Optical Fiber Ribbon Slitting for Dense Intermittent Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for manufacturing intermittently coupled optical fiber ribbons face challenges in densely arranging optical fibers while preventing damage from cleaving blades, particularly when using thin fibers with small distances that are prone to external damage.
Innovation Solution
The method involves arranging optical fibers with a specific distance range (10-100 µm) and using a coupling resin with a breaking strength of 20-50 MPa and a Young's modulus of 800-2000 MPa, ensuring the resin is cured before cleaving, and optionally heating the resin or blade to facilitate slit formation without damaging the fibers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the distance between adjacent optical fibers is reduced to enable dense arrangement, then the mounting density is improved, but the risk of external damage from cleaving blades increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-coating the optical fibers with a coupling resin before the cleaving process. This resin layer is formed in advance to provide protection during subsequent cleaving operations, allowing dense fiber arrangement while preventing external damage from the cleaving blade through the pre-established protective coating.
2Shape
If a cleaving blade is inserted to form slits between optical fibers, then the intermittent coupling structure is achieved, but external damage to the optical fibers may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements beforehand cushioning by applying a coupling resin coating to the optical fibers prior to the cleaving operation. This resin layer acts as a cushioning protective layer that absorbs and distributes the mechanical stress from the cleaving blade, enabling the formation of slits for intermittent coupling while preventing direct contact between the blade and the fiber surface, thus avoiding external damage.
3Quantity of substance
If the outer diameter of optical fibers is reduced to 220 μm or less, then the mounting density is improved, but the fibers become more susceptible to damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining the optical fiber with a coupling resin coating to form a composite structure. The resin layer with specific mechanical properties (breaking strength 20-50 MPa, Young's modulus 800-2000 MPa) provides enhanced protection to the thin optical fiber, allowing the use of fibers with outer diameter of 220 μm or less for dense mounting while the composite structure maintains resistance to external damage.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach allows for dense fiber arrangement while minimizing external damage and maintaining good cable loss characteristics, ensuring the fibers are not separated during processing.
Implementation Method 1
wherein the resin is cured before cleaving
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a method for manufacturing an intermittent connection-type optical fiber tape core wire (10) comprising: arranging a plurality of optical fiber core wires (11A-11L) in parallel in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the plurality of optical fiber core wires (11A-11L); covering all of the plurality of optical fiber core wires (11A-11L) with a connection resin (15); and forming slits (14) by intermittently inserting a cutting blade (117) in the connection resin (15) between some adjacent optical fiber core wires among the plurality of optical fiber core wires (11A-11L). The outer diameter of each of the optical fiber core wires (11A-11L) is 220 µm or less, and a distance (g) between the adjacent optical fibers between which the cutting blade (117) is inserted is 10-100 µm inclusive.