US3823995A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method of forming light focusing fiber waveguide
Assignee: Corning Glass Works
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Filing: 1972-03-30
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Granted: 1974-07-16
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Expires: 1992-03-30
Abstract
Abstract A method of forming an article such as a light focusing fiber waveguide by applying to a substantially cylindrical starting member a plurality of layers of material, each layer having a progressively lower index of refraction. The assembly so formed is heated and drawn to reduce the cross-sectional area to form a fiber having a stepped radially varying composition. Alternatively, a plurality of layers of material, each having a progressively higher index of refraction are applied to the inner surface of a tubular member. The resulting substantially cylindrical hollow assembly is heated and drawn to reduce the cross-sectional area and to collapse the remaining inner hole to form a fiber having a solid cross-sectional area with a stepped radially varying composition.
Inventors
- 👤 L Carpenter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 23:46
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/02; G02B6/028; G02B6/0281; C; C03; C03B; C03B37/00; C03B37/01; C03B37/012; C03B37/014; C03B37/01413; C03B37/0142; C03B37/01446; C03B37/01466; C03B37/01473; C03B37/01486; C03B37/01493; C03B37/016; C03B37/018; C03B37/01807; C03B37/01876; C03B37/01884; C03B37/01892; C03B37/02; C03B37/025; C03B37/027; C03B2201/00; C03B2201/06; C03B2201/30; C03B2201/31; C03B2201/32; C03B2201/34; C03B2201/40; C03B2201/42; C03B2203/00; C03B2203/10; C03B2203/22; C03B2203/26; C03B2205/00; C03B2205/12; C03B2205/16; C03B2207/00; C03B2207/80; C03B2207/85; C03B2207/87
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
A method of forming an article having a stepped radially varying composition comprising the steps of providing a solid substantially cylindrical starting member having a smooth outside peripheral surface, applying a plurality of distinct and successive layers of particulate material to said smooth outside peripheral surface of said solid cylindrical member, each such distinct layer having a substantially uniform composition therethrough but having a progressively different composition from the preceding layer so as to form a structure having a stepped radially varying composition, the composition of each said layer forming one of the steps, heating the structure so formed to the drawing temperature of the materials thereof, and drawing the heated structure to reduce the cross-sectional area thereof and to form an article having a stepped radially varying composition.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
129 words
A method of forming an article having a stepped radially varying composition comprising the steps of providing a solid substantially cylindrical starting member having a smooth outside peripheral surface, applying a plurality of distinct and successive layers of particulate material to said smooth outside peripheral surface of said solid cylindrical member, each such distinct layer having a substantially uniform composition therethrough but having a progressively different composition from the preceding layer so as to form a structure having a stepped radially varying composition, the composition of each said layer forming one of the steps, heating the structure so formed to the drawing temperature of the materials thereof, and drawing the heated structure to reduce the cross-sectional area thereof and to form an article having a stepped radially varying composition.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
76 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said article is transparent and the stepped radially varying composition provides a stepped radially varying index of refraction substantially in accordance with the equation nr no sech pi r/2F where no is the index of refraction at the center of said article, nr is the index of refraction at any point at a distance r from the center of said article, and F is the focal length of said article.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of removing said cylindrical starting member wherein said drawing step reduces the cross sectional area of the heated structure to collapse the hole resulting from removing said starting member and to form a fiber having a solid cross-section.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
74 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the applying of at least one of said plurality of layers is accomplished by the steps of rotating said member about the longitudinal axis thereof, entraining in a gaseous medium predetermined amounts of each of a plurality of constituents in vapor form, and hydrolyzing said vapors in a flame to form a soot having a predetermined composition, applying said soot to the exterior peripheral surface of said member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of sintering said soot.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 5 further comprising the steps of removing said starting member by drilling, mechanically polishing the drilled surface, and flame polishing the mechanically polished surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of hydrofluoric acid washing of said drilled surfaces following each polishing step.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said soot is fused silica at least initially doped with at least one material selected from the group consisting of titanium oxide, tantalum oxide, tin oxide, niobium oxide, zirconium oxide, aluminum oxide, lanthanum oxide, and germanium oxide.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said soot is doped with not more than 25 percent by weight titanium oxide at the center thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the sintering and drawing steps are accomplished during the same heating operation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said drawing is performed in a substantially oxygen atmosphere.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said plurality of layers of materials are formed of fused silica that is at least initially doped.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of said plurality of layers of material is applied by radio frequency sputtering.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of said plurality of layers of materials is applied by chemical vapor deposition.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of said plurality of layers of material is formed by applying a glass frit to the exterior surface of said starting member and thereafter sintering said frit.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of said plurality of layers of material is formed by applying a mixture of glass forming-doping agent materials suspended in an organic vehicle and thereafter firing such layer to volatilize the organic vehicle.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
12 words
A light focusing fiber waveguide formed by the method of claim 1.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
133 words
A method of forming an article having a stepped radially varying composition comprising the steps of providing a substantially cylindrical tubular starting member having a smooth inside surface, applying to said smooth inside surface of said tubular member a plurality of distinct and successive layers of particulate material, each such distinct and successive layer having a substantially uniform composition therethrough but having a progressively different composition from the pReceding layer so as to form a structure having a stepped radially varying composition, the composition of each of said layer forming one of the steps, heating the structure so formed to the drawing temperature of the materials thereof, and drawing the heated structure to reduce the cross-sectional area thereof and to collapse the remaining inner hole to form a fiber having a solid cross-section.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
133 words
A method of forming an article having a stepped radially varying composition comprising the steps of providing a substantially cylindrical tubular starting member having a smooth inside surface, applying to said smooth inside surface of said tubular member a plurality of distinct and successive layers of particulate material, each such distinct and successive layer having a substantially uniform composition therethrough but having a progressively different composition from the pReceding layer so as to form a structure having a stepped radially varying composition, the composition of each of said layer forming one of the steps, heating the structure so formed to the drawing temperature of the materials thereof, and drawing the heated structure to reduce the cross-sectional area thereof and to collapse the remaining inner hole to form a fiber having a solid cross-section.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 18 wherein at least one of said plurality of layers is applied by flame hydrolysis as a soot.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of sintering said soot.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 20 wherein sintering and drawing the structure is accomplished during the same heating step.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 21 wherein said heated structure is drawn in an oxygen atmosphere.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 20 wherein said layer material is fused silica doped with at least one material selected from the group consisting of titanium oxide, tantalum oxide, tin oxide, niobium oxide, zirconium oxide, aluminum oxide, lanthanum oxide, and germanium oxide.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 23 wherein the material of the innermost layer is doped with not more than 25 percent by weight titanium oxide.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 19 wherein said drawing is performed in a substantially oxygen atmosphere.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
76 words
The method of claim 18 wherein said article is transparent and the stepped radially varying composition provides a stepped radially varying index of refraction substantially in accordance with the equation nr no sech pi r/2F where no is the index of refraction at the center of said article, nr is the index of refraction at any point at a distance r from the center of said article, and F is the focal length of said article.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
12 words
A light focusing fiber waveguide formed by the method of claim 18.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 18 wherein at least one of said plurality of layers of material is applied by radio frequency sputtering.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 18 wherein at least one of said plurality of layers of material is applied by chemical vapor deposition.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-07-15 | 1978-01-14 | 1978-07-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-07-15 | 1982-01-14 | 1982-07-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-07-15 | 1986-01-14 | 1986-07-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |