Multicore Plastic Optical Fiber Core Area Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Multicore plastic optical fibers face challenges in achieving sufficient light receiving capacity due to the multicore structure, which results in increased missed light, especially when using high numerical aperture light sources, and lack high heat resistance compared to single-core fibers.
Innovation Solution
A multicore optical fiber design with cores made from a copolymer of polymethyl methacrylate or methyl methacrylate and a fluorine-based resin for the sea portion, featuring a hexagonal array of nozzle holes for core formation, and a cladding with a fluorinated methacrylate unit to enhance heat resistance and light transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If multiple cores are arranged in a multicore plastic optical fiber, then light receiving capacity is improved, but bending loss increases due to the multicore structure
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the optical fiber into multiple independent cores (7 or more), each surrounded by its own cladding layer. This segmentation allows each core to function independently, maintaining light receiving capacity while the cladding layers isolate the cores to reduce mutual interference and bending loss
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses composite material structures with cores made of specific plastic materials and cladding layers with different refractive indices. The cladding layers are formulated with fluorine-containing polymers to create optimal optical properties that reduce bending loss while maintaining light transmission efficiency
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional plastic optical fiber materials are used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but heat resistance is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs composite materials where the cladding layers are made from fluorine-containing polymers (such as copolymers of vinylidene fluoride and tetrafluoroethylene) that provide superior heat resistance compared to conventional plastic optical fiber materials, while maintaining manufacturability through established extrusion processes
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 solution achieves a light receiving capacity comparable to single-core fibers while reducing bending loss and providing high heat resistance, ensuring effective optical communication systems.
Implementation Method 1
multicore plastic optical fibers have been proposed to reduce bending loss by employing a structure where multiple cores are individually partitioned using cladding material (cladding)
Implementation Method 2
JP H09-33737A (Patent Publication 2) discloses a method for reducing bending loss by setting a specific range for the difference in refractive indices between the cores and cladding of a multicore plastic optical fiber
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a multi-core optical fiber which is capable of achieving a light reception amount equivalent to that of a single-core plastic optical fiber, while being reduced in bending loss. A multi-core optical fiber according to the present invention has a plurality of cores and sea portions that are formed around respective cores. This multi-core optical fiber satisfies at least the following condition (1) or condition (2). Condition (1): The occupancy of the total cross-sectional area of the cores in the outer region of a cross-section of the multi-core optical fiber is 80-95%. Condition (2): The occupancy of the total cross-sectional area of the cores in a cross-section of the multi-core optical fiber is 82-93°70. (FR)L'invention concerne une fibre optique multinoyau qui est capable de garantir une quantite de reception de lumière équivalente à celle d'une fibre optique plastique mononoyau tout en ayant une perte de flexion réduite. Une fibre optique multinoyau selon la présente invention a une pluralité de noyaux et de parties de gaine qui sont formées autour de noyaux respectifs. Cette fibre optique multinoyau satisfait au moins l'une des conditions (1) ou (2) suivantes. Condition (1) : l'occupation de l'aire en coupe totale des noyaux dans la region externe d'une section transversale de la fibre optique multinoyau est de 80 à 95 %. Condition (2) : l'occupation de l'aire en coupe totale des noyaux dans une section transversale de la fibre optique multinoyau est de 82 à 93 %.