Appeal No. 1997-2859
Application 08/340,676
and, more particularly, to composite IR windows comprising a
protective IR-transparent layer directly bonded to an IR-
transparent substrate without adhesive therebetween.
Conventional IR windows for airborne applications lack high-
speed sand and rain impact durability and, as a result,
experience cumulative surface and sub-surface damage which
results in large optical transmittance loss. According to the
invention, an inner surface of the protective layer and an
outer surface of the IR substrate are directly bonded without
adhesive in between. The invention is further illustrated by
the following representative claim.
23. An infrared (IR) window which has a high
transmittance at IR frequencies comprising:
a protective IR-transparent layer directly bonded to an
IR-transparent substrate without adhesive therebetween using
direct bonding, wherein said protective IR transparent layer
includes silicon and said IR transparent substrate includes at
least one of zinc sulfide, zinc selenium, germanium, and
gallium arsenide.
The Examiner relies on the following references:
Kraatz et al. (Kraatz) 4,778,731 Oct. 18, 1988
Hilton, Sr. (Hilton) 5,194,985 Mar. 16, 1993
Claims 15 to 16, 18 to 20 and 22 to 24 stand rejected
under 35 U.S.C. § 102 as being anticipated by Hilton. Claim
-2-
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