EP0216338A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of employing plasma for finishing start rods
Assignee: Polaroid Corp
•
Filing: 1986-09-20
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2006-09-20
Abstract
Abstract There is disclosed a method of finishing or smoothing the surface of an optical start rod through the use of plasma heat in an atmosphere which prevents contamination of the rod by residual water. Also there is disclosed a method of fabricating an optical waveguide wherein the start rod has deposited thereon silica soot and which is subsequently consolidated by a plasma.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert J. Mansfield
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 05:23
CPC Classifications
C; C03; C03B; C03B37/00; C03B37/01; C03B37/012; C03B37/014; C03B37/018; C03B37/01853; C03B37/01205; C03B37/01225; C03B37/01228; C03B37/01237; C03B37/01257; C03B37/01446
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
A method of making an optical waveguide fiber comprising a core enclosed by a cladding, comprising the steps of: establishing a heating zone comprising a plasma or the flame from a plasma torch within a vessel; establishing a dehydrating atmosphere within said vessel; effecting relative motion between progressive lengthwise sections of a cleaned consolidated fused silica start rod and said heating zone, the rate of said relative motion through said heating zone being carefully controlled with respect to the temperature of said heating zone such that relatively thin shell-like peripheral portions of said start rod are progressively converted to their viscous state, thereby effecting a smoothing of the exterior surfaces thereof, said progressively heated viscous portions of said start rod being returned to their solid state after leaving said heating zone; and depositing a silica material in soot form onto the clean, smooth dehydrated exterior surface of said start rod.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
150 words
A method of making an optical waveguide fiber comprising a core enclosed by a cladding, comprising the steps of: establishing a heating zone comprising a plasma or the flame from a plasma torch within a vessel; establishing a dehydrating atmosphere within said vessel; effecting relative motion between progressive lengthwise sections of a cleaned consolidated fused silica start rod and said heating zone, the rate of said relative motion through said heating zone being carefully controlled with respect to the temperature of said heating zone such that relatively thin shell-like peripheral portions of said start rod are progressively converted to their viscous state, thereby effecting a smoothing of the exterior surfaces thereof, said progressively heated viscous portions of said start rod being returned to their solid state after leaving said heating zone; and depositing a silica material in soot form onto the clean, smooth dehydrated exterior surface of said start rod.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The invention of Claim 1 wherein said dehydrating atmosphere establishing step comprises the step of introducing diatomic chlorine gas into said vessel whereby the temperature of said heating zone effects a conversion of said chlorine gas into a monoatomic state.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The invention of Claim 1 wherein said deposited fused silica soot has an index of refraction less than the index of refraction of said start rod.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention of Claim 1 wherein said deposited fused silica soot has the same index of refraction as said start rod.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention of Claim 4 additionally including the step of doping said deposited silica soot with an index of refraction lowering material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The invention of Claim 4 additionally including the step of forming an additional layer of soot over said first deposited fused silica soot, said additional layer having a lower index of refraction than said start rod.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
70 words
The invention of Claim 1 additionally including the steps of: doping said deposited silica soot so as to produce a layer having a lower index of refraction than said start rod; providing a vessel having interior glass walls which encompasses said heating zone; and, introducing the start rod and silica soot into said zone so as to effect consolidation of the soot to form fused cladding of the optical waveguide.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.