US 3,932,162 A · Method of making glass optical waveguide

Abstract

A method of forming an optical waveguide by forming a first layer of glass having a predetermined refractive index on the outside peripheral wall surface of a substantially cylindrical mandrel. Thereafter, a second layer of glass is applied to the surface of the first layer, the second layer having a refractive index less than that of the first layer. The mandrel is removed from the assembly and the resultant cylindrical, hollow assembly is heated and drawn to reduce the cross-sectional area thereof, thereby forming an intermediate fiber. At least a portion of the intermediate fiber is disposed within a hollow glass cylinder having a refractive index similar to that of the second layer of glass of the intermediate fiber. The resultant composite structure is heated and drawn to reduce the cross-sectional area thereof and to collapse the inner, first layer of glass and to cause the inner surface of the glass tube to collapse upon the outer surface of the intermediate fiber to form a fiber having a solid cross-sectional area.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A method of forming a clad optical waveguide fiber comprising the steps of

providing a substantially cylindrical mandrel,
applying a first layer of glass to the outside peripheral surface of said mandrel,
applying a second layer of glass having an index of refraction less than that of the glass of said first layer over the outside peripheral surface of said first layer,
removing said mandrel,
heating the structure so formed to the drawing temperature of the materials thereof,
drawing the heated structure to reduce the cross-sectional area thereof, thereby forming an intermediate fiber,
providing a glass tube having a hole extending axially therethrough,
disposing at least a portion of said intermediate fiber within said tube,
heating the final composite structure so formed to the drawing temperature thereof, and
drawing said final composite structure to reduce the cross-sectional area thereof and to form an optical waveguide fiber having a solid cross-section, said first layer forming the core and said second layer and said tube forming the cladding of said optical waveguide fiber.

7 more elements

A method of forming a clad optical waveguide fiber for propagating a single mode of optical wave energy of wavelength .lambda. comprising the steps of

providing a substantially cylindrical mandrel,
applying a first layer of glass of refractive index n.sub.1 to the outside peripheral surface of said mandrel,
applying a second layer of glass having a refractive index n.sub.2 over the outside peripheral surface of said first layer, n.sub.1 being greater than n.sub.2,
removing said mandrel,
heating the structure so formed to the drawing temperature of the materials thereof,
drawing the heated structure to reduce the cross-sectional area thereof, thereby forming an intermediate fiber,
providing a glass tube having a hole extending axially therethrough,
disposing at least a portion of said intermediate fiber within said tube,
heating the final composite structure so formed to the drawing temperature thereof, and
drawing said final composite structure to reduce the cross-sectional area thereof and to form an optical waveguide fiber having a solid cross-section, said first layer forming a core of radius a, wherein a is determined by the equation
2.pi.a/.lambda.) .sqroot.(n.sub.1 +n.sub.2) (n.sub.1 -n.sub.2) <
2.405
and said second layer and said tube forming the cladding of said optical waveguide fiber.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method of making glass optical waveguide

Life of this patent

Method of making glass optical waveguide

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15