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US 4,154,591 AGranted
Fabrication of optical fibers with improved cross sectional circularity
AssigneeBell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated
InventorsWilliam G. French, G. William Tasker
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Optical fibers are produced with improved cross sectional circularity. In the course of the fabrication process, the tubular preform from which the fibers are drawn, is collapsed under positive internal pressure. This removes most cross sectional noncircularities that may have developed during fabrication of the preform, and also ensures the collapse of the preform to a structure with circular cross section.
Claims10
A method of fabricating an optical fiber comprising:
- rotating a tubular optical fiber preform about its cylindrical axis;
- heating a section of the rotating preform with a heat source;
- traversing relatively the rotating preform with the heat source;
- reducing the diameter of the preform to one of essentially circular cross section;
- and
- drawing the preform into a fiber;
- the invention characterized in that the diameter of the preform is reduced while maintaining the inner portion of the preform at a pressure greater than that of the ambient surroundings, and in that the length of the preform is substantially maintained while the diameter is reduced to yield a solid cylindrical optical fiber preform.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.