Patent ID: 6885806
Filing Date: 2005-04-26
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
1. A method of making an optical fiber array comprising the steps of: stripping a first middle portion of a first coated optical ribbon fiber so that the first middle portion includes only bare optical fibers that are bounded on each side of the first middle portion by a coated portion of the first coated optical ribbon fiber; stripping a second middle portion of a second coated optical ribbon fiber so that the second middle portion includes only bare optical fibers that are bounded on each side of the second middle portion by a coated portion of the second coated optical ribbon fiber; overlapping the first middle portion of the first coated optical ribbon fiber with the second middle portion of the second coated optical ribbon fiber so that the overlapping bare optical fibers of the first and second middle portions alternate between strands of the first coated optical ribbon fiber and strands of the second coated optical ribbon fiber and wherein the first and the second middle portions define an interior channel bounded by the overlapping bare optical fibers; passing a bar through the interior channel; positioning the overlapping bare optical fibers on a substrate having a plurality of parallel grooves; positioning a cover over the overlapping bare optical fibers so that the overlapping bare optical fibers are held in place between the cover and the substrate; and cleaving the overlapping bare optical fibers along an end of the cover and the substrate.