Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 45
Claim 1
Independent Claim
185 words
A flexible fiber optical waveguide for the transmission of optical electromagnetic radiation, said waveguide comprising a glass fiber including a glass core member having a first minimum refractive index for said radiation and a glass cladding concentrically surrounding said core, said glass cladding including at least one layer having a second refractive index for said radiation which is lower than the minimum of said first refractive index by at least 0.1% to produce total internal refraction of said optical radiation at the core/clad interface and to thereby guide said optical radiation along said waveguide, characterized in that said waveguide is provided with at least two metallic claddings with a first metallic cladding in contact with said glass fiber, said first metallic cladding comprising a metal or alloy which is substantially chemically inert with respect to the material comprising the glass fiber at the deposition temperature during coating of said metal or alloy onto said glass fiber, and at least one of said metallic claddings comprising a metal or alloy having a recrystallization temperature greater than room temperature or the anticipated use temperature, whichever is greater.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
185 words
A flexible fiber optical waveguide for the transmission of optical electromagnetic radiation, said waveguide comprising a glass fiber including a glass core member having a first minimum refractive index for said radiation and a glass cladding concentrically surrounding said core, said glass cladding including at least one layer having a second refractive index for said radiation which is lower than the minimum of said first refractive index by at least 0.1% to produce total internal refraction of said optical radiation at the core/clad interface and to thereby guide said optical radiation along said waveguide, characterized in that said waveguide is provided with at least two metallic claddings with a first metallic cladding in contact with said glass fiber, said first metallic cladding comprising a metal or alloy which is substantially chemically inert with respect to the material comprising the glass fiber at the deposition temperature during coating of said metal or alloy onto said glass fiber, and at least one of said metallic claddings comprising a metal or alloy having a recrystallization temperature greater than room temperature or the anticipated use temperature, whichever is greater.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The waveguide of claim 1 in which said first metallic cladding comprises an element selected from the group consisting of vanadium, chromium, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zirconium, niobium, palladium, tin, lead, zinc and cadmium.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The waveguide of claim 2 in which said first metallic cladding comprises an element selected from the group consisting of iron, cobalt, nickel and copper.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
The waveguide of claim 2 comprising at least two metallic claddings, said first metallic cladding comprising an element selected from the group consisting of tin, lead, zinc and cadmium and a second metallic cladding comprising a metal or alloy having a recrystallization temperature greater than room temperature or the anticipated working temperature, whichever is greater.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
The waveguide of claim 1 in which a major portion of said first metallic cladding comprises at least one element selected from the group consisting of vanadium, chromium, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zirconium, niobium, palladium, tin, lead, zinc and cadmium.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The waveguide of claim 1 in which said first metallic cladding comprises an alloy which evidences continuous solubility in the liquid state.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
9 words
The waveguide of claim 1 comprising two metallic claddings.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The waveguide of claim 7 in which both metallic claddings are of substantially the same composition.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The waveguide of claim 7 in which both metallic claddings are of different composition.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The waveguide of claim 1 in which at least one of said metallic claddings is ferromagnetic at the contemplated use temperature.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The waveguide of claim 1 which additionally comprises a plastic coating formed on the outside of said at least two metallic claddings.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
183 words
A process for forming a fiber optical waveguide employed in the transmission of optical electromagnetic radiation, said waveguide comprising a glass fiber including a glass core member having a first minimum refractive index for said radiation and a glass cladding concentrically surrounding said core, said glass cladding including at least one layer having a second refractive index for said radiation which is lower than the minimum of said first refractive index by at least 0.1% to produce total internal refraction of said optical radiation at the core/clad interface and to thereby guide said optical radiation along said waveguide, characterized in that said process includes forming at least two metallic claddings on said glass fiber, with a first metallic cladding comprising a metal or alloy that is substantially chemically inert with respect to the material comprising said glass fiber at the deposition temperature during coating of said metal or alloy onto said glass fiber, and with at least one of said metallic claddings comprising a metal or alloy having a recrystallization temperature greater than room temperature or the anticipated use temperature, whichever is greater.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
183 words
A process for forming a fiber optical waveguide employed in the transmission of optical electromagnetic radiation, said waveguide comprising a glass fiber including a glass core member having a first minimum refractive index for said radiation and a glass cladding concentrically surrounding said core, said glass cladding including at least one layer having a second refractive index for said radiation which is lower than the minimum of said first refractive index by at least 0.1% to produce total internal refraction of said optical radiation at the core/clad interface and to thereby guide said optical radiation along said waveguide, characterized in that said process includes forming at least two metallic claddings on said glass fiber, with a first metallic cladding comprising a metal or alloy that is substantially chemically inert with respect to the material comprising said glass fiber at the deposition temperature during coating of said metal or alloy onto said glass fiber, and with at least one of said metallic claddings comprising a metal or alloy having a recrystallization temperature greater than room temperature or the anticipated use temperature, whichever is greater.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
The process of claim 12 in which said first metallic cladding comprises an element selected from the group consisting of vanadium, chromium, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zirconium, niobium, palladium, tin, lead, zinc and cadmium.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 13 in which said first metallic cladding comprises an element selected from the group consisting of iron, cobalt, nickel and copper.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
56 words
The process of claim 13 comprising forming at least two metallic claddings, said first metallic cladding comprising an element selected from the group consisting of tin, lead, zinc and cadmium and a second metallic cladding comprising a metal or alloy having a recrystallization temperature greater than room temperature or the anticipated working temperature, whichever is greater.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
The process of claim 12 in which a major portion of said first metallic cladding comprises at least one element selected from the group consisting of vanadium, chromium, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zirconium, niobium and palladium.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 12 in which said first metallic cladding comprises an alloy which evidences continuous solubility in the liquid state.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
41 words
The process of claim 12 in which said glass fiber is coated with at least one of said metallic claddings by passage of said glass fiber through a molten pool of said metal or alloy following drawing of said glass fiber.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of claim 18 in which said glass fiber is coated with at least said first metallic cladding by passage of said glass fiber through said molten pool.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
10 words
The process of claim 12 comprising forming two metallic claddings.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 20 comprising forming two metallic claddings having substantially the same composition.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 20 comprising forming two metallic claddings having different compositions.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 12 which comprises forming a ferromagnetic layer in at least a portion of said at least two metallic claddings.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 12 further comprising forming a plastic coating on the outermost coating of said at least two metallic claddings.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
160 words
A flexible fiber optical waveguide for the transmission of optical electromagnetic radiation, said waveguide comprising a glass fiber including a glass core member having a first minimum refractive index for said radiation and a glass cladding concentrically surrounding said core, said glass cladding including at least one layer having a second refractive index for said radiation which is lower than the minimum of said first refractive index by at least 0.1% to produce total internal reflection of said optical radiation at the core/clad interface and to thereby guide said optical radiation along said waveguide, characterized in that said waveguide is provided with at least two metallic claddings at least partially alloyed, with a first metallic cladding in contact with said glass fiber, said first metallic cladding comprising a metal or alloy which is substantially chemically inert with respect to the material comprising the glass fiber at the deposition temperature during coating of said metal or alloy onto said glass fiber.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
160 words
A flexible fiber optical waveguide for the transmission of optical electromagnetic radiation, said waveguide comprising a glass fiber including a glass core member having a first minimum refractive index for said radiation and a glass cladding concentrically surrounding said core, said glass cladding including at least one layer having a second refractive index for said radiation which is lower than the minimum of said first refractive index by at least 0.1% to produce total internal reflection of said optical radiation at the core/clad interface and to thereby guide said optical radiation along said waveguide, characterized in that said waveguide is provided with at least two metallic claddings at least partially alloyed, with a first metallic cladding in contact with said glass fiber, said first metallic cladding comprising a metal or alloy which is substantially chemically inert with respect to the material comprising the glass fiber at the deposition temperature during coating of said metal or alloy onto said glass fiber.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
25 words
The waveguide of claim 25 in which said at least partially alloyed metallic claddings form an alloy which is ferromagnetic at the contemplated use temperature.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
179 words
A process for forming a fiber optical waveguide employed in the transmission of optical electromagnetic radiation, said waveguide comprising a glass fiber including a glass core member having a first minimum refractive index for said radiation and a glass cladding concentrically surounding said core, said glass cladding including at least one layer having a second refractive index for said radiation which is lower than the minimum of said first refractive index by at least 0.1% to produce total internal refraction of said optical radiation at the core/clad interface and to thereby guide said optical radiation along said waveguide, characterized in that said process comprises the steps of: (a) forming at least two metallic claddings on said glass fiber, with a first metallic cladding comprising a metal or alloy that is substantially chemically inert with respect to the material comprising said glass fiber at the deposition temperature during coating of said metal or alloy onto said glass fiber; and (b) heating said metallic clad glass fiber under conditions sufficient to at least partially alloy said at least two metallic claddings.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
179 words
A process for forming a fiber optical waveguide employed in the transmission of optical electromagnetic radiation, said waveguide comprising a glass fiber including a glass core member having a first minimum refractive index for said radiation and a glass cladding concentrically surounding said core, said glass cladding including at least one layer having a second refractive index for said radiation which is lower than the minimum of said first refractive index by at least 0.1% to produce total internal refraction of said optical radiation at the core/clad interface and to thereby guide said optical radiation along said waveguide, characterized in that said process comprises the steps of: (a) forming at least two metallic claddings on said glass fiber, with a first metallic cladding comprising a metal or alloy that is substantially chemically inert with respect to the material comprising said glass fiber at the deposition temperature during coating of said metal or alloy onto said glass fiber; and (b) heating said metallic clad glass fiber under conditions sufficient to at least partially alloy said at least two metallic claddings.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
209 words
A flexible fiber optical waveguide for the transmission of optical electromagnetic radiation, said waveguide comprising a glass fiber including a glass core member having a first minimum refractive index for said radiation and a glass cladding concentrically surrounding said core, said glass cladding including at least one layer having a second refractive index for said radiation which is lower than the minimum of said first refractive index by at least 0.1% to produce total internal refraction of said optical radiation at the core/clad interface and to thereby guide said optical radiation along said waveguide, characterized in that said waveguide is provided with at least two metallic claddings, with a first metallic cladding in contact with said glass fiber, said first metallic cladding comprising an alloy which is substantially chemically inert with respect to the material comprising the glass fiber at the deposition temperature during coating of said alloy onto said glass fiber, said alloy comprising at least one element selected from the group consisting of vanadium, chromium, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper zirconium, niobium, palladium, tin, lead, zinc and cadmium, and at least one additional element selected from the group consisting of manganese, arsenic, strontium, rhodium, tellurium, barium, iridium, platinum, thallium, aluminum, magnesium, antimony, bismuth, boron, carbon, phosphorus and silicon.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
209 words
A flexible fiber optical waveguide for the transmission of optical electromagnetic radiation, said waveguide comprising a glass fiber including a glass core member having a first minimum refractive index for said radiation and a glass cladding concentrically surrounding said core, said glass cladding including at least one layer having a second refractive index for said radiation which is lower than the minimum of said first refractive index by at least 0.1% to produce total internal refraction of said optical radiation at the core/clad interface and to thereby guide said optical radiation along said waveguide, characterized in that said waveguide is provided with at least two metallic claddings, with a first metallic cladding in contact with said glass fiber, said first metallic cladding comprising an alloy which is substantially chemically inert with respect to the material comprising the glass fiber at the deposition temperature during coating of said alloy onto said glass fiber, said alloy comprising at least one element selected from the group consisting of vanadium, chromium, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper zirconium, niobium, palladium, tin, lead, zinc and cadmium, and at least one additional element selected from the group consisting of manganese, arsenic, strontium, rhodium, tellurium, barium, iridium, platinum, thallium, aluminum, magnesium, antimony, bismuth, boron, carbon, phosphorus and silicon.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
30 words
The waveguide of claim 28 in which said additional element is at least one selected from the group consisting of manganese, arsenic, aluminum, magnesium, antimony, boron, carbon, phosphorus and silicon.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
172 words
A flexible fiber optical waveguide for the transmission of optical electromagnetic radiation, said waeguide comprising a glass fiber including a glass core member having a first minimum refractive index for said radiation and a glass cladding concentrically surrounding said core, said glass cladding including at least one layer having a second refractive index for said radiation which is lower than the minimum of said first refractive index by at least 0.1% to produce total internal refraction of said optical radiation at the core/clad interface and to thereby guide said optical radiation along said waveguide, characterized in that said waveguide is provided with at least two metallic claddings, with a first metallic cladding in contact with said glass fiber, said first metallic cladding comprising a metal or alloy which is substantially chemicaly inert with respect to the material comprising the glass fiber at the deposition temperature during coating of said metal or alloy onto said glass fiber, and wherein said first metallic cladding comprises tin, coated with a second metallic cladding comprising nickel.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
172 words
A flexible fiber optical waveguide for the transmission of optical electromagnetic radiation, said waeguide comprising a glass fiber including a glass core member having a first minimum refractive index for said radiation and a glass cladding concentrically surrounding said core, said glass cladding including at least one layer having a second refractive index for said radiation which is lower than the minimum of said first refractive index by at least 0.1% to produce total internal refraction of said optical radiation at the core/clad interface and to thereby guide said optical radiation along said waveguide, characterized in that said waveguide is provided with at least two metallic claddings, with a first metallic cladding in contact with said glass fiber, said first metallic cladding comprising a metal or alloy which is substantially chemicaly inert with respect to the material comprising the glass fiber at the deposition temperature during coating of said metal or alloy onto said glass fiber, and wherein said first metallic cladding comprises tin, coated with a second metallic cladding comprising nickel.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
186 words
A flexible fiber optical waveguide for the transmission of optical electromagnetic radiation, said waveguide comprising a glass fiber including a glass core member having a first minimum refractive index for said radiation and a glass cladding concentrically surrounding said core, said glass cladding including at least one layer having a second refractive index for said radiation which is lower than the minimum of said first refractive index by at least 0.1% to produce total internal refraction of said optical radiation at the core/clad interface and to thereby guide said optical radiation along said waveguide, characterized in that said waveguide is provided with at least two metalic claddings, with a first metallic cladding in contact with said glass fiber, said first metallic cladding comprising a metal or alloy which is substantially chemically inert with respect to the material comprising the glass fiber at the deposition temperature during coating of said metal or alloy onto said glass fiber, wherein the thickness of said first metallic cladding ranges from about 10 to 50 μm and the total thickness of subsequent metallic claddingss ranges from about 1 to 200 μm.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
186 words
A flexible fiber optical waveguide for the transmission of optical electromagnetic radiation, said waveguide comprising a glass fiber including a glass core member having a first minimum refractive index for said radiation and a glass cladding concentrically surrounding said core, said glass cladding including at least one layer having a second refractive index for said radiation which is lower than the minimum of said first refractive index by at least 0.1% to produce total internal refraction of said optical radiation at the core/clad interface and to thereby guide said optical radiation along said waveguide, characterized in that said waveguide is provided with at least two metalic claddings, with a first metallic cladding in contact with said glass fiber, said first metallic cladding comprising a metal or alloy which is substantially chemically inert with respect to the material comprising the glass fiber at the deposition temperature during coating of said metal or alloy onto said glass fiber, wherein the thickness of said first metallic cladding ranges from about 10 to 50 μm and the total thickness of subsequent metallic claddingss ranges from about 1 to 200 μm.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
207 words
A process for forming a fiber optical waveguide employed in the transmission of optical electromagnetic radiation, said waveguide comprising a glass fiber including a glass core member having a first minimum refractive index for said radiation and a glass cladding concentrically surrounding said core, said glass cladding including at least one layer having a second refractive index for said radiation which is lower than the minimum of said first refractive index by at leat 0.1% to produce total internal refraction of said optical radiation at the core/clad interface and to thereby guide said optical radiation along said waveguide, characterized in that said process includes forming at least two metallic claddings on said glass fiber, with a first metallic cladding comprising an alloy that is substantially chemically inert with respect to the material comprising said glass fiber at the deposition temperature during coating of said alloy onto said glass fiber, wherein a major portion of said alloy comprises at least one element selected from the group consisting of vanadium, chromium, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zirconium, niobium and palladium, and at least one additional element selected from the group consisting of manganese, arsenic, strontium, rhodium, tellurium, barium, iridium, platinum, thallium, aluminum, magnesium, antimony, bismuth, boron, carbon, phosphorus and silicon.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
207 words
A process for forming a fiber optical waveguide employed in the transmission of optical electromagnetic radiation, said waveguide comprising a glass fiber including a glass core member having a first minimum refractive index for said radiation and a glass cladding concentrically surrounding said core, said glass cladding including at least one layer having a second refractive index for said radiation which is lower than the minimum of said first refractive index by at leat 0.1% to produce total internal refraction of said optical radiation at the core/clad interface and to thereby guide said optical radiation along said waveguide, characterized in that said process includes forming at least two metallic claddings on said glass fiber, with a first metallic cladding comprising an alloy that is substantially chemically inert with respect to the material comprising said glass fiber at the deposition temperature during coating of said alloy onto said glass fiber, wherein a major portion of said alloy comprises at least one element selected from the group consisting of vanadium, chromium, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zirconium, niobium and palladium, and at least one additional element selected from the group consisting of manganese, arsenic, strontium, rhodium, tellurium, barium, iridium, platinum, thallium, aluminum, magnesium, antimony, bismuth, boron, carbon, phosphorus and silicon.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process of claim 32 in which said additional element is at least one selected from the group consisting of manganese, arsenic, aluminum, magnesium, antimony, boron, carbon, phosphorus and silicon.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
195 words
A process forming a fiber optical waveguide employed in the transmission of optical electromagnetic radiation, said waveguide comprising a glass fiber including a glass core member having a first minimum refractive index for said radiation and a glass cladding concentrically surrounding said core, said glass cladding including at least one layer having a second refractive index for said radiation which is lower than the minimum of said first refractive index by at least 0.1% to produce total internal refraction of said optical radiation at the core/clad interface and to thereby guide said optical radiation along said waveguide, characterized in that said process includes forming at least two metallic claddings on said glass fiber, with a first metallic cladding comprising a metal or alloy that is substantially chemically inert with respect to the material comprising said glass fiber at the deposition temperature during coating of said glass fiber at the deposition temperature during coating of said metal or alloy onto said glass fiber, wherein said first metallic cladding is formed to a thickness ranging from about 10 to 50 μm and subsequent metallic claddings are formed to a total thickness ranging from 1 to 200 μm.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
195 words
A process forming a fiber optical waveguide employed in the transmission of optical electromagnetic radiation, said waveguide comprising a glass fiber including a glass core member having a first minimum refractive index for said radiation and a glass cladding concentrically surrounding said core, said glass cladding including at least one layer having a second refractive index for said radiation which is lower than the minimum of said first refractive index by at least 0.1% to produce total internal refraction of said optical radiation at the core/clad interface and to thereby guide said optical radiation along said waveguide, characterized in that said process includes forming at least two metallic claddings on said glass fiber, with a first metallic cladding comprising a metal or alloy that is substantially chemically inert with respect to the material comprising said glass fiber at the deposition temperature during coating of said glass fiber at the deposition temperature during coating of said metal or alloy onto said glass fiber, wherein said first metallic cladding is formed to a thickness ranging from about 10 to 50 μm and subsequent metallic claddings are formed to a total thickness ranging from 1 to 200 μm.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
129 words
A process for forming a fiber optical waveguide employing in the transmission of optical electromagnetic radiation, said waveguide comprising a glass fiber including a glass core member having a first minimum refractive index for said radiation and a glass cladding concentrically surrounding said core, said glass cladding including at least one layer having a second refractive index for said radiation which is lower than the minimum of said first refractive index by at least 0.1% to produce total internal refraction of said optical radiation at the core/clad interface and to thereby guide said optical radiation along said waveguide, characterized in that said proces includes forming at least two metallic claddings on said glass fiber, with a first metallic cladding comprising tin and a second metallic cladding of nickel thereon.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
129 words
A process for forming a fiber optical waveguide employing in the transmission of optical electromagnetic radiation, said waveguide comprising a glass fiber including a glass core member having a first minimum refractive index for said radiation and a glass cladding concentrically surrounding said core, said glass cladding including at least one layer having a second refractive index for said radiation which is lower than the minimum of said first refractive index by at least 0.1% to produce total internal refraction of said optical radiation at the core/clad interface and to thereby guide said optical radiation along said waveguide, characterized in that said proces includes forming at least two metallic claddings on said glass fiber, with a first metallic cladding comprising tin and a second metallic cladding of nickel thereon.