Optical fibers with improved resistance to ingressing molecules
AssigneeVerrillon, Inc.
InventorsImtiaz Majid, Abdel Soufiane
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An optical fiber includes a glass fiber having a glass core and a cladding that contains voids that are spaced apart from the core, in contact with the core, or form a substantial portion of the core. The voids act as trapping sites for ingressing molecules from the surrounding environment, thereby reducing the effect of such molecules on the fiber's light-transmission properties.
Claims28
An optical fiber with improved resistance to ingressing molecules, the fiber comprising:
- a. a cladding containing a plurality of voids that act as trapping sites for ingressing molecules;
- b. a substantially hollow core for guiding at least a significant portion of incoming light, the cladding surrounding the substantially hollow core;
- and
- c. a hermetic coating on an outer surface of the optical fiber.
An optical fiber with improved resistance to ingressing molecules, the fiber comprising:
- a. a core portion for guiding at least a significant portion of incoming light, the core portion having a core index of refraction;
- b. a cladding surrounding the core portion and having an effective cladding index of refraction, wherein:
- i. the cladding contains a plurality of voids;
- ii. the voids constitute trapping sites for ingressing molecules;
- iii. the voids cause the effective cladding index of refraction to differ sufficiently from the core index of refraction to confine light within the core;
- and
- iv. at least one of the voids is substantially proximate to the core portion;
- and
- c. a hermetic coating on an outer surface of the optical fiber.
An optical fiber with improved resistance to ingressing molecules, the fiber comprising:
- a. a core portion for guiding at least a significant portion of incoming light,;
- and
- b. a cladding surrounding the core portion and having an effective cladding index of refraction, wherein:
- i. the cladding contains a plurality of voids;
- ii. the voids constitute trapping sites for ingressing molecules;
- and
- iii. at least one of the voids is substantially proximate to the core portion;
- and
- c. a hermetic coating on an outer surface of the optical fiber, wherein the hermetic coating comprises a carbon-based composition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.