US4980007A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Methods of fabricating an optical fiber ribbon
Assignee: Furukawa Electric North America Inc
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Filing: 1989-07-14
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Granted: 1990-12-25
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Expires: 2009-07-14
Abstract
Abstract A group of loose cabled optical fibers (32-32) destined to be terminated by a multi-fiber connector device is first fabricated into an optical fiber ribbon (30). The optical fibers of the group are threaded through portions of an organizing shuttle (20) and brought into planar juxtaposition with each other by the cooperation of a curved surface (112) and a burnishing bar assembly (98). As the organinzing shuttle is caused to be moved along a track (42), the burnishing bar assembly causes the planar array of fibers to be embedded into an adhesive coating of a first binding tape (34) which is secured along the length of the track. In a preferred embodiment, a second tape (35) is applied over the fibers and the first tape. The ribbon is trimmed of excess longitudinal side portions of the binding tapes to provide a ribbon of desired width.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen K. Ferguson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 01:22
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/44; G02B6/4479; G02B6/448; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T156/00; Y10T156/10; Y10T156/1052; Y10T156/1062; Y10T156/1067; Y10T156/108; Y10T156/1084; Y10T156/1087
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
160 words
A method of fabricating a planar array of optical fibers, said method comprising the steps of: holding stationary a length of tape having a layer of an ahesive material on one surface thereof; arranging predetemined lengths of plurality of optical fibers into a group; holding the group of fibers to prevent unintended movement thereof; causing the group of fibers to converge into a contiguous planar array by urging the fibers into engagement with a surface having convex curvature transverse the longitudinal axes of the fibers; and a concave curvative tranverse to the longitudinal axes of the fibers; causing movement between the surface having the convex curvature and the stationary tape in a direction along the longitudinal axis of the tape; and applying forces to the optical fiber array to cause the planar array of contiguously disposed fibers to be bedded into the adhesive layer of the tape as the motion between the tape and the surface is caused to occur.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
160 words
A method of fabricating a planar array of optical fibers, said method comprising the steps of: holding stationary a length of tape having a layer of an ahesive material on one surface thereof; arranging predetemined lengths of plurality of optical fibers into a group; holding the group of fibers to prevent unintended movement thereof; causing the group of fibers to converge into a contiguous planar array by urging the fibers into engagement with a surface having convex curvature transverse the longitudinal axes of the fibers; and a concave curvative tranverse to the longitudinal axes of the fibers; causing movement between the surface having the convex curvature and the stationary tape in a direction along the longitudinal axis of the tape; and applying forces to the optical fiber array to cause the planar array of contiguously disposed fibers to be bedded into the adhesive layer of the tape as the motion between the tape and the surface is caused to occur.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the tape is a first tape and a second tape is caused to be disposed along the first tape and fibers to cause the fibers to be enclosed between the first and second tapes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the tape is caused to be supported in engagement with a surface and maintained in engagement with the surface by vacuum applied to the tape.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1, wherein excess portions of the tape are caused to be trimmed simultaneously from each of two longitudinally extending edges of the planar array.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the tape is caused to be supported by engagment with an adhesive layer of a holding tape which is held in engagement with a supporting surface by another layer of adhesive material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of claim 5, which includes the steps of: causing a holding tape to be disposed along longitudinal portion of a supporting surface; causing the holding to be slit along two longitudinal parallel paths wherein the paths are a perdetermined distance apart; and removing a central portion of the holding tape from the supporting surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 5, which includes the steps of: causing a first holding tape to be disposed along a longitudinal portion of a supporting surface; and causing a second holding tape to be disposed along the longitudinal portion of the supporting surface parallel to the first holding tape and spaced a predetermined distance from the first holding tape.
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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) | 1993-12-24 | 1994-06-25 | 1994-12-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-12-24 | 1998-06-25 | 1998-12-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-12-24 | 2002-06-25 | 2002-12-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |