US4264129A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fiber bundle termination
Assignee: Honeywell Inc
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Filing: 1978-11-17
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Granted: 1981-04-28
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Expires: 1998-11-17
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is an optics cable including a plurality of optically transmissive fibers with the portions adjacent the terminal ends thereof clad with a copolymer of vinylidene fluoride and a fluoroplastic. The copolymer contains a minor proportion of a coupling agent which permits bonding of the clad fiber ends together and to terminal hardware so that the ends of the fibers are rigidly secured in a fixed relationship with each other and the terminal hardware.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronnie L. Warkentine
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 17:58
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/36; G02B6/38; G02B6/3807; G02B6/3833; G02B6/3855; G02B6/3861; G02B6/3887; G02B6/3888; G02B6/40; G02B6/403; G02B6/44; G02B6/4439; G02B6/4471; G02B6/3863; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/29; Y10T428/2904; Y10T428/2907
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
71 words
An optics cable including a plurality of optically transmissive flexible fused silica fibers individually clad with a material having an index of refraction lower than the index of refraction of said fibers, at least on terminal end of each of said fibers clad with a continuous coating of a copolymer of vinylidene fluoride and a fluoroplastic selected from the group consisting of tetrafluoro ethylene and chlorotrifluoro ethylene containing a coupling agent.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
71 words
An optics cable including a plurality of optically transmissive flexible fused silica fibers individually clad with a material having an index of refraction lower than the index of refraction of said fibers, at least on terminal end of each of said fibers clad with a continuous coating of a copolymer of vinylidene fluoride and a fluoroplastic selected from the group consisting of tetrafluoro ethylene and chlorotrifluoro ethylene containing a coupling agent.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
An optics cable as defined in claim 1 wherein said coupling agent is N-β-aminoethyl-γ-aminopropyl trimethoxysilane.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
An optics cable as defined in claim 1 including a terminal end connector surrounding the terminal ends of said fibers wherein said clad fibers are bonded together and to said terminal end connector.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
58 words
An optically transmissive flexible fiber of fused silica having a continuous cladding surrounding the longitudinal external surface thereof, said cladding comprising a film of silicone plastic over a major portion of the length of said fiber and a continuous film of fluoroplastic containing a coupling agent over the portion of said fiber adjacent at least one end thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
58 words
An optically transmissive flexible fiber of fused silica having a continuous cladding surrounding the longitudinal external surface thereof, said cladding comprising a film of silicone plastic over a major portion of the length of said fiber and a continuous film of fluoroplastic containing a coupling agent over the portion of said fiber adjacent at least one end thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
An optically transmissive fiber as defined in claim 4 wherein the numerical aperture of the portion of said fiber clad with said fluoroplastic is approximately the same as the numerical aperture of the portion of said fiber clad with said silicone plastic.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
An optically transmissive flexible fiber as defined in claim 4 wherein said fluoroplastic is a copolymer of vinylidene fluoride and a fluoroplastic selected from the group consisting of tetrafluoro ethylene and chlorotrifluoro ethylene.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
An optically transmissive flexible fiber as defined in claim 6 wherein said coupling agent is N-β-aminoethyl-γ-aminopropyl trimethoxysilane.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
84 words
The method of forming a continuous cladding of fluoroplastic on an optically transmissive fiber comprising the steps of (a) dissolving vinylidene fluororide and a fluoroplastic selected from the group consisting of tetrafluoro ethylene and chlorotrifluoro ethylene in acetone to form a cladding solution, (b) dissolving a coupling agent in a solvent which is soluble in acetone to form a coupling agent solution, (c) dissolving said coupling agent solution in said cladding solution, and (d) uniformly applying said cladding solution to said optically transmissive fiber.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
84 words
The method of forming a continuous cladding of fluoroplastic on an optically transmissive fiber comprising the steps of (a) dissolving vinylidene fluororide and a fluoroplastic selected from the group consisting of tetrafluoro ethylene and chlorotrifluoro ethylene in acetone to form a cladding solution, (b) dissolving a coupling agent in a solvent which is soluble in acetone to form a coupling agent solution, (c) dissolving said coupling agent solution in said cladding solution, and (d) uniformly applying said cladding solution to said optically transmissive fiber.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method set forth in claim 8 wherein said coupling agent is N-β-aminoethyl-γ-aminopropyl trimethoxysilane and is dissolved in methanol.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
81 words
In an optics cable including a plurality of optically transmissive flexible fused silica fibers, a fiber bundle termination wherein the portion adjacent the terminal end face of each fiber in said cable is individually clad with a copolymer of vinylidene fluoride and a fluoroplastic selected from the group consisting of tetrafluoro ethylene and chlorotrifluoro ethylene containing a minor proportion of a coupling agent and said portions are bound to each other and to a housing surrounding said portion with an epoxy.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
81 words
In an optics cable including a plurality of optically transmissive flexible fused silica fibers, a fiber bundle termination wherein the portion adjacent the terminal end face of each fiber in said cable is individually clad with a copolymer of vinylidene fluoride and a fluoroplastic selected from the group consisting of tetrafluoro ethylene and chlorotrifluoro ethylene containing a minor proportion of a coupling agent and said portions are bound to each other and to a housing surrounding said portion with an epoxy.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-04-27 | 1984-10-27 | 1985-04-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-04-27 | 1988-10-27 | 1989-04-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-04-27 | 1992-10-27 | 1993-04-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |