Laser Cleaved Ribbons

Ribbon fibers are increasingly being used for applications where a high physical channel density is required. These ribbon fibers can be connected utilizing a standard connector such as MTP, a specialized interconnect, direct bonding or other specialty methods.

Laser cleaving is a relatively new method of fiber cleaving that is quickly being adapted into the manufacturing processes for ribbon fiber applications. Here a laser is used instead of a mechanical blade to cleave fibers before polishing. Among the benefits of laser cleaving is a significant reduction or elimination of time required for polishing as well as an ability to actively shape the fiber endface.

Interferometric endface inspection has been used for single fiber mechanical cleaves for years. Applying this metrology to use with ribbon fibers simply requires fixturing, such as the Fiber Ribbon Stage which allows scanning through individual fibers in a ribbon, one at a time.