US4709984A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ribbon-shaped transmission element and method of manufacture
Assignee: Siemens AG
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Filing: 1985-07-22
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Granted: 1987-12-01
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Expires: 2005-07-22
Abstract
Abstract A ribbon-shaped transmission element having a plurality of optical fibers which are provided on the outside with a thin coating of synthetic or plastic material and which are disposed side-by-side on a connecting layer, characterized by the material of the connecting layer and the thin coating being of the same material so that a good and reliable bonding is achieved in a simple fashion. The transmission element is made by forming the bonding or connecting layer and bringing it into contact with a plurality of spaced-apart moving coated fibers.
Inventors
- 👤 Ulrich Oestreich
- 👤 Ernst Mayr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 17:06
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/44; G02B6/4479; G02B6/448; G02B6/4401; G02B6/4403
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
84 words
A ribbon-shaped transmission element comprising a plurality of optical fibers, each of the optical fibers being provided with a separate coating to form an optical waveguide element, and a connecting layer, said waveguide elements being disposed in a side-by-side relationship and at a distance from one another on the layer with the layer proceeding roughly tangentially to outside surfaces of the coatings and the optical waveguide elements, and the coatings of the fibers consisting of the same material as the material of the layer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
84 words
A ribbon-shaped transmission element comprising a plurality of optical fibers, each of the optical fibers being provided with a separate coating to form an optical waveguide element, and a connecting layer, said waveguide elements being disposed in a side-by-side relationship and at a distance from one another on the layer with the layer proceeding roughly tangentially to outside surfaces of the coatings and the optical waveguide elements, and the coatings of the fibers consisting of the same material as the material of the layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A ribbon-shaped transmission element according to claim 1, wherein the material of the coating of the optical elements and the connecting layer is composed of a UV-curable resin.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A ribbon-shaped transmission element according to claim 2, wherein the UV-curable resin is an acrylic resin.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A ribbon-shaped transmission element according to claim 1, wherein the wall thickness of the connecting layer is selected to be lower than the thickness of the coating on the optical elements.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
A ribbon-shaped transmission element according to claim 4, wherein the material of the coating for the optical elements and for the connecting layer is composed of a UV-curable resin, particularly an acrylic resin.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
96 words
In an optical cable having at least one transmission element, the improvement comprising the cable having at least one hollow opening extending along the length thereof, a ribbon-shaped transmission element being disposed in the hollow opening, said ribbon-shaped transmission element comprising a connecting layer nad a plurality of coated optical fibers being disposed in a side-by-side relationship and at a distance from one another on the connecting layer with the connecting layer proceeding tangentially to the outside surface of the biers nad the layer material and the coating material of the optical fibers being the same.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
96 words
In an optical cable having at least one transmission element, the improvement comprising the cable having at least one hollow opening extending along the length thereof, a ribbon-shaped transmission element being disposed in the hollow opening, said ribbon-shaped transmission element comprising a connecting layer nad a plurality of coated optical fibers being disposed in a side-by-side relationship and at a distance from one another on the connecting layer with the connecting layer proceeding tangentially to the outside surface of the biers nad the layer material and the coating material of the optical fibers being the same.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
In an optical cable according to claim 6, wherein the ribbon-shaped transmission element is loosely disposed in said opening.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
In an optical cable according to claim 6, wherein the transmission element is partially rolled in the longitudinal direction.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
In an optical cable according to claim 8, wherein the partially rolled ribbon-shaped transmission element is loosely disposed in said longitudinally extending opening of the cable.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
100 words
A method for manufacturing a ribbon-shaped transmission element having a plurality of coated optical fibers being disposed side-by-side and in a spaced relationship on a connecting layer, said connecting layer being of the same material as the material of the coatings of the optical fibers, said method comprising the steps of moving a plurality of coated optical fibers in a side-by-side and spaced relationship past a point, creating a connection layer and contacting the connecting layer with the moving fibers at said point so that the coated fibers are secured on the connecting layer in a spaced apart side-by-side relationship.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
100 words
A method for manufacturing a ribbon-shaped transmission element having a plurality of coated optical fibers being disposed side-by-side and in a spaced relationship on a connecting layer, said connecting layer being of the same material as the material of the coatings of the optical fibers, said method comprising the steps of moving a plurality of coated optical fibers in a side-by-side and spaced relationship past a point, creating a connection layer and contacting the connecting layer with the moving fibers at said point so that the coated fibers are secured on the connecting layer in a spaced apart side-by-side relationship.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
66 words
A method according to claim 10, wherein the step of creating the connecting layer comprises rotating a drum in a liquid batch of the material for the connecting layer to moisten the surface of the drum, said step of conducting the plurality of fibers past a point includes moving them into contact with the liquid layer on the drum to secure the fibers and layer together.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 11, which subsequent to contacting the layer to the coated fiber to secure them together includes curing the material of the connecting layer and the coatings of the fibers.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 12, wherein the step of curing comprises subjecting the material of the coating of the connecting layer and the coatings to heat.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 12, wherein the step of curing comprises subjecting the fibers and layer to UV irradiation.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method according to claim 10, wherein the step of creating the connecting layer comprises extruding a connecting layer from a sheet die, and stretching the extruded layer and while the layer is still soft, subsequently contacting the stretched layer with the plurality of moving optical fibers to merge the coatings and layer together.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 15, which includes curing the connecting layer after it is merged with the coated fibers.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 16, wherein the step of curing comprises subjecting the layer to UV irradiation.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 16, wherein the step of curing comprises heating the connecting layer and coated fibers.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-11-30 | 1991-06-01 | 1991-12-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-11-30 | 1995-06-01 | 1995-12-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-11-30 | 1999-06-01 | 1999-12-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |