Appeal No. 2003-0607
Application 09/532,968
DISCUSSION
The invention relates to a method of manufacturing or
building up [”overcladding”] an optical fiber preform. See
Appeal Brief, page 3. In particular, appellants’ method provides
an improvement on that portion of the overcladding process
relating to the zone wherein the preform is to be separated from
its supporting end pieces. See id. According to appellants’
invention, “fewer concentric layers of silica [are] deposited on
the preform in the zone where the preform is to be separated. As
a result, the preform has a reduced diameter portion defining a
step near one end of the preform.” Id. (citations omitted).
Appellants assert that the claim language relating to this
feature of the invention is the following:
said method interposing a one-ended reduction
in the length of at least one layer, during a
pass and starting from one new layer that is
an intermediate layer, . . . . said one-ended
reduction in layer length leading to a
limitation of the thickness of material
deposited on one of the end-pieces and on a
limited-length preform zone that is
longitudinally adjacent to said end-piece, at
the level set by the layer deposited
immediately prior to said one-ended
reduction, and
4
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007