US5325458A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Monolithic hollow waveguide and method and apparatus for making the same
Assignee: Opusdent Ltd
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Filing: 1992-02-07
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Granted: 1994-06-28
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Expires: 2012-02-07
Abstract
Abstract The present application discloses a method and apparatus for making a low cost and highly efficient hollow waveguide for transmitting electromagnetic radiation. The waveguide is made from a solid substrate monolithic hollow tube with a reflectivity enhancing dielectric film formed directly over the inner surface. The film can be formed by native chemical reactions, with the material of the monolithic, hollow tube. The present application also discloses a method of polishing and cleaning the inner surface of the hollow tube. One of the problems identified with the hollow metallic waveguide has been the poor surface finish on the inner wall of the hollow tube which results from the processes used to fabricate the metallic tube into final form. The coated reflectivity enhancing dielectric films more or less duplicate the surface roughness in the as formed tube thus seriously affecting the performance of the waveguide especially at the shorter wavelengths. The interior surface of the as received metal tubes can be significantly improved by chemically polishing and cleaning the tube and thereby improving the transmission characteristic of the wave guides for both infrared and visible wavelengths.
Inventors
- 👤 Clifford E. Morrow
- 👤 Otto Gregory
- 👤 Poonam Bhardwag
- 👤 Gong-En Gu
- 👤 Mary B. Bauman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-10 01:18
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/02; G02B6/032; F; F16; F16L; F16L11/00; F16L11/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
86 words
A monolithic hollow waveguide for transmitting electromagnetic radiation, comprising: a monolithic hollow tube having an interior surface, and a dielectric film coating formed directly on said interior surface of said monolithic hollow tube, up to about 20 microns in thickness, said film having a complex index of refractivity with the real part, n 1 , between about 0.5 and about 4.5 and an imaginary part, k 1 , substantially equal to zero and having material of said monolithic hollow tube as a component of the coating.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
86 words
A monolithic hollow waveguide for transmitting electromagnetic radiation, comprising: a monolithic hollow tube having an interior surface, and a dielectric film coating formed directly on said interior surface of said monolithic hollow tube, up to about 20 microns in thickness, said film having a complex index of refractivity with the real part, n 1 , between about 0.5 and about 4.5 and an imaginary part, k 1 , substantially equal to zero and having material of said monolithic hollow tube as a component of the coating.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The monolithic hollow waveguide of claim 1, wherein said film is selected from the group consisting of metal halide and metal oxide films.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The monolithic hollow waveguide of claim 1, wherein said monolithic hollow tube has a complex index of refractivity with a real part, n 2 , greater than about 2.0 and an imaginary part, k 2 , less than approximately 85.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The monolithic hollow waveguide of claim 3, wherein said monolithic hollow tube is as drawn, temper hard monolithic hollow metal tube encased within a jacket.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
10 words
A surgical device comprising the monolithic waveguide of claim 4.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
11 words
A power delivery device comprising the monolithic waveguide of claim 4.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
A monolithic hollow waveguide according to claim 1, wherein said monolithic tube comprises silver.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
A monolithic hollow waveguide according to claim 1, wherein said monolithic hollow tube but not said film consists of at least about 99% silver.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
A monolithic hollow waveguide according to claim 1, wherein said monolithic hollow tube has a circular or rectangular interior cross-section.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
A monolithic hollow waveguide according to claim 1, wherein said monolithic hollow tube has an interior diameter of less than about 5 millimeters.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
A monolithic hollow waveguide according to claim 1, wherein said monolithic hollow tube has an interior diameter of about 1millimeter.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
95 words
A dielectric-coated monolithic metal waveguide for transmitting electromagnetic radiation, comprising; (a) a solid substrate, monolithic hollow metal tube with an interior having a polished and cleaned mirror like surface; and (b) a thin native dielectric film of up to about 20 microns in thickness formed directly on the interior surface of the tube, said film having a complex index of refractivity with a real part, n 1 , less than about 4.5 and an imaginary part, k 1 , about equal to zero and having material of said tube as a component of the film.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
95 words
A dielectric-coated monolithic metal waveguide for transmitting electromagnetic radiation, comprising; (a) a solid substrate, monolithic hollow metal tube with an interior having a polished and cleaned mirror like surface; and (b) a thin native dielectric film of up to about 20 microns in thickness formed directly on the interior surface of the tube, said film having a complex index of refractivity with a real part, n 1 , less than about 4.5 and an imaginary part, k 1 , about equal to zero and having material of said tube as a component of the film.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
The monolithic hollow waveguide of claim 12, wherein said metal is selected from the group consisting of silver, aluminum, gold, barium, chromium, copper, molybdenum, nickel, tin, tungsten, lead, zinc, iron and their alloys.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
52 words
The monolithic hollow metal waveguide of claim 12, wherein said native dielectric film having a complex index of refractivity with a real part n 1 less than about 4.5 and an imaginary part k 1 about equal to zero is selected from the group consisting of metal halide and metal oxide films.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The monolithic hollow metal waveguide of claim 12, wherein said monolithic hollow tube is a rigid monolithic hollow metal tube for making a rigid monolithic hollow waveguide.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
The monolithic hollow metal waveguide of claim 12, wherein said monolithic hollow tube is a flexible monolithic hollow metal tube for making a flexible monolithic hollow waveguide.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
The monolithic hollow metal waveguide of claim 12, which further comprises a jacket to encase said monolithic hollow tube.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
38 words
The monolithic hollow waveguide of claim 17, wherein said jacket consists of plastic or metal and said waveguide further comprises a means for coupling said waveguide to a means for focussing light into the entrance of the waveguide.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
The monolithic hollow waveguide of claim 18, wherein said waveguide can be used in an endoscope sheath.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
The monolithic hollow metal waveguide of claim 17, wherein said jacket is capable of flexing and able to force said hollow tube to retain its shape.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
The monolithic hollow waveguide of claim 18, wherein said plastic is chosen from the group consisting of polysulfones, polyarysulfones, Teflon or polyimides.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
A waveguide according to claim 12, wherein said monolithic hollow metal tube has a circular or rectangular cross-section.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
30 words
A waveguide according to claim 12, wherein said hollow tube has an inside diameter of less than about 5 millimeters and a wall thickness of less than about 2 millimeters.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
14 words
A waveguide according to claim 12, wherein said monolithic metal hollow tube comprises silver.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
23 words
A waveguide according to claim 12, wherein said monolithic metal hollow tube but not said film consists of at least about 99% silver.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
23 words
A waveguide according to claim 25, wherein said silver hollow tube further comprises aluminum, copper, gold, lead, iron, molybdenum, nickel and combinations thereof.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
32 words
The monolithic hollow silver waveguide of claim 26, wherein the silver tube has an inside diameter of less than about 5 millimeters and a wall thickness of less than about 2 millimeters.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
31 words
A waveguide according to claim 12, wherein said dielectric film comprises at least one member of the group consisting of silver halide, silver oxide, copper halide, copper oxide, and combinations thereof.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
13 words
The waveguide according to claim 12, wherein said film is isotropic and non-birefringent.
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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) | 1997-06-27 | 1997-12-27 | 1998-06-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-06-27 | 2001-12-27 | 2002-06-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-06-27 | 2005-12-27 | 2006-06-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |