Systems and methods involving optical fibers having separate color layers
OwnerNirupama Kenkare, Robert C. Moore +2inventors
InventorsNirupama Kenkare, Robert C. Moore, John M. Turnipseed, Shunhe Xiong
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Abstract
An optical fiber including a layer of primary coating material having a first modulus, a layer of color coating material having a second modulus, a layer of secondary coating having a third modulus, and wherein the first modulus, the second modulus, and the third modulus are different values.
Claims29
An applicator assembly for applying a primary coating material, a secondary coating material and a color coating material to an optical fiber, the assembly comprising:
- a pressurized source of the primary coating material;
- a primary reservoir in fluid communication with the pressurized source of the primary coating material, the primary reservoir being configured for applying a layer of the primary coating material to the optical fiber;
- a primary die adjacent the primary reservoir, the primary die including a primary land configured to size the layer of the primary coating material;
- a pressurized source of the color coating material;
- a color reservoir in fluid communication with the pressurized source of the color coating material, the color reservoir being configured for applying a layer of the color coating material to the optical fiber;
- a color die adjacent the color reservoir, the color die including a color land configured to size the layer of the color coating material;
- a pressurized source of the secondary coating material;
- a secondary reservoir in fluid communication with the pressurized source of the secondary coating material, the secondary reservoir being configured for applying a layer of the secondary coating material to the optical fiber;
- and
- a secondary die adjacent the secondary reservoir, the secondary die including a secondary land configured to size the layer of the secondary coating material;
- and
- wherein the primary reservoir, color reservoir and the secondary reservoir are in fluid communication.
A method of forming an optical fiber, comprising the steps of:
- drawing an optical fiber;
- applying a layer of primary coating material to the optical fiber;
- applying a layer of color coating material to the optical fiber;
- applying a layer of secondary coating material to the optical fiber;
- and
- wherein the layer of primary coating material, the layer of color coating material, and the layer of secondary coating material are each applied prior to the other layers being cured.
A method of forming an optical fiber, comprising the steps of:
- (a) drawing an optical fiber;
- (b) applying a layer of primary coating material to the optical fiber;
- (c) applying a layer of color coating material to the layer of primary coating material;
- and
- (d) applying a layer of secondary coating material to the layer of color coating material.
An optical fiber comprising:
- a layer of primary coating material having a first modulus;
- a layer of color coating material having a second modulus;
- a layer of secondary coating having a third modulus;
- and
- wherein the first modulus, the second modulus, and the third modulus are different values.
A system for forming an optical fiber, comprising:
- means for drawing an optical fiber;
- means for applying a layer of primary coating material to the optical fiber;
- means for applying a layer of color coating material to the layer of the primary coating material, but before the application of a layer of secondary coating material;
- and
- means for applying the layer of secondary coating material to the layer of the color coating material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.