Abstract: A co-doped optical fiber is provided having an attenuation of less than about 0.17 dB/km at a wavelength of 1550 nm. The fiber includes a core in the fiber having a graded refractive index profile with an alpha of greater than 5. The fiber also includes a cladding in the fiber that surrounds the core addition, the core includes silica that is co-doped with two or more halogens.

Abstract: There is provided a method for producing an optical fiber preform used in producing an optical fiber having low attenuation. The production method includes (1) a rod formation step of forming a glass rod of a silica glass containing an alkali metal element, the average concentration of the alkali metal element being 5 at·ppm or more, (2) a heat treatment step of heat-treating the glass rod, (3) a core part formation step of forming an alkali metal element-free silica glass layer having a chlorine concentration of 6000 at·ppm or more around the perimeter of the glass rod heat-treated in the heat treatment step to form a core part including the glass rod and the silica glass layer, and (4) a cladding part formation step of forming a cladding part of a silica-based glass having a lower refractive index than the core part around the perimeter of the core part.

Abstract: An optical waveguide element includes a cladding portion made of a silica-based glass, and an optical waveguide positioned in the cladding portion and made of a silica-based glass in which a ZrO2 particle is dispersed.

Abstract: A method of coloring optical fibers during the optical fiber drawing that includes the steps of feeding a natural fiber coating material and a colorant to a mixer; mixing the natural fiber coating material and the colorant in the mixer to obtain a colored coating material; and supplying the colored coating material to a coating die. The feeding step includes exerting on the natural fiber coating a first gas pressure variable with at least one fiber drawing parameter; and exerting on the colorant a second gas pressure variable with at least one fiber drawing parameter.

Abstract: The first aspect of the instant claimed invention is a method of formulating radiation curable Supercoatings for application to an optical fiber used in a telecommunications network. A Multi-layer Film Drawdown Method useful in the Method of formulating radiation curable Supercoatings is also described and claimed. Single mode Optical fibers coated with specific radiation curable Supercoatings are also described and claimed.

Abstract: An apparatus for coloring optical fibers, includes: a first reservoir for containing a natural coating material to be applied onto an optical fiber being drawn; a second reservoir for containing a colorant to be mixed with the natural coating material; a mixer in fluid communication with the first and second reservoirs to receive a first flow of natural coating material and a second flow of colorant and to mix the first and second flows to obtain a colored coating material; a coating die in fluid communication with the mixer to receive the flow of colored coating material and to apply it onto the optical fiber being drawn.

Abstract: The first aspect of the instant claimed invention is a method of formulating radiation curable Supercoatings for application to an optical fiber used in a telecommunications network. A Multi-layer Film Drawdown Method useful in the Method of formulating radiation curable Supercoatings is also described and claimed. Single mode Optical fibers coated with specific radiation curable Supercoatings are also described and claimed.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an optical fiber includes melting an end of a crystal material and drawing the molten end of the crystal material to form a crystal filament. Conductive paint is coated on two surface sections of the crystal filament to form internal positive and negative electrodes not electrically connected to each other. The crystal filament is placed into a heat resistant tube that is heated until an outer layer of the crystal filament melts and adheres to an inner periphery of the heat resistant tube, with a center of the crystal filament remaining as a solid core. Conductive paint is adhered to two ends of the crystal filament to form external positive and negative electrodes electrically connected to the internal positive and negative electrodes, respectively. The optical fiber thus formed can serve as a photoelectric optical fiber for transmission of current signals.

Abstract: Methods for producing a coated optical fiber may include drawing an optical fiber from a draw furnace along a first pathway and redirecting the optical fiber along a second, different pathway which is non-parallel with the first pathway. The optical fiber may be coated as it travels along the second pathway.

Abstract: Light diffusing optical fibers for use in ultraviolet illumination applications and which have a uniform color gradient that is angularly independent are disclosed herein along with methods for making such fibers. The light diffusing fibers are composed of a silica-based glass core that is coated with a number of layers including a scattering layer.

Abstract: Light diffusing optical fibers for use in illumination applications and which have a uniform color gradient that is angularly independent are disclosed herein along with methods for making such fibers. The light diffusing fibers are composed of a silica-based glass core that is coated with a number of layers including both a scattering layer and a phosphor layer.

Abstract: In part, the invention relates to an optical probe including a torque wire; an optical fiber positioned within the torque wire; a beam director positioned coaxial with and adjacent to one end of the optical fiber; and an overcladding, positioned adjacent to and over the optical fiber and the beam director, the overcladding defining an air gap adjacent the beam director so as to cause total internal reflection alight passing from the optical fiber through the beam director. In one embodiment, the optical probe includes a beam expander and a beam shaper coaxial with and located between the optical fiber and the beam director. In another embodiment, the optical probe further includes a marker band positioned over a portion of the overcladding. In yet another embodiment, the overcladding is made of flurosilica glass.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an optical fiber preform, including: a) providing a lining tube as a substrate tube, and doping and depositing by a PCVD or an MCVD process; b) in the reacting gas of silicon tetrachloride and oxygen, introducing a fluorine-containing gas for fluorine doping, introducing germanium tetrachioride for germanium doping, ionizing the reacting gas in the lining tube through microwaves to form plasma, depositing the plasma on the inner wall of the lining tube in the form of glass; c) after the completion of deposition, processing the deposited lining tube into a solid core rod by melting contraction through an electric heating furnace; d) sleeving the solid core rod into a pure quartz glass jacketing tube and manufacturing the two into an optical fiber preform; and e) allowing the effective diameter d of the optical fiber preform to become between 95 and 205 mm.

Abstract: Disclosed below are representative embodiments of methods, apparatus, and systems for detecting particles, such as radiation or charged particles. One exemplary embodiment disclosed herein is particle detector comprising an optical fiber with a first end and second end opposite the first end. The optical fiber of this embodiment further comprises a doped region at the first end and a non-doped region adjacent to the doped region. The doped region of the optical fiber is configured to scintillate upon interaction with a target particle, thereby generating one or more photons that propagate through the optical fiber and to the second end. Embodiments of the disclosed technology can be used in a variety of applications, including associated particle imaging and cold neutron scattering.

Abstract: There is provided a method for producing an optical fiber preform used in producing an optical fiber having low attenuation. The production method includes (1) a rod formation step of forming a glass rod of a silica glass containing an alkali metal element, the average concentration of the alkali metal element being 5 at·ppm or more, (2) a heat treatment step of heat-treating the glass rod, (3) a core part formation step of forming an alkali metal element-free silica glass layer having a chlorine concentration of 6000 at·ppm or more around the perimeter of the glass rod heat-treated in the heat treatment step to form a core part including the glass rod and the silica glass layer, and (4) a cladding part formation step of forming a cladding part of a silica-based glass having a lower refractive index than the core part around the perimeter of the core part.

Abstract: An optical fiber includes an outer periphery formed into a shape that configures the fiber to interlock with the other fibers with complementary shapes. Methods and systems for fabricating such interlocking fibers are also disclosed. In one example, a method includes drawing a first optical fiber from a preform and forming an outer periphery of the first optical fiber into a shape that configures the first optical fiber to be interlocked with a second optical fiber comprising an outer periphery formed into a shape that is complementary to the shape of the first optical fiber.

Abstract: A method for producing an optical fiber that includes a method for producing an optical fiber, said method comprising: (i) drawing a bare optical fiber from a preform along a first pathway at a rate of at least 10 m/sec; (ii) contacting said bare optical fiber with a region of fluid in a fluid bearing and redirecting said bare optical fiber along a second pathway as said bare optical fiber is drawn across said region of fluid cushion; (iii) coating the bare optical fiber; and (iv) irradiating said coated fiber in at least one irradiation zone to at least partially cure said coating, while subjecting the optical fiber to UV light.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing glass strands coated with a hot-melt size, whereby molten glass streams, flowing out of orifices located in the base of one or more bushings, are drawn in the form of one or more sheets of continuous filaments, the filaments are then assembled into one or more strands that are collected on one or more moving supports, this process consisting in depositing a first composition containing a coupling agent on the glass filaments and then in depositing a second composition comprising a hot-melt polymer in the melt state, at the latest during assembly of the filaments into one or more strands. It also relates to the glass strands obtained according to this process and to the composites containing said strands.

Abstract: The specification describes the production of optical fibers and optical fiber preforms using Chemical Powder Deposition (CPD). In this process a slurry of silica powders and dopant powders in a liquid carrier is prepared and the inside surface of a silica glass starter tube is coated with the slurry, then dried. The coating is then consolidated and the tube collapsed as in the conventional MCVD process. Multiple coatings, and coatings with varying compositions, can be used to produce any desired profile. In an alternative embodiment, doped silica glass of the desired final composition is prepared, and then pulverized to form the powder for the slurry. In both embodiments, the use of powders of known composition in the slurry allows direct control over the final glass composition, as compared with conventional processes in which the composition in the final glass is indirectly controlled by control of the thermodynamics of a vapor phase reaction.

Abstract: An apparatus includes: an introducer to introduce a glass optical fiber that has passed a pulling mechanism pulling, to draw the glass optical fiber, one end of an optical fiber preform that has been fused by heating; a shredder including a casing connected to the introducer and a shredding mechanism to shred the glass optical fiber introduced by the introducer in the casing into glass optical-fiber pieces; a pipe connected to the casing of the shredder and to carry the glass optical-fiber pieces; and a suction unit connected to the pipe and to suction the glass optical-fiber pieces via the pipe.

Abstract: An optical fiber manufacturing device includes a bare optical fiber-forming unit that forms a bare optical fiber by pulling an optical fiber preform; a coating unit that forms an optical fiber by coating the bare optical fiber outputted from the bare optical fiber-forming unit with a coating layer; a first direction-converter, which is a solid body that comes into contact with the optical fiber outputted from the coating unit and thereby first changing its traveling direction; and a winder that winds the optical fiber obtained from the first direction-converter, in which: the first direction-converter is a rotating body having a circumferential face that contacts with the optical fiber and is formed around an axis of rotation thereof; and the contact angle, centered on the axis of rotation, between this rotating body and the optical fiber is in the range of 10° to 80°.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing an optical fiber includes: drawing an optical waveguide from a glass preform; applying a layer of a first coating material on the optical waveguide; curing the first coating layer material to obtain a first coating layer; applying a layer of a second coating material onto the first coating layer; applying a layer of colored coating material onto the second coating layer; curing the second coating material and the colored coating material in a single step to obtain a second coating layer superposed on the first coating layer and a colored coating layer superposed on the second coating material layer, the obtained second coating layer having an elastic modulus higher than that of the first coating layer and lower than that of the colored coating layer. An optical fiber and an apparatus for producing it are also provided.

Abstract: Methods for producing optical fibers along nonlinear paths include incorporating fluid bearings. An optical fiber is drawn from a preform along a first pathway, contacted with a region of fluid cushion of a fluid bearing, and redirected along a second pathway as the fiber is drawn across said region of fluid cushion.

Abstract: An optical waveguide comprising a cladding and a core embedded in the cladding. An equivalent refractive index of the core changes unevenly along a light propagation direction by changing physical dimensions of the core.

Abstract: Improved user interface methods and devices are provided. Some such devices are configured to detect a user's touch according to a localized diminution and/or interruption of guided optical signals. The devices may be configured for guiding light in a piece-wise contiguous array of optical blocks disposed on a flexible substrate. Alternatively, or additionally, the devices may be configured for guiding light along non-continuous optical fibers on a flexible substrate. These basic structures, or comparable structures, may be used to implement a wide range of tactile user interfaces.

Abstract: A method and device for vaporizing a liquid reactant. A vaporizing plate having a top surface defines a liquid flow channel, the channel being laterally delimited by edges having a height greater than a minimum thickness of liquid reactant required to generate vapor under film or nucleate boiling regime. A heating system is associated to the vaporizing plate for heating the liquid reactant over a minimum temperature required to generate vapor under nucleate or, preferably, film boiling regime. A cap covers the vaporizing plate to collect the vapor at a predetermined pressure and provided with a vapor exit and a liquid feeder feeds the liquid reactant onto the vaporizing plate.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for fabricating waveguides. Some such methods involve forming at least a portion of the waveguide using an embossing process for shaping a substrate and/or other components. Some implementations provide processes for making waveguide features by omitting what may previously have been regarded as essential steps in forming waveguides via a semiconductor fabrication process. Some implementations provide processes of forming waveguide features by deliberately causing what would heretofore have been regarded as defects in a semiconductor fabrication process. Some such methods and devices can produce waveguides at a substantially lower cost than was heretofore possible.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical interconnection structure and a method for manufacturing the same. The optical interconnection structure includes a silicon substrate on which at least one groove formed with a lens is formed to have a curvature radius on the upper surface thereof; and a silica layer that is formed on the silicon substrate including the groove formed with the lens to retain a shape of the groove formed with the lens. As a result, there are effects that the optical interconnection structure can be manufactured in great quantities by performing most of the processes using a semiconductor processing equipment and have better thermal characteristics than that of the existing PCB substrate.

Abstract: A fiber optic cable is that includes at least one optical fiber and a protective layer generally disposed about the optical fiber. A cable jacket surrounds an outer surface of the protective layer, and a control layer is interposed between a portion of the protective layer and a portion of the cable jacket. The control layer includes one or more apertures extending therethrough, thereby creating a predetermined bond between the protective layer and the cable jacket. By way of example, the protective layer is an armor layer, buffer tube, or other suitable cable component where a predetermined bond to the cable jacket is desired so the craft can easily remove a portion of the cable jacket. The plurality of apertures can have any suitable size, shape, and/or arrangement for influencing the desired bond strength. A method of manufacturing the fiber optic cable is also disclosed.

Abstract: A silica-based multi core optical fiber and a fabrication method for the same are provided, and include two or more cores of GeO2—SiO2 glass including an fluorine concentration not less than about 15 w % and a germanium concentration about 0.05 wt % to 2 wt %, in a core. A relative refractive index difference of a cladding and a core is not less than about 3%; and a ratio of a cladding diameter to a core diameter is about 1.02 to 3.0. A silica-based single core optical fiber is also provided, and includes a core having a germanium concentration not less than about 15 wt % and an fluorine concentration about 0.05 wt % to 2 wt %.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of an optical waveguide, the optical waveguide including a first clad layer; a core layer formed on the first clad layer and configured to propagate light; a second clad layer formed on the first clad layer so as to cover the core layer; and a light propagation direction changing part configured to change a propagation direction of the light propagating in the core layer; the manufacturing method of the optical waveguide includes the steps of forming a concave part penetrating the first clad layer and the core layer; and inserting the light propagation direction changing part into the concave part so that a light propagation direction changing surface of the light propagation direction changing part forms a predetermined inclination angle to a predetermined reference plane.

Abstract: An optical cable (1) comprises a cable sheath (11) and at least two optical transmission elements (101) and (102), which are arranged within the cable sheath (11). One (101) of the optical transmission elements (101) and (102) comprises a buffer tube (1011), at least one optical waveguide (10101) and at least one swelling element (10111). The buffer tube (1011) surrounds the at least one optical waveguide (10101) and the at least one swelling element (10111). The swelling element (10111) comprises a swelling material, which can swell by supplying it with water. If water penetrates into the optical transmission element, the swelling element (10111) swells and seals off the optical transmission element, so that spreading of the water in the longitudinal direction of the optical transmission element is prevented.

Abstract: An optical fibre arrangement has at least two optical fibre sections, each optical fibre section defining an outside longitudinally extending surface. The outside longitudinally extending surfaces are in optical contact with each other. The invention further provides for an amplifying optical device have an optical fibre arrangement as just described, and a pump source. The amplifying optical device is configured such that the pump source illuminates the amplifying optical fibre. A amplifying arrangement is also disclosed. The amplifying arrangement includes a plurality of amplifying optical devices as just described, and each amplifier also has at least one input fibre and a first multiplexer connected to the input fibre. Each amplifier is configured such that at least one of the amplifying optical fibres is connected to the first multiplexer. The amplifying arrangement also has a second multiplexer connected to each of the first multiplexers.

Abstract: The present invention provides optical fiber coating systems and coated optical fibers. According to one embodiment of the invention, a coated optical fiber includes an optical fiber having a core and a cladding; and a primary coating encapsulating the optical fiber, the primary coating having a Young's modulus of about 5 MPa or less, the primary coating being the cured reaction product of a primary curable composition having a gel time less than about 1.4 seconds at a UV intensity of 3.4 mW/cm2.

Abstract: An optical member (for example, optical fiber) is dipped in a coating solution having a film forming material dissolved therein to form an antireflection film on the end surface of the optical member. When the optical member is pulled up from the coating solution, the angle formed by the level of the coating solution and the end surface of the optical member, or the pulling speed is varied to adjust the film thickness or reflectance of the antireflection film to be formed on the end surface of the optical member. The film forming material is a fluorine-containing compound. The antireflection film is formed by dipping. The film thickness of the antireflection film is uneven.

Abstract: Methods for coating an optical fiber with optical fiber Bragg grating (FBG) with a hermetic coating, particularly a coating of carbon, are employed to avoid ingress of gases, vapors or fluids in the ambient environment. This ingress can be from water or hydrogen, which can diffuse in the fiber glass and cause deviation/drift in the measured Bragg measurements. Bragg gratings that maintain the grating strength at temperatures in excess of 1000° C. are used and can be formed by heating the fiber above 1000° C. in a chamber with a reactive gas that produces deposition of carbon.

Abstract: An optical cable for telecommunications having an optical core and a plurality of protecting and reinforcing elements or avers placed around the optical core. The optical core has a central reinforcing element, a polymer layer, a plurality of optical fibers incorporated in the polymer layer and a thin sheath which covers the polymer layer. The optical fibers have an alternating spin about their own axes with a maximum value of at least 4 twists per meter, and a core having a mean ellipticity in the range of 0.25 to 0.55, in such a way that the effects of birefringence of the fibers caused by the cabling process are significantly reduced.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an optical fiber manufacturing method and an optical fiber in which an increase in the transmission loss is suppressed by preventing hydroxyl group from entering near the core portion. This invention provides a method for manufacturing an optical fiber 10 including forming a glass pipe 16 by applying a ring portion 15 on the inner face of a starting pipe 14 as a starting material, inserting a glass rod 13 that becomes a central core portion 11 and a depressed portion 12 into the inside of the glass pipe 16, integrating the glass pipe 16 and the glass rod 13 by collapse to form a glass body 17, forming a preform 10a by providing a jacket portion 18 outside the glass body 17, and drawing the preform 10a, wherein the thickness of the starting pipe 14 is set in a range from 4 mm to 8 mm.

Abstract: A roll coater for placing binder on the fibers prior to being wound around a rotating drawing drum. The drawing drum draws fibers out of orifices in the bottom of a slowly reciprocating furnace. The fibers form a mat on the drawing drum that is later removed and expanded. The roll coater includes a graphite or other material coating drum that rotates in a bath of liquid binder and/or wetting agents, and reciprocates with the furnace. The fibers scrape over the surface of the coating drum after being formed but before winding around the drawing drum. The binder and/or wetting agent picked up on the surface of the coating drum coats the fibers with binder and/or wetting agent. Liquid binder and/or wetting agent is replenished in the bath in which the coating drum is partially submerged by a float, sensor, pump and large container of binder/wetting agent.

Abstract: An optical display panel which provides improved light intensity at a viewing angle by redirecting light emitting from the viewing screen, and a method of making a light redirective display panel, are disclosed. The panel includes an inlet face at one end for receiving light, and an outlet screen at an opposite end for displaying the light. The inlet face is defined at one end of a transparent body, which body may be formed by a plurality of waveguides, and the outlet screen is defined at an opposite end of the body. The screen includes light redirective elements at the outlet screen for re-directing light emitting from the outlet screen.

Abstract: In applying an intermediate coating layer of thermoplastic resin onto the periphery of a central tensile member and applying a main coating of polyethylene resin, having continuous spiral grooves that are for accommodating optical fibers and are inverted periodically in direction along the length direction, onto the outer periphery of the abovementioned intermediate coating layer, a cooling medium is blown or made to flow with priority onto the grooves after melt discharge to form a spacer with which even though the minimum rib thickness of the ribs that define the abovementioned spiral grooves is 1.0 mm or less, the groove inclination angle ? of the spacer cross section at the inversion parts is 18° or less.

Abstract: A coated optical fiber includes a fiber coating having an unblended primary portion on the optical fiber, an unblended secondary portion, and a blended portion intermediate the unblended primary and secondary portions. The thickness of the blended portion is greater than or equal to about 10% but less than 100% of the thickness of the fiber coating. An optical fiber ribbon includes a ribbon matrix similarly having an unblended primary portion, an unblended secondary portion, and a blended portion between the unblended primary portion and unblended secondary portion. A method for fabricating a coated optical fiber or optical fiber ribbon includes applying a primary portion material to the optical fiber or plurality of coated optical fibers, and applying a secondary portion material in a manner selected to provide a blend of the primary portion material and the secondary portion material. An applicator apparatus includes means for performing the described steps.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical fiber coating device for coating the outer circumference of the optical fiber with the coating material, in which the coating device is provided with and a gas provider for providing an environmental gas within the coating device, and a cooler for cooling down the environmental gas provided to the coater from the gas provider.

Abstract: A method of protecting a silica-containing article used in the manufacture of an optical fiber includes the step of applying to the silica-containing article a protective layer that facilitates removal of particulates that deposit on the protective layer and that ablates during or can be removed before subsequent processing of the silica-containing article. An intermediate product used in the manufacture of an optical fiber and protected against break-inducing particulates includes a silica-containing article, and a protective layer that facilitates removal of particulates-that have deposited on the protective layer and that can be ablated during or removed before subsequent processing of the intermediate product.

Abstract: A method for drawing an optical fiber having reduced polarization mode dispersion (PMD) draws an optical fiber from an optical fiber preform whose core ovality is at max about 3%, coats the optical fiber with acrylic polymer and twists the coated optical fiber with a pair of spinning wheels. The twisting of the fiber is achieved by four discrete spin rates that repeat in a periodic fashion after the drawing of certain lengths of the optical fiber. At least one of the spin rates varies in a trapezoidal manner along the respective one of drawn lengths of the optical fiber.

Abstract: A roll coater for placing binder on the fibers prior to being wound around a rotating drawing drum. The drawing drum draws fibers out of orifices in the bottom of a slowly reciprocating furnace. The fibers form a mat on the drawing drum that is later removed and expanded. The roll coater includes a graphite or other material coating drum that rotates in a bath of liquid binder and/or wetting agents, and reciprocates with the furnace. The fibers scrape over the surface of the coating drum after being formed but before winding around the drawing drum. The binder and/or wetting agent picked up on the surface of the coating drum coats the fibers with binder and/or wetting agent. Liquid binder and/or wetting agent is replenished in the bath in which the coating drum is partially submerged by a float, sensor, pump and large container of binder/wetting agent.

Abstract: A method of protecting a silica-containing article used in the manufacture of an optical fiber includes the step of applying to the silica-containing article a protective layer that facilitates removal of particulates that deposit on the protective layer and that ablates during or can be removed before subsequent processing of the silica-containing article. An intermediate product used in the manufacture of an optical fiber and protected against break-inducing particulates includes a silica-containing article, and a protective layer that facilitates removal of particulates that have deposited on the protective layer and that can be ablated during or removed before subsequent processing of the intermediate product.

Abstract: A furnace is provided. The furnace includes a chamber for heating a portion of a preform to draw a fiber. The chamber has a melt region for melting the preform, and at least one port disposed proximate to the melt region. A purge gas supply is provided for supplying a purge gas into the chamber. The purge gas moves vapor products away from the fiber and exits the chamber through the at least one port.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of applying a protective organic coating to an optical glass fiber, said glass fiber is drawn from a preform and passed through a liquid which contains the material for forming said organic coating, once the amount of liquid coating material to be applied to the fiber has been adjusted, said coating matrial is hardened, while a gas is passed along the liquid wherein nitrous oxide (an N2O-containing gas) is used as said gas. The invention also relates to the coated optical glass fiber, produced by that method.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a silica-containing article used in the manufacture of an optical fiber includes the steps of applying to the silica-containing article a protective layer, and then transporting the coated article to a second factory for further processing. The layer facilitates ease of removal of particulates that deposit on the protective layer. The layer preferably ablates during, or can be readily removed subsequent to, further processing of the silica-containing article. Any intermediate product used in the manufacture of an optical fiber, for example, a core blank, core cane segment, consolidated preform, etc. may be readily shipped between various factories because the articles are protected against break-inducing particulates by the protective layer.