Inventors:
Justin Thompson - Huntersville NC
Kevin Scott Paschal - Claremont NC
Allen Griser - Hickory NC
Curtis John Hutton - Hickory NC
Rob Greer - Conover NC
International Classification:
G02B 644
Abstract:
An optical fiber ribbon in which the location of a particular fiber contained in the ribbon can be easily identified in the field. The optical fiber ribbon includes a plurality of optical fibers arranged in parallel with and adjacent one another, and a ribbon matrix bonded to the outer coatings and encasing the plurality of optical fibers, wherein the ribbon matrix includes indicia on an outside thereof for directionally identifying a particular one of the optical fibers. According to a first aspect of the invention, the indicia includes triangle, with an apex of the triangle pointing in the direction of the particular fiber. Alternatively, according to a second aspect of the invention, the indicia includes an arrow pointing in the direction of the particular fiber. The indicia is preferably repeated at regular intervals along the length of the ribbon to allow the particular fiber to be identified along the entire length of the ribbon. In the case of an optical fiber ribbon product which includes a plurality of optical fiber ribbons, the indicia can also be used to distinguish between ribbons.