Abstract: The present invention provides coating methods for use in the manufacture of coated optical fibers. The coating methods of the present invention coat an optical fiber with a primary coating material that has a non-reactive colorant. A secondary coating material is applied over the primary coating material. The primary coating material may either be cured prior to application of the secondary coating material or both the primary and secondary coating materials may be cured at the same time to create primary and secondary coating layers over the optical fiber. In one embodiment, the secondary layer is formed of a substantially transparent material, visibly exposing the colored primary coating layer for inspection and/or measurement. The present invention further provides coated optical fibers made according to the coating methods of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for monitoring a UV curing lamp system to determine whether a UV-curable material passing through the curing lamp system is being properly cured. A thermal sensor is disposed to measure the temperature of gas being exhausted from a center tube of the UV curing lamp system. The center tube typically has nitrogen gas pumped into it to purge air from the center tube. The UV-curable material passes through the center tube. If a defect exists in the center tube, or if insufficient UV radiation is reaching the UV-curable material, the temperature of the gas stream exhausted from the center tube will drop. The temperature of the gas is compared to first and second threshold values, respectively, to determine whether a defect in the center tube exists or whether insufficient radiation is reaching the UV-curable material, respectively.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include an optical energy transmission system, method and apparatus having improved mode coupling. According to embodiments of the invention, an optical energy transmission medium such as an optical fiber includes a plurality of particles formed in one or more coating region layers surrounding the cladding region and/or one or more buffer region layers surrounding the coating region for inducing microbending thereof, thus promoting advantageous mode coupling, which improves bandwidth potential by reducing dispersion. The method for manufacturing the inventive optical energy transmission medium includes forming one or more coating region layers and/or one or more buffer region layers containing particles such as fumed silica in such a way that particles are maintained within the optical energy transmission medium and form controlled perturbations along the optical fiber that enhance mode coupling to the extent that bandwidth of the optical fiber is improved.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include an optical energy transmission system, method and apparatus having improved mode coupling. According to embodiments of the invention, an optical energy transmission medium such as an optical fiber includes bubbles formed therein for inducing microbending of the optical energy transmission medium, thus promoting advantageous mode coupling, which improves bandwidth potential by reducing dispersion. The bubbles are formed, e.g., in one or more buffer region layers and/or at the interface between the coating and buffer regions. The method for manufacturing the inventive optical energy transmission medium includes controllably forming one or more buffer region layers around the coated optical fiber or other transmission medium in such a way that that a desired amount of bubbles is created and maintained within one or more of the buffer region layers and/or at the interface between the coating and buffer regions.

Abstract: An optical fiber ribbon in which a plurality of optical fibers are held in an array has a matrix material for bonding to the fibers to form the ribbon. The matrix material has certain characteristics which serve to enhance fiber access, among which are an elastic modulus from 600 to 1200 MPa at room temperature, from 100 to 280 MPa at 100.degree. C., and from 15 to 45 MPa at temperatures greater than 170.degree. C. The matrix material swells in ethanol more than 15% by volume within 20 minutes, and is virtually immune to the action of cleaning solvents. The matrix material has a surface tension of 20-35 mJ/m.sup.2 as do the color coding inks which identify the fibers.