Thomas E Stockert

US Patent:

6386002, May 14, 2002

Filed:

Nov 17, 1997

Appl. No.:

08/971460

Inventors:

Suhas Dattatreya Bhandarkar - Glen Gardner NJ
John Burnette MacChesney - Lebanon NJ
Thomas Edward Stockert - Millburn NJ

Assignee:

Fitel USA Corporation - Norcross GA

International Classification:

C03B 3716

US Classification:

65395, 423338, 2523156, 2523132

Abstract:

A silica-water dispersion suitable for use as a sol for sol-gel fabrication is produced from a silica-water mixture with addition of alkaline agent. The agent functions to increase viscosity so as to improve dispersing efficiency during shear mixing.

US Patent:

6467312, Oct 22, 2002

Filed:

Jul 11, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/613320

Inventors:

Yoram De Hazan - Oley PA
John Burnette MacChesney - Lebanon NJ
Thomas Edward Stockert - Millburn NJ
Dennis J Trevor - Clinton NJ
Robert Scott Windeler - Annandale NJ

Assignee:

Fitel USA Corp. - Norcross GA

International Classification:

C03B 37025

US Classification:

65395, 65 172

Abstract:

The disclosed method of making microstructured optical fiber comprises providing a mold, with a multiplicity of elongate elements extending into the mold and being maintained in a predetermined spatial arrangement with respect to the mold. Silica-containing sol is introduced into the mold and is caused to or permitted to gel, such that a gel body results. After removing the elongate elements from the gel body and removing the gel body from the mold, the gel body is dried, sintered and purified, and the microstructured fiber is drawn from the sintered body.

US Patent:

6521156, Feb 18, 2003

Filed:

Oct 12, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/415746

Inventors:

Jeffrey Linn Bream - Bethlehem PA
George John Shevchuk - Old Bridge NJ
Philip Habbauer - Millington NJ
Thomas Edward Stockert - Millburn NJ
John Burnette MacChesney - Lebanon NJ

Assignee:

Fitel USA Corp. - Norcross GA

International Classification:

B29C 4708

US Classification:

26421112, 425190, 425377, 65401

Abstract:

A tube take-up apparatus is provided to handle a length of freshly extruded tube. The apparatus includes an elongated housing in which a pair of parallel, spaced-apart rollers extend lengthwise in a position just below the extruded tubing. The housing is removably mounted on an elongated supporting fin which is secured to the extruder at its near end, extends upwardly between the two rollers and substantially along the entire length of the housing, and is, in turn, supported on a fixed pedestal at its remote end. After the full length of tubing has been extruded, the housing and rollers as a unit are lifted with the tube from the supporting fin and replaced by an empty housing, to extrude the next tube, while the full housing is carried away to a dryer.

US Patent:

6571582, Jun 3, 2003

Filed:

Apr 19, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/838727

Inventors:

Suhas Bhandarkar - Glen Gardner NJ
Yoram De Hazan - Oley PA
John Burnette MacChesney - Lebanon NJ
Thomas Edward Stockert - Millburn NJ

Assignee:

Fitel USA Corp. - Norcross GA

International Classification:

C03B 37016

US Classification:

65395, 65 172, 264621, 501 12

Abstract:

The use of silica powders having large particle sizes in making sol-gel silica bodies has been found to have important advantages. Among these are higher gel strength, higher silica loading, more rapid aging and drying of the gel, a reduction in the amount of organic additives leading to reduced process time required for organic burn-off, and easier removal of contaminant particles due to their larger size. It was also discovered that spherical particle morphology contributes to the improved properties.

US Patent:

6715322, Apr 6, 2004

Filed:

Jan 5, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/755914

Inventors:

Yoram De Hazan - Oley PA
John Burnette MacChesney - Lebanon NJ
Thomas Edward Stockert - Millburn NJ
Christopher Alan White - Basking Ridge NJ

Assignee:

Lucent Technologies Inc. - Murray Hill NJ

International Classification:

C03C 2100

US Classification:

65397, 65399

Abstract:

The process time required for fluorine doping of porous silica bodies to produce fluorine doped preforms for the manufacture of depressed index optical fibers is reduced by separating the doping step into a predeposit step, where âexcessâ fluorine is deposited on the silica particles, and a drive-in step where atomic fluorine is distributed into the silica particles. The drive-in step is conveniently combined with the sintering or consolidation step to further enhance the efficiency of the doping process.

US Patent:

6732545, May 11, 2004

Filed:

May 10, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/852420

Inventors:

Gardy Cadet - Orange NJ
Thomas E. Stockert - Millburn NJ
Victor M. Lubecke - New Providence NJ

Assignee:

Lucent Technologies Inc. - Murray Hill NJ

International Classification:

C03B 802

US Classification:

65 172, 65 2918, 65395, 65396, 273587, 273598, 273600

Abstract:

Disclosed are silica structure crack detection methods and apparatuses particularly useful in sol-gel fabrication processes. A wave signature of a crack in the silica structure is sensed to indicate that cracking has occurred. Sensing may be by active or passive techniques and may include contact and non-contact methods of monitoring. Further disclosed is a silica structure fabrication process development method wherein cracks are monitored by sensing a wave signature of a crack to isolate a process step or steps in which cracking has occurred. Process parameters are then adjusted in the isolated step to diminish or eliminate cracking.

US Patent:

6801700, Oct 5, 2004

Filed:

Apr 24, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/128876

Inventors:

John Burnette MacChesney - Lebanon NJ
Thomas Edward Stockert - Millburn NJ
Patrick William Wisk - Greenbrook NJ
Man Fei Yan - Berkeley Heights NJ

Assignee:

Fitel USA Corp - Norcross GA

International Classification:

G02B 602

US Classification:

385127, 385101, 398 40

Abstract:

The specification describes optical fibers that are constructed to prevent theft of optical signals. One construction is designed to block access of the core of the fiber to the âwritingâ radiation necessary to form a grating tap. In this embodiment the optical fiber cladding is provided with a highly absorbing UV layer. In a variation of this embodiment, one or more additional optical paths are provided in the optical fiber to accommodate monitoring signals. The added optical paths allow monitoring signals to be transmitted in the optical fiber, separate from the information signal, to signal an attempt to breach the outer coating or the cladding of the optical fiber. A second case of intrusion is addressed by increasing the sensitivity of the optical fiber to microbending loss to the extent that bends in the fiber cause such high attenuation of the signal that the bends do not go undetected at the receiving station.

US Patent:

6802191, Oct 12, 2004

Filed:

Apr 19, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/837983

Inventors:

Yoram De Hazan - Oley PA
John Burnette MacChesney - Lebanon NJ
Eric M. Monberg - Princeton NJ
Thomas Edward Stockert - Millburn NJ

Assignee:

Lucent Technologies Inc. - Murray Hill NJ

International Classification:

C03C 2560

US Classification:

65397, 65399, 65414, 65415, 65427

Abstract:

The doped silica core region of a core rod for an optical fiber preform is protected against unwanted fluorine doping during fluorine doping of the outer silica layer by selectively consolidating the core region prior to fluorine doping. Due to dopants in the core region, the soot in the core region consolidates before the soot in the outer undoped region. This inherent property allows the entire core rod to be heated prior to fluorine doping resulting in selective partial consolidation and preventing fluorine doping of the doped center core region. The process time required may be reduced by using incremental fluorine doping. In the incremental doping process the doping step is separated into a deposit step, where âexcessâ fluorine is deposited on the silica particles, and a drive-in step where atomic fluorine is distributed into the silica particles. The drive-in step is conveniently combined with the sintering or consolidation step to further enhance the efficiency of the doping process.