US4874222A — Hermetic coatings for non-silica based optical fi…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 43 words

An optical fiber product having a non-silica based optical fiber and an encapsulating hermetic coating comprising at least one of carbon, an inorganic fluoride, a metalloid or a ceramic compound in a thickness sufficient to impart moisture resistance to said optical fiber product.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 43 words

An optical fiber product having a non-silica based optical fiber and an encapsulating hermetic coating comprising at least one of carbon, an inorganic fluoride, a metalloid or a ceramic compound in a thickness sufficient to impart moisture resistance to said optical fiber product.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 18 words

The product of claim 1 wherein the ceramic compound has a density between about 3.2 and 6.3 g/cc.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 18 words

The product of claim 2 wherein the ceramic compound is a carbide, nitride, boride, oxide, or mixtures thereof.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 31 words

The product of claim 1 wherein the hermetic coating comprises magnesium oxide, silicon dioxide, tantalum pentoxide, magnesium fluoride, thorium fluoride, titanium carbide, boron carbide, silicon nitride, titanium nitride, or titanium silicide.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 37 words

The product of claim 1 wherein said optical fiber comprises a core and a cladding which has a refractive index that is different than the core, and wherein said hermetic coating is applied by chemical vapor deposition.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 27 words

The product of claim 2 which further comprises initially coating the optical fiber with a layer of carbon or boron carbide prior to applying the hermetic coating.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 18 words

The product of claim 2 wherein two or more of said ceramic compounds are codeposited as a mixture.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 21 words

The product of claim 1 wherein two or more adjacent hermetic coatings of different components are deposited upon said optical fiber.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 25 words

The product of claim 1 wherein said hermetic coating has a coefficient of thermal expansion of between about 5.5° and 15°×10 -6 °C. -1 .

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 25 words

The product of claim 1 wherein said hermetic coating has a coefficient of thermal expansion of between about 10° and 15°×10 -6 °C. -1 .

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 14 words

The product of claim 1 wherein the optical fiber comprises fluoride or chalcogenide glass.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 43 words

The product of claim 11 wherein the fluoride glass comprises about 52-69 mole percent ZrF 4 , about 10-24 mole percent BaF 2 , about 1-7 mole percent LaF 3 , about 2-5 mole percent AlF 3 and about 9-25 mole percent NaF.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 30 words

The product of claim 12 wherein the total content of ZrF 4 , BaF 2 , LaF 3 and NaF in the fluoride glass is greater than 90 mole percent.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 18 words

The product of claim 11 wherein the fluoride glass comprises a mixture of zirconium, hafnium and barium fluorides.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 20 words

The product of claim 14 wherein the fluoride glass further comprises one or more of sodium, lanthanum or aluminum fluorides.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 59 words

The product of claim 11 wherein the fluoride glass comprises about 25-39 mole percent ZrF 4 , about 13-27 mole percent HfF 4 , about 10-24 mole percent BaF 2 , about 1-6 mole percent LaF 3 , about 2-5 mole percent AlF 3 , about 9-25 mole percent NaF and up to 1 mole percent InF 3 .

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 31 words

The product of claim 1 wherein the glass fiber comprises a fluoride glass core and fluoride glass cladding having an index of refraction which is different from that of the core.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 55 words

An optical fiber product having a non-silica glass core; an oxide coating of an alkali-boro-phosphate or an alkali-group II metal phosphate; and an encapsulating hermetic coating comprising at least one of carbon, a metal, a fluoride, a metalloid or a ceramic compound in a thickness sufficient to impart moisture resistance to said optical fiber product.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 55 words

An optical fiber product having a non-silica glass core; an oxide coating of an alkali-boro-phosphate or an alkali-group II metal phosphate; and an encapsulating hermetic coating comprising at least one of carbon, a metal, a fluoride, a metalloid or a ceramic compound in a thickness sufficient to impart moisture resistance to said optical fiber product.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 26 words

The product of claim 18 wherein the oxide glass is an alkali zinc phosphate, alkali magnesium phosphate, alkali barium phosphate, alkali calcium phosphate, or mixtures thereof.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 24 words

The product of claim 18 wherein the oxide glass coating has an index of refraction which is less than that of the glass fiber.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 35 words

The product of claim 18 wherein the oxide glass coating has a coefficient of thermal expansion which is lower than that of the optical fiber to produce a compressive oxide cladding for increased fiber strength.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 24 words

The product of claim 18 wherein the oxide glass coating further comprises one or more additional oxides to increase the durability of the coating.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 26 words

The product of claim 22 wherein the additional oxide is Al 2 O 3 , TiO 2 , ZrO 2 , SiO 2 or mixtures thereof.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 19 words

The product of claim 1 wherein the hermetic coating has a thickness of between about 100 and 1000 angstroms.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 72 words

An optical fiber product having a non-silica optical fiber and an encapsulating hermetic coating comprising at least one of carbon, a metal, a metalloid, or a ceramic compound having a density of between about 3.2 and 6.3 g/cc, said hermetic coating having a coefficient of thermal expansion of between about 5.5° and 15°×10 -6 °C. -1 and being present in a thickness sufficient to impart moisture resistance to the optical fiber product.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 72 words

An optical fiber product having a non-silica optical fiber and an encapsulating hermetic coating comprising at least one of carbon, a metal, a metalloid, or a ceramic compound having a density of between about 3.2 and 6.3 g/cc, said hermetic coating having a coefficient of thermal expansion of between about 5.5° and 15°×10 -6 °C. -1 and being present in a thickness sufficient to impart moisture resistance to the optical fiber product.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 146 words

An optical fiber product comprising: a core of a fluoride glass comprising about 25-39 mole percent ZrF 4 , about 13-27 mole percent HfF 4 , about 10-24 mole percent BaF 2 , about 1-6 mole percent LaF 3 , about 2-5 mole percent AlF 3 , about 9-25 mole percent NaF and 0 to 1 mole percent InF 3 ; a fluoride glass cladding adjacent said core; an oxide glass coating of an alkali-borophosphate or an alkali-group II metal-phosphate adjacent said cladding; and an encapsulating hermetic coating comprising at lest one of carbon, a metal, a metalloid, or a ceramic compound having a density of between about 3.2 and 6.3 g/cc, said hermetic coating having a coefficient of thermal expansion of between about 5.5° and 15°×10 -6 °C. -1 and being present in a thickness sufficient to impart moisture resistance to the optical fiber product.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 146 words

An optical fiber product comprising: a core of a fluoride glass comprising about 25-39 mole percent ZrF 4 , about 13-27 mole percent HfF 4 , about 10-24 mole percent BaF 2 , about 1-6 mole percent LaF 3 , about 2-5 mole percent AlF 3 , about 9-25 mole percent NaF and 0 to 1 mole percent InF 3 ; a fluoride glass cladding adjacent said core; an oxide glass coating of an alkali-borophosphate or an alkali-group II metal-phosphate adjacent said cladding; and an encapsulating hermetic coating comprising at lest one of carbon, a metal, a metalloid, or a ceramic compound having a density of between about 3.2 and 6.3 g/cc, said hermetic coating having a coefficient of thermal expansion of between about 5.5° and 15°×10 -6 °C. -1 and being present in a thickness sufficient to impart moisture resistance to the optical fiber product.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 22 words

The product of claim 1 which further comprises a coating of an oxide glass between said glass fiber and said hermetic coating.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 18 words

The product of claim 27 wherein said oxide glass is an alkali-boro-phosphate or an alkali-group II metal phosphate.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 31 words

The product of claim 1 wherein said non-silica glass is a fluoride glass, a chalcogenide glass, BeF 2 , a single crystal material, a polycrystalline material, germanium, or a selenide glass.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 31 words

The product of claim 18 wherein said non-silica glass is a fluoride glass, a chalcogenide glass, BeF 2 , a single crystal material, a polycrystalline material, germanium, or a selenide glass.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 31 words

The product of claim 25 wherein said non-silica glass is a fluoride glass, a chalcogenide glass, BeF 2 , a single crystal material, a polycrystalline material, germanium, or a selenide glass.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 157 words

An optical fiber product having a non-silica glass optical fiber core of a selenide glass, germanium, BeF 2 , a chalcogenide glass, or a fluoride glass having (a) about 52-69 mole percent ZrF 4 , about 10-24 mole percent BaF 2 , about 1-7 mole percent LaF 3 , about 2-5 mole percent AlF 3 and about 9-25 mole percent NaF or (b) about 25-39 mole percent ZrF 4 , about 13-27 mole percent HfF 4 , about 10-24 mole percent about 13-27 mole percent HfF 4 , about 10-24 mole percent BaF 2 , about 1-6 mole percent LaF 3 , about 2-5 mole percent AlF 3 , about 9-25 mole percent NaF and up to 1 mole percent InF 3 ; and an encapsulating hermetic coating comprising at least one of carbon, a metal, a fluoride, a metalloid or a ceramic compound in a thickness sufficient to impart moisture resistance to said optical fiber product.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 157 words

An optical fiber product having a non-silica glass optical fiber core of a selenide glass, germanium, BeF 2 , a chalcogenide glass, or a fluoride glass having (a) about 52-69 mole percent ZrF 4 , about 10-24 mole percent BaF 2 , about 1-7 mole percent LaF 3 , about 2-5 mole percent AlF 3 and about 9-25 mole percent NaF or (b) about 25-39 mole percent ZrF 4 , about 13-27 mole percent HfF 4 , about 10-24 mole percent about 13-27 mole percent HfF 4 , about 10-24 mole percent BaF 2 , about 1-6 mole percent LaF 3 , about 2-5 mole percent AlF 3 , about 9-25 mole percent NaF and up to 1 mole percent InF 3 ; and an encapsulating hermetic coating comprising at least one of carbon, a metal, a fluoride, a metalloid or a ceramic compound in a thickness sufficient to impart moisture resistance to said optical fiber product.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 22 words

The product of claim 32 which further comprises a coating of an oxide glass between said glass fiber and said hermetic coating.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 18 words

The product of claim 33 wherein said oxide glass is an alkali-boro-phosphate or an alkali-group II metal phosphate.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 29 words

The product of claim 32 wherein the hermetic coating has a thickness of between 100 and 1000 angstroms, and wherein the metal hermetic coating is titanium, nickel or aluminum.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 29 words

The product of claim 25 wherein the hermetic coating has a thickness of between 100 and 1000 angstroms, and wherein the metal hermetic coating is titanium, nickel or aluminum.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 29 words

The product of claim 26 wherein the hermetic coating has a thickness of between 100 and 1000 angstroms, and wherein the metal hermetic coating is titanium, nickel or aluminum.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1992-10-16	1993-04-17	1993-10-17	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1996-10-16	1997-04-17	1997-10-17	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2000-10-16	2001-04-17	2001-10-17	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Hermetic coatings for non-silica based optical fibers

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