Method of forming optical waveguide fibers

Abstract

Abstract A METHOD OF FORMING AN OPTICAL WAVEGUIDE BY FORMING A FIRST COATING OF GLASS HAVING A PREDETERMINED INDEX OF REFRACTION ON THE OUTSIDE PERIPHERAL WALL SURFACE OF A SUBSTANTIALLY CYLINDRICAL STARTER ROD OR MEMBER. THEREAFTER, A SECOND COATING OF GLASS IS APPLIED TO THE PERIPHERAL OUTSIDE SURFACE OF THE FIRST COATING, SAID SECOND COATING HAVING A PRESELECTED INDEX OF REFRACTION LESS THAN THE INDEX OF REFRACTION OF THE FIRST COATING. THE STARTER ROD OR MEMBER IS REMOVED FROM THE ASSEMBLY FOLLOWING THE APPLICATION OF EITHER THE FIRST OR SECOND COATING. THE RESULTING SUBSTANTIALLY CYLINDRICAL HOLLOW ASSEMBLY IS HEATED AND DRAWN TO REDUCE THE CROSS-SECTIONAL AREA AND TO COLLAPSE THE FIRST AND INNER COATING OF GLASS TO FORM A FIBER HAVING A SOLID CROSSSECTIONAL AREA. THE COLLAPSED FIRST AND INNER COATING FORMS THE FIBER CORE AND THE SECOND COATING FORMS THE CLADDING FOR THE FIBER.

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