Transition assembly for high density optical fiber applications and a method of making the same

• US 20060198595A1
• Filed: 03/07/2005
• Published: 09/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: US Conec Limited (Corning Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: US Conec Limited (Corning Incorporated)
• Inventors: Granger, Russell J., Kaminski, Joseph L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,280,732 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/137
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4403 with ribbon structure G02B6/4429, G02B6/4439, G02B6/4479 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4472 Manifolds

Abstract

A transition assembly is provided that has a base with two sides and a plurality of optical fibers attached to each of the two sides. The optical fibers are attached to the base, with a protective covering over the optical fibers. The optical fibers are in a ribbonized format at one end of the transition assembly and in an individual format at the other end. The individual optical fibers may have protective tubes disposed thereon for protection.

Claims

1. A transition assembly for optical fibers comprising:

a base having two sides;

a plurality of optical fibers attached to each of the two sides of the base, the plurality of optical fibers attached to the each side of the base having a first portion being in a ribbon format and a second portion being individual separated optical fibers;

protective tubes covering each the individual separated optical fibers; and

a protective covering applied to each side of the base member and optical fibers.

2. The transition assembly of claim 1, wherein the protective tubes are 900 μ

m buffer tubes.

3. The transition assembly of claim 1, further comprising an adhesive layer attached to the base and the optical fibers.

4. The transition assembly of claim 3, wherein the adhesive layer is a polyimide sheet having an adhesive on at least one side.

5. The transition assembly of claim 1, further comprising means to secure the optical fibers and optical ribbon to the base.

6. The transition assembly of claim 5, wherein the means is selected from the group including epoxy, glue, and a heat shrink member.

7. The transition assembly of claim 1, wherein the protective covering is a conformal coating.

8. A method of fanning out optical fibers comprising the steps of:

providing a first plurality of optical fibers having a length, the first plurality of optical fibers being individual optical fibers along a first portion of the length and an optical fiber ribbon along a second portion of the length;

providing a second plurality of optical fibers having a length, the second plurality of optical fibers being individual optical fibers along a first portion of the length and an optical fiber ribbon along a second portion of the length;

attaching at least a portion of the first plurality of optical fibers to a first side of a base member such that at least a portion of the individual fibers and at least a portion of the optical fiber ribbon is disposed on the first side of the base;

attaching at least a portion of the second plurality of optical fibers to a second side of a base member such that at least a portion of the individual fibers and at least a portion of the optical fiber ribbon is disposed on the second side of the base; and

covering the optical fibers with a protective covering.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of disposing protective tubes on the individual optical fibers.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of disposing protective tubes occurs before the steps of attaching the optical fibers to the base.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of securing at least a portion of the individual optical fibers and optical fiber ribbon to the base.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the individual optical fibers and optical fiber ribbon are secured with a heat shrink tube.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the steps of attaching the optical fibers to the base comprises optical fibers from the first optical fiber ribbon to an adhesive layer and attaching the adhesive layer with the optical fibers attached thereto to a respective side of the base.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of covering the optical fibers occurs before the steps of attaching the optical fibers to the base.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein the optical fiber ribbon along the second portion of the length are ribbonized individual fibers.

16. A transition assembly for optical fibers comprising:

a base having two sides;

a plurality of optical fibers attached to each of the two sides of the base, the plurality of optical fibers attached to the each side of the base having a first portion being in a ribbon format and a second portion being individual separated optical fibers; and

a protective covering applied to each side of the base member and optical fibers.

17. A transition assembly for optical fibers comprising:

a base having two sides;

a first plurality of optical fibers attached to one of the two sides of the base, the plurality of optical fibers attached to the each side of the base having a first portion being in a ribbon format and a second portion being individual separated optical fibers;

a second plurality of optical fibers attached to the first plurality of optical fibers, the second plurality of optical fibers having a first portion being in a ribbon format and a second portion being individual separated optical fibers; and

a protective covering applied to the second plurality of optical fibers.

18. The transition assembly of claim 17, further comprising a protective covering applied to the first plurality of optical fibers and disposed between the first and second plurality of optical fibers.