Optical-fiber ribbon

A method of making an optical-fiber ribbon, comprising:

• (i) arranging a plurality n of optical fibers into an expanded longitudinal optical-fiber assembly having processing width wp, a first major surface, and a second major surface, wherein each of the n optical fibers has a nominal diameter d, and wherein the plurality of optical fibers are substantially parallel and respectively spaced apart from one another to define respective gaps between adjacent optical fibers sufficient to pass bonding material therethrough;
• (ii) continuously advancing the plurality of spaced optical fibers as arranged in the expanded optical-fiber assembly at linear velocity v;
• (iii) applying bonding material to the first major surface of the expanded optical-fiber assembly via a dispensing nozzle;
• (iv) passing at least some bonding material from the expanded optical-fiber assembly's first major surface toward the expanded optical-fiber assembly's second major surface, the bonding material passing between and through the respective gaps between adjacent, spaced optical fibers;
• and
• (v) closing the respective gaps between adjacent, spaced optical fibers in the expanded optical-fiber assembly to achieve a contracted optical-fiber assembly having planar width w, wherein, along a longitudinal portion of the contracted optical-fiber assembly, the planar width w of the contracted optical-fiber assembly reflects the number n and diameter d of the optical fibers in the contracted optical-fiber assembly, whereby planar width w≈n×d and whereby processing width wp>planar width w.

An optical-fiber ribbon, comprising:

• (i) a plurality n of respectively adjacent optical fibers extending in a longitudinal direction and arranged in parallel to form an optical-fiber assembly having a first major surface, a second major surface, and a width w extending crosswise to a longitudinal length of the optical-fiber assembly;
• and
• (ii) bonding material adhesively bonding adjacent optical fibers in the optical-fiber assembly, wherein, for a portion of the optical-fiber assembly's longitudinal length, the bonding material forms a primary bonding-material pattern across the optical-fiber assembly's first major surface and a corresponding secondary bonding-material pattern across the optical-fiber assembly's second major surface, wherein the bonding material forming the primary bonding-material pattern and the corresponding secondary bonding-material pattern incrementally bonds each adjacent pair of optical fibers in the optical-fiber assembly;
• wherein each of the n optical fibers in the optical-fiber assembly has a nominal diameter d, and, along a longitudinal portion of the optical-fiber assembly, the nominal width wr of the optical-fiber ribbon reflects the number n and diameter d of the optical fibers in the optical-fiber assembly, whereby wr≈n×d.