Optical fiber corrosion system and method

Abstract

This invention discloses an optical fiber etching system, comprising: an etching container having a reaction chamber and a reflux port and an optical fiber port respectively connected to the reaction chamber; the reaction chamber being used to hold an etching solution, and the optical fiber port being used for inserting the optical fiber to be processed into the held etching solution; a reflux pipeline having a vapor channel and an inlet and an outlet respectively connected to the vapor channel; the inlet of the reflux pipeline being connected to the reflux port of the etching container; and the reflux pipeline being inclined so that the outlet is higher than the inlet; a heating device for heating the etching solution in the etching container; a condensing device for cooling the etching vapor in the reflux pipeline; and a processing device for processing the etching vapor flowing out of the reflux pipeline, connected to the outlet of the vapor channel. This invention also discloses an optical fiber etching method based on the above system.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to optical fiber etching technology, and more particularly to an optical fiber etching system and method. Background Technology

[0002] With the continuous development of modern industrial technology, the demand for temperature strain measurement under high-temperature environments is increasing. In high-end manufacturing fields such as aerospace, nuclear energy, and petrochemicals, especially in large and critical equipment such as the skin, control surfaces, and aero engines of hypersonic vehicles, which often operate at extreme temperatures, the structural safety and performance stability of these components directly affect the reliability and safety of the entire system. Therefore, sensing technology capable of accurately monitoring strain changes under high-temperature conditions is crucial for applications in these fields. To achieve precise decoupling of the two parameters in fiber optic sensors, structural design modifications are necessary.

[0003] Existing methods for modifying optical fiber structures mainly include chemical etching and mechanical polishing. For example, Chinese patent application number CN201910619342.4 discloses an optical fiber etching container, which consists of a polytetrafluoroethylene test tube, a test tube rack, a one-dimensional electrically controlled translation stage, a fixture for the optical fiber to be processed, hydrofluoric acid solvent, an ultrasonic transducer, water, a plastic scraper, and a fume hood. The plastic scraper has small holes, the maximum size of which is equal to the size of the optical fiber cladding, and the size of the holes is adjusted by a return spring. The polytetrafluoroethylene test tube contains hydrofluoric acid solvent, is placed in the test tube rack, and is placed in the ultrasonic transducer containing water. The fixture for the optical fiber to be processed is fixed on the one-dimensional electrically controlled translation stage. All the above components are placed in a fume hood, and the plastic scraper is placed above the surface of the hydrofluoric acid solvent.

[0004] However, existing methods for chemically modifying optical fiber structures have at least the following drawbacks:

[0005] 1. Difficulty in controlling corrosion depth: Traditional chemical corrosion methods lack real-time monitoring, making it difficult to guarantee corrosion depth and uniformity;

[0006] 2. Corrosion rate is too low: Traditional methods have too low corrosion efficiency when dealing with high-hardness or corrosion-resistant materials, such as single-crystal materials like sapphire.

[0007] 3. Environmental pollution issues: Improper waste liquid treatment can cause environmental pollution, and traditional methods lack effective waste liquid recycling mechanisms;

[0008] 4. Insufficient safety: Harmful gases are easily generated during the corrosion process, and traditional processes lack adequate exhaust and safety protection measures;

[0009] 5. Immature heating devices: Some traditional methods reduce the diameter of optical fibers at local locations by heating and stretching them, but this is not very controllable, and traditional temperature control devices are not integrated into the optical fiber etching system. Summary of the Invention

[0010] To address the shortcomings of at least one of the prior art, the present invention provides an optical fiber etching system and method.

[0011] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is achieved through the following technical solution:

[0012] An optical fiber etching system, comprising:

[0013] The corrosion container has a reaction chamber and is provided with a reflux port and an optical fiber port respectively connected to the reaction chamber. The reaction chamber is used to hold the corrosion liquid, and the optical fiber port is used to allow the optical fiber to be processed to be inserted into the held corrosion liquid.

[0014] The reflux pipeline has a steam passage and is provided with an air inlet and an air outlet respectively connected to the steam passage. The air inlet of the reflux pipeline is connected to the reflux port of the corrosion container. The reflux pipeline is inclined so that the air outlet is higher than the air inlet.

[0015] A heating device is used to heat the corrosive liquid inside the corrosion container;

[0016] A condensation device is used to cool the corrosive vapor in the return pipeline;

[0017] The processing device is used to treat the corrosive vapor flowing out of the return pipeline and is connected to the outlet of the vapor channel.

[0018] Furthermore, the corrosion container also includes a container and a cap. The container has a cavity portion that is closed at one end and open at the other end along its own axial direction. The cap is detachably connected to the cavity opening of the container to form the reaction chamber together with the container. The reflux port and the optical fiber port are located in the cap.

[0019] Furthermore, the cap includes a connecting portion and an abutting portion. On the radial plane of the cap, the abutting portion is arranged around the radial periphery of the connecting portion. The connecting portion extends axially into the cavity of the receiving body, and the abutting portion extends away from the connecting portion to increase the connection area between each and the receiving body, thereby improving connection stability. When the cap is connected to the receiving body, the outer peripheral surface of the connecting portion connects to the cavity wall of the receiving body, and the bottom surface of the abutting portion abuts against the top surface of the opening of the receiving body.

[0020] Furthermore, the connecting part is provided with a connecting cavity, one end of which is connected to the cavity of the accommodating body to form part of the reaction chamber, and the other end of which is connected to the return port and the optical fiber port; the radial dimension of the connecting cavity is smaller than the radial dimension of the cavity.

[0021] Furthermore, the cavity opening of the container extends axially to form an opening that mates with the connecting portion of the cover. The cavity portion adopts a gradient structure at least at one end facing the opening. The radial dimension of the cavity portion at the gradient structure gradually decreases from the closed end to the open end until it is the same as the inner diameter of the opening.

[0022] Furthermore, the steam channel is composed of multiple expansion sections and multiple small sections, the radial dimension of the expansion sections is larger than the radial dimension of the small sections, and each expansion section and each small section are alternately connected along the axial direction of the steam channel.

[0023] Furthermore, the radial dimension of the expansion section first gradually increases and then gradually decreases along the axial direction of the steam channel.

[0024] Furthermore, the heating device includes a heating cavity, a heater, a heat-conducting plate, a heat insulation plug, a temperature sensor, and an electronic control module. The heater, heat-conducting plate, heat insulation plug, and electronic control module are all located below the heating cavity. The heat-conducting plate is disposed on the heater and is used to place the corrosion container. The electronic control module is electrically connected to the heater to control the heater. The heat insulation plug is disposed around the heating cavity to surround the corrosion container placed inside the heating cavity. The temperature sensor is used to monitor the temperature of the corrosion liquid in the corrosion container and is electrically connected to the electronic control module to feed back the monitored temperature to the electronic control module, so that the electronic control module can adjust the output current of the heater according to the monitored temperature to ensure that the temperature of the corrosion liquid is constant.

[0025] Furthermore, the condensation device includes a sealed cover, an inlet pipe, an outlet pipe, a water tank, and a water pump. The return pipe is located inside the sealed cover, with its inlet and outlet extending outside the sealed cover. The sealed cover forms a condensation cavity that encloses the return pipe, and an inlet connector and an outlet connector that are respectively connected to the condensation cavity. The inlet connector is connected to the water pump through the inlet pipe, the outlet connector is connected to the water tank through the outlet pipe, and the water pump is connected to the water tank.

[0026] Furthermore, the processing device includes a processing container, processing material, and connecting pipes. The processing material is disposed inside the processing container. One end of the connecting pipe is connected to the air outlet of the return pipe, and the other end extends into the processing container and extends to the vicinity of the bottom of the processing container. An exhaust port is provided near the top of the processing container.

[0027] Furthermore, the optical fiber etching system also includes:

[0028] The device includes a mounting frame, an optical fiber clamp, and a tubing clamp. The mounting frame is located next to the heating device, and the optical fiber clamp and tubing clamp are mounted on the mounting frame. The optical fiber clamp is used to hold the optical fiber to be processed to fix the relative position between the optical fiber to be processed and the etching container. The tubing clamp is used to hold the return tubing to fix the relative position between the return tubing and the etching container.

[0029] Furthermore, the optical fiber etching system also includes:

[0030] The monitoring device includes a spectral demodulator and a host computer. The spectral demodulator is coupled to the optical fiber to be processed, and the host computer is electrically connected to the spectral demodulator.

[0031] Furthermore, the optical fiber etching system also includes:

[0032] The filtration device includes a sealed chamber, a fan, and a filter. The corrosion container, return pipeline, heating device, condensation device, and processing device are all located in the sealed chamber. The sealed chamber and the filter are connected by the fan.

[0033] An optical fiber etching method includes the following steps:

[0034] Step 200: Insert the etched section of the optical fiber to be processed into the etch solution through the fiber port of the etch container;

[0035] Step 300: Start the heating device and the condensing device, so that the heating device heats the corrosive liquid in the corrosion container and the condensing device cools the corrosive vapor in the return pipeline;

[0036] Step 400: When the etched section of the optical fiber to be processed is etched to the target diameter, remove the etched section of the optical fiber to be processed from the etching container.

[0037] Furthermore, the optical fiber etching method includes the following steps:

[0038] Step 100: Form fiber optic devices in the etched section of the optical fiber to be processed;

[0039] In step 400, a monitoring device is used to acquire the real-time spectrum of the optical fiber to be processed. When the similarity between the real-time spectrum of the optical fiber to be processed and the preset target spectrum reaches a preset threshold, it is determined that the etched section of the optical fiber to be processed has been etched to the target diameter.

[0040] The present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0041] The optical fiber etching system of the present invention integrates the heating device to heat the etching solution in the etching container, thereby increasing the temperature of the etching solution and accelerating the etching rate of the optical fiber to be processed. A return port is provided on the etching container and connected to the return pipeline, allowing the corrosion vapor generated during the heating of the etching solution to enter the return pipeline. In the return pipeline, the vapor is cooled by the condensing device and re-liquefied into the etching solution, which then flows back into the etching container. The unliquefied corrosion vapor in the return pipeline enters the processing device for harmless treatment, preventing the corrosion vapor generated during the heating of the etching solution from overflowing and polluting the surrounding environment. This achieves efficient and safe corrosion modification of the optical fiber structure.

[0042] The optical fiber corrosion system of the present invention integrates the monitoring device to monitor the real-time spectrum of the optical fiber to be processed during the corrosion process, thereby determining the corrosion status of the optical fiber to be processed and improving the corrosion accuracy. Attached Figure Description

[0043] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the optical fiber etching system provided by the present invention.

[0044] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the corrosion container in the optical fiber corrosion system provided by the present invention.

[0045] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the heating device in the optical fiber etching system provided by the present invention.

[0046] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of another optical fiber etching system provided by the present invention.

[0047] Figure 5 A flowchart illustrating the steps of the optical fiber etching method provided by this invention.

[0048] Figure 6 A flowchart illustrating the steps of another optical fiber etching method provided by the present invention.

[0049] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the structural changes of the optical fiber to be processed in the optical fiber etching method provided by the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0050] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments, examples of which are shown in the drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and intended to explain the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0051] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "length", "width", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this invention.

[0052] Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," and "third" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first," "second," or "third" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this invention, "multiple" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0053] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," "fixing," and "setting," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0054] Example 1

[0055] like Figure 1 As shown, an optical fiber etching system includes:

[0056] The corrosion container 1 has a reaction chamber 11 and is provided with a reflux port 12 and an optical fiber port 13 respectively connected to the reaction chamber 11. The reaction chamber 11 is used to hold the corrosion liquid 14, and the optical fiber port 13 is used to allow the optical fiber a to be processed to extend into the corrosive liquid 14.

[0057] The return pipe 2 has a steam passage 21 and is provided with an air inlet 22 and an air outlet 23 respectively connected to the steam passage 21. The air inlet 22 of the return pipe 2 is connected to the return port 12 of the corrosion container 1. The return pipe 2 is inclined so that the air outlet 23 is higher than the air inlet 22.

[0058] Heating device 3 is used to heat the corrosive liquid 14 in the corrosion container 1;

[0059] The condensation device 4 is used to cool the corrosive vapor in the return pipe 2;

[0060] The processing device 5 is used to process the corrosive vapor flowing out of the return pipe 2 and is connected to the outlet 23 of the steam channel 21.

[0061] The optical fiber etching system of the present invention integrates the heating device 3 to heat the etching solution 14 in the etching container 1, thereby increasing the temperature of the etching solution 14 and accelerating the etching rate of the optical fiber a to be processed. A return port 12 is opened on the etching container 1 and connected to the return pipe 2, allowing the corrosion vapor generated when the etching solution 14 is heated to enter the return pipe 2. In the return pipe 2, the vapor is cooled by the condensing device 4, thus re-liquefying into the etching solution 14 and returning to the etching container 1. The unliquefied corrosion vapor in the return pipe 2 enters the processing device 5 for harmless treatment, preventing the corrosion vapor generated when the etching solution 14 is heated from overflowing and polluting the surrounding environment. This achieves efficient and safe corrosion modification of the optical fiber structure.

[0062] like Figure 2 As shown, the corrosion container 1 further includes a housing 15 and a capping body 16. The housing 15 has a cavity 151 with one end closed and the other end open along its own axial direction. The capping body 16 is detachably connected to the cavity opening 152 of the housing 15 to jointly construct the reaction chamber 11 with the housing 15. The reflux port 12 and the optical fiber port 13 are located in the capping body 16.

[0063] The container 15 can be cylindrical, box-shaped, spherical, ellipsoidal, flat, or other shapes. In some examples, the container 15 is made of a corrosion-resistant transparent material, or partially made of a corrosion-resistant transparent material, so that the operator can easily observe the heating of the etching solution 14 in the etching container 1 and the etching of the optical fiber a to be processed.

[0064] The container 15 and the cover 16 can be rotated through a threaded structure, snapped together through a snap-fit ​​structure, or frictionally connected through an interference fit structure.

[0065] The cap 16 includes a connecting portion 161 and an abutting portion 162. On the radial plane of the cap 16, the abutting portion 162 is arranged around the radial periphery of the connecting portion 161. The connecting portion 161 extends axially into the cavity 151 of the receiving body 15, and the abutting portion 162 extends away from the connecting portion 161 to increase the connection area between each and the receiving body 15, thereby improving connection stability. When the cap 16 is connected to the receiving body 15, the outer peripheral surface of the connecting portion 161 connects to the cavity wall of the receiving body 15, and the bottom surface of the abutting portion 162 abuts against the top surface of the opening of the receiving body 15.

[0066] The connecting portion 161 is provided with a connecting cavity 163. One end of the connecting cavity 163 is connected to the cavity 151 of the container 15 to form part of the reaction chamber 11. The other end of the connecting cavity 163 is connected to the return port 12 and the optical fiber port 13. The radial dimension of the connecting cavity 163 is smaller than the radial dimension of the cavity 151. According to the Bernoulli effect, the flow velocity increases when the fluid enters the small channel from the large channel. Therefore, when the corrosive vapor generated by heating the corrosive liquid 14 enters the connecting cavity 163 with a smaller radial dimension from the cavity 151 with a larger radial dimension, the flow velocity increases, thereby improving the efficiency of discharge from the return pipe 2.

[0067] The cavity opening 152 of the container 15 extends axially to form an opening 153 that mates with the connecting portion 161 of the capping body 16. The cavity 151 has a gradient structure 154 at least at one end facing the opening 153. The radial dimension of the cavity 151 at the gradient structure 154 gradually decreases from the closed end to the open end until it is the same as the inner diameter of the opening 153. This ensures that the cavity 151 has sufficient volume to hold the corrosive liquid 14, while also reducing the size of the capping body 16. It also allows the flow rate of the corrosive vapor to gradually increase rather than suddenly increase when it enters the connecting cavity 163 of the capping body 16.

[0068] Preferably, both the outer peripheral surface of the connecting portion 161 and the inner peripheral surface of the opening portion 153 are provided with frosted microstructures to increase the friction between them, thereby improving the connection stability.

[0069] like Figure 1As shown, the steam channel 21 is composed of multiple expansion sections 211 and multiple narrow sections 212. The radial dimension of the expansion section 211 is larger than that of the narrow section 212, and each expansion section 211 and each narrow section 212 are sequentially and alternately connected along the axial direction of the steam channel 21. This allows the corrosive steam to decrease in velocity each time it flows from the narrow section 212 into the adjacent expansion section 211, thereby increasing the residence time of the corrosive steam in each expansion section 211 and thus increasing the cooling time of the corrosive steam by the condensing device 4.

[0070] Preferably, the radial dimension of the expansion section 211 gradually increases and then gradually decreases along the axial direction of the steam channel 21 to form a shape such as a sphere, an ellipsoid, or a cube.

[0071] The air inlet 22 of the return pipe 2 is connected to the return port 12 of the corrosion container 1 through a first bend 24. The first bend 24 can change the connection direction so that the axial direction of the return pipe 2 is inclined at a certain angle relative to the axial direction of the corrosion container 1, so as to ensure the inclination angle of the return pipe 2.

[0072] The radial dimension of the first bend 24 gradually decreases from the end connected to the return pipe 2 to the end connected to the corrosion container 1, so as to facilitate the collection of return liquid and increase the contact area and improve condensation efficiency.

[0073] like Figure 3 The heating device 3 includes a heating cavity 31, a heater 32, a heat-conducting plate 33, a heat-insulating plug 34, and an electronic control module 35. The heater 32, the heat-conducting plate 33, the heat-insulating plug 34, and the electronic control module 35 are all located below the heating cavity 31. The heat-conducting plate 33 is disposed on the heater 32 and is used to place the corrosion container 1. The electronic control module 35 is electrically connected to the heater 32 to control the heater 32. The heat-insulating plug 34 is disposed around the periphery of the heating cavity 31 to surround the corrosion container 1 placed inside the heating cavity 31.

[0074] The top of the heating chamber 31 is provided with an opening so that the cover 16 of the corrosion container 1 inside the heating chamber 31 can extend out.

[0075] The heat-conducting plate 33 is used to evenly conduct the heat generated by the energizer 32 to the bottom of the corrosion container 1, so as to evenly heat the corrosion liquid 14 in the corrosion container 1. The heat insulation plug 34 is used to reduce the heat loss of the corrosion container 1 and isolate the corrosion container 1 from the outside world to prevent the operator from touching the corrosion container 1 and improve safety.

[0076] Preferably, the heating device 3 further includes a temperature sensor, such as a thermocouple, for monitoring the temperature of the corrosive liquid 14 in the corrosion container 1, and is electrically connected to the electronic control module 35 to feed back the monitored temperature to the electronic control module 35, so that the electronic control module 35 can adjust the output current of the heater 32 according to the monitored temperature to ensure that the temperature of the corrosive liquid 14 is constant.

[0077] In some examples, the temperature sensor is bonded to the outer wall of the corrosion container 1 with a thermally conductive adhesive such as thermally conductive grease, so as to monitor the temperature of the corrosion liquid 14 through the outer wall of the corrosion container 1; in some examples, the temperature sensor is disposed through the corrosion container 1 and sealed to the corrosion container 1 with sealant, so as to extend directly into the corrosion liquid 14 to monitor the temperature.

[0078] The condensation device 4 can use water cooling or air cooling to cool the corrosive vapor in the return pipe 2. In this embodiment, as... Figure 1 As shown, the condensing device 4 includes a sealed cover 41, a water inlet pipe 42, a water outlet pipe 43, a water tank 44, and a water pump 45. The return pipe 2 is located inside the sealed cover 41, with its air inlet 22 and air outlet 23 extending outside the sealed cover 41. The sealed cover 41 forms a condensing cavity 410 that encloses the return pipe 2, and a water inlet connector 411 and a water outlet connector 412 that are respectively connected to the condensing cavity 410. The water inlet connector 411 is connected to the water pump 45 through the water inlet pipe 42, and the water outlet connector 412 is connected to the water tank 44 through the water outlet pipe 43. The water pump 45 is connected to the water tank 44.

[0079] When cooling the corrosive vapor in the return pipe 2, the water pump 45 draws out the coolant from the water tank 44 and pumps it through the inlet pipe 42 into the sealed space between the enclosure 41 and the return pipe 2, so that the coolant absorbs the heat of the corrosive vapor in the return pipe 2. As the water pump 45 pumps, the coolant that has absorbed the heat is pumped back into the water tank 44 through the outlet pipe 43, completing the heat exchange.

[0080] Preferably, the water inlet connector 411 is located on the sealed cover 41 near the air inlet 22 of the return pipe 2, and the water outlet connector 412 is located on the sealed cover 41 near the air outlet 23 of the return pipe 2, so that the coolant in the sealed cover 41 can cover the entire steam passage 21 of the return pipe 2 as much as possible.

[0081] like Figure 1As shown, the processing device 5 includes a processing container 51, a processing material 52, and a connecting pipe 53. The processing material 52 is disposed inside the processing container 51. One end of the connecting pipe 53 is connected to the air outlet 23 of the return pipe 2, and the other end passes into the processing container 51 and extends to the vicinity of the bottom of the processing container 51. An exhaust port 511 is provided near the top of the processing container 51.

[0082] The treatment device 5 has the exhaust port 511 located near the top of the treatment container 51 and the connecting pipe 53 extended to near the bottom of the treatment container 51. In this way, after the corrosive vapor enters the treatment container 51 through the connecting pipe 53, it can rise from the bottom of the treatment material 52 to the top of the treatment material 52 and finally be discharged from the exhaust port 511. This increases the residence time of the corrosive vapor in the treatment container 51 and the contact time between the corrosive vapor and the treatment material 52, thereby improving the efficiency of harmless treatment.

[0083] The specific material of the treatment material 52 should be determined according to the specific material of the corrosive liquid 14. Any material that can react chemically, specifically bind to or physically adsorb harmful substances in the corrosive vapor is acceptable.

[0084] The outlet 23 of the return pipe 2 is connected to the connecting pipe 53 by a second bend 25. The second bend 25 can change the connection direction so that the axis of the connecting pipe 53 is vertical relative to the axis of the corrosion container 1, so as to ensure the verticality of the connecting pipe 53.

[0085] Preferably, the optical fiber etching system further includes:

[0086] The device includes a mounting frame (not shown in the figure), an optical fiber clamp (not shown in the figure), and a pipe clamp (not shown in the figure). The mounting frame is located next to the heating device 3. The optical fiber clamp and the pipe clamp are mounted on the mounting frame. The optical fiber clamp is used to clamp the optical fiber to be processed a to fix the relative position between the optical fiber to be processed a and the etching container 1. The pipe clamp is used to clamp the return pipe 2 to fix the relative position between the return pipe 2 and the etching container 1.

[0087] Meanwhile, a corrosion-resistant sealant is applied between the return pipe 2 and the return port 12 of the cover body 16, so that the fixing frame can also apply a certain downward pressure to the cover body 16 through the return pipe 2, so as to prevent the cover body 16 from being pushed open by the high temperature and high pressure corrosive vapor in the corrosion container 1.

[0088] Example 2

[0089] As an optimization of Embodiment 1, in this embodiment, such as Figure 1 As shown, the optical fiber etching system further includes:

[0090] The monitoring device 6 is used to monitor the real-time spectrum of the optical fiber a to be processed, and is connected to the optical fiber a to be processed.

[0091] The monitoring device 6 includes a spectral demodulator 61 and a host computer 62. The spectral demodulator 61 is coupled to the optical fiber a to be processed, and the host computer 62 is electrically connected to the spectral demodulator 61.

[0092] The optical fiber corrosion system of the present invention integrates the monitoring device to monitor the real-time spectrum of the optical fiber to be processed during the corrosion process, thereby determining the corrosion status of the optical fiber to be processed and improving the corrosion accuracy.

[0093] Before etching, an optical fiber device is fabricated in the etched section of the optical fiber a to be processed. This optical fiber device can be, but is not limited to, a fiber grating, a fiber microcavity, or a weak reflection point in the fiber. During etching, the spectrometer demodulator 61 emits a monitoring light signal into the optical fiber a to be processed and receives the reflected light signal modulated by the optical fiber device. The reflected light signal is then demodulated to obtain the resonant spectrum of the optical fiber device, which serves as the real-time spectrum of the optical fiber a to be processed. During etching, as the diameter of the etched section a1 of the optical fiber a to be processed gradually decreases, the higher-order modes of the optical fiber a1 gradually decrease, and the bandwidth and resonant peaks of the real-time spectrum change. The host computer 62 is responsible for comparing the real-time spectrum of the optical fiber a to be processed with a preset target spectrum, calculating their similarity. When the similarity reaches a preset threshold, the operator is prompted to end the etching process.

[0094] Alternatively, a lifting platform can be added between the fixing frame and the optical fiber clamp. When the calculated similarity reaches a preset threshold, the host computer 62 sends a control command to the lifting platform to control the lifting platform to rise, thereby automatically removing the optical fiber a to be processed from the etching container 1.

[0095] Example 3

[0096] As an optimization of Embodiment 1 or Embodiment 2, in this embodiment, such as Figure 4 As shown, the optical fiber etching system further includes:

[0097] The filtration device 7 includes a sealed chamber 71, a fan 72, and a filter 73. The corrosion container 1, the return pipeline 2, the heating device 3, the condensing device 4, and the processing device 5 are all located in the sealed chamber 71. The sealed chamber 71 and the filter 73 are connected by the fan 72.

[0098] The corrosive vapor discharged after treatment by the treatment device 5, as well as the corrosive vapor leaked from the connection points of the corrosion container 1, return pipeline 2, heating device 3, condensing device 4 and treatment device 5, are sent to the filter 73 by the fan 72 in the sealed chamber 71 to further filter out harmful impurities in the corrosive vapor, so as to ensure environmental safety and cleanliness.

[0099] In some examples, the sealed chamber 71 is made of a corrosion-resistant transparent material, or partially made of a corrosion-resistant transparent material, so that the operator can observe the heating of the etching liquid 14 and the corrosion of the optical fiber a to be processed through the sealed chamber 71.

[0100] The monitoring device 6 is located outside the sealed chamber 71 and passes through the sealed chamber 71, thereby being coupled and connected to the optical fiber a to be processed.

[0101] In some examples, the water tank 44 and water pump 45 of the condensation device 4 may be integrated into the bottom or other side of the sealed chamber 71.

[0102] Example 4

[0103] like Figure 5 and 7 As shown, an optical fiber etching method is used in the optical fiber etching system described in Embodiment 1, Embodiment 2, or Embodiment 3; the optical fiber etching method includes the following steps:

[0104] Step 200: Insert the etched section a1 of the optical fiber a to be processed into the etch solution 14 through the optical fiber port 13 of the etch container 1.

[0105] Step 300: Start the heating device 3 and the condensing device 4, so that the heating device 3 heats the corrosive liquid 14 in the corrosion container 1, and the condensing device 4 cools the corrosive vapor in the return pipeline 2.

[0106] Step 400: When the etched section a1 of the optical fiber a to be processed is etched to the target diameter, the etched section a1 of the optical fiber a to be processed is removed from the etching container 1.

[0107] Example 5

[0108] As an optimization of Embodiment 1, in this embodiment, such as Figure 6 and 7 As shown, the optical fiber etching method includes the following steps:

[0109] Step 100: Fabricate fiber device a5 in the etched section a1 of the optical fiber a to be processed;

[0110] In step 400, the monitoring device 6 is used to acquire the real-time spectrum of the optical fiber a to be processed. When the similarity between the real-time spectrum of the optical fiber a to be processed and the preset target spectrum reaches a preset threshold, it is determined that the etched section a1 of the optical fiber a to be processed has been etched to the target diameter.

[0111] The fiber optic device a5 may be, but is not limited to, a fiber optic grating, a fiber optic microcavity, or a fiber optic weak reflection point, and may be, but is not limited to, fabricated using femtosecond laser direct writing, carbon dioxide laser ablation, or ultraviolet phase masking.

[0112] Preferably, a protective tube b is fixedly fitted over the non-corroded section a2 of the optical fiber a to be processed. The protective tube b is a rigid tube body, which can increase the diameter and hardness of the optical fiber a at the non-corroded section a2 to facilitate clamping and fixing.

[0113] Preferably, the optical fiber to be processed a and the protective tube b are made of different materials, so that the optical fiber to be processed a and the protective tube b can be corroded by different solutions respectively. That is, there is at least one corrosive liquid 14 that can only corrode the optical fiber to be processed a and cannot corrode the protective tube b, and there is also at least one stripping liquid that can only corrode the protective tube b and cannot corrode the optical fiber to be processed a.

[0114] For example, if the optical fiber to be processed, a, is made of quartz, and the protective tube, b, is made of crystal materials such as sapphire, zirconium oxide, or lutetium oxide, then the etching solution 14 may be, but is not limited to, hydrofluoric acid, and the stripping solution may be, but is not limited to, a mixture of sulfuric acid and phosphoric acid; if the optical fiber to be processed, a, is made of crystal materials such as sapphire, zirconium oxide, or lutetium oxide, and the protective tube, b, is made of quartz, then the etching solution 14 may be, but is not limited to, a mixture of sulfuric acid and phosphoric acid, and the stripping solution may be, but is not limited to, hydrofluoric acid.

[0115] In this way, when the optical fiber to be processed a is inserted into the corrosion container 1, the corrosion section a1 of the optical fiber to be processed a can be completely immersed in the corrosion liquid 14, while the non-corrosion section a2 of the optical fiber to be processed a located above the corrosion liquid 14 will not be corroded by the corrosion liquid or corrosion vapor due to the protection of the protective tube b; and after the corrosion section a1 is processed, the protective tube b outside the optical fiber to be processed is corroded and peeled off using the stripping liquid.

[0116] And during the corrosion process, such as Figure 7 As shown, as the etchant 14 corrodes the etched section a1 of the optical fiber a to be processed, the diameter of the etched section a1 gradually decreases. Meanwhile, the end side a3 of the non-etched section a2 protected by the protective tube b, which is close to the etched section a1, gradually becomes exposed. The exposed end side a3 is further corroded after contacting the etchant 14 or corrosive vapor, causing the end of the non-etched section a2 close to the etched section a1 to also be corroded by the etchant 14 or corrosive vapor. Moreover, the closer the end is to the etched section a1, the greater the degree of corrosion and the smaller the diameter. Finally, a tapered transition section a4 with a gradually changing diameter is formed at the end of the non-etched section a2 close to the etched section a1.

[0117] If the optical fiber a to be processed is a crystal fiber without a cladding structure, such as sapphire fiber, zirconium oxide fiber, lutetium oxide fiber, or YAG fiber, then the tapered section a4 can reduce the high coupling loss caused by the change in fiber diameter when the optical signal enters the etched section a1 from the non-etched section a2, thereby improving the spectral signal-to-noise ratio of the optical fiber a to be processed.

[0118] Preferably, in order to avoid exciting leaked higher-order modes and causing significant optical loss, the cone angle of the tapered section a4 should be reduced as much as possible to improve the spectral signal-to-noise ratio of the optical fiber a to be processed. The diameter change rate of the tapered section a4 satisfies the following formula:

[0119]

[0120] Wherein, β1 is the local propagation constant of the fundamental mode of the optical fiber a to be processed, β2 is the local propagation constant of the higher-order modes of the optical fiber a to be processed, and dr is the diameter change of the tapered gradient segment a4 within a unit length dl.

[0121] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention and not to limit them. Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications or equivalent substitutions can still be made to the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, and these modifications or equivalent substitutions cannot cause the modified technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. An optical fiber etching system, characterized in that, include: The corrosion container has a reaction chamber and is provided with a reflux port and an optical fiber port respectively connected to the reaction chamber. The reaction chamber is used to hold the corrosion liquid, and the optical fiber port is used to allow the optical fiber to be processed to be inserted into the held corrosion liquid. The reflux pipeline has a steam passage and is provided with an air inlet and an air outlet respectively connected to the steam passage. The air inlet of the reflux pipeline is connected to the reflux port of the corrosion container. The reflux pipeline is inclined so that the air outlet is higher than the air inlet. A heating device is used to heat the corrosive liquid inside the corrosion container; A condensation device is used to cool the corrosive vapor in the return pipeline; A treatment device is used to treat the corrosive vapor flowing out of the return pipeline and is connected to the outlet of the vapor channel. The steam channel is composed of multiple expansion sections and multiple narrow sections. The radial dimension of the expansion sections is larger than that of the narrow sections, and each expansion section and each narrow section are alternately connected along the axial direction of the steam channel. The radial dimension of the expansion sections first gradually increases and then gradually decreases along the axial direction of the steam channel. The heating device includes a heating cavity, a heating element, a heat-conducting plate, a heat insulation plug, a temperature sensor, and an electronic control module. The heating element, the heat-conducting plate, the heat insulation plug, and the electronic control module are all located below the heating cavity. The heat-conducting plate is disposed on the heating element and is used to place the corrosion container. The electronic control module is electrically connected to the heater to control the heater; the heat insulation plug is disposed around the heating cavity to surround the corrosion container placed inside the heating cavity; the temperature sensor is used to monitor the temperature of the corrosion liquid in the corrosion container and is electrically connected to the electronic control module to feed back the monitored temperature to the electronic control module, so that the electronic control module can adjust the output current of the heater according to the monitored temperature to ensure that the temperature of the corrosion liquid is constant.

2. The optical fiber etching system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The corrosion container further includes a container and a cap. The container has a cavity portion that is closed at one end and open at the other end along its own axial direction. The cap is detachably connected to the cavity opening of the container to form the reaction chamber together with the container. The reflux port and the optical fiber port are located in the cap.

3. The optical fiber etching system according to claim 2, characterized in that, The cap includes a connecting portion and an abutting portion. On the radial plane of the cap, the abutting portion is arranged around the radial periphery of the connecting portion. The connecting portion extends axially into the cavity of the receiving body, and the abutting portion extends away from the connecting portion. When the cap is connected to the receiving body, the outer peripheral surface of the connecting portion is connected to the cavity wall of the receiving body, and the bottom surface of the abutting portion abuts against the top surface of the opening of the receiving body.

4. The optical fiber etching system according to claim 3, characterized in that, The connecting part is provided with a connecting cavity. One end of the connecting cavity is connected to the cavity of the container to form part of the reaction chamber. The other end of the connecting cavity is connected to the return port and the optical fiber port. The radial dimension of the connecting cavity is smaller than the radial dimension of the cavity.

5. The optical fiber etching system according to claim 4, characterized in that, The cavity opening of the container extends axially to form an opening that mates with the connecting portion of the cover. The cavity has a gradient structure at least at one end facing the opening. The radial dimension of the cavity at the gradient structure gradually decreases from the closed end to the open end until it is the same as the inner diameter of the opening.

6. The optical fiber etching system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The condensation device includes a sealed cover, an inlet pipe, an outlet pipe, a water tank, and a water pump. The return pipe is located inside the sealed cover, with its inlet and outlet extending outside the sealed cover. The sealed cover forms a condensation cavity that encloses the return pipe, and an inlet connector and an outlet connector that are respectively connected to the condensation cavity. The inlet connector is connected to the water pump through the inlet pipe, the outlet connector is connected to the water tank through the outlet pipe, and the water pump is connected to the water tank.

7. The optical fiber etching system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The processing device includes a processing container, processing material, and connecting pipes. The processing material is disposed inside the processing container. One end of the connecting pipe is connected to the air outlet of the return pipe, and the other end passes into the processing container and extends to the vicinity of the bottom of the processing container. An exhaust port is provided near the top of the processing container.

8. The optical fiber etching system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The optical fiber etching system also includes: The device includes a mounting frame, an optical fiber clamp, and a tubing clamp. The mounting frame is located next to the heating device, and the optical fiber clamp and tubing clamp are mounted on the mounting frame. The optical fiber clamp is used to hold the optical fiber to be processed to fix the relative position between the optical fiber to be processed and the etching container. The tubing clamp is used to hold the return tubing to fix the relative position between the return tubing and the etching container.

9. The optical fiber etching system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The optical fiber etching system also includes: The monitoring device includes a spectral demodulator and a host computer. The spectral demodulator is coupled to the optical fiber to be processed, and the host computer is electrically connected to the spectral demodulator.

10. The optical fiber etching system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The optical fiber etching system also includes: The filtration device includes a sealed chamber, a fan, and a filter. The corrosion container, return pipeline, heating device, condensation device, and processing device are all located in the sealed chamber. The sealed chamber and the filter are connected by the fan.

11. A method for etching optical fibers, characterized in that, The optical fiber etching system according to claim 1; the optical fiber etching method includes the following steps: Step 200: Insert the etched section of the optical fiber to be processed into the etch solution through the fiber port of the etch container; Step 300: Start the heating device and the condensing device, so that the heating device heats the corrosive liquid in the corrosion container and the condensing device cools the corrosive vapor in the return pipeline; Step 400: When the etched section of the optical fiber to be processed is etched to the target diameter, remove the etched section of the optical fiber to be processed from the etching container.

12. The optical fiber etching method according to claim 11, characterized in that, The optical fiber etching method includes the following steps: Step 100: Form fiber optic devices in the etched section of the optical fiber to be processed; In step 400, a monitoring device is used to acquire the real-time spectrum of the optical fiber to be processed. When the similarity between the real-time spectrum of the optical fiber to be processed and the preset target spectrum reaches a preset threshold, it is determined that the etched section of the optical fiber to be processed has been etched to the target diameter.

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