US4209229A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Glass-ceramic coated optical waveguides
Assignee: Corning Glass Works
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Filing: 1978-09-25
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Granted: 1980-06-24
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Expires: 1998-09-25
Abstract
Abstract There are disclosed a composite optical waveguide characterized by a glass-ceramic coating over a vitreous waveguide member, and methods of producing this composite waveguide by drawing a glass coated waveguide and thermally crystallizing the glass coating.
Inventors
- 👤 Hermann L. Rittler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 18:21
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/02; G02B6/02395; C; C03; C03B; C03B37/00; C03B37/01; C03B37/02; C03B37/025; C03B37/027; C03C; C03C10/00; C03C10/0018; C03C10/0027; C03C13/00; C03C13/04; C03C13/045; C03C13/046; C03C25/00; C03C25/10; C03C25/104; C03C25/106; C03C25/1061
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
80 words
An optical waveguide composite filament comprising a waveguide member and an outer coating layer, the waveguide being a vitreous material composed of one or more oxides, and the outer coating layer having a thickness up to about 250 microns and being composed of a glass-ceramic material wherein the primary crystal phase is selected from the group of beta-eucryptite solid solution and beta-quartz solid solution and the average crystal size is below 7000 A so that said coating layer is transparent.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
80 words
An optical waveguide composite filament comprising a waveguide member and an outer coating layer, the waveguide being a vitreous material composed of one or more oxides, and the outer coating layer having a thickness up to about 250 microns and being composed of a glass-ceramic material wherein the primary crystal phase is selected from the group of beta-eucryptite solid solution and beta-quartz solid solution and the average crystal size is below 7000 A so that said coating layer is transparent.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
An optical waveguide composite filament in accordance with claim 1 wherein the outer coating layer is composed essentially, on a calculated oxide basis in mol ratio, of 1 mol Li 2 O, 0.5-1.5 mols Al 2 O 3 and 2.0 to 4.5 mols SiO 2 .
Claim 4
Independent Claim
63 words
A method of producing an optical waveguide composite filament which comprises drawing a radially laminated filament composed of a vitreous waveguide preform and a glass outer coating capable of being crystallized to a glass-ceramic by heat treatment, heat treating the composite for less than a minute to develop a polycrystalline phase in the outer coating having a crystal size less than 5 microns.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
63 words
A method of producing an optical waveguide composite filament which comprises drawing a radially laminated filament composed of a vitreous waveguide preform and a glass outer coating capable of being crystallized to a glass-ceramic by heat treatment, heat treating the composite for less than a minute to develop a polycrystalline phase in the outer coating having a crystal size less than 5 microns.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 3 wherein the outer coating layer is a Li 2 O-Al 2 O 3 -SiO 2 -TiO 2 type glass and the crystalline phase formed is a beta-eucryptite or beta-quartz solid solution.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
72 words
A method according to claim 3 wherein the waveguide is initially drawn as a vitreous filament, the filament is drawn through a bath of thermally crystallizable glass to form a vitreous outer coating of predetermined thickness on the filament, the coated filament is drawn through a zone in which the coated filament is heated within the range of 700°-1400° C. for less than one minute to cause crystallization of the outer coating.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 5 wherein the crystallizable glass is composed essentially, on a calculated oxide basis in mol ratio, of 1 mol Li 2 O, 0.5-1.5 mols Al 2 O 3 and 2.0-4.5 mols SiO 2 .
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 5 wherein the heat treatment is in the range of 1000° to 1300° C.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
91 words
A method according to claim 3 wherein an integral, cylindrically laminated blank is formed, an internal portion of the blank is composed of a vitreous waveguide and an external portion is composed of a glass that is thermally crystallizable to a glass-ceramic, the blank is thermally softened and drawn into filament form, the filament is exposed to a temperature in the range of 700°-1400° C. for a time less than one minute to form a polycrystalline phase in said external portion wherein the crystals are less than 5 microns in size.
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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) | 1983-06-24 | 1983-12-24 | 1984-06-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-06-24 | 1987-12-24 | 1988-06-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-06-24 | 1991-12-24 | 1992-06-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |