Patent US4432606A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4432606A
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US
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Optical fiber insensitive to temperature variations
Assignee: Raytheon Co
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Filing: 1981-09-24
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Granted: 1984-02-21
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Expires: 2001-09-24
Abstract
Abstract Metal-coated optical fibers are often employed in high temperature optical communications applications. However, such optical fibers have been found to evidence a substantial decrease in optical transmission as a function of increased temperature. Optical fibers having a temperature-insensitive optical transmission are obtained by annealing a metal-coated optical fiber at a temperature at which optical transmission is substantially the same as that observed at room temperature. Aluminum-coated optical fibers annealed at 560° C. evidence an optical transmission independent of temperature between about -200° C. and at least about 560° C.
Inventors
- 👤 G. Richard Blair
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 21:38
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/44; G02B6/4401; G02B6/4402; C; C03; C03B; C03B37/00; C03B37/10; C03B37/14; C03B37/15; C03C; C03C25/00; C03C25/10; C03C25/104; C03C25/106; C03C25/1061; C03C25/1063
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
83 words
A process for treating a metal-coated optical fiber comprising at least a light-conducting core and a glass optical cladding thereon which exhibits a loss in optical transmission as a function of temperature over a temperature range, characterized in that the optical fiber is heated to at least a temperature at which the transmission is substantially the same as that observed at room temperature, such temperature being higher than the temperature range over which the metal-coated optical fiber exhibits a loss in optical transmission.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
83 words
A process for treating a metal-coated optical fiber comprising at least a light-conducting core and a glass optical cladding thereon which exhibits a loss in optical transmission as a function of temperature over a temperature range, characterized in that the optical fiber is heated to at least a temperature at which the transmission is substantially the same as that observed at room temperature, such temperature being higher than the temperature range over which the metal-coated optical fiber exhibits a loss in optical transmission.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 1 in which the metal comprises aluminum.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 2 in which the temperature of heating is at least about 500° C.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 1 in which the temperature is no greater than a temperature just below the melting point of the metal coating.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
8 words
Product produced by the process of claim 1.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
An annealed, metal-coated optical fiber comprising at least a light-conducting core and a glass optical cladding thereon, evidencing substantially temperature-insensitive optical transmission.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
An annealed, metal-coated optical fiber comprising at least a light-conducting core and a glass optical cladding thereon, evidencing substantially temperature-insensitive optical transmission.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The optical fiber of claim 6 in which the annealing temperature utilized to produce the temperature-insensitive optical transmission is higher than the temperature range over which the non-annealed metal-coated optical fiber exhibits a loss in optical transmission.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The optical fiber of claim 6 in which the annealing temperature is no greater than a temperature just below the melting point of the metal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
The optical fiber of claim 6 in which the metal comprises aluminum.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The optical fiber of claim 9 in which the annealing temperature is at least about 500° C.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The optical fiber of claim 10 in which the optical transmission is substantially constant from about -200° C. to at least about 560° C.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-02-20 | 1987-08-22 | 1988-02-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-02-20 | 1991-08-22 | 1992-02-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-02-20 | 1995-08-22 | 1996-02-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |