Patent · US Expired

Method of forming a fiber preform with dopants dissolved in a liquid

US5198270A · kind A · utility

8Cited by
4References
13Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 8, 1991
Grant dateMar 30, 1993
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 8, 2011

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
  • CPC primaryC03B2203/22
  • WIPO fieldOther special machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A method of forming an optical fiber. A solution (12) is prepared in which are dissolved both a ladder siloxane and one or more dopants which are to be incorporated into the final silica or silicate glass. The solution is drawn into the interior of a silica tube (10) and is left as a coating (26) on the inside wall. The solvent is evaporated, and the rigid coating is cured at 150.degree. C. The filling and curing process may be repeated for multiple layers. The cured coating is then oxidized and fused into doped silica. The resultant tube preform is collapsed and drawn into a fiber. The method allows the introduction of nearly arbitrary constituents into the silica, including glass-forming elements and low-level dopants. The core-cladding interface is improved if a layer of glass-forming soot particles (28) is first deposited and the liquid is soaked into and over the soot.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.