Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Koyoko Ohshima

Kazuhiro Kayashima

Masaru Ikedo

Fumikazu Tateishi

An infrared optical fiber is disclosed which has a composition ratio of silver chloride and silver bromide in the range of 30 to 70 percent by weight of silver chloride, and has a diameter of 0.5 mm or less. The infrared optical fiber has great mechanical strength, so that it does not burn because of degradation in the laser beam transmission capability, even after 2,000 times of repetitive bending with a curvature radius of 20 mm, which is the condition necessary for use within the interior of a body, and it exhibits excellent radiant optical characteristics. In particular, an infrared optical fiber with a diameter of 0.35 mm or less is preferred, because such an infrared optical fiber withstands over 10,000 times of repetitive bending under the same condition as above and can therefore be repeatedly used many times. Also, by applying an appropriate load to the infrared optical fiber, the infrared optical fiber, which is of straight shape free from curving and which has excellent radiant optical characteristics, can be produced stably with a short manufacturing period of time. Furthermore, an optical fiber cable using such an infrared optical fiber, in which the infrared optical fiber is housed in a protective tube containing a dry inert gas, can be repeatedly used under wet conditions of high humidity and can be stored under ambient conditions for a long period of time.

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Osaka, Japan

Koyoko Ohshima