Manufacturing irregular-shaped preforms
AssigneeOFS Fitel, LLC
InventorDennis J. Trevor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Irregular-shaped optical fiber preforms and processes for manufacturing such preforms are disclosed. In some embodiments, the irregular-shaped preforms are manufactured by using thin-walled tubes that have irregularities. For some embodiments, these irregularities are varying wall thicknesses. For other embodiments, these irregularities are non-circular cross-sectional shapes. Yet for other embodiments, these irregularities are combinations of varying wall thicknesses and non-circular cross-sectional shapes.
Claims23
A powder-in-tube preform manufacturing process, comprising:
- filling a silica tube with silica grains, wherein the silica tube has a non-circular cross-section, wherein the silica grains are mesoporous;
- reducing pressure within silica tube;
- heating the silica grains;
- sintering the heated silica grains in the reduced pressure;
- and
- consolidating the silica tube to form a preform, the preform having a non-circular cross-section.
A process, comprising:
- filling a silica tube with silica grains, wherein the silica tube has a non-circular cross-section, wherein the silica grains are mesoporous;
- reducing pressure within the silica tube;
- sintering the silica grains in the reduced pressure;
- and
- consolidating the silica tube to form a preform, the preform having a non-circular cross-section.
(canceled)
(canceled)
(canceled)
A system, comprising:
- silica grains;
- a silica tube having an irregular cross section, the silica tube to hold the silica grains;
- an input port to introduce gases into the silica tube;
- an output vent to evacuate impurities from the silica tube;
- and
- a heating element to heat the silica tube and the silica grains.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.