Optical waveguides – Optical transmission cable – Ribbon cable
Reexamination Certificate
1998-04-17
2001-01-16
Ngo, Hung N. (Department: 2874)
Optical waveguides
Optical transmission cable
Ribbon cable
Reexamination Certificate
active
06175677
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to optical fiber telecommunication cables. More particularly, the present invention relates to optical fiber multi-ribbon transmission elements for optical fiber telecommunications cables in which at least two independent optical fiber ribbons are adjacently disposed in a common plane and surrounded by a common exterior sheath.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Optical fiber cables are now widely used in the telecommunications field to transmit information. Optical fiber cables are frequently relying on optical fiber ribbons or multi-ribbons to achieve optimum packing density in high fiber count cables. Ribbonized fibers are chosen because they provide an organized structure which increases packing efficiency and permits rapid splicing and connectorization.
As the frequency of ribbonized fiber use has increased, the handleability of such ribbons has become very important. According to Lochovic et al.,
An Overview of Key Ribbon Handleability Attributes
, International Wire & Cable Symposium Proceedings 1997, page 260, “handleability” is defined as the handling stages that a ribbon undergoes during installation and potential subsequent fiber access of a cable; beginning with the separation of a ribbon from the cable and concluding with the final fixation in the fiber optic system. According to this article, some of the attributes of handleability include: thermal strip; peelability; separability; furcatability; and robustness. The authors of the aforementioned article have found that manipulation of only the adhesion at the matrix and fiber interface to optimize peelability can degrade other handleability characteristics such as separability and robustness.
The optical fiber multi-ribbon of the present invention addresses the problems of peelability, splitability (also referred to as separability) and robustness which has been lacking in prior art optical fiber ribbons and multi-ribbons.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical fiber multi-ribbon which has good handleability characteristics.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an optical fiber multi-ribbon which has good peelability and separability.
This object is accomplished, at least in part, by providing an optical fiber multi-ribbon comprising 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 comprises 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 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 envelops 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.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description read in conjunction with the attached drawings and claims appended hereto.
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Gunnarsson Magnus
Yang Hou-ching M.
Alcatel
Ngo Hung N.
Ware Fressola Van der Sluys & Adolphson LLP
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