Multipitch optical fiber ribbon
First Claim
1. An optical fiber ribbon that can be readily connected between first and second arrays of optical receptacles, wherein the spacing in the first array is different from the spacing in the second array, the optical fiber ribbon comprising:
- an array of a plurality of optical fibers that extend longitudinally and are laterally adjacent; and
bonding material having opposite first and second ends, wherein the bonding material bonds the optical fibers together at and between the first and second ends of the bonding material, and between the first and second ends of the bonding material the array is absent of splices between the optical fibers, and wherein;
the array comprises;
a longitudinally extending first segment extending from the first end of the bonding material toward the second end of the bonding material and terminating distant from the second end of the bonding material, and a longitudinally extending second segment extending from the second end of the bonding material toward the first end of the bonding material and terminating proximate the first segment of the array and distant from the first end of the bonding material;
the bonding material comprises;
a longitudinally extending first bonding material that engages and bonds the optical fibers together along the first segment of the array, and a longitudinally extending second bonding material that is different from the first bonding material, and that engages and bonds the optical fibers together along the second segment of the array; and
lateral spacing defined between adjacent optical fibers is substantially uniform throughout the first segment of the array and varies in the longitudinal direction in the second section of the array, wherein a lateral first spacing is defined between adjacent optical fibers at the first end of the bonding material, a lateral second spacing is defined between adjacent optical fibers at the second end of the bonding material, and the first spacing is different from the second spacing.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multipitch optical fiber ribbon includes optical fibers that extend longitudinally and are laterally adjacent. The optical fibers are bonded together by bonding material having opposite first and second ends. A lateral first spacing is defined between adjacent optical fibers at the first end of the bonding material and a lateral second spacing is defined between adjacent optical fibers at the second end of the bonding material, and the first spacing is different from the second spacing. The bonding material includes a first segment at the first end of the bonding material and a second segment at the second end of the bonding material. The composition of the first segment of the bonding material can be the same as the composition of the second segment of the bonding material, or the first and second segments of the bonding material can have different compositions.
40 Citations
11 Claims
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1. An optical fiber ribbon that can be readily connected between first and second arrays of optical receptacles, wherein the spacing in the first array is different from the spacing in the second array, the optical fiber ribbon comprising:
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an array of a plurality of optical fibers that extend longitudinally and are laterally adjacent; and
bonding material having opposite first and second ends, wherein the bonding material bonds the optical fibers together at and between the first and second ends of the bonding material, and between the first and second ends of the bonding material the array is absent of splices between the optical fibers, and wherein;
the array comprises;
a longitudinally extending first segment extending from the first end of the bonding material toward the second end of the bonding material and terminating distant from the second end of the bonding material, and a longitudinally extending second segment extending from the second end of the bonding material toward the first end of the bonding material and terminating proximate the first segment of the array and distant from the first end of the bonding material;
the bonding material comprises;
a longitudinally extending first bonding material that engages and bonds the optical fibers together along the first segment of the array, and a longitudinally extending second bonding material that is different from the first bonding material, and that engages and bonds the optical fibers together along the second segment of the array; and
lateral spacing defined between adjacent optical fibers is substantially uniform throughout the first segment of the array and varies in the longitudinal direction in the second section of the array, wherein a lateral first spacing is defined between adjacent optical fibers at the first end of the bonding material, a lateral second spacing is defined between adjacent optical fibers at the second end of the bonding material, and the first spacing is different from the second spacing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
the first bonding material comprises a solidified polymeric material that fills the interstices between the optical fibers and extends to the outside boundary of the optical fiber ribbon; and
the second bonding material comprises a tape and an adhesive backing on a side of the tape that is oriented toward the optical fibers.
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Specification