Intermittently connected optical fiber ribbon and method for manufacturing intermittently connected optical fiber ribbon
An intermittently connected optical fiber ribbon includes optical fibers, disposed side by side in a width direction of the optical fibers, and connecting portions that each intermittently connect two adjacent ones of the optical fibers. A center-to-center distance between any of the two adjacent ones of the optical fibers is greater than a diameter of the individual optical fibers. A total volume shrinkage per meter per 1° C. of the connecting portions of a single one of the optical fibers is 0.00070 mm 3 /m·° C. or lower.
1. An intermittently connected optical fiber ribbon comprising:
optical fibers disposed side by side in a width direction of the optical fibers; and
connecting portions that each intermittently connect two adjacent ones of the optical fibers, wherein
a center-to-center distance between any of the two adjacent ones of the optical fibers is greater than a diameter of the individual optical fibers, and
a total volume shrinkage per meter per 1° C. of the connecting portions of a single one of the optical fibers (Vf) is 0.00070 mm 3 /m·° C. or lower.
2. The intermittently connected optical fiber ribbon according to claim 1 , wherein
each of the optical fibers is intermittently connected to an adjacent one of the optical fibers by the connecting portions, and
Vf≤0.00070
where:
Vf (mm 3 /m·° C.) is expressed by Vf=S×A×1000×R,
A (/° C.) is a shrinkage rate of each of the connecting portions per 1° C.,
S (mm 2 ) is a cross-sectional area of each of the connecting portions,
R is a proportion of the connecting portions existing in a longitudinal direction of the optical fibers and expressed by R=(a/p)×2,
p (mm) is a connecting pitch of the connecting portions arranged in the longitudinal direction, and
a (mm) is a length of each of the connecting portions.
3. The intermittently connected optical fiber ribbon according to claim 1 , wherein
each of the optical fibers forms a pair with an adjacent one of the optical fibers,
each of the pairs is intermittently connected to an adjacent one of the pairs by the connecting portions, and
Vf≤0.00070
where:
Vf (mm 3 /m·° C.) is expressed by Vf=S×A×1000×R,
A (/° C.) is a shrinkage rate of each of the connecting portions per 1° C.,
S (mm 2 ) is a cross-sectional area of each of the connecting portions,
R is a proportion of the connecting portions existing in a longitudinal direction of the optical fibers and expressed by R=(a/p),
p (mm) is a connecting pitch of the connecting portions arranged in the longitudinal direction, and
a (mm) is a length of each of the connecting portions.
4. The intermittently connected optical fiber ribbon according to claim 1 , wherein
the diameter of each of the optical fibers is 220 μm or smaller.
5. A method for manufacturing an intermittently connected optical fiber ribbon, comprising:
supplying optical fibers; and
forming the intermittently connected optical fiber ribbon by connecting the optical fibers with connecting portions that intermittently connect two adjacent ones of the optical fibers, wherein
a center-to-center distance between the two adjacent ones of the optical fibers is greater than a diameter of each of the two adjacent ones of the optical fibers, and
a total volume shrinkage per meter per 1° C. of the connecting portions of a single one of the optical fibers is 0.00070 mm 3 /m·° C. or lower.