Dual-Coating Optical Fiber for Reduced Microbending Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing single mode optical fibers face challenges in high-speed, high-capacity fiber optic communication systems due to non-linear effects, attenuation, and bend loss, particularly in long-haul submarine applications, limiting their performance in terms of cut-off wavelength, effective area, mode field diameter, and optical signal-to-noise ratio.
Innovation Solution
The optical fiber design incorporates a silica region with specific dopants and coatings having varying Young's moduli to minimize micro and macro bend losses, featuring a core, trench layer, and cladding structure with optimized refractive indices and coating thicknesses to enhance micro bending performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If single mode fibers of G.652.D/G657A2 are used for long-haul communication, then the fiber can transmit signals over long distances, but non-linear effects and attenuation limit the transmission performance and OSNR
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the optical fiber by increasing the effective area and mode field diameter through specific refractive index profiling. This reduces non-linear effects and attenuation, improving transmission performance and OSNR for long-haul communication
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite cladding structure with multiple layers having different refractive indices (depressed cladding layer, inner cladding layer, outer cladding layer). This composite structure optimizes light confinement and reduces non-linear effects while maintaining low attenuation over long distances
2Reliability
If the effective area of optical fiber is increased to reduce non-linear effects, then transmission performance improves, but the fiber structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating specific refractive index variations in different radial zones of the fiber. The depressed cladding layer, inner cladding layer, and outer cladding layer each have optimized refractive indices to achieve large effective area and mode field diameter while maintaining a manufacturable structure
3Strength
If coatings with high Young's modulus are used to protect the fiber, then mechanical strength improves, but micro bend loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the Young's modulus parameter of the coating layers. By selecting appropriate coating materials with balanced mechanical properties and optimizing coating thickness, the fiber achieves adequate mechanical strength while minimizing micro bend loss through reduced stress transmission to the glass core
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 achieves reduced micro and macro bend losses, improved effective area, and increased optical signal-to-noise ratio, enabling longer distance signal transmission with minimal degradation.
Implementation Method 1
The first coating has a first diameter and a first Young's modulus. The second coating has a second diameter less than or equal to 180 μm and a second Young's modulus. Further, the first coating and the second coating are adapted to cause a coating induced micro bend loss that is less than 2.2×103 N−1 mm−8.5
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an optical fiber (100, 120, 142) comprising a silica region (102, 122, 144), a first coating (104, 124, 146), and a second coating (106, 126, 148). The first coating (104, 124, 146) is adapted to cover an outer circumference of the silica region (102, 122, 144). The second coating (106, 126, 148) adapted to cover an outer surface of the first coating (104, 124, 146). Moreover, the first coating (104, 124, 146) and the second coating (106, 126, 148) are adapted to cause a coating induced micro bend loss that is less than 2.2×103 N−1 mm−8.5.