US4529427A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for making low-loss optical waveguides on an industrial scale
Assignee: Furukawa Electric North America Inc
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Filing: 1979-01-05
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Granted: 1985-07-16
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Expires: 1999-01-05
Abstract
Abstract A method is disclosed for making an optical fiber by drawing a preform whose fabrication involves deposition of a glass on a substrate by means of a chemical reaction between gaseous reagents. According to the disclosed method, accurately controlled amounts of a gaseous reagent are produced by flash evaporating a metered flow of a liquid reagent. The disclosed method is of particular interest for the industrial production of optical fibers.
Inventors
- 👤 William G. French
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 07:46
CPC Classifications
C; C03; C03B; C03B37/00; C03B37/01; C03B37/012; C03B37/014; C03B37/018; C03B37/01807; C23; C23C; C23C16/00; C23C16/44; C23C16/448; C23C16/4481; C23C16/52; C03B2201/00; C03B2201/06; C03B2201/08; C03B2201/10; C03B2201/30; C03B2201/40; C03B2201/42; C03B2207/00; C03B2207/80; C03B2207/85; C03B2207/87
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
88 words
A method for fabricating an optical fiber by drawing a preform whose manufacture comprises depositing a glass on a substrate by means of a chemical reaction between at least two reagents forming a gaseous mixture, characterized in that the preparation of said gaseous mixture comprises the steps of (1) supplying at least a first of said reagents in liquid form, (2) supplying a precisely metered flow of said first of said reagents to a flash evaporation chamber, and (3) flash evaporating said flow in said flash evaporation chamber.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
88 words
A method for fabricating an optical fiber by drawing a preform whose manufacture comprises depositing a glass on a substrate by means of a chemical reaction between at least two reagents forming a gaseous mixture, characterized in that the preparation of said gaseous mixture comprises the steps of (1) supplying at least a first of said reagents in liquid form, (2) supplying a precisely metered flow of said first of said reagents to a flash evaporation chamber, and (3) flash evaporating said flow in said flash evaporation chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
Method of claim 1 in which said flow is produced by a metering pump.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
Method of claim 1 in which said flow is produced by a gravity feed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
Method of claim 1 in which said first of said reagents is selected from the group consisting of BBr 3 , BCl 3 , GeBr 4 , GeCl 4 , PBr 3 , PCl 3 , POCl 3 , SiBr 4 , SiCl 4 , and TiCl 4 .
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
Method of claim 1 in which at least two of said reagents are supplied in liquid form.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
Method of claim 5 in which said two of said reagents are mixed in liquid form.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
Method of claim 1 in which said chemical reaction is caused by flame hydrolysis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
Method of claim 1 in which said substrate is a tube which is externally heated and into which said mixture is fed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
Method of claim 1 in which said glass is deposited by plasma deposition.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
Method of claim 1 in which said fiber is a graded index fiber.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
111 words
A method for fabricating an optical fiber by drawing a preform whose manufacture comprises depositing a glass on a substrate by means of a chemical reaction between at least two reagents forming a gaseous mixture, characterized in that the preparation of said gaseous mixture comprises the steps of (1) liquifying at least a first of said reagents by refrigeration to a temperature which is less than the boiling temperature and which is greater than the freezing temperature of said first of said reagents, (2) supplying a precisely metered flow of said first of said reagents to a flash evaporation chamber, and (3) flash evaporating said flow in said flash evaporation chamber.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
111 words
A method for fabricating an optical fiber by drawing a preform whose manufacture comprises depositing a glass on a substrate by means of a chemical reaction between at least two reagents forming a gaseous mixture, characterized in that the preparation of said gaseous mixture comprises the steps of (1) liquifying at least a first of said reagents by refrigeration to a temperature which is less than the boiling temperature and which is greater than the freezing temperature of said first of said reagents, (2) supplying a precisely metered flow of said first of said reagents to a flash evaporation chamber, and (3) flash evaporating said flow in said flash evaporation chamber.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
Method of claim 11 in which said flow is produced by a metering pump.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
Method of claim 11 in which said flow is produced by a gravity feed.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
Method of claim 11 in which said first of said reagents is BCl 3 .
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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) | 1988-07-15 | 1989-01-14 | 1989-07-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-07-15 | 1993-01-14 | 1993-07-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-07-15 | 1997-01-14 | 1997-07-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |