US3871935A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of encapsulating and terminating the fibers of an optical fiber ribbon
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1974-03-14
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Granted: 1975-03-18
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Expires: 1994-03-14
Abstract
Abstract This application discloses a method of encapsulating and terminating the fibers of an optical fiber ribbon in a manner such that said fibers can be efficiently coupled to the fibers of a similarly terminated other fiber ribbon comprising the steps of: (1) dissolving the protective jacket along a portion of said fiber ribbon thereby exposing the individual fibers; (2) placing the fibers thus exposed in a mold and aligning said fibers in a predefined manner relative to each other; (3) encapsulating a portion of said exposed fibers thereby fixing said fibers in said predefined manner; and (4) dividing said encapsulated portion along a plane perpendicular to the axes of said fibers, thereby exposing the transverse surfaces of said fibers.
Inventors
- 👤 Detlef Christoph Gloge
- 👤 Peter William Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 14:09
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/36; G02B6/38; G02B6/3801; G02B6/3807; G02B6/3833; G02B6/3865; G02B6/3873; G02B6/3885; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T156/00; Y10T156/10; Y10T156/1052; Y10T156/1062; Y10T156/1075; Y10T156/1079
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
96 words
A METHOD OF ENCAPSULATING AND TERMINATING AN OPTICAL FIBER RIBBON COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF OPTICAL FIBERS EMBEDDED IN A COMMON PROTECTIVE JACKET INCLUDING THE STEPS OF: DISSOLVING THE PROTECTIVE JACKET ALONG A PORTION OF SAID RIBBON THEREBY EXPOSING THE PLURALITY OF INDIVIDUAL FIBERS; PLACING THE FIBERS THUS EXPOSED IN A MOLD WHICH ALIGNS SAID FIBERS IN A PREDEFINED MANNER RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER; ADDING AN ENCAPSULATING MATERIAL TO SAID MOLD THEREBY ENCAPSULATING THE FIBERS LOCATED THEREIN IN SAID PREDEFINED MANNER; AND DIVIDING SAID ENCAPSULATED FIBERS INTO TWO PARTS THEREBY EXPOSING THE TRANSVERSE SURFACES OF SAID FIBERS.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
96 words
A METHOD OF ENCAPSULATING AND TERMINATING AN OPTICAL FIBER RIBBON COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF OPTICAL FIBERS EMBEDDED IN A COMMON PROTECTIVE JACKET INCLUDING THE STEPS OF: DISSOLVING THE PROTECTIVE JACKET ALONG A PORTION OF SAID RIBBON THEREBY EXPOSING THE PLURALITY OF INDIVIDUAL FIBERS; PLACING THE FIBERS THUS EXPOSED IN A MOLD WHICH ALIGNS SAID FIBERS IN A PREDEFINED MANNER RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER; ADDING AN ENCAPSULATING MATERIAL TO SAID MOLD THEREBY ENCAPSULATING THE FIBERS LOCATED THEREIN IN SAID PREDEFINED MANNER; AND DIVIDING SAID ENCAPSULATED FIBERS INTO TWO PARTS THEREBY EXPOSING THE TRANSVERSE SURFACES OF SAID FIBERS.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method according to claim 1 including the added steps of: placing one part of said encapsulated fibers into a positioning jig along with one part of similarly encapsulated fibers of a second fiber ribbon; and splicing said two parts together.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method according to claim 2 wherein said mold has a specified cross-sectional configuration and wherein said positioning jig has a cross-sectional configuration for receiving the encapsulated fibers produced in said mold.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method according to claim 2 wherein said mold is used as said positioning jig.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said encapsulated fibers are located a distance t from one surface of the encapsulation, as given by t 2a Square Root Es/Ep where a is the radius of said fibers; Es is Young''s modulus of the fibers; and Ep is Young''s modulus of the encapsulation material; and wherein said encapsulated fibers are divided into two parts simply by bending said encapsulation.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-17 | 1978-09-16 | 1979-03-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-17 | 1982-09-16 | 1983-03-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-17 | 1986-09-16 | 1987-03-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |