Arc-Cladding Hollow-Core Fiber for Low-Loss Compact Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Anti-resonant hollow-core fibers face challenges in reducing size without increasing transmission loss, making them incompatible with conventional fibers for normal connections.
Innovation Solution
A hollow-core fiber design using microstructure units with single-layer or multi-layer arcs to form a cladding layer, ensuring low loss and compatibility with conventional fibers by adjusting central angles and spacings to minimize contact and leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If complexity of microstructure is increased to reduce transmission loss, then transmission loss is reduced, but overall size of the fiber is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The cladding layer is segmented into multiple independent microstructure units arranged circumferentially, each unit containing first and second tubular structures. This segmentation allows the fiber to achieve low transmission loss through distributed anti-resonant reflection at multiple interfaces while maintaining a controlled overall size by limiting the complexity within each individual unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The first tubular units are nested within the second tubular units, creating a concentric microstructure. This nested configuration enables the fiber to achieve multiple reflection interfaces for loss reduction within a compact radial space, effectively reducing transmission loss without proportionally increasing the overall fiber size.
2Loss of energy
If complexity of microstructure is increased to reduce transmission loss, then transmission loss is reduced, but compatibility with conventional fibers is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes parameters such as the central angle of arc structures (180-340 degrees), spacing between microstructure units, and wall thickness ratios to achieve a balance between low transmission loss and compatibility with conventional fibers. By carefully adjusting these parameters, the fiber maintains a size and interface geometry that is compatible with standard fiber connectors while achieving reduced loss through the optimized microstructure.
3Use of energy by moving object
If microstructure units are arranged to confine light propagation, then light-guiding energy density is increased, but fiber size is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes angular arrangement of microstructure units around the fiber core, transitioning from a simple radial to a circumferential-dimensional configuration. This angular arrangement in the transverse plane enables effective light confinement and high energy density within a compact fiber cross-section, increasing light-guiding capability without proportionally increasing fiber volume.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design effectively reduces fiber size while maintaining low loss, enabling wider application scenarios and compatibility with conventional fibers.
Implementation Method 1
An anti-resonant hollow-core fiber uses a light-guiding mechanism of anti-resonant reflection to form a cladding layer by simply arranging geometric microstructure units
Data Source
AI summary
This application provides a hollow-core fiber, including N first tubular units, N second tubular units, and a protection sleeve. The N first tubular units are arranged circumferentially and abut against the protection sleeve. The N second tubular units are in one-to-one correspondence with the N first tubular units, and each of the N first tubular units is nested in a corresponding second tubular unit, to form, together with the second tubular unit, a cladding layer that confines light beam propagation within a fiber core. A cross section of the second tubular unit includes at least one arc structure, and a central angle of the arc structure is 180 degrees to 340 degrees. The cladding layer is constructed by using a microstructure unit including a single-layer arc or multi-layer arcs, to confine light beam propagation within the fiber core.