Fiber Optic Absorber Glass With Fe3O4 Crystals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current fiber optic absorbers have limited absorption capacity in the visible light to near-infrared region, leading to degradation in resolution and noise, and contain environmental pollutants like lead compounds.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating Fe3O4 iron oxide crystals in the absorber glass, with a concentration of 18-30% by mass, which enhances absorption capacity and promotes crystal precipitation, reducing the need for lead compounds and minimizing environmental pollution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional oxide colorants (FeO or Fe2O3) are used in the absorber, then the absorption characteristics in specific regions (near-infrared or visible light) become satisfactory, but the overall absorption capacity from visible light to near-infrared region is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameter by using Fe3O4 (magnetite) instead of conventional FeO or Fe2O3 colorants. This parameter change enables the absorber to achieve satisfactory absorption characteristics across the entire visible light to near-infrared region, resolving the limitation of conventional single-region absorption
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite glass material containing Fe3O4 crystals dispersed in a glass matrix. This composite structure combines the high absorption capacity of Fe3O4 with the optical properties of glass, achieving both high absorption capacity and broad spectral coverage from visible to near-infrared regions
2Reliability
If lead compounds are used in the absorber glass, then the absorption characteristics improve, but environmental pollution increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates lead compounds from the absorber glass composition, replacing them with environmentally benign Fe3O4 colorant. This removal of harmful substances maintains absorption characteristics while eliminating environmental pollution, directly resolving the contradiction between performance and environmental impact
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the previously harmful lead compound role into a beneficial function by using Fe3O4, which provides equivalent or superior absorption characteristics without environmental harm. The Fe3O4 serves the same optical function as lead compounds but with beneficial environmental properties
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
Significantly improved absorption characteristics from visible light to near-infrared regions, maintaining high resolution and reducing noise, while eliminating the use of lead compounds and associated environmental hazards.
Implementation Method 1
Fe 3 O 4 being iron oxide crystals of more than 18% and less than 30% in percent by mass... adoption of Fe 3 O 4 being iron oxide crystals as an oxide colorant of the absorber glass allows a sufficient increase in the absorption capacity of the absorber glass from the visible light region to the near-infrared region
Data Source
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AI summary
A fiber optic includes a plurality of fibers each including a core made of core glass for propagating light and a cladding for covering an outer periphery of the core and made of cladding glass lower in refractive index than the core glass and an absorber glass arranged between the plurality of fibers and for absorbing light leaking from the plurality of fibers. The plurality of fibers are bundled and integrated. The absorber glass contains Fe3O4 being iron oxide crystals.