Abstract: A polymer optical fiber is provided which shows improved hydrolytic stability. This fiber comprises a polymeric optical core and cladding layer, surrounded by a polymeric overcladding layer which comprises a miscible blend of one or more hydrolytically stable amorphous polymers. By varying the ratios of the component polymers in the overcladding blend, the glass transition temperature and the coefficient of thermal expansion of the overcladding layer may be tuned to optimize the attenuation and bandwidth of the plastic optical fiber.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes an optical fiber ribbon, using polymer optical fibers and an extremely thin adhesive coating to provide adhesion between the fibers. The external surfaces of the optical fiber ribbons are precisely placed with respect to the optical cores of the constituent fibers, and the optical cores of the fibers are precisely placed with respect to each other. Therefore, the external surface of the ribbon is used as a reference surface for aligning the array of optical fiber cores to arrays of optical emitters or detectors at the ends of the ribbon. Thus, the optical fiber ribbon of the present disclosure is cut, either by a sharp blade or other tool as suitable to expose a cross-section of the ribbon, and inserted as a single unit into a receptacle that aligns the outer surface of the ribbon with respect to the array of optical emitters or detectors.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes an optical fiber ribbon, using polymer optical fibers and an extremely thin adhesive coating to provide adhesion between the fibers. The external surfaces of the optical fiber ribbons are precisely placed with respect to the optical cores of the constituent fibers, and the optical cores of the fibers are precisely placed with respect to each other. Therefore, the external surface of the ribbon is used as a reference surface for aligning the array of optical fiber cores to arrays of optical emitters or detectors at the ends of the ribbon. Thus, the optical fiber ribbon of the present disclosure is cut, either by a sharp blade or other tool as suitable to expose a cross-section of the ribbon, and inserted as a single unit into a receptacle that aligns the outer surface of the ribbon with respect to the array of optical emitters or detectors.

Abstract: In the present disclosure, a termination apparatus and process is disclosed that optimizes the termination of polymer optical fiber ribbons, eliminates the need for a ferrule and connector, and utilizes lower-cost materials instead of diamond for the cutting blade.

Abstract: In the present disclosure, a termination apparatus and process is disclosed that optimizes the termination of polymer optical fiber ribbons, eliminates the need for a ferrule and connector, and utilizes lower-cost materials instead of diamond for the cutting blade.