US3841731A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Improvements in or relating to liquid core dielectric waveguides
Assignee: Post Office
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Filing: 1973-05-24
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Granted: 1974-10-15
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Expires: 1993-05-24
Abstract
Abstract The number of modes progagating as guided modes along a dielectric optical waveguide depends on the refractive index difference between core and cladding materials. By altering this difference the number of modes which are permitted to propagate may be controlled. For a liquid cored dielectric optical waveguide, the differnce between core and cladding refractive indices may be controlled by controlling the temperature of the dielectric optical waveguide.
Inventors
- 👤 J Midwinter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 12:39
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/02; G02B6/032; G02B6/10; G02B6/14; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/0147
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
187 words
In an optical transmission system in which radiation having a finite band width propagates along a dielectric optical waveguide in a number of different modes, said dielectric optical waveguide having a liquid core and solid cladding materials with refractive indices dependent on temperature, the refractive indices of said core and cladding material having substantially different rates of variations with temperature, and a portion of said dielectric optical waveguide having a means to vary its temperature, a method of limiting the number of modes of propagation through the waveguide including the steps of: a. defining a number of contiguous ranges of temperature for said portion of dielectric optical waveguide, each range of temperature being chosen so that as the value of temperature for said portion of dielectric optical waveguide changes from one range of temperature to an immediately adjacent range of temperature, a mode, characteristic of said one range of temperature ceases to propagate as a guided mode in said portion of dielectric optical waveguide; and controlling the value of temperature for said portion of dielectric optical waveguide to lie within one of said contiguous ranges of temperature.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
187 words
In an optical transmission system in which radiation having a finite band width propagates along a dielectric optical waveguide in a number of different modes, said dielectric optical waveguide having a liquid core and solid cladding materials with refractive indices dependent on temperature, the refractive indices of said core and cladding material having substantially different rates of variations with temperature, and a portion of said dielectric optical waveguide having a means to vary its temperature, a method of limiting the number of modes of propagation through the waveguide including the steps of: a. defining a number of contiguous ranges of temperature for said portion of dielectric optical waveguide, each range of temperature being chosen so that as the value of temperature for said portion of dielectric optical waveguide changes from one range of temperature to an immediately adjacent range of temperature, a mode, characteristic of said one range of temperature ceases to propagate as a guided mode in said portion of dielectric optical waveguide; and controlling the value of temperature for said portion of dielectric optical waveguide to lie within one of said contiguous ranges of temperature.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
139 words
A mode limiter comprising a portion of dielectric optical waveguide in which radiation having a finite band width propagates in a number of different modes, said dielectric optical waveguide having a liquid core and solid cladding material with refractive indices dependent upon temperatUre, the refractive indices of said core and cladding material having substantially different rates of variation in temperature, said portion of dielectric optical waveguide having a value of temperature which can be varied, and means for controlling said value of temperature to lie within one of a number of predetermined contiguous ranges of temperature, each range of temperature being so defined that as the value of temperature changes from one range to an immediately adjacent range, a mode characteristic of said one range ceases to propagate as a guided mode in said portion of dielectric optical waveguide.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
139 words
A mode limiter comprising a portion of dielectric optical waveguide in which radiation having a finite band width propagates in a number of different modes, said dielectric optical waveguide having a liquid core and solid cladding material with refractive indices dependent upon temperatUre, the refractive indices of said core and cladding material having substantially different rates of variation in temperature, said portion of dielectric optical waveguide having a value of temperature which can be varied, and means for controlling said value of temperature to lie within one of a number of predetermined contiguous ranges of temperature, each range of temperature being so defined that as the value of temperature changes from one range to an immediately adjacent range, a mode characteristic of said one range ceases to propagate as a guided mode in said portion of dielectric optical waveguide.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-10-14 | 1978-04-15 | 1978-10-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-14 | 1982-04-15 | 1982-10-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-14 | 1986-04-15 | 1986-10-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |