
Moreover, although the following description contains many specifics for the purposes of illustration, anyone skilled in the art will appreciate that many variations and/or alterations to said details are within the scope of the present technology. Similarly, although many of the features of the present technology are described in terms of each other, or in conjunction with each other, one skilled in the art will appreciate that many of these features can be provided independently of other features. Accordingly, this description of the present technology is set forth without any loss of generality to, and without imposing limitations upon, the present technology.
FIG. 1 illustrates a cross sectional view of an optical fiber cable 100. Specifically, the optical fiber cable 100 may have at least one of, a water absorption property and a fire-retardant property. The optical fiber cable 100 may have a plurality of optical fibers 102 of which first through sixteenth optical fibers 102a-102p are shown, a deformable skeleton structure 104, and a sheath 106. Specifically, the sheath 106 may surround the plurality of optical fibers 102 (i.e., the first through sixteenth optical fibers 102a-102p) and the deformable skeleton structure 104. In some aspects of the present disclosure, the plurality of optical fibers 102 may be, but not limited to, a single mode optical fiber, a multimode optical fiber, a single core optical fiber, a multicore optical fiber, and the like. Aspects of the present disclosure are intended to have and/or otherwise cover any type of the optical fibers, without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure. In some aspects of the present disclosure, the plurality of optical fibers 102 may be in the form of, but not limited to, loose fibers, a ribbon stack, a ribbon bundle, an intermittently bonded ribbon (IBR) bundle, tight buffered fibers, and the like. Aspects of the present disclosure are intended to have and/or otherwise cover the plurality of optical fibers 102 in any form, known to a person of ordinary skill in the art, without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that the optical fiber cable 100 is shown to have sixteen optical fibers (i.e., the plurality of optical fibers 102 has the first through sixteenth optical fibers 102a-102p) to make the illustrations concise and clear and should not be considered as a limitation of the present disclosure. In various other aspects, the optical fiber cable 100 can have any number of optical fibers i.e., the plurality of optical fibers 102 may have any number of optical fibers, without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure.
In some aspects of the present disclosure, the plurality of optical fibers 102 in one or more slots of the plurality of slots 108 may be bound by a binder such as, but not limited to, a binder yarn (i.e., made up of, but not limited to, polyester, aramid, and the like), a binder tape (i.e., made up of Polypropylene (PP) material), a Water Swellable Yarn (WSY), a Water Blocking Tape (WBT), a fire-retardant tape, and the like. Aspects of the present disclosure are intended to have and/or otherwise cover any type of the binder, without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure. In some aspects of the present disclosure, the plurality of optical fibers 102 in the one or more slots of the plurality of slots 108 may be enclosed by a plurality of loose tubes (not shown).
The sheath 106 and the deformable skeleton structure 104 may form a plurality of slots 108 of which first through fourth slots 108a-108d are shown. Further, the plurality of optical fibers 102 may be positioned inside the plurality of slots 108. Specifically, one or more optical fibers of the plurality of optical fibers 102 may be positioned inside the one or more slots of the plurality of slots 108. For example, the first through fourth optical fibers 102a-102d may be positioned inside the first slot 108a. Similarly, the fifth through eighth optical fibers 102e-102h may be positioned inside the second slot 108b. Similarly, the ninth through twelfth optical fibers 102i-102l may be positioned inside the third slot 108c. Similarly, the thirteenth through sixteenth optical fibers 102m-102p may be positioned inside the fourth slot 108d. In some aspects of the present disclosure, the plurality of slots 108 may have 3 slots to 10 slots. It will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that the optical fiber cable 100 is shown to have four slots (i.e., the plurality of slots 108 has the first through fourth slots 108a-108d) to make the illustrations concise and clear and should not be considered as a limitation of the present disclosure. In various other aspects, the optical fiber cable 100 can have any number of slots i.e., the plurality of slots 108 that are formed by the sheath 106 and the deformable skeleton structure 104 may have any number of slots, without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure.
In some aspects of the present disclosure, the deformable skeleton structure 104 may be made up of, but not limited to, a Water Blocking Tape (WBT), a mica tape, a non-woven fabric, and the like. In some aspects of the present disclosure, the deformable skeleton structure 104 may further have at least one of, a water swellable material and a fire-retardant material. In some aspects of the present disclosure, the deformable skeleton structure 104 may have both, a water swellable material and a fire-retardant material. In a preferred aspect of the present disclosure, the deformable skeleton structure 104 may be made up of a non-woven fabric with a water swellable material. In another preferred aspect of the present disclosure, the deformable skeleton structure 104 may be made up of a non-woven fabric with a fire-retardant material. Specifically, the water swellable material and the fire-retardant material in the deformable skeleton structure 104 may facilitate in uniform distribution of water blockage inside the optical fiber cable 100 and uniform distribution of fire retardancy inside the optical fiber cable 100, respectively.
In some aspects of the present disclosure, each slot of the plurality of slots 108 may have one or more water swellable yarns (WSYs) along with the one or more optical fibers of the plurality of optical fibers 102. For example, the first slot 108a may have one or more WSYs along with the first through fourth optical fibers 102a-102d. Similarly, the second slot 108b may have one or more WSYs along with the fifth through eighth optical fibers 102e-102h. Similarly, the third slot 108c may have one or more WSYs along with the ninth through twelfth optical fibers 102i-102l. Similarly, the fourth slot 108d may have one or more WSYs along with the thirteenth through sixteenth optical fibers 102m-102p. Specifically, one or more WSYs in each slot of the plurality of slots 108 (i.e., the first through fourth slots 108a-108d) may facilitate in uniform distribution of water blockage inside the optical fiber cable 100.
In some aspects of the present disclosure, the non-woven fabric of deformable skeleton structure 104 may have a thickness that may be in a range of 0.1 millimetre (mm) to 0.5 mm. Specifically, the deformable skeleton structure 104 with the thickness in the range of 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm may facilitate in efficient manufacture and handling of the optical fiber cable 100. Further, when the thickness of the deformable skeleton structure 104 is less than or equal to 0.5 mm, the deformable skeleton structure 104 occupies less space inside the optical fiber cable 100, thus, increases packaging efficiency of the optical fiber cable 100. Furthermore, when the thickness of the deformable skeleton structure 104 is greater than or equal to 0.1, the deformable skeleton structure 104 efficiently incorporates water absorption and fire-retardant properties. In some aspects of the present disclosure, the deformable skeleton structure 104 may have a bending stiffness of less than 50 Millinewton Meter (mNm). Specifically, the deformable skeleton structure 104 with the bending stiffness of less than 50 mNm may result in a less rigid structure that may facilitate in efficient packaging of one or more optical fiber elements inside the optical fiber cable 100.
In some aspects of the present disclosure, the deformable skeleton structure 104, when exposed to water, may have a swelling height of greater than 5 mm. Specifically, the deformable skeleton structure 104 with the swelling height of greater than 5 mm on exposure with water may facilitate to provide enough water absorption such that ingression the optical fiber cable 100 is substantially blocked.
FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an optical fiber cable 200. The optical fiber cable 200 may be substantially similar to the optical fiber cable 100 of FIG. 1, with like elements denoted with like reference numerals. However, the optical fiber cable 200 has one or more strength members 202. Specifically, the optical fiber cable 200 may have the plurality of optical fibers 102 (i.e., the first through sixteenth optical fibers 102a-102p), the deformable skeleton structure 104, the sheath 106, and the one or more strength members 202 of which first through fourth strength members 202a-202d are shown. The sheath 106 and the deformable skeleton structure 104 may form the plurality of slots 108 (i.e., the first through fourth slots 108a-108d). Specifically, the one or more strength members 200 may be embedded in the sheath 106. In other words, the first through fourth strength members 202a-202d may be embedded in the sheath 106. The first through fourth strength members 202a-202d may facilitate to provide strength to the optical fiber cable 200 that may be required during installation process. Further, the first through fourth strength members 202a-202d may support majority of structural strength of the optical fiber cable 200 and may facilitate to enhance a tensile strength of the optical fiber cable 200 which is highly needed during the installation process. It will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that the optical fiber cable 200 is shown to have four strength members (i.e., the one or more strength members 202 has the first through strength members 202a-202d) to make the illustrations concise and clear and should not be considered as a limitation of the present disclosure. In various other aspects, the optical fiber cable 100 can have any number of strength members i.e., the one or more strength members 202 may have any number of strength members, without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure.
FIG. 3 illustrates a cross sectional view of an optical fiber cable 300. The optical fiber cable 300 may be substantially similar to the optical fiber cable 100 of FIG. 1, with like elements denoted with like reference numerals. However, the optical fiber cable 300 has the plurality of optical fibers 102 in the form of one or more bunches 302 of which first through twelfth bunches 302a-302l are shown. In some aspects of the present disclosure, each bunch of the one or more bunches 302 may have a plurality of optical fiber ribbons 304. Specifically, the first through twelfth bunches 302a-302l may have the plurality of optical fiber ribbons 304 i.e., first through twelfth plurality of optical fiber ribbons 304a-304l, respectively. In some aspects of the present disclosure, the plurality of optical fiber ribbons 304 may be intermittently bonded ribbon (IBRs). In other words, the first through twelfth plurality of optical fiber ribbons 304a-304l may be IBRs. The optical fiber cable 300 may further have the deformable skeleton structure 104 and the sheath 106. As discussed in FIG. 1, the deformable skeleton structure 104 and the sheath 106 may form the plurality of slots 108 (i.e., the first through fourth slots 108a-108d). As illustrated, the first through twelfth bunches 302a-302l may be positioned in the first through fourth slots 108a-108d. For example, the first through third bunches 302a-302c may be positioned inside the first slot 108a. Similarly, the fourth through sixth bunches 302d-302f may be positioned inside the second slot 108b. Similarly, the seventh through ninth bunches 302g-302i may be positioned inside the third slot 108c. Similarly, the tenth through twelfth bunches 302j-302l may be positioned inside the fourth slot 108d. Although FIG. 3 illustrates that the one or more bunches 302 includes twelve bunches (i.e., the first through twelfth bunches 302a-302l), it will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to it. In various other aspects, the one or more bunches 302 may include any number of bunches, without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure.
In some aspects of the present disclosure, the plurality of optical fiber ribbons 304 in one or more slots of the plurality of slots 108 may be bound by a binder such as, but not limited to, a binder yarn (i.e., made up of, but not limited to, polyester, aramid, and the like), a binder tape (i.e., made up of Polypropylene (PP) material), a Water Swellable Yarn (WSY), a Water Blocking Tape (WBT), a fire-retardant tape, and the like. Aspects of the present disclosure are intended to have and/or otherwise cover any type of the binder, without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure. In some aspects of the present disclosure, the plurality of optical fiber ribbons 304 (i.e., the first through twelfth plurality of optical fiber ribbons 304a-304l) in the one or more slots of the plurality of slots 108 may be enclosed by a plurality of tubes (not shown).
Specifically, the optical fiber cable 300 may have at least one of, a water absorption property and a fire-retardant property. In some aspects of the present disclosure, each slot of the plurality of slots 108 may have a different color. In other words, the first through fourth slots 108a-108d may have a different color. Specifically, the different colors of each slot of the plurality of slots 108 may facilitate in identification of the one or more bunches 302 (i.e., the first through twelfth bunches 302a-302l).
FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an optical fiber cable 400. The optical fiber cable 400 may be substantially similar to the optical fiber cable 300 of FIG. 3, with like elements denoted with like reference numerals. However, the optical fiber cable 400 has the one or more strength members 402. As illustrated, the optical fiber cable 400 has the plurality of optical fibers 102 in the form of the one or more bunches 302 (i.e., the first through twelfth bunches 302a-302l). In some aspects of the present disclosure, each bunch of the one or more bunches 302 may have the plurality of optical fiber ribbons 304. Specifically, the first through twelfth bunches 302a-302l may have the plurality of optical fiber ribbons 304 i.e., the first through twelfth plurality of optical fiber ribbons 304a-304l, respectively. Further, the optical fiber cable 400 may have the deformable skeleton structure 104, the sheath 106, and the one or more strength members 402 of which first through fourth strength members 402a-402d are shown. The sheath 106 and the deformable skeleton structure 104 may form the plurality of slots 108 (i.e., the first through fourth slots 108a-108d). Specifically, the one or more strength members 402 may be embedded in the sheath 106. In other words, the first through fourth strength members 402a-402d may be embedded in the sheath 106. The first through fourth strength members 402a-402d may facilitate to provide strength to the optical fiber cable 400 that is required during installation process. Further, the first through fourth strength members 402a-402d may support majority of structural strength of the optical fiber cable 400 and may facilitate to enhance a tensile strength of the optical fiber cable 400 which is highly needed during the installation process. It will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that the optical fiber cable 400 is shown to have four strength members (i.e., the one or more strength members 402 has the first through strength members 402a-402d) to make the illustrations concise and clear and should not be considered as a limitation of the present disclosure. In various other aspects, the optical fiber cable 400 can have any number of strength members i.e., the one or more strength members 402 may have any number of strength members, without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure.
Thus, the optical fiber cables 100, 200, 300, and 400 has the deformable skeleton structure 104 that forms the plurality of slots 108 such that uniform distribution of the water absorption and/or the fire retardancy properties is achieved for the components inside the optical fiber cable 100, 200, 300, 400. The deformable skeleton structure 104 itself exhibits one or more properties such as, but not limited to, the water absorption, the fire retardancy, and the like. Further, each slot of the plurality of slots 108 of the optical fiber cable 300, 400 may have a different color that may facilitate in identification of the one or more bunches 302 (i.e., the first through twelfth bunches 302a-302l).
The foregoing descriptions of specific aspects of the present technology have been presented for the purpose of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present technology to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The aspects were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present technology and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present technology and various aspects with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but such are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present technology.
While several possible aspects of the invention have been described above and illustrated in some cases, it should be interpreted and understood as to have been presented only by way of illustration and example, but not by limitation. Thus, the breadth and scope of a preferred aspect should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary aspects.
, Claims:I/We Claim(s):
1. An optical fiber cable (100, 200, 300, 400) comprising:
a plurality of optical fibers (102);
a deformable skeleton structure (104); and
a sheath (106) that surrounds the plurality of optical fibers (102) and the deformable skeleton structure (104) such that the sheath (106) and the deformable skeleton structure (104) forms a plurality of slots (108), where one or more optical fibers of the plurality of optical fibers (102) are positioned inside one or more slots of the plurality of slots (108).

2. The optical fiber cable (100, 200, 300, 400) of claim 1, where the deformable skeleton structure (104) is made up of a non-woven fabric.

3. The optical fiber cable (100, 200, 300, 400) of claim 1, where the deformable skeleton structure (104) further comprising one of, water swellable material, fire retardant material, or a combination thereof.

4. The optical fiber cable (100, 200, 300, 400) of claim 1, where each slot of the plurality of slots (104) comprising one or more water swellable yarns (WSYs) along with the one or more optical fibers of the plurality of optical fiber (102).

5. The optical fiber cable (100, 200, 300, 400) of claim 1, where the deformable skeleton structure (104) has a bending stiffness of less than 50 Millinewton Meter (mNm).

6. The optical fiber cable (100, 200, 300, 400) of claim 2, where the non-woven fabric has a thickness that is in a range of 0.1 millimetre (mm) to 0.5 (mm).

7. The optical fiber cable (100, 200, 300, 400) of claim 1, where the plurality of slots (108) comprising 3 to 10 slots.

8. The optical fiber cable (100, 200, 300, 400) of claim 1, where the plurality of optical fibers (102) are in the form of one or more bunches (302) of a plurality of optical fiber ribbons (304).

9. The optical fiber cable (100, 200, 300, 400) of claim 7, where the plurality of optical fiber ribbons (304) are intermittently bonded ribbon (IBRs).

10. The optical fiber cable (100, 200, 300, 400) of claim 7, where the plurality of optical fiber ribbons (304) in the one or more slots of the plurality of slots (108) are bound by one of, a binder yarn, a binder tape, a WSY, a WBT, a Fire-retardant tape.

11. The optical fiber cable (100, 200, 300, 400) of claim 1, where each slot of the plurality of slots (108) has a different colour.

12. The optical fiber cable (100, 200, 300, 400) of claim 1, where the deformable skeleton structure (104), when exposed to water, has a swelling height of greater than 5 mm.

13. The optical fiber cable (100, 200, 300, 400) of claim 1, further comprising one or more strength members (202, 402) embedded in the sheath (106).