Optical fiber ribbon and optical cable

Abstract

The present application relates to an optical fiber ribbon and optical cable, comprising at least one core ribbon group, the core ribbon group comprising three optical fiber units arranged in parallel; one optical fiber unit comprising one optical fiber; another optical fiber unit comprising two optical fibers arranged in parallel, the two optical fibers being completely connected along the length of the optical fibers via a continuous connection; the remaining optical fiber unit comprising three optical fibers arranged in parallel, the two adjacent optical fibers being completely connected along the length of the optical fibers via a continuous connection; and two adjacent optical fiber units being intermittently connected along the length of the optical fibers via a first intermittent connection. The present application employs optical fiber units with three different numbers of optical fibers. In an optical fiber ribbon having six optical fibers, only two groups of optical fiber units are intermittently bonded, reducing the number of intermittent bonding portions in the optical fiber ribbon. This can, to a certain extent, reduce the possibility of the optical fiber ribbon breaking during the subsequent winding and bundling process, thereby avoiding microbending of the optical fibers caused by the worsening lateral pressure between the optical fibers.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of optical fiber communication technology, and in particular to an optical fiber ribbon and an optical cable. Background Art

[0002] In recent years, with the vigorous advancement of "all-optical network" construction, traditional underground access network construction has faced new challenges. While fully utilizing existing underground infrastructure, demand for ultra-large core-count, high-fiber core density optical cables is increasing. The industry is exploring how to increase the core count while maintaining the original outer diameter of the cable. Existing flat fiber optic ribbons are highly valued for their high density, high integration, light weight, and ease of multi-fiber splicing, and are widely used in ultra-large core-count optical cables. However, due to the size of existing flat fiber optic ribbon cables, cables with the same core count are also larger, preventing more efficient and reasonable utilization of existing conduits and space.

[0003] To address the size shortcomings of flat fiber optic ribbons and their limited bending direction, Japanese cable manufacturers such as Fujikura and Sumitomo have developed reelable fiber optic ribbons. These flat ribbons feature partial bonding along the length of each fiber core or between two fibers, also known as intermittently bonded ribbons. While maintaining the splicing advantages of flat ribbons, these ribbons can be wound into bundled fiber units, effectively reducing ribbon volume and increasing fiber core density. Furthermore, manufacturers such as Corning in the United States and Presman in Italy also offer a reelable flat fiber optic ribbon made from flexible resin, which is also used as a fiber unit in the manufacture of ultra-high-fiber-count cables.

[0004] However, the above-mentioned related solutions still have some defects. For example, since the above-mentioned optical fiber ribbon is flat, in order to increase the density of the optical fiber ribbon in the optical cable, the flat optical fiber ribbon needs to be wound into a bundle. However, in the process of winding the optical fiber ribbon into a bundle, because each core optical fiber is point-bonded, the possibility of the optical fiber being disconnected increases, which will cause micro-bending of the optical fiber. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The embodiments of the present application provide an optical fiber ribbon and an optical cable to solve the problem in the related art that, during the process of winding the optical fiber ribbon into a bundle, the possibility of the optical fibers being disconnected increases, and at the same time, due to the disconnection of the bonding of the optical fibers in the optical fiber ribbon, the lateral pressure characteristics between the optical fibers tend to deteriorate, which may cause micro-bending of the optical fibers.

[0006] In a first aspect, an optical fiber ribbon is provided, comprising at least one core ribbon group, wherein the core ribbon group comprises three optical fiber units arranged in parallel;

[0007] One of the optical fiber units includes an optical fiber;

[0008] Another optical fiber unit includes two optical fibers arranged in parallel, and the two optical fibers are completely connected in the length direction of the optical fibers via a continuous connecting portion;

[0009] The remaining optical fiber unit includes three optical fibers arranged in parallel, and two adjacent optical fibers are completely connected in the length direction of the optical fibers via a continuous connecting portion;

[0010] Two adjacent optical fiber units are discontinuously connected in the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber via a first discontinuous connection portion.

[0011] In some embodiments, in the two optical fiber units located on both sides of the core ribbon group, there are m first discontinuous connection portions provided between the optical fiber unit containing a smaller number of optical fibers and the optical fiber unit located in the middle position per meter of length, and n first discontinuous connection portions provided between the optical fiber unit containing a larger number of optical fibers and the optical fiber unit located in the middle position, and m>n.

[0012] In some embodiments, among the m first discontinuous connection portions between the optical fiber unit containing a small number of optical fibers and the optical fiber unit located in the middle position, n first discontinuous connection portions and n first discontinuous connection portions between the optical fiber unit containing a large number of optical fibers and the optical fiber unit located in the middle position are aligned one by one along the width direction of the core tape group.

[0013] In some embodiments, the optical fiber ribbon includes a plurality of core ribbon groups, the plurality of core ribbon groups are arranged in parallel, and two adjacent core ribbon groups are discontinuously connected in the length direction of the optical fiber via a second discontinuous connection portion.

[0014] In some embodiments, along the length direction of the optical fiber, the second discontinuous connection portion and the first discontinuous connection portion are staggered.

[0015] In some embodiments, the optical fiber is a single-mode optical fiber or a multi-mode optical fiber, wherein the single-mode optical fiber is a single-core single-mode optical fiber, a multi-core optical fiber containing multiple cores, or a hollow-core optical fiber.

[0016] In some embodiments, the diameter of the optical fiber is 165um, 180um, 200um, 250um or 400um.

[0017] In some embodiments, the diameters of the optical fibers in the optical fiber units are equal or unequal.

[0018] In a second aspect, an optical cable is provided, comprising:

[0019] outer sheath;

[0020] and a plurality of optical fiber ribbons as described above, wherein the optical fiber ribbons are housed in the outer sheath.

[0021] In some embodiments, the outer sheath is made of polyethylene, low smoke halogen-free, polyvinyl chloride or nylon.

[0022] The beneficial effects of the technical solution provided by this application include:

[0023] The embodiment of the present application provides an optical fiber ribbon and an optical cable. In the related art, the manufactured optical fiber ribbon is flat, and the stress of the optical fiber ribbon is basically eliminated. When the flat optical fiber ribbon is wound into a bundle, the optical fiber is subjected to a large winding stress. Since adjacent optical fibers are bonded at intervals, there are too many interval bonding positions, and the optical fiber bonding points are easy to break. The optical fiber ribbon provided in this embodiment uses three optical fiber units with different numbers of optical fibers. The optical fiber ribbon with six optical fibers only uses interval bonding between two groups of optical fiber units, which reduces the number of interval bonding of the optical fiber ribbon. Therefore, it can reduce the possibility of the optical fiber ribbon breaking during the subsequent winding and bundling process to a certain extent, thereby avoiding micro-bending of the optical fibers caused by the deterioration of lateral pressure between the optical fibers. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the description of the embodiments. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without any creative work.

[0025] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of an optical fiber ribbon provided in an embodiment of the present application in a first state (one core ribbon group, 123 arrangement);

[0026] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the optical fiber ribbon provided in an embodiment of the present application in a second state (one core ribbon group, 123 arrangement);

[0027] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of an optical fiber ribbon provided in an embodiment of the present application in a first state (one core ribbon group, 132 pattern);

[0028] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of an optical fiber ribbon provided in an embodiment of the present application in a second state (one core ribbon group, 132 pattern);

[0029] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of an optical fiber ribbon provided in an embodiment of the present application in a first state (one core ribbon group, 213 pattern);

[0030] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of an optical fiber ribbon provided in an embodiment of the present application in a second state (one core ribbon group, 213 pattern);

[0031] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of an optical fiber ribbon provided in an embodiment of the present application in a first state (two core ribbon groups, 123 arrangement);

[0032] Figure 8 A schematic diagram of the optical fiber ribbon provided in an embodiment of the present application in a second state (two core ribbon groups, 123 arrangement);

[0033] Figure 9 Schematic diagram of the optical cable provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0034] In the figure: 1, optical fiber unit; 2, optical fiber; 3, continuous connection part; 4, first discontinuous connection part; 5, second discontinuous connection part; 6, outer sheath; 100, core ribbon group. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] To make the purpose, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this application more clear, the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of this application. Obviously, the described embodiments are part of the embodiments of this application, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in this application, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative efforts are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0036] See also Figure 1 As shown, an embodiment of the present application provides an optical fiber ribbon, which includes at least one core ribbon group 100, wherein the core ribbon group 100 includes three optical fiber units 1 arranged in parallel, wherein one of the optical fiber units 1 includes one optical fiber 2; another optical fiber unit 1 includes two optical fibers 2 arranged in parallel, and the two optical fibers 2 are completely connected in the length direction of the optical fibers 2 through a continuous connection portion 3; the remaining optical fiber unit 1 includes three optical fibers 2 arranged in parallel, and two adjacent optical fibers 2 are completely connected in the length direction of the optical fibers 2 through a continuous connection portion 3; and two adjacent optical fiber units 1 are discontinuously connected in the length direction of the optical fibers 2 through a first discontinuous connection portion 4.

[0037] It can be understood that the continuous connection part 3 extends along the length direction of the optical fiber 2 to the two ends of the optical fiber 2. The continuous connection part 3 makes the optical fiber unit 1 have a certain rigidity, and multiple first intermittent connection parts 4 are arranged between two adjacent optical fiber units 1 in an interval distribution manner, so that each optical fiber unit 1 has a certain flexibility. This combination of rigidity and flexibility enables the optical fiber ribbon to achieve a balance between rigidity and flexibility, ensuring that the optical fiber ribbon can be smoothly curled when making the optical cable, and can be smoothly laid into a flat state when welding, ensuring the mechanical properties, transmission performance and operability of the optical fiber ribbon during construction welding.

[0038] In this application, three optical fiber units 1 contain a total of six optical fibers 2, which are connected into a whole through a continuous connection part 3 and a first intermittent connection part 4, so that the optical fiber ribbon has two states, namely a first state and a second state, and the first state and the second state can be switched.

[0039] Specifically, see Figure 1 As shown, when in the first state, each optical fiber unit 1 can be formed into a flat state. Figure 2 As shown, when the optical fiber is made into an optical cable, the optical fiber unit 1 is moved and wound, and the optical fiber ribbon is switched from the first state to the second state, forming a bundle structure, which facilitates dense arrangement of the optical fiber ribbon.

[0040] When the optical fiber ribbon needs to be fused, the entire optical fiber ribbon in the optical cable can be laid flat, which is convenient for one-time fusion splicing, retaining the construction and fusion convenience of conventional flat optical fiber ribbons.

[0041] In the related art, the manufactured optical fiber ribbon is flat, and the stress of the optical fiber ribbon is basically eliminated. When the flat optical fiber ribbon is wound into a bundle, the optical fiber is subjected to a large winding stress. Since adjacent optical fibers are bonded at intervals, there are too many interval bonding positions, and the optical fiber bonding positions are easily broken. The optical fiber ribbon provided in this embodiment uses three optical fiber units with different numbers of optical fibers. The optical fiber ribbon with six optical fibers 2 only uses interval bonding between two groups of optical fiber units, which reduces the number of interval bonding of the optical fiber ribbon. Therefore, it can reduce the possibility of the optical fiber ribbon breaking in the subsequent winding and bundling process to a certain extent, thereby avoiding micro-bending of the optical fibers caused by the deterioration of lateral pressure between the optical fibers.

[0042] The optical fiber ribbon of the present application can be switched between two states and can be easily wound into bundled optical fibers, effectively reducing the size and occupied volume of the optical fiber ribbon; the optical cable made using the optical fiber ribbon provided by this embodiment can effectively reduce the outer diameter and weight of the optical cable itself while meeting the same mechanical properties, transmission performance and operability of construction fusion, greatly increase the total number of cores in the optical cable, and improve the optical fiber core density.

[0043] In addition, since the production efficiency of fully connected optical fibers is much higher than that of intermittently connected optical fibers, the optical fibers in the optical fiber unit of the present application are fully connected, and three fixed optical fiber units are used at the same time, which helps to improve production efficiency.

[0044] During manufacturing, optical fibers can be marked, such as by coloring, to facilitate subsequent splicing.

[0045] Furthermore, when the three optical fiber units with different numbers of optical fibers are connected, there are three arrangements.

[0046] The first arrangement method: 123 method

[0047] See also Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, specifically: the middle is an optical fiber unit 1 with two optical fibers 2, one side is discontinuously connected to an optical fiber unit 1 with one optical fiber 2, and the other side is discontinuously connected to an optical fiber unit 1 with three optical fibers 2.

[0048] The second arrangement: 132 method

[0049] See also Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, specifically: the middle is an optical fiber unit 1 with three optical fibers 2, one side is discontinuously connected to an optical fiber unit 1 with one optical fiber 2, and the other side is discontinuously connected to an optical fiber unit 1 with two optical fibers 2.

[0050] The third arrangement: 213 method

[0051] See also Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, specifically: there is an optical fiber unit 1 with one optical fiber 2 in the middle, one side is discontinuously connected to an optical fiber unit 1 with three optical fibers 2, and the other side is discontinuously connected to an optical fiber unit 1 with two optical fibers 2.

[0052] Since the continuous connection portion 3 imparts a certain degree of rigidity to the optical fiber unit 1, it is understandable that the greater the number of optical fibers 2, the greater the rigidity of the fully connected optical fiber unit 1. When the continuous connection portion 3 is fully cured, the inconsistent amount of curing resin on the surface of each optical fiber unit will lead to inconsistent thermal shrinkage under high and low temperature conditions, resulting in different stress effects during shrinkage. Therefore, in some preferred embodiments, to ensure the shrinkage consistency of the optical fiber units and reduce the differences in longitudinal stress effects caused by different rigidity between the optical fiber units, the two optical fiber units 1 located on either side of the core ribbon assembly 100 have m first discontinuous connection portions 4 per meter of length between the optical fiber unit 1 containing fewer optical fibers 2 and the optical fiber unit 1 located in the middle, and n first discontinuous connection portions 4 between the optical fiber unit 1 containing more optical fibers 2 and the optical fiber unit 1 located in the middle, with m>n.

[0053] Specifically, see Figure 1 As shown, if the first arrangement is adopted, then per meter of length, there are m first discontinuous connection portions 4 between the optical fiber unit 1 containing two optical fibers 2 and the optical fiber unit 1 containing one optical fiber 2, and there are n first discontinuous connection portions 4 between the optical fiber unit 1 containing two optical fibers 2 and the optical fiber unit 1 containing three optical fibers 2.

[0054] See also Figure 3As shown, if the second arrangement is adopted, then per meter of length, there are m first discontinuous connection portions 4 provided between the optical fiber unit 1 containing three optical fibers 2 and the optical fiber unit 1 containing one optical fiber 2, and there are n first discontinuous connection portions 4 provided between the optical fiber unit 1 containing three optical fibers 2 and the optical fiber unit 1 containing two optical fibers 2.

[0055] See also Figure 5 As shown, if the third arrangement is adopted, then per meter of length, there are m first discontinuous connection portions 4 provided between the optical fiber unit 1 containing one optical fiber 2 and the optical fiber unit 1 containing two optical fibers 2, and there are n first discontinuous connection portions 4 provided between the optical fiber unit 1 containing one optical fiber 2 and the optical fiber unit 1 containing three optical fibers 2.

[0056] In some preferred embodiments, among the m first discontinuous connections 4 between the optical fiber unit 1 containing a small number of optical fibers 2 and the optical fiber unit 1 located in the middle, n first discontinuous connections 4 and n first discontinuous connections 4 between the optical fiber unit 1 containing a large number of optical fibers 2 and the optical fiber unit 1 located in the middle are aligned one by one along the width direction of the ribbon assembly 100. This alignment has the advantage of reducing internal stress caused by longitudinal contraction or elongation of the optical fibers, ensuring that the number of connection points due to contraction or elongation of the optical fibers during temperature changes is reduced, thereby reducing the attenuation of the optical fibers under microbending. Furthermore, the multi-point alignment has the advantage of reducing process complexity.

[0057] See also Figure 7 and Figure 8 As shown, in some preferred embodiments, the optical fiber ribbon includes multiple core ribbon groups 100, multiple core ribbon groups 100 are arranged in parallel, and two adjacent core ribbon groups 100 are discontinuously connected in the length direction of the optical fiber 2 through a second discontinuous connection part 5.

[0058] See also Figure 7 As shown, in some preferred embodiments, the second discontinuous connector 5 is staggered with the first discontinuous connector 4 along the length of the optical fiber 2. This staggered arrangement can reduce stress during winding and bending of the optical fiber ribbon, avoiding bending stress concentration on the same cross-section in the width direction, which can cause damage to the bonding point.

[0059] In some preferred embodiments, the optical fiber 2 is a single-mode optical fiber or a multi-mode optical fiber, such as G.652, G.654, G.657, etc.

[0060] In some preferred embodiments, the single-mode optical fiber is a single-core single-mode optical fiber, a multi-core optical fiber containing multiple cores, or a hollow-core optical fiber.

[0061] Preferably, in order to increase the number of optical fiber cores, the optical fiber can be a multi-core optical fiber, such as a 2-core optical fiber, a 4-core optical fiber, a 7-core optical fiber, etc.

[0062] In some preferred embodiments, the diameter of the optical fiber 2 is 165um, 180um, 200um, 250um or 400um.

[0063] In some preferred embodiments, the diameters of the optical fibers 2 in the optical fiber units 1 are equal or unequal.

[0064] See also Figure 9 As shown, the present application provides an optical cable, which includes an outer sheath 6 and a plurality of optical fiber ribbons as described above, wherein the optical fiber ribbons are accommodated in the outer sheath 6.

[0065] The outer sheath 6 is made of an extrudable polymer sheath material, such as polyethylene, low-smoke halogen-free, polyvinyl chloride or nylon.

[0066] In some preferred embodiments, the first intermittent connection portion 4, the second intermittent connection portion 5, and the continuous connection portion 3 are made of light-curing resin to ensure production efficiency. In addition, when production efficiency is not required to be high, heat-curing adhesive or double-sided heat-sensitive adhesive can also be used.

[0067] In some preferred embodiments, the linear expansion coefficient of the photocurable resin at room temperature is less than 8×10 -4 / ℃, elongation at break is greater than 50%.

[0068] In some preferred embodiments, the spacing between adjacent first discontinuous connectors 4 between two adjacent optical fiber units 1 is greater than the length of the first discontinuous connector 4 along the length of the optical fiber 2. This ensures that the length of the bonded portion is shorter than the length of the unbonded portion, increasing the overall proportion of the unbonded portion. This facilitates high flexibility in the optical fiber ribbon, facilitates the winding and movement of the optical fibers, and reduces the difficulty of controlling stress on the optical fibers at the bonded portion during rotation and laying. Furthermore, this reduces the amount of resin used, lowering costs.

[0069] Example 1

[0070] The optical fiber ribbon of this embodiment 1 is shown in FIG. Figure 1 , Figure 1The invention relates to a 6-core optical fiber ribbon, which is formed by bonding three groups of optical fiber units at intervals. The first group of optical fiber units contains one optical fiber, which is a G.652.D single-mode optical fiber with an outer diameter of 250 μm after coloring and is blue. The second group of optical fiber units contains two optical fibers, which are also G.652.D single-mode optical fibers with an outer diameter of 250 μm after coloring and are orange and green. The two optical fibers are completely connected in the length direction. The third group of optical fiber units contains three optical fibers, which are G.652.D single-mode optical fibers with an outer diameter of 250 μm after coloring and are brown, gray and white. The three optical fibers are completely connected in the length direction. According to the combination order of the first, second and third groups of optical fiber units, the number of first discontinuous connection portions between the first and second groups of optical fiber units is greater than the number of first discontinuous connection portions between the second and third groups of optical fiber units per 1 m of length. The material of the first discontinuous connection portion is ultraviolet curing resin, and the curing shrinkage rate thereof is less than 8%.

[0071] Example 2

[0072] The optical fiber ribbon of the second embodiment is shown in FIG. Figure 7 As shown, Figure 7 A 12-core optical fiber ribbon is formed by intermittent bonding of two groups of 6-core optical fiber ribbons in Example 1, wherein the 6-core optical fibers can be optical fiber ribbons of the same type (i.e., the same arrangement and combination), or can be 6-core optical fiber ribbons of two different arrangements and combinations intermittently solidified through a second discontinuous connection portion. The optical fiber type is G.657 optical fiber, and the diameter of a single optical fiber after coloring is 200 μm.

[0073] In the description of this application, it should be noted that the terms "upper" and "lower" and the like indicate orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation on this application. Unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "installed", "connected", and "connected" should be understood in a broad sense, for example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection, or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, or it can be internal communication between two elements. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in this application can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0074] It should be noted that, in this application, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish one entity or operation from another entity or operation, and do not necessarily require or imply any actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Moreover, the terms "include", "comprise" or any other variants thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, so that a process, method, article or device comprising a series of elements includes not only those elements, but also other elements not explicitly listed, or also includes elements inherent to such process, method, article or device. In the absence of further restrictions, an element defined by the sentence "comprising a ..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article or device comprising the element.

[0075] The foregoing is merely a list of specific embodiments of the present application, intended to enable those skilled in the art to understand or implement the present application. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the present application. Therefore, the present application is not limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is intended to conform to the broadest scope consistent with the principles and novel features of the present application.

Claims

1. An optical fiber ribbon, characterized in that: It comprises at least one core ribbon group (100), wherein the core ribbon group (100) comprises three optical fiber units (1) arranged in parallel; One of the optical fiber units (1) comprises an optical fiber (2); Another optical fiber unit (1) comprises two optical fibers (2) arranged in parallel, and the two optical fibers (2) are completely connected in the length direction of the optical fibers (2) via a continuous connecting portion (3); The remaining optical fiber unit (1) comprises three optical fibers (2) arranged in parallel, and two adjacent optical fibers (2) are completely connected in the length direction of the optical fibers (2) via a continuous connecting portion (3); Two adjacent optical fiber units (1) are discontinuously connected in the length direction of the optical fiber (2) through a first discontinuous connection portion (4); in the two optical fiber units (1) located on both sides of the core ribbon group (100), m first discontinuous connection portions (4) are provided between the optical fiber unit (1) containing a small number of optical fibers (2) and the optical fiber unit (1) located in the middle position per meter of length, and n first discontinuous connection portions (4) are provided between the optical fiber unit (1) containing a large number of optical fibers (2) and the optical fiber unit (1) located in the middle position, and m>n.

2. The optical fiber ribbon according to claim 1, wherein: Among the m first discontinuous connection portions (4) between the optical fiber unit (1) containing a small number of optical fibers (2) and the optical fiber unit (1) located in the middle, n first discontinuous connection portions (4) and n first discontinuous connection portions (4) between the optical fiber unit (1) containing a large number of optical fibers (2) and the optical fiber unit (1) located in the middle are aligned one by one along the width direction of the core ribbon group (100).

3. The optical fiber ribbon according to claim 1, wherein: The optical fiber ribbon comprises a plurality of core ribbon groups (100), the plurality of core ribbon groups (100) are arranged in parallel, and two adjacent core ribbon groups (100) are discontinuously connected in the length direction of the optical fiber (2) via a second discontinuous connection portion (5).

4. The optical fiber ribbon according to claim 3, wherein: Along the length direction of the optical fiber (2), the second discontinuous connection portion (5) and the first discontinuous connection portion (4) are staggered.

5. The optical fiber ribbon according to claim 1, wherein: The optical fiber (2) is a single-mode optical fiber or a multi-mode optical fiber, wherein the single-mode optical fiber is a single-core single-mode optical fiber, a multi-core optical fiber containing multiple cores, or a hollow-core optical fiber.

6. The optical fiber ribbon according to claim 1, wherein: The diameter of the optical fiber (2) is 165um, 180um, 200um, 250um or 400um.

7. The optical fiber ribbon according to claim 1, wherein: The diameters of the optical fibers (2) in each of the optical fiber units (1) are equal or unequal.

8. An optical cable, characterized in that: It includes: outer sheath (6); and a plurality of optical fiber ribbons according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the optical fiber ribbons are accommodated in the outer sheath (6).

9. The optical cable according to claim 8, wherein: The outer sheath (6) is made of polyethylene, low smoke zero halogen, polyvinyl chloride or nylon.

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