Optical Fiber Preform Assembly via Segmented Through Holes
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing drilling method for producing multi-core fiber preforms faces challenges in achieving high accuracy for long core portions due to lowered positioning accuracy of through holes, making it difficult to produce fibers with accurately arranged long core sections.
Innovation Solution
A method involving bar-shaped first preforms and second preforms with through holes matching the outer periphery of the first preforms, where the second preforms are stacked to form communication holes, and the first preforms are inserted through these holes, ensuring precise alignment and integration, with a length of through holes limited to 35 times the diameter and a clearance of 0.7 mm or less.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the drilling method is used to form long through holes in glass preforms, then the through holes can be formed, but the positioning accuracy of the through holes is lowered causing oblique formation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the long through hole formation into multiple segments by stacking multiple disk members, each with shorter through holes. This segmentation allows each individual through hole to be formed with high positioning accuracy while achieving the effect of a long communication hole through the stacked structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from forming a single long through hole in one dimension to forming multiple shorter through holes in stacked disk members along the longitudinal direction. This dimensional approach maintains positioning accuracy by keeping individual hole lengths manageable while achieving the required overall length through stacking.
2Ease of manufacture
If drilling operation is used to form through holes, then holes can be created, but it requires specialized drill equipment capable of forming long through holes
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the through hole formation across multiple disk members, the invention eliminates the need for specialized long-hole drilling equipment. Each disk member requires only standard drilling capability, making the manufacturing process more accessible and easier to implement.
Solution Approach 2:
The through holes are formed in each disk member before stacking, allowing the use of conventional drilling equipment. This preliminary action approach avoids the need for complex long-hole drilling machinery by preparing components separately with standard equipment.
3Length of moving object
If the positioning accuracy of through holes is lowered, then long through holes can be formed, but the accuracy of position of the core portion is lowered
Solution Approach 1:
The segmentation of the preform into multiple disk members, each with shorter through holes, maintains high positioning accuracy for each individual hole. This segmentation ensures that core portions can be accurately positioned within each segment, and the overall accuracy is preserved through the stacking process.
Solution Approach 2:
The disk members act as intermediaries that maintain positioning accuracy. By forming through holes in separate disk members with high precision and then stacking them, the invention ensures accurate positioning of core portions without the accuracy degradation that occurs in single long-hole drilling.
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 method enables the production of optical fibers with highly accurate long core portions at a low cost, improving positioning accuracy and extending the length of multi-core fibers while maintaining precision.
Implementation Method 1
an assembled preform is heated and integrated to produce a multi-core fiber preform
Data Source
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AI summary
A production method of an optical fiber preform includes: a preparatory step of preparing: a plurality of bar-shaped first preforms; and a plurality of second preforms including through holes having substantially same shape with a shape of outer periphery of a cross section of the first preform, the cross section being orthogonal to a major axis of the first preform; and an assembly step of matching the through holes of the second preforms to make communication holes, and inserting, through each of the communication holes, at least two of the first preforms arranged side by side in a direction of the major axis such that the second preforms and the first preforms are fitting each other. In at least one position in the direction of the major axis of the communication holes, a position where the second preforms contact with each other differs from a position where the first preforms contact with each other. Hereby the production method is provided that is capable of producing an optical fiber preform that is long and highly precise in positions of the core portions or the like at a low cost.