WO2015046511A1 - プラスチック製イメージファイバ、及びその製造方法 - Google Patents
プラスチック製イメージファイバ、及びその製造方法 Download PDFInfo
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- WO2015046511A1 WO2015046511A1 PCT/JP2014/075891 JP2014075891W WO2015046511A1 WO 2015046511 A1 WO2015046511 A1 WO 2015046511A1 JP 2014075891 W JP2014075891 W JP 2014075891W WO 2015046511 A1 WO2015046511 A1 WO 2015046511A1
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- Prior art keywords
- refractive index
- core
- plastic
- fiber
- image fiber
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- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/02—Optical fibres with cladding with or without a coating
- G02B6/02042—Multicore optical fibres
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29D—PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE
- B29D11/00—Producing optical elements, e.g. lenses or prisms
- B29D11/00663—Production of light guides
- B29D11/00682—Production of light guides with a refractive index gradient
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/02—Optical fibres with cladding with or without a coating
- G02B6/02033—Core or cladding made from organic material, e.g. polymeric material
- G02B6/02038—Core or cladding made from organic material, e.g. polymeric material with core or cladding having graded refractive index
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29K—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR MOULDS, REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
- B29K2233/00—Use of polymers of unsaturated acids or derivatives thereof, as reinforcement
- B29K2233/04—Polymers of esters
- B29K2233/08—Polymers of acrylic acid esters, e.g. PMA, i.e. polymethylacrylate
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29K—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR MOULDS, REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
- B29K2625/00—Use of polymers of vinyl-aromatic compounds or derivatives thereof for preformed parts, e.g. for inserts
- B29K2625/04—Polymers of styrene
- B29K2625/06—PS, i.e. polystyrene
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/04—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings formed by bundles of fibres
- G02B6/06—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings formed by bundles of fibres the relative position of the fibres being the same at both ends, e.g. for transporting images
Definitions
- Image fibers are used in the industrial and medical fields.
- the image fiber generally has a structure in which a plurality of cores are provided in a clad.
- the number of pixels of the image fiber (the number of cores) is, for example, 1000 or more.
- the image fiber generally has an outer diameter of several millimeters or less due to usage requirements. For this reason, the diameter of the core is on the order of ⁇ m.
- a number of plastic fibers (monofibers) with a single core in the cladding have been proposed.
- a plastic fiber having a large diameter (for example, a core diameter of about 1 mm) has been proposed.
- the optical transmission loss of the large-diameter plastic fiber was not so much of a problem.
- a plastic image fiber having a core diameter of several ⁇ m or less and a cladding diameter of several mm or less has a large light transmission loss.
- FIG. 1 is a graph of wavelength-transmission loss.
- the upper line (solid line) in FIG. 1 is a graph of optical transmission loss of a plastic image fiber (core diameter 4.2 ⁇ m, number of cores 5000, cladding outer diameter 500 ⁇ m).
- the lower line (dotted line) in FIG. 1 is a graph of optical transmission loss of a plastic monofiber (core diameter 960 ⁇ m, cladding outer diameter 1000 ⁇ m).
- the fiber core is made of polystyrene.
- the fiber cladding is polymethylmethacrylate.
- FIG. 2 is a graph of transmission loss of plastic optical fibers having various core diameters.
- FIG. 2 The horizontal axis in FIG. 2 is 10 times the reciprocal of the core diameter d ( ⁇ m).
- FIG. 2 also shows the core diameter d ( ⁇ m). From FIG. 2, it can be seen that the transmission loss increases as the core diameter d decreases and increases in proportion to the inverse of the core diameter d.
- FIG. 3 is a graph of the refractive index change of the fiber.
- the vertical axis (n d ) is the refractive index value of the plastic image fiber 1.
- the horizontal axis (X) is the distance in the direction perpendicular to the length direction of the plastic image fiber 1.
- FIG. 3A is a graph of the refractive index change of the plastic monofiber (core diameter 960 ⁇ m, cladding outer diameter 1000 ⁇ m).
- FIG. 3B is a graph of the refractive index change of the plastic image fiber (core diameter 4.2 ⁇ m, core number 5000, cladding outer diameter 500 ⁇ m).
- the refractive index changes are all rectangular.
- FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the state of optical transmission in the fiber.
- FIGS. 4A and 4B are explanatory diagrams when the core diameter is large.
- FIGS. 4C and 4D are explanatory diagrams when the core diameter is small.
- FIG. 4B where the core diameter is large, the light is sufficiently confined in the core and propagates.
- FIG. 4D where the core diameter is small, the light is not sufficiently confined in the core. Light propagates with a distribution that extends to the outer cladding. If the interface between the core and the cladding is not smooth and has irregularities that cause light scattering, light will ooze out to the cladding. As the core diameter decreases, the wave theory explains that light transmission is easily affected by the core-cladding interface.
- the present inventor would prefer that the interface between the core and the clad be smooth (the refractive index change at the periphery of the core is continuous). It came to get revelation.
- the present invention has been achieved based on the above revelation.
- the present invention A plastic image fiber in which N (N is an integer of 2 or more) cores are provided in a clad,
- the core is The refractive index value continuously changes in the periphery of the core,
- the present invention is the plastic image fiber, wherein the core has a diameter of 1 ⁇ m to 20 ⁇ m, the number of cores is 1000 or more, and the outer diameter of the clad is 4 mm or less. Propose plastic image fiber.
- the present invention is the plastic image fiber, wherein the fiber has a refractive index value of the core at a position in contact with the cladding and a refractive index of the cladding at a position in contact with the core.
- the present invention is the plastic image fiber, wherein the fiber has a refractive index value represented by a monotonically decreasing function at a position from the periphery of the core to the vicinity of the core in the cladding.
- a plastic image fiber characterized by this.
- the present invention is the plastic image fiber, wherein [n 2 (maximum refractive index in the core) ⁇ n 1 (minimum refractive index in the cladding)] ⁇ 0.05 Propose fiber.
- the present invention is the plastic image fiber, characterized in that the fiber has a continuous rate of change in refractive index at a position from the periphery of the core to the vicinity of the core in the cladding. Proposed plastic image fiber.
- the present invention is the plastic image fiber, wherein the fiber has a continuous rate of change in refractive index at a position from the center of the core to the vicinity of the core in the cladding. Proposed plastic image fiber.
- the present invention is a method for manufacturing the plastic image fiber, wherein the plastic fiber single wire has a refractive index value represented by a monotonically decreasing function in the peripheral portion. Propose.
- the present invention is the method for producing the plastic image fiber, wherein the plastic fiber single wire has a refractive index value represented by a monotonically decreasing function from the center to the periphery.
- the present invention proposes a method for manufacturing the plastic image fiber, wherein the single fiber of the plastic fiber has a refractive index of the same value at a peripheral portion at a peripheral portion. To do.
- the present invention proposes a method for producing a plastic image fiber, which is a method for producing the plastic image fiber.
- the first invention is a plastic image fiber. Embodiments of the fiber are described.
- the fiber includes a cladding.
- the fiber includes a core.
- the core is provided in the cladding.
- the number of the cores is 2 or more. Preferably, it is 1000 or more. More preferably, it is 2000 or more.
- the diameter (diameter) of the core is preferably 1 ⁇ m or more. More preferably, it is 1.5 ⁇ m or more. Today, it is actually 2 ⁇ m or more.
- the diameter (diameter) of the core is preferably 20 ⁇ m or less. More preferably, it is 15 ⁇ m or less.
- the outer diameter of the clad is preferably 4 mm or less. More preferably, it is 3 mm or less. More preferably, it is 2 mm or less. Especially preferably, it is 1.5 mm or less.
- the value of the refractive index at the position on the central part side of the core in the peripheral part of the core is larger than the value of the refractive index at the position on the cladding side in the peripheral part.
- the value of the refractive index in the core changes continuously (substantially, continuously: substantially continuously) in the peripheral portion of the core.
- ⁇ df (X) / dX ⁇ is a continuous function.
- f (X) is the value of the refractive index at the distance X.
- X is a distance in a direction perpendicular to the length direction of the image fiber. “Continuous change” has the following meaning.
- the refractive index value of the core at a position in contact with the clad is the same as the refractive index value of the clad at a position in contact with the core (substantially the same: substantially the same). It is.
- the refractive index value of the fiber is represented by a monotonically decreasing function at a position from the periphery of the core to the vicinity of the core in the cladding.
- the fiber preferably has a refractive index value represented by a monotonically decreasing function at a position from the center of the core to the vicinity of the core in the cladding.
- the fiber is preferably [n 2 (maximum refractive index in the core) ⁇ n 1 (minimum refractive index in the cladding)] ⁇ 0.05. More preferably, it is 0.07 or more. More preferably, it is 0.1 or more.
- the center may be a point.
- the central portion may have a certain region (for example, a region having a size half the core diameter: a range).
- the refractive index value may be a substantially constant value.
- the refractive index at the center position is larger than the refractive index at the outer peripheral position.
- the core region is a region having a refractive index of ⁇ n 1 + 0.05 ⁇ (n 2 ⁇ n 1 ) ⁇ or more.
- n 2 is the maximum value of the refractive index in the core.
- n 1 is the minimum value of the refractive index in the cladding.
- the peripheral portion of the core is a region of about 1/10 to 1/2 of the radius of the core from the end of the core region to the center side of the core.
- the cladding region is a region having a refractive index less than ⁇ n 1 + 0.05 ⁇ (n 2 ⁇ n 1 ) ⁇ .
- the vicinity of the core in the cladding is a region having a refractive index greater than n 1 and less than ⁇ n 1 + 0.05 ⁇ (n 2 ⁇ n 1 ) ⁇ .
- the distance between the ends of the core regions adjacent to each other is preferably 0.5 ⁇ m or more and 10 ⁇ m or less. If the distance is smaller than 0.5 ⁇ m, the problem of crosstalk becomes significant. The resolution of the image fiber may be insufficient. Even if the distance is greater than 10 ⁇ m, there is no further improvement of the crosstalk problem. In some cases, the total area of the core in the image fiber is reduced, resulting in a dark image fiber.
- the distance is more preferably not less than 0.6 ⁇ m and not more than 5 ⁇ m (even more preferably not less than 0.7 ⁇ m and not more than 3 ⁇ m, particularly preferably not less than 0.8 ⁇ m and not more than 1.5 ⁇ m).
- the plastic image fiber of the above embodiment is made of plastic. Therefore, it is flexible. It can also be applied to places where bending is required. Even when the fiber is used for health examination (when inserted into the body), it can be used without any problem. Hard to break. Therefore, it is rich in safety.
- the plastic image fiber of the above embodiment has a small optical transmission loss. Therefore, a bright and clear image can be obtained.
- the second invention is a method for producing a plastic image fiber.
- this is a method for producing the plastic image fiber.
- An embodiment of the fiber manufacturing method is described.
- the method includes a plastic fiber single wire assembly manufacturing step. In the production process, an assembly in which plastic fiber single wires are bundled is produced.
- the method includes a heat integration step. In the heating integration step, the plastic fiber single wire aggregate is heated and integrated.
- the heating integration step is preferably performed by exhausting gas from the gap between the plastic fiber single wires in the assembly. For example, it is performed under vacuum conditions.
- the method includes a thinning step. In the thinning step, the integrated product obtained in the heating integration step is thinned (thinned).
- the plastic fiber single wire has a refractive index value continuously changed in the peripheral portion.
- the plastic fiber single wire preferably has a refractive index value represented by a monotonically decreasing function in the peripheral portion. More preferably, the value of the refractive index is represented by a monotonously decreasing function from the central part to the peripheral part.
- the plastic fiber single wire preferably has the same refractive index in the peripheral part (outside the peripheral part) by a predetermined thickness.
- the peripheral portion where there is no change in the refractive index is a portion that becomes a clad when thinned (when a plastic image fiber is obtained).
- FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the plastic image fiber of the present invention.
- 1 is a plastic image fiber.
- the length of the plastic image fiber 1 is several meters. For example, it is about 1 to 6 m. In this embodiment, the length was 2 to 4 m.
- 2 is a clad.
- 3 is a core. The core 3 is provided in the clad 2. Between the core 3 and the core 3, the clad 2 always exists.
- X indicates a direction perpendicular to the length direction of the plastic image fiber 1.
- the number of cores 3 is determined by the required number of pixels.
- the number of cores 3 is 1000 or more, for example. More preferably, it is 2000 or more.
- the clad 2 and the core 3 are made of plastic.
- the refractive index distributions in the clad 2 and the core 3 of the plastic image fiber 1 are shown in FIGS. 6 (a), (b), (c), and (d).
- the vertical axis (n d ) represents the refractive index value of the plastic image fiber 1.
- the horizontal axis (X) is the distance in the direction perpendicular to the length direction of the plastic image fiber 1.
- X in FIG. 6 corresponds to X in FIG.
- the refractive index of the cladding 2 is n 1.
- Maximum refractive index of the core 3 is n 2.
- the refractive index of the peak portion is the refractive index in the core 3.
- the refractive index of the valley portion is the refractive index in the cladding 2.
- the rate of change of the refractive index with respect to the distance X from the periphery of the core 3 to the portion of the cladding 2 is the boundary between the cladding 2 and the core 3. In terms of points, it is continuous.
- the rate of change of the refractive index is discontinuous at the boundary point between the clad 2 and the core 3.
- the rate of change of the refractive index is discontinuous at a certain portion of the core 3.
- the rate of change of the refractive index is continuous in the region from the center of the core 3 to the clad 2. That is, in FIGS.
- the refractive index continuously changes in the entire region from the center of the core 3 to the periphery of the cladding 2. This means that the rate of change of the refractive index is small. Therefore, the fiber of FIG. 6B type has less structural irregularity loss and is excellent in terms of brightness.
- each fiber single wire has a small diameter and that the number of the fiber single wires is large.
- (n 2 ⁇ n 1 ) is preferably larger to some extent.
- the normalized frequency (transmission characteristic) V of light is expressed by the following equation.
- the (n 2 ⁇ n 1 ) was preferably 0.05 or more.
- the plastic fiber single wire is a graded index fiber.
- various methods for manufacturing this type of gradient index fiber There are methods in which the monomer reactivity ratio is utilized. There is a method (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 60-119510) in which a difference in monomer specific gravity is used. There is a method (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-108208) in which a high refractive index monomer is volatilized while the single wire is continuously extruded. There is a method (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
- the present invention is not limited to the above method. There may be various other methods. According to the techniques disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 60-119509 and 08-114715, a graded index fiber having a large value of (n 2 -n 1 ) can be easily obtained. The aggregate of gradient index fibers is integrated. The plastic image fiber 1 is obtained by thinning (drawing) this integrated product.
- FIG. 7 is a wavelength-transmission loss graph.
- the upper line (solid line) in FIG. 7 is a graph of optical transmission loss of a plastic image fiber (core diameter 4.2 ⁇ m, number of cores 5000, cladding outer diameter 500 ⁇ m).
- the lower line (dotted line) in FIG. 7 is a graph of optical transmission loss of a plastic monofiber (core diameter 780 ⁇ m, cladding outer diameter 1000 ⁇ m).
- FIG. 8 is a graph of core diameter-transmission loss (wavelength 500 nm). It can be seen that the plastic image fiber 1 of the embodiment has improved transmission characteristics at each stage (a comparison between FIGS.
- the reason why the transmission characteristic of the plastic image fiber 1 having the refractive index distribution is good can be understood from the following explanation.
- the light propagation form in the core is shown in FIG.
- the light propagation form of FIG. 9 is not a form of propagating while being reflected by total reflection as shown in FIG. Propagate like a sinusoidal curve. As a result, scattering loss is unlikely to occur. That is, the transmission characteristics are improved.
- Example 1 A glass cylindrical container (inner diameter 70 mm) was horizontally installed in an air constant temperature bath at 70 ° C. The cylindrical container is rotating (500 rotations / minute). Under this condition, the mixture was injected from an inlet provided at one end parallel to the rotation axis of the cylindrical container.
- the mixture includes a polymerization initiator, a chain transfer agent for adjusting the molecular weight, a low refractive index monomer (2,2,2-trifluoroethyl methacrylate: a refractive index of the polymer of 1.42), and a high refractive index monomer ( It was a mixture with methyl methacrylate: refractive index of polymer 1.49). Only the low refractive index monomer was injected.
- the monomer injection rate was 1 mm / hour.
- the injection time was 25 hours. Even after injection, rotation was carried out for 3 hours. This was followed by heating (120 ° C., 3 hours).
- the tip of the pipe 10 was heated by the heating furnace 12.
- the hollow portion of the pipe 10 was decompressed. Drawing was performed while being sandwiched between the rollers 13 and 13.
- the obtained thin wire 14 had an outer diameter of 1 mm.
- the thin wire 14 was cut (length: 300 mm) (see FIG. 12A).
- the diameter of the core (high refractive index portion) of the thin wire 14 was 780 ⁇ m.
- the pressure inside the pipe 16 was reduced.
- the front end of the assembly 17 was heated by the heating furnace 18. Drawing was performed while being sandwiched between rollers 19 and 19. Thereby, the plastic image fiber 1 was obtained (see FIG. 12C).
- the outer diameter of the fiber 1 was 500 ⁇ m.
- the transmission characteristics of the plastic image fiber 1 were examined. The result was as described above.
- Example 2 In Example 1, the pipe 10 was manufactured, and the pipe 10 was drawn (thinned).
- a preform rod 11 was produced.
- the preform rod 11 was manufactured, after the pipe 10 was manufactured in the same manner as in Example 1, the cylindrical container was installed vertically with the injection port facing up. Thereafter, only the high refractive index monomer was injected from the injection port. Thereafter, polymerization by heating (after 70 ° C. ⁇ 6 hours, 120 ° C. ⁇ 3 hours) was performed. Thereby, the preform rod 11 (refer FIG. 11) of diameter 70mm without a hollow part was obtained. The refractive index distribution of the preform rod 11 is shown (lower position in FIG. 11).
- the thinning process was performed according to Example 1 except that the pipe 10 was changed to the preform rod 11.
- a thin wire 15 (not shown) was obtained.
- the outer diameter of the thin wire 15 was 1 mm.
- the thin wire 15 was cut (length: 300 mm) (see FIG. 12A).
- the diameter of the core (high refractive index portion) of the fine wire 15 was 800 ⁇ m.
- a plastic image fiber was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the fine wire 15 was put into the polymethyl methacrylate pipe 16 instead of the fine wire 14.
- the outer diameter of the fiber was 500 ⁇ m.
- the transmission characteristics of the plastic image fiber obtained in this example were also good.
- Example 3 This was carried out according to Example 2. A preform rod 20 similar to the preform rod 11 was obtained. Thereafter, the preform rod 20 was inserted into the pipe 21 (see FIG. 13). Pipe 21 is made of a 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl methacrylate polymer. The refractive index distribution of this composite is shown (lower position in FIG. 13). Then, it carried out according to Example 1 (process of FIG. 12).
- Example 4 It carried out according to Example 1. A pipe 22 similar to the pipe 10 (the outermost diameter was 70 mm and the innermost diameter was 57 mm) 22 was obtained. The refractive index at the innermost peripheral position (28.5 mm from the center) of the pipe 22 was n 2 (1.49). The refractive index at the outermost peripheral position (35 mm from the center) of the pipe 22 was n 1 (1.42). The refractive index at the intermediate position changed substantially continuously from 1.49 to 1.42.
- a preform rod 23 made of polymethyl methacrylate and having a diameter of 56 mm was produced.
- the preform rod 23 was inserted into the pipe 22.
- the refractive index profile of this composite is shown (lower position in FIG. 14). Then, it carried out according to Example 1 (process of FIG. 12).
- the transmission characteristics of the plastic image fiber obtained in this example were also good.
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Abstract
Description
N(Nは2以上の整数)本のコアがクラッド中に設けられてなるプラスチック製イメージファイバであって、
前記コアは、
その屈折率の値が、前記コアの周辺部において、連続的に、変化しており、
前記周辺部における前記コアの中心部側の位置での屈折率の値が、前記周辺部における前記クラッド側の位置での屈折率の値よりも、大きい
ことを特徴とするプラスチック製イメージファイバを提案する。
プラスチックファイバ単線を束ねた集合体が作製されるプラスチックファイバ単線集合体作製工程と、
前記プラスチックファイバ単線集合体が加熱一体化される加熱一体化工程と、
前記加熱一体化工程で得られた一体化物が細引きされる細線化工程
とを具備してなり、
前記プラスチックファイバ単線は、
その屈折率の値が、周辺部において、連続的に変化したものである
ことを特徴とするプラスチックイメージファイバの製造方法を提案する。
図6(c)又は(d)の屈折率分布を有するファイバは、コア3中心部近傍に、屈折率の値が高い一定の領域を有している。これは、コア3の有効面積が大きいことを意味する。従って、前記図6(c)又は(d)タイプのファイバは、クロストークの問題が少なく、解像度の点で優れている。
図6(b)の屈折率分布を有するファイバは、コア3の中心部からクラッド2の周辺部の全ての領域で屈折率が連続的に変化している。これは、屈折率の変化率が小さいことを意味する。従って、図6(b)タイプのファイバは、構造不整損失が少なく、明るさの点で優れている。
≒(πd/λ){(2n1)(n2-n1)}1/2
d=コア直径
λ=伝搬光の波長
n1=クラッドの屈折率
n2=コアの屈折率
n1≒n2
ガラス円筒容器(内径70mm)が、70℃の空気恒温槽中に、水平に、設置された。前記円筒容器は回転(500回転/分)している。この条件下で、前記円筒容器の回転軸に平行な一方の端部に設けられた注入口から、混合物が注入された。前記混合物は、重合開始剤と、分子量調節用の連鎖移動剤と、低屈折率モノマ(2,2,2-トリフルオロエチルメタクリレート:重合体の屈折率1.42)と、高屈折率モノマ(メチルメタクリレート:重合体の屈折率1.49)との混合物であった。前記低屈折率モノマのみが注入された。前記高屈折率モノマのみが注入された。すなわち、前記円筒容器の最外周部には、前記低屈折率モノマのみが注入された。前記円筒容器の最内周部には、前記高屈折率モノマのみが注入された。前記円筒容器の中間部に、前記混合物が注入された。前記中間部において、内周側には前記高屈折率モノマの割合が多く、外周側には前記低屈折率モノマが多い。前記モノマの組成比は略連続的に変化していた。前記モノマの注入速度(堆積速度)は1mm/時間であった。注入時間は25時間であった。注入後も、回転が3時間に亘って行われた。この後、加熱(120℃,3時間)が行われた。これにより、屈折率分布パイプ10(図10参照)が得られた。前記パイプ10の最外周は直径70mm、最内周が直径20mmであった。前記パイプ10の屈折率分布が示される(図10の下方位置)。前記パイプ10の最内周位置(中心から10mm)での屈折率はn2(1.49)であった。前記パイプ10の最外周位置(中心から35mm)での屈折率はn1(1.42)であった。中間位置における屈折率は、1.49から1.42に、略連続的に、変化していた。
実施例1では、パイプ10が作製され、前記パイプ10に対して線引き(細線化)が行われた。
実施例2に準じて行われた。前記プリフォームロッド11と同様なプリフォームロッド20が得られた。この後、前記プリフォームロッド20がパイプ21内に挿入された(図13参照)。パイプ21は2,2,2-トリフルオロエチルメタクリレート重合体製である。この複合体の屈折率分布が示される(図13の下方位置)。この後、実施例1(図12の工程)に準じて行われた。
実施例1に準じて行われた。前記パイプ10と同様なパイプ(最外周が直径70mm、最内周が直径57mm)22が得られた。前記パイプ22の最内周位置(中心から28.5mm)での屈折率はn2(1.49)であった。前記パイプ22の最外周位置(中心から35mm)での屈折率はn1(1.42)であった。中間位置における屈折率は、1.49から1.42に、略連続的に、変化していた。
直径56mmのポリスチレンロッド(屈折率:1.59)が、最外周が直径70mm、最内周が直径57mmのポリメチルメタクリレートパイプ(屈折率1.49)中に、挿入された。この後、前記複合体に対して、実施例1(図12の工程)に準じた処理が、行われた。本比較例のプラスチック製イメージファイバの屈折率分布は図3(b)型(ステップ型)であった。
直径56mmのポリメチルメタクリレート製ロッド(屈折率:1.49)が、最外周が直径70mm、最内周が直径57mmの2,2,2-トリフルオロエチルメタクリレート製パイプ(屈折率:1.42)中に、挿入された。この後、前記複合体に対して、実施例1(図12の工程)に準じた処理が、行われた。本比較例のプラスチック製イメージファイバの屈折率分布は図3(b)型(ステップ型)であった。
2 クラッド
3 コア
10,21 パイプ
11,20 プリフォームロッド
12,18 加熱炉
13,19 ローラ
14 細線
15 細線
16 ポリメチルメタクリレート製パイプ
17 集合体
22 パイプ
23 プリフォームロッド
Claims (14)
- N(Nは2以上の整数)本のコアがクラッド中に設けられてなるプラスチック製イメージファイバであって、
前記コアは、
その屈折率の値が、前記コアの周辺部において、連続的に、変化しており、
前記周辺部における前記コアの中心部側の位置での屈折率の値が、前記周辺部における前記クラッド側の位置での屈折率の値よりも、大きい
ことを特徴とするプラスチック製イメージファイバ。 - 前記コアの径が1μm~20μmであり、
前記コアの本数が1000本以上であり、
前記クラッドの外径が4mm以下である
ことを特徴とする請求項1のプラスチック製イメージファイバ。 - 前記ファイバは、
前記クラッドに接している位置での前記コアの屈折率の値と、前記コアに接している位置での前記クラッドの屈折率の値とが同じである
ことを特徴とする請求項2のプラスチック製イメージファイバ。 - 前記ファイバは、
前記コアの周辺部から、前記クラッドにおける前記コア近傍側までの位置において、その屈折率の値が、単調減少関数で表される
ことを特徴とする請求項3のプラスチック製イメージファイバ。 - 前記ファイバは、
前記コアの中心部から、前記クラッドにおける前記コア近傍側までの位置において、その屈折率の値が、単調減少関数で表される
ことを特徴とする請求項4のプラスチック製イメージファイバ。 - [n2(前記コアにおける最大屈折率)-n1(前記クラッドにおける最小屈折率)]≧0.05である
ことを特徴とする請求項1~請求項5いずれかのプラスチック製イメージファイバ。 - 前記ファイバは、
前記コアの周辺部から、前記クラッドにおける前記コア近傍側までの位置において、その屈折率の変化率が連続である
ことを特徴とする請求項4のプラスチック製イメージファイバ。 - 前記ファイバは、
前記コアの中心部から、前記クラッドにおける前記コア近傍側までの位置において、その屈折率の変化率が連続である
ことを特徴とする請求項5のプラスチック製イメージファイバ。 - プラスチックファイバ単線を束ねた集合体が作製されるプラスチックファイバ単線集合体作製工程と、
前記プラスチックファイバ単線集合体が加熱一体化される加熱一体化工程と、
前記加熱一体化工程で得られた一体化物が細引きされる細線化工程
とを具備してなり、
前記プラスチックファイバ単線は、
その屈折率の値が、周辺部において、連続的に変化したものである
ことを特徴とするプラスチックイメージファイバの製造方法。 - 前記プラスチックファイバ単線は、
その屈折率の値が、周辺部において、単調減少関数で表される
ことを特徴とする請求項9のプラスチックイメージファイバの製造方法。 - 前記プラスチックファイバ単線は、
その屈折率の値が、中心部から周辺部にかけて、単調減少関数で表される
ことを特徴とする請求項10のプラスチックイメージファイバの製造方法。 - 前記プラスチックファイバ単線は、
その周辺部において、所定厚だけ、屈折率が同じ値である
ことを特徴とする請求項9~請求項11いずれかのプラスチックイメージファイバの製造方法。 - N(Nは2以上の整数)本のコアがクラッド中に設けられてなるプラスチック製イメージファイバであって、
前記プラスッチク製イメージファイバは、
コアの径が1μm~20μmであり、
前記コアの本数が1000本以上であり、
前記クラッドの外径が4mm以下である
ことを特徴とする請求項9~請求項12いずれかのプラスチックイメージファイバの製造方法。 - N(Nは2以上の整数)本のコアがクラッド中に設けられてなるプラスチック製イメージファイバであって、
[n2(前記コアにおける最大屈折率)-n1(前記クラッドにおける最小屈折率)]≧0.05である
ことを特徴とする請求項9~請求項13いずれかのプラスチック製イメージファイバの製造方法。
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US15/025,791 US10126492B2 (en) | 2013-09-30 | 2014-09-29 | Plastic image fiber and method for fabrication of same |
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