Bundled Resin-Clad Optical Fiber for Higher Light Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing light sources face challenges in efficiently irradiating narrow areas due to poor coupling efficiency with optical fibers, and multi-core optical fibers for infrared communications require complex manufacturing processes.
Innovation Solution
A bundle optical fiber is formed by bundling single-core resin clad optical fibers with a refractive index lower than the glass core, allowing for improved coupling efficiency and simplified manufacturing by eliminating the need for a separate clad material.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single optical fiber is used to transmit light from a light source, then the structure is simple, but the coupling efficiency between the light source and optical fiber is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The optical fiber is divided into multiple individual fibers bundled together, where each fiber can independently receive light from the light source. This segmentation increases the total light-receiving area while maintaining the simplicity of individual fiber structures, thereby improving coupling efficiency without significantly increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution transitions from a single-point coupling (one fiber) to a distributed multi-point coupling (multiple fibers arranged in a bundle). By utilizing spatial arrangement in multiple dimensions, the total effective area for light coupling is increased, improving energy capture while maintaining structural simplicity through modular bundling.
2Loss of energy
If multiple optical fibers are bundled to improve coupling efficiency, then the light coupling efficiency improves, but the manufacturing process becomes complicated and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple individual optical fibers are bundled together to form a single integrated optical cable assembly. This merging approach allows each fiber to be manufactured using standard, simple processes, while the bundled configuration achieves high coupling efficiency. The manufacturing complexity is avoided by not requiring complex multi-core fiber fabrication, instead using parallel assembly of simple single-core fibers.
3Productivity
If multi-core optical fiber technology is used for infrared communications, then transmission capacity increases, but the manufacturing process becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of creating a complex multi-core fiber structure within a single glass strand, the solution segments the transmission function across multiple independent single-core fibers bundled together. Each fiber can be manufactured using standard processes, and the bundle as a whole provides increased transmission capacity through parallel channels, avoiding the manufacturing complexity of true multi-core fiber integration.
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 bundle optical fiber enhances light coupling efficiency and enables space division multiplexing transmission while simplifying the manufacturing process.
Implementation Method 1
single-core resin clad optical fibers with a refractive index lower than the glass core
Data Source
AI summary
An object of the present invention is to provide a bundle optical fiber that can improve the coupling efficiency of light from a light source, enable space division multiplexing transmission, and can be manufactured by a simple process.A bundle optical fiber 301 according to the present invention is formed by bundling a plurality of single-core resin clad optical fibers 30 covering the outer periphery of a glass core 11 with a resin clad 15 having a refractive index smaller than that of the glass core 11. Only the core glass 11 is heated and drawn, and the resin clad 15 is applied to the outer periphery of the core glass 11 after drawing, to form a single-core resin clad optical fiber 30, and a plurality of single-core resin clad optical fibers 30 are bundled to form the bundle optical fiber 301.