Patent · US Active

Apparatus and method for fabricating glass bodies using an aerosol delivery system

US8069690B2 · kind B2 · utility

36Cited by
7References
52Claims
0Family size

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Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 5, 2006
Grant dateDec 6, 2011
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 21, 2030

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
  • CPC primaryC03B2207/87
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A method of fabricating a glass body that includes a multiplicity of constituents, at least one of which is a dopant (e.g., a rare-earth element) having a low vapor pressure (LVP) precursor comprises the steps of: (a) generating an aerosol from the LVP precursor; (b) separately generating vapors of the other constituents; (c) convecting the aerosol and vapors to deposition system including a substrate; and (d) forming at least one doped layer on a surface of the substrate. In one embodiment, the method also includes filtering the aerosol so as to remove aerosol particles outside of a particular range of sizes. Also described is a unique aerosol generator that is particularly useful in generating aerosols of rare-earth dopants. Particular embodiments directed to the fabrication of Yb-doped optical fibers are described.

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