Process Of Manufacturing Optical Fibers, Waveguides, Or Preforms Thereof Patents (Class 65/385)
  • Patent number: 9321670
    Abstract: An optical fiber preform that is used in a method in which a core rod that forms a core is inserted into a quartz tube that forms a cladding, and at the same time as they are fiber-drawn, the quartz tube and the core rod are formed into a single body, includes: a tapered portion that is formed by grinding an outer circumferential portion of a distal end portion of the quartz tube into a tapered shape; and a conical portion that is formed by welding a dummy tube that has substantially the same outer diameter as the outer diameter of a distal end portion of the tapered portion to the distal end portion of the tapered portion, and by applying heat to the dummy tube and stretching out the dummy tube, where the core rod is inserted inside the quartz tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: FUJIKURA LTD.
    Inventor: Kenji Okada
  • Publication number: 20150104138
    Abstract: An apparatus used for the fabrication of fiberoptic waveguides utilizing a novel melting and resolidifying apparatus and method while under microgravity conditions is disclosed. In one embodiment, the optical fiber core has a lower melting point than the cladding and the core is melted and resolidified under microgravity conditions. The molten lower melting point core is thus contained by the higher melting point cladding while under microgravity conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: Michael David Johnson, Raymond Andrew Motes
  • Patent number: 8995802
    Abstract: An IR supercontinuum source for generating supercontinuum in the MIR or possibly LWIR spectral bands comprises a supercontinuum fiber formed from a heavy metal oxide host glass having low optical loss and high non-linearity over the spectral band that is stable, strong and chemically durable. The supercontinuum fiber is suitably a depressed inner clad fiber configured to support only single transverse spatial mode propagation of the pump signal and supercontinuum. The source suitably includes a tapered depressed inner clad fiber to couple the pump signal into the supercontinuum fiber. The source may be configured as an “all-fiber” source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: NP Photonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Arturo Chavez-Pirson, Daniel Larry Rhonehouse, Dan T. Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20150049999
    Abstract: An ultra-low loss optical fiber is provided. The ultra-low loss optical fiber includes a core having the maximum refractive index inside an optical fiber, and placed at the central portion of the optical fiber, a trench having the minimum refractive index inside the optical fiber and encompassing the core, and a cladding encompassing the trench. The core includes a first sub-core layer having the maximum refractive index inside the optical fiber, and placed at the center of the optical fiber, a second sub-core layer having a refractive index lower than that of the first sub-core layer and encompassing the first sub-core layer, and a third sub-core layer having a refractive index lower than that of the second sub-core layer and encompassing the second sub-core layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2012
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventors: Yeong-Seop Lee, Mun-Hyun Do, Si-Ho Song, Dea-Hwan Oh, Dae-Seung Moon, Kyung-Hwan Oh
  • Patent number: 8958676
    Abstract: Fiber structure including a core and a cladding, a central microstructure having a first plurality of longitudinal holes and which is adapted for guiding optical radiation and for birefringence in the core. Also included is a side microstructure having a second plurality of longitudinal holes is provided, wherein the side microstructure partly surrounds the central microstructure and provides a predetermined mechanical anisotropy, a pressure responsive unit for converting an isotropic pressure force to birefringence changes on the core, a lateral force responsive unit for converting a directional pressure force to birefringence changes on the core, a temperature responsive unit for converting temperature to birefringence changes on the core, and a birefringence responsive unit for converting birefringence in the core to wavelength information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignees: Uniwersytet Marii Curie Sklodowskiej, Wroclaw University of Technology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel
    Inventors: Thomas Geernaert, Francis Berghmans, Tomasz Nasilowski, Hugo Thienpont, Mariusz Makara, Pawel Mergo, Krzysztof Grzegorz Poturaj, Waclaw Urbanczyk, Tadeusz Martynkien, Jacek Marek Olszewski, Jan Jozef Wojcik
  • Patent number: 8879877
    Abstract: A fiber optic cable is provided having a at least one fiber element, a layer of aramid strength members, and a jacket disposed over said layer of aramid strength members. The layer of aramid strength members is wound at a lay length that is equal to or lesser than a predetermined bend radius.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Nexans
    Inventors: David Keller, Christopher Raynor, Terry Gooch, Randie Yoder, Dan Rouse
  • Patent number: 8852745
    Abstract: An aspect of the present invention relates to an optical glass, which comprises, denoted as weight percent, 2 to 37 percent of SiO2, 0 to 25 percent of B2O3, 0 to 10 percent of GeO2, 18 to 55 percent of a combined content of Li2O, Na2O, K2O, CaO, SrO, and BaO, and 27 to 55 percent of a combined content of TiO2, Nb2O5, and WO3, wherein the weight ratio of SiO2 content relative to a combined content of SiO2 and B2O3 ranges from 0.1 to 1, a weight ratio of the Li2O content to a combined content of Li2O, Na2O, K2O, CaO, SrO, and BaO ranges from 0 to 0.4, and a weight ratio of TiO2 content relative to a combined content of TiO2, Nb2O5, and WO3 ranges from 0.35 to 1, with a refractive index nd of 1.860 to 1.990 and an Abbé number ?d of 21 to 29.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventors: Kosuke Yamaguchi, Naomi Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 8837883
    Abstract: Certain embodiments may include a laser system configured to emit collimated laser light, a beam diverging element configured to diverge the laser light to yield a range of propagation angles with a maximum angle greater than zero, and fiber coupling optics configured to direct the diverged laser light towards a spot of a cross-section of a fiber core of an optical fiber. As another example, certain embodiments may include a laser system configured to emit collimated laser light, a beam shaping element configured to shape the laser light into a beam with an elliptical cross-section, and fiber coupling optics configured to direct the diverged laser light towards a spot of a cross-section of a fiber core of an optical fiber, where the spot's center point is located at a distance from the cross-section's center point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Alcon Research, Ltd.
    Inventors: Bruno Lassalas, Michael J. Papac, Michael J. Yadlowsky
  • Publication number: 20140241683
    Abstract: An optical waveguide element includes a cladding portion made of a silica-based glass, and an optical waveguide positioned in the cladding portion and made of a silica-based glass in which a ZrO2 particle is dispersed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuyoshi UCHIDA, Yuuki TANIGUCHI, Hiroshi KAWASHIMA, Kazutaka NARA, Masanori TAKAHASHI
  • Patent number: 8818160
    Abstract: An IR supercontinuum source for generating supercontinuum in the MIR or possibly LWIR spectral bands comprises a supercontinuum fiber formed from a heavy metal oxide host glass having low optical loss and high non-linearity over the spectral band that is stable, strong and chemically durable. The supercontinuum fiber is suitably a depressed inner clad fiber configured to support only single transverse spatial mode propagation of the pump signal and supercontinuum. The source suitably includes a tapered depressed inner clad fiber to couple the pump signal into the supercontinuum fiber. The source may be configured as an “all-fiber” source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: NP Photonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Arturo Chavez-Pirson, Daniel Larry Rhonehouse, Dan T. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 8805133
    Abstract: A tellurium oxide glass that is stable, strong and chemically durable exhibits low optical loss from the UV band well into the MIR band. Unwanted absorption mechanisms in the MIR band are removed or reduced so that the glass formulation exhibits optical performance as close as possible to the theoretical limit of a tellurium oxide glass. The glass formulation only includes glass constituents that provide the intermediate, modifiers and any halides (for OH— reduction) whose inherent absorption wavelength is longer than that of Tellurium (IV) oxide. The glass formulation is substantially free of Sodium Oxide and any other passive glass constituent including hydroxyl whose inherent absorption wavelength is shorter than that of Tellurium (IV) oxide. The glass formulation preferably includes only a small residual amount of halide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: NP Photonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Larry Rhonehouse, Arturo Chavez-Pirson
  • Patent number: 8768128
    Abstract: The specification describes an optical fiber color coding scheme that uses two colors, where each of the two colors constitutes one half of the surface of the optical fiber coating. If a longitudinal portion of the coating is considered a hollow cylinder, then each of the two colors is a hollow hemi-cylinder. To ensure that each of the two colors is always plainly visible to an installer, the two colors are formed with a twist. Using two colors for coding substantially increases the number of available unique color codes. Coloring the entire coating reduces the chances of error in identifying the optical fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: OFS Fitel, LLC
    Inventors: Harry D Garner, Jonathan M Jobe, Kariofilis Konstadinidis
  • Patent number: 8755658
    Abstract: A microstructured optical fiber exhibiting enhanced circularity of the guided light mode is provided. The microstructured optical fiber includes a light-guiding core and a primary cladding surrounding the core wherein the primary cladding has a plurality of holes arranged in hexagonal unit cells defining an Archimedean-like lattice. Preferably, the core is defined by a break in a center of the Archimedean-like lattice, the break being characterised by an absence of at least one of the unit cells. Also preferably, each of the unit cells has seven holes arranged in a centred hexagon. A method of making the microstructured optical fiber is also provided. The method includes fabricating a fiber preform by stacking a plurality of canes around a rod, each cane having a number of holes arranged in a unit cell defining an Archimedean-like lattice, and drawing said fiber preform into the microstructured optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Institut National d'Optique
    Inventor: Antoine Proulx
  • Patent number: 8639078
    Abstract: Provided is a method for manufacturing an optical fiber that is inserted into an insertion portion of an endoscope and guides light, wherein inside an upright fiber drawing furnace, inside a hollow clad tube including a clad glass having a viscosity ?1 of 5.0<Log ?1<7.0 at a temperature at which a viscosity ?2 of a core glass becomes Log ?2=3.5, the core glass in a fluidized state runs down by gravity, whereby the core glass and the clad glass are integrated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Tanabe, Hiroki Takagi
  • Patent number: 8596825
    Abstract: A solid state light having a solid state light source such as LEDs, and optical guide, and a thermal guide. The optical guide is coupled to the light source for receiving and distributing light from the light source, and the thermal guide is integrated with the optical guide for providing thermal conduction from the solid state light source and dissipating heat through convection for cooling the light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Raymond P. Johnston, Michael A. Meis, Martin Kristoffersen, Brian W. Lueck, Katie B. Thompson
  • Patent number: 8567217
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an optical fiber preform includes a process A of applying flame polishing to a center glass rod, a process B of determining a ratio ra/rb, which is a ratio of a radius ra of the center glass rod expressed in millimeters with respect to a radius rb of a target optical fiber preform expressed in millimeters, based on a refractive index profile of a target optical fiber preform, and a process C of determining an amount of fine glass particles to be deposited on the center glass rod so that a ratio ra/rb/c falls within a range from 0.002 to 0.01, where “c” is a maximum value of hydroxyl group concentration expressed in ppm in the vicinity of a boundary between the center glass rod and an outer layer, which is formed by depositing fine glass particles on the center rod and by being vitrified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: FUJIKURA Ltd.
    Inventors: Takakazu Gotoh, Naritoshi Yamada
  • Publication number: 20130237034
    Abstract: A source material, which is based on a glass, is arranged on a working surface of a mold substrate. The mold substrate is made of a single-crystalline material. A cavity is formed in the working surface. The source material is pressed against the mold substrate. During pressing a temperature of the source material and a force exerted on the source material are controlled to fluidify source material. The fluidified source material flows into the cavity. Re-solidified source material forms a glass piece with a protrusion extending into the cavity. After re-solidifying, the glass piece may be bonded to the mold substrate. On the glass piece, protrusions and cavities can be formed with slope angles less than 80 degrees, with different slope angles, with different depths and widths of 10 micrometers and more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventors: Alexander Breymesser, Andre Brockmeier, Carsten von Koblinski, Francisco Javier Santos Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 8515229
    Abstract: A method of producing an elastomeric optical conductor fiber composed of plastic includes drawing a fiber composed of a high-viscosity liquid reactive starting material. The starting material is added by way of a nozzle to a reaction apparatus, to which a liquid, which is inert towards the starting material, has been charged. At least partial crosslinking of the starting material takes place in the reaction apparatus. The elastomeric plastic of the optical conductor fiber is in particular a three-dimensionally crosslinked polyurethane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Leoni Bordnetz-Systeme GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Reichinger, Simone Streit, Markus Stallwitz, Stefan Schipke
  • Patent number: 8478097
    Abstract: Various embodiments include photonic bandgap fibers (PBGF). Some PBGF embodiments have a hollow core (HC) and may have a square lattice (SQL). In various embodiments, SQL PBGF can have a cladding region including 2-10 layers of air-holes. In various embodiments, an HC SQL PBGF can be configured to provide a relative wavelength transmission window ??/?c larger than about 0.35 and a minimum transmission loss in a range from about 70 dB/km to about 0.1 dB/km. In some embodiments, the HC SQL PBGF can be a polarization maintaining fiber. Methods of fabricating PBGF are also disclosed along with some examples of fabricated fibers. Various applications of PBGF are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: IMRA America, Inc.
    Inventors: Liang Dong, Brian K. Thomas, Shigeru Suzuki, Libin Fu
  • Publication number: 20130163927
    Abstract: Fiber structure including a core and a cladding, a central microstructure having a first plurality of longitudinal holes and which is adapted for guiding optical radiation and for birefringence in the core. Also included is a side microstructure having a second plurality of longitudinal holes is provided, wherein the side microstructure partly surrounds the central microstructure and provides a predetermined mechanical anisotropy, a pressure responsive unit for converting an isotropic pressure force to birefringence changes on the core, a lateral force responsive unit for converting a directional pressure force to birefringence changes on the core, a temperature responsive unit for converting temperature to birefringence changes on the core, and a birefringence responsive unit for converting birefringence in the core to wavelength information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Inventors: Thomas Geernaert, Francis Berghmans, Tomasz Nasilowski, Hugo Thienpont, Mariusz Makara, Pawel Mergo, Krzysztof Grzegorz Poturaj, Waclaw Urbanczyk, Tadeusz Martynkien, Jacek Marek Olszewski, Jan Jozef Wojcik
  • Patent number: 8434330
    Abstract: In a technique for fabricating a birefringent optical fiber, a preform rod is fabricated having a longitudinal axis, an outer peripheral surface, and a selected refractive index variation. At least one longitudinal groove is cut into the preform rod through its outer peripheral surface, wherein the at least one longitudinal groove has a cross sectional area equal to that of a respective birefringence-inducing stress element to be loaded into the groove, such that when the stress element is loaded into the groove, a portion of the stress element protrudes outside of the circumference of the preform. A respective birefringence-inducing stress element is loaded into the at least one longitudinal groove. A preform assembly is created by positioning the loaded preform rod within an overcladding tube. The preform assembly is drawn into optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: OFS Fitel, LLC
    Inventor: Jorgen Ostgaard Olsen
  • Patent number: 8425126
    Abstract: A multi-core optical fiber which has a plurality of core portions arranged separately from one another in a cross-section perpendicular to a longitudinal direction, and a cladding portion located around the core portions, the multi-core optical fiber comprises a cylindrical portion of which diameter is even, and a reverse-tapered portion gradually expanding toward at least one edge in the longitudinal direction, wherein a gap between each adjacent ones of the core portions in the reverse-tapered portion is greater than that in the cylindrical portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsunori Imamura
  • Patent number: 8351752
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a flexible optical waveguide prepared by using a resin film for forming an optical waveguide for at least one of a lower cladding layer, a core layer and an upper cladding layer, wherein a ten point average roughness (Rz) on a surface of either one of the lower cladding layer and the upper cladding layer is 0.5 ?m or more and 10 ?m or less, a production process for the same and an optical module prepared by using the flexible optical waveguide. Provided are a flexible optical waveguide which is excellent in an adhesive property in compounding with an electric printed wiring board and turning a flexible optical waveguide into a multilayer, a production process for the same and an optical module prepared by using the flexible optical waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi Chemical Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoaki Shibata, Atsushi Takahashi, Hiroshi Masuda, Toshihiko Takasaki, Tatsuya Makino, Masami Ochiai
  • Patent number: 8297080
    Abstract: A method for producing a single-mode fiber for submarine cables including washing and flame polishing of a preform, fiber drawing, coating with a first coating layer and curing therein using an UV-curing device, coating with a second coating layer and curing therein using the UV-curing device, fiber selection with a 2% screening strain, and testing the properties of the fiber. The fiber has a high strength and long coiling length exceeding 100 km and the method is easy to practice with low production cost and parameters involved therein are highly controllable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Zhongtian Technology Fibre Optics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jiping Xue, Chi Xue, Yichun Shen, Zhaozhang Zhu, Qunshan Xue, Weixing Zhuang, Shanshan Cao, Yali Chen, Ming Liu
  • Patent number: 8285098
    Abstract: Various embodiments include photonic bandgap fibers (PBGF). Some PBGF embodiments have a hollow core (HC) and may have a square lattice (SQL). In various embodiments, SQL PBGF can have a cladding region including 2-10 layers of air-holes. In various embodiments, an HC SQL PBGF can be configured to provide a relative wavelength transmission window ??/?c larger than about 0.35 and a minimum transmission loss in a range from about 70 dB/km to about 0.1 dB/km. In some embodiments, the HC SQL PBGF can be a polarization maintaining fiber. Methods of fabricating PBGF are also disclosed along with some examples of fabricated fibers. Various applications of PBGF are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: IMRA America, Inc.
    Inventors: Liang Dong, Brian K. Thomas, Shigeru Suzuki, Libin Fu
  • Patent number: 8265440
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an optical fiber preform includes the steps of depositing an inner cladding and a central core inside a fluorine doped silica tube and thereafter collapsing the silica tube to form a primary preform. The fluorine doped silica tube has a cross section area that is no more than about 15 percent smaller than the cross section area of the resulting primary preform. The present method facilitates reduced-cost manufacturing of a high-capacity optical fiber preform, which may be drawn to produce an optical fiber having reduced transmission losses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Draka Comteq, B.V.
    Inventors: Cedric Gonnet, Elise Regnier, Frans Gooijer, Pascale Nouchi
  • Publication number: 20120224811
    Abstract: Fiber structure including a core and a cladding, a central microstructure having a first plurality of longitudinal holes and which is adapted for guiding optical radiation and for birefringence in the core. Also included is a side microstructure having a second plurality of longitudinal holes is provided, wherein the side microstructure partly surrounds the central microstructure and provides a predetermined mechanical anisotropy, a pressure responsive unit for converting an isotropic pressure force to birefringence changes on the core, a lateral force responsive unit for converting a directional pressure force to birefringence changes on the core, a temperature responsive unit for converting temperature to birefringence changes on the core, and a birefringence responsive unit for converting birefringence in the core to wavelength information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Inventors: Thomas Geernaert, Francis Berghmans, Tomasz Nasilowski, Hugo Thienpont, Mariusz Makara, Pawel Mergo, Krzysztof Grzegorz Poturaj, Waclaw Urbanczyk, Tadeusz Martynkien, Jacek Marek Olszewski, Jan Jozef Wojcik
  • Patent number: 8257675
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an artificial quartz member inhibited from suffering the decrease in transmittance in a laser light wavelength region which is caused by long-term irradiation with a laser light having a wavelength of 200 nm or shorter; and a process for producing the artificial quartz member. The invention provides an artificial quartz member for use as an optical element to be irradiated with a laser light having a wavelength of 200 nm or shorter, having an aluminum content of 200 ppb or lower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignees: Tokyo Denpa Co., Ltd., Asahi Glass Company, Limited
    Inventors: Noriyuki Agata, Shinya Kikugawa, Yutaka Shimizu, Kazumi Yoshida, Masatoshi Nishimoto
  • Patent number: 8230702
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of heat treating quartz glass deposition tubes at between 900° C. and 1200° C. for at least 115 hours. The resulting deposition tubes are useful in forming optical preforms that can yield optical fibers having reduced added loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Draka Comteq, B.V.
    Inventors: Guangjun Xu, Larry Zeng, Ivo Flammer, Dennis Robert Simons, Cedric Gonnet, Rob Hubertus Matheus Deckers
  • Publication number: 20120172952
    Abstract: Disclosed are an optical stimulation probe structure having a probe body inserted into a subject, a fixing body that fixes the probe body and a light radiator that transmits an optical signal to the probe body, wherein the probe body is made of an optical transmission material capable of transmitting an optical signal, such that the optical signal transmitted from the light radiator is transmitted through the probe body to the subject, and a method for manufacturing the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: KOREA INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Eui Sung YOON, Il Joo CHO, Jin Seok KIM, Kyoung Hwan NA, Hyung Dal PARK
  • Patent number: 8189981
    Abstract: The invention provides stable lithium niobate waveguides, and systems and methods for making same. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a waveguide includes a lithium niobate substrate having an upper surface; and a soft proton-exchanged layer embedded within the substrate, the soft proton-exchanged layer formed by exposing the lithium niobate substrate to a proton exchange solution including a proton exchange acid and a lithium salt of the proton exchange acid at a temperature of less than an atmospheric boiling point of the solution, followed by annealing the lithium niobate substrate under a vapor pressure of water preselected to inhibit protons in the substrate from forming water and evaporating from the upper surface of the substrate. The preselected water vapor pressure may be between 0.1 atm and about 0.9 atm, for example, between about 0.4 atm and about 0.6 atm, in one embodiment about 0.47 atm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: The Aerospace Corporation
    Inventors: Heinrich G. Muller, Hyun I. Kim, Brendan J. Foran
  • Patent number: 8168267
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a preform for optical fibers by a vapor deposition process wherein an intermediate step is carried out between one deposition phase and the next deposition phase(s), wherein the intermediate step includes supplying an etching gas to the supply side of the hollow substrate tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Draka Comteq B.V.
    Inventors: Johannes Antoon Hartsuiker, Igor Milicevic, Mattheus Jacobus Nicolaas Van Stralen, Rob Hubertus Matheus Deckers, Marco Korsten
  • Patent number: 8151601
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing an optical fiber, wherein a preform is placed in a draw tower, which draw tower comprises a furnace in which one end of a preform is heated, after which an optical fiber is drawn from the heated end, wherein the heating and/or cooling of the draw furnace takes place with a maximum temperature gradient of 15° C./minute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Draka Comteq, B.V.
    Inventor: Marco Korsten
  • Patent number: 8141393
    Abstract: A glass fiber and a method of manufacturing a glass fiber for reinforcing a transparent composite matrix is disclosed. The glass fiber includes a first glass material having a first refractive index, a first modulus, and a first durability characteristic and a second glass material having a second refractive index, a second modulus, and second durability characteristic. The second durability characteristic is greater than the first durability characteristic. Durability characteristic is selected from the group comprising resistance to chemical attack, resistance to acid attack, resistance to fading from exposure to ultra-violet radiation, and resistance to mechanical abrasion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Mark S. Wilenski, Adam J. Lang, Alan M. Markus, Larry A. Godby
  • Patent number: 8132430
    Abstract: A glass fiber and a method of manufacturing a glass fiber for reinforcing a transparent composite matrix are disclosed. The glass fiber includes a first glass material having a first set of mechanical properties including a first modulus and a first coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) and a second glass material having a second set of mechanical properties including a second modulus and a second CTE. The second glass material forms a substantially uniform coating on the first glass material. The second CTE is less than the first CTE. The glass fiber is formed by reducing the cross-section of a glass fiber preform of the first glass material coated with the second glass material by hot working. Because of the selected difference in the CTE's, the first glass material imparts a compressive force upon the second glass material, which improves the strength of the glass fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Mark S. Wilenski, Adam J. Lang, Alan M. Markus, Larry A. Godby
  • Patent number: 8111961
    Abstract: Adverse hydrogen aging limitations in multiply-doped optical fibers are overcome by passivating these optical fibers using a deuterium passivation process. This treatment essentially pre-reacts the glass with deuterium so that the most active glass sites are no longer available to react with hydrogen in service. Optical fibers of main interest are doped with mixtures of germanium and phosphorus. Optimum passivating process conditions are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: OFS Fitel, LLC
    Inventors: David J. DiGiovanni, Michael LuValle, George E. Oulundsen, Durgesh Shivram Vaidya, Robert Lingle, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8073299
    Abstract: A method for fabricating composite materials/devices comprising stacking together fibers or rods of at least two different materials and drawing the fibers or rods. Using this process, devices having nanoscale features can be readily fabricated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Herlot-Watt University
    Inventors: Mohammad Reza Taghizadeh, Ryszard Buczynski
  • Publication number: 20110226020
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of heat treating quartz glass deposition tubes at between 900° C. and 1200° C. for at least 115 hours. The resulting deposition tubes are useful in forming optical preforms that can yield optical fibers having reduced added loss.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: DRAKA COMTEQ B.V.
    Inventors: Guangjun Xu, Larry Zeng, Ivo Flammer, Dennis Robert Simons, Cedric Gonnet, Rob Hubertus Matheus Deckers
  • Patent number: 8009938
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide a method and apparatus for obtaining process information in a substrate manufacturing process using plasma. In one embodiment, a chamber is provided having one or more optical metrology modules that are positioned such that optical energy from the plasma process is detected at substantially orthogonal angles. Metrics derived from detected optical energy may be used for endpoint determination, substrate temperature, and monitoring of critical dimensions on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Fenton Davis, Lei Lian
  • Patent number: 7992413
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a process for producing a synthetic quartz glass while taking account of a refractive index distribution remaining in the synthetic quartz glass; a jig for use in the synthetic-quartz-glass production process; and a synthetic quartz glass for an optical member, produced by the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Asahi Glass Company, Limited
    Inventor: Keigo Hino
  • Patent number: 7963125
    Abstract: A glass fiber and a method of manufacturing a glass fiber for reinforcing a transparent composite matrix are disclosed. The glass fiber includes a first glass material having a first set of mechanical properties including a first modulus and a first coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) and a second glass material having a second set of mechanical properties including a second modulus and a second CTE. The second glass material forms a substantially uniform coating on the first glass material. The second CTE is less than the first CTE. The glass fiber is formed by reducing the cross-section of a glass fiber preform of the first glass material coated with the second glass material by hot working. Because of the selected difference in the CTE's, the first glass material imparts a compressive force upon the second glass material, which improves the strength of the glass fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Mark S. Wilenski, Adam J. Lang, Alan M. Markus, Larry A. Godby
  • Patent number: 7963126
    Abstract: A glass fiber and a method of manufacturing a glass fiber for reinforcing a transparent composite matrix is disclosed. The glass fiber includes a first glass material having a first refractive index, a first modulus, and a first durability characteristic and a second glass material having a second refractive index, a second modulus, and second durability characteristic. The second durability characteristic is greater than the first durability characteristic. Durability characteristic is selected from the group comprising resistance to chemical attack, resistance to acid attack, resistance to fading from exposure to ultra-violet radiation, and resistance to mechanical abrasion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Mark S. Wilenski, Adam J. Lang, Alan M. Markus, Larry A. Godby
  • Patent number: 7921673
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the weight of a preform for optical fibers during a chemical deposition process for the formation of a preform is disclosed. The apparatus has at least one elastic constraint associated with at least one end portion of an elongated element made of a chemical deposition substrate for the formation of the preform, a device for inducing an oscillation, for example axial, on said elongated element, a device for detecting the frequency of oscillation of said elongated element, and a device for calculating the weight of the preform according to the detected frequency of oscillation. Advantageously, the device allows the realisation of a method for measuring the weight of the preform wherein the errors in measurement caused by thermal drift effects, by the axial distribution of the masses on the preform and by loads which are different from the mass of the preform in formation are reduced to below the required precision in measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Prysmian Cavi E Sistemi Energia S.R.L.
    Inventors: Marco Ruzzier, Andrea Demergazzi, Davide Sarchi
  • Patent number: 7900478
    Abstract: The present invention provides an ultra-thin high-precision glass optic and method of manufacturing the same. The optic has an axial thickness that is less than 1,000 microns. A pattern and/or coating is disposed on a surface of the optic to provide attenuation of light in an optical system. In an embodiment, the optic is manufactured by disposing a pattern on a surface of a reticle. The pattern is covered with a first protective coating to protect the pattern. Individual optics are cut from the reticle so that each optic includes a portion of the pattern. The optic is thinned by removing material until it has an axial thickness of less than 1,000 microns. The optic is cleaned after thinning and covered with an anti-reflective coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: ASML Holding N.V.
    Inventor: Nicholas A. DeLuca
  • Patent number: 7891214
    Abstract: The manufacture of a GRIN lens using a sol-gel process includes forming a wet gel from an alcohol solution containing a silicon alkoxide, a dopant alkoxide, and an aluminum alkoxide, first, an alcohol solution containing the silicon alkoxide and the aluminum alkoxide as is prepared, and then the dopant alkoxide is mixed thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Toyo Glass Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomomi Ichinose, Toru Achiwa
  • Patent number: 7892460
    Abstract: A system and method for drawing a preform. A draw tower includes a mount configured to suspend a preform. The method includes securing the preform to a mount and enclosing the preform in an enclosure. The enclosure has an external surface and defines an orifice through which material drawn from the preform can exit the enclosure. The preform is heated through the external surface is heated to a temperature suitable for drawing the material from the preform. Material is drawn from the preform through the orifice and collected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Paradigm Optics
    Inventors: David J. Welker, Yordan Miladinov
  • Patent number: 7873251
    Abstract: A photonic band gap fiber and method of making thereof is provided. The fiber is made of a germanate glass comprising at least 30 mol % of a germanium oxide and has a longitudinal central opening, a microstructured region having a plurality of longitudinal surrounding openings, and a jacket. The air fill fraction of the microstructured region is at least about 90%. The fiber may be made by drawing a preform into a fiber, while applying gas pressure to the microstructured region. The air fill fraction of the microstructured region is changed during the drawing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Inventors: Shyam S. Bayya, Jasbinder S. Sanghera, Leslie Brandon Shaw, Ishwar D. Aggarwal
  • Patent number: 7844154
    Abstract: An optical fiber adapted to carry optical power for powering an electrical device and also optionally adapted to carry optical data for signal processing. The optical fiber capable of carrying both optical data and optical power includes a central data waveguide region that carries data light and an annular power waveguide region concentrically surrounding the data waveguide region and adapted to carry relatively large amounts of optical power. A first annular isolation region between the data and power waveguide regions and that includes microstructures serves to optically isolate the waveguide regions. An outer annular isolation region serves to confine power light to the power waveguide region and contributes to the bend-resistance of the optical fiber. An optical power and optical data distribution system that utilizes the optical fiber is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Dana Craig Bookbinder, Jeffrey Coon, Paulo Clóvis Dainese, Júnior, Ming-Jun Li, Pushkar Tandon
  • Patent number: 7844162
    Abstract: A thermally stable chalcogenide glass, a process for making the same, and an optical fiber drawn therefrom are provided. A chalcogenide glass having the composition Ge(5?y)As(32?x)Se(59+x)Te(4+y) (0?y?1 and 0?x?2) is substantially free from crystallization when it is heated past the glass transition temperature Tg or drawn into optical fibers. A process for making the thermally stable chalcogenide glass includes purifying the components to remove oxides and scattering centers, batching the components in a preprocessed distillation ampoule, gettering oxygen impurities from the mixture, and heating the components to form a glass melt. An optical fiber formed from the chalcogenide glass is substantially free from crystallization and exhibits low signal loss in the near-infrared region, particularly at wavelengths of about 1.55 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Vinh Q Nguyen, Jasbinder S. Sanghera, Ishwar D. Aggarwal
  • Publication number: 20100247027
    Abstract: An optical fiber sensing cable is disclosed. The optical fiber sensing cable comprises a fiber with a core having an index of refraction n1, and a circumferential surface of the fiber including a nanoporous cladding having an index of refraction index n2. The methods of preparing the fiber sensor cable, including forming the nanoporous cladding and the sensor systems incorporating the optical fiber sensing cable of this invention are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Hua Xia, Kevin Thomas McCarthy, Juntao Wu, Cheryl Zhan