Patent ID: 7445832

Claim:
A ribboned array of polarization-maintaining fibers, comprising: a plurality of polarization-maintaining optical fibers, wherein a direction of the polarized wave of each of the plurality of polarization-maintaining optical fibers is rotated so as to be parallel to a predetermined plane of polarization; and a cured ribbon portion having first and second lateral ends, having a length of 2 to 300 mm and surrounding at least some of the polarization-maintaining optical fibers, the polarization-maintaining optical fibers extending individually from the second lateral end of the ribbon portion, wherein each of the polarization-maintaining optical fibers is rotated such that the polarized wave is parallel to the predetermined plane of polarization before the ribbon portion is cured, and at least an external exposed surface of said ribbon portion comprises a material that is capable of being stripped to expose the polarization-maintaining optical fibers without damaging the polarization-maintaining optical fibers.