Rollable Optical Fiber Ribbon With Flexible Polymeric Body
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical fiber ribbons lack rollability and flexibility, which limits their packing density, connectorization ease, and transmission rates, and often require buffer tubes for protection.
Innovation Solution
A rollable optical fiber ribbon design featuring a flexible polymeric ribbon body that partially surrounds optical fibers, allowing reversible movement from an unrolled to a rolled position while maintaining structural support and protection, with the ribbon body being contiguous lengthwise and widthwise to enhance rollability and fiber alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional optical fiber ribbons use rigid structural support, then fiber protection and alignment are improved, but rollability and flexibility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a flexible polymeric coating layer that partially surrounds the optical fibers, providing protection and structural support while allowing the ribbon to be rolled and bent. This flexible shell replaces rigid protective structures, enabling the ribbon to transition between flat and rolled configurations without compromising fiber integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The ribbon structure is designed to be dynamically configurable, transitioning between a flat unrolled state for installation and connection, and a rolled state for compact storage and transportation. The flexible polymeric material enables this dynamic shape change while maintaining fiber support throughout the transformation.
2Ease of operation
If optical fiber ribbons are made flexible and rollable, then packing density and ease of connectorization are improved, but structural support and fiber protection deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible polymeric coating acts as a protective shell that maintains fiber support even in the rolled configuration. The coating provides mechanical protection while allowing the ribbon to be easily manipulated and connected, resolving the contradiction between flexibility for ease of operation and structural support for protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The ribbon combines optical fibers with a flexible polymeric material to create a composite structure that exhibits both the optical transmission properties of glass fibers and the flexibility and toughness of polymers. This composite enables simultaneous achievement of ease of connectorization and fiber protection.
3Reliability
If buffer tubes are used to protect optical fibers, then fiber protection is improved, but device complexity and packing density deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the protective function previously provided by separate buffer tubes directly into the ribbon structure itself through the flexible polymeric coating. This integration eliminates the need for additional buffer tube components, reducing device complexity while maintaining fiber protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the essential protective function from the bulky buffer tube structure and implements it through a thin flexible polymeric coating applied directly to the fibers. This extraction removes unnecessary structural complexity while preserving the core protection capability.
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 design increases fiber count, packing density, simplifies connectorization, enhances transmission rates, and eliminates the need for buffer tubes in some applications by balancing rollability with sufficient fiber support and protection.
Implementation Method 1
The ribbon body is formed from a flexible polymeric material such that the plurality of optical transmission elements are reversibly movable from an unrolled position to a rolled position
Implementation Method 2
Each optical transmission element includes an optical core surrounded by a cladding of a different refractive index than the optical core
Data Source
AI summary
An optical ribbon is provided. The optical ribbon includes a plurality of optical transmission elements. The ribbon includes a ribbon body coupled to and supporting the plurality of optical transmission elements. The ribbon body is formed from a flexible polymeric material such that the plurality of optical transmission elements are reversibly movable between an aligned position in which the plurality of optical transmission elements are substantially parallel with each other and a curved position.