Appeal No. 2001-1667
Application No. 09/117,280
drawing optical fiber from the preform so that the optical
fiber passes between and contacts a first and second roller, each
roller rotating about an axis of rotation passing longitudinally
through the center of each roller; and
pivoting the rollers with respect to each other during the
drawing step such that the axes of rotation cross to become non-
parallel imparting spin to the fiber wherein a position of the
fiber along a longitudinal length of the first and second rollers
remains unchanged as spin is imparted.
The references relied upon by the examiner are:
Päivinen et al. (Päivinen) 5,092,117 Mar. 3, 1992
Hart, Jr. et al. (Hart) 5,298,047 Mar. 29, 1994
Grounds of Rejection1
Claims 1-8 and 11-12 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as
unpatentable over Hart in view of Päivinen.
We reverse.
Background
The invention relates to a method of making an optical fiber
wherein polarization mode dispersion (PMD) in the fiber is
minimized. See Appeal Brief, page 2, paragraph V. PMD causes
signal distortion which is harmful for high bit rate and analog
communication systems. Specification, page 2, lines 10-11. The
method of the invention involves heating a conventional fiber
1 The rejection of claims 1-8 and 12 under 35 U.S.C. § 112, first
paragraph, has been withdrawn. Examiner's Answer, Paper No. 23,
mailed December 1, 2000, page 2, paragraph (6).
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