Provided is an optical fiber ribbon capable of achieving higher density and reduction in diameter and accurately placing optical fibers in V-shape grooves in a fusion machine without failure. The optical fiber ribbon 1 includes three or more of optical fibers 2 arranged in parallel and connecting portions 3 connecting adjacent two optical fibers 2 together, the connecting portions 3 being intermittently provided in each of a ribbon longitudinal direction and a ribbon width direction. The connecting portions 3 are each formed in such a manner as to fill resin into a gap S formed between adjacent two optical fibers 2, and both surfaces of the respective connecting portions 3 are each formed into a recess having a concave shape curved toward a center of the gap S to separate from lines 4,5 each connecting contact points of the optical fibers 2 when being placed on a horizontal surface.

A flexible optical ribbon and associated systems and methods of manufacturing are provided. The ribbon includes a plurality of optical transmission elements and an inner layer comprising a cross-linked polymer material and an outer surface. The outer surface of the inner layer includes first areas having first concentrations of uncrosslinked polymer material and second areas having second concentrations of uncrosslinked polymer material. The first concentrations are greater than the second concentrations. The ribbon includes an outer polymer layer having an inner surface interfacing with the outer surface of the inner layer. The outer polymer layer has a higher level of bonding to the inner layer at the first areas than at the second areas due to the ability of the outer polymer material to bond or crosslink with the larger numbers of uncrosslinked polymer material in the first areas.

An optical fiber cable includes optical fiber ribbons, a slot rod and a cable jacket. The slot rod has slot grooves in which the optical fiber ribbons are housed. The cable jacket covers an outside of the slot rod. The optical fiber ribbons have, in a state in which optical fibers having an outer diameter of 0.22 mm or less are arranged in parallel, connecting portions at which adjacent ones of the optical fibers are connected to one another and non-connecting portions at which adjacent ones of the optical fibers are not connected to one another, which are provided intermittently in a longitudinal direction. A density of core number of the optical fibers included in the optical fiber cable is 4.8 cores/mm.sup.2 or more in a cross section of the optical fiber cable.

There is provided an intermittent connection type optical fiber ribbon in which at least a part of a plurality of optical fibers that are arranged to be in parallel come into contact with each other, and between a part or the entirety of the optical fibers, a connection portion at which the adjacent optical fibers are connected to each other with an adhesive resin, and a non-connection portion at which the adjacent optical fibers are not connected to each other with the adhesive resin, are intermittently provided in the longitudinal direction, in which an outer diameter dimension of the optical fiber is equal to or less than 0.22 mm, and an inter-center distance of the adjacent optical fibers is 0.200.02 mm, and in which at least a part of the outer periphery of the optical fiber has no adhesive resin attached thereto.

An optical fiber cable including an optical fiber ribbon in a pipe, wherein the ribbon includes at least two optical fibers arranged side by side, and wherein at least two of the optical fibers are bonded intermittently along a length of the fibers.

An optical fiber cable including an optical fiber ribbon in is pipe, wherein the ribbon includes at least two optical fibers arranged side by side, and wherein at least two of the optical fibers are bonded intermittently along a length of the fibers.

An optical fiber cable including an optical fiber ribbon in a pipe, wherein the ribbon includes at least two optical fibers arranged side by side, and wherein at least two of the optical fibers are bonded intermittently along a length of the fibers.

An optical fiber cable including an optical fiber ribbon in a pipe, wherein the ribbon includes at least two optical fibers arranged side by side, and wherein at least two of the optical fibers are bonded intermittently along a length of the fibers.

Provided is an optical fiber ribbon capable of achieving higher density and reduction in diameter and accurately placing optical fibers in V-shape grooves in a fusion machine without failure. The optical fiber ribbon 1 includes three or more of optical fibers 2 arranged in parallel and connecting portions 3 connecting adjacent two optical fibers 2 together, the connecting portions 3 being intermittently provided in each of a ribbon longitudinal direction and a ribbon width direction. The connecting portions 3 are each formed in such a manner as to fill resin into a gap S formed between adjacent two optical fibers 2, and both surfaces of the respective connecting portions 3 are each formed into a recess having a concave shape curved toward a center of the gap S to separate from lines 4,5 each connecting contact points of the optical fibers 2 when being placed on a horizontal surface.

A flexible optical ribbon and associated systems and methods of manufacturing are provided. The ribbon includes a plurality of optical transmission elements and an inner layer comprising a cross-linked polymer material and an outer surface. The outer surface of the inner layer includes first areas having first concentrations of uncrosslinked polymer material and second areas having second concentrations of uncrosslinked polymer material. The first concentrations are greater than the second concentrations. The ribbon includes an outer polymer layer having an inner surface interfacing with the outer surface of the inner layer. The outer polymer layer has a higher level of bonding to the inner layer at the first areas than at the second areas due to the ability of the outer polymer material to bond or crosslink with the larger numbers of uncrosslinked polymer material in the first areas.