GEORGE ARTHUR BLAIR, MD
Psychiatric at Motor Ave, Los Angeles, CA

4418984, Dec 6, 1983

Nov 3, 1980

6/203762

Joseph A. Wysocki - Oxnard CA
George R. Blair - Culver City CA
Michael R. Vince - Pollock Pines CA

Hughes Aircraft Company - El Segundo CA

G02B 110, G02B 514, G02B 5172, C03C 2504

350 9633

There is disclosed a metallic clad glass fiber optical waveguide suitable for use as a high-strength optical transmission line, e. g. , for high capacity communications systems and for sensors operating at high temperature. At least two metallic claddings or coatings are formed on the glass waveguide structure, which comprises a core and glass cladding, by coating the glass fiber with at least one of the metallic coatings as it emerges from the furnace with a metal or alloy. The first metal or alloy employed is one that is substantially chemically inert with respect to the material comprising the glass fiber at the deposition temperature during coating of the metal or alloy onto the glass fiber. The second metallic coating may be of the same composition as the first, in order to repair pinholes or to increase the thickness. Alternatively, the second metallic coating may be of a different composition than the first in order to provide the waveguide with mechanical properties that are different than either layer alone could provide.

4321073, Mar 23, 1982

Oct 15, 1980

6/197367

George R. Blair - Culver City CA

Hughes Aircraft Company - Culver City CA

C03C 2502

65 331

Glass fibers employed as optical waveguides are provided with a metal coating by passing the glass fiber, following its formation, through a chamber into which a metal-containing compound is introduced. A source of radiant energy, e. g. , a CO. sub. 2 laser, is introduced by means that are controllably positioned from the glass fiber, e. g. , an infrared-transmitting fiber such as thallium bromo-iodide. The radiant energy is sufficient to cause dissociation of the metal-containing compound on the glass fiber surface so as to form the metal coating on the glass fiber without coating the rest of the apparatus. Any metal compound may be used such as metal carbonyls, metal halides, metal alkyls, metal aryls, metal olefins, metal esters, metal nitro compounds, metal hydrides and combinations and mixtures thereof.