• 专利附录
  • 专利说明
  • 权利要求
  • 类似技术
  • 同族专利
  • 引用文献
  • 法律状态
  • 优先权
    • 专利摘要:
    PURPOSE: A fiber manufacturing method is provided to reduce the likelihood of generating defects in optical fiber preforms that, in optical fiber drawn therefrom, attract and bond with hydrogen atoms to form molecules that increase transmission loss in the fiber. CONSTITUTION: The oxygen stoichiometry is adjusted for the environment in which at least one step of the core rod formation occurs. The environment for the overclad region is formed. The environment for fiber drawing is formed. Manufacturing the core rod and the oxygen stoichiometry is adjusted for the environment for the soot depositing. The environment for dehydration is formed. The environment for the consolidation is formed. Typically, the oxygen stoichiometry is adjusted for the environment for the dehydration.
    公开号:KR20030003018A
    申请号:KR1020020035576
    申请日:2002-06-25
    公开日:2003-01-09
    发明作者:창카이에이치.；칼리시데이비드；밀러토마스존
    申请人:피텔 유.에스.에이. 코포레이션；
    IPC主号:
    专利说明:

    Method and apparatus for fabricating optical fiber using adjustment of oxygen stoichiometry
    [11] The present invention relates to an optical fiber. More particularly, the present invention relates to the manufacture of optical fibers having improved transmission characteristics.
    [12] Optical fibers generally heat and draw a portion of an optical fiber matrix made of a solid glass rod surrounded by a protective glass cladding in which a refractive glass core has a lower refractive index than the core. drawing). The optical fiber is then coated with one or more layers of protective coating material that are, for example, radiation cured.
    [13] Conventionally, there are several processes for producing an optical fiber base material including modified chemical vapor deposition (MCVD), vapor axial deposition (VAD), and outside vapor deposition (OVD). In conventional VAD and OVD processes, a layer of glass particles or "soot" layer is deposited on either the end face or the outer face of the starter rod, respectively. The deposited soot layer is then dried or dehydrated, for example in a chlorine or fluorine containing atmosphere, and sintered or solidified to form a solid base core rod.
    [14] Once the matrix core rod is formed, one or more overclad layers are formed on the substrate prior to extracting the optical fibers directly from or otherwise extracting the optical fibers therefrom. The overclad layer is formed on the substrate core rod by, for example, a soot deposition technique similar to that used to form the substrate core rod. Alternatively, an overclad layer is formed by covering a silica based tube or sleeve around the base core rod. This process is commonly referred to as rod-in-tube (RIT). See, for example, US Pat. No. 4,820,322, owned by the applicant of the present invention and incorporated herein by reference.
    [15] The transmission properties of an optical fiber change based on a number of factors including, for example, absorption such as Rayleigh scattering, bending of the fiber and hydroxyl-ion (OH) absorption. OH absorption or " moisture " absorption is particularly important because it reduces the useful bandwidth in the region of 700 to 1600 nanometers (nm), that is, the relatively small transmission loss wavelength range from the wavelength range in which many current optical systems operate.
    [16] OH absorption due to vibrational overtones of hydroxyl-ions in the fiber generally results in three loss peaks: 950 nm, 1240 nm, 1385 nm in the 700-1600 nm region. It is desirable to reduce these moisture loss peaks, particularly around 1385 nm, because OH at concentrations as low as 1 million parts per million (ppm) can cause losses as large as 65 dB / km at 1385 nm in single-mode fiber. have. In addition, the reduced water loss peak at 1385 nm effectively provides an uninterrupted region with a relatively low transmission loss of 1200-1600 nm. The wavelength range from 1200 to 1600 nm is particularly important because it is possible to use abundantly a light source such as an Indium Phosphide (InP) light source. See, for example, US Pat. No. 6,131,415 to Chang et al., Assigned and owned by Applicant.
    [17] Another type of absorption loss that needs to be reduced is aging loss, including hydrogen aging loss that occurs over the life of the optical fiber. These losses are believed to be caused by chemical reactions of various defects in the optical fiber and hydrogen around the optical fiber, for example around the optical fiber cable. Such defects include, for example, germanium (Ge) defects and silicon (Si) defects that enter the optical fiber during optical fiber manufacturing.
    [18] It would be desirable to provide a method of manufacturing an optical fiber including a single mode optical fiber and an optical fiber system including the optical fiber in which aging or hydrogen aging loss over the life of the optical fiber is reduced.
    [19] The present invention provides an optical fiber manufacturing method having reduced aging loss, hydrogen aging and other losses over the life of the optical fiber and an optical system including the optical fiber. Embodiments of the present invention provide an improved optical fiber that reduces the likelihood of defects occurring in the optical fiber base material by reducing the likelihood of generating molecules that attract and combine hydrogen atoms to increase the transmission loss of the optical fiber when extracting the optical fiber from the optical fiber base material. Provide manufacturing environmental conditions. This improved condition includes setting and adjusting the oxygen stoichiometry in one or more environments in which the optical fiber fabrication processing step is performed.
    [20] An optical fiber manufacturing method according to an embodiment of the present invention produces an optical fiber base material, extracts fibers from the base material, accelerates the aging of the portion representing the extracted optical fiber, and oxygen stoichiometry of one or more processing step environments for subsequent production of the optical fiber. Adjusting the loan. The optical fiber base material is produced by, for example, forming a glass core rod, dehydrating the glass core rod in an oxygen / chlorine or oxygen / fluorine atmosphere, solidifying the glass core rod, and forming an overclad region around the glass core rod. . One method of forming the overclad region is to deposit a glass forming soot on the core glass rod, dehydrate the deposited soot particles, and solidify the dehydrated soot particles. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the oxygen stoichiometry of one or more processing step environments is adjusted to reduce the aging loss of the optical fiber extracted from the base material produced according to these processing steps.
    [21] The setting and adjustment of the oxygen stoichiometry in the selected environment (s) is performed by changing the oxygen partial pressure in this environment, for example. This change is made, for example, by adjusting the rate of oxygen flow to the selected environment (s). In addition, oxygen stoichiometry is adjusted by introducing oxidation-reduction conditions using, for example, carbon monoxide (CO) as the reducing agent using oxygen as the oxidant.
    [22] The optical fiber produced by the method according to the embodiment of the present invention has improved transmission characteristics. For example, an optical fiber produced by the method according to an embodiment of the present invention has a transmission loss of less than 0.33 dB / km and a hydrogen aging loss of less than 0.05 dB / km at 1385 nanometers.
    [1] 1 is a schematic block diagram of a method of manufacturing an optical fiber according to an embodiment of the present invention.
    [2] 2A is a graph of transmission loss of a typical optical fiber at a wavelength in the range of 700-1600 nanometers (nm).
    [3] 2B is a graph of transmission loss of an optical fiber at a wavelength in the range of 700 to 1600 nm according to the method disclosed in US Pat. No. 6,131,415.
    [4] 3A is a graph of transmission loss of aged fiber at a wavelength in the range of 700-1600 nm.
    [5] 3B is a graph of transmission loss of aged fiber at a wavelength in the range of 700-1600 nm in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
    [6] 4A is a graph of transmission loss of different aged optical fibers at wavelengths in the range of 700-1600 nm.
    [7] 4B is a graph of transmission loss of another aged fiber at a wavelength in the range of 700-1600 nm in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
    [8] 5 is a schematic diagram of an optical system in which embodiments of the present invention are useful.
    [9] ※ Explanation of symbols about main part of drawing ※
    [10] 52: light source 54: optical fiber
    [23] In the following description, like elements use the same reference numerals to simplify the sequential aspect of the drawings and to improve the understanding of the present invention through the description of the drawings.
    [24] 1, there is shown a schematic block diagram of an optical fiber manufacturing method 10 including a single mode optical fiber according to an embodiment of the present invention. The method 10 includes a step 12 of forming a core rod portion of a substrate that extracts optical fibers therefrom. One common method by which core rods are manufactured includes a soot deposition step 14, a dehydration step 16, and a solidification step 18.
    [25] The soot deposition step 14 includes depositing a layer of glass particles (or “soot”) on a starter rod, such as a silica starter rod, to form a glass core rod. In a vapor axis deposition (VAD) process, the soot is deposited on the end surface of the starter rod; In an outside deposition (OVD) process, the soot is deposited on the outer surface of the starter rod. The soot particles are, for example, silicon tetrachloride (SiCl 4 ), which reacts with oxygen to form silica (SiO 2 ), a glass-making component, and vaporized such as fluorine, phosphorus, germanium for index of refraction doping. Compound.
    [26] Dehydration step 16 includes drying or dehydrating the deposited soot. The soot body deposited is removed from the starter rod and traverses the environment containing the drying gas at a temperature of about 1200 ° C. Such gases include, for example, oxygen, fluorine, fluorine-containing gases, chlorine, chlorine-containing gases. For discussion herein, the fluorine-containing gas is a gas containing fluorine and is known to be used for dehydration, doping, and etching of silica. Such fluorine-containing gases include, for example, C 2 F 6 (Freon 116), SF 6 , SiF 4 , BF 3 , F 2 and other Freons (Freon 14, Freon 13, Freon 115). Similarly, for discussion herein, chlorine-containing gas is a gas containing chlorine and is known to be used for dehydration and / or doping. Such chlorine-containing gases include, for example, CCl 4 , SiCl 4 , SOCl 2 , Cl 2 .
    [27] Since the core rods at this stage are porous and soot bodies, fluorine or chlorine gas osmoticizes the core rods and removes OH ions therefrom. The rate at which OH ions are removed depends, for example, on the dehydration temperature, the rate at which objects pass through the dehydration environment, and the flow rate of fluorine or chlorine gas. OH ions in the optical fiber contribute to OH absorption or " moisture " absorption, which contributes to the transmission loss of the optical fiber as described above.
    [28] Solidification step 18 sinters or solidifies the dehydrated core rod. For example, solidification step 18 includes dehydrated core rods passing through an oxygen and helium environment at a temperature of about 1500 ° C. During this step, the deposited soot particles are sintered into a relatively dense glass core rod that is a solid. For specific details regarding conventional dehydration and solidification steps, see, for example, US Patent No. 3,933,454, published January 20, 1976.
    [29] Once the core rod is formed, the next step 22 extracts the optical fiber. Although it is possible to extract the optical fiber from the glass core rod, the glass core rod is overclad before the optical fiber is extracted therefrom to form an overclad matrix. Forming an overclad region around the core rod results in a larger substrate, which can produce more optical fibers per substrate than the smaller, non-overclad substrate.
    [30] One or more overclad regions are formed around the core rod, for example by overclad soot deposition technique 26 or alternatively endoprosthesis (RIT) technique 28. The overclad soot deposition technique 26 is similar to the soot deposition step previously described herein with respect to making a glass core rod. The overclad soot deposition technique 26 includes depositing glass-fabricated soot particles on the pre-formed glass core rod 34, dehydrating the soot particles deposited on the core rod 36, and overclad. Solidifying 38 the glass particles deposited on the core rod to form a core rod.
    [31] RIT technology 28 relates to covering a tube or sleeve, such as a silica-based tube or sleeve, around a core rod that is generally a base material. More specifically, the overclad tube is disposed around the glass core rod and heated along its length to adhere onto the glass core rod to form the overclad optical fiber matrix. See, for example, US Patent No. 4,820,322, owned by Applicant, in conjunction with the present application.
    [32] Soot particles for glass making are deposited using a process such as VAD or OVD. The deposited soot particles generally comprise a compound for making glass, such as silicon tetrachloride, but, unlike the soot particles used to make the core rod, generally do not contain additional doping materials such as germanium, phosphorus, fluorine. Once the overclad soot particles are deposited on the core rod, the overclad soot particles contain a drying gas, such as oxygen, fluorine, fluorine containing gas, chlorine or chlorine containing gas, for example, generally at a temperature of about 1200 ° C. It is dehydrated in the environment. Dehydration is performed, for example, by removing OH ions from the overclad soot body. As described above, a problem occurs when OH ions are present in various regions of the optical fiber base material. For example, at about 1500 ° C. solidification occurs in oxygen and helium environments. Solidification solidifies the soot layer deposited into the overclad region surrounding the core rod.
    [33] Once the optical fiber base material is formed, step 22 of extracting the optical fiber from the base material is performed. Extracting the optical fiber 22 includes extracting the optical fiber from the heated end of the base material. For example, the substrate is suspended vertically and traveled to the furnace at a controlled speed. The base material softens when heated (eg to about 2000 ° C.) and the glass fibers are extracted from the molten ends of the base material by capstans of other suitable devices outside and below the furnace.
    [34] As mentioned above, the transmission characteristics of an optical fiber are affected by several factors, including hydroxyl-ion (OH) absorption (“moisture” absorption). Within the 700-1600 nm region, water absorption causes loss peaks at about 950 nm, 1240 nm, and 1385 nm. This loss peak is clearly shown, for example, in FIG. 2A, which shows a graph of the transmission loss of a typical optical fiber at a wavelength in the range of 700 to 1600 nm. In addition, many efforts have been made to reduce the water absorption peak so far. See, for example, US Pat. No. 6,131,415 to Chang et al., Assigned and owned by Applicant. Referring now to FIG. 2B, there is shown a graph of transmission loss within 700-1600 nm of an optical fiber according to the method disclosed in US Pat. No. 6,131,415.
    [35] However, other types of loss of absorption include (hydrogen) aging loss. Conventional optical fibers generally suffer from large transmission losses as the optical fiber ages. This is due to the chemical reaction between hydrogen and various defects in the optical fiber over the life of the optical fiber. For example, the chemical reaction between trace amounts of hydrogen present in the environment around the optical fiber and germanium (Ge) in the optical fiber contributes to GeOH loss over the life of the optical fiber.
    [36] In addition, silicon (Si) defects introduced into an optical fiber during fiber manufacture generally cause SiOH and SiH losses in the fiber, which similarly affect the reaction over time between hydrogen and Si defects present in the optical fiber (or cable) environment. It is due. Unfortunately, SiOH and SiH losses occur larger and more often over the life of the fiber than, for example, GeOH losses. For example, SiOH aging losses often exceed about 0.21 dB / km at 1385 nm.
    [37] According to an embodiment of the present invention, Si defects which are considered to cause a lot of SiOH loss are oxygen-rich defects (Si-O-O-Si defects). Si-O-O-Si defects are believed to be due to excess oxygen atoms in the silica glass, for example, by producing optical fiber substrates in an environment with too much oxygen. Once these Si-OO-Si defects are present in the silica glass, Si-O bonding defects (Si-O defects) in which a number of Si-OO-Si defects are broken in subsequent heat treatment operations (e.g. extracting fibers). Si-O bond defects are trapped in the fiber. Over time, Si-O defects attract hydrogen atoms to form SiOH molecules, which cause water absorption loss as described above.
    [38] According to an embodiment of the present invention, Si defects that are believed to contribute to SiH loss are oxygen-deficient defects (Si-Si defects). Si-Si defects are believed to be due to the fabrication of the optical fiber matrix (silica glass) under oxygen-deficient conditions. In subsequent heat treatment operations, broken Si bond defects (Si defects) are formed from several Si-Si defects. Si defects become trapped in the fiber, and as the fiber ages, the Si defect reacts with hydrogen atoms to form SiH molecules, which causes an absorption loss peak at 1530 nm.
    [39] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, an improved oxygen stoichiometry in an optical fiber fabrication environment is provided to generate hydrogen-excess or oxygen-deficient Si defects in the optical fiber matrix and the optical fibers extracted therefrom, thereby generating hydrogen atoms over time. Aging and other losses are reduced by reducing the likelihood of attraction and binding to form molecules that contribute to increased water absorption or other loss. The oxygen composition is set at one or more stages during the optical fiber manufacturing process, for example by adjusting the oxygen stoichiometry. For example, an improved oxygen composition is provided to the environment in which the core rod is formed and / or the environment in which the overclad material is formed on the core rod and / or the environment in which the optical fiber is extracted from the base material.
    [40] For example, in order to improve oxygen conditions, the oxygen partial pressure is set in one or more of the environments described above, for example, by adjusting the oxygen flow rate to the selected environment (s). Alternatively, a gas such as carbon monoxide (CO) Introducing is used to adjust the reducing conditions in the selected environment (s).
    [41] Oxygen stoichiometry of one or more of these environments is adjusted based on the effect of the condition of the environment above, for example, on reducing defects that contribute to aging losses and other losses in the optical fiber fabricated within these environments. The influence of the oxygen stoichiometry adjustment on the fiber produced is measured by, for example, the transmission loss of at least a representative portion of the optical fiber produced in the oxygen-adjusted environment. According to the measured value of the resultant optical fiber, subsequent oxygen stoichiometry is adjusted. In this way, adjustments are made until the fiber conditions of the various fiber-making environments are set as desired.
    [42] Referring again to FIG. 1, an embodiment of the present invention includes adjusting 42 an oxygen stoichiometry of a desired environment. As shown, the oxygen stoichiometry is determined for the environment in which the step 12 of forming one or more core rods and / or the environment in which the overclad region formation takes place and / or the environment in which the step of extracting fibers 22 takes place. Adjusted. For example, in the step 12 of forming the core rod, the environment in which the soot deposition step 14 takes place and / or the environment in which the dehydration step 16 takes place and / or the environment in which the solidification step 18 takes place is performed. Oxygen stoichiometry is adjusted. In general, the oxygen stoichiometry is adjusted for the environment in which the dehydration step 16 takes place. However, embodiments of the present invention include adjusting the oxygen stoichiometry of the environment in which any core rod forming processing step is made.
    [43] In addition, as shown, the adjustment step 42 may include the environment in which the overclad soot deposition step 34 takes place and / or the environment in which the overclad (deposited soot) dehydration step 36 takes place and / or overclad solidification. The oxygen stoichiometry in the environment in which step 38 is made is adjusted. In general, the adjustment step 42 adjusts the oxygen stoichiometry of the environment in which the overclad dewatering step 36 takes place. However, embodiments of the present invention include adjusting the oxygen stoichiometry of the environment in which any of the overclad region formation process steps are made.
    [44] In addition, as shown, the adjusting step 42 adjusts the oxygen stoichiometry of the environment in which the step 22 of extracting the fibers is performed. That is, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the adjustment step 42 adjusts the oxygen stoichiometry during the extraction 22 of the optical fiber in the draw furnace or from the base material. Embodiments of the invention include adjusting the oxygen stoichiometry of any environment in which the step 22 of extracting the optical fiber is made. According to embodiments of the present invention, adjusting the oxygen stoichiometry reduces the likelihood of broken bonds due to excess oxygen or oxygen deficiency defects, for example, as described above. In addition, the likelihood of breaking the bond is further reduced by annealing or other heat treatment step 43.
    [45] Referring back to FIG. 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, oxygen stoichiometry in one or more environments is set, for example, based on aging loss of at least a representative portion of an optical fiber fabricated in a previously set oxygen environment. For example, once the optical fiber is extracted from the base material (step 22), at least a representative portion of the optical fiber extracted in the aging acceleration step 44 is aged. For example, aging acceleration step 44 exposes a portion of the extracted optical fiber to an environment with about 1% hydrogen at room temperature for about 4-6 days.
    [46] Once a portion of the fiber has been aged, measurement step 46 measures or otherwise determines the transmission loss of the aged fiber. For example, the measuring step 46 determines the transmission loss of the optical fiber in the 700 to 1600 nm region. The transmission loss of the representative portion of the fiber provides an indication of how it behaves as the fiber ages. As a result, the oxygen stoichiometry of the one or more environments described above is adjusted as needed. For example, if the oxygen content in the environment is increased, the oxygen flow rate into the environment is increased: If the oxygen content in the environment is reduced, the oxygen flow rate is decreased. Also, for example, if the oxygen content is reduced, a reducing gas, such as CO, may be introduced into the selected environment.
    [47] After any oxygen-stoichiometry adjustments have been made, a fiber-fabrication processing step is performed subsequently to produce the core rod and overclad region, for example as described above. The optical fiber produced by this processing step takes into account the oxygen-stoichiometric adjustments made above. Then, at least another representative portion of the resulting optical fiber is tested, for example by prematurely aging the fiber portion and measuring its transmission loss. Based on the transmission loss result, the oxygen stoichiometry of one or more processing environments is adjusted. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, an endless iterative process which is now described in order to improve the transmission performance of the manufactured optical fiber continues as necessary. For example, according to an embodiment of the present invention, an optical fiber was produced in which less than 0.33 dB / km at 1385 nm showed a transmission loss and thereafter increased hydrogen aging loss of less than 0.05 dB / km.
    [48] 3A and 3B graphically illustrate the results of embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 3A illustrates the transfer loss of hydrogen-aged fibers previously made by a manufacturing process without any oxygen stoichiometry adjustments previously. 3B graphically illustrates the transfer loss of the hydrogen-aged fibers made earlier by the manufacturing process after the oxygen adjustment in the adjustment step 16.
    [49] Prior to adjustment, the dewatering step 16 for core rod formation includes passing a soot body at 8 millimeters per minute (8 mm / min.) Of a dehydration environment consisting of helium, oxygen, and chlorine at a temperature of 1530 ° C. The flow rate of helium was 10 standard liters per minute, the oxygen flow rate was 8 slm and the chlorine flow rate was 0.7 slm.
    [50] The remaining substrate preparation step was performed as described above, for example. Fibers extracted from the base material were tested before and after hydrogen aging. Related hydrogen aging places fibers in a 1% hydrogen environment at room temperature for 4-6 days. Hydrogen-aged fibers have experienced an increase in loss of 0.06 dB / km at 1385 nm. As an example, see FIG. 3A.
    [51] Then, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the oxygen flow rate was adjusted to 4 slm, for example, during the dehydration step 16. The optical fiber extracted from the base material produced by the adjusted process was hydrogen aged in the same manner (ie 1% hydrogen environment at room temperature for 4-6 days). However, the optical fiber extracted from the base material produced by the adjusted process suffered only 0.04 dB / km transmission loss at 1385 nm. See, eg, FIG. 3B.
    [52] As another example, FIG. 4A illustrates the transmission loss of a hydrogen-aged optical fiber made by a manufacturing process without any oxygen stoichiometry adjustments. 4B shows the transmission loss of a hydrogen-aged optical fiber made by a manufacturing process in which one or more oxygen stoichiometry adjustments have been made. More specifically, one or more oxygen stoichiometry adjustments were made in the core solidification step 18.
    [53] Prior to adjustment, solidification step 18 includes passing the solidified environment of helium and oxygen at a temperature of 1530 ° C. at a rate of 8 mm / min for the dehydrated soot body. The flow rate of helium was 10 slm and the flow rate of oxygen was 2 slm. The solidified base material core rod was formed of the base material, for example, in the manner described above. The difference in transmission loss of the fiber extracted from the base material before and after hydrogen aging was 1.0 dB / km at about 1385 nm. See, eg, FIG. 4A.
    [54] However, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the oxygen flow rate during the core rod solidification step 18 was adjusted to 0 slm, for example. The remaining substrate preparation steps remained the same. Fibers extracted from the base material produced by the adjusted process were hydrogen aged in the same manner. However, when tested, the difference in transmission loss of the optical fiber extracted from the base material produced by the adjusted process before and after hydrogen aging was 0.04 dB / km at about 1385 nm. See, eg, FIG. 4B.
    [55] Therefore, FIGS. 3A and 3B and FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate that the transmission characteristics when the hydrogen-aged fiber of the optical fiber extracted from the substrate prepared by the oxygen stoichiometry is improved. As noted above, oxygen stoichiometry adjustments are made at one or more stages of the process and are based on the transmission loss results of the optical fibers extracted from the substrate produced by the previously adjusted or unadjusted process stages.
    [56] 5, a schematic diagram of an optical system 50 in which an embodiment of the present invention is useful is shown. Optical communication system 50 includes, for example, one or more light sources 52 coupled to one or more optical fibers 54 in a conventional manner. The light source 52 and the optical receiver 56 are operatively directly connected to the optical fiber 54 (see for example the light source 52a and the receiver 56a) or multiplexer 58 system. Operatively connected via a light source (source side) or a demultiplexer 59 (receiver side of the system).
    [57] One or more optical fibers 54 are produced, for example, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention as described above. That is, one or more optical fibers 54 are made in one or more processing environments in which oxygen stoichiometry is set, for example through adjustment, to reduce defects that contribute to aging losses and other losses. The optical fiber 54 fabricated in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention generally has a transmission loss of less than 0.33 dB / km at 1385 nm and then suffers an increase in hydrogen aging loss of less than 0.05 dB / km.
    [58] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made to the embodiments of the optical fiber and the optical fiber manufacturing method herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
    [59] The optical fiber produced by the method according to the embodiment of the present invention has improved transmission characteristics.
    权利要求:
    Claims (3)
    [1" claim-type="Currently amended] (a) forming by glass soot deposition a glass core rod having a core region surrounded by the cladding region (14),
    (b) dehydrating the glass core rod (16) in a first atmosphere comprising at least oxygen, fluorine, fluorine-containing gas, chlorine, chlorine-containing gas, carbon monoxide and capable of controlling the partial pressure of oxygen;
    (c) solidifying the glass core rod (18),
    (d) extracting the optical fiber from the optical fiber base material (22),
    (e) exposing 44 at least a portion of the extracted optical fiber to hydrogen to accelerate aging of the extracted optical fiber;
    (f) measuring transmission loss over the operable wavelength range of the aged portion of the optical fiber (46),
    (g) adjusting (42) the oxygen partial pressure in the first atmosphere based on the measured transmission loss to reduce the transmission loss associated with hydrogen aging;
    (h) A method of manufacturing an optical fiber, comprising repeating at least steps (a) to (d).
    [2" claim-type="Currently amended] (a) forming a glass core rod having a core region surrounded by a cladding region in a first atmosphere (12),
    (b) forming an overclad region around the glass core rod to form an overclad fiber optic substrate (26);
    (c) extracting the fibers from the overclad optical fiber base material (22),
    (d) exposing 44 at least a portion of the extracted fiber to hydrogen to accelerate aging of the extracted fiber;
    (e) measuring transmission loss over the operable wavelength range of the aged portion of the optical fiber (46),
    (f) adjusting (42) the partial pressure of the second atmosphere based on the measured transmission loss to reduce the transmission loss associated with hydrogen aging;
    (g) repeating at least steps (a) through (c),
    The overclad region forming step comprises the step of depositing a soot 34 around the glass core rod and comprising at least oxygen, fluorine, fluorine-containing gas, chlorine, chlorine-containing gas, carbon monoxide and controlling the partial pressure of oxygen. Dehydrating (36) the deposited soot in a second atmosphere, and solidifying (38) the deposited soot around the glass core rod (10).
    [3" claim-type="Currently amended] Forming (12) a glass core rod having a core region surrounded by a cladding region in a first atmosphere;
    Forming an overclad region around the glass core rod to form the overclad optical fiber matrix (26),
    Extracting the fibers from the overclad optical fiber base material (22),
    At least the glass core rod formation and the overclad region formation step are performed by soot deposition, the soot deposition being deposited in a second atmosphere comprising at least oxygen, fluorine, fluorine-containing gas, chlorine, chlorine-containing gas, carbon monoxide. Dehydration of the soot, wherein the partial pressure of oxygen in the second atmosphere is such that the optical fiber extracted from the overclad optical fiber base material has a transmission loss of less than 0.33 dB / km at 1385 nanometers and subsequent transmission loss variation is less than 0.05 dB / km. Optical fiber manufacturing method 10 controlled in a controlled manner.
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    同族专利:
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    EP1270522A1|2003-01-02|
    DE60200189D1|2004-03-04|
    EP1270522B1|2004-01-28|
    US20020197005A1|2002-12-26|
    KR100878709B1|2009-01-14|
    DE60200189T2|2004-11-25|
    引用文献:
    公开号 | 申请日 | 公开日 | 申请人 | 专利标题
    法律状态:
    2001-06-26|Priority to US09/891,900
    2001-06-26|Priority to US09/891,900
    2002-06-25|Application filed by 피텔 유.에스.에이. 코포레이션
    2003-01-09|Publication of KR20030003018A
    2009-01-14|Application granted
    2009-01-14|Publication of KR100878709B1
    优先权:
    申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题
    US09/891,900|2001-06-26|
    US09/891,900|US20020197005A1|2001-06-26|2001-06-26|Method and apparatus for fabricating optical fiber using adjustment of oxygen stoichiometry|
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