US 6,983,093 B2
Fluid light guide having hydrophobic aerogel cladding layer
Hanafi R. Fraval, Kirkland, Wash. (US); and C. Jeffrey Brinker, Alburquerque, N. Mex. (US)
Assigned to Enterprise Development Corp., Bellevue, Wash. (US)
Filed on Jul. 31, 2001, as Appl. No. 9/920,570.
Application 09/920570 is a continuation in part of application No. 09/132710, filed on Aug. 12, 1998, abandoned.
Prior Publication US 2003/0044149 A1, Mar. 06, 2003
Int. Cl. G02B 6/02 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 385—125 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of forming a fluid light guide comprising the steps of:
forming an elongated tube having an inner surface and first and second ends;
creating an alcogel solution;
filling said tube with said alcogel solution;
draining said filled tube at a controlled rate to form a substantially uniform alcogel film on the interior surface of said tube;
curing said film to form a non-supercritically dried hydrophobic aerogel cladding coating on the interior surface of said tube by non-supercritical evaporative drying of said alcogel film;
plugging the first end of said tube; and
filling said tube with a fluid core material having a refractive index substantially greater than the refractive index of said aerogel cladding lining.