US4173393A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical waveguide with protective coating
Assignee: Corning Glass Works
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Filing: 1977-06-06
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Granted: 1979-11-06
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Expires: 1997-06-06
Abstract
Abstract An optical waveguide includes a core of high purity fused silica, a cladding of high purity fused silica and a protective coating of metallic glass. The protective coating is applied as a liquid which contracts more than the glass after it solidifies to place the surface of the glass cladding under compression. Because the waveguide will break only under tension, the force of compression must be overcome before the waveguide can be fractured thereby strengthening the waveguide considerably. The metallic glass coating provides further advantages of abrasion protection and the prevention of fatigue.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert D. Maurer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 02:17
CPC Classifications
C; C03; C03B; C03B37/00; C03B37/01; C03B37/02; C03B37/025; C03B37/027; C03C; C03C25/00; C03C25/10; C03C25/104; C03C25/106; C03C25/1061; C03C25/1063; G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/02; G02B6/02395; C03B2205/00; C03B2205/12; C03B2205/16; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/29; Y10T428/2913; Y10T428/2933; Y10T428/294; Y10T428/2956
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
87 words
An optical waveguide comprising: a transparent glass rod having a preselected index of refraction in the core thereof and a different index of refraction at the periphery thereof, and a coating of metallic glass around the periphery of said rod, said metallic glass being selected from the group including: Fe 803 P 163 C 39 B; Fe 40 Ni 40 P 14 B 6 ; Pd 77 Au 5 Si 18 ; Pd 77 Ag 5 Si 18 ; and Pd 77 Cu 5 Si 18 .
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
87 words
An optical waveguide comprising: a transparent glass rod having a preselected index of refraction in the core thereof and a different index of refraction at the periphery thereof, and a coating of metallic glass around the periphery of said rod, said metallic glass being selected from the group including: Fe 803 P 163 C 39 B; Fe 40 Ni 40 P 14 B 6 ; Pd 77 Au 5 Si 18 ; Pd 77 Ag 5 Si 18 ; and Pd 77 Cu 5 Si 18 .
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
An optical waveguide comprising: a transparent glass rod having a preselected index of refraction in the core thereof and a different index of refraction at the periphery thereof, and a coating of metallic glass having a composition Ni 36 Fe 32 Cr 14 P 12 B 6 around the periphery of said rod.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
An optical waveguide comprising: a transparent glass rod having a preselected index of refraction in the core thereof and a different index of refraction at the periphery thereof, and a coating of metallic glass having a composition Ni 36 Fe 32 Cr 14 P 12 B 6 around the periphery of said rod.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
63 words
An optical waveguide comprising: a transparent glass rod having a preselected index of refraction in the core thereof and a different index of refraction at the periphery thereof, and a coating of metallic glass around the periphery of said rod, said metallic glass being selected from the group consisting of at least one noble metal or transition metal and at least one metalloid.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
63 words
An optical waveguide comprising: a transparent glass rod having a preselected index of refraction in the core thereof and a different index of refraction at the periphery thereof, and a coating of metallic glass around the periphery of said rod, said metallic glass being selected from the group consisting of at least one noble metal or transition metal and at least one metalloid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The waveguide recited in claim 3 wherein said coating is applied as a liquid metal which is placed in tension when it cools to room temperature thereby making the coating yieldable only above its yield stress when abraded.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The waveguide recited in claim 3 wherein said glass rod includes a core and a cladding having a different index of refraction than said core.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The waveguide recited in claim 3 wherein said rod includes a periphery of glass having a higher index of refraction than the core of said glass rod.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The waveguide recited in claim 3 wherein said coating is applied as a liquid which contracts as it cools to place the surface of said tube under compression thereby strengthening it.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The waveguide recited in claim 7 wherein said liquid metal is heated to apply it as a coating and solidifies as it cools to room temperature.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
69 words
The method of producing an optical fiber having improved strength comprising the steps of: forming a transparent glass rod having a preselected index of refraction in the core thereof and a different index of refraction at the periphery thereof, and coating said rod with metallic glass, said metallic glass being selected from the group consisting of at least one noble metal or transition metal and at least one metalloid.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
69 words
The method of producing an optical fiber having improved strength comprising the steps of: forming a transparent glass rod having a preselected index of refraction in the core thereof and a different index of refraction at the periphery thereof, and coating said rod with metallic glass, said metallic glass being selected from the group consisting of at least one noble metal or transition metal and at least one metalloid.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method recited in claim 9 further comprising heating the metallic glass to liquify it, and cooling the liquid metallic glass to solidify it, thereby placing the surface of said rod in compression because of the contraction of said liquid metallic glass after solidification.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
85 words
The method recited in claim 9 wherein the step of forming includes: providing an outer glass tube, forming a film of core glass, having an index of refraction different than that of said glass tube, on the inside wall of said glass tube, heating the composite structure so formed to the drawing temperature of the materials thereof, and drawing the heated composite structure to reduce the cross-sectional area thereof and collapse said film of core glass to form a rod having a solid cross-sectional area.
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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) | 1982-11-05 | 1983-05-07 | 1983-11-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-11-05 | 1987-05-07 | 1987-11-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-11-05 | 1991-05-07 | 1991-11-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |