US4175940A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for making fiber optics fused arrays with improved blemish quality
Assignee: American Optical Corp
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Filing: 1978-06-19
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Granted: 1979-11-27
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Expires: 1998-06-19
Abstract
Abstract Blemish quality of fused fiber optics faceplates, tapers, image inverters and other arrays of multifibers is improved by protecting outer fibers of the multifibers from excessive heating and/or contamination during their fabrication. A preform of a multiplicity of optical fibers is covered with a protective layer of removable material while being fused into a building block. The protective layer is removed from each of the building blocks and the blocks are subsequently assembled into a juxtaposition and fused into a fiber optic array. Multifibers so fabricated and used as component building blocks for the arrays uniquely minimize traditional "chicken wire" blemishing.
Inventors
- 👤 Walter P. Siegmund
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 19:30
CPC Classifications
C; C03; C03B; C03B37/00; C03B37/01; C03B37/02; C03B37/025; C03B37/028; C03B2203/00; C03B2203/02; C03B2203/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
198 words
The method of making a fused fiber optics array with improved blemish quality comprising: tightly juxtapositioning a multiplicity of optical fibers into the overall cross-sectional configuration desired of component building blocks of said array, said juxtapositioned fibers constituting a preform of said building blocks; covering the sides of said preform with a layer of removable material having a melting temperature and coefficient of expansion compatible with said preform; heating and drawing said covered preform into a section having a reduced cross-sectional size which corresponds to that desired of said building blocks; separating a length of said drawn section from said preform; removing said layer of covering material from said separated length of said drawn section; dividing said length of said drawn section into a plurality of relatively short building blocks each of a length approximately corresponding to the thickness desired of said fused array; tightly juxtapositioning said number of said shorter sections; said step of dividing of said length of said drawn section being performed at a preselected stage between said step of drawing said preform and said step of juxtapositioning said shorter building block sections; and fusing said tightly juxtapositioned shorter sections together to produce said array.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
198 words
The method of making a fused fiber optics array with improved blemish quality comprising: tightly juxtapositioning a multiplicity of optical fibers into the overall cross-sectional configuration desired of component building blocks of said array, said juxtapositioned fibers constituting a preform of said building blocks; covering the sides of said preform with a layer of removable material having a melting temperature and coefficient of expansion compatible with said preform; heating and drawing said covered preform into a section having a reduced cross-sectional size which corresponds to that desired of said building blocks; separating a length of said drawn section from said preform; removing said layer of covering material from said separated length of said drawn section; dividing said length of said drawn section into a plurality of relatively short building blocks each of a length approximately corresponding to the thickness desired of said fused array; tightly juxtapositioning said number of said shorter sections; said step of dividing of said length of said drawn section being performed at a preselected stage between said step of drawing said preform and said step of juxtapositioning said shorter building block sections; and fusing said tightly juxtapositioned shorter sections together to produce said array.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said step of dividing said length of said drawn section is performed prior to performance of said step of removing said layer of covering material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said step of dividing said length of said drawn section is performed subsequent to performance of said step of removing said layer of covering material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said layer of covering material is leachable and said step of removing same is performed by a leaching operation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said layer of removable material on said preform initially comprises a multiplicity of fibers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said layer of removable material on said preform initially comprises a succession of plates.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said layer of removable material on said preform is initially in the form of a sleeve.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said layer of removable material on said preform initially comprises a glass frit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said optical fibers are formed of glass and said layer of removable material is glass.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method according to claim 9 wherein said layer of removable material is a high borax containing glass.
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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) | 1982-11-26 | 1983-05-28 | 1983-11-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-11-26 | 1987-05-28 | 1987-11-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-11-26 | 1991-05-28 | 1991-11-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |