# US 2023/0408786 A1 · Optical-fiber ribbon, die, and method of manufacturing optical-fiber ribbon

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- Number: US 2023/0408786 A1
- Document ID: US20230408786A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 18/247,279
- Filed: 2021-10-06
- Published: 2023-12-21
- Earliest claimed: 2020-10-07
- Assignees: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
- Applicants: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
- Inventors: Reo AMANO; Deva Omalka Vayanthi SUDUWA; Kentaro TAKEDA; Makoto ITOH; Ken MANABE
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20230408786A1

## CPC

- G02B 6/448: {Ribbon cables}
- G02B 6/4403: {with ribbon structure (G02B6/4429, G02B6/4439, G02B6/4479 take precedence)}
- G02B 6/443: {Protective covering}
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS

## Abstract

An optical-fiber ribbon includes a plurality of optical-fibers, and a common covering layer. There are formed a plurality of intermittent connection portions in which a first connection portion that is formed from the common covering layer and a non-connection portion are alternately formed between the optical-fibers. There are formed a plurality of continuous connection portions in which a second connection portion that is formed from the common covering layer is continuously formed between optical-fibers. The intermittent connection portions include a central intermittent connection portion at a central portion of the optical-fiber ribbon in a width direction. The continuous connection portions include adjacent continuous connection portions. A thickness of adjacent continuous connection portion is larger than a thickness of the central intermittent connection portion and is larger than a thickness of the continuous connection portion other than the adjacent continuous connection portions.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An optical-fiber ribbon comprising:
a plurality of optical-fibers; and
a common covering layer configured to cover and integrate the plurality of optical-fibers,
wherein there are formed a plurality of intermittent connection portions in which, in a longitudinal direction of the plurality of optical-fibers, a first connection portion that is formed from the common covering layer and a non-connection portion that is formed by forming a cut in the common covering layer are alternately formed between every two or more of predetermined ones of the optical-fibers,
wherein there are formed a plurality of continuous connection portions in which, in the longitudinal direction, a second connection portion that is formed from the common covering layer is continuously formed between optical-fibers other than between the optical-fibers where the plurality of intermittent connection portions are formed,
wherein the plurality of optical-fibers are even in number,
wherein the plurality of intermittent connection portions include a central intermittent connection portion at a central portion of the optical-fiber ribbon in a width direction,
wherein the plurality of continuous connection portions include, at two pairs of the optical-fibers between which the central portion is interposed in the width direction, adjacent continuous connection portions, each being formed between a corresponding pair of the two pairs of the optical-fibers, and
wherein a thickness of each adjacent continuous connection portion is larger than a thickness of the central intermittent connection portion and is larger than a thickness of the continuous connection portion or the continuous connection portions other than the adjacent continuous connection portions.

### Claim 2

A die for manufacturing an optical-fiber ribbon having a plurality of holes through which each of a plurality of optical-fibers arranged in parallel passes,
wherein the number of the plurality of holes is even,
wherein adjacent ones of the plurality of holes communicate with each other,
wherein a plurality of interhole portions, between which surfaces disposed in parallel of the plurality of optical-fibers are interposed, are formed at a communication portion of the adjacent ones of the plurality of holes,
wherein the plurality of interhole portions include a first opposing portion that is formed at a central portion of the optical-fiber ribbon in a width direction, and second opposing portions that are formed on two sides of the central portion of the optical-fiber ribbon in the width direction, and
wherein a ratio between an opposing distance of the first opposing portions and an opposing distance of the second opposing portions is 1:1.1 or greater.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The die according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of interhole portions include third opposing portions being portions excluding the first opposing portions and the second opposing portions and being formed at the communication portion other than every two or more of predetermined ones of communication portions, and
wherein a ratio between an opposing distance of the third opposing portions and the opposing distance of the second opposing portions is 1:1.03 or greater.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

A method of manufacturing an optical-fiber ribbon using the die according to claim 2.