US3813141A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Single material optical fiber structures including thin film supporting members
Assignee: AT&T Inc
•
Filing: 1972-11-22
•
Granted: 1974-05-28
•
Expires: 1992-11-22
Abstract
Abstract Optical fibers, for propagating optical radiation in guided modes, are fabricated in an integral structure. Advantageously, the fiber structure is made of a single filamentary material, such as fused silica, with a relatively large cross section at the central portion of the fiber and with a relatively thin film portion at the extremities of the fiber. The thin film portion serves as a supporting member for the central portion of the fiber. Such optical fiber structures are capable of propagating either single mode or multimode guided optical waves. In addition, the exposed surface of the central portion (which is not contacted by the thin film supporting member portion) can be contacted with an optically nonlinear material, in order to provide suitable interactions with the propagating signal wave energy and thereby to produce electrooptic effects such as amplification, modulation, or laser action.
Inventors
- 👤 S Miller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 18:29
CPC Classifications
C; C03; C03B; C03B37/00; C03B37/01; C03B37/02; C03B37/025; C03B37/027; G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/02; C03B2203/00; C03B2203/10; C03B2203/12; C03B2203/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
An optical fiber structure for waveguiding optical radiation which comprises a filament of a unitary optically transparent structure whose cross section is characterized by a relatively thick cross section area portion of a fiber optical material at a central portion thereof and by relatively thin cross-sectional area portions of the same material contacting at least two extremities of the central portion, said thin portions providing mechanical support for the central portion, and said thin portions extending in a direction away from the central portion for distances which are at least an order of magnitude larger than the wavelength of the optical radiation, whereby the optical radiation can be propagated in at least one mode through the optical fiber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
118 words
An optical fiber structure for waveguiding optical radiation which comprises a filament of a unitary optically transparent structure whose cross section is characterized by a relatively thick cross section area portion of a fiber optical material at a central portion thereof and by relatively thin cross-sectional area portions of the same material contacting at least two extremities of the central portion, said thin portions providing mechanical support for the central portion, and said thin portions extending in a direction away from the central portion for distances which are at least an order of magnitude larger than the wavelength of the optical radiation, whereby the optical radiation can be propagated in at least one mode through the optical fiber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
An optical fiber structure according to claim 1 in which the central portion has a rectangular cross section.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
An optical fiber structure according to claim 1 in which the central portion has a circular cross section.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
An optical fiber structure according to claim 1 in which the filament is made of a single transparent material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
An optical fiber structure according to claim 1 in which the exposed edges of the filament, located distally from the central portion, are attached to a peripheral cylindrical hollow second filament which is transparent to the optical radiation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The optical fiber structure recited in claim 5 in which the cylindrical portion is encased in an optically lossy jacket.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
The optical fiber sTructure recited in claim 5 in which at least a portion of the space between the peripheral cylindrical portion and the central portion is occupied by an optically nonlinear material for interaction with the optical radiation propagating through the optical fiber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
The optical fiber structure recited in claim 1 in which at least a portion of the exposed surface of the central portion is coated with an optical nonlinear material for interaction with the optical radiation propagating through the optical fiber.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
The optical fiber structure recited in claim 1 in which at least a portion of the exposed surface of the central portion is coated with an optically linear material in order to provide further waveguiding of the optical radiation propagating through the fiber.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
An optical fiber structure according to claim 1 in which the central portion has a rectangularly shaped cross section, and in which one major surface of each of the thin portions together with the one major surface of the central portion form a single planar surface.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3350654A
Cited
US3391969A
Cited
US3318651A
Cited
US3434774A
Cited
US3535017A
Cited
US3537020A
Cited
US3653739A
Cited
US3712705A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-05-27 | 1977-11-26 | 1978-05-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-05-27 | 1981-11-26 | 1982-05-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-05-27 | 1985-11-26 | 1986-05-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |