Patent US3879182A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3879182A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method of making minature prisms
Assignee: American Optical Corp
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Filing: 1974-02-04
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Granted: 1975-04-22
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Expires: 1994-02-04
Abstract
Abstract Manufacturing miniature plural element wavelength multiplexing prisms by preparing an accurately proportioned greatly oversized preform of each element of the respective prisms and assembling the preforms in side-by-side relationship as a boule, heating and drawing the boule longitudinally into an elongated component of greatly reduced cross-sectional size and cutting the drawn component transversely into a plurality of short sections each of a length equal to that desired of the prism resulting from such cutting.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard R Strack
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 09:44
CPC Classifications
C; C03; C03B; C03B37/00; C03B37/01; C03B37/02; C03B37/025; C03B37/027; C03B23/00; C03B23/04; C03B23/047; C03B33/00; C03B33/06; C03B37/075; C03B37/10; C03B37/16; C03B2203/00; C03B2203/02; C03B2203/04; C03B2203/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
198 words
The method of making a wavelength multiplexing prism comprised of a plurality of glass elements having flat lightrefracting faces fused together in a prearranged geometrically patterned interfacial relationship for controllably dispersing light passing in one direction therethrough, said method comprising the steps of: constructing from stock glasses an oversized preform of each element of the prism to be produced, said preforms having surfaces which correspond in shape to those of said lightrefracting faces desired of said prism; grinding and polishing said surfaces of said preforms; assembling the preforms with said ground and polished surfaces thereof tightly juxtapositioned in a geometrically patterned relationship which corresponds to the geometrical patterning desired of said faces in said prism; heating one end of the assembly of said preforms to a temperature suitable for fusing said surfaces of said preforms together and for drawing said assembly; drawing the assembly as a unit in a direction longitudinally of said juxtapositioned surfaces of said preforms into a section of reduced cross-sectional size to fuse said surfaces together as said light-refracting faces of said prism; and transaxially cutting from said drawn section of said assembly a short portion of its length; said portion comprising said prism.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
198 words
The method of making a wavelength multiplexing prism comprised of a plurality of glass elements having flat lightrefracting faces fused together in a prearranged geometrically patterned interfacial relationship for controllably dispersing light passing in one direction therethrough, said method comprising the steps of: constructing from stock glasses an oversized preform of each element of the prism to be produced, said preforms having surfaces which correspond in shape to those of said lightrefracting faces desired of said prism; grinding and polishing said surfaces of said preforms; assembling the preforms with said ground and polished surfaces thereof tightly juxtapositioned in a geometrically patterned relationship which corresponds to the geometrical patterning desired of said faces in said prism; heating one end of the assembly of said preforms to a temperature suitable for fusing said surfaces of said preforms together and for drawing said assembly; drawing the assembly as a unit in a direction longitudinally of said juxtapositioned surfaces of said preforms into a section of reduced cross-sectional size to fuse said surfaces together as said light-refracting faces of said prism; and transaxially cutting from said drawn section of said assembly a short portion of its length; said portion comprising said prism.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
198 words
The method of making a wavelength multiplexing prism comprised of a plurality of glass elements having flat light-refracting faces fused together in a prearranged geometrically patterned interfacial relationship for controllably dispersing light passing in one direction therethrough, said method comprising the steps of: constructing from stock glasses an oversized preform of each element of the prism to be produced, said preforms having surfaces which correspond in shape to those of said light-refracting faces desired of said prism; grinding and polishing said surfaces of said preforms; assembling the preforms with said ground and polished surfaces thereof tightly juxtapositioned in a geometrically patterned relationship which corresponds to the geometrical patterning desired of said faces in said prism; heating one end of the assembly of said preforms to a temperature suitable for fusing said surfaces of said preforms together and for drawing said assembly; drawing the assembly as a unit in a direction longitudinally of said juxtapositioned surfaces of said preforms into a section of reduced cross-sectional size to fuse said surfaces together as said light-refracting faces of said prism; and transaxially cutting from said drawn section of said assembly a short portion of its length; said portion comprising said prism.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
198 words
The method of making a wavelength multiplexing prism comprised of a plurality of glass elements having flat light-refracting faces fused together in a prearranged geometrically patterned interfacial relationship for controllably dispersing light passing in one direction therethrough, said method comprising the steps of: constructing from stock glasses an oversized preform of each element of the prism to be produced, said preforms having surfaces which correspond in shape to those of said light-refracting faces desired of said prism; grinding and polishing said surfaces of said preforms; assembling the preforms with said ground and polished surfaces thereof tightly juxtapositioned in a geometrically patterned relationship which corresponds to the geometrical patterning desired of said faces in said prism; heating one end of the assembly of said preforms to a temperature suitable for fusing said surfaces of said preforms together and for drawing said assembly; drawing the assembly as a unit in a direction longitudinally of said juxtapositioned surfaces of said preforms into a section of reduced cross-sectional size to fuse said surfaces together as said light-refracting faces of said prism; and transaxially cutting from said drawn section of said assembly a short portion of its length; said portion comprising said prism.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein additional prisms may be produced by repeating the step of transaxially cutting said drawn section of said assembly a preselected number of times according to the number of prisms desired to be produced.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said preforms are three in number, each of a triangular cross-sectional configuration.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method according to claim 3 wherein said geometrically patterned relationship of said ground and polished surfaces of said preforms in said assembly thereof includes the arrangement of one of said surfaces of each of two of said preforms being positioned against two adjoining surfaces of a third of said preforms.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said preforms are two in number.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method according to claim 5 wherein said preforms are triangular in cross-sectional shape and said surfaces which correspond in shape to light-refracting faces desired of said prism include two sides of each of said triangular preforms, one side of one preform being positioned against one side of the other preform in the formation of said assembly.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method according to claim 1 including the step of fusing said preforms together in said juxtapositioned geometrically patterned relationship prior to said steps of heating and drawing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method according to claim 4 wherein additional prisms may be produced by repeating the step of transaxially cutting said drawn section of said assembly a preselected additional number of times according to the number of prisms desired to be produced.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method according to claim 6 wherein additional prisms may be produced by repeating the step of transaxially cutting said drawn section of said assembly a preselected additional number of times according to the number of prisms desired to be produced.
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) | 1978-04-21 | 1978-10-21 | 1979-04-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-21 | 1982-10-21 | 1983-04-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-21 | 1986-10-21 | 1987-04-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |