US 12,265,075 B2
Methods and apparatuses for monitoring the curing of a photocurable material
Michael Edward DeRosa, Painted Post, NY (US); and Stephan Lvovich Logunov, Corning, NY (US)
Assigned to Corning Incorporated, Corning, NY (US)
Filed by CORNING INCORPORATED, Corning, NY (US)
Filed on Mar. 29, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/215,499.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/015,047, filed on Apr. 24, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0333260 A1, Oct. 28, 2021
Int. Cl. C08J 3/28 (2006.01); G01N 21/41 (2006.01); G01N 21/55 (2014.01); G01N 33/44 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 33/442 (2013.01) [C08J 3/28 (2013.01); G01N 21/412 (2013.01); G01N 21/55 (2013.01); G01N 2021/551 (2013.01); G01N 2201/0694 (2013.01); G01N 2201/08 (2013.01); G01N 2201/126 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for monitoring curing of photocurable material, the apparatus comprising:
an ultraviolet cure light for curing photocurable material;
an optical fiber having a terminal end and a coupling end;
a probe light source optically coupled to the coupling end of the optical fiber such that the optical fiber emits a probe light from the terminal end and into the photocurable material;
a detector optically coupled to the coupling end of the optical fiber; and
a control unit communicatively coupled to the detector, the control unit comprising:
a processor, and
a memory storing logic comprising computer readable and executable instructions, which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
receive a detector signal, from the detector, indicative of the back reflectance of the probe light directed into the photocurable material through the optical fiber as the photocurable material is cured with the ultraviolet cure light; and
determine a refractive index change of the photocurable material as the photocurable material is cured based on the detector signal
wherein
the optical fiber is a concentric core optical fiber comprising a terminal end, a coupling end, an inner core, and an outer core in direct contact with and at least partially surrounding the inner core;
the ultraviolet cure light is optically coupled the outer core at the coupling end of the concentric core optical fiber; and
the probe light source is optically coupled to the inner core at the coupling end of the concentric core optical fiber.