US4304581A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Lightguide preform fabrication
Assignee: Furukawa Electric North America Inc
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Filing: 1980-08-07
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Granted: 1981-12-08
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Expires: 2000-08-07
Abstract
Abstract A lightguide preform (13) is fabricated by depositing and consolidating a plurality of doped silica layers (12), containing volatile germania, on the inside surface of a silica glass tube (11). The tube (11) is rotated while repeatedly traversing a hot zone therealong to shrink and collapse the tube in a final heat zone traversal. A gas mixture containing oxygen and germanium tetrachloride flow from an input gas line (23) and through the tube (11) during the shrinking traversals. The gas mixture continues to flow through at least a portion of the input gas line (23) during the final heat zone traversal.
Inventors
- 👤 Mansoor A. Saifi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 23:13
CPC Classifications
C; C03; C03B; C03B37/00; C03B37/01; C03B37/012; C03B37/014; C03B37/018; C03B37/01861; C03B37/01869; C03B2201/00; C03B2201/06; C03B2201/30; C03B2201/31
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
A method of fabricating a lightguide preform, comprising the steps of: depositing a plurality of doped glass layers, containing a volatile oxide of an element, on the inside surface of a glass tube; repeatedly traversing a heat zone along the tube to shrink and finally collapse the tube in a final heat zone traversal; flowing a gas mixture, containing a halide or an oxy-halide of the element from an input gas line, through the tube during the shrinking traversals; and continuing the flow of said gas mixture within at least a portion of the input gas line during the final heat zone traversal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
103 words
A method of fabricating a lightguide preform, comprising the steps of: depositing a plurality of doped glass layers, containing a volatile oxide of an element, on the inside surface of a glass tube; repeatedly traversing a heat zone along the tube to shrink and finally collapse the tube in a final heat zone traversal; flowing a gas mixture, containing a halide or an oxy-halide of the element from an input gas line, through the tube during the shrinking traversals; and continuing the flow of said gas mixture within at least a portion of the input gas line during the final heat zone traversal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the element is germania.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the gas mixture contains germanium tetrachloride.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
101 words
A method of fabricating a lightguide preform, comprising the steps of: depositing and consolidating a plurality of doped silica glass layers, containing volatile germania, on the inside surface of a silica glass tube; rotating the tube while repeatedly traversing a heat zone therealong to shrink and finally collapse the tube in a final heat zone traversal; flowing a gas mixture, containing oxygen and germanium tetrachloride via an input gas line, through the tube during the shrinking traversals; and continuing the flow of said gas mixture within at least a portion of the input gas line during the final heat zone traversal.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
101 words
A method of fabricating a lightguide preform, comprising the steps of: depositing and consolidating a plurality of doped silica glass layers, containing volatile germania, on the inside surface of a silica glass tube; rotating the tube while repeatedly traversing a heat zone therealong to shrink and finally collapse the tube in a final heat zone traversal; flowing a gas mixture, containing oxygen and germanium tetrachloride via an input gas line, through the tube during the shrinking traversals; and continuing the flow of said gas mixture within at least a portion of the input gas line during the final heat zone traversal.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of fabricating a lightguide preform comprising the steps of: depositing and consolidating at least one germania doped silica glass layer on the inside surface of silica glass tube; repeatedly traversing a heat zone slowly along the outside surface of the tube in a first direction to decrease the tube diameter; traversing the heat zone in the opposite direction to collapse the tube; flowing a mixture of germanium tetrachloride from an input gas line, through the tube, in the direction of the movement during the tube diameter decreasing traversals; and continuing the flow of said mixture within at least a portion of the input gas line during the final collapse traversal.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of fabricating a lightguide preform comprising the steps of: depositing and consolidating at least one germania doped silica glass layer on the inside surface of silica glass tube; repeatedly traversing a heat zone slowly along the outside surface of the tube in a first direction to decrease the tube diameter; traversing the heat zone in the opposite direction to collapse the tube; flowing a mixture of germanium tetrachloride from an input gas line, through the tube, in the direction of the movement during the tube diameter decreasing traversals; and continuing the flow of said mixture within at least a portion of the input gas line during the final collapse traversal.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
133 words
A method of fabricating a lightguide preform, comprising the steps of: flowing reactant gases from an input gas line through a glass tube while repeatedly traversing a hot zone therealong to cause a plurality of doped glass layers, containing a volatile oxide of an element, to deposit on the inside surface of the tube; elevating the temperature of the hot zone to collapse a portion of the glass tube at an end opposite the gas input line; repeatedly traversing the heat zone along the tube, from the collapsed portion towards the input gas line, to shrink and collapse the tube; and flowing a gas mixture, containing oxygen and a halide or an oxy-halide of the element in at least a portion of the input gas line during the shrinking and final collapse traversals.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
133 words
A method of fabricating a lightguide preform, comprising the steps of: flowing reactant gases from an input gas line through a glass tube while repeatedly traversing a hot zone therealong to cause a plurality of doped glass layers, containing a volatile oxide of an element, to deposit on the inside surface of the tube; elevating the temperature of the hot zone to collapse a portion of the glass tube at an end opposite the gas input line; repeatedly traversing the heat zone along the tube, from the collapsed portion towards the input gas line, to shrink and collapse the tube; and flowing a gas mixture, containing oxygen and a halide or an oxy-halide of the element in at least a portion of the input gas line during the shrinking and final collapse traversals.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method as set forth in claim 6, wherein the element is germania.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method as set forth in claim 6, wherein the gas mixture contains germanium tetrachloride.
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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) | 1984-12-07 | 1985-06-08 | 1985-12-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-12-07 | 1989-06-08 | 1989-12-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-12-07 | 1993-06-08 | 1993-12-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |