Optical Fiber Ribbon Passive Layer Stripping Damage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing optical fiber ribbons suffer from damage to primary and secondary coatings during stripping, leading to high scrap generation and undesirable outcomes due to either low bond strength or excessive damage to the coatings.

Innovation Solution

An optical fiber ribbon design featuring a passive layer made of UV curable acrylate polymer, applied in a tandem process with the color layer, which surrounds the coatings and provides controlled bonding to minimize damage during stripping, using resin joints that intermittently contact the color layer of adjacent fibers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If bond strength is kept low to reduce damage during stripping, then coating damage is reduced, but scrap generation increases due to splitting during bunching

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoating damageVSAvoidscrap generation

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a sacrificial layer as an intermediary between the secondary coating and the color layer. This sacrificial layer absorbs the bonding stress and prevents direct stress transmission to the secondary coating, thereby reducing coating damage while maintaining adequate bond strength to prevent splitting during bunching.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The sacrificial layer is designed to be a disposable element that is intentionally damaged or removed during the stripping process. By sacrificing this layer, the patent protects the valuable secondary coating from damage, accepting the loss of the sacrificial layer material to prevent more expensive coating damage and scrap generation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Loss of substance

If bond strength is increased to reduce scrap generation, then splitting during bunching is reduced, but damage to the secondary coating increases during stripping

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescrap generationVSAvoidcoating damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The sacrificial layer serves as a stress-absorbing intermediary that allows high bond strength between the color layer and itself, while preventing this stress from being transmitted to the secondary coating. The sacrificial layer fails in a controlled manner, protecting the secondary coating from damage even when high bonding forces are applied.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a sacrificial layer is added above the secondary coating, then coating damage during stripping is reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoating damageVSAvoidribbon structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the sacrificial layer with the existing color layer application process. The sacrificial layer is applied as part of the same coating sequence that applies the color layer, merging two functions (protection and identification) into a single integrated structure rather than adding a separate complex subsystem.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Object-affected harmful factors

If a sacrificial layer is added above the secondary coating, then coating damage during stripping is reduced, but manufacturing process complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoating damageVSAvoidmanufacturing process

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The manufacturing process merges the application of the sacrificial layer and color layer into a single tandem coating operation. This integration means that while a new functional layer is added, the number of separate manufacturing steps remains the same, as both layers are applied in sequence during the same processing pass.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

The solution effectively prevents damage to the coatings of optical fibers during stripping, reduces scrap generation, and facilitates easy handling while maintaining high bond strength, ensuring the integrity of the optical fiber ribbon's structure.

Implementation Method 1

the passive layer is made up of an Ultraviolet (UV) curable acrylate polymer. In particular, the passive layer is cured at least 85%

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotopolymerisation: Photopolymerisation

Data Source

PatentUS20240176087A1Optical fiber ribbon with a passive layer

Publication Date: 2024.05.30 STERLITE TECHNOLOGIES LTD

AI summary

The present invention relates to an optical fiber ribbon (100) having a plurality of optical fibers (102) arranged substantially parallel to one another and a plurality of resin joints (116) applied intermittently for contacting the color layer (114) of each pair of adjacent optical fibers to form bonded portions of the optical fiber ribbon (100). In particular, each optical fiber of the plurality of optical fibers (102) further comprises one or more coatings (108), a passive layer (112) surrounding the one or more coatings (108), a color layer (114) surrounding the passive layer (112).