Intermittent Optical Fiber Ribbon V-Groove Alignment

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing intermittently-coupled type optical fiber ribbons with optical fibers of 0.22 mm or less diameter face issues with fusion machine compatibility due to mismatched V groove pitch, leading to deviated fiber placement and reduced cable or cord density.

Innovation Solution

The optical fiber ribbon is designed with a center distance of 0.28 ± 0.03 mm between adjacent fibers and an outer diameter of 0.22 mm or less, allowing for proper alignment with a 0.25 mm V groove pitch, enabling efficient fusion and increased density by using dual-core configurations and specific coating layer properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If optical fibers with outer diameter of 0.22 mm or less are used to reduce cable/cord size, then the sectional area is reduced and density is increased, but the V groove pitch mismatch causes deviated fiber placement and fusion incompatibility

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesectional area of optical fiber cableVSAvoidfiber placement precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the center distance parameter of optical fibers from the conventional 0.25 mm to 0.28 ± 0.03 mm. This parameter modification allows smaller diameter fibers (0.22 mm or less) to be positioned at correct intervals for standard V groove fusion machines, resolving the mismatch between fiber size reduction and fusion compatibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different center distances in different regions: 0.28 ± 0.03 mm between adjacent ribbon pairs and 0.20 ± 0.03 mm between fibers within the same ribbon pair. This local differentiation enables both fusion compatibility and compact fiber arrangement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Quantity of substance

If optical fibers with outer diameter of 0.22 mm or less are used, then cable/cord density is increased, but compatibility with standard fusion machines is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedensity of optical fiber cableVSAvoidfusion machine compatibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

By modifying the center distance parameter to 0.28 ± 0.03 mm, the patent enables smaller fibers to work with standard fusion machines that have fixed V groove pitches, thus maintaining adaptability while increasing density

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Quantity of substance

If center distance between adjacent optical fibers is reduced to increase density, then cable/c cord sectional area is reduced, but alignment with V groove fusion machines becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedensity of optical fiber cableVSAvoidalignment with V groove
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent sets the center distance between adjacent ribbon pairs to 0.28 ± 0.03 mm, which matches the pitch of standard V groove fusion machines. This parameter change enables both high density (through small fiber diameter) and ease of manufacture (through proper alignment)

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent divides the optical fiber arrangement into ribbon pairs with different center distances: 0.28 ± 0.03 mm between pairs for machine compatibility, and 0.20 ± 0.03 mm within pairs for compactness. This segmentation allows simultaneous optimization of both density and manufacturability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3553578B1Intermittent connection type optical fiber tape core, method for manufacturing same, optical fiber cable, and optical fiber cord
Publication Date: 2023.06.07 SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES LTD
  • EP3553578B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3553578B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3553578B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

An intermittently-coupled type optical fiber ribbon in which a plurality of ribbon type paired optical fibers each of which is integrally formed by bringing two optical fibers into contact with each other are arranged in parallel, and a coupling part in which adjacent ribbon type paired optical fibers are connected to each other and a non-coupling part in which ribbon type paired optical fibers are not connected are intermittently provided in a longitudinal direction, wherein an outer diameter dimension of the optical fiber is 0.22 mm or less, and a center distance of optical fibers adjacent with the coupling part interposed therebetween between the adjacent ribbon type paired optical fibers is 0.28 ± 0.03 mm.