Tapered Coupling Section for Optical Fiber Cladding Light Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for removing cladding light in optical fiber devices are inefficient and often require expensive equipment or are difficult to control, leading to potential damage from excess light and heat.
Innovation Solution
An optical fiber device with a tapered coupling section design, where alternating subsections of varying diameters and lengths are arranged to increase back-scattering and facilitate efficient removal of excess light, combined with an etching apparatus that uses multiple etching agent inlets and tanks to precisely control the etching process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If UV laser or CO2 laser is used to etch the optical fiber surface, then the etching can be performed, but highly priced equipment is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive laser-based etching systems with a mechanical etching system using a rotating etching tool that contacts the optical fiber surface. This mechanical approach eliminates the need for costly UV or CO2 laser equipment while achieving the same cladding light removal function through physical abrasion during fiber rotation.
2Ease of manufacture
If chemical etching is used on the optical fiber surface, then etching can be performed, but it is difficult to control the degree of etching and lattice spacing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces chemical etching with a mechanical etching process using a rotating etching tool. This mechanical system provides precise control over etching depth and lattice spacing through adjustable parameters such as rotation speed, etching pressure, and tool geometry, eliminating the uncontrollable nature of chemical etching.
3Reliability
If the optical fiber surface is etched into a lattice, then cladding light can be removed, but existing methods are inefficient and difficult to control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a mechanical etching system with a rotating tool that efficiently creates lattice structures on the optical fiber surface. The system achieves high productivity through continuous rotation and controlled material removal, while maintaining precise control over lattice formation and cladding light removal effectiveness.
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 effectively removes excess cladding light, reduces heat damage, and allows for precise control of the etching process, resulting in a more efficient and stable optical fiber device.
Implementation Method 1
alternating subsections of varying diameters and lengths are arranged to increase back-scattering and facilitate efficient removal of excess light
Implementation Method 2
an etching apparatus that uses multiple etching agent inlets and tanks to precisely control the etching process
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an optical fiber device for removing cladding light, an apparatus and a method for etching the same. The optical fiber device comprises: a first optical fiber section through an Nth optical fiber section arranged in sequence along a light travelling direction; and a first tapered coupling section coupling a Kth optical fiber section and a (K+1)th optical fiber section, where the Kth optical fiber section is any one of the first optical fiber section through the Nth optical fiber section and the (K+1)th optical fiber section is any one of the first optical fiber section through the Nth optical fiber section adjacent to the Kth optical fiber section, wherein the Kth optical fiber section comprises: at least one first subsection and at least one second subsection alternately arranged along the light travelling direction, each of the at least one first subsection having a diameter D2K−1 and a length L2K−1; and each of the at least one second subsection having a diameter D2K and a length L2K; and a second tapered coupling section coupling the first subsection and the second subsection adjacent to the first subsection, wherein the diameter D2K−1 and the length L2K−1 of the first subsection and the diameter D2K and the length L2K of the second subsection of the Kth optical fiber section and a diameter D2K+1 and a length L2K+1 of the first subsection and a diameter D2K+2 and a length L2K+2 of the second subsection of the (K+1)th optical section satisfy D2K−1>D2K, D2K+1>D2K+2, L2K−1>L2K+1, L2K>L2K+2 and D2K−1=D2K+1, and satisfy D2K>D2K+2 for odd K and D2K<D2K+2 for even K (where N is a natural number, and K is any natural number satisfying 1≤K≤N−1).