US4828359A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Alkyl methacrylate homo - or copolymer optical waveguide for illumination and production of the same
Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd
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Filing: 1986-01-08
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Granted: 1989-05-09
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Expires: 2006-01-08
Abstract
Abstract An optical waveguide for illumination comprising a core made of a transparent polymer having a glass transition temperature not higher than 50 DEG C. and a cladding made of a polymer having a lower refractive index than that of the core, which has good light transmission property and flexibility and is useful as an illumination element of an optical sensor.
Inventors
- 👤 Yoshinobu Ueba
- 👤 Norifumi Matsumiya
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 05:47
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/02; G02B6/032; B; B29; B29D; B29D11/00; B29D11/00663; G02B6/02033; G02B6/24; G02B6/42; G02B6/4298; B29C; B29C48/00; B29C48/03; B29C48/06; G02B6/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
44 words
An optical waveguide for illumination comprising a core made of a transparent polymer having a glass transition temperature not higher than 50° C. and a cladding made of a polymer having a lower refractive index than that of the core and surrounding the core.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
44 words
An optical waveguide for illumination comprising a core made of a transparent polymer having a glass transition temperature not higher than 50° C. and a cladding made of a polymer having a lower refractive index than that of the core and surrounding the core.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
An optical waveguide according to claim 1, wherein the transparent polymer of the core has a glass transition temperature of 0° to 40° C.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
An optical waveguide according to claim 1, wherein the transparent polymer is a homo- or co-polymer of alkyl methacrylate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
An optical waveguide according to claim 3, wherein the alkyl methacrylate is at least one selected from the group consisting of n-propyl methacrylate, n-butyl methacrylate, n-pentyl methacrylate and n-hexyl methacrylate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
72 words
An optical waveguide for illumination comprising a core made of a transparent polymer having a glass transition temperature not higher than 50° C. and a cladding made of a polymer having a lower refractive index lower than that of the core and surrounding the core; wherein said transparent polymer is a copolymer of alkyl methacrylate and another copolymerizable monomer; and wherein said alkyl methacrylate comprises no less than 85% of said copolymer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
72 words
An optical waveguide for illumination comprising a core made of a transparent polymer having a glass transition temperature not higher than 50° C. and a cladding made of a polymer having a lower refractive index lower than that of the core and surrounding the core; wherein said transparent polymer is a copolymer of alkyl methacrylate and another copolymerizable monomer; and wherein said alkyl methacrylate comprises no less than 85% of said copolymer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
An optical waveguide according to claim 5, wherein said other monomer is methyl methacrylate.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
76 words
A method for producing an optical waveguide comprising a core and a cladding and containing an image fiber therein, the method comprising the steps of: co-extruding a core material and a cladding material, and simultaneously supplying an image fiber to a co-extrusion die, wherein the core material is a transparent polymer having a glass transition temperature not higher than 50° C. and the cladding material has a lower refractive index than that of the core material.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
76 words
A method for producing an optical waveguide comprising a core and a cladding and containing an image fiber therein, the method comprising the steps of: co-extruding a core material and a cladding material, and simultaneously supplying an image fiber to a co-extrusion die, wherein the core material is a transparent polymer having a glass transition temperature not higher than 50° C. and the cladding material has a lower refractive index than that of the core material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 7, wherein the transparent polymer of the core has a glass transition temperature of 0° to 40° C.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 7, wherein the transparent polymer is a homo- or co-polymer of alkyl methacrylate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 9, wherein the alkyl methacrylate is at least one selected from the group consisting of n-propyl methacrylate, n-butyl methacrylate, n-pentyl methacrylate and n-hexyl methacrylate.
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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) | 1992-05-08 | 1992-11-07 | 1993-05-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-05-08 | 1996-11-07 | 1997-05-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-05-08 | 2000-11-07 | 2001-05-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |