(19)

(11)

EP 0 870 211 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 14.10.1998 Bulletin 1998/42 (21) Application number: 97933288.0 (22) Date of filing: 01.07.1997

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  G02B 6/ 293( . ) G02F 1/ 35( . ) G02F 1/ 01( . ) (86) International application number: PCT/US1997/011698 (87) International publication number: WO 1998/001780 (15.01.1998 Gazette 1998/02)

(84) Designated Contracting States: BE CH DE DK ES FR GB IE IT LI SE (30) Priority: 09.07.1996 RU 19960115314 (71) Applicant: CORNING INCORPORATED Corning, N.Y. 14831 (US)	(72) Inventors: ALEKSANDROV, Igor V. St.Petersburg, 198103 (RU) NESTEROVA, Ainaida V. St.Petersburg, 192274 (RU) NOLAN, Daniel, A. Corning, NY 14830 (US) (74) Representative: Boon, Graham Anthony  Elkington and Fife, Prospect House, 8 Pembroke Road Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 1XR Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 1XR (GB)