The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 19, 1996
Filed:
Dec. 14, 1994
Robert M Atkins, Millington, NJ (US);
Paul J Lemaire, Madison, NJ (US);
Victor Mizrahi, Bedminster, NJ (US);
Kenneth L Walker, New Providence, NJ (US);
AT&T Corp., Murray Hill, NJ (US);
Abstract
In accordance with the invention, the index of refraction of a glassy material is increased by treating the material with hydrogen and applying heat. Specifically, the glass is exposed to hydrogen or deuterium at pressure in the range 14-11,000 p.s.i. and a temperature in the range 21.degree.-150.degree. C. for a time sufficient for the hydrogen to diffuse into the glass. The glass is then subjected to heat in excess of about 500.degree. C., as by application of a flame or infrared radiation. The duration of heating can be less than a second. The result is a substantial and long-lived increase in the normalized refractive index. For example, flame heating of H.sub.2 loaded commercial GeO.sub.2 doped optical fibers (AT&T Accutether single mode fiber) has produced normalized index changes .increment.n/n of 4.times.10.sup.-3. This process can be used to make and adjust a variety of optical waveguide devices.