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US 5,290,398 AGranted
Synthesis of tapers for fiber optic sensors
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsSandra F. Feldman, Emily Y. Shu, John Y. Gui
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The end region of a fiber optic sensor is tapered by suspending a fiber in a container. Etchant is added to the container at a controlled rate in order to etch a taper into the fiber. The taper size and shape are controlled by the selection of the size and shape of the container, as well as by the rate of adding etchant to the container.
Claims16
A method for tapering the end of a fiber, comprising the steps of:
- suspending said fiber in a container;
- and
- providing etchant in said container at a controlled rate in order to etch a taper into said fiber.
A method for tapering the end of a fiber optic sensor, comprising the steps of:
- suspending a fiber, selected from the group consisting of glass and quartz, in a plastic container;
- and
- dripping hydrofluoric acid into said container in a gradual manner in order to etch a taper into said fiber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.