Alcatel

Peter R Stupak

Bob J Overton

Sammy G Breeding

Michael B Purvis

Houching Michael Yang

Robert W Greer, Iv

An apparatus and method for curing a coating applied to an optical fiber. A water-jacketed UV lamp is provided adjacent a first reflector. An optical fiber is drawn between a second reflector opposite the first reflector and at least one quartz plate, while a cross flow of a cooling gas is passed around the optical fiber. Apertures may be formed in the second reflector for passing the cooling gas while the optical fiber is passed between the second reflector and the at least one quartz plate. Alternatively, two or more quartz plates may be provided and the cooling gas and the optical fiber passed between the quartz plates. The cooling gas experiences laminar flow.

Apparatus to improve degree of cure for ultraviolet curable optical fiber coating by actively removing heat from the coating during irradiation

A Method for curing a coating applied to an optical fiber. A water-jacketed UV lamp is provided adjacent a first reflector. An optical fiber is drawn between a second reflector opposite the first reflector and at least one quartz plate, while a cross flow of a cooling gas is passed around the optical fiber. Apertures may be formed in the second reflector for passing the cooling gas while the optical fiber is passed between the second reflector and the at least one quartz plate. Alternatively, two or more quartz plates may be provided and the cooling gas and the optical fiber passed between the quartz plates. The cooling gas experiences laminar flow.

Method to improve degree of cure for ultraviolet curable optical fiber coating by actively removing heat from the coating during irradiation

A method for manufacturing optical fiber ribbon containing optical fibers having colored layers. The color is provided in a secondary coating composition that is cured prior to application of a matrix material for forming the optical fiber ribbon. The secondary coating composition includes a photoinitiator that is relatively insensitive to oxygen, and the environment to which the secondary coating composition is exposed is limited by removing the boundary layer of air surrounding the secondary coating composition prior to the application of the matrix material thereto.

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Granite Falls, NC, United States of America

Peter R Stupak