# US 2017/0285261 A1 · Method and apparatus for fabrication of metal-coated optical fiber, and the resulting optical fiber > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0285261 A1 - Document ID: US20170285261A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/510,297 - Filed: 2015-09-17 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2014-09-17 - Assignees: AFL Telecommunications LLC; Fujikura Ltd. - Applicants: AFL Telecommunications LLC; Fujikura Ltd. - Inventors: Matsuhiro Miyamoto; John J. D'Urso; Takuya Fujimoto; Masateru Ichikawa - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170285261A1 ## CPC - G02B 6/02395: {Glass optical fibre with a protective coating, e.g. two layer polymer coating deposited directly on a silica cladding surface during fibre manufacture (G02B6/02052, G02B6/02057, G02B6/024, G02B6/032, G02B6/105, G02B6/14 take precedence; coating on fibre gratings G02B6/02104; multilayer core or cladding G02B6/036; reinforcing splice joints G02B6/2558; optical cables, i.e. comprising protective structures external to the protective coating such as a jacket or plural coated optical fibres G02B6/44; coating of glass to obtain optical fibres C03C25/104)} - C03C 17/3697: {one metallic layer at least being obtained by electroless plating} - C03C 25/1063: {Metals} - C03C 25/1068: {Inorganic coatings} - C23C 18/1653: {Two or more layers with at least one layer obtained by electroless plating and one layer obtained by electroplating} - C25D 7/0607: {Wires} - C03C 2217/253: Cu - C03C 2217/261: Iron-group metals, i.e. Fe, Co or Ni - C03C 2218/111: by dipping, immersion - C03C 2218/115: electro-enhanced deposition - C23C 18/1632: {Features specific for the apparatus, e.g. layout of cells and of its equipment, multiple cells} - C23C 18/1893: {with use of organic or inorganic compounds other than metals, first} - C23C 18/32: Coating with nickel, cobalt or mixtures thereof with phosphorus or boron (C23C18/50 takes precedence) - C23C 18/40: using reducing agents - C25D 3/12: of nickel or cobalt - C25D 3/38: of copper - C25D 5/34: Pretreatment of metallic surfaces to be electroplated - C25D 17/10: Electrodes {, e.g. composition, counter electrode} - C25D 17/12: Shape or form (C25D17/14 takes precedence) - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - C03C: CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF GLASSES, GLAZES OR VITREOUS ENAMELS; SURFACE TREATMENT OF GLASS; SURFACE TREATMENT OF FIBRES OR FILAMENTS MADE FROM GLASS, MINERALS OR SLAGS; JOINING GLASS TO GLASS OR OTHER MATERIALS - C23C: COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THE SURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL (making metal-coated products by extrusion B21C23/22; covering with metal by connecting pre-existing layers to articles, see the relevant places, e.g. B21D39/00, B23K; metallising of glass C03C; metallising mortars, concrete, artificial stone, ceramics or natural stone C04B41/00; enamelling of, or applying a vitreous layer to, metals C23D; treating metal surfaces or coating of metals by electrolysis or electrophoresis C25D; single-crystal film growth C30B; by metallising textiles D06M11/83; decorating textiles by locally metallising D06Q1/04) - C25D: PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PRODUCTION OF COATINGS; ELECTROFORMING; APPARATUS THEREFOR ## Abstract Method and apparatus for producing metal-coated optical fiber involves feeding a length of glass fiber through a first solution bath so as to plate a first predetermined metal on the glass fiber via electroless deposition. The length of glass fiber is passed continuously from the first solution bath to a second solution bath adapted to plate thereon a second predetermined metal via electrolytic plating such that the optical fiber contacts an electrode only after at least some of the second predetermined metal has been applied. The length of glass fiber may be passed continuously from the second solution bath to a third solution bath adapted to plate thereon a third predetermined metal via electrolytic plating. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for producing metal-coated optical fiber, said method comprising: (a) feeding a length of glass fiber through a first solution bath so as to plate a first predetermined metal on the glass fiber via electroless deposition; and (b) passing said length of glass fiber continuously from said first solution bath to a second solution bath adapted to plate thereon a second predetermined metal via electrolytic plating such that said optical fiber contacts an electrode only after at least some of said second predetermined metal has been applied. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the step of: (c) passing said length of glass fiber continuously from said second solution bath to a third solution bath adapted to plate thereon a third predetermined metal via electrolytic plating. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A method as set forth in claim 2, wherein said second predetermined metal is copper and said third predetermined metal is nickel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A method as set forth in claim 3, wherein said first predetermined metal is copper. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A method as set forth in claim 4, wherein a combined thickness of said first predetermined metal and said second predetermined metal is at least about 5 microns. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A method as set forth in claim 5, wherein a thickness of said first predetermined metal is no greater than about 0.5 microns. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) A method as set forth in claim 4, wherein a thickness of said third predetermined metal is at least about 0.5 microns. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said glass fiber has a carbon layer. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said electrode comprises a first electrode integrated into a first pulley wheel. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A method as set forth in claim 9, wherein an additional thickness of said second predetermined metal is plated on said length of glass fiber after contacting said first pulley wheel. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A method as set forth in claim 10, wherein said length of glass fiber further contacts a second electrode integrated into a second pulley wheel after said additional thickness of said predetermined metal has been plated thereon. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) A method as set forth in claim 10, wherein said length of glass fiber bends around said first pulley wheel and reenters said second solution bath. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said length of glass fiber is initially coated with a polymer coating that is removed prior to said first solution bath. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said polymer coating is water soluble. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first and second solution baths each comprise a vessel having an inlet hole and an outlet hole through which the length of glass fiber passes into and out of said vessel, an associated solution flowing out of said inlet and outlet holes. ### Claim 16 An optical fiber comprising: a glass fiber including a core and a cladding; a multi-layer metal coating comprising a first layer of copper, a second layer of copper, and a third layer of nickel, said first layer being applied through an electroless process and said second layer and said third layer being applied through respective electrolytic processes. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) An optical fiber as set forth in claim 16, wherein a combined thickness of said first layer of copper and said second layer of copper is at least about 5 microns. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) An optical fiber as set forth in claim 17, wherein a thickness of said first layer of copper is no greater than about 0.5 microns. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) An optical fiber as set forth in claim 17, wherein a thickness of said third layer of nickel is at least about 0.5 microns. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) An optical fiber as set forth in claim 16, wherein said glass fiber has a carbon layer outside of said cladding. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) An optical fiber as set forth in claim 16, wherein said optical fiber has a length greater than one meter. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) An optical fiber as set forth in claim 21, wherein said optical fiber is between one and ten kilometers in length. ### Claim 23 An optical fiber comprising: a glass fiber including a core and a cladding; a multi-layer metal coating comprising a first layer of first metal, a second layer of said first metal, and a third layer of a second metal, said first layer being applied through an electroless process and said second layer and said third layer being applied through respective electrolytic processes, such that a combined thickness of said first layer and said second layer is at least about 5 microns and a thickness of said third layer is at least about 0.5 microns. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) An optical fiber as set forth in claim 23, wherein a thickness of said first layer is no greater than about 0.5 microns. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) An optical fiber as set forth in claim 23, wherein said glass fiber has a carbon layer outside of said cladding. ### Claim 26 (depends on 23) An optical fiber as set forth in claim 23, wherein said optical fiber has a length greater than one meter. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) An optical fiber as set forth in claim 26, wherein said optical fiber is between one and ten kilometers in length.