Reinforced optical fiber and method of manufacture

Claim 3

The method of claim 1, wherein the placing step includes the step of selecting a semicircular reinforcing member, formed of a material having a different coefficient of linear expansion from that of the optical fiber, as the reinforcing member.

Claim 4

The method of claim 2, wherein the fixing step includes the steps of applying a tensile force to the optical fiber, and applying an adhesive substantially at the first and the second end of the longitudinal groove.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1, wherein the step of placing the cover includes utilizing said adhesive to fix said cover to said reinforcing member with respect to said cladding so as to seal hermetically said exposed fiber core within said groove.

Claim 6

The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of covering the first and second end of the longitudinal groove with a first and second protective member, respectively.

Claim 7

The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of covering the first and the second end of the longitudinal groove with a first and second protective member, respectively.

Claim 8

The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of covering the first and the second end of the longitudinal groove with a first and second protective member, respectively.

Claim 10

The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of covering the reinforcing member with an amorphous protective member.

Claim 11

The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of covering the reinforcing member with an amorphous protective member.

Claim 12

The method of claim 1, wherein the placing step includes the step of selecting a semicircular reinforcing member.

Claim 13

The method of claim 1, wherein the placing step includes the step of selecting a semicircular reinforcing member having a rectangular longitudinal groove as the reinforcing member, the rectangular longitudinal grooving having rounded corners.

Claim 14

The method of claim 1, wherein the placing step includes the step of selecting a semicircular reinforcing member having a longitudinal groove with an arcuate bottom.

Claim 15

The method of claim 1, wherein the placing step includes the step of selecting a semicircular reinforcing member formed of crystalline glass as the reinforcing member.

Claim 16

The method of claim 1, wherein the placing step includes the step of selecting a semicircular reinforcing member having a rectangular longitudinal groove with rounded corners, and having a different coefficient of linear expansion from that of the optical fiber, as the reinforcing member.

Claim 17

The method of claim 1, wherein the placing step includes the step of selecting a semicircular reinforcing member, which is formed of crystalline glass, has a rectangular longitudinal groove with rounded corners, and has a different coefficient of linear expansion from that of the optical fiber, as the reinforcing member.

Claim 18

A reinforced optical fiber structure, comprising: at least one optical fiber having a cladding covering at least one fiber core, a portion of the cladding being removed to expose at least a portion of the fiber core; a reinforcing member having a longitudinal groove, the longitudinal groove having a first and a second end, the optical fiber with the exposed fiber core portion being disposed within the longitudinal groove; adhesive means for securing portions of said cladding of the optical fiber to the first and the second end of the longitudinal groove; and cover means for covering a portion of the longitudinal groove thereby defining an air gap surrounding said exposed fiber core so as to seal hermetically the exposed fiber core in the longitudinal groove, said cover means and said reinforcing member being formed from opaque material.

Claim 19

A reinforced optical fiber structure, comprising: at least one optical fiber having a cladding covering at least one fiber core, a portion of the cladding being removed to expose at least a portion of the fiber core; a reinforcing member having a longitudinal groove, the longitudinal groove having a first and a second end, the optical fiber with the exposed fiber core portion being disposed within the longitudinal groove; adhesive means for securing portions of said cladding of the optical fiber to the first and the second end of the longitudinal groove; and cover means for covering a portion of the longitudinal groove thereby defining an air gap surrounding said exposed fiber core so as to seal hermetically the exposed fiber core in the longitudinal groove, said cover means and said reinforcing member being formed from opaque material.

Claim 20

The reinforced optical fiber structure of claim 17, wherein the reinforcing member has a semicircular cross section in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal groove and is formed of a material having a different coefficient of linear expansion from that of the optical fiber.

Claim 21

The reinforced optical fiber structure of claim 17, further comprising first and second protective members covering the first and the second end of the longitudinal groove, respectively.

Claim 22

The reinforced optical fiber structure of claim 17, wherein the longitudinal groove is rectangular with rounded corners.

Claim 23

The reinforced optical fiber structure of claim 18, wherein the longitudinal groove is rectangular with rounded corners.

Claim 24

The reinforced optical fiber of claim 17, wherein the longitudinal groove is semicircular.

Claim 25

The reinforced optical fiber of claim 18, wherein the longitudinal groove is semicircular.

Claim 26

The reinforced optical fiber structure of claim 17, wherein the reinforcing member is formed of crystalline glass.

Claim 27

The reinforced optical fiber structure of claim 21, wherein the reinforcing member is formed of crystalline glass.

Claim 28

The reinforced optical fiber structure of claim 17, further comprising an amorphous protective material covering the reinforcing member.

Claim 29

The reinforced optical fiber structure of claim 17, wherein the cover means has a semicircular cross section in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal groove.

Claim 30

The reinforced optical fiber structure of claim 17, wherein a plurality of optical fibers are arranged linearly within the longitudinal groove.

Claim 31

The reinforced optical fiber structure of claim 17, wherein a plurality of fibers with exposed fiber core portions are fused together and arranged linearly within the longitudinal groove.

Claim 32

The reinforced optical fiber structure of claim 17, wherein a plurality of optical fibers are arranged in an array within the longitudinal groove.

Claim 33

The reinforced optical fiber structure of claim 17, wherein a plurality of fibers with exposed fiber core portions are fused together and arranged in an array within the longitudinal groove.

Claim 34

Reinforced optical fibers, comprising: at least first and second optical fibers each having a cladding covering a fiber core, a portion of each optical fiber cladding being removed to expose a portion of fiber core, the exposed fiber core portions of the first and the second optical fibers being fused together; a reinforcing member having a longitudinal groove, the longitudinal groove having a first and a second end, and the first and the second optical fibers with fused fiber core portions being disposed within the longitudinal groove; adhesive means for securing portions of said cladding of the first and the second optical fibers to both the first and the second end of the longitudinal groove; and cover means for covering a portion of said longitudinal groove thereby defining an air gap surrounding said fused fiber core portions so as to seal hermetically the fused fiber core portions of first and the second optical fiber in the longitudinal groove, said cover means and said reinforcing member being formed from opaque material.

Claim 35

Reinforced optical fibers, comprising: at least first and second optical fibers each having a cladding covering a fiber core, a portion of each optical fiber cladding being removed to expose a portion of fiber core, the exposed fiber core portions of the first and the second optical fibers being fused together; a reinforcing member having a longitudinal groove, the longitudinal groove having a first and a second end, and the first and the second optical fibers with fused fiber core portions being disposed within the longitudinal groove; adhesive means for securing portions of said cladding of the first and the second optical fibers to both the first and the second end of the longitudinal groove; and cover means for covering a portion of said longitudinal groove thereby defining an air gap surrounding said fused fiber core portions so as to seal hermetically the fused fiber core portions of first and the second optical fiber in the longitudinal groove, said cover means and said reinforcing member being formed from opaque material.

Claim 38

A reinforced optical fiber structure comprising: at least one optical fiber having a cladding covering at least one fiber core, a portion of the cladding being removed to expose at least a portion of the fiber core, a reinforcing member having a longitudinal groove, the longitudinal groove having first and second ends, and the optical fiber with the exposed fiber core portion being disposed within the longitudinal groove, an adhesive securing portions of said cladding of the optical fiber to the first and the second end of the longitudinal groove, a cover hermetically sealing the exposed fiber core portion in the longitudinal groove, and first and second protective members disposed over the first and the second end of the reinforcing member.

Claim 39

A reinforced optical fiber structure comprising: at least one optical fiber having a cladding covering at least one fiber core, a portion of the cladding being removed to expose at least a portion of the fiber core, a reinforcing member having a longitudinal groove, the longitudinal groove having first and second ends, and the optical fiber with the exposed fiber core portion being disposed within the longitudinal groove, an adhesive securing portions of said cladding of the optical fiber to the first and the second end of the longitudinal groove, a cover hermetically sealing the exposed fiber core portion in the longitudinal groove, and first and second protective members disposed over the first and the second end of the reinforcing member.