Patent Description:
The present application claims priority from Japanese patent application <CIT>.

<CIT> hereinafter, Patent Literature <NUM> discloses a ribbon in which a recessed part is formed in a jacket in response to a hollow between adjacent optical fibers and which is easily split at the recessed part.

<CIT> hereinafter, Patent Literature <NUM> discloses a method of aligning the intervals of an optical fiber in an optical fiber ribbon using a small-diameter optical fiber (an outer diameter of a glass fiber is less than <NUM>).

<CIT> hereinafter, Patent Literature <NUM> discloses a <NUM>-core intermittently connected optical fiber ribbon including a structure of an intermittent pattern for each core in which a connection part in which adjacent optical fibers are connected to each other by an adhesive resin and a non-connection part in which the adjacent optical fibers are not connected to each other by the adhesive resin are intermittently provided in a longitudinal direction. The intermittently connected optical fiber ribbon is the small-diameter optical fiber, but a distance between the centers of the adjacent optical fibers is set to <NUM> which is a distance between the optical fibers of a related art (not a small diameter).

<CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT> form part of the state of the art relative to the present disclosure. In particular, <CIT> describes an optical fiber tape core wire with eight parallel cores, wherein a connection is intermittently formed between adjacent pairs of cores, the tape core wire being formable by inserting a cutter between the adjacent pairs of cores to form the intermittent connection.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optical fiber ribbon as recited in claim <NUM> below.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optical fiber cable as recited in claim <NUM> below.

The dependent claims define particular embodiments of each respective aspect.

Since the optical fiber ribbon of Patent Literature <NUM> and Patent Literature <NUM> is not an intermittently connected type, it is difficult to make a folded state so that a cross-sectional shape becomes a desired shape. For example, as described in the optical fiber ribbon of Patent Literature <NUM>, the intermittently connected optical fiber ribbon including the intermittent pattern structure for each core can be mounted in an optical fiber cable in the folded state so that the cross-sectional shape becomes the desired shape, but since the small-diameter optical fiber is arranged at intervals of an optical fiber of a related art, high density cannot be sufficiently achieved.

Therefore, it is desirable to use a multi-core optical fiber ribbon rather than the <NUM>-core optical fiber ribbon disclosed in Patent Literature <NUM>. On the other hand, in the intermittent pattern structure for each core as described above, since the optical fibers are separated from each other one by one during the work of splicing the optical fibers together, work efficiency may not be good when the multi-core optical fiber ribbons are spliced together.

An object of the present disclosure is to provide an optical fiber ribbon and an optical fiber cable using the optical fiber ribbon not only capable of improving the work efficiency when the optical fibers are spliced together in the multi-core optical fiber ribbon, but also capable of improving the mounting density of the optical fibers in the optical fiber cable.

According to the present disclosure, it is possible not only to improve the work efficiency when the optical fibers are spliced together in the multi-core optical fiber ribbon, but also to improve the mounting density of the optical fibers in the optical fiber cable.

An optical fiber ribbon according the present invention exhibits all features of claim <NUM>, including (inter alia):.

In the optical fiber ribbon according to the above-described configuration, even though the number of optical fibers is a multiple of <NUM> cores (<NUM> cores or more), since the outer diameter of the optical fiber is small, rigidity can be lowered and a width of a tape can also be reduced. Thus, since bending distortion when bending is applied in a width direction of the optical fiber ribbon is reduced, for example, the optical fiber ribbon can be folded so that a cross-sectional shape thereof becomes a desired shape even in the case of an intermittent pattern structure every multiple of <NUM> cores (a structure in which the non-connection part is intermittently provided) instead of an intermittent pattern structure for each core.

In the case of the intermittent pattern structure every multiple of <NUM> cores, since the optical fibers can be spliced together in a tape state every multiple of <NUM> cores at the time of the splicing, the splicing work can be efficiently performed.

Since the optical fiber ribbon according the above-described configuration can reduce the thickness and width of the tape, it is possible not only to reduce the cross-sectional area of the optical fiber ribbon, but also to improve the mounting density of the optical fiber when the optical fiber ribbon is mounted in the optical fiber cable.

(<NUM>) A thickness of the optical fiber ribbon may be equal to or smaller than <NUM>, and a thickness of the resin may be equal to or larger than <NUM>.

According to the above-described configuration, since the thickness of the optical fiber ribbon is equal to or smaller than <NUM>, the cross-sectional area of the optical fiber ribbon can be reduced. Since the thickness of the resin is equal to or larger than <NUM>, there is an effect of not only preventing deterioration in characteristics when a side pressure is applied to the optical fiber ribbon, but also securing external damage resistance.

(<NUM>) The M may be a multiple of <NUM>, and the N may be greater than the M.

According to the above-described configuration, it becomes easy to divide the optical fiber ribbon every <NUM> cores by forming the intermittent pattern structure every <NUM> cores. Normally, when the optical fiber ribbon is taken out from the optical fiber cable and distributed to an individual building and equipment, since the <NUM>-core optical fiber ribbon is often used, the efficiency of taking-out work from the optical fiber cable can be improved when the optical fiber ribbon is easily divided every <NUM> cores.

(<NUM>) A distance between the centers of the optical fibers adjacent to each other in the N pieces of optical fibers may be equal to or larger than <NUM> and may be equal to or smaller than <NUM>.

According to the above-described configuration, the distance between the centers of the optical fibers is set to be equal to or larger than <NUM> and set to be equal to or smaller than <NUM>, and the optical fibers are caused to be adjacent to each other (no space between the optical fibers), whereby it is possible not only to make the cross-sectional area of the optical fiber ribbon smaller, but also to further improve the mounting density of the optical fiber when being mounted in the optical fiber cable.

(<NUM>) The resin may be formed of an inner layer resin and an outer layer resin, and
the optical fiber disposed at the Mth and the optical fiber disposed at the (M+<NUM>)th may not be connected to each other by the inner layer resin in the longitudinal direction, but may be intermittently connected to each other by the outer layer resin in the longitudinal direction between the intermittently connected core wires.

According to the above-described configuration, since the resin is formed as a two-layer structure including the inner layer resin and the outer layer resin, and the outer layer resin is intermittently connected between the intermittently connected core wires, for example, the configuration can be easily realized in such a manner that the optical fiber ribbon in advance coated with the M-core inner layer resin is prepared and disposed in parallel, after which the outside thereof is coated with the outer layer resin. A space between the inner layer resins adjacent to each other is provided between the intermittently connected core wires, and intermittent processing is performed on the outer layer resin therebetween, whereby it is possible not only to make the optical fiber hard to be damaged, but also to easily perform the operation.

An optical fiber cable according to an embodiment of the present invention, has (<NUM>) a plurality of the optical fiber ribbons according to claim <NUM>, wherein
core density obtained by dividing the number of optical fibers by a cross-sectional area of the optical fiber cable is equal to or higher than <NUM> cores/mm2.

When the optical fiber ribbon of the inventionis mounted in the optical fiber cable, it is possible not only to improve the mounting density of the optical fiber, but also to set the core density of the optical fiber cable to be equal to or higher than <NUM> cores/mm2.

(<NUM>) The plurality of optical fiber ribbons may be covered with a tube.

When the optical fiber ribbon of the invention is mounted in the optical fiber cable covered with the tube, it is possible to improve the mounting density of the optical fiber.

(<NUM>) The optical fiber cable may have a slot rod including a plurality of slot grooves, and the plurality of optical fiber ribbons respectively stored in the slot grooves.

When the optical fiber ribbon of the invention is mounted in the slot type fiber cable, it is possible to improve the mounting density of the optical fiber.

Hereinafter, specific examples of an optical fiber ribbon and an optical fiber cable according to embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

The present disclosure is not limited to these examples, which serve to illustrate and explain how the invention may be put into effect and the advantageous effects thereof. The scope of the invention claimed is accordingly defined by the appended claims.

An example of an optical fiber ribbon according to a first embodiment will be described with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, in the optical fiber ribbon <NUM>, N pieces (<NUM> pieces in this example) of optical fibers 11A to 11X are disposed in parallel. N is a multiple of <NUM>. <NUM> pieces of the optical fibers 11A to 11X are connected to each other by a resin in such a manner that at least some parts of the adjacent optical fibers contact each other. In the optical fiber ribbon <NUM>, a connection part <NUM> in which the optical fibers are connected to each other by the resin and a non-connection part <NUM> in which the optical fibers are not connected to each other by the resin are intermittently provided in a longitudinal direction between the core wires of an optical fiber disposed at the Mth and an optical fiber disposed at the (M+<NUM>)th. In this example, M is a multiple of <NUM>, and M is smaller than N. In this case, N is an integer multiple of M.

In the optical fiber ribbon <NUM> of this example, the connection part <NUM> and the non-connection part <NUM> are provided between the core wires of an optical fiber <NUM> disposed at the 12th and an optical fiber <NUM> disposed at the 13th. Hereinafter, "between the core wires in which the connection part <NUM> and the non-connection part <NUM> are provided" is referred to as "between the intermittently connected core wires". The "between the intermittently connected core wires" is provided every <NUM> pieces of the optical fibers. <FIG> and <FIG> illustrate the optical fiber ribbon <NUM> in a state where the non-connection part <NUM> is expanded in an arrangement direction of the optical fibers 11A to 11X.

Each of the optical fibers 11A to 11X is a coated optical fiber having, for example, a glass fiber <NUM> and two coating layers (an inner coating layer 52a and an outer coating layer 52b) coating the glass fiber <NUM>. A diameter of the glass fiber <NUM> is equal to or larger than <NUM> □m and equal to or smaller than <NUM> Dm. An outer diameter B of the optical fibers 11A to 11X is equal to or larger than <NUM> and is equal to or smaller than <NUM>.

The resin that connects the optical fibers 11A to 11X is formed with an inner layer resin <NUM> provided on an outer periphery of the optical fibers 11A to 11X and an outer layer resin <NUM> provided on an outer periphery of the inner layer resin <NUM>.

Among <NUM> pieces of the optical fibers 11A to 11X, <NUM> pieces of the optical fibers 11A to <NUM> are disposed in parallel in a state of being in contact with each other, and are connected to each other by being collectively coated with the inner layer resin <NUM>. In the same manner, <NUM> pieces of the optical fibers <NUM> to 11X are disposed in parallel in a state of being in contact with each other, and are connected to each other by being collectively coated with the inner layer resin <NUM>. In the inner layer resin <NUM> that is collectively coted, a recessed part 14a is formed in response to a hollow formed between the core wires of the adjacent optical fibers.

The optical fibers 11A to <NUM> coated with the inner layer resin <NUM> and the optical fibers <NUM> to 11X coated with the inner layer resin <NUM> are disposed in parallel in a state where the inner layer resins <NUM> contact each other, and connected to each other by being collectively coated with the outer layer resin <NUM>. That is, the optical fibers 11A to <NUM> coated with the inner layer resin <NUM> and the optical fibers <NUM> to 11X coated with the inner layer resin <NUM> are not connected to each other by the inner layer resin <NUM>, but connected to each other by the outer layer resin <NUM>. In the outer layer resin <NUM>, the connection part <NUM> and the non-connection part <NUM> are intermittently provided in the longitudinal direction at a position between the core wires of the optical fiber <NUM> and the optical fiber <NUM> which is the "between the intermittently connected core wires". As described above, the "between the intermittently connected core wires" in the optical fiber ribbon <NUM> is intermittently connected in the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber ribbon <NUM> by the outer layer resin <NUM>.

The resin may not be formed with a two-layer structure of the inner layer resin <NUM> and the outer layer resin <NUM>, or may be a single layer resin, and in the single layer resin, the connection part <NUM> and the non-connection part <NUM> may be intermittently provided in the longitudinal direction at the position between the core wires of the optical fiber <NUM> and the optical fiber <NUM> which is the "between the intermittently connected core wires".

The recessed part 15a is also formed in the outer layer resin <NUM> that is collectively coated in response to the hollow formed between the core wires of the adjacent optical fibers. The inner layer resin <NUM> for coating each of the optical fibers is provided between the core wires of the optical fiber <NUM> and the optical fiber <NUM>, and the optical fiber <NUM> and the optical fiber <NUM> are disposed apart from each other by a thickness of the inner layer resin <NUM>.

A thickness C of the optical fiber ribbon <NUM> formed as described above is equal to or smaller than <NUM>. The thickness of the resin obtained by adding the inner layer resin <NUM> and the outer layer resin <NUM> is equal to or larger than <NUM>. A distance D between the centers of the adjacent optical fibers in the optical fibers 11A to 11X is equal to or larger than <NUM> and equal to or smaller than <NUM>. The inner layer resin <NUM> and the outer layer resin <NUM> are formed of, for example, an ultraviolet curable resin and a thermosetting resin. For the outer layer resin <NUM>, a resin of a material having a larger elongation at break than that of the inner layer resin <NUM> is used. The outer layer resin <NUM> is formed of a soft resin having the large elongation, whereby the non-connection part <NUM> is easily formed in a predetermined length when intermittent processing is performed on the outer layer resin.

For example, in the case of the <NUM>-core optical fiber ribbon <NUM>, as an example, when the diameter B of the optical fibers 11A to 11X is set to <NUM> and the thickness C of the optical fiber ribbon <NUM> is set to <NUM> and a width E thereof is set to <NUM>, and when the shape of the cross-sectional area of the optical fiber ribbon <NUM> is simply approximated to a rectangle of <NUM> × <NUM>, a cross-sectional area S1 thereof becomes <NUM><NUM>.

On the other hand, as an example, in the case of the <NUM>-core optical fiber ribbon of the related art, when the diameter of the optical fiber is set to <NUM>, the thickness of the optical fiber ribbon is set to <NUM>, and a width thereof is set to <NUM>, in the same manner as described above, when the shape of the cross-sectional area is simply approximated to a rectangle of <NUM> × <NUM>, a cross-sectional area S2 of the <NUM>-core optical fiber ribbon of the related art becomes <NUM><NUM>.

As described above, in comparison with the number of core wires of the optical fiber ribbon, when the cross-sectional area of the optical fiber ribbon is equal, the number of optical fibers can be doubled as compared with the optical fiber ribbon of the related art by using the optical fiber ribbon <NUM> of the first embodiment.

Next, an example of a method of manufacturing the optical fiber ribbon <NUM> will be described.

<NUM> pieces of the optical fibers 11A to <NUM> are disposed in parallel so that the adjacent optical fibers contact each other. The inner layer resin <NUM> is applied to the surfaces of the optical fibers <NUM> Ato <NUM> disposed in parallel, thereby connecting the optical fibers 11A to <NUM>. In the same manner, <NUM> pieces of the optical fibers <NUM> to 11X are disposed in parallel, and the inner layer resin <NUM> is applied to the surfaces thereof, thereby connecting the optical fibers <NUM> to 11X.

Next, the optical fibers 11A to <NUM> coated with the inner layer resin <NUM> and the optical fibers <NUM> to 11X coated therewith are disposed in parallel so that the inner layer resins <NUM> contact each other, after which the outer layer resin <NUM> is applied to the surface of the inner layer resin <NUM>, thereby connecting the optical fibers 11A to 11X.

Next, according to the claimed invention, the non-connection part <NUM> is formed by intermittently forming a slit with, for example, a rotary blade in the longitudinal direction of the outer layer resin <NUM> between the optical fiber <NUM> and the optical fiber <NUM> (between the intermittently connected core wires). Accordingly, the optical fiber ribbon <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG> is manufactured.

The manufacturing method is not limited to the method of forming an intermittent structure by forming the slit after the outer layer resin is applied, and the intermittent structure may be formed by intermittently applying the outer layer resin.

According to the optical fiber ribbon <NUM> including the above-described configuration, since a structure in which the non-connection part <NUM> is intermittently provided every <NUM> cores is formed, it becomes easy to divide the optical fiber ribbon <NUM> every <NUM> cores. Normally, when the optical fiber ribbon is taken out from the optical fiber cable and distributed to an individual building and equipment, the <NUM>-core optical fiber ribbon is often used. For this reason, when the optical fiber ribbon <NUM> can be easily divided every <NUM> cores, it is possible to improve the efficiency of taking-out work from the optical fiber cable.

Since the outer diameter B of the optical fibers 11A to 11X is equal to or larger than <NUM> and equal to or smaller than <NUM>, even though the optical fiber ribbon <NUM> is a multiple of <NUM> cores (<NUM> cores or more), the width can be reduced and rigidity can be reduced. Therefore, since bending distortion at the time of applying bending in a width direction of the optical fiber ribbon <NUM> can be reduced, it is possible to fold the cross-sectional shape so as to be a desired shape, for example, even in the case of the intermittent pattern structure every multiple of <NUM> cores instead of an intermittent pattern structure for each core. Further, since the thickness C of the optical fiber ribbon <NUM> is equal to or smaller than <NUM>, the cross-sectional area of the optical fiber ribbon <NUM> can be reduced. Therefore, it is possible to improve the mounting density of the optical fibers 11A to 11X when the optical fiber ribbon <NUM> is mounted in the optical fiber cable.

The thickness C of the optical fiber ribbon <NUM> is formed to be equal to or smaller than <NUM>, and the thickness of the resin is formed to be equal to or larger than <NUM>. Therefore, it is possible not only to suppress the deterioration in characteristics of the optical fibers 11A to 11X when a side pressure is applied to the optical fiber ribbon <NUM>, but also to secure high external damage resistance.

The distance D between the centers of the optical fibers 11A to 11X can be set to be equal to or larger than <NUM> and equal to or smaller than <NUM> by arranging the optical fibers to be adjacent to each other. Accordingly, it is possible not only to further reduce the cross-sectional area of the optical fiber ribbon <NUM>, but also to further improve the mounting density of the optical fibers 11A to 11X when being mounted in the optical fiber cable.

In the above-described example, the adjacent optical fibers <NUM> and <NUM> are not connected to each other by the inner layer resin <NUM> but are intermittently connected to each other by the outer layer resin <NUM>. This structure can be implemented by coating the inner layer resin <NUM> with the outer layer resin <NUM>, leaving an interval between the optical fibers <NUM> and <NUM>, and applying intermittent processing to the outer layer resin <NUM> therebetween, whereby the optical fibers <NUM> and <NUM> can be made hard to be damaged and the operation can be easily performed.

An example of an optical fiber ribbon according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>. The same configuration as that of the optical fiber ribbon <NUM> according to the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference sign, and the description thereof will be appropriately omitted.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, an optical fiber ribbon <NUM> includes N pieces (<NUM> pieces in this example) of optical fibers 21A to <NUM> that are disposed in parallel. N is a multiple of <NUM>. <NUM> pieces of the optical fibers 21Ato <NUM> are connected to each other by a resin in such a manner that at least some parts of the adjacent optical fibers contact each other. In the optical fiber ribbon <NUM>, a connection part <NUM> in which the optical fibers are connected to each other by the resin and a non-connection part <NUM> in which the optical fibers are not connected to each other by the resin are intermittently provided in a longitudinal direction between an optical fiber disposed at the Mth and an optical fiber disposed at the (M+<NUM>)th. In this example, M is a multiple of <NUM>.

In the optical fiber ribbon <NUM> of this example, the connection part <NUM> and the non-connection part <NUM> are provided between the core wires of an optical fiber 21D disposed at the 4th and an optical fiber 21E disposed at the 5th, and the core wires of an optical fiber <NUM> disposed at the 8th and an optical fiber 21I disposed at the 9dth. The "between the intermittently connected core wires" is provided every <NUM> pieces of the optical fibers.

<NUM> pieces of the optical fibers 21A to <NUM> are disposed in parallel in a state of being in contact with each other, and are connected to each other by being collectively coated with a resin <NUM>. In the resin <NUM>, the connection part <NUM> and the non-connection part <NUM> are intermittently provided in the longitudinal direction between the core wires of the optical fiber 21D and the optical fiber 21E and between the core wires of the optical fiber <NUM> and the optical fiber 21I, which are the "between the intermittently connected core wires". In the resin <NUM>, a recessed part 24a is formed in response to a hollow formed between the core wires of the adjacent optical fibers.

The thickness C of the optical fiber ribbon <NUM> and the distance D between the centers thereof to be formed as described above are the same as those of the optical fiber ribbon <NUM> of the first embodiment. The thickness of the resin <NUM> is equal to or larger than <NUM>. The resin <NUM> is formed of, for example, an ultraviolet curable resin and a thermosetting resin.

In this example, the single layer resin <NUM> is provided, but for example, in the same manner as the first embodiment, the inner layer resin and the outer layer resin may be provided. It may be considered that the configuration of the resin (the inner layer resin and the outer layer resin) in the first embodiment may be formed as the single layer resin in this example.

<NUM> pieces of the optical fibers 21A to <NUM> are disposed in parallel so that the adjacent optical fibers contact each other. The resin <NUM> is applied to the surfaces of the optical fibers 21Ato <NUM> disposed in parallel, thereby connecting the optical fibers 21Ato <NUM>.

Next, according to the claimed invention, the non-connection part <NUM> is formed by intermittently forming a slit with, for example, a rotary blade in the longitudinal direction of the resin <NUM> between the optical fiber 21D and the optical fiber 21E and between the optical fiber <NUM> and the optical fiber 21I. Accordingly, the optical fiber ribbon <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG> is manufactured.

According to the optical fiber ribbon <NUM> including the above-described configuration, since an intermittent pattern structure in which the non-connection part <NUM> is intermittently provided every <NUM> cores is formed, the splicing work of the optical fiber can be performed in a tape state every multiple of <NUM>, thereby improving the work efficiency. With respect to a fact that the mounting density of the optical fibers 21A to <NUM> when the optical fiber ribbon <NUM> is mounted in the optical fiber cable can be improved, this fact is the same as that of the optical fiber ribbon <NUM> of the first embodiment described above. Even when the side pressure is applied to the optical fiber ribbon <NUM>, the same effect as that of the first embodiment is achieved.

Next, an optical fiber cable in which the optical fiber ribbon <NUM> of the first embodiment or the optical fiber ribbon <NUM> of the second embodiment is mounted will be described. A case of a tube type optical fiber cable will be described with reference to <FIG>, and a case of a slot type optical fiber cable will be described with reference to <FIG>. In the following <FIG> and <FIG>, an example using the optical fiber ribbon <NUM> of the second embodiment will be described.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example of a tube type optical fiber cable in which the optical fiber ribbon <NUM> of the second embodiment is mounted.

As illustrated in <FIG>, an optical fiber cable <NUM> includes a plurality of optical fiber ribbons <NUM>, a tension member <NUM>, and a cylindrical tube <NUM> covering the plurality of optical fiber ribbons <NUM> and the tension member <NUM>. Each optical fiber ribbon <NUM> is folded so that the cross-sectional shape becomes a desired shape, and is bundled by an interposition <NUM> such as an aramid fiber every plural pieces. The tension member <NUM> is disposed along the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber cable <NUM> at a center part of the tube <NUM>. The bundled optical fiber ribbons <NUM> are mutually twisted centering on the tension member <NUM>. A resin to be the tube <NUM> is extruded and coated around the mutually twisted optical fiber ribbon <NUM>. Even when the optical fiber ribbon <NUM> of the first embodiment is mounted in the optical fiber cable <NUM>, the optical fiber ribbon <NUM> is folded so that the cross-sectional shape becomes a desired shape in the optical fiber cable <NUM>, and then mounted therein.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example of a slot type optical fiber cable in which the optical fiber ribbon <NUM> of the second embodiment is mounted.

As illustrated in <FIG>, an optical fiber cable <NUM> includes a plurality of optical fiber ribbons <NUM> and a slot rod <NUM> including a plurality of slot grooves <NUM>. The slot rod <NUM> includes a tension member <NUM> at the center, and is formed as a structure in which the plurality of slot grooves <NUM> are radially provided. Each optical fiber ribbon <NUM> is folded so that the cross-sectional shape becomes a desired shape, twisted, for example, in a spiral shape every plural pieces, and stored in the slot groove <NUM> in a unit state bundled with a bundle material for identification. A press-winding tape <NUM> is wound around the slot rod <NUM>, and a jacket <NUM> is formed around the press-winding tape <NUM>. Even when the optical fiber ribbon <NUM> of the first embodiment is mounted in the optical fiber cable <NUM>, the optical fiber ribbon <NUM> can be folded in the optical fiber cable <NUM> so that the cross-sectional shape becomes a desired shape, and then mounted therein.

Here, core density of the optical fiber cable is defined in such a manner that the total number of optical fibers mounted in the optical fiber cable is divided by the cross-sectional area of the optical fiber cable (the number of optical fibers / the cross-sectional area of the optical fiber cable).

The core density of the optical fiber cable <NUM> or the optical fiber cable <NUM> is equal to or higher than <NUM> cores/mm<NUM>. Specifically, for example, when the slot type optical fiber cable <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> is manufactured with an outer diameter G of <NUM>, the optical fiber including <NUM>,<NUM> cores can be mounted, and the core density thereof becomes <NUM> cores/mm<NUM>. The core density of the optical fiber cable <NUM> or the optical fiber cable <NUM> becomes doubled (the "doubled" is not a strict value but a value having a certain width), for example, as compared with a case of using the <NUM>-core optical fiber ribbon of the related art (the diameter of the optical fiber is <NUM>, the thickness of the optical fiber ribbon is <NUM>, and the width thereof is <NUM>) cited for comparison in the description of the above-described first embodiment.

As described above, according to the optical fiber cable in which the optical fiber ribbon <NUM> of the first embodiment or the optical fiber ribbon <NUM> of the second embodiment is mounted (for example, the tube type optical fiber cable <NUM> or the slot type optical fiber cable <NUM>), it is possible to improve the mounting density of the optical fiber. Alternatively, when the number of optical fibers to be mounted (the number of cores) is the same, the optical fiber cable in which the optical fiber ribbon <NUM> of the first embodiment or the optical fiber ribbon <NUM> of the second embodiment is mounted can have an outer diameter smaller than that of the optical fiber cable of the related art.

Claim 1:
An optical fiber ribbon (<NUM>), comprising:
N pieces of optical fibers (11A....11X) in a state of being disposed in parallel, wherein
at least some parts of the N pieces of optical fibers contact each other and are connected to each other by a resin,
an outer diameter of the optical fiber is equal to or larger than <NUM> and equal to or smaller than <NUM>,
a connection part (<NUM>) connected by the resin and a non-connection part (<NUM>) not connected by the resin by formation of a slit in the resin are intermittently provided in a longitudinal direction between intermittently connected core wires of an optical fiber disposed at the Mth and an optical fiber disposed at the (M+<NUM>)th among the N pieces of optical fibers, thereby to divide the N optical fibers into sets of M fibers, each set being without any non-connection part between the fibers,
the N is a multiple of <NUM>, and
the M is a multiple of <NUM>.