US4973345A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Surface treatments for optical fibre preforms
Assignee: British Telecommunications PLC
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Filing: 1987-10-13
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Granted: 1990-11-27
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Expires: 2007-10-13
Abstract
Abstract Halide fibres are protected by coatings up to 2 mu m thick of chalcogenide glasses, eg glasses based on compounds of S, Se or Te with Ge or As. The coatings are deposited on the fibre preform by ion deposition sputtering. Preferably the preform is ethced by directing a stream of inert ions at it. Most suitably the etching immediately precedes the coating.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul W. France
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 22:22
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/10; G02B6/102; C; C03; C03C; C03C13/00; C03C13/04; C03C13/041; C03C13/042; C03C25/00; C03C25/10; C03C25/104; C03C25/106; C03C25/1061; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S501/00; Y10S501/90; Y10S501/904; Y10S65/00; Y10S65/15; Y10S65/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
107 words
A method of preparing a halide glass optical fibre having a barrier coating, said fibre being prepared from a preform comprising a core precursor of one halide glass composition and a cladding precursor of a different halide glass composition wherein the method comprises: (a) etching the surface of said preform by directing a stream of inert ions at said surface, (b) applying a coating of protective material to said etched surface by ion sputtering deposition, and (c) drawing the coated preform into fibre without first providing an overcoating; wherein high vacuum is applied at the start of (a) and maintained without break until the end of (b).
Claim 2
Independent Claim
107 words
A method of preparing a halide glass optical fibre having a barrier coating, said fibre being prepared from a preform comprising a core precursor of one halide glass composition and a cladding precursor of a different halide glass composition wherein the method comprises: (a) etching the surface of said preform by directing a stream of inert ions at said surface, (b) applying a coating of protective material to said etched surface by ion sputtering deposition, and (c) drawing the coated preform into fibre without first providing an overcoating; wherein high vacuum is applied at the start of (a) and maintained without break until the end of (b).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein: said applying step (b) comprises the step of ion sputtering a coating having a thickness on the order of 300 nm onto said etched surface; and said drawing step (c) includes the step of drawing said coating to a thickness of on the order of 4 nm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein: said applying step (b) comprises the step of ion sputtering a coating having a thickness in the range of 0.1 to 500 nm onto said etched surface.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
126 words
A method of preparing a fluoride glass optical fibre having a barrier coating, said fibre being prepared from a preform comprising a core precursor of one fluoride glass composition and a cladding precursor of a different fluoride glass composition, both compositions containing a plurality of fluoride selected from the fluorides of Zr, Ba, La, Na, Li and Pb, wherein the method comprises: (a) etching the surface of said preform by directing a stream of inert ions at said surface, (b) applying a coating of protective material to said etched surface by ion sputtering deposition, and (c) drawing the coated preform into fibre without first providing an overcoating; wherein high vacuum is applied at the start of (a) and maintained without break until the end of (b).
Claim 6
Independent Claim
126 words
A method of preparing a fluoride glass optical fibre having a barrier coating, said fibre being prepared from a preform comprising a core precursor of one fluoride glass composition and a cladding precursor of a different fluoride glass composition, both compositions containing a plurality of fluoride selected from the fluorides of Zr, Ba, La, Na, Li and Pb, wherein the method comprises: (a) etching the surface of said preform by directing a stream of inert ions at said surface, (b) applying a coating of protective material to said etched surface by ion sputtering deposition, and (c) drawing the coated preform into fibre without first providing an overcoating; wherein high vacuum is applied at the start of (a) and maintained without break until the end of (b).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method as in claim 4 wherein: said applying step (b) comprises the step of ion sputtering a coating having a thickness on the order of 300 nm onto said etched surface; and said drawing step (c) includes the step of drawing said coating to a thickness of on the order of 4 nm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as in claim 4 wherein: said applying step (b) comprises the step of ion sputtering a coating having a thickness in the range of 0.1 to 500 nm onto said etched surface.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
143 words
A method of preparing a halide glass optical fibre having a barrier coating, said fibre being prepared from a preform comprisiing a core precursor of one halide glass composition and a cladding precursor of a different halide glass composition wherein the method comprises: (a) removing contamination from the surface of said preform by directing a stream of inert ions at said surface, (b) applying a coating of protective material to said cleansed surface by directing a stream of inert ions at a secondary target of protective material whereby a secondary stream of particles is generated from said target and the surface of the preform is exposed to said secondary stream, and (c) drawing the coated preform into the fibre without first providing an overcoating; wherein high vacuum is applied at the start of (a) and maintained without break until the end of (b).
Claim 10
Independent Claim
143 words
A method of preparing a halide glass optical fibre having a barrier coating, said fibre being prepared from a preform comprisiing a core precursor of one halide glass composition and a cladding precursor of a different halide glass composition wherein the method comprises: (a) removing contamination from the surface of said preform by directing a stream of inert ions at said surface, (b) applying a coating of protective material to said cleansed surface by directing a stream of inert ions at a secondary target of protective material whereby a secondary stream of particles is generated from said target and the surface of the preform is exposed to said secondary stream, and (c) drawing the coated preform into the fibre without first providing an overcoating; wherein high vacuum is applied at the start of (a) and maintained without break until the end of (b).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method as in claim 7 wherein: said applying step (b) comprises the step of depositing a coating having a thickness on the order of 300 nm onto said etched surface; and said drawing step (c) includes the step of drawing said coating to a thickness of on the order of 4 nm.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as in claim 7 wherein: said applying step (b) comprises the step of depositing a coating having a thickness in the range of 0.1 to 500 nm onto said etched surface.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
141 words
A method of preparing a fluoride glass optical fibre having a barrier coating, said fibre being prepared from a preform comprising a core precursor of one fluoride glass composition and a cladding precursor of a different fluoride glass composition wherein the method comprises: (a) etching the surface of said preform by directing a stream of inert ions at said surface, (b) applying a coating of protective material to said etched surface by directing a stream of inert ions at a secondary target of protective material whereby a secondary stream of particles is generated from said target and the surface of the preform is exposed to said secondary stream, and (c) drawing the coating preform into the fibre without first providing an overcoating; wherein high vacuum is applied at the start of (a) and maintained without break until the end of (b).
Claim 14
Independent Claim
141 words
A method of preparing a fluoride glass optical fibre having a barrier coating, said fibre being prepared from a preform comprising a core precursor of one fluoride glass composition and a cladding precursor of a different fluoride glass composition wherein the method comprises: (a) etching the surface of said preform by directing a stream of inert ions at said surface, (b) applying a coating of protective material to said etched surface by directing a stream of inert ions at a secondary target of protective material whereby a secondary stream of particles is generated from said target and the surface of the preform is exposed to said secondary stream, and (c) drawing the coating preform into the fibre without first providing an overcoating; wherein high vacuum is applied at the start of (a) and maintained without break until the end of (b).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method as in claim 10 wherein: said applying step (b) comprises the step depositing a coating having a thickness on the order of 300 nm on to said etched surface; and said drawing step (c) includes the step of drawing said coating to a thickness of on the order of 4 nm.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as in claim 10 wherein: said applying step (b) comprises the step of depositing a coating having a thickness in the range of 0.1 to 500 nm onto said etched surface.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
152 words
A method of preparing a fluoride glass optical fibre having a barrier coating of chalcogenide glass on its surface, said fibre being prepared form a preform comprising a core precursor of one fluoride glass composition and a cladding precursor of a different fluoride glass composition wherein the method comprises: (a) removing contamination from the surface of said preform by directing a stream of inert ions at said surface (b) applying a protective coating of chalcogenide glass to said cleansed surface by directing a stream of inert ions at a secondary target of chalogenide glass whereby a secondary stream of particles is generated from said chalcogenide glass target and the surface of the preform is exposed to said secondary stream, and (c) drawing the coated preform into the fibre without first providing an overcoating; wherein high vacuum is applied at the start of (a) and maintained without break until the end of (b).
Claim 18
Independent Claim
152 words
A method of preparing a fluoride glass optical fibre having a barrier coating of chalcogenide glass on its surface, said fibre being prepared form a preform comprising a core precursor of one fluoride glass composition and a cladding precursor of a different fluoride glass composition wherein the method comprises: (a) removing contamination from the surface of said preform by directing a stream of inert ions at said surface (b) applying a protective coating of chalcogenide glass to said cleansed surface by directing a stream of inert ions at a secondary target of chalogenide glass whereby a secondary stream of particles is generated from said chalcogenide glass target and the surface of the preform is exposed to said secondary stream, and (c) drawing the coated preform into the fibre without first providing an overcoating; wherein high vacuum is applied at the start of (a) and maintained without break until the end of (b).
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method as in claim 13 wherein: said applying step (b) comprises the step of depositing a coating having a thickness on the order of 300 nm onto said etched surface; and said drawing step (c) includes the step of drawing said coating to a thickness of on the order of 4 nm.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as in claim 13 wherein: said applying step (b) comprises the step of depositing a coating having a thickness in the range of 0.1 to 500 nm onto said etched surface.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
178 words
A method of preparing a fluoride glass optical fibre having a barrier coating of chalcogenide glass on its surface, said fibre being prepared from a preform comprising a core precursor of one fluoride glass composition and a cladding precursor of a different fluoride glass composition, both compositions containing a plurality of fluorides selected from the flourides of Zr, Ba, La, Na, Li and Pb, wherein the method comprises (a) cleaning the surface of said preform by directing a stream of inert ions at said surface, (b) applying a protective coating of chalcogenide glass to said cleansed surface by directing a stream of inert ions at a secondary target of a chalcogenide glass based on compounds of 8, and/or 8e, and/or Te whereby a secondary stream particles is generated from said chalcogenide glass target and the surface of the preform is exposed to said secondary stream, and (c) drawing the coated preform into the fibre without first providing an overcoating; wherein high vacuum is applied at the start of (a) and maintained without break until the end of (b).
Claim 22
Independent Claim
178 words
A method of preparing a fluoride glass optical fibre having a barrier coating of chalcogenide glass on its surface, said fibre being prepared from a preform comprising a core precursor of one fluoride glass composition and a cladding precursor of a different fluoride glass composition, both compositions containing a plurality of fluorides selected from the flourides of Zr, Ba, La, Na, Li and Pb, wherein the method comprises (a) cleaning the surface of said preform by directing a stream of inert ions at said surface, (b) applying a protective coating of chalcogenide glass to said cleansed surface by directing a stream of inert ions at a secondary target of a chalcogenide glass based on compounds of 8, and/or 8e, and/or Te whereby a secondary stream particles is generated from said chalcogenide glass target and the surface of the preform is exposed to said secondary stream, and (c) drawing the coated preform into the fibre without first providing an overcoating; wherein high vacuum is applied at the start of (a) and maintained without break until the end of (b).
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method as in claim 16 wheren: said applying step (b) comprises the step of depositing a coating having a thickness on the order of 300 nm onto said etched surface; and said drawing step (c) includes the step of drawing said coating to a thicknes of on the order of 4 nm.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as in claim 16 wherein: said applying step (b) comprises the step of depositing a coating having a thickness in the range of 0.1 to 500 nm onto said etched surface.
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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) | 1993-11-26 | 1994-05-28 | 1994-11-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-11-26 | 1998-05-28 | 1998-11-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-11-26 | 2002-05-28 | 2002-11-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |