Optical Fiber Compressive Stress Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for producing optical fibers face challenges in reducing transmission loss, particularly due to limitations in apparatus configuration and the inability to maintain high pressurization during mass production, leading to insufficient relaxation of the glass network structure and increased equipment complexity.
Innovation Solution
A method involving heating and melting an optical fiber preform to apply a maximum compressive stress of at least 100 MPa to the optical waveguide region, utilizing differences in thermal expansion coefficients and viscosities between the core and cladding to compress voids and reduce scattering loss, without relying on complex pressurized vessels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a pressurized vessel is used to apply high pressure to the optical fiber preform during drawing, then the transmission loss is reduced due to relaxation of the glass network structure, but the apparatus becomes large and complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the pressure parameter from high pressure (0.15-0.2 MPa in prior art) to atmospheric pressure conditions, eliminating the need for pressurized vessels while achieving comparable transmission loss reduction through optimized drawing parameters and preform structure
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and removes the pressurized vessel component from the drawing apparatus, achieving the same technical effect (transmission loss reduction) through alternative means such as optimized preform design and drawing process parameters at atmospheric pressure
2Loss of energy
If high pressurization is maintained during mass production drawing, then the glass network structure relaxation is sufficient to reduce transmission loss, but the equipment complexity increases and mass production becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the pressure parameter from high pressure to atmospheric pressure, enabling mass production drawing processes while maintaining transmission loss reduction through optimized drawing speed, temperature, and preform structure parameters
Solution Approach 2:
The optical fiber preform is designed with specific structural characteristics that enable self-relaxation of the glass network structure during atmospheric pressure drawing, eliminating the need for external pressurization equipment in mass production
3Loss of energy
If the pressurized vessel configuration is used to reduce transmission loss, then the Rayleigh scattering loss is reduced through glass network structure relaxation, but the apparatus size becomes large
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the pressurized vessel from the drawing apparatus, achieving Rayleigh scattering loss reduction through alternative means such as optimized preform structure and drawing parameters at atmospheric pressure, thereby significantly reducing apparatus size
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes from high pressure parameters to atmospheric pressure parameters, eliminating the need for large pressurized vessels while achieving the same Rayleigh scattering loss reduction through optimized drawing process parameters
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
This approach effectively reduces transmission loss in optical fibers by generating compressive stress in the optical waveguide region, improving glass density and minimizing scattering, while simplifying the production apparatus configuration.
Implementation Method 1
heating and melting an optical fiber preform
Implementation Method 2
heating and melting an optical fiber preform
Implementation Method 3
a maximum compressive stress of at least 100 MPa or more is applied to an optical waveguide region including at least the core
Implementation Method 4
the relaxation of the glass network structure in the optical fiber preform is advanced to reduce the Rayleigh scattering loss
Data Source
AI summary
A method for producing an optical fiber includes heating and melting an optical fiber preform and drawing the optical fiber preform. In this method for producing an optical fiber, the optical fiber is formed to include a core, a surrounding cladding surrounding a periphery of the core, and an outer cladding surrounding the surrounding cladding. In the drawn optical fiber, a maximum compressive stress of at least 100 MPa or more is applied to an optical waveguide region including at least the core.