Optical fiber patch cord for high-power laser transmission and manufacturing method

Abstract

The invention provides an optical fiber patch cord for high-power laser transmission, which comprises a transmission optical fiber and two sections of solid protection optical fibers, and the transmission optical fiber is constructed into a hollow-core optical fiber with an optical transmission channel and is suitable for guiding laser to propagate along the extension direction of the transmission optical fiber. The two sections of solid protection optical fibers are welded to the two ends of the transmission optical fiber respectively and are configured to block an optical transmission channel of the transmission optical fiber and allow laser to penetrate through so as to enter the transmission optical fiber.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the technical field of optical fiber and laser transmission, and more specifically, to an optical fiber jumper for high-power laser transmission and a manufacturing method thereof. Background Art

[0002] In recent years, high-power laser technology has made significant progress, with output power continuously increasing and application areas continuously expanding. In the field of industrial processing, it is mainly used in laser cutting, welding, punching surface treatment, etc., with the advantages of high precision, high efficiency, and small heat-affected zone. In the medical field, it is mainly used in laser surgery, laser beauty, laser therapy, etc., with the advantages of less trauma, less bleeding, and faster recovery. In the field of scientific research, it is mainly used in laser nuclear fusion, laser accelerators, laser spectroscopy, etc. However, the transmission and control of high-power lasers is still one of the key technical bottlenecks that limit their widespread application.

[0003] Traditional fiber optic transmission methods cannot withstand the thermal and nonlinear effects brought by high-power lasers, which can easily lead to fiber damage and beam quality degradation. Therefore, the development of efficient, stable and reliable high-power laser transmission technology has become a current research hotspot. At present, there is a free space transmission method, which uses optical elements such as reflectors and lenses to transmit lasers in the air. Although the structure is simple, it is greatly affected by the environment and the transmission distance is limited.

[0004] In order to overcome the limitations of free space transmission, hollow core optical fiber is used in related technologies to transmit high-power lasers. It has low nonlinear effects, low thermal effects, and high damage thresholds, and can achieve longer distances, higher power transmission, and maintain beam quality. In the coupling process of high-power lasers and hollow core optical fibers, spatial optical coupling is usually used, such as direct coupling with hollow core optical fibers or welding with large quartz end caps. The former cannot protect the hollow core optical fiber, and it is easy to cause dust and gas to invade the optical fiber, causing increased optical fiber loss. The latter is large in size, difficult to weld, and will produce high end face reflection, which has an adverse effect on the normal operation of the device. Summary of the invention

[0005] In view of this, the present disclosure provides a fiber optic patch cord for high-power laser transmission, which realizes low nonlinear transmission of high-power laser by adopting hollow-core optical fiber as the main structure, and at the same time encapsulates both ends of the hollow-core optical fiber to effectively avoid the influence of impurities and other adverse environmental conditions and reduce the loss of the hollow-core optical fiber.

[0006] One aspect of the present disclosure provides an optical fiber jumper for high-power laser transmission, including a transmission optical fiber, which is constructed as a hollow-core optical fiber with an optical transmission channel, suitable for guiding laser light to propagate along the extension direction of the transmission optical fiber; two sections of solid protective optical fiber are respectively fused to the two ends of the transmission optical fiber, and are configured to block the optical transmission channel in the transmission optical fiber and allow laser light to pass through to enter the transmission optical fiber.

[0007] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, it also includes a connector located between the above-mentioned transmission optical fiber and the above-mentioned protection optical fiber, the above-mentioned connector is constructed as a hollow tubular structure, the above-mentioned transmission optical fiber is fused to the first end of the above-mentioned connector, and the first end of the above-mentioned protection optical fiber is embedded in the second end of the above-mentioned connector and fused to the second end of the above-mentioned connector.

[0008] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the outer diameter of the connector is equal to the outer diameter of the transmission optical fiber, and the inner diameter of the connector is equal to the outer diameter of the protection optical fiber.

[0009] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the distance between the center of the end face of the first end of the protection optical fiber and the center of the end face of the transmission optical fiber is L1, the length of the protection optical fiber is L2, and L1+L2≤1mm.

[0010] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, an angle α is formed between the end face of the first end of the protective optical fiber and the end face of the transmission optical fiber, and α is an acute angle.

[0011] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the end face of the second end of the protective optical fiber is parallel to the end face of the first end.

[0012] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the protective optical fiber is constructed as a solid-core tubular structure made of quartz material.

[0013] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the interior of the optical transmission channel of the above-mentioned transmission optical fiber is configured to have a vacuum medium or a gas medium whose refractive index is less than or equal to the refractive index of air.

[0014] Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a manufacturing method for manufacturing the optical fiber jumper in any of the above embodiments, comprising: fusing two sections of protective optical fiber to two ends of the transmission optical fiber respectively.

[0015] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, it also includes: fusing the above-mentioned transmission optical fiber with the first end of the connector; grinding or cutting the first end of the above-mentioned protective optical fiber to form an angle α with the end face of the above-mentioned transmission optical fiber, and embedding the second end of the above-mentioned connector; fusing the above-mentioned connector with the first end of the above-mentioned protective optical fiber, and grinding or cutting the second end of the above-mentioned protective optical fiber to be parallel to the first end.

[0016] The fiber jumper for high-power laser transmission provided by the present disclosure adopts a hollow-core optical fiber with an optical transmission channel as the main body of the fiber jumper, and has the advantages of low nonlinear effect, low delay, low loss and high damage threshold when transmitting high-power laser. At the same time, the protective optical fiber is used to encapsulate both ends of the transmission optical fiber, which can isolate the optical transmission channel of the transmission optical fiber from the outside world, avoid adverse factors such as impurities or external pressure from affecting the transmission of laser in the optical transmission channel, and effectively reduce the loss of the transmission optical fiber. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent through the following description of the embodiments of the present disclosure with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0018] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the whole and end of the optical fiber jumper for high-power laser transmission provided by the present disclosure;

[0019] Figure 2 is an enlarged schematic diagram of the end of an optical fiber jumper for high-power laser transmission provided by the present disclosure;

[0020] Figure 3 is a flow chart of the manufacturing method provided by the present disclosure;

[0021] Figure 4 is a flow chart of a manufacturing method in another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0022] In the drawings, the meanings of the reference numerals are as follows:

[0023] 1. Transmission optical fiber;

[0024] 11. Optical transmission channel;

[0025] 2. Protect optical fiber;

[0026] 3. Connectors. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it should be understood that these descriptions are exemplary only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. In the following detailed description, for ease of explanation, many specific details are set forth to provide a comprehensive understanding of the embodiments of the present disclosure. However, it is apparent that one or more embodiments may also be implemented without these specific details. In addition, in the following description, descriptions of known structures and technologies are omitted to avoid unnecessary confusion of the concepts of the present disclosure.

[0028] The terms used herein are only for describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. The terms "comprise", "include", etc. used herein indicate the existence of the features, steps, operations and / or components, but do not exclude the existence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations or components.

[0029] All terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the meanings commonly understood by those skilled in the art unless otherwise defined. It should be noted that the terms used herein should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with the context of this specification and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly rigid manner.

[0030] When using expressions such as "at least one of A, B, and C, etc.", they should generally be interpreted according to the meaning of the expression commonly understood by those skilled in the art (for example, "a system having at least one of A, B, and C" should include but is not limited to a system having A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B, A and C, B and C, and / or A, B, C, etc.).

[0031] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the whole and end of the optical fiber jumper for high-power laser transmission provided by the present disclosure, Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of an enlarged end portion of an optical fiber jumper for high-power laser transmission provided by the present disclosure.

[0032] The embodiments of the present disclosure provide an optical fiber jumper for high-power laser transmission, such as Figure 1 to Figure 2 As shown, it includes a transmission optical fiber 1 and two solid protective optical fibers 2. The transmission optical fiber 1 is constructed as a hollow-core optical fiber with an optical transmission channel 11, which is suitable for guiding the laser to propagate along the extension direction of the transmission optical fiber 1. The two solid protective optical fibers 2 are fused to the two ends of the transmission optical fiber 1, respectively, and are configured to block the optical transmission channel 11 of the transmission optical fiber 1 and allow the laser to pass through to enter the transmission optical fiber 1.

[0033] In such an implementation, by using a hollow-core optical fiber with an optical transmission channel 11 as the main body of the optical fiber jumper, that is, the transmission optical fiber 1, when transmitting high-power lasers (usually kilowatt-level or even higher-level lasers that are sufficient to cause damage to ordinary optical fibers), it has the advantages of low nonlinear effects, low delay, low loss, and high damage threshold. At the same time, the solid protective optical fiber 2 is used to encapsulate both ends of the transmission optical fiber 1, which can isolate the optical transmission channel 11 of the transmission optical fiber 1 from the outside world, prevent factors such as impurities or external pressure from affecting the transmission of lasers in the optical transmission channel 11, and effectively reduce the loss of the transmission optical fiber 1.

[0034] In an exemplary embodiment, the fiber optic jumper also includes a connector 3 located between the transmission optical fiber 1 and the protection optical fiber 2, wherein the connector 3 is constructed as a hollow tubular structure, the transmission optical fiber 1 is fused to the first end of the connector 3, and the first end of the protection optical fiber 2 is embedded in the second end of the connector 3 and fused to the second end of the connector 3.

[0035] In such an embodiment, each section of the protective optical fiber 2 is connected to the transmission optical fiber 1 via the connector 3 , so that the damage to the end of the transmission optical fiber 1 can be reduced while blocking the optical transmission channel 11 of the transmission optical fiber 1 .

[0036] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the outer diameter of the connector 3 is equal to the outer diameter of the transmission optical fiber 1 , and the inner diameter of the connector 3 is equal to the outer diameter of the protection optical fiber 2 .

[0037] In such an embodiment, since the outer diameter of the connector 3 is equal to the outer diameter of the transmission optical fiber 1, and to avoid affecting the laser propagation, the inner diameter of the connector 3 is greater than the diameter of the optical transmission channel 11 of the transmission optical fiber 1. Exemplarily, the connector 3 can be a thin-walled quartz glass tube, whose outer diameter is equal to the outer diameter of the transmission optical fiber 1, and whose inner diameter is equal to the outer diameter of the protection optical fiber 2. Since the side wall is thin, the outer diameter of the protection optical fiber 2 is roughly equal to the outer diameter of the transmission optical fiber 1, which can not only reduce the difficulty of fusion splicing, but also improve the adaptability and compatibility of the optical fiber jumper.

[0038] In some other embodiments, the connector 3 may also be made of low-melting-point glass, which has a melting point lower than that of the transmission optical fiber 1 and the protection optical fiber 2 , so as to lower the fusion temperature and reduce the risk of collapse of the transmission optical fiber 1 .

[0039] In some more specific embodiments, the outer diameter of the transmission optical fiber 1 can be 160 to 400 microns, the outer diameter of the protection optical fiber 2 can be 125 to 300 microns, and the outer diameter of the connector 3 can be 80 microns to 2 millimeters.

[0040] In an exemplary embodiment, the distance between the center of the end face of the first end of the protection optical fiber 2 and the center of the end face of the transmission optical fiber 1 is L1, the length of the protection optical fiber 2 is L2, and L1+L2≤1 mm.

[0041] The high-power laser is emitted from the first end of the transmission optical fiber 1 and then diverges after being emitted from the second end. By setting L1+L2≤1mm, the high-power laser can be dissipated from the side of the connector 3 or the protective optical fiber 2 as much as possible.

[0042] More specifically, the length of the connecting member 3 is preferably less than 1 mm.

[0043] In an exemplary embodiment, an angle α is formed between the end face of the first end of the protection optical fiber 2 and the end face of the transmission optical fiber 1 , and α is an acute angle.

[0044] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the end face of the second end of the protective optical fiber 2 is parallel to the end face of the first end.

[0045] In such an embodiment, an acute angle is set between the first and second ends of the protection optical fiber 2 and the end face of the transmission optical fiber 1, so that the incident and reflection angles of the laser are changed, the reflected light deviates from the original path, the amount of light returned to the light source system is reduced, the back reflection is reduced, and the probability of damaging the light source system is reduced. In addition, the end face with an angle avoids excessive concentration of energy on the end face, reduces the formation of hot spots, and reduces the risk of damage to the end face of the protection optical fiber 2.

[0046] Exemplarily, the angle α is preferably 6°-15° to obtain a better effect of reducing back reflection and improving the optical coupling efficiency. If the angle α is selected too small, the effect of reducing back reflection is not obvious. If the angle α is selected too large, it will lead to increased loss and reduced optical coupling efficiency.

[0047] In an exemplary embodiment, the protective optical fiber 2 is constructed as a solid-core tubular structure made of quartz material.

[0048] In such an embodiment, the protective optical fiber 2 is made of a solid tubular quartz material, which has a high mechanical strength and can first reduce or avoid physical damage. Furthermore, the solid tubular structure made of quartz material, such as a quartz glass rod, has a refractive index of about 1.45, while the optical transmission channel 11 of the hollow-core optical fiber is usually vacuum or filled with negative pressure or normal pressure air, and has a refractive index of about 1. Therefore, the refractive index of the quartz glass rod itself is slightly different from the refractive index inside the hollow-core optical fiber. In addition, the two end faces of the quartz glass rod can be set at an angle α as in the above embodiment or coated with an anti-reflection film, which can make the refractive index of the quartz glass rod closer to the refractive index of the hollow-core optical fiber, thereby reducing reflection loss and improving optical coupling efficiency.

[0049] In addition, the properties of quartz material are stable, with good high temperature resistance and corrosion resistance, and the surface is smooth, and the sealing is good after welding and packaging.

[0050] In an exemplary embodiment, the interior of the optical transmission channel 11 of the transmission optical fiber 1 is configured to have a vacuum medium or a gas medium whose refractive index is less than or equal to the refractive index of air.

[0051] In such an implementation, a vacuum medium or a gas medium with a refractive index less than or equal to the refractive index of air is used, which reduces the interaction between the laser and the medium, and has low energy dissipation, which is conducive to reducing transmission losses and improving transmission efficiency. In addition, the above medium can also significantly increase the nonlinear threshold of the transmission optical fiber and effectively transmit high-power lasers.

[0052] Figure 3 is a flow chart of the manufacturing method provided by the present disclosure, Figure 4 is a flow chart of a manufacturing method in another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0053] The exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure also provide a manufacturing method for manufacturing the optical fiber jumper in any of the above embodiments, such as Figure 3 As shown, it includes step S1.

[0054] S1. Fusion-splice two sections of protection optical fiber 2 to two ends of transmission optical fiber 1 respectively.

[0055] In such an embodiment, the end faces of the transmission optical fiber 1 and the protection optical fiber 2 need to be polished before fusion splicing, and the fusion splicing surface is as flat and clean as possible.

[0056] According to the embodiments of the present disclosure, Figure 4 As shown, step S1 also includes steps S11-S13.

[0057] Step S11, welding the transmission optical fiber 1 and the first end of the connector 3.

[0058] Step S12: Grind or cut the first end of the protective optical fiber 2 to form an angle α with the end face of the transmission optical fiber 1 , and embed it into the second end of the connector 3 .

[0059] Step S13, fusing the second end of the connector 3 to the first end of the protective optical fiber 2, and grinding or cutting the second end of the protective optical fiber 2 to be parallel to the first end.

[0060] In some other embodiments, step S11 further includes: cutting the connecting member 3 to a preset length.

[0061] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, step S12 further includes: embedding the first end of the protective optical fiber 2 into the second end of the connector 3 until the distance between the end face center of the first end of the protective optical fiber 2 and the end face center of the transmission optical fiber 1 is L1.

[0062] Furthermore, step S13 also includes: grinding or cutting the protective optical fiber 2 to a length of L2, and ensuring that L1+L2≤1 mm.

[0063] Preferably, the first end of the protective optical fiber 2 is cut and the second end is ground.

[0064] According to the above disclosed embodiment, the preset length of the connector 3 is selected based on at least ensuring that a reliable fusion joint is formed with the protective optical fiber 2, and should not be too long to affect the coordination between the protective optical fiber 2 and other components. The length is selected based on actual conditions.

[0065] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the features described in the various embodiments of the present disclosure may be combined and / or combined in a variety of ways, even if such combinations or combinations are not explicitly described in the present disclosure. In particular, without departing from the spirit and teachings of the present disclosure, the features described in the various embodiments of the present disclosure may be combined and / or combined in a variety of ways. All of these combinations and / or combinations fall within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0066] The embodiments of the present disclosure are described above. However, these embodiments are only for illustrative purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Although the embodiments are described above, this does not mean that the measures in the various embodiments cannot be used in combination to advantage. Without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, those skilled in the art may make a variety of substitutions and modifications, which should all fall within the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. An optical fiber jumper for high-power laser transmission, characterized in that: include: A transmission optical fiber (1), the transmission optical fiber (1) being constructed as a hollow-core optical fiber having a light transmission channel (11), and being suitable for guiding laser light to propagate along an extension direction of the transmission optical fiber (1); Two sections of solid protective optical fiber (2) are fused to the two ends of the transmission optical fiber (1) respectively, and are configured to block the light transmission channel (11) in the transmission optical fiber (1) and allow laser light to pass through to enter the transmission optical fiber (1).

2. The optical fiber jumper according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a connector (3) located between the transmission optical fiber (1) and the protection optical fiber (2), wherein the connector (3) is configured as a hollow tubular structure, the transmission optical fiber (1) is fused to the first end of the connector (3), and the first end of the protection optical fiber (2) is embedded in the second end of the connector (3) and fused to the second end of the connector (3).

3. The optical fiber jumper according to claim 2, characterized in that: The outer diameter of the connecting piece (3) is equal to the outer diameter of the transmission optical fiber (1), and the inner diameter of the connecting piece (3) is equal to the outer diameter of the protection optical fiber (2).

4. The optical fiber jumper according to claim 2, wherein the distance between the center of the end face of the first end of the protection optical fiber (2) and the center of the end face of the transmission optical fiber (1) is L1, the length of the protection optical fiber (2) is L2, and L1+L2≤1mm.

5. The optical fiber jumper according to claim 2, characterized in that: An angle α is formed between the end face of the first end of the protection optical fiber (2) and the end face of the transmission optical fiber (1), and α is an acute angle.

6. The optical fiber jumper according to claim 5, characterized in that: The end face of the second end of the protective optical fiber (2) is parallel to the end face of the first end.

7. The optical fiber jumper according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The protective optical fiber (2) is constructed as a solid tubular structure made of quartz material.

8. The optical fiber jumper according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The interior of the optical transmission channel (11) of the transmission optical fiber (1) is configured to have a vacuum medium or a gas medium whose refractive index is less than or equal to the refractive index of air.

9. A manufacturing method, characterized in that: Used to manufacture the optical fiber jumper according to any one of claims 1 to 8, comprising: Two sections of protective optical fiber (2) are fused to the two ends of the transmission optical fiber (1) respectively.

10. The manufacturing method according to claim 9, characterized in that: Also includes: Fusion-joining the transmission optical fiber (1) and the first end of the connector (3); Grinding or cutting the first end of the protective optical fiber (2) to form an angle α with the end face of the transmission optical fiber (1), and embedding the first end of the connector (3); The connector (3) is fused to the first end of the protective optical fiber (2), and the second end of the protective optical fiber (2) is ground or cut to be parallel to the first end.

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