US5373578A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Strippable coating for optical fiber
Assignee: Furukawa Electric North America Inc
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Filing: 1993-12-21
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Granted: 1994-12-13
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Expires: 2013-12-21
Abstract
Abstract A coating system for individual glass fibers of a lightwave communications system has improved strippability, particularly in situations where a group of such fibers are arrayed together in what is known as a ribbon. A preferred embodiment includes two layers (primary and secondary) of polymeric materials surrounding the glass fiber. The primary layer comprises an oligomer (50-80% by weight), a diluent (15-40% by weight), and additives (5-35% by weight). The oligomer comprises polyol "A," diisocyanate "B," and a hydroxy-terminated alkyl acrylate "C" having the structure C-B-A-B-C. At least one of the additives contains a non-crosslinked hydrocarbon component (1-20% by weight) having a structure R 1 --(R) n --R 2 ; where R 1 , R 2 comprises an alkyl group or an OH group, and R is a combination of C, H or C, H, O. In an alternative embodiment, the need for a diluent is substantially eliminated by using an oligomer having the structure E-D-E where "D" represents a carboxy-terminated polyol, and "E" represents a glycidyl acrylate.
Inventors
- 👤 Theodore L. Parker
- 👤 James R. Petisce
- 👤 Lloyd Shepherd
- 👤 Carl R. Taylor
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 02:06
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/44; G02B6/4401; G02B6/4403; C; C03; C03C; C03C25/00; C03C25/10; C03C25/104; C03C25/106; C03C25/1065; G02B6/24; G02B6/245; G02B6/4429; G02B6/443; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/29; Y10T428/2913; Y10T428/2933; Y10T428/2964
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
61 words
A coated optical fiber comprising an optical glass for guiding lightwaves and an enhanced coating material disposed about the optical glass, the enhanced coating material comprising 50-80% by weight of an oligomer, less than 50% by weight of a diluent, and 5-35% by weight of additives, said additives including a stabilizer, an adhesion promoter, a photoinitiator, and a non-crosslinked hydrocarbon component.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
61 words
A coated optical fiber comprising an optical glass for guiding lightwaves and an enhanced coating material disposed about the optical glass, the enhanced coating material comprising 50-80% by weight of an oligomer, less than 50% by weight of a diluent, and 5-35% by weight of additives, said additives including a stabilizer, an adhesion promoter, a photoinitiator, and a non-crosslinked hydrocarbon component.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The coated optical fiber of claim 1 wherein the oligomer comprises the reaction product of a polyol component "A," a diisocyanate component "B," and a hydroxy-terminated alkyl acrylate "C", said oligomer having the following structure: C-B-A-B-C.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The coated optical fiber of claim 2 wherein the polyol component of the oligomer is selected from one of the following: (i) polyester; (ii) polyether; (iii) polycarbonate; (iv) polybutadiene; (v) hydrogenated polybutadiene.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The coated optical fiber of claim 3 wherein the polyol component of the oligomer comprises polytetrahydrofurandiol.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The coated optical fiber of claim 4 wherein the hydrocarbon component comprises polytetrahydrofurandiol.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The coated optical fiber of claim 1 wherein the hydrocarbon component is the polyol used in forming the oligomer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The coated optical fiber of claim 1 wherein the additives further include 0.5-2.0% by weight of a photoinitiator.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The coated optical fiber of claim 1 wherein the enhanced coating material comprises less than 15% by weight of a diluent.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The coated optical fiber of claim 8 wherein the oligomer comprises the reaction product of a carboxy-terminated polyol "D" and a glycidyl acrylate "E" having the following structure: E-D-E.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The coated optical fiber of claim 1 wherein the enhanced coating material comprises 15-40% by weight of a diluent.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
The coated optical fiber of claim 10 wherein the hydrocarbon component comprises the following structure: R 1 --(R) n --R 2 where: R 1 , R 2 is an alkyl group or an OH group; and R is a combination of C, H or C, H, O; and 2≦n≦1000.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
The coated optical fiber of claim 1 wherein the optical fiber includes a primary and a secondary layer of coating material disposed about the optical glass, the primary layer being in immediate contact with the optical glass and comprising the enhanced coating material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
99 words
An optical fiber ribbon comprising a plurality of coated optical fibers that have been bonded together by a matrix material, each of said coated optical fibers comprising a glass portion for conducting lightwaves and a layer of coating material for protecting the glass portion, said coating material comprising 50-80% by weight of an oligomer, less than 50% by weight of a diluent, and 5-35% by weight of additives, said additives including a stabilizer, an adhesion promoter, a photoinitiator, and a non-crosslinked hydrocarbon component for improving strippability, said hydrocarbon component being present in an amount equal to 1-20% by weight.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
99 words
An optical fiber ribbon comprising a plurality of coated optical fibers that have been bonded together by a matrix material, each of said coated optical fibers comprising a glass portion for conducting lightwaves and a layer of coating material for protecting the glass portion, said coating material comprising 50-80% by weight of an oligomer, less than 50% by weight of a diluent, and 5-35% by weight of additives, said additives including a stabilizer, an adhesion promoter, a photoinitiator, and a non-crosslinked hydrocarbon component for improving strippability, said hydrocarbon component being present in an amount equal to 1-20% by weight.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
46 words
The optical fiber ribbon of claim 13 wherein the hydrocarbon component comprises the following structure: R.sub.1 --(R).sub.n --R.sub.2 where: R 1 , R 2 is an alkyl group or an OH group; and R is a combination of C, H or C, H, O; and 2≦n≦1000.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
The optical fiber ribbon of claim 14 wherein the oligomer comprises the reaction product of a polyol "A," a diisocyanate "B," and a hydroxy terminated alkyl acrylate "C" having the following structure: C-B- A-B-C.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The optical fiber ribbon of claim 14 wherein the coating material comprises 15-40% by weight of a diluent.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
The optical fiber ribbon of claim 15 wherein the oligomer comprises the reaction product of a carboxy-terminated polyol "D" and a glycidyl acrylate "E" having the following structure: E-D-E.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
117 words
A plurality of longitudinally extending optical fibers which are disposed in an array with longitudinal axes thereof being substantially parallel to one another, the array being bonded together by a curable matrix material which fills interstices between adjacent fibers, each of said optical fibers comprising a glass portion for conducting lightwaves and a layer of coating material for protecting the glass portion, said coating material comprising 50-80% by weight of an oligomer, less than 50% by weight of a diluent, and 5-35% by weight of additives, said additives including a stabilizer, an adhesion promoter, a photoinitiator, and a non-crosslinked hydrocarbon component for improving strippability, said hydrocarbon component being present in an amount equal to 1-20% by weight.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
117 words
A plurality of longitudinally extending optical fibers which are disposed in an array with longitudinal axes thereof being substantially parallel to one another, the array being bonded together by a curable matrix material which fills interstices between adjacent fibers, each of said optical fibers comprising a glass portion for conducting lightwaves and a layer of coating material for protecting the glass portion, said coating material comprising 50-80% by weight of an oligomer, less than 50% by weight of a diluent, and 5-35% by weight of additives, said additives including a stabilizer, an adhesion promoter, a photoinitiator, and a non-crosslinked hydrocarbon component for improving strippability, said hydrocarbon component being present in an amount equal to 1-20% by weight.
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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) | 1997-12-12 | 1998-06-13 | 1998-12-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-12-12 | 2002-06-13 | 2002-12-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-12-12 | 2006-06-13 | 2006-12-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |