Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm James H. Fox
  • Patent number: 4492428
    Abstract: An optical fiber coating comprising a thermoplastic rubber block copolymer reduces microbending losses over a wide service temperature range, typically down to at least -40 degrees Celsius, while obtaining an upper temperature limit of typically at least 90 degrees Celsius. The processing properties, including shelf life, cure rate, and toughness, are superior to typical prior art materials, such as silicones. The inventive coating can be used as the inner coating of a dual-layer coated fiber or as an outer or single coating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1985
    Assignee: AT&T Bell Laboratories
    Inventor: Alvin C. Levy
  • Patent number: 4482204
    Abstract: Optical fibers having ultraviolet-cured coatings and reduced optical transmission losses are produced. An ultraviolet-absorbing material is incorporated in at least one coating layer. This reduces damage in the glass fiber due to the ultraviolet-curing radiation, while still allowing rapid curing of the coating. Single layer coatings and dual layer coatings are described. A single layer coating having reduced microbending losses due to partial curing of the inner portion of the coating is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 13, 1984
    Assignee: AT&T Bell Laboratories
    Inventors: Lee L. Blyler, Jr., Frank V. DiMarcello
  • Patent number: 4480898
    Abstract: Fibers are coated with two (or more) layers. A first coating liquid is applied by an applicator having a die that provides for the formation of a gap between the die and the first coated layer. A second die is located at the exit of the first die, with the second coating liquid flowing onto the fiber through a relatively narrow clearance between the first and second dies. The clearance is formed by die surfaces perpendicular to the fiber axis. This second die also provides for a gap, so that the second layer is applied at a "free surface" at the point of contact with the first coated layer. This approach eliminates turbulence and coating nonuniformities associated with prior art multiple coating techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1984
    Assignee: AT&T Bell Laboratories
    Inventor: Carl R. Taylor
  • Patent number: 4479984
    Abstract: Multifilament bundles are impregnated with an ultraviolet curable resin to form a composite material suitable for use as a strength member in cables and other applications. The inventive coatings obtain good wetting of the filaments, allowing rapid penetration into the roving or yarn. A much faster coating and curing operation is obtained as compared to prior art methods. Fiberglass strength members made by this technique are especially advantageous for use in optical fiber cables where high strength and a low thermal coefficient of expansion are desired, as well as nonconductivity to protect against lightning strikes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 30, 1984
    Assignee: AT&T Bell Laboratories
    Inventors: Nicha Levy, Parbhubhai D. Patel
  • Patent number: 4478488
    Abstract: A multiwaveguide cable in which the waveguides have different overall lengths can be made by twisting the waveguides during cabling. Waveguides situated at the "outside" of the cable will be longer than those on the "inside". Such cables can be used for generating pulses, as passive scanners, for time division multiplexing for equalizing frequency dispersion and for many standard delay functions. Also disclosed are multicore fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 23, 1984
    Assignee: AT&T Bell Laboratories
    Inventor: Brian G. Bagley
  • Patent number: 4477580
    Abstract: Optical components using a germania-silica glass are made by a gel technique. Tetra pentyloxygermane and a silicon alkoxide are hydrolyzed to form a gel, which is subsequently dried. Optical components, including optical fibers and devices, can be made using glass prepared by this technique.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1984
    Assignee: AT&T Bell Laboratories
    Inventor: James W. Fleming, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4474830
    Abstract: Fibers are coated with two (or more) layers. A first coating liquid is applied by an applicator having a die that provides for the formation of a gap between the die and the first coated layer. A second die is located at the exit of the first die, with the second coating liquid flowing onto the fiber through a relatively narrow clearance between the first and second dies. The clearance is formed by die surfaces perpendicular to the fiber axis. This second die also provides for a gap, so that the second layer is applied at a "free surface" at the point of contact with the first coated layer. This approach eliminates turbulence and coating nonuniformities associated with prior art multiple coating techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 2, 1984
    Assignee: AT&T Bell Laboratories
    Inventor: Carl R. Taylor
  • Patent number: 4473942
    Abstract: Optical fibers are cleaved with high precision by a technique that yields flat endfaces that are perpendicular to the axis of the fiber within 1 degree, and typically within 0.5 degree. This is very advantageous for obtaining low loss splices of fibers, especially single mode fibers. In the present technique, a fiber is secured in two linearly aligned chucks in a sequence that allows one end to rotate unconstrained to minimize tortion. An axial tension is then applied in the fiber, which is next scored. The fiber then typically breaks, but cleaving can be promoted by applying further tension, or introducing moisture, if necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 2, 1984
    Assignee: AT&T Bell Laboratories
    Inventor: David N. Ridgway
  • Patent number: 4464013
    Abstract: A filling composition comprising a styrene-rubber-styrene block copolymer and an oil is used to prevent water entry into optical fiber cable. The composition provides:(1) suitably low viscosity to allow filling the cable at elevated temperatures;(2) low modulus to minimize microbending loss in the optical fibers; and(3) high slump temperature to minimize flow of the material at an elevated service temperature from the end of a filled cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1982
    Date of Patent: August 7, 1984
    Assignee: AT&T Bell Laboratories
    Inventor: Raffaele A. Sabia
  • Patent number: 4441309
    Abstract: A helical layer on a cable core produces a zero torque response when the lay angle is chosen according to the inventive method. Previously, two helical layers having opposite lay angles have been used to obtain a zero torque response. Lightguide cables having a metallic helical armor layer, for example, advantageously utilize the present technique, which reduces the tendency of the cable to kink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1984
    Assignee: Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated
    Inventor: William C. L. Weinraub
  • Patent number: 4434120
    Abstract: A technique is shown for injection molding knockout sections in plastic parts. Through the introduction of a weld line in a controlled manner, removable sections of any geometry may be incorporated in a part. By varying the weld line geometry, knockout forces may be varied over a wide range. An example of a circular knockout in polycarbonate material is shown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1981
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1984
    Assignee: Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated
    Inventors: Charles J. Aloisio, Jr., Ray R. Cammons
  • Patent number: 4432607
    Abstract: A hot melt optical fiber coating comprising a thermoplastic rubber block copolymer reduces microbending losses over a wide service temperature range, typically down to at least -40 degrees Celsius, while obtaining an upper temperature limit of at least 90 degrees Celsius. The processing properties, including shelf life, cure rate, and toughness, are superior to typical prior art materials, such as silicones. The inventive coating can be used as the inner coating of a dual-layer coated fiber or as a single coating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1981
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1984
    Assignee: Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated
    Inventor: Alvin C. Levy
  • Patent number: 4407054
    Abstract: A method of making flexible composite piezoelectric materials exhibiting hydrostatic response and having a stable response over time is given. A prepolymer material is combined with a piezoelectric material and polarized by applying an electric field while inducing an electric dipole in the piezoelectric material, typically by applying hydrostatic pressure or changing the temperature. To ensure stable response characteristics, the polymer material is chosen to have a shear modulus of less than 20 pounds per square inch. To help ensure good contact between the piezoelectric material and the polymer material, controlled shrinkage may be induced in the composite materials by heat or the removal of a volatile material. The prepolymer material desirably has an electrical resistivity greater than 10.sup.10 ohm/meters. Typical piezoelectric materials include lithium sulfate and tartaric acid. Typical polymer materials include RTV rubber, urethanes, and polybutadienes, and may be in the form of oligomers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1983
    Assignee: Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated
    Inventor: George G. Zipfel, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4399097
    Abstract: A method of producing III-V materials by reducing a complex salt in a hydrogen atmosphere is shown. For example, complex salts reduce to InP or GaAs. The salts are conveniently prepared by coprecipitation from a salt solution or by other methods. The stoichiometry can be modified by applying an overpressure of the more volatile element or elements during reduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1983
    Assignee: Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated
    Inventors: Patrick K. Gallagher, Murray Robbins
  • Patent number: 4396704
    Abstract: Solid state devices are produced by dry etching of a resist film to produce a negative resist pattern. The film comprises a polymer typically containing a halogen, and at least one type of silicon-containing or nonsilicon-containing organometallic monomer. The radiation, typically X-ray radiation, locks the monomer or monomers into the polymer, with a subsequent fixing step removing the unlocked monomer or monomers in the unirradiated portion of the resist. The film is then exposed to a plasma comprising oxygen, which removes the unirradiated portion at a faster rate than the radiated portion, producing a negative resist pattern. The plasma development is typically accomplished by reactive ion etching. Sensitizers can be used to extend the wavelength response of the films, typically into the ultraviolet or visible regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1983
    Assignee: Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated
    Inventor: Gary N. Taylor
  • Patent number: 4390589
    Abstract: Fibers are coated with a metal layer by applying onto the fiber a relatively high viscosity slurry comprising an alloy in the form of liquid and solid phases. This allows application of metal coatings on layers that do not "wet" with the liquid metal. For example, an optical fiber having a soft polymer layer to reduce microbending losses is coated with a metal to prevent moisture entry. An alloy of Bi-Sn or In-Sn, among others, allows coating at a relatively low temperature to prevent polymer degradation. Other fibers for various uses can also be advantageously coated with this technique.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1982
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1983
    Assignee: Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated
    Inventors: Franz T. Geyling, Theodore J. Louzon
  • Patent number: 4379003
    Abstract: Magnetic material is made by reducing an oxide powder compact having at least one nonreducible oxide species. A typical mixture of nickel, iron, and aluminum oxides selectively reduces to form a material having a typical permeability of 10 or more and high resistivity. Reduced eddy current losses occur in devices made from such material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1983
    Assignee: Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated
    Inventors: Murray Robbins, Richard C. Sherwood
  • Patent number: 4377437
    Abstract: A method is shown whereby implanted ions, for example indium or gallium ions, are used to selectively define a pattern on a material, typically a polymer. The implanted regions react with a plasma (for example, an oxygen plasma) to form a patterned, nonvolatile protective layer (e.g., indium oxide or gallium oxide) on the material. Subsequent etching, which can typically be accomplished by the same plasma, produces a negative tone pattern. Materials other than polymers can be utilized. For example, an indium implant in SiO.sub.2 allows direct pattern generation by exposure to a fluorine plasma, without the use of a separate polymeric resist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1981
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1983
    Assignee: Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated
    Inventors: Gary N. Taylor, Thirumalai N. C. Venkatesan
  • Patent number: 4376231
    Abstract: An improved, solvent-resistant sealing compound is described. It is an acrylic rubber composition adapted particularly for sealing splice case closures around telecommunications cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1981
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1983
    Assignee: Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated
    Inventors: Raffaele A. Sabia, James L. Williams
  • Patent number: 4374161
    Abstract: Fibers, including optical fibers, are coated under pressure to reduce the amount of bubbles entrapped in the coating. Fluid coating material is directed radially toward the fiber, typically through a porous material or radial channels in a coating applicator. The passage diameter for the fiber is large enough to prevent contacting the fiber, while the pressure of the fluid coating material is high enough to substantially prevent air from entering the applicator. Fiber coating speeds up to at least several meters/second are possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1981
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1983
    Assignee: Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated
    Inventors: Franz T. Geyling, Theodore J. Louzon