Ribbon unit, a method of making the ribbon unit, and a method of providing mid-span access
US6054217A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 31, 1996 |
| Grant date | Apr 25, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 31, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T428/2964
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An improved optical glass fiber ribbon unit, having the capability of providing mid-span access to individual color-coated optical glass fibers contained therein, by application of finger pressure from a human hand, is provided. The ribbon unit is made of a plurality of coated optical glass fibers each further coated with a cured color-composition, and a matrix material which binds the plurality of color-coated optical glass fibers together. A bonding force between the cured color-composition and the coated optical glass fibers is greater than a bonding force between the cured color-composition and the matrix material. The matrix material has been selected or formulated to provide a modulus and Tg sufficiently high such that when opposing pressure is applied to the ribbon unit using the fingers of a human hand, the matrix material buckles and separates from the color-coated optical glass fibers instead of compressing and absorbing the opposing pressure. Also provided are a method of making the ribbon unit and a method of achieving mid-span access to individual color-coated optical glass fibers contained within the ribbon unit.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.