FIBRE-OPTIC TAPE, METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MANUFACTURE THEREOF Russian patent published in 2021 - IPC G02B6/44 

FIELD: optical elements.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to a fibre-optic tape and to a method and system for manufacture thereof. The invention also relates to a method for inspection of the fibre-optic tape. The claimed fibre-optic tape comprises: multiple adjacent optical fibre sections extending in the longitudinal direction and located in parallel, forming an assembly of optical fibres with a width, wherein each of the optical fibre sections comprises either one optical fibre or a group of no more than three optical fibres, preferably two optical fibres encapsulated by a matrix material; and multiple consecutive elongated rectilinear rollers of a binding material arranged along the length of the assembly; wherein each of the multiple rollers is configured to form an elongated connection between two adjacent optical fibre sections from multiple optical fibre sections, wherein a fluorescent indicator is present in each of the multiple rollers. The claimed system for manufacture of the fibre-optic tape additionally comprises: a form for preparing the optical fibre assembly, a supplying unit for supplying multiple optical fibre sections into the form, a dispenser for applying a binding material containing a fluorescent indicator onto the surface of the assembly, a station for processing, such as hardening or cooling, of the binding material, an ultraviolet light source illuminating the fibre-optic tape with the binding material applied to the surface of the assembly, and a video detection system for detecting visible light emitted by the rollers during exposure to ultraviolet light.

EFFECT: creation of a fibre-optic tape exhibiting increased flexibility and allowing for reeling or folding of optical fibres in the direction of the width of the tape which can be spliced by mass fusion to form numerous connections of optical fibres, individual optical fibres or fibre sections can be separated without damage to adjacent optical fibres, and the tapes can be produced with constant high quality and/or pass acceptance inspection after manufacture.

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