Ultraviolet Optical Transmission System with Revolver Fiber Switching
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current ultraviolet optical fibers experience increased transmission loss and degradation due to light-induced defects, requiring frequent exchange and complex procedures, especially when operating in the ultraviolet band, which can lead to fiber shortening and safety concerns.
Innovation Solution
An ultraviolet optical transmission system with a revolver mechanism that allows for seamless switching between multiple optical transmission paths without cutting or reconnection, using a light source, optical transmission unit, and output unit connected via optical coupling units with ferrules and sleeves, enabling remote operation to maintain continuous transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a quartz-based optical fiber is used to transmit ultraviolet light, then the transmission loss is initially low, but light-induced defects are generated over time causing absorption loss to increase and fiber degradation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-preparing multiple optical transmission paths (standby fibers) before the primary fiber degrades. When the primary fiber's transmission loss increases due to light-induced defects, the system can immediately switch to a pre-prepared standby fiber without waiting for fiber degradation to complete or performing complex exchange procedures during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements discarding and recovering by allowing the primary optical fiber to be discarded (switched out) when it degrades from ultraviolet exposure, while a standby fiber is activated. The degraded fiber can then be recovered (replaced) during a scheduled maintenance window when the ultraviolet light source is turned off, eliminating the need for emergency fiber replacement under active illumination.
2Reliability
If optical fiber exchange is performed by fusion connection, then connection reliability is improved, but fiber length is shortened with each exchange operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-assembling optical fiber modules with connection terminals attached before the fiber is installed in the system. When fiber exchange is needed, the entire pre-assembled module can be replaced as a unit without performing fusion splicing during operation, thereby preserving fiber length and avoiding repeated cutting and joining operations that would otherwise shorten the fiber.
3Length of moving object
If connector connection is used for optical fiber exchange, then fiber length is preserved during exchange, but complicated procedures are required to block light source and ensure safety during connector attachment or detachment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-attaching connection terminals to optical fibers during manufacturing or preparation, creating pre-assembled fiber modules. This allows connector-based exchange to be performed by simply plugging and unplugging pre-prepared modules without requiring complex light-blocking procedures, as the connection terminals are already in place and the exchange can be done quickly during scheduled maintenance when the light source is off.
4Reliability
If a hollow fiber is used to transmit ultraviolet light, then light-induced defects are not generated, but transmission loss increases due to reflection losses at the core-clad boundary
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements discarding and recovering by maintaining multiple optical transmission paths (including hollow fibers with low reflection loss and quartz-based fibers with high damage resistance) in a standby configuration. When one type of fiber degrades or performs suboptimally, the system can switch to a different fiber type from the pre-prepared standby paths, allowing the system to discard the underperforming fiber and recover performance by activating an alternative path with different characteristics.
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 system eliminates the need for fiber cutting and complex procedures during exchange, reducing fiber shortening and ensuring safe operation by allowing path switching through simple rotation, thus maintaining efficient ultraviolet light transmission.
Implementation Method 1
Optical fibers are currently widely used as means for transmitting light using a light confinement effect due to differences in refractive indexes between cores and clads
Implementation Method 2
a hollow fiber (for example, Non Patent Literature 3) in which light-induced defects are not generated because a core of air or an inert gas is formed by applying a high reflection coating using a dielectric thin film to an inner surface of a clad
Data Source
AI summary
An object of the present invention is to provide an ultraviolet optical transmission system in which cutting of an optical fiber or a complicated procedure is not necessary when an optical fiber is exchanged.The present invention provides a system in which light with an ultraviolet band is transmitted along an optical transmission path formed of a quartz-based optical fiber, and in which an optical transmission unit is switched by a rotation mechanism in which an optical transmission path of one of an optical coupling unit rotates about an axis, the optical coupling unit including an optical transmission path including a plurality of optical transmission units on the same circumference from a center on an end surface of the optical coupling unit; an optical transmission path in which the optical transmission units are arranged on the same circumference as a circumference on which the plurality of optical transmission units are arranged; two ferrules each containing the two optical transmission paths; and a cylindrical sleeve in which the two ferrules are inserted in a hollow.