US4493721A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of manufacturing optical fibres
Assignee: Plasma Optical Fibre BV
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Filing: 1983-04-05
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Granted: 1985-01-15
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Expires: 2003-04-05
Abstract
Abstract Optical fibres are manufactured by etching the inner wall of a tube. The tube wall is etched by passing a hydrogen-free fluorine compound through the tube while reciprocating a nonisothermal plasma through the tube. After etching, core glass is chemically deposited on the etched surface. The core glass is deposited from the gaseous phase while using a nonisothermal plasma for initiating the reaction. The inner-coated tube is then collapsed and drawn to form an optical fiber.
Inventors
- 👤 Cornelis P. Auwerda
- 👤 Gerrit J. Koel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 20:46
CPC Classifications
C; C03; C03C; C03C15/00; C03B; C03B37/00; C03B37/01; C03B37/012; C03B37/014; C03B37/018; C03B37/01807; C03B37/01815; C03B37/01823; C03B37/0183; C03B37/01876; C03B2201/00; C03B2201/06; C03B2201/08; C03B2201/12; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S65/00; Y10S65/15; Y10S65/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
A method of manufacturing an optical fiber comprising the steps of: providing a glass tube having an inner wall; etching the inner wall of the tube with a fluorine compound; and then depositing core glass on the etched inner wall of the tube to form a coating, said core glass being formed by reacting gaseous glass-forming compounds in a nonisothermal plasma; collapsing the coated tube to form a solid rod; and drawing the solid rod into a fiber; characterized in that the step of etching consist essentially of the steps of: passing a gaseous hydrogen-free fluorine compound through the tube; forming a nonisothermal plasma in the tube while passing the fluorine compound through the tube; and reciprocating the plasma along the length of the tube.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
125 words
A method of manufacturing an optical fiber comprising the steps of: providing a glass tube having an inner wall; etching the inner wall of the tube with a fluorine compound; and then depositing core glass on the etched inner wall of the tube to form a coating, said core glass being formed by reacting gaseous glass-forming compounds in a nonisothermal plasma; collapsing the coated tube to form a solid rod; and drawing the solid rod into a fiber; characterized in that the step of etching consist essentially of the steps of: passing a gaseous hydrogen-free fluorine compound through the tube; forming a nonisothermal plasma in the tube while passing the fluorine compound through the tube; and reciprocating the plasma along the length of the tube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method of manufacturing an optical fiber as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the fluorine compound is a hydrogen-free fluorocarbon.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method of manufacturing an optical fiber as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the fluorocarbon is hexafluoroethane.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method of manufacturing an optical fiber as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the step of etching further includes passing oxygen through the tube in combination with the hydrogen-free fluorine compound.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method of manufacturing an optical fiber as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the fluorine compound is a hydrogen-free fluorocarbon.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method of manufacturing an optical fiber as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the fluorocarbon is hexafluoroethane.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3795557A
Cited
US4165915A
Cited
JPS5510468A
Cited
US4227975A
Cited
US4314833A
Cited
GB2067182A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-01-15 | 1988-07-16 | 1989-01-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-01-15 | 1992-07-16 | 1993-01-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-01-15 | 1996-07-16 | 1997-01-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |