US4877306A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Coated optical waveguide fibers
Assignee: Corning Glass Works
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Filing: 1987-09-30
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Granted: 1989-10-31
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Expires: 2007-09-30
Abstract
Abstract An optical waveguide fiber is provided which comprises (a) a glass core; (b) a glass cladding which includes a barrier layer in the region of its outer surface which has an index of refraction and an absorption coefficient which are greater than the index of refraction and the absorption coefficient of the remainder of the cladding; and (c) a polymeric protective coating which is in direct contact with the outer surface of the cladding and which has an index of refraction which is less than the index of refraction of the barrier layer and less than the index of refraction of the remainder of the cladding. In certain preferred embodiments, the polymeric coating is selected from the group consisting of RTV silicone rubbers, UV curable silicones of the thio-ene type, UV curable silicone acrylates, and fluoropolymeric coatings.
Inventors
- 👤 Gitimoy Kar
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 21:55
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/10; G02B6/02; G02B6/036; G02B6/03616; G02B6/03638; G02B6/03644; G02B6/02395; G02B6/03605; G02B6/03611; G02B6/24; G02B6/26; G02B6/264; G02B6/266
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
101 words
An optical waveguide fiber comprising: (a) a glass core: (b) a glass cladding which includes a layer in the region of its outer surface which has an index of refraction and an absorption coefficient which are greater than the index of refraction and the absorption coefficient of the remainder of the cladding; and (c) a polymeric protective coating which is in direct contact with the outer surface of the cladding and which has an index of refraction which is less than the index of refraction of the layer and less than the index of refraction of the remainder of the cladding.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
101 words
An optical waveguide fiber comprising: (a) a glass core: (b) a glass cladding which includes a layer in the region of its outer surface which has an index of refraction and an absorption coefficient which are greater than the index of refraction and the absorption coefficient of the remainder of the cladding; and (c) a polymeric protective coating which is in direct contact with the outer surface of the cladding and which has an index of refraction which is less than the index of refraction of the layer and less than the index of refraction of the remainder of the cladding.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The optical waveguide fiber of claim 1 wherein the layer is located at the outer surface of the cladding.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The optical waveguide fiber of claim 1 wherein the layer has a thickness of between about 2 and about 3 microns.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The optical waveguide fiber of claim 1 wherein the index of refraction of the layer is greater than 1.48 and the index of refraction of the remainder of the cladding is approximately 1.46.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
The optical waveguide fiber of claim 1 wherein the layer comprises a silica glass which has been doped with a material selected from the group consisting of FeO, CdO, MO 3 , Cr 2 O 3 2, V 2 O 5 , CoO, Nb 2 O 5 , and TiO 2 .
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The optical waveguide fiber of claim 5 wherein the dopant is TiO 2 .
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The optical waveguide fiber of claim 6 wherein the layer includes an enriched concentration of titanium in its reduced, Ti 3+ , form.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The optical waveguide fiber of claim 1 wherein the polymeric protective coating is a silicone rubber.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The optical waveguide fiber of claim 1 wherein the polymeric protective coating is selected from the group consisting of RTV silicone rubbers, UV curable silicones of the thio-ene type, UV curable silicone acrylates, and fluoropolymeric coatings.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The optical waveguide fiber of claim 1 wherein the power carried by cladding modes decays to essentially zero in less than about 0.2 meters.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
53 words
The optical waveguide fiber of claim 1 wherein the layer comprises a silica glass which has been doped with TiO 2 , includes an enriched concentration of titanium in its reduced, ti 3+ , form, has an index of refraction greater than 1.48, and is located at the outer surface of the cladding.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
The optical waveguide fiber of claim 11 wherein the polymeric protective coating is selected from the group consisting of RTV silicone rubbers, UV curable silicones of the thio-ene type, UV curable silicone acrylates, and fluoropolymeric coatings.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
116 words
A method for coating an optical waveguide fiber with a low index of refraction coating comprising the steps of: (a) providing an optical waveguide fiber which comprises: (i) a glass core, and (ii) a glass cladding which includes a layer in the region of its outer surface which has an index of refraction and an absorption coefficient which are greater than the index of refraction and the absorption coefficient of the remainder of the cladding; and (b) coating the outside surface of the cladding with the low index of refraction coating, said coating having an index of refraction which is less than that of the layer and less than that of the remainder of the cladding.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
116 words
A method for coating an optical waveguide fiber with a low index of refraction coating comprising the steps of: (a) providing an optical waveguide fiber which comprises: (i) a glass core, and (ii) a glass cladding which includes a layer in the region of its outer surface which has an index of refraction and an absorption coefficient which are greater than the index of refraction and the absorption coefficient of the remainder of the cladding; and (b) coating the outside surface of the cladding with the low index of refraction coating, said coating having an index of refraction which is less than that of the layer and less than that of the remainder of the cladding.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the layer is formed by doping a silica glass with a material selected from the group consisting of FeO, CdO, MoO 3 , Cr 2 O 3 , V 2 O 5 , CoO, Nb 2 O 5 , and TiO 2 .
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the layer is doped with TiO 2 .
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the low index of refraction coating is a silicone rubber.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the low index of refraction coating is selected from the group consisting of RTV silicone rubbers, UV curable silicones of the thio-ene type, UV curable silicone acrylates, and fluoropolymeric coatings.
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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) | 1992-10-30 | 1993-05-01 | 1993-10-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-10-30 | 1997-05-01 | 1997-10-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-10-30 | 2001-05-01 | 2001-10-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |