A method organizes fibers. A plurality of fibers is received into a first assembly. An initial sequence of the plurality of fibers in the first assembly is obtained. A set of key combinations is identified from the initial sequence and a predetermined sequence. A second assembly is slid across the first assembly. The set of key combinations is actuated to move the plurality of fibers from the first assembly to the second assembly and order the plurality of fibers in the second assembly in the predetermined sequence.

Embodiments of the invention include a method for making a partially bonded optical fiber ribbon. The method includes providing a linear array of optical fibers, and applying with an ink jet printing machine a bonding matrix material to at least a portion of at least two adjacent optical fibers. The applied bonding matrix material has a viscosity of approximately 2.0 to approximately 10.0 centipoise (cP) measured at 25 degrees Celsius (° C.). The applied bonding matrix material also has a conductivity of approximately 600 to approximately 1200 millimhos (mmhos). The applied bonding matrix material also has an adhesion of approximately 0.01 to approximately 0.20 Newtons (N). Also, the bonding matrix material is applied to at least a portion of at least two adjacent optical fibers in such a way that the linear array of optical fibers forms a partially bonded 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.sup.3/m.Math.° C. or lower.

An optical network is provided that includes at least one strand of a plurality of strands of optical fiber optically connected to a first fiber distribution hub and an access terminal. The at least one strand optically is also connected to a second fiber distribution hub and the access terminal. The at least one strand thus provides a full duplex optical path in a first direction from the first fiber distribution hub to the access terminal and in a second direction from the second fiber distribution hub to the access terminal.

An optical fiber cable includes: a plurality of ribs formed along a longitudinal direction of a cable; and a slot core in which a slot grove for housing an optical fiber ribbon is formed between the ribs. In the slot groove, a plurality of optical fiber ribbons are bundled and a plurality of subunits whose periphery is wound with a bundle material are provided, and the bundle materials between the plurality of subunits are bonded to each other.

An optical fiber ribbon in which a plurality of optical fibers are integrated by a common coated layer includes: an intermittent connection portion in which a connection portion formed from the common coated layer and a non-connection portion including no common coated layer are alternately formed in a longitudinal direction between every predetermined number of optical fibers equal to or greater than two; and a continuous connection portion in which a connection portion formed from the common coated layer is continuously formed in a longitudinal direction between optical fibers other than the predetermined number of optical fibers equal to or greater than two. A thickness of the connection portion of the intermittent connection portion is thinner than a thickness of the continuous connection portion.

A fiber optic cable includes a stranded ribbon stack, a sheath extruded around the stranded ribbon stack to form a subunit, and an extruded foam layer, wherein the foam layer has a minimum inner diameter that is less than or equal to a maximum stack diagonal dimension of the stranded ribbon stack.

A method of manufacturing an optical fiber assembly into which optical fibers are integrated includes: preparing an alignment member having through holes with a pitch that is greater than a coating diameter of the optical fibers; inserting each of the optical fibers into one of the through holes; after the inserting of the optical fibers into the through holes, holding the optical fibers on both sides of the alignment member by a pair of grippers; after the inserting of the optical fibers into the through holes, connecting at least adjacent ones of the optical fibers by disposing an adhesive material on at least one side of the alignment member; and forming an optical fiber assembly by curing the adhesive material in a state in which the optical fibers held by the grippers are stretched along an optical axis.

An optical-fiber ribbon includes optical fibers (e.g., reduced-diameter optical fibers) arranged in parallel within optical-fiber units, wherein at least one adjacent pair of optical-fiber units is separated by a longitudinal adhesive-free spacing for a portion of the optical-fiber ribbon's length. Typically, each adjacent pair of optical-fiber units is separated by an adhesive-free spacing for a respective portion of the optical-fiber assembly's longitudinal length. In an exemplary embodiment, longitudinal adhesive-free spacings effectively increase the width of an optical-fiber ribbon formed of reduced-diameter optical fibers so that the optical-fiber ribbon achieves a more conventional optical-fiber ribbon width, thereby facilitating mass-fusion splicing using standard splicing equipment.

An optical-fiber ribbon includes intermittent gaps along its longitudinal length in which no bonding material is present across the width of the optical-fiber ribbon. These intermittent gaps without bonding material (e.g., adhesive beads) help to reduce or eliminate bonding-material interference as the optical-fiber ribbon is positioned within an alignment chuck during preparations for mass-fusion splicing.