Lucent Technologies Inc.

Hung Chi Ling

John J Burack

Frederick Simchock

A flexible energy-carrying circuit device has reduced flame retardancy while maintaining desired levels of adhesion between the energy-carrying filaments and the substrate with use of a flame-retardant pressure-sensitive adhesive comprised of a polymer of one or more acrylic esters with bromine and phosphorous compounded into the polymer to provide an adhesive having inherent flame retardancy. Small quantities of antimony trioxide may be dispersed in the adhesive to enhance flame retardancy.

Flexible filament device with pressure-sensitive flame retardant adhesive

A method for encapsulating optical fibers (26, FIG. 2) comprises the steps of bonding optical fiber to a first surface of a rigid flat member (17) and placing the flat member in a substantially air-tight chamber (10, FIG. 1). An encapsulating sheet (13) is located in the air-tight chamber, such that it faces the flat member. The air pressure on the flat member is then made to be significantly lower than the air pressure on the encapsulating sheet, thereby to cause the encapsulating sheet (13) to press against the flat member (17, FIG. 3). The encapsulating sheet is made of a flexible flame-resistant material that maintains its structural integrity and does not melt or ignite at temperatures of at least two hundred degrees Centigrade. For example, the encapsulating sheet may be of Kapton (a trademark), doped Mylar (a trademark) or aluminum foil. The encapsulating sheet (13) is bonded to the flat member by an adhesive (31, FIG. 2) so that, after the sheet has been pressed against the optical fibers (26), it thereafter permanently supports each optical fiber in its assigned position.

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Princeton, NJ, United States of America

Hung Chi Ling