Patent US3881902A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3881902A
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US
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Apparatus for treating glass optical waveguide fibers
Assignee: Corning Glass Works
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Filing: 1973-09-20
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Granted: 1975-05-06
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Expires: 1993-09-20
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for removing contaminants from the surface of a glass optical waveguide fiber and thereafter treating the fiber while preventing the surface from being recontaminated. Contaminants are removed from the surface by subjecting the waveguide to means for bombarding the surface thereof with ions having sufficient energy to remove a surface layer from the fiber. The cleaned fiber may be immediately heat treated to improve the light transmission properties thereof, or it may be coated to prevent recontamination of the surface prior to heat treatment to which the coated fiber may thereafter be subjected.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert D Deluca
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 18:51
CPC Classifications
C; C03; C03C; C03C25/00; C03C25/66; C03C25/68; C03B; C03B37/00; C03B37/10; C03B37/14; C03B37/15; C03C25/002; C03C25/10; C03C25/104; C03C25/62; C03C25/626; C03C25/6286; C03C25/6293; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S65/00; Y10S65/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
APPARATUS FOR TREATING A GLASS OPTICAL WAVEGUIDE FIBER COMPRISING A FIRST CHAMBER HAVING FIBER INPUT AND OUTPUT OPENINGS IN OPPOSING ENDS THEREOF, SAID FIBER BEING ADAPTED TO PASS THROUGH SAID FIBER INPUT OPENING INTO SAID CHAMBER AND THEREAFTER PASS FROM SAID CHAMBER THROUGH SAID FIBER OUTPUT OPENING MEANS FOR PROVIDING A GASEOUS DISCHARGE IN SAID FIRST CHAMTROLLED ATMOSPHERE, MEANS FOR PROVIDING A GASEOUS DISCHARGE IN SAID FIRST CHAMBER TO REMOVE SURFACE CONTAMINANTS FROM SAID FIBER, AND MEANS DISPOSED AT SAID FIBER OUTPUT OPENING FOR TREATING SAID FIBER BEFORE THE SURFACE THEREOF CAN BECOME RECONTAMINATED.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
94 words
APPARATUS FOR TREATING A GLASS OPTICAL WAVEGUIDE FIBER COMPRISING A FIRST CHAMBER HAVING FIBER INPUT AND OUTPUT OPENINGS IN OPPOSING ENDS THEREOF, SAID FIBER BEING ADAPTED TO PASS THROUGH SAID FIBER INPUT OPENING INTO SAID CHAMBER AND THEREAFTER PASS FROM SAID CHAMBER THROUGH SAID FIBER OUTPUT OPENING MEANS FOR PROVIDING A GASEOUS DISCHARGE IN SAID FIRST CHAMTROLLED ATMOSPHERE, MEANS FOR PROVIDING A GASEOUS DISCHARGE IN SAID FIRST CHAMBER TO REMOVE SURFACE CONTAMINANTS FROM SAID FIBER, AND MEANS DISPOSED AT SAID FIBER OUTPUT OPENING FOR TREATING SAID FIBER BEFORE THE SURFACE THEREOF CAN BECOME RECONTAMINATED.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for providing a gaseous discharge comprises means for bombarding the surface of said fiber with ions having sufficient energy to remove a surface layer of said fiber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said means for bombarding comprises a plurality of ion sources for directing dense, focused high energy ion beams at the surface of said fiber and said means for providing a first controlled atmosphere comprises means for providing in the vicinity of said ion beams a pressure of 10 4 Torr or lower.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said ion sources are disposed helically with respect to the axis of said first chamber along which said fiber is adapted to pass.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said ion sources are disposed radially with respect to the axis of said first chamber along which said fiber is adapted to pass.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said means for treating is disposed in said evacuated chamber adjacent to that end from which said fiber is adapted to emerge.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein said means for treating comprises means for sputtering a protective coating onto the surface of said fiber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
59 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said means for treating comprises a second chamber having a second controlled atmosphere for preventing the surface of said fiber from becoming recontaminated, said apparatus further comprising means connecting said first and second chambers for preventing said fiber from becoming recontaminated during its movement from said first chamber to said second chamber.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 8 further comprising means in said second chamber for applying a protective coating to the surface of said fiber to prevent recontamination of the surface of said fiber.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 8 further comprising means in said second chamber for heating said fiber to a temperature between 500*C and 1,000*C to enhance the light transmission properties thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
73 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for providing a gaseous discharge comprises at least one conductive coil surrounding and closely spaced from said fiber and means for energizing said at least one coil with a dc voltage which is sufficient to create a corona charge layer through which the surface of said fiber passes, said means for providing a controlled atmosphere providing said first chamber with a noncontaminating ionizable gas.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 11 wherein said means for providing a gaseous discharge comprises at least two conductive coils surrounding and closely spaced from the surface of said fiber, means for applying dc voltages of differing values to each of the conductive coils.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
62 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for providing a gaseous discharge comprises a conductive coil surrounding said first chamber, and a source of rf energy connected to said coil, said means for providing a controlled atmosphere comprising means for supplying said first chamber with a gas which ionizes under the influence of the rf energy provided by said coil.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
59 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 13 wherein said means for treating comprises a second chamber having a second controlled atmosphere for preventing the surface of said fiber from becoming recontaminated, said apparatus further comprising means connecting said first and second chambers for preventing said fiber from becoming recontaminated during its movement from said first chamber to said second chamber.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 14 further comprising means in said second chamber for applying a protective coating to the surface of said fiber to prevent recontamination of the surface of said fiber.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 14 further comprising means in said second chamber for heating said fiber to a temperature between 500*C and 1,000*C for at least 3 minutes to increase the light transmission properties thereof.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for treating comprises means for applying a protective coating to the surface of said fiber to prevent recontamination of the surface of said fiber.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for treating comprises means for heating said fiber to a temperature between 500*C and 1,000*C for at least 3 minutes to enhance the light transmission properties thereof.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-05-05 | 1978-11-04 | 1979-05-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-05 | 1982-11-04 | 1983-05-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-05 | 1986-11-04 | 1987-05-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |