Anti-resonant Hollow Core Fiber Preform Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current manufacturing processes for anti-resonant hollow core optical fibers result in suboptimal fibers due to issues such as attenuators from adhering compounds and damage to the outer cladding during laser welding, leading to poor mechanical strength.
Innovation Solution
The production of anti-resonant hollow core optical fibers involves a preform with a central support tube to secure glass tubes within and to a hollow outer cladding, where the glass tubes extend the length of the outer cladding, and the central support tube extends only partially, allowing for the removal of the central support tube during fiber drawing, resulting in a hollow fiber throughout its length.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If adhering compound is used to bond glass tubes to outer cladding, then glass tubes are secured in place, but the adhering compound can break off and deposit on glass tubes acting as an attenuator causing optical loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the adhering compound entirely from the system by using a mechanical support structure (central support tube with radial support elements) to hold the glass tubes in place, eliminating the source of optical attenuation while maintaining the securing function
Solution Approach 2:
The central support tube with radial support elements serves as an intermediary mechanical structure that bonds glass tubes to the outer cladding without requiring adhering compounds, thus mediating between the need for secure positioning and the need to avoid optical loss
2Stability of the object's composition
If laser welding is used to bond glass tubes to outer cladding, then glass tubes are secured in place, but the outer cladding is damaged resulting in poor mechanical strength
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the laser welding process entirely and replaces it with a mechanical support structure that secures glass tubes through physical positioning and bonding to the central support tube, eliminating damage to the outer cladding while maintaining the securing function
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the thermal/mechanical process of laser welding with a purely mechanical support structure system that uses the central support tube and radial support elements to position and secure glass tubes without applying heat or force that could damage the outer cladding
Data Source
AI summary
An anti-resonant hollow core optical fiber preform that includes an outer cladding, a plurality of structural tubes, and a central support tube. The outer cladding has a length, a central longitudinal axis, and a hollow interior. The plurality of structural tubes are disposed within the hollow interior of the outer cladding, the plurality of structural tubes each having a length that extends the length of the outer cladding. And the central support tube is disposed within the hollow interior of the outer cladding such that the plurality of structural tubes are disposed radially outward of the central support tube, the central support tube having a length that extends along the central longitudinal axis of the outer cladding. Furthermore, the length of the central support tube is less than the length of the outer cladding.