June 3, 2005 Research Triangle Park, NC -- At next week's Supercomm 2005, Sumitomo Electric Lightwave will introduce two products designed to ease fiber deployments: its 3 x 4-fiber modular ribbon for FTTP/FTTH deployments, and its FC-7 fiber cleaver, which the company calls a handheld, 1-step fiber cleaver for use in fusion splicing, field termination, and other precision FTTX applications.
According to the company, its 3 x 4-fiber modular ribbon is a segmented ribbon design that allows 12 fiber ribbons to be easily divisible into three 4-fiber ribbon subunits without requiring tools. The company says the ribbon's design impacts FTTH/FTTP 4-fiber branching network topologies, serving 4 homes or premises, by significantly facilitating faster, more cost-effective deployments.
The company says the ribbon can be used throughout the feeder, distribution, and drop segments of FTTH/FTTP networks. According to the company, rather than splicing a single optical fiber at a time, with the ribbon installers can branch off 4 fibers originating from a hub, terminal, or closure, to efficiently mass splice to an existing 4-fiber ribbon cable or pre-connectorized fanout. The company says the 3 x 4-fiber ribbon design increases time savings by over 50%, since advancements in mass fusion splicing technology make it possible to splice multiple fiber ribbons almost as quickly as a single fiber, while maintaining comparable splice loss.
The company employed its proprietary control process and Easy Split & Peel technology to develop the encapsulated 3 x 4-fiber ribbon matrix, in which each set of 4 fibers is constructed into a splittable, peelable ribbon. The company says the technology makes its ribbon one of the only products in the industry designed to allow easy splitting of the ribbon fiber without the need for tools. According to the company, because each 4-fiber sub-unit is completely encapsulated, the fiber coating is protected, thereby guarding against fiber damage, mechanical abrasions, and shearing of fibers during splitting. The company says the ribbon design also allows an installer to quickly and easily peel back the ribbon, by hand, to expose the underlying fiber in preparation for connectorization or splicing.
The 3 x 4-fiber ribbon is compatible with existing 12-fiber ribbon, conventional mass fusion splicers, protective sleeves, splice enclosures, and ribbon connectors. The company expects to incorporate the 3 x 4-fiber ribbon design into its complete ribbon cable product line by early Q4 of this year.
The company calls its FC-7 fiber cleaver a handheld, 1-too for use in fusion splicing, field termination, and other precision applications. According to the company, the unit's design eliminates multi-step cleaving processes, allowing users to cleave single or multiple fibers in a single step, using one hand.
The company says that, by automating both the blade and anvil in a lightweight, compact design that can be held in the palm of one hand, the tool outperforms existing one-step cleavers that require the use of both hands for operation. According to the company, the tool's one-hand, single-step cleaving process is especially suitable for taut-sheath splicing or in limited slack applications. The company says the FC-7 streamlines the cleaving process by allowing the cleaver to be strapped to a technician's wrist, where he or she can cleave the fiber, let go of the cleaver, and continue with the application without disruption. The cleaver's case doubles as a tool pouch, which fastens to a technician's tool belt.
The company says it has designed the FC-7 for optimal versatility by accommodating for fiber holders and various splicers requiring a single-fiber adapter. The tool also features a built-in fiber scrap collector for handling and safe storage of scrap fibers.
The company says the cleaver's operation meets specifications for clean, precise cleave quality to ensure low-reflectance terminations for optimum performance of fiber optic components and systems. The company says the cleaver prevents double scoring of fibers and offers a typical cleave angle of < 0.5 degrees. The company says the cleaver is ideal for use with both single and mass (up to 4-fiber ribbon) splicing of both single-mode and multimode fibers. The unit weighs 300g.
For more information about the products, visit the company's booth at next week's Supercomm 2005.