Ribbon Transition Tool for Fiber Spacing Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mass fusion splicers are unable to splice fiber optic ribbons with 200 μm fiber spacing to those with 250 μm spacing, necessitating a tool to modify the 200 μm ribbon for compatible splicing.
Innovation Solution
A ribbon transition tool that modifies the end of a 200 μm fiber ribbon to achieve a 250 μm spacing by using a spreader comb and a straight comb with adjustable tines, anchoring mechanisms, and adhesive tape to maintain the new spacing, allowing standard mass fusion splicers to splice the modified ribbon to conventional 250 μm ribbons.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a 200 μm fiber spacing ribbon is used to increase fiber density, then data transmission capacity is improved, but compatibility with existing mass fusion splicers is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a transition tool as an intermediary device between the 200 μm ribbon and the mass fusion splicer. This tool includes a spreader comb that temporarily holds fibers at 200 μm spacing and a straight comb that positions them at 250 μm spacing, enabling compatibility with standard splicers without modifying the splicers themselves
Solution Approach 2:
The transition tool changes the physical parameter of fiber spacing from 200 μm to 250 μm locally at the splicing point. The spreader comb maintains 200 μm spacing for most of its length, while the straight comb section provides 250 μm spacing at the critical splicing interface, allowing parameter transformation without changing the overall ribbon structure
2Productivity
If the fiber spacing is reduced from 250 μm to 200 μm, then fiber density and data transmission capacity are improved, but the ability to splice with conventional equipment is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The transition tool is segmented into distinct functional zones: a spreader comb section for 200 μm spacing, a straight comb section for 250 μm spacing, and anchoring mechanisms. This segmentation allows each section to perform its specific function while maintaining the overall integrity of the splicing process
Solution Approach 2:
The transition tool performs preliminary spacing adjustment before the actual splicing operation. By pre-positioning fibers at the correct 250 μm spacing in the straight comb section, the tool eliminates the need for complex real-time adjustment during splicing, simplifying the overall process
Data Source
AI summary
A ribbon transition tool modifies a 200 μm ribbon for splicing to a 250 μm ribbon. A spreader comb is fixedly mounted at the front end of the base of the tool. A straight comb is slidably mounted to the base behind the spreader comb. The combs each have a plurality of fiber channels corresponding to the fibers in the fiber ribbon. At the front end of the spreader comb, the channels have a spacing matching the initial spacing of the fiber ribbon. At the rear end of the spreader comb and throughout the straight comb, the channels have a spacing matching the modified spacing. An anvil is mounted into the base so as to be movable between a lowered position, in which the anvil lies underneath the straight comb, and a raised position, in which the anvil fills the gap between the combs when they are separated.