US20040221617A1 - Methods for modifying ovality of optical fiber preforms - Google Patents

Methods for modifying ovality of optical fiber preforms Download PDF

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Publication number
US20040221617A1
US20040221617A1 US10/430,779 US43077903A US2004221617A1 US 20040221617 A1 US20040221617 A1 US 20040221617A1 US 43077903 A US43077903 A US 43077903A US 2004221617 A1 US2004221617 A1 US 2004221617A1
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United States
Prior art keywords
core rod
ovality
core
optical fiber
etching
Prior art date
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Abandoned
Application number
US10/430,779
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English (en)
Inventor
James Fleming
Siu-Ping Hong
Paul Glodis
Thomas Miller
Zhi Zhou
David Kalish
Shunhe Xiong
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Furukawa Electric North America Inc
Original Assignee
Fitel USA Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Fitel USA Corp filed Critical Fitel USA Corp
Priority to US10/430,779 priority Critical patent/US20040221617A1/en
Assigned to FITEL USA CORP. reassignment FITEL USA CORP. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: HONG, SIU-PING, XIONG, SHUNHE, MILLER, THOMAS JOHN, ZHOU, ZHI, FLEMING, JAMES WILLIAM, GLODIS, PAUL FRANCIS, KALISH, DAVID
Priority to EP04007685A priority patent/EP1475358A1/en
Priority to CNB2004100366796A priority patent/CN100478291C/zh
Priority to JP2004135651A priority patent/JP4359183B2/ja
Publication of US20040221617A1 publication Critical patent/US20040221617A1/en
Priority to US11/672,836 priority patent/US20070125127A1/en
Priority to US12/945,133 priority patent/US7946133B2/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C03—GLASS; MINERAL OR SLAG WOOL
    • C03B—MANUFACTURE, SHAPING, OR SUPPLEMENTARY PROCESSES
    • C03B37/00—Manufacture or treatment of flakes, fibres, or filaments from softened glass, minerals, or slags
    • C03B37/01—Manufacture of glass fibres or filaments
    • C03B37/012—Manufacture of preforms for drawing fibres or filaments
    • C03B37/01205—Manufacture of preforms for drawing fibres or filaments starting from tubes, rods, fibres or filaments
    • C03B37/01225—Means for changing or stabilising the shape, e.g. diameter, of tubes or rods in general, e.g. collapsing
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C03—GLASS; MINERAL OR SLAG WOOL
    • C03B—MANUFACTURE, SHAPING, OR SUPPLEMENTARY PROCESSES
    • C03B37/00—Manufacture or treatment of flakes, fibres, or filaments from softened glass, minerals, or slags
    • C03B37/01—Manufacture of glass fibres or filaments
    • C03B37/012—Manufacture of preforms for drawing fibres or filaments
    • C03B37/01205—Manufacture of preforms for drawing fibres or filaments starting from tubes, rods, fibres or filaments
    • C03B37/01225—Means for changing or stabilising the shape, e.g. diameter, of tubes or rods in general, e.g. collapsing
    • C03B37/01228—Removal of preform material
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C03—GLASS; MINERAL OR SLAG WOOL
    • C03B—MANUFACTURE, SHAPING, OR SUPPLEMENTARY PROCESSES
    • C03B37/00—Manufacture or treatment of flakes, fibres, or filaments from softened glass, minerals, or slags
    • C03B37/01—Manufacture of glass fibres or filaments
    • C03B37/012—Manufacture of preforms for drawing fibres or filaments
    • C03B37/014—Manufacture of preforms for drawing fibres or filaments made entirely or partially by chemical means, e.g. vapour phase deposition of bulk porous glass either by outside vapour deposition [OVD], or by outside vapour phase oxidation [OVPO] or by vapour axial deposition [VAD]
    • C03B37/018—Manufacture of preforms for drawing fibres or filaments made entirely or partially by chemical means, e.g. vapour phase deposition of bulk porous glass either by outside vapour deposition [OVD], or by outside vapour phase oxidation [OVPO] or by vapour axial deposition [VAD] by glass deposition on a glass substrate, e.g. by inside-, modified-, plasma-, or plasma modified- chemical vapour deposition [ICVD, MCVD, PCVD, PMCVD], i.e. by thin layer coating on the inside or outside of a glass tube or on a glass rod
    • C03B37/01861—Means for changing or stabilising the diameter or form of tubes or rods
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C03—GLASS; MINERAL OR SLAG WOOL
    • C03B—MANUFACTURE, SHAPING, OR SUPPLEMENTARY PROCESSES
    • C03B37/00—Manufacture or treatment of flakes, fibres, or filaments from softened glass, minerals, or slags
    • C03B37/01—Manufacture of glass fibres or filaments
    • C03B37/02—Manufacture of glass fibres or filaments by drawing or extruding, e.g. direct drawing of molten glass from nozzles; Cooling fins therefor
    • C03B37/025—Manufacture of glass fibres or filaments by drawing or extruding, e.g. direct drawing of molten glass from nozzles; Cooling fins therefor from reheated softened tubes, rods, fibres or filaments, e.g. drawing fibres from preforms
    • C03B37/027—Fibres composed of different sorts of glass, e.g. glass optical fibres
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C03—GLASS; MINERAL OR SLAG WOOL
    • C03B—MANUFACTURE, SHAPING, OR SUPPLEMENTARY PROCESSES
    • C03B37/00—Manufacture or treatment of flakes, fibres, or filaments from softened glass, minerals, or slags
    • C03B37/01—Manufacture of glass fibres or filaments
    • C03B37/02—Manufacture of glass fibres or filaments by drawing or extruding, e.g. direct drawing of molten glass from nozzles; Cooling fins therefor
    • C03B37/025—Manufacture of glass fibres or filaments by drawing or extruding, e.g. direct drawing of molten glass from nozzles; Cooling fins therefor from reheated softened tubes, rods, fibres or filaments, e.g. drawing fibres from preforms
    • C03B37/027—Fibres composed of different sorts of glass, e.g. glass optical fibres
    • C03B37/02745—Fibres having rotational spin around the central longitudinal axis, e.g. alternating +/- spin to reduce polarisation mode dispersion
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C03—GLASS; MINERAL OR SLAG WOOL
    • C03B—MANUFACTURE, SHAPING, OR SUPPLEMENTARY PROCESSES
    • C03B2203/00—Fibre product details, e.g. structure, shape
    • C03B2203/36—Dispersion modified fibres, e.g. wavelength or polarisation shifted, flattened or compensating fibres (DSF, DFF, DCF)
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C03—GLASS; MINERAL OR SLAG WOOL
    • C03B—MANUFACTURE, SHAPING, OR SUPPLEMENTARY PROCESSES
    • C03B2205/00—Fibre drawing or extruding details
    • C03B2205/40—Monitoring or regulating the draw tension or draw rate
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C03—GLASS; MINERAL OR SLAG WOOL
    • C03B—MANUFACTURE, SHAPING, OR SUPPLEMENTARY PROCESSES
    • C03B2205/00—Fibre drawing or extruding details
    • C03B2205/60—Optical fibre draw furnaces
    • C03B2205/72—Controlling or measuring the draw furnace temperature

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to optical fiber fabrication, and more specifically, to methods for reducing the ovality of optical fiber preforms used in manufacturing optical fiber.
  • the manufacture of optical fiber utilizes a glass preform from which optical fiber is generated.
  • the glass preform reproduces the desired index profile of the optical fiber in a thick glass rod.
  • the lower end of the preform is lowered into a furnace so that the end of the preform is softened until a softened glob falls down by gravity. As it falls, it forms a thread.
  • the thread cools as it falls, and undergoes a series of processing steps (e.g., application of coating layers) to form the finished optical fiber. Therefore, it will be appreciated that the make-up and length of optical fiber generated by this process is dependent upon the characteristics of the preform from which the optical fiber is drawn.
  • MCVD Modified Chemical Vapor Deposition
  • the torch assembly slowly traverses the length of the starting tube while reactant gasses are fed into and exhausted from the tube.
  • the starting tube is collapsed to form a solid core rod by heating it to a higher temperature than during deposition.
  • an overcladding process material such as silica is added to increase the diameter of the core rod.
  • the optical fiber perform is complete and ready to be drawn into optical fiber.
  • preforms generated by this process often suffer from ovality; that is, the preforms do not necessarily have a circular cross section throughout their entire length.
  • Preform ovality is undesirable because it changes and more often increases the Polarization Mode Dispersion (PMD) of optical fiber.
  • PMD is a stochastic phenomenon that leads to the dispersion of the optical pulses transmitted in an optical fiber. In particular, the dispersion is caused by the propagation speed difference between the polarization modes of the fiber. PMD limits the transmission capacity of optical communication systems by creating inter-symbol interference. Because low PMD is a desirable characteristic of optical fiber, reducing preform ovality is a crucial factor in achieving desirable transmission characteristics of optical fiber.
  • the present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing methods for reducing preform core ovality during and subsequent to the creation of an optical fiber preform.
  • the outer diameter of the starting tube is altered by etching or a like process to reduce its ovality.
  • the core rod may be etched, heated and rotated to reduce its ovality. Both methods may be used independently or in combination and are advantageous in that they reduce the PMD of optical fiber drawn from the optical fiber preform.
  • the cladding material of a core rod having an oval or elliptical core may be etched to mirror the shape of the oval core.
  • the preform generated there from may then be placed under a surface tension, or pulled in a manner to generate a circular optical fiber having low ovality and low PMD.
  • the present invention there is a disclosed method of reducing the ovality of an optical preform.
  • the method includes the step of providing a starting tube having a wall, the wall having an exterior surface and an interior surface and wherein the interior surface defines a hollow region of the starting tube.
  • the method also includes the step of etching the wall until the exterior of the wall includes a substantially circular cross section.
  • etching the wall includes etching the wall using heating means, which may include a plasma torch.
  • the method further includes the step of measuring the ovality of the starting tube prior to etching the wall of the starting tube to determine the ovality of the starting tube.
  • etching the wall includes etching the wall only where the exterior of the wall is substantially oval in cross-section.
  • the method may also include the step of rotating the starting tube as the starting tube is etched, and/or the step of removably mounting the starting tube to a lathe to etch the wall.
  • the method includes providing a core rod, the core rod comprising a core and a cladding layer, where the core includes an oval cross section, mounting the core rod on a lathe having at least two rotors, and rotating the core rod using the at least one of the two rotors.
  • the method further includes subjecting the core rod to a heat source, where one of the at least two rotors is phase-shifted from another one of the at least two rotors after the core rod is mounted on the lathe.
  • the method further includes the step of etching the core rod.
  • etching the wall includes etching the core rod using a heating device, which may be a plasma torch.
  • the method includes the step of measuring the ovality of the core rod prior to etching the core rod. The step of measuring can also include measuring the ovality of the cladding layer.
  • the step of etching can include etching the core rod only where the cladding layer is substantially oval in cross-section.
  • the step of rotating can include rotating the core rod as the core rod is etched.
  • the step of rotating includes the step of rotating the core rod in clockwise and counterclockwise directions. Additionally, the angular velocity of the rotors may be equal during rotation.
  • FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a general apparatus suitable for modified chemical vapor deposition (MCVD).
  • FIGS. 2A through 2C are diagrams illustrating a general MCVD method.
  • FIGS. 3A through 3C illustrate cross-sections of undesirable preform geometries generated by a conventional MCVD process, according to illustrative examples of the present invention.
  • FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of a starting tube having a non-uniform thickness, according to an illustrative example of the present invention.
  • FIG. 5 shows a bisected view of a starting tube ovality modification apparatus upon which a starting tube is attached, according to one embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 6 shows a cross-section view of a corrected starting tube having a substantially circular outside diameter and uniform thickness, according to one aspect of the present invention.
  • FIG. 7 shows a bisected view of a core rod ovality modification apparatus upon which a core rod is attached, according to one embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIGS. 8A through 8C illustrate the ovality modification performed by the core rod ovality modification apparatus of FIG. 7.
  • FIGS. 9A through 9C illustrate the ovality modification performed by an ovality modification apparatus and draw process of the present invention.
  • FIG. 1 shows an apparatus suitable for a MCVD process, as is known in the prior art.
  • the apparatus includes a shelf 1 which supports a starting tube 2 and a heating means 4 that applies heat to a heating zone 3 of the starting tube 2 .
  • the starting tube 2 rotates, for example, in the direction indicated by an arrow 5 a
  • the heating means 4 reciprocates in the direction indicated by an arrow 5 b by a moving member in track 6 , so that the heating zone 3 is shifted along the entire starting tube 2 while the starting tube rotates.
  • a source gas is introduced via a supply pipe 7 to the starting tube 2 , and the supply pipe 7 is connected to a source material storage portion 8 .
  • the source material storage portion 8 has an inlet 9 for oxygen.
  • Storage tanks 14 and 15 contain reaction materials 16 and 17 , which are usually liquids, and the reaction materials 16 and 17 enter the starting tube 2 , carried by carrier gases input via inlets 10 and 11 . Also, the excited material is discharged via an outlet 18 .
  • a mixing valve (not shown) and a blocking valve (not shown) measure the flow of gases and perform other adjustments required for mixing. During a deposition process the torch assembly slowly traverses the length of the starting tube 2 while the reaction materials and oxygen are fed into and exhausted from the supply pipe 7 .
  • the starting tube 2 is collapsed to form a solid core rod by heating it to a higher temperature than during deposition, as is next illustrated in FIGS. 2A through 2C.
  • FIGS. 2A through 2C are diagrams illustrating the collapsing of the starting tube 2 on the deposited materials to form an optical preform.
  • a high-purity source gas such as SiCl 4 , GeCl 4 , POCl 3 , BCl 3 or CF 4 , is introduced together with oxygen into a glass starting tube 21 , and the starting tube 21 is heated by the heating means 23 , resulting in soot, an oxidation deposit, on the inside of the starting tube 21 formed by thermal oxidation (see FIG. 2A).
  • the concentration of the source gas is accurately adjusted under the control of a computerized system to control a refractive index, to thereby deposit a core and/or cladding layer 22 inside the starting tube 21 (see FIG. 2B). Then, the starting tube 21 on which the cladding and/or core layer 22 have been deposited is heated by the heating means 23 , and collapsed to form an optical fiber preform 25 .
  • FIGS. 3A through 3C illustrate some of the undesirable preform geometries generated by the MCVD process.
  • FIG. 3A illustrates the cross-section of a core rod 30 having an oval cladding layer 34 with a substantially non-oval, or circular, core 32 .
  • a core rod is generated by the MCVD process, but prior to the generation of an optical fiber preform by the subsequent addition of an overcladding layer, as is known in the art.
  • FIG. 3B illustrates the cross-section of a core rod 36 having an oval core 38 with a substantially non-oval, or circular, cladding layer 40 .
  • FIG. 3C illustrates the cross-section of a core rod 42 having both an oval core 44 and oval cladding layer 46 .
  • PMD is a stochastic phenomenon that leads to the dispersion of the optical pulses transmitted in an optical fiber.
  • the dispersion is caused by the propagation speed difference between the polarization modes of the fiber.
  • PMD limits the transmission capacity of optical communication systems by creating inter-symbol interference. Because low PMD is a desirable characteristic of optical fiber, modifying preform core ovality to reduce PMD is a crucial factor in achieving desirable transmission characteristics of optical fiber.
  • one method of modifying the ovality of an optical preform is by changing the ovality of the starting tube prior to MCVD deposition.
  • starting tube outer diameter (OD) ovality plays a significant role in preform core ovality after MCVD deposition.
  • starting tube outer diameter ovality correlates directly with preform core ovality and PMD.
  • preform core ovality and PMD are relatively insensitive to the inner diameter (ID) of starting tubes.
  • FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of a starting tube 48 having undesirable high ovality, according to an illustrative example of the present invention.
  • the starting tube 48 comprises a starting tube wall 49 having a thickness T that varies around the circumference of the starting tube 48 .
  • T thickness
  • the interior surface 52 of the wall 49 is substantially equidistant from the center longitudinal axis 51 .
  • FIG. 5 shows a bisected view of the starting tube 48 removably mounted on a starting tube ovality modification apparatus 53 , according to one embodiment of the present invention.
  • the starting tube ovality modification apparatus 53 improves the starting tube 48 OD ovality (or starting tube wall 49 uniformity) by using a heat source on the starting tube 48 to modify its OD ovality prior to MCVD deposition.
  • the apparatus 53 includes a lathe (not illustrated), such as a glassworking lathe, upon which the starting tube 48 is mounted.
  • the lathe is operable to rotate 57 , 59 the tube 48 around the center longitudinal axis 51 passing through the length of the tube 48 .
  • the lathe's rotation is controlled by two rotors 56 , 58 .
  • the rotational velocities of the two rotors 56 , 58 are synchronized and locked together during the etching process so no twist is imparted to the starting tube 48 .
  • An illustrative lathe is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,178,779, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Because the structure and operation of lathes are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art, they are not described further herein.
  • the starting tube 48 is removably mounted adjacent to an isothermal plasma torch 54 , as is well known in the art, which generates a plasma fireball 55 .
  • the plasma torch 54 is mounted on a movable support which permits it to traverse the length of the starting tube 48 . Therefore, in combination with the rotation provided by the rotors 56 , 58 , the plasma torch can heat any outside portion of the starting tube 48 .
  • isothermal plasmas may be used by the apparatus 53 of the present invention. Examples include oxygen and oxygen-containing plasma, e.g., oxygen/argon.
  • the plasma is typically hydrogen-free, such that OH impurities in the resulting article are substantially avoided.
  • the plasma fireball 55 heats and etches the exterior surface 50 of the starting tube wall 49 , thereby removing glass from the starting tube wall 49 .
  • the longer the plasma fireball 55 heats a particular portion of the starting tube wall 49 the greater the amount of glass etched there from. It will be appreciated that the etching does not affect the interior surface 52 of the wall 49 .
  • the reduced ovality of the starting tube OD reduces the PMD of an optical fiber drawn there from, thereby enhancing the transmission characteristics of the resulting optical fiber.
  • the preferential etching of the starting tube wall 49 or OD ovality is achieved by varying the rotational velocity of the tube 48 as a function of the starting tube ovality. Therefore, the slower the rotation of the starting tube 48 , the greater the amount of glass is etched away.
  • the OD ovality of the starting tube 48 can be scanned prior to etching either on-line or off-line. Off-line scanners are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art for measuring starting tube dimensions and ovality. However, such scanners have not been integrated with a system to control a plasma torch or other heat source in a closed loop system to modify OD ovality.
  • the ovality of the starting tube 48 is calculated by scanning equipment configurable to measure the ovality of the tube 48 at any cross section along the entire length of the tube 48 .
  • the scanning equipment is in electrical communication with the starting tube ovality modification apparatus 53 to communicate the requisite rotational speed and location of the plasma torch 54 to reduce the OD of the starting tube 48 where necessary to produce a substantially non-oval and circular OD.
  • measurements can be made manually and entered into the starting tube ovality modification apparatus 53 using an input means well known in the art.
  • FIG. 6 shows an illustrative cross-section of the starting tube of FIG. 4 after its OD ovality is reduced by the starting tube ovality modification apparatus 53 .
  • the corrected starting tube 60 has a substantially uniform thickness D between the interior surface 54 of the starting tube wall 64 and the exterior surface 62 of the starting tube wall 64 . Therefore, the exterior surface 62 of the tube 60 is substantially equidistant, along its entire surface, to the center longitudinal axis 53 passing through the length of the tube 60 .
  • MCVD deposition using the modified starting tube can proceed, the MCVD deposition utilizing the modified starting tube ensuring lower PMD, and hence enhanced optical fiber transmission characteristics, than would otherwise be achieved if the starting tube OD ovality was left unchanged prior to MCVD deposition.
  • the code rod is etched to modify its ovality.
  • This method may be used independently or in combination with the methods for eliminating or reducing starting tube ovality, discussed in detail above. Etching the core rod properly can also reduce the PMD of optical fiber drawn from an optical preform.
  • FIG. 7 shows a bisected view of a core rod ovality modification apparatus 73 upon which a core rod 69 is removably attached, according to one embodiment of the present invention.
  • the apparatus 73 is substantially similar to the apparatus discussed with reference to FIG. 5, above.
  • the core rod ovality modification apparatus 73 improves the core rod 69 ovality by using a heat source on the core rod in combination with spinning of the core rod 69 to improve the ovality of both the core 72 and overcladding layer 70 of the core rod 69 .
  • the apparatus 73 includes a lathe (not illustrated), such as a glassworking lathe, upon which a core rod 69 having undesirable ovality is mounted.
  • the lathe is operable to rotate 77 , 79 the core rod 69 around the center longitudinal axis 71 passing through the length of the core rod 69 .
  • the core rod 69 initially has the geometry illustrated in FIG. 8A including an oval core 72 and an oval cladding layer 70 .
  • the core rod 69 is removably mounted adjacent to an isothermal plasma torch 74 , as is well known in the art, which generates a plasma fireball 75 as described above.
  • the plasma torch 74 is mounted on a movable support which permits it to traverse the length of the core rod 69 .
  • the plasma fireball 75 heats and etches the exterior surface of the core rod 69 , thereby removing glass from exterior portions of the cladding layer 70 .
  • the longer the plasma fireball 75 heats a particular portion of the cladding layer 70 the greater the amount of glass etched there from. It will be appreciated that the etching does not affect the core 72 of the core rod 69 .
  • the apparatus 73 preferentially etches the OD 68 of the core rod 69 until the cladding layer 70 is substantially similar to the shape of core in cross-section.
  • the results of the preferential etching are illustrated in FIG. 8B.
  • the preferential etching reduces the thickness of some or select portions of the overcladding layer 70 of FIG. 8A such that the thickness of the overcladding layer 81 is substantially consistent or constant around the core 82 .
  • the rotors 76 , 78 which control the lathe's rotation, are phase-shifted as a function of the core rod's 69 ovality along its entire length.
  • the phase shift is calculated as a function of its ovality:
  • ⁇ is the amount of phase shift in degrees or radius as a function of ovality, position and time;
  • O v is the ovality in % (e.g., (max ⁇ min)/(max+min)/2) as a function of position;
  • K is a conversion constant;
  • ⁇ is a frequency at which the core rod spins (clockwise and counter-clockwise) are alternated. This phase-shift operation provides a “spin motion” of the core rod to improve its ovality.
  • the angular velocity of the two rotors 76 , 78 are synchronized but for transmission time periods during the phase shifting. Additionally, it will be appreciated that it is advantageous to alternate the phase-shift between positive and negative—i.e., between clockwise and counterclockwise directions. This prevents any permanent twist from being imparted in the core rod.
  • the effect of the phase shift or spinning motion is to average out and improve the core 72 ovality.
  • phase-shifting or spinning the core rod 69 will perturb the core 72 to redistribute it to a more circular shape. Therefore, phase-shifted rotation of the oval core rod 80 having an oval core 82 will result in the core rod 83 illustrated in FIG.
  • the core rod ovality correction apparatus 73 need perform the initial step of etching the cladding layer 70 before rotating the core rod to achieve a perform having low ovality.
  • the preferential etching of the cladding layer 70 of core rod 69 is achieved by varying the rotational velocity of the core rod 69 as a function of the core rod ovality. Therefore, the slower the rotation of the core rod 69 , the greater the amount of glass is etched away.
  • the OD 68 ovality of the core rod 69 can be scanned prior to etching either on-line or off-line. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the ovality of the core rod 69 is calculated by scanning equipment configurable to measure the ovality of the rod 69 at any cross section along its entire length.
  • the scanning equipment is in electrical communication with the core rod ovality modification apparatus 73 to communicate the requisite rotational speed and location of the plasma torch 74 to match the OD 68 of the core rod 69 with the core 72 such that the relative exterior surfaces of the respective layers are substantially congruent.
  • measurements can be made manually and entered into the core rod ovality modification apparatus 73 using an input means well known in the art.
  • the cladding material of a preform having an oval or elliptical core may be etched to mirror the shape of the oval core. Thereafter the perform may be placed under a surface tension, or pulled in a manner to generate a circular optical fiber having low ovality and low PMD.
  • FIGS. 9A through 9C illustrate the ovality modification performed by an ovality modification apparatus and method of the present invention.
  • the core rod 85 initially has the geometry illustrated in FIG. 9A.
  • the core rod geometry is similar to that geometry shown in FIGS. 3B and 8B, including an oval core 87 and a substantially circular cladding layer 89 .
  • OD of the core rod is preferentially etched to match the shape of the core 87 .
  • the results of the preferential etching are illustrated in FIG. 9B.
  • the preferential etching reduces the thickness of some or select portions of the overcladding layer 93 of FIG. 9A such that the thickness of the overcladding layer is substantially consistent or constant around the core 95 . Therefore, in the core rod 91 illustrated in FIG. 9B the overcladding layer 93 is congruent with the core 91 .
  • the core rod 91 is prepared for and subjected to overcladding (not illustrated), as is well known in the art.
  • the resulting perform is subjected to the draw process.
  • a surface tension is used, in combination with a drawing speed effected by a longer melt zone to draw the preferentially etched perform to effect optical fiber having a substantially circular cross section of core 99 and cladding layer 98 illustrated in the cross-sectional view of the core and cladding layers of an optical fiber 97 illustrated in FIG. 9C.
  • a surface tension may be applied to create substantially circular core and cladding layers (i.e., in cross-section) from an elliptically-shaped core rod and cladding layer such as those illustrated in FIG. 9B.
  • the temperature at which the fiber is typically drawn may be increased to encourage the creation of the cross-section shown in FIG. 9C.
  • the fiber may be spun in clockwise and counterclockwise directions to encourage the geometry modification taking place between FIGS. 9B and 9C.
  • this process results in an optical fiber having low ovality and low PMD, and thus, advantageous transmission capabilities.

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Manufacture, Treatment Of Glass Fibers (AREA)
  • Optical Fibers, Optical Fiber Cores, And Optical Fiber Bundles (AREA)
US10/430,779 2003-05-05 2003-05-05 Methods for modifying ovality of optical fiber preforms Abandoned US20040221617A1 (en)

Priority Applications (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US10/430,779 US20040221617A1 (en) 2003-05-05 2003-05-05 Methods for modifying ovality of optical fiber preforms
EP04007685A EP1475358A1 (en) 2003-05-05 2004-03-30 Methods for modifying ovality of optical fiber preforms
CNB2004100366796A CN100478291C (zh) 2003-05-05 2004-04-28 光纤预制件的椭圆度的改进方法及光纤制造方法
JP2004135651A JP4359183B2 (ja) 2003-05-05 2004-04-30 光ファイバ・プリフォームの楕円度修正方法
US11/672,836 US20070125127A1 (en) 2003-05-05 2007-02-08 Methods for modifying ovality of optical fiber preforms
US12/945,133 US7946133B2 (en) 2003-05-05 2010-11-12 Methods for modifying ovality of optical fiber preforms

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US10/430,779 US20040221617A1 (en) 2003-05-05 2003-05-05 Methods for modifying ovality of optical fiber preforms

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JP4359183B2 (ja) 2009-11-04
US7946133B2 (en) 2011-05-24
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JP2004331495A (ja) 2004-11-25
US20110056245A1 (en) 2011-03-10
CN100478291C (zh) 2009-04-15
EP1475358A1 (en) 2004-11-10

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