Alcatel

Houching Michael Yang

Justin Thompson

Steven Xuefeng Shen

Robert W Greer, Iv

Patrick Bourghelle

Bob J Overton

Michael B Purvis

Kevin Paschal

Alfred L Hinson

Peter R Stupak

Magnus Gunnarsson

Curtis John Hutton

Richard T Robinson

Mark Abee

A color-coded optical fiber ribbon includes a plurality of substantially parallel, adjacent, longitudinally extending optical fibers disposed, at least at a given cross section of the optical fiber ribbon, in substantially the same plane. A resin matrix material covers the optical fibers, which have at least one coating formed thereon. A color-coding identification scheme for the optical fiber ribbon is formed by coloring the optical fiber ribbon with at least two colors. A ribbon die for producing the color-coded optical fiber ribbon includes at least one coating chamber having at least one primary coating orifice for supplying a primary coating material to be applied to the optical fibers; and at least one flow guide channel for supplying a colored material in addition to the primary coating material in order to coat predetermined areas of the fiber optic ribbon so as to form the color-coding identification scheme.

Color-coded optical fiber ribbon and die for making the same

A coating applicator for continuously applying matrix material to a plurality of optical fibers arranged in a ribbon configuration is described. The coating applicator has a first contacting means for contacting the plurality of optical fibers on a first side of the plurality of optical fibers and for contacting a first end fiber of the plurality of optical fibers. The coating applicator also has a second contacting means for contacting the plurality of optical fibers on a second side of the plurality of optical fibers and for contacting a second end fiber of the plurality of optical fibers. The second contacting means is located downstream of the first contacting means, and is located relative to the first contacting means so that the optical fibers are forced to contact the first and second contacting means as described above.

Coating applicator for producing optical fiber ribbon with improved geometry

A splittable double-embedded optical fiber ribbon, which includes a plurality of sub-unit ribbons, encapsulated within an outer encapsulation layer. At least two of the sub-units include complementary edges which are shaped so that, when adjacent one another, they enhance the stability of the interface between those sub-units. The enhanced stability of the sub-unit interface improves the planarity of the double-embedded optical fiber ribbon of which they are a part.

Splittable optical fiber ribbons

A method for manufacturing optical fiber ribbon containing optical fibers having colored layers. The color is provided in a secondary coating composition that is cured prior to application of a matrix material for forming the optical fiber ribbon. The secondary coating composition includes a photoinitiator that is relatively insensitive to oxygen, and the environment to which the secondary coating composition is exposed is limited by removing the boundary layer of air surrounding the secondary coating composition prior to the application of the matrix material thereto.

Method for manufacturing optical fiber ribbon

An optical fiber multi-ribbon and method for making the same is disclosed. The optical fiber multi-ribbon comprises N, where N is an integer greater than one, optical fiber ribbon members arranged in a common plane. Each of the N optical fiber ribbon members further comprise a plurality of optical fibers arranged in a planar array and an ultraviolet light curable primary matrix ribbonizing layer enveloping the plurality of optical fibers. The material forming the primary matrix ribbonizing layer of at least one of the N optical fiber ribbon members has a surface cure of at least about 80 percent. An ultraviolet light curable secondary matrix ribbonizing layer envelopes the primary matrix ribbonizing layers of the N optical fiber ribbon members. The secondary matrix ribbonizing layer material has a percent elongation to break greater than about 20 percent. The combination of the 80 percent surface cure of the primary matrix ribbonizing layers and the percent elongation to break greater than 20 percent of the secondary matrix ribbonizing layer provide an optical fiber multi-ribbon that has good handleability in terms of peeling of the secondary matrix ribbonizing layer from the primary matrix ribbonizing layer and good separation between the N optical fiber ribbons.

Optical fiber multi-ribbon and method for making the same

An optical fiber ribbon is disclosed. The optical fiber ribbon comprises a plurality of optical fibers arranged in a parallel planar array, the planar array being further defined by first and second planar sides spanning between first and second ends. A matrix material coating envelops the optical fibers so as to bond the optical fibers together in the parallel planar array. The matrix material coating forms a first substantially planar surface section spanning the first planar side of the planar array of optical fibers. A second substantially planar surface section spans the second planar side of the planar array of optical fibers. A first hinge section bridges the first and second substantially planar surface sections at the first end of the planar array and a second hinge section bridges the first and second substantially planar surface sections at the second end of the planar array. At least one of first hinge sections has a surface portion which extends outwardly normal to and beyond at least one of the planes defined by either the first or second planar surface sections of the matrix material coating. The shapes of the hinge sections enable them to be removed without special tools and enable the ribbons to be stacked. Removal of the hinged sections enables access to the optical fibers without special tools by compromising the structural integrity of the matrix material coating.

Optical fiber ribbon

A composite reinforced buffer tube for an optical fiber cable is disclosed. The composite reinforced buffer tube comprises an extruded elongated thermoplastic matrix having an elongated, substantially continuous, reinforcement incorporated therein along its length between its inside and outside walls. The substantially continuous reinforcing is co-extruded with the elongated thermoplastic matrix and bonded to the matrix at interface regions therebetween. The material forming the reinforcement has a higher modulus of elasticity than the material forming the thermoplastic matrix, and the reinforcement material has a coefficient of thermal expansion that is less than the thermoplastic matrix material. The strength properties of the buffer tube can be finely tailored by the size, shape and positioning of the co-extruded reinforcement as well as the number of reinforcements.

Continuous composite reinforced buffer tubes for optical fiber cables

A method of making an optical fiber ribbon with improved planarity and an optical fiber ribbon having improved planarity are described. The method includes the steps of providing a plurality of optical fibers and arranging the plurality of optical fibers to form a planar optical fiber arrangement. The planar optical fiber arrangement defines a first common tangent plane and a second common tangent plane. Matrix material is applied to the planar optical fiber arrangement to form a first uncured layer of matrix material such that the first layer does not extend beyond the first or the second common tangent plane by more than twenty micrometers. The first uncured layer of matrix material is then cured to achieve a degree of cure between 70% and 95% to provide a cured first layer of matrix material on the planar arrangement. Next, matrix material is applied over the first cured layer to form a second uncured layer of matrix material. Finally, the second uncured layer is cured until a degree of cure in the second layer is at least 85% to form an optical fiber ribbon with improved planarity. The optical fiber ribbon of the present invention can be made according to the method described.

Growing community of inventors

Conover, NC, United States of America

Houching Michael Yang