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:
Aug. 22, 2000
Filed:
Sep. 02, 1998
Keiji Iimura, Tokyo, 175, JP;
Other;
Abstract
The present invention discloses a novel photocatalyst optical fiber and a novel method for activating the photocatalyst optical fiber. The photocatalyst optical fiber comprises at least an optical fiber having a core and a light input end, a photocatalyst layer including photocatalyst disposed partially or entirely on the core, wherein light is introduced from the light input end into the core and the light reflects repeatedly inside of the core, wherein said light leaks gradually from the core to the photocatalyst layer, and wherein the photocatalyst layer is activated by irradiation of the light. The method for activating the photocatalyst optical fiber comprises (a) providing at least an optical fiber, each having a photocatalyst layer i.e. photocatalyst film including photocatalyst, in which the photocatalyst layer is partially or entirely disposed on the optical fiber, (b) introducing light into the optical fiber, (c) letting the light to reflect repeatedly inside of the optical fiber, and (d) letting the light to leak gradually from the optical fiber to the photocatalyst layer, whereby the photocatalyst layer is activated by irradiation of the light. Therefore, the present invention can efficiently activate the photocatalyst on the optical fiber by irradiating directly light leaked from the optical fiber.