US5721802A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical device and fusion seal
Assignee: Corning Inc
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Filing: 1996-06-13
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Granted: 1998-02-24
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Expires: 2016-06-13
Abstract
Abstract An optical device, and a method of producing the device, are disclosed. The device comprises a substrate having a near-zero, or negative, coefficient of thermal expansion and an optical component affixed to the substrate with a fusion seal, the seal being the fused product of a low melting glass flit having a positive CTE and a mill addition of a glass-ceramic having an effective negative CTE.
Inventors
- 👤 Gaylord L. Francis
- 👤 Robert Morena
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 14:37
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/02; G02B6/02057; G02B6/02076; G02B6/02171; G02B6/02176; G02B6/0218; C; C03; C03C; C03C27/00; C03C27/06; C03C27/10; C03C8/00; C03C8/14; C03C8/24; G02B6/24; G02B6/36; G02B6/3628; G02B6/3632; G02B6/3636
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
55 words
An optical device comprising a substrate having a near-zero, or negative, thermal coefficient of expansion and an optical component affixed to the substrate with a fusion seal, the seal being the fused product of a low melting glass frit having a positive CTE and a mill addition coming a glass-ceramic having an effective negative CTE.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
55 words
An optical device comprising a substrate having a near-zero, or negative, thermal coefficient of expansion and an optical component affixed to the substrate with a fusion seal, the seal being the fused product of a low melting glass frit having a positive CTE and a mill addition coming a glass-ceramic having an effective negative CTE.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
An optical device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the glass-ceramic mill addition is a pyrophosphate alone or in mixture with a very low expansion, or negative, expansion glass-ceramic.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
An optical device in accordance with claim 1 in which the substrate is beta-eucryptite and the mill addition is at least predominately a pyrophosphate glass-ceramic having a negative CTE.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
An optical device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the substrate is a fused silica and the mill addition is a mixture of pyrophosphate and a beta-eucryptite.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
An optical device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the low melting glass flit is a lead borate or a tin-zinc-phosphate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
An optical device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the optical component is an optical fiber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
An optical device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the fusion seal is a button composed of glass frit and a mill addition, and is fused to a spot on the substrate surface.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
97 words
A method of producing an optical device comprising a substrate having a near zero or negative thermal coefficient of expansion and an optical component affixed to the substrate which comprises blending a low melting glass frit having a positive CTE with a mill addition of a glass-ceramic having an effective negative CTE, forming a sealing paste with the blend, applying the paste to a surface on the substrate, positioning the optical component over the sealing paste and heating the paste to a temperature and for a time to form a seal between the component and the substrate.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
97 words
A method of producing an optical device comprising a substrate having a near zero or negative thermal coefficient of expansion and an optical component affixed to the substrate which comprises blending a low melting glass frit having a positive CTE with a mill addition of a glass-ceramic having an effective negative CTE, forming a sealing paste with the blend, applying the paste to a surface on the substrate, positioning the optical component over the sealing paste and heating the paste to a temperature and for a time to form a seal between the component and the substrate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method in accordance with claim 8 which comprises heating the sealing paste with a laser beam defocused with respect to the sealing paste.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein a source of heat is applied to the rear surface of the substrate whereby the sealing paste on the opposite surface is softened by heat conducted through the substrate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
An optical device comprising an optical component affixed to a substrate with a vitreous fusion seal, the substrate having a near-zero, or negative, thermal coefficient of expansion that is sufficiently lower than that of the component so that the device is insensitive to temperature change.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
An optical device comprising an optical component affixed to a substrate with a vitreous fusion seal, the substrate having a near-zero, or negative, thermal coefficient of expansion that is sufficiently lower than that of the component so that the device is insensitive to temperature change.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
An optical device in accordance with claim 11 wherein the fusion seal is the fused product of a low melting glass flit having a positive CTE and a mill addition containing a glass-ceramic having an effective negative CTE.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
An optical device in accordance with claim 12 wherein the glass flit is a non-lead, tin-zinc-phosphate frit.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
An optical device in accordance with claim 11 wherein the component is an optical fiber.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
An optical device in accordance with claim 14 wherein the fiber is an optical fiber embodying a grating.
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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) | 2001-02-23 | 2001-08-25 | 2002-02-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-02-23 | 2005-08-25 | 2006-02-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-02-23 | 2009-08-25 | 2010-02-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |