Method for manufacturing multimode optical fiber

Abstract

The method for manufacturing a multimode optical fiber includes specifying a peak wavelength λ for the multimode optical fiber P . The peak wavelength λ P corresponds to the wavelength at which the multimode optical fiber has the maximum bandwidth. The multimode optical fiber includes a core and a cladding surrounding and directly adjacent to the core. The core has a radius r1 and a maximum relative refractive index Δ 1,最大值 >0. The cladding includes a depressed refractive index region having a minimum relative refractive index Δ 3,最小值 <0 and a volume v. A drawing tension T is selected for the multimode optical fiber based on a correlation that associates the peak wavelength λ P with the drawing tension T, the correlation including a correlation constant. The correlation constant K is a function of at least one of Δ 1,最大值 , r1, v, Δ 3,最小值 and λ P . The multimode optical fiber is drawn from a preform at the drawing tension T.

Description

[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 62 / 956,910, filed on January 3, 2020, and the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to optical fibers. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to methods of making multimode optical fibers having a peak wavelength tuning range. Background Art

[0003] Optical fiber is used in a variety of communications applications. The manufacturing process for producing optical fiber generally involves drawing the fiber from a heated glass preform in a drawing furnace, cooling the drawn fiber, and coating the fiber. The bandwidth of multimode fiber is generally limited by intermodal dispersion. Optical fiber can be optimized at various wavelengths. Optical fiber optimized for longer wavelengths can have lower dispersion and thus can achieve longer transmission distances. Summary of the invention

[0004] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a method for manufacturing a multimode optical fiber includes specifying a peak wavelength λ for the multimode optical fiber. P . Peak wavelength λ P The wavelength corresponding to the maximum bandwidth of the multimode optical fiber. The multimode optical fiber includes a core and a cladding surrounding the core and directly adjacent to it. The core has a radius r1 and a maximum relative refractive index Δ 1,最大值 > 0. The cladding includes a depressed refractive index region having a minimum relative refractive index Δ 3,最小值 <0 and volume v. Based on the peak wavelength λ P The draw tension T is selected for the multimode optical fiber based on a correlation associated with the draw tension T, wherein the correlation includes a correlation constant. The correlation constant K is Δ 1,最大值 , r1, v, Δ 3,最小值 and λ P A multimode optical fiber is drawn from the preform at a drawing tension T.

[0005] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method for manufacturing a multimode optical fiber includes drawing a multimode optical fiber from a preform at a drawing tension T. The multimode optical fiber includes a core and a cladding surrounding and directly adjacent to the core. The core has a radius r1 and a maximum relative refractive index Δ 1,最大值 > 0. The cladding includes a depressed refractive index region having a maximum relative refractive index Δ 3,最小值 <0 and volume v. Multimode fiber has a peak wavelength λ P , where the multimode fiber has the maximum bandwidth. P With the selected target peak wavelength λ P,目标 For comparison. Peak wavelength λP With the selected target peak wavelength λ P,目标 The difference in magnitude Δλ P By Δλ P =|λ P -λ P,目标 The change of the drawing tension T is the adjustment tension ΔT. The adjustment tension ΔT is selected to change the peak wavelength λ P Thereby reducing the difference Δλ P Based on adjusting the tension ΔT and the difference Δλ P The correlation is used to select the tension adjustment ΔT. The correlation includes a correlation constant K. The correlation constant K is Δ 1,最大值 , r1, v, Δ 3,最小值 and λ P,目标 A function of at least one of .

[0006] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a multimode optical fiber includes a core having a core radius r1 ranging from about 25 μm to about 27 μm. The core is doped to define a peak relative refractive index Δ 1,最大值 >0. The cladding surrounds the core and is directly adjacent to it, and the cladding includes a depressed refractive index region having a minimum relative refractive index Δ 3,最小值 <0 and width w1. The width w1 ranges from about 4 μm to about 5 μm. The multimode optical fiber has a peak wavelength λ P , where the multimode fiber has the maximum bandwidth. Peak wavelength λ P is the peak relative refractive index Δ 1,最大值 , core radius r1, width w1 of the depressed refractive index region and minimum relative refractive index Δ 3,最小值 A function of at least one of . BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] The following is a description of the drawings in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. For the sake of clarity and simplicity, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, and certain features and certain views of the drawings may be shown in a scaled-up or schematic manner.

[0008] In the attached picture:

[0009] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a production system for optical fiber according to an example;

[0010] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a production system for optical fiber according to an example;

[0011] Figure 3 According to one example, a graph showing the change in refractive index α-profile as the optical fiber drawing tension changes;

[0012] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of an optical fiber according to an example;

[0013] Figure 5 is a flow chart of a method for manufacturing an optical fiber according to an example;

[0014] Figure 6 Schematic diagram showing the relationship between the drawing tension T and the peak wavelength λ according to an example P A function of the relationship between

[0015] Figure 7 Schematic diagram showing the relationship between the drawing tension T and the peak wavelength λ according to an example P A function of the relationship between

[0016] Figure 8 Schematic diagram showing the relationship between the drawing tension T and the peak wavelength λ according to an example P A function of the relationship between

[0017] Fig. 9 The table compares the comparative example distribution and the embodiment distribution of the optical fiber according to an example;

[0018] Fig.10 is the refractive index profile of the comparative example optical fiber of claim 6;

[0019] Fig.11 Is has Fig. 9 The refractive index distribution of the optical fiber of embodiment distribution 1;

[0020] Fig.12 Is has Fig. 9 The refractive index distribution of the optical fiber of embodiment distribution 2;

[0021] Fig.13 Is has Fig. 9 The refractive index distribution of the optical fiber of embodiment distribution 3;

[0022] Fig.14 Is has Fig. 9 The refractive index distribution of the optical fiber of embodiment distribution 4; and

[0023] Fig.15 Is has Fig. 9 The refractive index distribution of the optical fiber of embodiment 5 is distributed. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] Additional features and advantages are set forth in the following detailed description, some of which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from that description or may be recognized by practicing the embodiments described in the following description and claims as well as the accompanying drawings.

[0025] As used herein, the term "and / or" when used to list two or more items means that any one of the listed items can be used alone, or any combination of two or more of the listed items can be used. For example, if a composition is described as containing components A, B, and / or C, the composition can contain only A; only B; only C; a combination of A and B; a combination of A and C; a combination of B and C; or a combination of A, B, and C.

[0026] In this document, relational terms, such as first and second, top and bottom, and the like, are used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions.

[0027] Those skilled in the art and those who utilize and use the present disclosure will make improvements to the present disclosure. Therefore, it is to be understood that the embodiments shown in the drawings and described above are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure, which is defined by the appended claims and is interpreted to include the doctrine of equivalents according to the principles of patent law.

[0028] For purposes of this disclosure, the term "connected" (in all its forms: connected, connected, connected, etc.) generally means that two components are joined together directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may naturally be static or naturally may be movable. Such joining may be achieved by the two components and any additional intermediate elements that are integrally formed as a single unitary piece with each other or with the two components. Unless otherwise specified, such joining may naturally be permanent or naturally may be removable or disengageable.

[0029] As used herein, the term "about" indicates that amounts, dimensions, formulations, parameters and other variables and characteristics are not and need not be exact, but may be approximate and / or larger or smaller as desired, reflecting tolerances, conversion factors, rounding and measurement errors, etc., as well as other factors known to those skilled in the art. When the term "about" is used to describe the value or endpoint of a range, it is understood that the disclosure includes the specific value or endpoint referenced. Regardless of whether the numerical value or the endpoint of a range of this specification is stated as "about", the numerical value or the endpoint of the range is intended to include two embodiments: one modified by "about" and one not modified by "about". It will also be understood that the endpoint values ​​of each range are meaningful when they are related to another endpoint value and when they are not related to another endpoint value.

[0030] As used herein, the terms "substantially," "substantially," and variations thereof are intended to mean that the described features and values ​​or descriptions are equal or approximately the same. For example, a "substantially planar" surface is intended to mean a planar or approximately planar surface. Additionally, "substantially" is intended to mean that two values ​​are equal or approximately equal. In some embodiments, "substantially" can mean that values ​​differ from each other within about 10%, such as within about 5%, or within about 2%.

[0031] Directional terms used herein, such as up, down, left, right, front, back, top, and bottom, are only used with reference to the drawings and are not intended to represent absolute orientations.

[0032] As used herein, the terms "the," "a," or "an" mean "at least one," and should not be limited to "only one," unless clearly indicated to the contrary. Thus, for example, reference to "a component" includes embodiments having two or more such components, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0033] The multimode optical fiber (also referred to as optical fiber) disclosed herein is considered to be an optical fiber in which light is transmitted in multiple rays (also referred to as multimode) in the core. Generally speaking, a multimode optical fiber has a larger core relative to a single-mode optical fiber in which light is generally transmitted in a single ray. Multimode optical fibers can include both step-index and graded-index multimode optical fibers. In addition, for example, the core of a multimode optical fiber can have a diameter range of about 50 μm to about 65 μm. "Radial position", "radial distance" or radial coordinate "r" refers to the radial position relative to the centerline (r=0) of the core in the optical fiber. The length scale "micrometer" may be referred to as micrometer or μm in this article.

[0034] A "refractive index profile" is the relationship between the refractive index or relative refractive index and the radial position r from the centerline of the core. For the relative refractive index profiles shown herein with step-like boundaries between adjacent cladding regions, normal variations in processing conditions may preclude obtaining sharp step-like boundaries at the interfaces of adjacent regions. It is to be understood that although the boundaries of the refractive index profile may be shown herein as step-like changes in refractive index, in practice, the boundaries may be rounded or deviate from the perfect step-like functional characteristics in any other way. It is also to be understood that the relative refractive index values ​​may vary with radial position within the core region and / or any cladding region. When the relative refractive index varies with radial position within a particular region of the optical fiber (core and / or any cladding region), it may be expressed in terms of its actual or approximate functional dependence, or in terms of an average value applicable to that region. Unless otherwise stated, if the relative refractive index of a region (core region and / or any cladding region) is expressed as a single value, it is understood that the relative refractive index within the region is constant or approximately constant and corresponds to the single value, or that the single value represents an average value of a non-constant relative refractive index that depends on the radial position within the region. Whether by design or as a result of normal manufacturing variations, the dependence of the relative refractive index on radial position may be tilted, curved, or in any other way non-constant.

[0035] As used herein, the "relative refractive index" or "relative refractive index percentage" relative to a multimode optical fiber and the optical fiber core of a multimode optical fiber is defined as follows:

[0036]

[0037] Unless otherwise stated, n(r) is the refractive index at a radial distance r from the centerline of the fiber core, and n c is 1.444, which is the refractive index of undoped silica glass at a wavelength of 1550 nm. Unless otherwise specified, the relative refractive index as used herein is expressed by Δ (or "Δ") or Δ% (or "Δ%"), and the unit of its numerical value is "%". The relative refractive index can also be expressed as Δ(r) or Δ(r)%. When the refractive index of a region is less than the refractive index n c When the refractive index of the region is greater than the reference refractive index n, then the relative refractive index is negative and can be referred to as a depressed refractive index region, trench or groove. c When , the relative refractive index is positive and the region can be referred to as being elevated or having a positive refractive index.

[0038] Furthermore, the term "α-distribution" (also referred to as "α distribution") refers to a relative refractive index distribution Δ(r) having the following functional form:

[0039]

[0040] In the formula, r o is the point where Δ(r) is maximum, r1 is the point where Δ(r) is zero, and the range of r is r i ≤r≤r f , where r i is the starting point of the α-distribution, r f is a point of the α-profile, and α is a real number. In some embodiments, the examples shown herein may have a core α as follows: 1≤α≤100. In practice, even when the target profile is an α profile, a certain level of deviation from the ideal configuration may still occur. Therefore, the α parameter of the optical fiber may be obtained by the best fit of the measured refractive index profile, as is known in the art.

[0041] See also Figure 1-15 , reference numeral 10 generally refers to a multimode optical fiber, which includes a core 14 having a core radius r1 ranging from about 25 μm to about 27 μm. The core 14 is doped to define a peak relative refractive index Δ 1,最大值 >0. The cladding 22 surrounds the core 14 and is directly adjacent thereto, and the cladding 22 includes a depressed refractive index region 18 having a minimum relative refractive index Δ 3,最小值 <0 and width w1. The width w1 ranges from about 4 μm to about 5 μm. The multimode optical fiber 10 has a peak wavelength λ P , where the multimode optical fiber 10 has the maximum bandwidth. Peak wavelength λ P is the peak relative refractive index Δ 1,最大值 , core radius r1, width w1 of depressed refractive index region 18 and minimum relative refractive index Δ 3,最小值 A function of at least one of .

[0042] See also Figure 1 , the production system 26 may include a drawing furnace 30 including a heating element 34 and a muffle furnace 38 heated to a temperature range of about 1700° C. to about 2100° C. A preform 42 may be arranged substantially vertically in the muffle furnace 38 of the drawing furnace 30. In various examples, the preform 42 may include a glass material and / or a silica-based glass material. Additionally or alternatively, the preform 42 may be doped or otherwise processed for use in manufacturing the optical fiber 10.

[0043] According to various aspects, the preform 42 may include a doped core 14 and a cladding 22 ( Figure 4). The cladding 22 may include fluorine. Dopants may be used to increase or decrease the relative refractive index Δ% of the core 14 relative to pure silica glass. In various examples, the core 14 may include doped silica. As used herein, a positive dopant is used to refer to a dopant that increases the relative refractive index Δ% relative to pure undoped silica glass. Non-limiting examples of positive dopants include: chlorine ("Cl"), bromine ("Br"), germanium dioxide ("GeO2"), aluminum oxide ("Al2O3"), phosphorus pentoxide ("P2O5"), and titanium dioxide ("TiO2"). As used herein, a negative dopant is used to refer to a dopant that reduces the refractive index relative to pure undoped silica glass. Non-limiting examples of negative dopants include fluorine ("F") and bromine ("B"). Alternatively, the core 14 may be undoped. The cladding 22 may include a circular ring of doped silica (including, for example, fluorine-doped silica).

[0044] In various examples, the preform 42 may be in the form of a single preform 42 for drawing the multimode optical fiber 10, or may include multiple preforms 42 formed from the same core preform 42. Additionally or alternatively, the preform 42 may be a complete core preform 42 having a core 14 and a cladding 22, or may be any optical fiber preform 42 produced from an original core preform 42 (generally referred to as a core 14 with a cladding 22). Generally speaking, more than one preform 42 may be formed from a single core preform 42. It is contemplated that each preform 42 may have a different refractive index measurement.

[0045] Still see Figure 1 , an optical fiber 10 in the form of a bare optical fiber 10, which does not have a protective coating (e.g., prior to being coated with a polymer-based material), can be drawn from the heated preform 42. The heating element 34 provides heat to at least a portion of the preform 42. In various examples, the optical fiber 10 can be drawn from the root portion 50 of the preform 42 by a tractor 54. After exiting the muffle furnace 38, the optical fiber 10 encounters a diameter monitoring device 58, which can provide a signal for a feedback control loop to adjust the speed of the tractor 54 to maintain a substantially constant diameter of the optical fiber 10. The optical fiber 10 can then pass through a fiber tension measurement device 62, which measures the draw tension T of the optical fiber 10 and provides a feedback control loop to adjust the draw tension T of the optical fiber 10 to maintain a selected draw tension T. As used herein, the draw tension T is provided in grams (g). However, it is to be understood that the draw tension T measurement provided in grams can be converted to a tension measurement in Newtons or dynes.

[0046] The production system 26 may include a cooling system 66. Once the optical fiber 10 is drawn from the preform 42, the optical fiber 10 may be cooled in a cooling tube 70 or other device. The cooling system 66 may be connected to the outlet of the furnace 30, or may be spaced apart. The optical fiber 10 may subsequently be coated by a coating system 74, which may apply a polymer-based coating material to the outer surface of the optical fiber 10. It is also contemplated that after the coating system 74, the coated optical fiber 10 may pass through a coating curing device. The coated optical fiber 10 may be wound onto a reel or spool 78.

[0047] The production system 26 is shown having a controller 82, which may have a microprocessor or processor 86 and a memory 90. The memory 90 may store instructions 92 that can be executed by the processor 86. It is contemplated that any digital and / or logic processing circuits and memory storage media may be employed. The controller 82 may receive the output from the diameter monitoring device 58 and the tension output 94A of the fiber tension measuring device 62, and may process the tension output 94A through one or more programs. The controller 82 may also provide the tension output 94A to a display or other human-machine interface (HMI) so that a user can observe the tension value (e.g., T1, T2, T3, etc.) corresponding to the draw tension T of each optical fiber 10 wound onto each reel 78.

[0048] The selected draw tension T may be provided as an input 96 to the controller 82, thereby allowing the user to select the draw tension T. The controller 82 may generate a temperature control output 94B in response to the user-selected draw tension T, which may be used to control the temperature of the heating element 34 in the furnace 30. The temperature control output 94B may adjust the temperature of the furnace 30 to achieve the selected draw tension T. In addition, the user may adjust the draw tension T to an adjusted tension ΔT based on the tension output 94A and / or other aspects of the optical fiber 10. Generally speaking, an increase in the temperature of the furnace 30 may result in a decrease in the draw tension T of the drawn optical fiber 10. A decrease in the temperature of the furnace 30 may result in an increase in the draw tension T of the drawn optical fiber 10. A feedback loop may be used to adjust the temperature of the furnace 30 until the draw tension T corresponds to the user-selected draw tension setting T. In various examples, the draw tension T of the drawn optical fiber 10 may be adjusted by adjusting the speed of the optical fiber 10 drawn by the tractor 54, which may be controlled by the controller 82 in response to the user-selected draw tension T and / or the adjusted tension ΔT.

[0049] According to various aspects, the draw tension T may induce mechanical stress in the optical fiber 10, which may change the refractive index profile. The change in the refractive index profile may be equivalent to an effective change in the alpha value of the refractive index profile. The alpha-profile of a given optical fiber 10 may be measured using refractive near field (RNF) or Mach-Zehnder interferometry techniques. For example, the refractive index measurement technique may include the Preform Analyzer refractive index measurement system manufactured by Photon Kinetics Instruments. The refractive index profile of a given optical fiber 10 may also be modeled using input parameters of chemical composition and glass transition radius distribution, fiber outer diameter, draw tension T, and / or stress optical coefficient.

[0050] like Figure 1 and 2 As shown, the production system 26 can produce an optical fiber 10 or a plurality of optical fibers 10 having a core 14, a depressed refractive index region 18, and a cladding 22. The cladding 22 can have an inner cladding 98 and an outer cladding 102, which can be separated by the depressed refractive index region 18 ( Figure 4 ). The depressed index region 18 may be a low refractive index layer of silica surrounding the core 14. Additionally or alternatively, the depressed index region 18 may direct and / or reflect light losses from the core 14 back into the core 14, which may reduce bending losses of the optical fiber 10. The cladding 22 may include a material with a lower refractive index relative to the core 14. The cladding 22 (including the inner and outer claddings 98, 102) may cause light to be confined to the core 14 by internal reflection at the boundary between the core 14 and the cladding 22.

[0051] The dopant levels in the silica glass may be selected to provide one or more selected properties to the cladding 22, non-limiting examples of which include relative refractive index and viscosity. According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the inner and / or outer claddings 98, 102 include silica glass doped with chlorine. In one example, the amount of chlorine dopant in the silica glass is about 0 wt % to about 2 wt %, about 0.01 wt % to about 2 wt %, about 0.1 wt % to about 2 wt %, about 0.5 wt % to about 2 wt %, about 1 wt % to about 2 wt %, about 1.5 wt % to about 2 wt %, 0 wt % to about 1.5 wt %, about 0.01 wt % to about 1.5 wt %, about 0.1 wt % to about 1.5 wt %, about 0.5 wt % to about 1.5 wt %, about 1 wt % to about 1.5 wt %, 0 wt % to about 1 wt %, about 0.01 wt % to about 1 wt %, about 0.1 wt % to about 1 wt %, about 0.5 wt % to about 1 wt %, 0 wt % to about 0.5 wt %, about 0.01 wt % to about 0.5 wt %, or about 0.1 wt % to about 0.5 wt %. According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the inner and / or outer claddings 98, 102 include silica glass doped with fluorine. In one example, the amount of fluorine dopant in the silica glass is: about 0 wt % to about 2 wt %, about 0.01 wt % to about 2 wt %, about 0.1 wt % to about 2 wt %, about 0.5 wt % to about 2 wt %, about 1 wt % to about 2 wt %, about 1.5 wt % to about 2 wt %, 0 wt % to about 1.5 wt %, about 0.01 wt % to about 1.5 wt %, about 0.1 wt % to about 1.5 wt %, about 0.5 wt % to about 1.5 wt %, about 1 wt % to about 1.5 wt %, 0 wt % to about 1 wt %, about 0.01 wt % to about 1 wt %, about 0.1 wt % to about 1 wt %, about 0.5 wt % to about 1 wt %, 0 wt % to about 0.5 wt %, about 0.01 wt % to about 0.5 wt %, or about 0.1 wt % to about 0.5 wt %.

[0052] The inner and / or outer cladding layers 98, 102 may have a relative refractive index Δ of about -0.25% to about 0.1%. C For example, the inner and / or outer claddings 98, 102 may have relative refractive indices Δ C: about -0.25% to about 0.1%, about -0.2% to about 0.1%, about -0.15% to about 0.1%, about -0.1% to about 0.1%, about -0.05% to about 0.1%, about -0.025% to about 0.1%, about 0% to about 0.1%, about 0.025% to about 0.1%, about 0.05% to about 0.1%, about -0.25% to about 0.05%, about -0.2% to about 0.05%, about -0.15% to about 0.05%, about -0.1% to about 0.05%, about -0.05% to about 0.05%, about -0.025% to about 0.05 %, about 0% to about 0.05%, about 0.025% to about 0.05%, about -0.25% to about 0.025%, about -0.2% to about 0.025%, about -0.15% to about 0.025%, about -0.1% to about 0.025%, about -0.05% to about 0.025%, about -0.025% to about 0.025%, about 0% to about 0.025%, about -0.25% to about 0%, about -0.2% to about 0%, about -0.15% to about 0%, about -0.1% to about 0%, about -0.05% to about 0%, or about -0.025% to about 0%.

[0053] See also Figure 2 , showing additional and / or alternative examples of the production system 26. The production system 26 can include an optical fiber drawing system 106. The optical fiber drawing system 106 can modify the manufacturing process of the optical fiber 10. The controller 82 can be operably connected to the furnace 30 and / or the optical fiber drawing system 106. The controller 82 can modify the manufacturing process by, for example, adjusting the drawing speed of the optical fiber drawing system 106, modifying the temperature of the furnace 30, and / or modifying the drawing tension T applied to the optical fiber 10. When the multimode optical fiber 10 is drawn through the production system 26, the optical fiber drawing system 106 can use various drawing mechanisms 110 and / or pulleys 114 to provide a selected drawing tension T to the multimode optical fiber 10.

[0054] The production system 26 may include a wavelength determination system 118 that may determine the peak wavelength λ of the test portion 122 of the optical fiber 10. P In various aspects, the peak wavelength λ P It can be the predicted peak wavelength, the measured peak wavelength, or a combination thereof. Peak wavelength λ P The wavelength corresponding to the wavelength having the maximum bandwidth of the multimode optical fiber 10. The wavelength determination system 118 may include a processor 86 communicatively connected to a memory 90. The memory 90 may include a computer readable and executable program or instruction 92 ( Figure 1 ), which is executed by the processor 86 to determine the peak wavelength λ of the test portion 122 PThe test section 122 for the wavelength determination system 118 can be provided by separating a test section of the multimode optical fiber 10 from the drawn multimode optical fiber 10. The separated test section of the multimode optical fiber 10 can then be connected to the wavelength determination system 118 (e.g., by mechanical splicing or fusion splicing), so that the peak wavelength λ of the test section 122 can be determined. P .

[0055] Prior to connecting the test portion 122 to the wavelength determination system 118, the test portion 122 may be transferred to the spool 78. The test portion 122 may be obtained at the beginning of the drawing process. In various examples, the test portion 122 may be separated and connected to the wavelength determination system 118. For example, the test portion 122 may be drawn and wound onto multiple spools (e.g., using an indexing winder) during a single process run, and the test portion 122 may be separated during a spool change process. Additionally or alternatively, the test portion 122 may be separated and connected to the wavelength determination system 118 at predetermined intervals, for example, once every 20 km, once every 30 km, once every 50 km, or at any other interval. In various examples, as the optical fiber 10 is drawn, the wavelength determination system 118 may determine the peak wavelength λ of the drawn optical fiber 10 in substantially real time. P .

[0056] refer to Figure 3 , shows the effect of a change in draw tension T on the value of α according to one example. In this example, the optical fiber 10 has a graded-index GeO2-doped silica core 14 having: a 1% relative refractive index relative to the silica outer cladding 102, an α of about 2.1, and a core radius of about 25 μm. In addition, in this example, the overall diameter of the optical fiber 10 is about 125 μm. Figure 3As shown, the measured effective α value changes as a function of the change in draw tension T. In this example, the effective α value changes by about 0.043 for every 100 grams change in draw tension T, as shown by point 126 on line 130 in the graph. By changing the draw tension T, the α profile can be changed to achieve the maximum bandwidth of the fiber 10. Optical fibers 10 with different radial chemical compositions can have different slopes of α change as the draw tension T changes. For example, the optical fiber 10 can have a graded-index GeO2-doped silica core 14 and a pure silica cladding 22 with a fluorine-doped low-index ring. In this example, the relative refractive index Δ% of the core 14 can be about 0.94% relative to the silica cladding 22 with an α of about 2.1. The ring can be offset from the core 14 by about 1 micron, have a refractive index change of about -0.45%, a radius of about 5 microns, and a silica outer cladding 102. In this example, the effective α value changes by about 0.026 for every 100 grams change in draw tension T. In this manner, a selected alpha profile may be provided to the conditioned preform 42 and / or optical fiber 10 .

[0057] See also Figure 4 And 8-10, the optical fiber 10 manufactured by the production system 26 can have a substantially circular and / or elliptical cross-sectional shape after being processed by the production system 26. When the optical fiber 10 has a circular cross-sectional shape, the core radius r1 of the core 14 can be: about 20 μm to about 35 μm, about 25 μm to about 30 μm, about 25 μm to about 27 μm, or any value therebetween. The cladding 22 surrounds the core 14 and is directly adjacent to it. Thus, the inner cladding 98 can be arranged adjacent to the core 14. In various examples, the inner cladding 98 can have a width that combines with the core radius r1 to form an inner cladding radius r2. The inner cladding radius r2 can be: about 25 μm to about 35 μm, about 25 μm to about 30 μm, about 27 μm to about 30 μm, or any value therebetween.

[0058] Depressed index region 18 may be disposed adjacent to inner cladding 98. Depressed index region 18 has a volume v, which includes a width w1 and a depth d of depressed index region 18. Depressed index region 18 may have a depressed index region width w1 and / or depth d in the range of about 3 μm to about 6 μm, about 4 μm to about 6 μm, about 4 μm to about 5 μm, or any value therebetween. Thus, core 14, inner cladding 98, and depressed index region 18 may produce a depressed index region radius r3. Depressed index region radius r3 may be about 25 μm to about 50 μm, about 30 μm to about 45 μm, about 35 μm to about 40 μm, or any value therebetween. Outer cladding 102 may be disposed adjacent to depressed index region 18. The outer cladding 102 can have a width w2, which can range from about 25 μm to about 50 μm, which can at least partially define an outer cladding radius r4. The outer cladding radius r4 can be: about 45 μm to about 125 μm, about 50 μm to about 100 μm, about 75 μm to about 100 μm, or any value therebetween. The ranges provided herein can be adjusted based on the properties of the selected optical fiber 10 and should be considered as non-limiting examples.

[0059] like Figure 1 and 2 The production system 26 shown can be used for Figure 5 As shown and further referenced Figure 4 and 6 The method 150 for manufacturing the optical fiber 10 of the invention can include step 154: determining the peak wavelength λ of the multimode optical fiber 10. P Specify and select. Peak wavelength λ P is the wavelength at which the optical fiber 10 has the maximum bandwidth. The optical fiber 10 can be produced so as to have a peak wavelength λ P In various examples, the peak wavelength λ P It may be in the range of about 780 nm to 1650 nm, about 980 nm to about 1060 nm, about 1260 nm to about 1360 nm, about 1300 nm to 1320 nm, or any wavelength value therebetween. However, it is to be understood that the optical fiber 10 may be produced so as to have any peak wavelength λ. P .

[0060] In step 158, based on making the peak wavelength λ P The correlation associated with the draw tension T selects the draw tension T for the optical fiber 10. The correlation includes a correlation constant K, which may be the maximum refractive index Δ 1,最大值 , core radius r1, volume v of depressed refractive index region 18, minimum refractive index value Δ 3,最小值 and peak wavelength λP The drawing tension T may range from about 45 g to about 220 g. In this way, the drawing tension T may span a range of about 175 g.

[0061] In step 162, preform 42 may be heated in furnace 30. Preform 42 includes a core and a cladding. A depressed index region may surround the core and may be configured to reflect light back into the core. The depressed index region may be configured as a circular ring of lower index glass surrounding the core. The geometry of the depressed index region may be selected to maximize light reflected back into the core.

[0062] In step 166, the optical fiber 10 is drawn from the preform 42 at a drawing tension T. The optical fiber 10 includes a core 14 and a cladding 22 surrounding and directly adjacent to the core 14. The core 14 has a radius r1 and a maximum refractive index value Δ greater than 0%. 1,最大值 The cladding 22 includes a depressed refractive index region 18 having a minimum refractive index value Δ 3,最小值 Furthermore, depressed refractive index region 18 has a volume v, including a width w1 and a depth d.

[0063] In a non-limiting example, the core radius r1 may be in a range of about 24 μm to about 27 μm. The groove width w1 may be in a range of about 4 μm to about 9 μm. Additionally or alternatively, the relative refractive index Δ% may be adjusted by positively or negatively doping the core 14 to produce a different peak Δ (Δ % ) relative to the relative refractive index of undoped silica glass (e.g., Δ is about 0%). 1,最大值 ) and minimum Δ(Δ 3,最小值 ). Peak value Δ(Δ 1,最大值 ) can be the highest relative refractive index relative to undoped silica glass. The peak Δ(Δ 1,最大值 The α distribution of the core 14 may be a peak value Δ(Δ 1,最大值 ) and 0% of Δ. In various examples, the peak Δ(Δ 1,最大值 ) can range from about 0.93% to about 1.02%. In addition, the minimum Δ(Δ 最小值 ) may be defined in the depressed refractive index region 18. The minimum Δ(Δ 最小值 ) may range from about -0.2% to about -0.3%.

[0064] In step 170, the peak wavelength λ of the optical fiber 10 may be P With the selected target peak wavelength λ P,目标 For comparison. Selected target peak wavelength λ P,目标The peak wavelength λ may be in the range of about 780 nm to 1650 nm, about 980 nm to about 1060 nm, about 1260 nm to about 1360 nm, about 1300 nm to 1320 nm, or any wavelength value therebetween. Step 170 may include setting the peak wavelength λ P With the target peak wavelength λ P,目标 Thus, during the drawing process, the peak wavelength λ of the optical fiber 10 is P May be different from the selected target peak wavelength λ P,目标 . Peak wavelength λ P With the selected target peak wavelength λ P,目标 The difference in magnitude Δλ P By Δλ P =|λ P -λ P,目标 |Given.

[0065] In step 174, the drawing tension T may be changed to an adjustment tension ΔT. The adjustment tension ΔT may be selected to change and / or adjust the peak wavelength λ P Additionally or alternatively, the adjustment tension ΔT may be selected to reduce the difference Δλ P The range of the adjustment tension ΔT can be about 45g to about 220g. Thus, the adjustment tension ΔT can span a range of about 175g. The adjustment tension ΔT can be based on the difference Δλ between the adjustment tension ΔT and the difference Δλ. P The correlation may include a correlation constant K, which may be the maximum refractive index ΔT. 1,最大值 , core radius r1, volume v of depressed refractive index region 18, minimum refractive index value Δ 3,最小值 , peak wavelength λ P and target peak wavelength λ P,目标 A function of at least one of .

[0066] Method 150 can produce a peak wavelength λ P The operating range can take into account the differences in the separate preforms 42 and provide the optical fiber 10 with different peak wavelengths λ that fall within the tuning range. P According to various aspects, the parameters of the optical fiber 10 can be adjusted to change the peak wavelength λ P In this way, the peak wavelength λ can be adjusted based on various parameters of the optical fiber 10, the drawing tension T, and the adjustment tension ΔT. P Adjust to target peak wavelength λ P,目标 The parameters include at least: core radius r1, volume v of depressed refractive index region 18, relative refractive index Δ%, peak wavelength λ Pand the target peak wavelength λ P ,Target.

[0067] According to various aspects, the peak wavelength λ can be adjusted P The peak wavelength λ can be adjusted based on the selected drawing tension T and the relationship between the tension ΔT and various parameters of the optical fiber 10. P In other words, the peak wavelength λ P The change in the draw tension ΔT may be correlated to ΔLP=K*ΔT, where K is a correlation constant that is a function of at least one of the various parameters of the optical fiber 10. The correlation constant K may be defined as a range of about -0.5 nm / g to about -3.5 nm / g, about -1.5 nm / g to about -3.5 nm / g, about -1.9 nm / g to about -3.3 nm / g, and / or combinations thereof. The peak wavelength λ may be obtained by method 150. P Adjust to any selected target peak wavelength λ P,目标 , which may be within a tuning range. The tuning range may be defined as between λ1 and λ2. In various examples, λ1 may be approximately 675 nm and λ2 may be approximately 1025 nm.

[0068] The method 150 disclosed herein can provide for use with optical fibers 10 having various parameters. In addition, the method 150 can produce optical fibers 10 having different peak wavelengths λ. P and different tuning ranges of optical fibers 10. This method 150 is useful for using the same or substantially the same production system 26 to manufacture optical fibers 10 having different peak wavelengths λ. P and different tuning ranges of optical fibers 10. This may be advantageous for reducing manufacturing and production costs and maximizing utilization of production system 26. Thus, method 150 may employ preform 42 that is capable of withstanding changes to become optical fibers 10 having different selected fiber parameters.

[0069] Example

[0070] The following examples illustrate various features and advantages provided by the present disclosure and are not to be construed in any way as limiting the present disclosure or the appended claims.

[0071] See also Figure 6 , can be obtained by fitting the peak wavelength λ for each optical fiber 10 P and tension T data to establish the selected drawing tension T and peak wavelength λ P For example, Figure 6 The exemplary fit line shown can be obtained by equation λ P =d+K*ΔT, where λ P is the peak wavelength λP , d is about 33.69, K is about -1.45nm / g, and ΔT is the drawing tension T. In other words, the peak wavelength λ P The relationship between the draw tension T can be described as follows: P = -1.45*ΔT. In this way, a linear function equation can be used to describe the selected drawing tension T and peak wavelength λ P Although Figure 6 The peak wavelength λ shown P The relationship with the drawing tension T is a fitted line, but it is understood that in other embodiments, the peak wavelength λ P The relationship between the drawing tension T may not be a linear function, for example, the peak wavelength λ P An example of relating the drawing tension T to the drawing tension T through a nonlinear function or a lookup table.

[0072] See also Figure 7 , showing the relationship between the selected drawing tension T and the peak wavelength λ P As explained above, the coefficient K is affected by the parameters of the optical fiber 10. Drawing tension T and peak wavelength λ P The relationship between can be shown as a linear function (e.g., y = mx + b). Figure 7 The non-limiting relationship shown is that the draw tension T is related to the peak wavelength λ P The relationship between them can be described as P =992+(-1.473)*ΔT, where 992 is the peak wavelength λ when the drawing tension T is 0g (e.g., y intercept) and the slope is -1.473 (e.g., K) P . Thus, K is the peak wavelength λ P The slope is defined by the relationship between Δ and the selected drawing tension T. The optical fiber 10 having a core Δ of 1.2%, a core radius r1 of 15.5 μm, and a depressed refractive index region width w1 of 3.7 μm is used to determine Figure 7 Example relationships shown.

[0073] See also Figure 8 , for the positively doped optical fiber 10, the selected drawing tension T and the peak wavelength λ are shown P As explained above, the drawing tension T is related to the peak wavelength λ P The relationship between can be shown as a linear function (e.g., y = mx + b). Figure 8 The non-limiting relationship shown is that the draw tension T is related to the peak wavelength λ P The relationship between them can be described as P=977.64+(-2.2714)*ΔT, where 977.64 is the peak wavelength λ when the drawing tension T is 0g (e.g., y intercept) and the slope is -2.2714 (e.g., K) P . Thus, K is the peak wavelength λ P The slope is defined by the relationship between Δ and the selected draw tension T. The following is determined using an optical fiber 10 having a positively doped cladding 22 with a Δ of 0.11%, a core Δ of 0.98%, a core radius r1 of 24.1 μm, and a depressed refractive index region width w1 of 6.1 μm. Figure 8 Example relationships shown.

[0074] In addition, it is to be understood that a function or relationship can be defined such that the peak wavelength λ P With drawing furnace 30( Figure 1 ) or any other process parameter that directly or indirectly affects the drawing tension T. Thus, it is understood that the drawing tension T is related to the peak wavelength λ P The specific relationship between the draw tension T and the peak wavelength λ may vary based on the characteristics of the preform 42, the components of the production system 26, the environmental conditions, and the drawing process parameters, but for any set of conditions, the draw tension T and the peak wavelength λ can be determined in the manner described herein. P the specific relationship between them.

[0075] See also Fig. 9 , showing different properties and / or parameters of optical fiber 10 produced by method 150 (shown in an example distribution of optical fiber 10) compared with an example distribution of a comparative example. Fig. 9 As shown in the graph of , the comparative example profile is shown as an example not produced by the method 150 disclosed herein. In various examples, the comparative example profile may be a 50 μm bend-insensitive optical fiber 10.

[0076] See also Fig. 9 and 10 , the comparative example exemplary profile includes a core radius r1 of about 25 μm and a depressed refractive index region width w1 of about 5.75 μm. The depressed refractive index region width w1 may be about 5.75 μm to about 5.85 μm. The relative refractive index Δ% of the comparative example exemplary profile may be about 0.98%. In addition, the value of the correlation constant K (e.g., a coefficient affected by the parameters of the optical fiber 10) may be about -1.43 nm / g. Fig. 9 As shown in the included graphs, the tuning range of the comparative example distribution extends between λ1 and λ2, where the difference between λ1 and λ2 is about 250 nm. In various examples, for a target peak wavelength λ of about 850 nm, P,目标, λ1 can be about 725 nm and λ2 can be about 975 nm. In addition, the draw tension range ΔT used to produce the comparative example distribution fiber can extend between T1 and T2. The difference between T1 and T2 can be about 175 g. For example, T1 can be about 45 g, and T2 can be about 220 g.

[0077] See also Fig. 9 and 11 , shows the refractive index profile of embodiment profile 1. In various examples, the core 14 may have a core radius r1 of about 25 μm, and a depressed refractive index region 18 with a depressed refractive index region width w1 of about 5 μm. 1,最大值 ) may be about 1%. The draw tension range ΔT for producing the optical fiber 10 of Example Distribution 1 may extend from T1 to T2. The difference between T1 and T2 may be about 175 g. For example, T1 may be about 45 g, and T2 may be about 220 g.

[0078] Consider that different drawing tensions T can be used to produce different peak wavelengths λ of the optical fiber 10. P . It can be based on the peak wavelength λ P The draw tension T is selected based on the correlation between ? and the draw tension T, wherein the correlation includes a correlation constant K. According to various aspects, the value of the correlation constant K of the optical fiber 10 having the embodiment profile 1 can be about -1.93 nm / g. As explained above, the correlation constant K is a function of the parameters of the optical fiber 10, including at least one of the following: the core radius r1, the volume v of the depressed refractive index region, the refractive index value Δ%, and the peak wavelength λ P , and the target peak wavelength λ P,目标 Each parameter affecting the correlation constant K combined with a change in the drawing tension ΔT (eg, adjusting the tension ΔT) can define the peak wavelength λ P and a tuning range. The tuning range may extend between λ1 and λ2. In various examples, the difference between λ1 and λ2 may be approximately 340 nm. Additionally or alternatively, for a target peak wavelength λ of approximately 850 nm, P,目标 , λ1 may be approximately 680 nm and λ2 may be approximately 1020 nm. Thus, the different parameters of the optical fiber 10 having the embodiment profile 1 may provide an increased tuning range Δ relative to the comparative example profile. LP .

[0079] See also Fig. 9 and 12 , shows the refractive index profile of the optical fiber 10 having the embodiment profile 2. According to various aspects, the optical fiber 10 can have a core radius r1 of about 25.5 μm and a depressed refractive index region 18 with a depressed refractive index region width w1 of about 4.5 μm. 1,最大值) can be about 1%. The draw tension range ΔT for producing optical fiber 10 having embodiment profile 2 can extend between T1 and T2. The difference between T1 and T2 can be about 175g. For example, T1 can be about 45g, and T2 can be about 220g. The correlation constant K value of embodiment profile 2 can be about -2.48nm / g. Similar to embodiment profile 1, the correlation constant K value of embodiment profile 2 can depend on the core radius r1, the depressed refractive index region volume v, the refractive index value Δ%, the peak wavelength λ P and the target peak wavelength λ P,目标 The correlation constant K can be multiplied by the drawing tension T to define the peak wavelength λ of Example Distribution 2 P and a tuning range. The tuning range may extend between λ1 and λ2. In various examples, the difference between λ1 and λ2 may be approximately 430 nm. In various examples, for a target peak wavelength λ of approximately 850 nm P,目标 , λ1 may be approximately 635 nm and λ2 may be approximately 1065 nm. Thus, the different parameters of optical fiber 10 having embodiment profile 2 may provide an increased tuning range relative to the comparative example profile and embodiment profile 1.

[0080] See also Fig. 9 and 13 , shows the refractive index profile of the optical fiber 10 having the embodiment profile 3. In various examples, the optical fiber 10 having the embodiment profile 3 may have a core radius r1 of about 26.25 μm and a depressed refractive index region 18 with a depressed refractive index region width w1 of about 4 μm. 1,最大值 ) may be approximately 1.02%. The draw tension range ΔT for producing optical fiber 10 having embodiment profile 3 may extend from T1 to T2. The difference between T1 and T2 may be approximately 175 g. For example, T1 may be approximately 45 g, and T2 may be approximately 220 g. The value of the correlation constant K for embodiment profile 3 may be approximately -2.48 nm / g. Similar to embodiment profiles 1 and 2, the value of the correlation constant K for embodiment profile 3 may depend on the core radius r1, the depressed refractive index region volume v, the refractive index value Δ%, the peak wavelength λ P and the target peak wavelength λ P , 目标 In addition, the peak wavelength λ of the optical fiber 10 of Example 3 is P The tuning range can be defined by the relationship between the correlation constant K and the draw tension T. The tuning range can extend between λ1 and λ2. In various examples, the difference between λ1 and λ2 can be about 560 nm. In various examples, for a target peak wavelength λ of about 850 nm, P,目标 , λ1 may be approximately 570 nm and λ2 may be approximately 1130 nm.

[0081] Thus, the different parameters of the optical fiber 10 having the embodiment profile 3 may provide an increased tuning range Δ relative to the comparative example profile and the embodiment profiles 1 and 2. LP .

[0082] See also Fig. 9 and 14 , shows the refractive index profile of the optical fiber 10 having the embodiment profile 4. In various examples, the optical fiber 10 having the embodiment profile 4 may have a core radius r1 of about 23.75 μm and a depressed refractive index region 18 with a depressed refractive index region width w1 of about 9 μm. 1,最大值 ) may be approximately 0.93%. The draw tension range ΔT for producing optical fiber 10 having embodiment profile 4 may extend from T1 to T2. The difference between T1 and T2 may be approximately 175 g. For example, T1 may be approximately 45 g, and T2 may be approximately 220 g. The value of the correlation constant K for embodiment profile 4 may be approximately -0.5 nm / g. Similar to embodiment profiles 1-3, the value of the correlation constant K for embodiment profile 4 may depend on the core radius r1, the depressed index region volume v, the refractive index value Δ%, and the peak wavelength λ P , target peak wavelength λ P , 目标 In addition, the peak wavelength λ of the optical fiber 10 of Example 4 is P The tuning range can be defined by the relationship between the correlation constant K and the draw tension T. The tuning range can extend between λ1 and λ2. In various examples, the difference between λ1 and λ2 can be about 90 nm. Thus, the different parameters of the optical fiber 10 having the embodiment distribution 4 can provide a reduced peak wavelength tuning range Δ relative to the comparative example distribution and the embodiment distributions 1-3. LP .

[0083] See also Fig. 9 and 15 , shows the refractive index profile of the optical fiber 10 having the embodiment profile 5. In various examples, the optical fiber 10 having the embodiment profile 5 may have a core radius r1 of about 24.1 μm and a depressed refractive index region 18 with a depressed refractive index region width w1 of about 6.1 μm. 1,最大值) can be about 0.98%. In addition, the outer cladding 102 can be positively doped to about 0.11% Δ. The drawing tension range ΔT for producing the optical fiber 10 having the embodiment distribution 5 can extend from T1 to T2. The difference between T1 and T2 can be about 175g. For example, T1 can be about 45g, and T2 can be about 220g. The correlation constant K value of the embodiment distribution 5 can be about -2.27nm / g. Similar to the embodiment distributions 1-4, the correlation constant K value of the embodiment distribution 5 can depend on the core radius r1, the depressed refractive index region volume v, the refractive index value Δ%, the peak wavelength λ P and the target peak wavelength λ P,目标 In addition, the peak wavelength λ of the optical fiber 10 of the embodiment distribution 5 is P The tuning range can be defined by the relationship between the correlation constant K value and the draw tension T. The tuning range can extend between λ1 and λ2. In various examples, the difference between λ1 and λ2 can be about 400 nm. Thus, the different parameters of the optical fiber 10 having the embodiment profile 5 can provide an increased tuning range relative to the comparative example profile and the embodiment profiles 1 and 4 and a reduced tuning range relative to the embodiment profiles 2 and 3.

[0084] See also Figure 9-15 , modification of the core radius r1, the depressed index region volume v (e.g., width w1 and depth d), and the relative refractive index Δ%, and the target peak wavelength λ P,目标 The selection of can adjust the correlation constant K of the optical fiber 10. The adjustment of the correlation constant K can correspond to the peak wavelength λ P In addition, each of the embodiment distributions 1-5 and the comparative example distributions shown herein may include the same or substantially the same α value of the refractive index distribution, which may correspond to the same peak wavelength λ P (For example, about 850 nm). Under the same or substantially similar α distribution, the peak wavelength λ of the optical fiber 10 P and tuning range Δ LP The method 150 disclosed herein may be used to adjust the exemplary profile of a comparative example not produced according to the method 150 disclosed herein. For a selected draw tension T, this method 150 may be advantageous for providing maximum adjustment of the tuning range for the refractive index profile of the optical fiber 10. Thus, using a draw tension T ranging from about 45 g to 220 g and different parameters of the optical fiber 10, the peak wavelength λ may be adjusted. P and tuning range, such as Figure 9-15 In addition, Fig.10As shown, the tuning range can be adjusted to twice the peak tuning range of the comparative exemplary distribution. Thus, the method 150 and / or a single production system 26 disclosed herein can be used to manufacture products with different peak wavelengths λ P , tuning range and parameters of optical fiber 10.

[0085] See also Fig. 9 11-15, respectively, show example refractive index profiles of example profiles 1-5 (each manufactured according to method 150 disclosed herein). For each optical fiber 10 having example profiles 1-5, the core 14 can be a parabolic doped core 14 that produces an α profile. As shown, the α profile can be approximately 2.125. The cladding 22 of the optical fiber 10 can include an inner cladding 98 and an outer cladding 102, which can be separated from each other by a depressed refractive index region 18. The core 14 can be positively doped to a peak value Δ (Δ 1,最大值 ), and then may be negatively doped to about 0% Δ. In embodiments having an inner cladding 98, the inner cladding 98 may each have a Δ of about 0%. Additionally or alternatively, the optical fiber 10 may be negatively doped to produce a depressed index region 18 having a negative Δ. In this manner, the depressed index region 18 may define the minimum Δ (Δ 3,最小值 ). In various examples, the outer cladding 102 of the optical fiber 10 can be positively doped to bring Δ back to a value within about 0% to about 0.15%.

[0086] Using the apparatus disclosed herein can provide various advantages. For example, the method 150 disclosed herein can be used to produce a plurality of quartz crystals having different peak wavelengths λ within an increased tuning range. P 10. In addition, the optical fiber 10 can have an increased tuning range relative to a comparative exemplary profile not produced by the method 150 herein. In addition, the tuning range Δ LP The peak wavelength of the comparative exemplary distribution not made according to the method 150 herein may be tuned Δ LP In addition, the method 150 can use a single production system 26, using the peak wavelength λ P The dependence of the drawing tension T on the peak wavelength λ of the P The correlation constant K is a function of at least one of the following: the core radius r1, the volume v of the depressed refractive index region, the relative refractive index Δ%, the peak value Δ(Δ 1,最大值 ), peak wavelength λ P and the target peak wavelength λ P,目标 In addition, in the manufacture of the optical fiber 10, the peak wavelength λ PAdjustments are made to optimize the optical fiber 10 at different wavelengths, which may range from about 850 nm to about 1060 nm. By selecting the optical fiber 10 parameters (e.g., to produce a value for the correlation constant K) and the draw tension T, the optical fiber 10 may have a larger or smaller tuning range than the exemplary profile of the comparative example. In this manner, a single production system 26 may manage multiple optical fiber processes to produce multiple different optical fibers 10. Furthermore, a single preform 42 may produce optical fibers 10 optimized at different wavelengths. In this manner, the optical fiber 10 may be optimized at about 850 nm, about 880 nm, about 980 nm, and / or about 1060 nm.

[0087] The devices disclosed herein are further summarized in the following paragraphs and are characterized by any and all of the various aspects described herein. The present disclosure includes the following non-limiting aspects:

[0088] According to at least one example, a method for manufacturing a multimode optical fiber includes specifying a peak wavelength λ for the multimode optical fiber. P . Peak wavelength λ P The wavelength corresponding to the maximum bandwidth of the multimode optical fiber. The multimode optical fiber includes a core and a cladding surrounding the core and directly adjacent to it. The core has a radius r1 and a maximum relative refractive index Δ 1,最大值 > 0. The cladding includes a depressed refractive index region having a minimum relative refractive index Δ 3,最小值 <0 and volume v. Based on the peak wavelength λ P The draw tension T is selected for the multimode optical fiber based on a correlation associated with the draw tension T, wherein the correlation includes a correlation constant. The correlation constant K is Δ 1,最大值 , r1, v, Δ 3,最小值 and λ P A multimode optical fiber is drawn from the preform at a drawing tension T.

[0089] According to another aspect, the drawing tension T ranges from about 45 g to about 220 g.

[0090] According to another aspect, the correlation constant K ranges from about -0.45 nm / g to about -3.25 nm / g.

[0091] According to another aspect, the core radius r1 is about 25 μm. The width w1 of the depressed refractive index region is about 4.5 μm.

[0092] According to another aspect, the peak wavelength λ P The range is about 680 nm to about 1020 nm.

[0093] According to another aspect, the core radius r1 is about 25.5 μm. The width w1 of the depressed refractive index region is about 4.5 μm.

[0094] According to another aspect, the peak wavelength λ P The range is from about 635 nm to about 1065 nm.

[0095] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method for manufacturing a multimode optical fiber includes drawing a multimode optical fiber from a preform at a drawing tension T. The multimode optical fiber includes a core and a cladding surrounding and directly adjacent to the core. The core has a radius r1 and a maximum relative refractive index Δ 1,最大值 > 0. The cladding includes a depressed refractive index region having a maximum relative refractive index Δ 3,最小值 <0 and volume v. Multimode fiber has a peak wavelength λ P , where the multimode fiber has the maximum bandwidth. P With the selected target peak wavelength λ P,目标 For comparison. Peak wavelength λ P With the selected target peak wavelength λ P,目标 The difference in magnitude Δλ P By Δλ P =|λ P -λ P,目标 The change of the drawing tension T is the adjustment tension ΔT. The adjustment tension ΔT is selected to change the peak wavelength λ P Thereby reducing the difference Δλ P Based on adjusting the tension ΔT and the difference Δλ P The correlation is used to select the tension adjustment ΔT. The correlation includes a correlation constant K. The correlation constant K is Δ 1,最大值 , r1, v, Δ 3,最小值 and λ P,目标 A function of at least one of .

[0096] According to another aspect, the tension ΔT is adjusted to the difference Δλ P The associated correlation is defined as Δλ P =K*ΔT.

[0097] According to another aspect, the selected target peak wavelength λ P,目标 It is within the tuning range limited between λ1 and λ2. The difference between λ1 and λ2 is about 340nm.

[0098] According to another aspect, the selected target peak wavelength λ P,目标 Defined between λ1 and λ2. The difference between λ1 and λ2 is about 430nm.

[0099] According to another aspect, the selected target peak wavelength λ P,目标 It is within the tuning range limited between λ1 and λ2. The difference between λ1 and λ2 is about 560nm.

[0100] According to another aspect, λ1 is approximately 570 nm and λ2 is approximately 1130 nm.

[0101] According to another aspect, the adjustment tension ΔT is defined between T1 and T2. The difference between T1 and T2 is about 175 g.

[0102] According to another aspect, T1 is about 45 g and T2 is about 220 g.

[0103] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a multimode optical fiber includes a core having a core radius r1 ranging from about 25 μm to about 27 μm. The core is doped to define a peak relative refractive index Δ 1,最大值 >0. The cladding surrounds the core and is directly adjacent to it, and the cladding includes a depressed refractive index region having a minimum relative refractive index Δ 3,最小值 <0 and width w1. The width w1 ranges from about 4 μm to about 5 μm. The multimode optical fiber has a peak wavelength λ P , where the multimode fiber has the maximum bandwidth. Peak wavelength λ P is the peak relative refractive index Δ 1,最大值 , core radius r1, width w1 of the depressed refractive index region and minimum relative refractive index Δ 3,最小值 A function of at least one of .

[0104] According to another aspect, the core radius r1 is about 25 μm and the groove width w1 is about 5 μm, and the tuning range is defined between λ1 and λ2. The difference between λ1 and λ2 is about 340 nm.

[0105] According to another aspect, the core radius r1 is about 24.1 μm and the groove width w1 is about 9.1 μm, and the tuning range is defined between λ1 and λ2. The difference between λ1 and λ2 is about 400 nm.

[0106] According to another aspect, the core radius r1 is about 25.5 μm and the groove width w1 is about 4.5 μm, and the tuning range is defined between λ1 and λ2. The difference between λ1 and λ2 is about 430 nm.

[0107] According to another aspect, the peak wavelength λ P is within a tuning range of about 570 nm to about 1130 nm. The tuning range is based on the drawing tension T and at least one of the following: Δ 1,最大值 , r1, w1, Δ 3,最小值 and λ P , the correlation between them.

[0108] Aspect 1 of this specification is:

[0109] A method for manufacturing a multimode optical fiber, comprising:

[0110] Specify the peak wavelength λ for multimode fiber P , the peak wavelength λ P The wavelength corresponding to the maximum bandwidth of a multimode optical fiber, the multimode optical fiber comprising a core and a cladding surrounding and directly adjacent to the core, the core having a radius r1 and a maximum relative refractive index Δ 1,最大值 >0, the cladding includes a depressed refractive index region having a minimum relative refractive index Δ 3,最大值 <0 and volume v;

[0111] Based on the peak wavelength λ P The draw tension T is selected for the multimode optical fiber by using a correlation associated with the draw tension T, wherein the correlation includes a correlation constant K, which is Δ 1,最大值 , r1, v, Δ 3,最小值 and λ P A function of at least one of ; and

[0112] A multimode optical fiber is drawn from the preform at a drawing tension T.

[0113] Aspect 2 of this specification is:

[0114] The method of aspect 1, wherein the drawing tension T ranges from about 45 g to about 220 g.

[0115] Aspect 3 of this specification is:

[0116] In an aspect of aspect 1 or 2, the correlation constant K ranges from about -0.45 nm / g to about -3.25 nm / g.

[0117] Aspect 4 of this specification is:

[0118] The method of any of aspects 1-3, wherein the core radius r1 is approximately 25 μm, and wherein the width w1 of the depressed refractive index region is approximately 5 μm.

[0119] Aspect 5 of this specification is:

[0120] The method of any of aspects 1-3, wherein the core radius r1 is approximately 25.5 μm, and wherein the width w1 of the depressed refractive index region is approximately 4.5 μm.

[0121] Aspect 6 of this specification is:

[0122] The method of any one of aspects 1-5, wherein the peak wavelength λ P The range is from about 635 nm to about 1065 nm.

[0123] Aspect 7 of this specification is:

[0124] The method of any one of aspects 1-5, wherein the peak wavelength λ P The range is about 680 nm to about 1020 nm.

[0125] Aspect 8 of this specification is:

[0126] A method for manufacturing a multimode optical fiber, comprising:

[0127] A multimode optical fiber is drawn from the preform at a drawing tension T, the multimode optical fiber comprising a core and a cladding surrounding and directly adjacent to the core, the core having a radius r1 and a maximum relative refractive index Δ 1,最大值 >0, the cladding includes a depressed refractive index region having a minimum relative refractive index Δ 3,最小值 <0 and volume v, the multimode optical fiber has a peak wavelength λ P , where the multimode fiber has the maximum bandwidth;

[0128] The peak wavelength λ P With the selected target peak wavelength λ P,目标 By comparison, the peak wavelength λ P With the selected target peak wavelength λ P,目标 The difference in magnitude Δ λP By Δλ P =|λ P -λ P,t目标 | given; and

[0129] The change of the drawing tension T is the adjustment tension ΔT, and the adjustment tension ΔT is selected to change the peak wavelength λ P Thereby reducing the difference Δ λP ,

[0130] Among them, based on adjusting the tension ΔT and the difference size Δ λP The correlation is used to select the tension adjustment ΔT, wherein the correlation includes a correlation constant K, which is Δ 1,最大值 , r1, v, Δ 3,最小值 and λ P,目标 A function of at least one of .

[0131] Aspect 9 of this specification is:

[0132] The method of aspect 8, wherein the tension ΔT is adjusted to the difference Δλ P The associated correlation is defined as Δλ P =K*ΔT.

[0133] Aspect 10 of the present specification is:

[0134] The method of aspect 8 or 9, wherein the selected target peak wavelength λ P,目标is defined within a tuning range between λ1 and λ2, and wherein the difference between λ1 and λ2 is approximately 340 nm.

[0135] Aspect 11 of the present specification is:

[0136] The method of aspect 8 or 9, wherein the selected target peak wavelength λ P,目标 Defined between λ1 and λ2, and wherein the difference between λ1 and λ2 is approximately 430 nm.

[0137] Aspect 12 of this specification is:

[0138] The method of aspect 8 or 9, wherein the selected target peak wavelength λ P,目标 is defined within the tuning range between λ1 and λ2, and wherein the difference between λ1 and λ2 is approximately 560 nm.

[0139] Aspect 13 of this specification is:

[0140] The method of aspect 12, wherein λ1 is approximately 570 nm and λ2 is approximately 1130 nm.

[0141] Aspect 14 of this specification is:

[0142] The method of any of aspects 8-13, wherein the adjustment tension ΔT is defined between T1 and T2, wherein the difference between T1 and T2 is approximately 175 g.

[0143] Aspect 15 of the present specification is:

[0144] The method of aspect 14, wherein T1 is about 45 g and T2 is about 220 g.

[0145] Aspect 16 of the present specification is:

[0146] A multimode optical fiber, comprising:

[0147] A core having a core radius r1 in the range of about 25 μm to about 27 μm, wherein the core is doped to define a peak relative refractive index Δ 1,最大值 >0; and

[0148] A cladding surrounding and directly adjacent to the core, the cladding comprising a depressed refractive index region having a minimum relative refractive index Δ 3,最小值 <0 and width w , the width w1 ranges from about 4 μm to about 5 μm,

[0149] Among them, multimode optical fiber has a peak wavelength λ P , where the multimode fiber has the maximum bandwidth, the peak wavelength λ P is the peak relative refractive index Δ 1,最大值, core radius r1, width w1 of the depressed refractive index region and minimum relative refractive index Δ 3,最小值 A function of at least one of .

[0150] Aspect 17 of this specification is:

[0151] The multimode optical fiber of aspect 16, wherein the core radius r1 is approximately 25 μm and the groove width w1 is approximately 5 μm, and the tuning range is defined between λ1 and λ2, and wherein the difference between λ1 and λ2 is approximately 340 nm.

[0152] Aspect 18 of this specification is:

[0153] The multimode optical fiber of aspect 16, wherein the core radius r1 is approximately 24.1 μm and the groove width w1 is approximately 9.1 μm, and the tuning range is defined between λ1 and λ2, and wherein the difference between λ1 and λ2 is approximately 400 nm.

[0154] Aspect 19 of this specification is:

[0155] The multimode optical fiber of aspect 16, wherein the core radius r1 is approximately 25.5 μm and the groove width w1 is approximately 4.5 μm, and the tuning range is defined between λ1 and λ2, and wherein the difference between λ1 and λ2 is approximately 430 nm.

[0156] Aspect 20 of this specification is:

[0157] The multimode optical fiber of any one of aspects 16-19, wherein the peak wavelength λ P within a tuning range of about 570 nm to about 1130 nm, and wherein the tuning range is based on the draw tension and at least one of: Δ 1,最大值 , r1, w1, Δ 3,最小值 and λ P , the correlation between them.

[0158] Although exemplary embodiments and examples are given for illustration, the above description is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure and the appended claims in any way. Therefore, the embodiments and examples described above may be changed and improved without significantly departing from the spirit and various principles of the present disclosure. All these changes and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of protection of this specification and the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing a multimode optical fiber, comprising: Specify the peak wavelength λ for multimode fiber P , the peak wavelength λ P The wavelength corresponding to the maximum bandwidth of a multimode optical fiber, the multimode optical fiber comprising a core and a cladding surrounding and directly adjacent to the core, the core having a radius r1 and a maximum relative refractive index Δ 1,最大值 >0, the cladding includes a depressed refractive index region having a minimum relative refractive index Δ 3,最大值 <0 and volume v; Based on the peak wavelength λ P The draw tension T is selected for the multimode optical fiber by using a correlation associated with the draw tension T, wherein the correlation includes a correlation constant K, which is Δ 1,最大值 , r1, v, Δ 3,最小值 and λ P functions of ; and A multimode optical fiber is drawn from the preform at a drawing tension T.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein: The drawing tension T ranges from 45 g to 220 g.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the correlation constant K ranges from -0.45 nm / g to -3.25 nm / g.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein: The core radius r1 is 25 μm, and the width w1 of the depressed refractive index region is 5 μm.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein: Peak wavelength λ P The range is 680nm to 1020nm.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein: The core radius r1 is 25.5 μm, and the width w1 of the depressed refractive index region is 4.5 μm.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein: Peak wavelength λ P The range is 635nm to 1065nm.

8. A method for manufacturing a multimode optical fiber, comprising: A multimode optical fiber is drawn from the preform at a drawing tension T, the multimode optical fiber comprising a core and a cladding surrounding and directly adjacent to the core, the core having a radius r1 and a maximum relative refractive index Δ 1,最大值 >0, the cladding includes a depressed refractive index region having a minimum relative refractive index Δ 3,最小值 <0 and volume v, the multimode optical fiber has a peak wavelength λ P , where the multimode fiber has the maximum bandwidth; The peak wavelength λ P With the selected target peak wavelength λ P,目标 By comparison, the peak wavelength λ P With the selected target peak wavelength λ P,目标 The difference in magnitude Δλ P By Δλ P =|λ P -λ P,目标 |Given; as well as The change of the drawing tension T is the adjustment tension ΔT, and the adjustment tension ΔT is selected to change the peak wavelength λ P Thereby reducing the difference Δλ P , Among them, based on adjusting the tension ΔT and the difference size Δ λP The correlation is used to select the tension adjustment ΔT, wherein the correlation includes a correlation constant K, which is Δ 1,最大值 , r1, v, Δ 3,最小值 and λ P,目标 function.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein: Adjust the tension ΔT and the difference Δλ P The associated correlation is defined as Δλ P =K*ΔT.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein: Selected target peak wavelength λ P,目标 is defined within the tuning range between λ1 and λ2, and wherein the difference between λ1 and λ2 is 340 nm.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein: Selected target peak wavelength λ P,目标 Defined between λ1 and λ2, and wherein the difference between λ1 and λ2 is 430nm.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein: Selected target peak wavelength λ P,目标 is defined within the tuning range between λ1 and λ2, and wherein the difference between λ1 and λ2 is 560nm.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein: λ1 is 570 nm and λ2 is 1130 nm.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein: The adjustment tension ΔT is defined between T1 and T2, wherein the difference between T1 and T2 is 175 g.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein: T1 was 45 g and T2 was 220 g.

16. A multimode optical fiber prepared by the method according to any one of claims 1 to 15, the multimode optical fiber comprising: The core radius r1 ranges from 25 μm to 27 μm, where The core is doped to define the peak relative refractive index Δ 1,最大值 >0; as well as A cladding surrounding and directly adjacent to the core, the cladding comprising a depressed refractive index region having a minimum relative refractive index Δ 3,最小值 <0 and a groove width w1, wherein the groove width w1 ranges from 4 μm to 5 μm, Among them, multimode optical fiber has a peak wavelength λ P , where the multimode fiber has the maximum bandwidth, the peak wavelength λ P is the peak relative refractive index Δ 1,最大值 , core radius r1, groove width w1 of the depressed refractive index region and minimum relative refractive index Δ 3,最小值 function.

17. The multimode optical fiber according to claim 16, wherein: The core radius r1 is 25 μm and the groove width w1 is 5 μm, and the tuning range is defined between λ1 and λ2, and wherein the difference between λ1 and λ2 is 340 nm.

18. The multimode optical fiber according to claim 16, wherein: The core radius r1 is 25.5 μm and the groove width w1 is 4.5 μm, and the tuning range is defined between λ1 and λ2, and wherein the difference between λ1 and λ2 is 560 nm.

19. The multimode optical fiber according to claim 16, wherein: Peak wavelength λ P In a tuning range of 570 nm to 1130 nm, and wherein the tuning range is based on the draw tension and at least one of: Δ 1,最大值 , r1, w1, Δ 3,最小值 and λ P , the correlation between them.

20. A multimode optical fiber prepared by the method according to any one of claims 1 to 15, the multimode optical fiber comprising: The core radius r1 is 24.1 μm, where The core is doped to define the peak relative refractive index Δ 1,最大值 >0; as well as A cladding surrounding and directly adjacent to the core, the cladding comprising a depressed refractive index region having a minimum relative refractive index Δ 3,最小值 <0 and groove width w1, the groove width w1 is 6.1 μm, Among them, multimode optical fiber has a peak wavelength λ P , where the multimode fiber has the maximum bandwidth, the peak wavelength λ P is the peak relative refractive index Δ 1,最大值 , core radius r1, groove width w1 of the depressed refractive index region and minimum relative refractive index Δ 3,最小值 The function of Therein, the tuning range is limited between λ1 and λ2, and wherein the difference between λ1 and λ2 is 430 nm.

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