Corning Research & Development Corporation

Corning Optical Communications LLC

Corning Cable Systems

Corning Incorporated

Julie Ann Chalk

Gregory A Mills

David Wesley Chiasson

Xiaomin Zhao

Joel Laine Parker

Barada Kanta Nayak

Olus Naili Boratav

Randall Dwaine Tuttle

Rebecca Elizabeth Sistare

Bin Yang

David W Chiasson

Girish Arun Saigaonkar

Jianguo Wang

Paul John Shustack

Jeffrey Dean Danley

Klaus Hartkorn

Carl M Whisnant, Jr

Zhaoxu Tian

Shail K Moorjani

Rodney D Cline

Gregory Alan Mills

The present disclosure relates to an optical fiber ribbon in which the optical fibers of the optical fiber ribbon are intermittently bonded together at bonding regions along the length of the optical fiber ribbon. The bonding regions of the optical fiber ribbon each include a joining ribbon matrix that have different colors along the length of the optical fiber ribbon.

Intermittently bonded optical fiber ribbon with joining ribbon matrices

Embodiments of the disclosure relate to an optical fiber ribbon. The optical fiber ribbon includes a plurality of subunits each comprising a subunit coating surrounding at least two optical fibers arranged adjacently to each other. The subunit coating is made of a first material. A plurality of bonds are intermittently formed between adjacent subunits of the plurality of subunits. The plurality of bonds are made of a second material. The optical fiber ribbon includes a diffusion zone at an interface between each of the plurality of bonds and the subunit coating of each adjacent subunit. Each diffusion zone has a gradient of the second material in the first material. Further, the intermittent bonds may include one or more saddle surfaces formed by intersecting convex and concave curvatures. A method of forming such optical fiber ribbons is also disclosed.

Intermittently bonded ribbon with intermittent bonds created with a wet-on-wet process

Embodiments of the disclosure relate to an optical fiber ribbon. The optical fiber ribbon includes a plurality of optical fibers arranged adjacently to each other and a plurality of bonding regions intermittently spaced along a length of the optical fiber ribbon. At each bonding region, at least one bond is formed between two optical fibers of the plurality of optical fibers. Further, the at least one bond comprises a first material applied to outer surfaces of the two optical fibers and a second material applied over the first material. The first material is different from the second material, and at least one of the first material or the second material includes a colorant configured to identify the optical fiber ribbon. Also disclosed are embodiments of making such an optical fiber ribbon as well as of optical fiber cables including such an optical fiber ribbon.

Intermittently bonded ribbon having bonding regions with multiple materials

Embodiments of the disclosure relate to an optical fiber ribbon. The optical fiber ribbon includes optical fibers arranged in a row having a first width. Indicator fibers are provided at the edges of the row. The indicator fibers have different color fiber jackets. The optical fiber ribbon also includes a primary matrix into which the plurality of optical fibers is embedded. The optical fiber ribbon also includes an opacifying layer having a second width and a color layer, distinct from the opacifying layer, having a third width. The optical fiber ribbon further includes a layer of printing disposed on an outer surface of the primary matrix. In the optical fiber ribbon, the first width is greater than at least one of the second width or the third width such that the indicator fibers extend past at least one of the opacifying layer or the color layer.

Colored ribbon with discrete color layers

A flexible optical ribbon and associated systems and methods of manufacturing are provided. The ribbon includes a plurality of optical transmission elements and an inner layer comprising a cross-linked polymer material and an outer surface. The outer surface of the inner layer includes first areas having first concentrations of uncrosslinked polymer material and second areas having second concentrations of uncrosslinked polymer material. The first concentrations are greater than the second concentrations. The ribbon includes an outer polymer layer having an inner surface interfacing with the outer surface of the inner layer. The outer polymer layer has a higher level of bonding to the inner layer at the first areas than at the second areas due to the ability of the outer polymer material to bond or crosslink with the larger numbers of uncrosslinked polymer material in the first areas.

Flexible optical fiber ribbon with intermittently bonded polymer layers

Durable optical fiber ribbons are formed by promoting a strong bond between fiber ink layers and ribbon matrix material. During curing of the ink layer desired oxygen levels are maintained in the curing environment of the manufacturing process.

Durable optical fiber ribbons and methods of making optical fiber ribbons

An optical component having at least one optical waveguide, a primary matrix, a secondary matrix, and a marking indicia. The primary matrix includes a first major surface and a second major surface. The secondary matrix is adjacent to the first major surface and does not completely cover the second major surface. The marking indicia may be disposed on either the primary matrix or the secondary matrix. Other embodiments include an optical component having a layer that is an absorbing material that bonds with a marking indicia. Another embodiment includes a first matrix and a second matrix having different respective coefficients of friction (COF).

Optical components having improved print permanence

A fiber optic ribbon includes a plurality of optical fibers arranged in a generally planar configuration having a primary matrix generally contacting optical fibers along a longitudinal axis forming an elongate structure. In one embodiment, the primary matrix has a cross-section with a non-uniform thickness, for example, an end portion with a generally bulbous shape. The fiber optic ribbon is useful as a subunit having a secondary matrix in contact therewith. The secondary matrix has a non-uniform thickness, thereby providing a fiber optic ribbon with preferential tear portions to aid separation of the ribbon into subunits. Other embodiments include a fiber optic ribbon with subunits having a secondary matrix with recessed portions to aid in the separation of the subunits.

Optical fiber ribbons having a non-uniform thickness and/or preferential tear portions

A terploymer containing N-halogenated phenyl maleimide units or N-halogenated phenyl bismaleimide units, one or more second units selected from the group consisting of halogenated acrylates, halogenated styrenes, halogenated vinyl ethers, halogenated olefins, halogenated vinyl isocyanates, halogenated N-vinyl amides, halogenated allyls, halogenated propenyl ethers, halogenated methacrylates, halogenated maleates, halogenated itaconates, and halogenated crotonates and one or more third units comprising a monomer containing both a free radically polymerizable group and cationic ring opening polymerizable group, is prepared by radical co-polymerization. The resulting linear plastic polymer group contains a UV, or e-beam curable ring opening polymerizable functional groups. Such plastic polymer is then blended with cationic photoiniator and processed into optical waveguide structures using a hot embossing technique. The terpolymer is subsequently crosslinked by exposure to UV or E-beam radiation and thermal post-bake. Alternatively, in a direct contact photolithographic process, the terpolymer is mixed with cationic photoinitiator, and deposited or coated onto a substrate. Then optical waveguide structures are formed by exposing the terpolymer to UV or E-beam radiation through a photomask. After thermal postbake, the exposed area of the photopolymer is chemically crosslinked. The unexposed area is washed away with solvent. The terpolymer is fully compatible with polymer processes such as micromolding, hot-embossing, coating and direct contact photolithography processes to fabricate polymer waveguide devices. The crosslinked polymer waveguides have low optical loss, good thermal and environmental stability and low coefficient of thermal expansion.

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Hickory, NC, United States of America

Julie Ann Chalk