US4758447A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of manufacturing an optical fibre
Assignee: US Philips Corp
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Filing: 1987-09-15
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Granted: 1988-07-19
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Expires: 2007-09-15
Abstract
Abstract The invention relates to a method of manufacturing an optical fibre which is provided with a synthetic resin cladding and which comprises at least one layer of oriented molecules which is obtained by first orienting a liquid crystalline curable synthetic resin composition and then curing it. The orientation process is carried out readily and efficaciously by rubbing the surface of the fibre before the curable synthetic resin composition is applied thereto.
Inventors
- 👤 Dirk J. Broer
- 👤 Katsumi Kondo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 21:17
CPC Classifications
B; B05; B05D; B05D3/00; B05D3/06; C; C03; C03C; C03C25/00; C03C25/10; C03C25/12; G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/44; G02B6/4401; G02B6/4429; G02B6/443
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
157 words
A method of manufacturing an optical fibre which is provided with a synthetic resin cladding, a curable synthetic resin composition being applied to a glass fibre having at least one enveloping or buffer layer of a synthetic rubber, which synthetic resin composition comprises one or more oligomeric compounds whose molecules contain reactive groups and have a molecular weight below 5000, which molecules exhibit a liquid crystalline behaviour, the molecules of the curable synthetic resin composition being oriented during the application of this composition to the glass fibre, after which the curable synthetic resin composition is cured, thereby forming a synthetic resin whose molecules are oriented mainly in the longitudinal direction of the optical fibre, characterized in that the molecules of the curable synthetic resin composition are oriented by rubbing the surface to which the curable synthetic resin composition is to be applied in the longitudinal direction of the fibre before the curable synthetic resin composition is applied.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
157 words
A method of manufacturing an optical fibre which is provided with a synthetic resin cladding, a curable synthetic resin composition being applied to a glass fibre having at least one enveloping or buffer layer of a synthetic rubber, which synthetic resin composition comprises one or more oligomeric compounds whose molecules contain reactive groups and have a molecular weight below 5000, which molecules exhibit a liquid crystalline behaviour, the molecules of the curable synthetic resin composition being oriented during the application of this composition to the glass fibre, after which the curable synthetic resin composition is cured, thereby forming a synthetic resin whose molecules are oriented mainly in the longitudinal direction of the optical fibre, characterized in that the molecules of the curable synthetic resin composition are oriented by rubbing the surface to which the curable synthetic resin composition is to be applied in the longitudinal direction of the fibre before the curable synthetic resin composition is applied.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the molecules of the curable synthetic resin composition are additionally oriented during the application of said composition to the glass fibre by means of an elongation flow.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a protective layer of a curable synthetic resin composition is provided between the synthetic rubber enveloping or buffer layer and the oriented layer, which protective layer is cured after which its surface is rubbed and the curable synthetic resin composition to be oriented is applied.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the curable synthetic resin composition is cured by subjecting it to actinic radiation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that a protective layer of a curable synthetic resin composition is provided between the synthetic rubber enveloping or buffer layer and the oriented layer, which protective layer is cured after which its surface is rubbed and the curable synthetic resin composition to be oriented is applied.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the curable synthetic resin composition is cured by subjecting it to actinic radiation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the curable synthetic resin composition is cured by subjecting it to actinic radiation.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of manufacturing an optical fiber which is provided with an improved synthetic resin cladding comprising the steps of: (1) applying to a glass fiber a synthetic resin curable to form a buffer layer of synthetic rubber; (2) curing said buffer layer; (3) rubbing the surface of said cured buffer layer in the longitudinal direction of said fiber; (4) applying a synthetic resin which exhibits a liquid crystalline behavior, the rubbing in step (3) being sufficient to orient the molecules of said liquid crystalline resin in the longitudinal direction of the fiber; and (5) curing said synthetic resin to form a cured, oriented layer.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of manufacturing an optical fiber which is provided with an improved synthetic resin cladding comprising the steps of: (1) applying to a glass fiber a synthetic resin curable to form a buffer layer of synthetic rubber; (2) curing said buffer layer; (3) rubbing the surface of said cured buffer layer in the longitudinal direction of said fiber; (4) applying a synthetic resin which exhibits a liquid crystalline behavior, the rubbing in step (3) being sufficient to orient the molecules of said liquid crystalline resin in the longitudinal direction of the fiber; and (5) curing said synthetic resin to form a cured, oriented layer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as claimed in claim 8 in which the buffer layer is formed by exposing said synthetic resin in step (1) to actinic radiation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as claimed in claim 8 in which the synthetic resin which exhibits a liquid crystalline behavior is cured by exposing said resin to actinic radiation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method as claimed in claim 8 in which said synthetic resin in step (1) comprises a mixture of a polyurethane acrylate; 2-phenoxy-ethyl acrylate; hexane diol diacrylate; an acetophenone photosensitive initiator; and a mixture of mono- and di-2-acryloxyethyl phosphate having a molecular ratio of 1:1.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as claimed in claim 11 in which said resin exhibiting liquid crystalline behavior is an oligomeric acrylate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as claimed in claim 8 comprising the additional step of forming a protective layer between said buffer layer and said oriented layer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as claimed in claim 13 in which said protective layer comprises a mixture of an ethoxylated bisphenol A diacrylate; an epoxy acrylate; and a photosensitive initiator.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
10 words
An optical fiber produced by the method of claim 1.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
10 words
An optical fiber produced by the method of claim 3.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
10 words
An optical fiber produced by the method of claim 5.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
10 words
An optical fiber produced by the method of claim 8.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
10 words
An optical fiber produced by the method of claim 11.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
10 words
An optical fiber produced by the method of claim 13.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
10 words
An optical fiber produced by the method of claim 14.
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) | 1991-07-19 | 1992-01-18 | 1992-07-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-07-19 | 1996-01-18 | 1996-07-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-07-19 | 2000-01-18 | 2000-07-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |