Apparatus for selective photosensitization of optical fiber
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorsJames B. Carpenter, John P. Stedman, James R. Bylander, Gordon Wiegand, Nicholas A. Stacey, Anthony W. Gatica, Dale E. Elder, James F. Brennan, III
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus that exposes only a selected portion of a length of optical fiber to a hydrogen atmosphere loading process. The apparatus includes a loading chamber that encloses at least the selected portion of the optical fiber and contains a hydrogen hydrogen atmosphere. At least one heating element regionally heats the hydrogen atmosphere surrounding the selected portion. The heating element may heat the hydrogen atmosphere to a temperature of at least 250° C.
Claims32
An apparatus for exposing only a selected portion of a length of optical fiber to a hydrogen atmosphere loading process, the apparatus comprising:
- a loading chamber that encloses at least the selected portion of the optical fiber and contains a hydrogen atmosphere;
- at least one pressure seal in contact with at least one end section of the selected portion of the optical fiber;
- and
- at least one heating element that regionally heats the hydrogen atmosphere surrounding the selected portion.
An in-line apparatus for producing a grating in an optical fiber, comprising an optical fiber phosensitizing apparatus for selectively exposing only a selected portion of an optical fiber to a hydrogen atmosphere loading process, the apparatus comprising:
- a loading chamber that encloses at least the selected portion of the optical fiber and contains a high-temperature hydrogen atmosphere;
- at least one pressure seal in contact with at least one end section of the selected portion of the optical fiber;
- and
- a heating region that locally heats the hydrogen atmosphere surrounding the selected portion to at least 250° C.
An apparatus for exposing only a selected portion of a length of optical fiber to a hydrogen atmosphere loading process, the apparatus comprising:
- a loading chamber that encloses at least the selected portion of the optical fiber and contains a hydrogen atmosphere;
- at least one heating element that regionally heats the hydrogen atmosphere surrounding the selected portion;
- and
- a pre-heating chamber adapted to heat the hydrogen atmosphere prior to introducing the hydrogen atmosphere into the loading chamber.
An apparatus for exposing only a selected portion of a length of optical fiber to a hydrogen atmosphere loading process, the apparatus comprising:
- a loading chamber that encloses at least the selected portion of the optical fiber and contains a hydrogen atmosphere;
- at least one heating element that regionally heats the hydrogen atmosphere surrounding the selected portion;
- and
- first and second clamping vessel blocks, the vessel blocks having pockets that define the loading chamber when the vessel blocks are clamped together.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.