Patent ID: 6295400
Filing Date: 2001-09-25
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
An optical fiber ribbon that can be readily connected between first and second arrays of optical receptacles, wherein the spacing in the first array is different from the spacing in the second array, the optical fiber ribbon comprising:an array of a plurality of optical fibers that extend longitudinally and are laterally adjacent; andbonding material having opposite first and second ends, wherein the bonding material bonds the optical fibers together at and between the first and second ends of the bonding material, and between the first and second ends of the bonding material the array is absent of splices between the optical fibers, and wherein:the array comprises:a longitudinally extending first segment extending from the first end of the bonding material toward the second end of the bonding material and terminating distant from the second end of the bonding material, anda longitudinally extending second segment extending from the second end of the bonding material toward the first end of the bonding material and terminating proximate the first segment of the array and distant from the first end of the bonding material;the bonding material comprises:a longitudinally extending first bonding material that engages and bonds the optical fibers together along the first segment of the array, anda longitudinally extending second bonding material that is different from the first bonding material, and that engages and bonds the optical fibers together along the second segment of the array; andlateral spacing defined between adjacent optical fibers is substantially uniform throughout the first segment of the array and varies in the longitudinal direction in the second section of the array, wherein a lateral first spacing is defined between adjacent optical fibers at the first end of the bonding material, a lateral second spacing is defined between adjacent optical fibers at the second end of the bonding material, and the first spacing is different from the second spacing.