Lucent Technologies Inc.

Other

Fitel USA Corporation

Peter Gerald Simpkins

Valerie Jeanne Kuck

Mark Anthony Paczkowski

Arturo Hale

Robert LeRoy Decker

Charles Joseph Aloisio

Hakan Tornqvist

Carl Raymond Taylor

John F Malluck

Arthur Clifford Hart, Jr

Priya L Tabaddor

Making a polymer-clad optical fiber comprising a step of determining at a plurality of temperatures the delamination resistance of the polymer coating from fiber. The delamination resistance at ambient temperature can be compared with a predetermined target value for delamination resistance in use. The delamination resistance at elevated temperature can be compared with a predetermined lower target value for ease of strippability. Coated optical fiber having delamination resistances outside the predetermined ranges will typically be rejected.

Method of making a coated optical fiber comprising measuring the delamination resistance of the coating at two different temperatures

A process for fabricating a MEMS device is disclosed. The device has at least one hinged element. The MEMS device including the hinged element is delineated and defined on a semiconductor substrate. The substrate is placed device side down in a chamber. The MEMS device is then exposed to a release expedient for sufficient amount of time for the release expedient to dissolve a sacrificial material connecting the element to the substrate. Upon the dissolution of the sacrificial material, the element is released from the substrate and pivots away from the surface.

Process for fabricating micromechanical devices

In accordance with the invention, an optical fiber is provided with a protective coating having enhanced thermal characteristics for easy removal from the optical fiber. In particular, at elevated temperatures used in stripping, the delamination resistance drops to low levels substantially independent of modulus. This permits fabrication of a protectively coated fiber which has relatively high modulus and delamination resistance at room temperature but, due to its enhanced thermal characteristics, is nonetheless relatively easy to strip at elevated temperatures. Thus, for example, applicants can provide a protectively coated optical fiber or ribbon with a room temperature modulus of at least 90 psi, and a high temperature delamination resistance that is less than 40% of the room-temperature delamination resistance and preferably less than 30%. Coatings based on a polyether backbone and non-polar monomers are preferred.

Coated optical fiber with increased modulus and thermally enhanced strippability

An optical fiber &lsqb;,&rsqb; having protective coating materials &lsqb;,&rsqb;, which surround an elongated strand of glass &lsqb;,&rsqb;, is designed for improved strippability. Preferably, the optical fiber includes two layers (primary and secondary) of radiation-cured polymeric materials surrounding the glass fiber. The primary layer has an equilibrium (in-situ) modulus that resides within the range 120 to 500 psi. Additionally, the primary coating has a pull-out force (adhesion) that is less than 1.2 pounds per centimeter of length (lb/cm), and preferably resides within the range 0.5 to 1.0 lb/cm. It has been found that by increasing the equilibrium modulus, delamination resistance is increased. This has allowed designers to decrease pull-out force while maintaining a suitable delamination resistance. As a result, coating materials can now be stripped away from a glass fiber with little or no residue. This is particularly important in situations where a group of such fibers are bound together in an array &lsqb;,&rsqb; by a matrix bonding material &lsqb;

Coated optical fiber with improved strippability

A method for high velocity coating optical fibers includes passing a fiber with diameter l at velocity V through a coating container to which liquid coating material with viscosity .mu. is supplied under pressure p. Unwanted bubble formation in the coating is prevented by adjusting one or more of the parameters V, l, .mu., and p using the relationship:

Bubble prevention in coating of filaments

An improved method of coating an optical fiber is disclosed. A transducer is submerged in a container of liquid coating material and activated so that it causes the formation of a wave of coating material within the container. The optical fiber is then drawn through the container and through the wave, the wave counterbalancing the negative meniscus produced by drawing the fiber through the container. A curved housing also may be placed in the container and surrounding the transducer for controlling the size, amplitude, shape, or direction of the wave. A plurality of transducers also advantageously may be used.

Method for coating an optical fiber with a plurality of transducers in a

Measurement of the delamination resistance of polymer coated optical fiber can provide valuable information for quality control and/or coating development, and a method of making polymer coated optical fiber that includes determination of the delamination resistance is disclosed. Also disclosed is apparatus that facilitates determination of the delamination resistance.

Growing community of inventors

Chatham, NJ, United States of America

Peter Gerald Simpkins