US3902879A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of making optical fiber with porous cladding
Assignee: American Optical Corp
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Filing: 1974-03-22
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Granted: 1975-09-02
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Expires: 1994-03-22
Abstract
Abstract Improving the light-transmitting efficiency of a clad lightconducting fiber by minimizing core-cladding interfacial defects. Elongated open channels extending longitudinally of the fiber are formed within the cladding to cushion the expansion of gases existing and/or created along the fiber core-cladding interface during fabrication of the fiber.
Inventors
- 👤 Walter P Siegmund
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 11:28
CPC Classifications
C; C03; C03B; C03B37/00; C03B37/01; C03B37/02; C03B37/025; C03B37/027; G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/04; G02B6/06; C03B2203/00; C03B2203/10; C03B2203/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
196 words
THE METHOD OF MAKING A FUSED COMPLETELY CIRCUMFERENTIALLY CLAD OPTICAL FIBER HAVING A SUCCESSION OF LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING SPACES DISPOSED CIRCUMFERENTIALLY ABOUT SAID FIBER WITHIN THE CLADDING, COMPRISING, THE STEPS OF: PLACING A ROD OF RELATIVELY HIGH REFRACTIVE INDEX LIGHT-CONDUCTING MATERIAL CENTRALLY WITHIN A SLEEVE OF RELATIVELY LOW REFFRACTIVE INDEX MATERIAL HAVING AN INTERAL DIAMETRAL DIMENSION SUBSTANTIALLY GREATER THAN THE EXTERNAL DIAMETRAL DIMENSION OF SAID ROD THEREBY LEAVING A SUBSTANTIAL SPACE COMPLETELY CIRCUMFERENTIALLY ABOUT SAID CENTRALLY DISPOSED ROD, AND PLACING A SERIES OF TUBES OF RELATIVELY LOW REFRACTIVE INDEX MATERIAL LONGITUDINALLY IN SAID SPACE THROUGHOUT THE CIRCUMFERENTIAL EXTENSION THEREOF, SAID TUBES BEING DISPOSED IN JUXTAPOSED RELATIONSHIP WITH EACH OTHER, HEATING ONE END OF THE ASSEMBLY OF SAID ROD, SLEEVE AND TUBES TO A FUSING AND DRAWING TEMPERATURE, AND DRAWING SAID ASSEMBLY LONGITUDINALLY INTO A FIBER THEREBY CAUSING SAID ROD, SLEEVE AND TUBES TO FUSE TOGETHER AS AN INTEGRAL UNIT HAVING A CORE AND CLADDING COMPRISED RESPECTIVELY OF SAID ROD MATERIALS AND THE FUSED COMBINATION OF SAID SLEEVE AND TUBE MATERIALS, SAID CLADDING HAVING POROSITIES EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY THERETHROUGH IN CORRESPONDING POSITIONAL RELATIONSHIP AND APPROXIMATE PROPORTIONATE SIDE TO RESPECTIVE LOCATIONS AND SIZES OF SAID TUBES IN SAID INITIAL ASSEMBLY.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
196 words
THE METHOD OF MAKING A FUSED COMPLETELY CIRCUMFERENTIALLY CLAD OPTICAL FIBER HAVING A SUCCESSION OF LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING SPACES DISPOSED CIRCUMFERENTIALLY ABOUT SAID FIBER WITHIN THE CLADDING, COMPRISING, THE STEPS OF: PLACING A ROD OF RELATIVELY HIGH REFRACTIVE INDEX LIGHT-CONDUCTING MATERIAL CENTRALLY WITHIN A SLEEVE OF RELATIVELY LOW REFFRACTIVE INDEX MATERIAL HAVING AN INTERAL DIAMETRAL DIMENSION SUBSTANTIALLY GREATER THAN THE EXTERNAL DIAMETRAL DIMENSION OF SAID ROD THEREBY LEAVING A SUBSTANTIAL SPACE COMPLETELY CIRCUMFERENTIALLY ABOUT SAID CENTRALLY DISPOSED ROD, AND PLACING A SERIES OF TUBES OF RELATIVELY LOW REFRACTIVE INDEX MATERIAL LONGITUDINALLY IN SAID SPACE THROUGHOUT THE CIRCUMFERENTIAL EXTENSION THEREOF, SAID TUBES BEING DISPOSED IN JUXTAPOSED RELATIONSHIP WITH EACH OTHER, HEATING ONE END OF THE ASSEMBLY OF SAID ROD, SLEEVE AND TUBES TO A FUSING AND DRAWING TEMPERATURE, AND DRAWING SAID ASSEMBLY LONGITUDINALLY INTO A FIBER THEREBY CAUSING SAID ROD, SLEEVE AND TUBES TO FUSE TOGETHER AS AN INTEGRAL UNIT HAVING A CORE AND CLADDING COMPRISED RESPECTIVELY OF SAID ROD MATERIALS AND THE FUSED COMBINATION OF SAID SLEEVE AND TUBE MATERIALS, SAID CLADDING HAVING POROSITIES EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY THERETHROUGH IN CORRESPONDING POSITIONAL RELATIONSHIP AND APPROXIMATE PROPORTIONATE SIDE TO RESPECTIVE LOCATIONS AND SIZES OF SAID TUBES IN SAID INITIAL ASSEMBLY.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method according to claim 1 further including the step of radially inwardly compressing said fiber over a short portion of its length sufficiently to close and seal said openings at said portion of said fiber length.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method according to claim 1 further including the step of severing said fiber laterally into a number of relatively short lengths thereof, bundling said lengths of fiber in juxtaposed relationship and connecting together said lengths of fiber of said bundle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method according to claim 3 further including the step of compressing said bundle radially inwardly along at least one relatively short portion of its length sufficiently to close and seal said openings in said fibers throughout said length of the bundle.
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) | 1978-09-01 | 1979-03-03 | 1979-09-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-01 | 1983-03-03 | 1983-09-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-01 | 1987-03-03 | 1987-09-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |