US 12,304,853 B2
Reflector for curing optical fibers and methods of using the same
Kenneth Duane Billings, Wilmington, NC (US); Hector Michael Belleza De Pedro, Painted Post, NY (US); Robert Clark Moore, Wilmington, NC (US); Zachary Joseph Quist, Wilmington, NC (US); and Michael James Todt, Wilmington, NC (US)
Assigned to Corning Incorporated, Corning, NY (US)
Filed by CORNING INCORPORATED, Corning, NY (US)
Filed on Aug. 19, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/406,523.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/080,073, filed on Sep. 18, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 2026720 (NL), filed on Oct. 21, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0089480 A1, Mar. 24, 2022
Int. Cl. C03C 25/12 (2006.01); C03C 25/104 (2018.01); B05D 3/06 (2006.01)
CPC C03C 25/12 (2013.01) [C03C 25/104 (2013.01); B05D 3/067 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for curing a coating composition disposed on a glass optical fiber, the apparatus comprising:
a reflector having a longitudinal length and defining a cavity, the reflector comprising an interior surface delineating a boundary of the cavity, the interior surface comprising a plurality of portions, each of the portions extending along a different curved contour, wherein:
each of the plurality of portions is configured to reflect curing light so that the reflected curing light is concentrated to a curing zone within the cavity such that all the reflected curing light within the curing zone has an intensity of about 60% or greater relative to a maximum intensity of the reflected curing light,
a fiber location for the glass optical fiber is located within the curing zone,
the plurality of portions comprises a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion the first portion having a different degree of curvature than the second portion, and the first portion having a different degree of curvature than the third portion,
the interior surface transitions directly from the first portion into the second portion, and the interior surface transitions directly from the first portion into the third portion,
the first portion extends along a first curved contour, the first curved contour forming a first circle, the first circle comprising a first radius and a first center disposed at a first center location within the cavity,
the second portion extends along a second curved contour, the second curved contour forming a second circle, the second circle comprising a second radius and a second center disposed at a second center location within the cavity,
the third portion extends along a third curved contour, the third curved contour forming a third circle, the third circle comprising a third radius and a third center disposed at a third center location within the cavity,
the second center location is different than the first center location, the third center location is different than the first center location, and the second center location is different than the third center location,
the second circle and the third circle are disposed within the first circle,
the second circle partially overlaps with the third circle,
the second curved contour comprises a greater degree of curvature than the first curved contour, and the third curved contour comprises a greater degree of curvature than the first curved contour, and
the first portion extends around a larger angular segment of the interior surface than either of the second portion and the third portion.