Patent Publication Number: US-6711341-B2

Title: Dispersion control fiber and method of manufacturing large size preform thereof

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
     This divisional application makes reference to, incorporates the same herein, and claims all benefits including under 35 U.S.C.§121 from a co-pending application entitled DISPERSION CONTROL FIBER AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING LARGE SIZE PREFORM THEREOF filed in the United States Patent &amp; Trademark Office on the day of Jul. 19, 2000 and there duly assigned Ser. No. 09/619,715. 
    
    
     This application makes reference to, incorporates the same herein, and claims all benefits accruing under 35 U.S.C. §119 from my application DISPERSION CONTROL FIBER AND A LARGE SIZE PREFORM MANUFACTURE METHOD THEREOF filed with the Korean Industrial Property Office on Jul. 22, 1999 and there duly assigned Serial No. 29828/1999. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an optical fiber and a manufacturing method thereof, and more particularly to a dispersion control fiber and a method of manufacturing a large size preform thereof. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Optical fibers as widely used as new media for transmitting information are largely classified into a single mode fiber and a multi mode fiber, according to the transmitting mode. The single mode fiber is also classified into a single mode fiber and a dispersion control fiber. 
     The dispersion control fiber comprises a dispersion shifted fiber with a zero dispersion wavelength band shifted to a wavelength band of 1.5 μm, a dispersion flattened fiber with a constant dispersion value in a wide wavelength band of 1.3-1.6 μm, and a non-zero dispersion shifted fiber with a low dispersion value in a wavelength band of 1.5-1.6 μm. The dispersion shifted fiber is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,721,800 issued to Kato, et al., and the dispersion flattened fiber is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,675,690 issued to Nouchi, et al. 
     While the optical fibers have been made directly from raw materials, most of them generally have been made from a separate preform heated above a softening point within a furnace. 
     The length of an optical fiber capable of being drawn from the preform is dependent upon the diameter of the preform. In particular, since the drawing amount of the optical fiber is proportional to the preform diameter, methods of manufacturing a large size preform have been proposed. The size enlargement of preforms can be achieved by enlarging the diameter of a first preform formed by the deposition and collapse, and by enlarging the diameter of a tube for over-cladding. 
     FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing the process of manufacturing a general optical fiber. As shown in FIG. 1, the general method of manufacturing the optical fiber comprises steps of forming a preform (step  10 ), drawing the optical fiber (step  20 ), coating a sheath around the outer periphery of the optical fiber (step  30 ), and winding the optical fiber (step  40 ). Generally, the steps of drawing and coating are continually performed within a fiber drawing apparatus. 
     The step  10  is a process of forming a base preform to draw the optical fiber. The method of forming the preform comprises a vapor-phase axial deposition (VAD) method, an outer chemical vapor-phase deposition (OCVD) method, a plasma chemical vapor-phase deposition (PCVD) method, and a modified chemical vapor-phase deposition (MCVD) method, the MCVD method being widely used. 
     The process of manufacturing the preform by the MCVD method will hereinafter be explained in detail. Gas such as SiCl 4  or GeCl 4  is introduced in a deposition tube rotated at a constant speed, and a burner movable left and right heats the outer periphery of the tube. Particles are deposited on the inner surface of the deposition tube. The deposited particles are sintered, collapsed and closed by the heat of the burner to form a first preform with a core layer and a cladding layer. The first preform is treated by over-cladding to form a resultant preform. 
     The refractive difference between the core and cladding can be selected by adjusting components of gas supplied into the deposition tube, and the process of manufacturing the preform by using the MCVD method is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,389,230 and 5,397,372 in detail. 
     The drawing and coating steps  20  and  30  are continually performed in the optical fiber apparatus provided with a furnace and a coating machine to draw the optical fiber from the preform. When the preform is heated above a softening point in the furnace, the optical fiber is drawn through a drawing hole provided on the lower end of the furnace. Then, the optical fiber is coated by passing through the coating machine, and cooled by passing through a cooling machine. 
     In the winding step  40 , the optical fiber is applied with a stress by a capstan, and is wound around a spool. 
     FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view illustrating the structure of a general single mode fiber, and FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view illustrating the structure of a conventional dispersion control fiber. The shown optical fibers mainly consists of SiO 2 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the general single mode fiber  100  and the conventional dispersion control fiber  200  comprise a core  110  or  210 , a cladding  120  or  220 , and a sheath  130  or  230 , respectively. 
     SiO 2  is a main component of the core  110  or  210 , and GeO 2  is added to adjust the refractive index distribution. The cladding  120  or  220  comprises GeO 2 , P 2 O 5  and Freon to adjust the refractive index distribution or reduce the deposition temperature, in addition to SiO 2 . While the claddings  120  and  220  are shown in a single layer to be easily understood, a multi-layered cladding formed by over-cladding may be adopted. 
     Generally, the single mode fiber  100  has a core diameter of 8-12 μm and a relative refractive index of 0.35, and the dispersion control fiber  200  has a core diameter of 5-8 μm and a relative refractive index of 0.7-0.15. In other words, the core  210  of the dispersion control fiber  200  has a diameter smaller than that of the general single mode fiber  100 , but has a refractive index higher than that of the single mode fiber. The relative refractive index is expressed by (n 1   2 −n 2   2 )/(2n 1   2 )*100, wherein n 1  is a maximum refractive index of the core, and n 2  is a minimum refractive index. 
     The sheaths  130  and  230  function as inner protective layers for preventing the cores  110  and  210  and the claddings  120  and  220  from mechanical or chemical damage. The sheaths  130  and  230  are made of a plastic material such as a thermosetting resin. 
     Table 1 shows a variation of the optical characteristics of the general single mode fiber and the prior dispersion control fiber. In Table 2, the variation of the optical characteristics and the deformation of the deposition tube are indicated in dependence on the diameter increment of the preform and the drawing temperature. In Table 1, S represents SiO 2 , G represents GeO 2 , P represents P 2 O 5 , and F represents Freon. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                 TABLE 1 
               
             
            
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Variation of optical characteristics 
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Example 
                 Diameter of 
                   
                   
                 Composition 
                 Zero dispersion 
                 Mode field 
                 Dispersion 
                 Shrink 
               
               
                 of 
                 preform 
                   
                 Composition 
                 of 
                 wavelength 
                 diameter 
                 slope 
                 deformation of 
               
               
                 Prior Art 
                 (mm) 
                 Class 
                 of core 
                 cladding 
                 (nm) 
                 (μm) 
                 (ps/nm 2 km) 
                 deposition tube 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 1 
                 50 
                 S.M.F. 
                 S + G 
                 S + G + P + F 
                 0˜2 
                   0˜0.5 
                    0˜0.001 
                 No 
               
               
                 2 
                 66 
                 S.M.F. 
                 S + G 
                 S + G + P + F 
                 0˜2 
                   0˜0.2 
                    0˜0.001 
                 No 
               
               
                 3 
                 50 
                 D.C.F. 
                 S + G 
                 S + G + P + F 
                 1˜3 
                   0˜0.2 
                    0˜0.001 
                 No 
               
               
                 4 
                 66 
                 D.C.F. 
                 S + G 
                 S + G + P + F 
                 20˜40 
                 0.2˜0.5 
                 0.004˜0.009 
                 No 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Variation of drawing temperature depending on the increasing diameter of preform: 20° C., diameter of core: 8˜8 μm, Relative refractive index ratio(%): 0.35  
               
               
                 (‘S.M.F.’ represents a single mode fiber, and ‘D.C.F’. represents a dispersion control fiber.)  
               
            
           
         
       
     
     As can be seen from the Examples 1 and 2, even though, in the case of a general single mode fiber, it is drawn at an increased drawing temperature, there is little or no variation in the photo characteristics, such as the zero dispersion wavelength, the mode field diameter, and the dispersion slope, insofar as the drawing of the fiber is carried out under a condition in which the preform used has a size enlarged from 50 mm to 66 mm, as compared to the case in which a preform involving no size enlargement is used. 
     However, as seen from Examples 3 and 4, even though, in the case of a dispersion control fiber, it is drawn using a preform which varies in diameter from 50 mm to 66 mm, there is significant variation in the photo characteristics, such as the zero dispersion wavelength, the mode field diameter, and the dispersion slope, as compared to the case in which a preform involving no size enlargement is used. This is because the core and clad of the dispersion control fiber are made of different compositions, and because the dispersion control fiber has a relatively small core diameter, as compared to that of the single mode fiber. 
     That is, the conventional dispersion control fiber comprises a core composed of SiO 2  and GeO 2 , and a cladding composed of SiO 2 , GeO 2 , P 2 O 5 , and Freon, and the diameter of the core is smaller than that of the single mode fiber. Accordingly, when such a dispersion control fiber is drawn at an increased drawing temperature using a preform enlarged in diameter, stress may be generated due to a non-uniform temperature distribution between the core and the cladding. Furthermore, the refractive index distribution in the core may vary due to a viscosity difference between the core and the cladding. 
     The varying refractive index distribution in the core, as will be seen from Example 3 and 4, induces a variation in the optical characteristics of the dispersion control fiber. For example, the zero dispersion wavelength is varied in the range of 20-40 nm, the mode field diameter is varied in the range of 0.2-0.5 μm, and the dispersion slope is varied in the range of 0.004-0.009 ps/nm 2 , relative to the dispersion control fiber with the preform having a smaller diameter. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to solve the problems involved in the prior art, and to provide a dispersion control fiber and a method of manufacturing a large size preform. 
     In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dispersion control fiber comprising a core composed of SiO 2 , GeO 2 , and P 2 O 5 , and a cladding composed of SiO 2 , GeO 2 , P 2 O 5 , and Freon. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dispersion control fiber comprising a core composed of SiO 2 , GeO 2 , P 2 O 5 , and Freon, and a cladding composed of SiO 2 , GeO 2 , P 2 O 5 , and Freon. 
     According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dispersion control fiber comprising a core composed of SiO 2 , GeO 2 , and P 2 O 5 , a first cladding composed of SiO 2 , GeO 2 , P 2 O 5 , and Freon, and disposed around an outer periphery of the core, and a second cladding composed of SiO 2  only, and disposed around an outer periphery of the first cladding. 
     According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a large size preform for a dispersion control fiber by an MCVD process, the method comprising steps of depositing SiO 2 , GeO 2 , P 2 O 5 , and Freon in an inner periphery of a deposition tube to form a cladding layer, and depositing SiO 2 , GeO 2 , and P 2 O 5  on an inner periphery of the cladding layer to form a core layer. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A more complete appreciation of the invention, and many of the attendant advantages thereof, will be readily apparent as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference symbols indicate the same or similar components, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing the process of manufacturing a general optical fiber; 
     FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view illustrating the structure of a general single mode fiber; 
     FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view illustrating the structure of a conventional dispersion control fiber; 
     FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view illustrating the structure of a dispersion control fiber according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view illustrating the structure of a dispersion control fiber according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view illustrating the structure of a dispersion control fiber according to a third embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the process of manufacturing a large size preform of a dispersion control fiber according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
     FIGS. 8A and 8B are graphs showing the relationship between a temperature of drawing an optical fiber and a changing amount of a zero dispersion wavelength of a large size preform of a dispersion control fiber according to the prior art and the present invention, respectively. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be explained in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description of the present invention, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make the subject matter of the present invention rather unclear. 
     FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view illustrating the structure of a dispersion control fiber according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view illustrating the structure of a dispersion control fiber according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view illustrating the structure of a dispersion control fiber according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In the drawings, a core and a cladding are indicated by a proper component, respectively; S represents SiO 2 , G represents GeO 2 , P represents P 2 O 5 , and F represents Freon. 
     As shown in FIG. 4, the dispersion control fiber  300  according to a first embodiment of the present invention comprises a core  310  composed of SiO 2 , GeO 2 , and P 2 O 5 , and a cladding  320  composed of SiO 2 , GeO 2 , P 2 O 5 , and Freon. A sheath  330  is disposed around the outer periphery of the cladding  320 . 
     SiO 2  is a main component of the core  310  and the cladding  320 , and GeO 2  is added to adjust the refractive index distribution of the core  310  and the cladding  320 . P 2 O 5  takes a role of reducing viscosity difference between the core and the cladding, as well as deposition temperature thereof. Also, the Freon takes a role of reducing the refractive index of the cladding. 
     The P 2 O 5  content to be added in the compound of the core  310  should not exceed 10% of the total weight of a compound composing the core. P 2 O 5  included in the core  310  serves to reduce the viscosity difference between the core and the cladding. Such a viscosity difference may occur due to different compositions of the core and the cladding. Therefore, the unbalance of temperature distribution caused by the viscosity difference between the core and the cladding may be minimized upon drawing. If the amount of P 2 O 5  to be included in the core  310  is greater than 10% of the total weight of the compound composing the core, a geometrical deformation may occur due to an increased absorbing loss and a decreased viscosity of the core  310 . 
     GeO 2 , P 2 O 5 , and Freon contents can be adjusted such that the relative refractive difference between the core  310  and the cladding  320  is greater than 0.35, which is the relative refractive ratio of a core to a cladding according to the general single mode fiber. The compound ratio of P 2 O 5  to the compound composing the core  310  may be selected to increase or decrease from the center of the core to its periphery, or may be maintained independently of any position in the cross section of the core. 
     As shown in FIG. 5, the dispersion control fiber  400  according to a second embodiment of the present invention comprises a core  410  composed of SiO 2 , GeO 2 , P 2 O 5 , and Freon, and a cladding  420  composed of SiO 2 , GeO 2 , P 2 O 5 , and Freon. A sheath  430  is disposed around the outer periphery of the cladding  420 . Specifically, the dispersion control fiber  400  according to the second embodiment of the present invention is substantially similar to the first embodiment of the present invention, except that the Freon is additionally added in the core. 
     The P 2 O 5  content to be added in the compound of the core  410  has to be selected so as not to exceed 10% of the total weight of a compound composing the core. P 2 O 5  included in the core  410  reduces the viscosity difference between the core and the cladding, the viscosity difference being caused by the different components making up the core and the cladding. Therefore, the unbalance of temperature distribution caused by the viscosity difference between the core  410  and the cladding  420  may be minimized upon drawing. If the amount of P 2 O 5  to be included in the core  410  is greater than 10% of the total weight of the compound composing the core, a geometrical deformation may occur due to an increased absorbing loss and a decreased viscosity of the core  410 . 
     SiO 2  is a main component of the core  410  and the cladding  420 , and GeO 2  is added to adjust the refractive index distribution of the core  410  and the cladding  420 . P 2 O 5  takes a role of reducing the viscosity difference between the core and the cladding, as well as the deposition temperature thereof Also, the Freon takes a role of reducing not only the refractive index of the cladding, but also the viscosity difference between the core  410  and the cladding  420 . 
     As shown in FIG. 6, the dispersion control fiber  500  according to a third embodiment of the present invention comprises a core  510  composed of SiO 2 , GeO 2 , and P 2 O 5 , a first cladding  530  composed of SiO 2 , GeO 2 , P 2 O 5 , and Freon, and a second cladding  520  composed of SiO 2  only. A sheath  540  is disposed around the outer periphery of the cladding  520 . 
     The P 2 O 5  content to be added in the compound of the core  510  has to be selected so as not to exceed 10% of the total weight of a compound composing the core, as in the first and second embodiments described above. P 2 O 5  included in the core  510  reduces the viscosity difference between the core and the cladding, the viscosity difference being caused by the different components making up the core and the cladding. Therefore, the unbalance of temperature distribution caused by the viscosity difference between the core  510  and the cladding  530  may be minimized upon drawing. 
     SiO 2  is a main component of the core  510  and the first and second claddings  530  and  520 , and GeO 2  is added to adjust the refractive index distribution of the core  510  and the first cladding  530 . P 2 O 5  takes a role of reducing viscosity difference between the core  510  and the first cladding  530 , as well as deposition temperature thereof. Also, the Freon takes a role of reducing not only the refractive index of the first cladding  530 , but also the viscosity difference between the core  510  and the first cladding  530 . 
     FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the process of manufacturing a large size preform of a dispersion control fiber according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein the process is performed by using the MCVD method. 
     The process of manufacturing the large size preform of the dispersion control fiber according to the embodiment of the present invention comprises mainly a cladding deposition step  50 , a core deposition step  60 , and a collapsing and closing step  70 . 
     In the cladding deposition step  50 , by supplying SiO 2 , GeO 2 , and P 2 O 5  in the interior of a rotatable deposition tube, and heating the tube by using a burner, a cladding layer composed of SiO 2 , to GeO 2 , and P 2 O 5  is deposited on the inner periphery of the deposition tube. Alternatively, a cladding layer composed of SiO 2 , GeO 2 , P 2 O 5 , and Freon may be deposited on the inner periphery of the deposition tube. 
     In the core deposition step  60 , the core layer composed of SiO 2 , GeO 2 , P 2 O 5 , and Freon is deposited on the inner periphery of the cladding layer deposited on the deposition tube. At that time, the P 2 O 5  content is adjusted so as not to exceed 10% of the total weight of the components composing the cladding. If the weight ration of P 2 O 5  exceeds 10% of the total weight of the cladding, a geometrical deformation may occur. 
     In the collapsing and closing step  70 , the burner moves along the longitudinal direction of the deposition tube and heats the tube, thereby filling a hollow portion remained in the center of the core layer. 
     It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the large size preform can be manufactured by the VAD, OCVD or PCVD method, as well as the MCVD method described above. 
     Table 2 shows a variation of the optical characteristics of the dispersion control fiber drawn from the large size preform manufactured according to the embodiment of the present invention. In Table 2, a variation in optical characteristics and deposition tube deformation are indicated, which depend on the diameter increase of the preform and the drawing temperature. Also, a variation in optical characteristics is indicated with reference to comparative examples respectively corresponding to two embodiments of the present invention. In each of the comparative examples, the core and the cladding are not provided with P 2 O 5 , as contrasted with the examples of the present invention. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                 TABLE 2 
               
             
            
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Variation of optical characteristics 
                 Shrink 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Diameter of 
                   
                 Composition 
                 Composition 
                 Zero dispersion 
                 Mode field 
                 Dispersion 
                 deformation 
               
               
                   
                 preform 
                   
                 of 
                 of 
                 wavelength 
                 diameter 
                 slope 
                 of deposition 
               
               
                 Example 
                 (mm) 
                 Class 
                 core 
                 cladding 
                 (nm) 
                 (μm) 
                 (ps/nm 2 km) 
                 tube 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 1* 
                 66 
                 D.C.F. 
                 S + G 
                 S + G + P + F 
                 20˜40 
                 0.2˜0.5 
                 0.004˜0.009 
                 No 
               
               
                 2* 
                 66 
                 D.C.F. 
                 S + G + P 
                 S + G + P + F 
                 0˜2 
                   0˜0.2 
                    0˜0.001 
                 No 
               
               
                 3* 
                 66 
                 D.C.F. 
                 S + G + P + F 
                 S + G + P + F 
                 1˜3 
                   0˜0.2 
                    0˜0.001 
                 No 
               
               
                 4* 
                 66 
                 D.C.F. 
                 S + G 
                 S + G 
                 3˜5 
                   0˜0.2 
                    0˜0.002 
                 Serious 
               
               
                 5* 
                 66 
                 D.C.F. 
                 S + G 
                 S + G + F 
                 3˜7 
                   0˜0.2 
                    0˜0.001 
                 Serious 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Variation of drawing temperature depending on the increasing diameter of preform: 20° C., diameter of core: 5˜8 μm, relative refractive index ratio(%): 0.15˜0.7  
               
               
                 (1*: Example 4 of the prior art, 2*: Example 1 of the present invention, 3*: Example 2 of the present invention, 4*: Comparative Example 1, 5*: Comparative Example 2. ‘D.C.F.’ represents a dispersion control fiber.)  
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Example 1 is a large size preform consisting of a core composed of SiO 2 , GeO 2 , and P 2 O 5 , and cladding composed of SiO 2 , GeO 2 , P 2 O 5 , and Freon, as shown in FIG.  4 . An optical fiber is drawn from the preform, and is tested for the optical characteristics, such as zero dispersion wavelength, mode field diameter, and dispersion slope, and for shrink deformation of the deposition tube. 
     Comparing Example 1 with Example 4 of the prior art, in which an optical fiber is drawn from a large size preform consisting of a core composed of SiO 2  and GeO 2 , it is noted that the variation of optical characteristics is significantly reduced. Specifically, the zero dispersion wavelength is varied in the range of 20-40 nm to 0-2 nm, the mode field diameter is varied in the range of 0.2-0.5 μm to 0-0.2 μm, and the dispersion slope is varied in the range of 0.004-0.009 ps/nm 2  to 0-0.001 ps/nm 2 . 
     Example 2 is a large size preform consisting of a core composed of SiO 2 , GeO 2 , P 2 O 5 , and Freon, and a cladding composed of SiO 2 , GeO 2 , P 2 O 5 , and Freon, as shown in FIG.  5 . An optical fiber is drawn from the preform, and is tested for the optical characteristics, such as zero dispersion wavelength, mode field diameter, and dispersion slope, and for shrink deformation of the deposition tube. 
     Comparing Example 2 with Example 4 of the prior art, in which an optical fiber is drawn from a large size preform consisting of a core composed of SiO 2  and GeO 2 , it is noted that the variation of optical characteristics is significantly reduced. Specifically, the zero dispersion wavelength is varied in the range of 20-40 nm to 1-3 nm, the mode field diameter is varied in the range of 0.2-0.5 μm to 0-0.2 μm, and the dispersion slope is varied in the range of 0.004-0.009 ps/nm 2  to 0-0.001 ps/nm 2 . 
     FIGS. 8A and 8B are graphs showing the relationship between a temperature of drawing an optical fiber and a changing amount of a zero dispersion wavelength of a large size preform of a dispersion control fiber according to the prior art and the present invention, respectively. 
     As can be seen from FIG. 8A, if the diameter of the preform according to the prior art is changed from 50 mm to 66 mm, the variation of zero dispersion wavelength according to the drawing temperature becomes large. However, as can be seen from FIG. 8B, if the diameter of the preform according to the present invention is changed from 50 mm to 66 mm, the variation of zero dispersion wavelength according to the drawing temperature becomes small. 
     The dispersion control fiber according to the present invention has an advantage in that even though the drawing temperature is increased to draw the dispersion control fiber from the large size preform of the present invention, the variation of the optical characteristics is minimized. 
     In addition, according to the present invention, the temperature of depositing the core is reduced to prevent a shrinkage of the deposition tube from occurring, and sintering temperature can also be reduced. In addition, the processing time desired for collapsing can be reduced. 
     While this invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that other modifications thereof may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, the invention should not be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but should be defined by the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.