US4390589A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Metal coating of fibers
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1982-02-26
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Granted: 1983-06-28
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Expires: 2002-02-26
Abstract
Abstract Fibers are coated with a metal layer by applying onto the fiber a relatively high viscosity slurry comprising an alloy in the form of liquid and solid phases. This allows application of metal coatings on layers that do not "wet" with the liquid metal. For example, an optical fiber having a soft polymer layer to reduce microbending losses is coated with a metal to prevent moisture entry. An alloy of Bi-Sn or In-Sn, among others, allows coating at a relatively low temperature to prevent polymer degradation. Other fibers for various uses can also be advantageously coated with this technique.
Inventors
- 👤 Franz T. Geyling
- 👤 Theodore J. Louzon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 06:41
CPC Classifications
C; C03; C03C; C03C25/00; C03C25/10; C03C25/104; C03C25/106; C03C25/1061; C03C25/1063; G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/02; G02B6/02395; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S359/00; Y10S359/90; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/29; Y10T428/2913; Y10T428/2933; Y10T428/294; Y10T428/2942; Y10T428/2944; Y10T428/2956; Y10T428/2958
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
56 words
A method of making a metal-coated fiber characterized by radially confining around a fiber or an intermediate layer thereon a slurry comprising a multiphase alloy that is in the form of a solid phase and a liquid phase while passing said fiber axially through a slurry confinement means, and cooling said slurry to the solid state.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
56 words
A method of making a metal-coated fiber characterized by radially confining around a fiber or an intermediate layer thereon a slurry comprising a multiphase alloy that is in the form of a solid phase and a liquid phase while passing said fiber axially through a slurry confinement means, and cooling said slurry to the solid state.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said fiber is a silica glass optical fiber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said fiber or intermediate layer onto which said coating layer is applied is substantially nonwettable by the molten form of said alloy.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said fiber is a silica glass optical fiber having an intermediate layer thereon comprising an organic polymer material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said fiber or said intermediate layer substantially degrades at a temperature above 200° C., with said applying of said slurry being accomplished at a temperature less than 200° C.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said fiber is a fiber selected from the group consisting of silica glass fiber, boron fiber, carbon fiber, and aromatic polyamide fiber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said coating layer comprising a metal forms a continuous metallic layer around said fiber or intermediate layer, thereby producing a hermetic seal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said alloy substantially comprises at least one element selected from the group consisting of tin, indium, bismuth, lead, gallium, mercury, antimony, and cadmium.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
10 words
A fiber coated according to the method of claim 1.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
11 words
An optical fiber coated according to the method of claim 4.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
A fiber having a metallic layer thereon, characterized in that said layer is comprised of at least 50 weight percent of a multiphase alloy.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
A fiber having a metallic layer thereon, characterized in that said layer is comprised of at least 50 weight percent of a multiphase alloy.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
51 words
A coated optical fiber characterized in that said coated fiber comprises a silica glass optical fiber having an intermediate layer comprising organic polymer material thereon, and further comprises a metal layer surrounding said intermediate layer, with said metal layer being comprised of at least 50 weight percent of a multiphase alloy.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
51 words
A coated optical fiber characterized in that said coated fiber comprises a silica glass optical fiber having an intermediate layer comprising organic polymer material thereon, and further comprises a metal layer surrounding said intermediate layer, with said metal layer being comprised of at least 50 weight percent of a multiphase alloy.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The fiber of claim 11 or 12 wherein said multiphase alloy has an initial melting temperature of less than 200° C.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The fiber of claim 11 or 12 wherein said metal layer forms a hermetic seal around said fiber or intermediate layer.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
The fiber of claim 11 or 12 wherein said metal layer substantially comprises at least two elements selected from the group consisting of tin, indium, bismuth, lead, gallium, mercury, antimony, and cadmium.
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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) | 1986-06-27 | 1986-12-27 | 1987-06-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-06-27 | 1990-12-27 | 1991-06-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-06-27 | 1994-12-27 | 1995-06-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |