The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 12, 1999
Filed:
Mar. 21, 1997
Richard A Minns, Arlington, MA (US);
Hong Po, Sherborn, MA (US);
William C Robinson, West Concord, MA (US);
Bennett H Rockney, Westford, MA (US);
Ying Hua Zhang, Waltham, MA (US);
SDL, Inc., San Jose, CA (US);
Abstract
In a double-clad optical fiber comprising a core having an index of refraction n.sub.1, an inner cladding surrounding the core and having an index of refraction n.sub.2, and a first outer cladding surrounding the inner cladding and having an index of refraction n.sub.3 (wherein n.sub.1 >n.sub.2 >n.sub.3), the softness of the first outer cladding often renders it difficult to perform polishing or other mechanical operations on the end of the fiber. To reduce such difficulties it is advantageous to remove the first outer cladding from a limited end portion of the fiber, replacing it with a second outer cladding having an index of refraction n.sub.4 (wherein n.sub.2 >n.sub.4) and a hardness which is greater than that of the first outer cladding.