WO2004046777A1 - Element polymere microstructure de guidage de signaux - Google Patents

Element polymere microstructure de guidage de signaux Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2004046777A1
WO2004046777A1 PCT/AU2003/001564 AU0301564W WO2004046777A1 WO 2004046777 A1 WO2004046777 A1 WO 2004046777A1 AU 0301564 W AU0301564 W AU 0301564W WO 2004046777 A1 WO2004046777 A1 WO 2004046777A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
guiding element
signal guiding
channels
filler material
core
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/AU2003/001564
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Ian Andrew Maxwell
Original Assignee
Cactus Fiber Pty Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from AU2002952812A external-priority patent/AU2002952812A0/en
Priority claimed from AU2003901882A external-priority patent/AU2003901882A0/en
Application filed by Cactus Fiber Pty Ltd filed Critical Cactus Fiber Pty Ltd
Priority to AU2003283077A priority Critical patent/AU2003283077A1/en
Publication of WO2004046777A1 publication Critical patent/WO2004046777A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • 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
    • 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
    • B29D11/00721—Production of light guides involving preforms for the manufacture of light guides
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B82—NANOTECHNOLOGY
    • B82Y—SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MEASUREMENT OR ANALYSIS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF NANOSTRUCTURES
    • B82Y20/00—Nanooptics, e.g. quantum optics or photonic crystals
    • 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
    • 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
    • G02B6/02295—Microstructured optical fibre
    • G02B6/02314—Plurality of longitudinal structures extending along optical fibre axis, e.g. holes
    • G02B6/02319—Plurality of longitudinal structures extending along optical fibre axis, e.g. holes characterised by core or core-cladding interface features
    • G02B6/02338—Structured core, e.g. core contains more than one material, non-constant refractive index distribution in core, asymmetric or non-circular elements in core unit, multiple cores, insertions between core and clad
    • 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
    • G02B6/02295—Microstructured optical fibre
    • G02B6/02314—Plurality of longitudinal structures extending along optical fibre axis, e.g. holes
    • G02B6/02342—Plurality of longitudinal structures extending along optical fibre axis, e.g. holes characterised by cladding features, i.e. light confining region
    • G02B6/02357—Property of longitudinal structures or background material varies radially and/or azimuthally in the cladding, e.g. size, spacing, periodicity, shape, refractive index, graded index, quasiperiodic, quasicrystals
    • 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
    • G02B6/02295—Microstructured optical fibre
    • G02B6/02314—Plurality of longitudinal structures extending along optical fibre axis, e.g. holes
    • G02B6/02342—Plurality of longitudinal structures extending along optical fibre axis, e.g. holes characterised by cladding features, i.e. light confining region
    • G02B6/02361—Longitudinal structures forming multiple layers around the core, e.g. arranged in multiple rings with each ring having longitudinal elements at substantially the same radial distance from the core, having rotational symmetry about the fibre axis

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to microstructured signal guiding elements that contain polymer material.
  • the invention has particular application to graded index polymer fibres and a method for producing such fibres, although the invention can also be applied to polymer rods.
  • polymer rods may be fabricated by the method of this invention with a large cross section which can be used to transmit RF and terahertz data.
  • Multimode optical fibres can have large cores which enable low installation costs.
  • these multimode fibres preferably have a graded refractive index profile, since this provides correction for modal dispersion and allows transmission of data over much greater distances and bandwidths than an optical fibre of an equivalent core size with a stepped refractive index profile.
  • a least preferred embodiments of the present invention seek to address one or more of the above problems, or at least to provide a useful alternative.
  • a process of fabricating a polymer based microstructured signal guiding element having at least one core- region comprising the steps of forming a preform body from a polymer based body material; forming a plurality of channels in the preform body filled with a filler material having a different refractive index than the polymer based body material; and forming the signal guiding element from the preform body by a formation process, wherein the filler material is chosen such that processing characteristics of the body material and the filler material relevant to the formation process of the signal guiding element are substantially similar, whereby the formation process is applied to the preform body incorporating the filled channels.
  • the channels are disposed in the preform body such that the formed signal guiding element exhibits a substantially graded refractive index profile defining the at least one core-region of the signal guiding element.
  • the signal guiding element may be arranged, in use, to transmit data in regions of the electro-magnetic spectrum within the optical regime or outside the optical regime, for example electromagnetic signals in the RF and or terahertz range.
  • the channels extend substantially contiguously along the length of the signal guiding element.
  • the filler material comprises one or more of a group comprising a polymer, a polymer plus dopant, an inorganic material, a metal, and a composite material.
  • a ratio of channel areas to main body area in cross-sectional ring areas around a central region of the respective at least one core-regions decreases as a function of distance from said central regions.
  • the refractive index of the filler material is higher than that of the body material.
  • Light propagation in the core-region is, in use, through the filler material.
  • the central regions of the one or more core-regions may be in the form of central channels filled with the filler material.
  • the refractive index of the filler material may be lower than that of the body material.
  • the signal guiding element may be arranged as a single-mode or a multi-mode signal guiding element.
  • the channels are disposed in the preform body such that the formed signal guiding element exhibits a desired modal dispersion and transmits data in a dispersion managed format.
  • the substantially similar processing characteristics of the body material and the filler material may comprise one or more of a group comprising viscosity, coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) and surface energy.
  • the step of forming the preform body from the body material and or the step of forming the plurality of filled channels in the preform body may comprise utilising casting techniques.
  • the step of forming the preform body from the body material may comprise providing a solid or fluid rod of the body material manufactured utilising drawing and/or extrusion techniques.
  • the process may be implemented utilising an extrusion system, wherein the forming of the preform body, the forming of the plurality of filled channels, and the forming of the signal guiding element steps occur substantially simultaneously during the formation process along an extrusion path of the extrusion system.
  • a process of fabricating a polymer based microstructured signal guiding element comprising the steps of forming a main body of the signal guiding element from a polymer based material; and forming a plurality of channels in the main body; wherein the channels are disposed in the main body such that the formed signal guiding element exhibits a substantially graded refractive index profile defining at least one core-region of the signal guiding element.
  • a ratio of channel areas to main body area in cross-sectional ring areas around a central region of the respective at least one core-regions decreases as a function of distance from said central regions.
  • the channels may be hollow or filled with a filler material.
  • a polymer based microstructured signal guiding element having at least one core-region, the signal guiding element comprising a main body made from a polymer based body material; and a plurality of channels in the main body filled with a filler material having a different refractive index than the polymer based body material; wherein the filler material is chosen such that processing characteristics of the body material and the filler material relevant to a formation process of the signal guiding element are substantially similar, whereby the body material and the filler material have been subjected to said same formation process.
  • the channels are disposed in the preform body such that the formed signal guiding element exhibits a substantially graded refractive index profile defining the at least one core-region of the signal guiding element.
  • the signal guiding element is arranged, in use, to transmit data in regions of the electro-magnetic spectrum within the optical regime or outside the optical regime.
  • the channels may extend substantially contiguously along the length of the signal guiding element.
  • the filler material may comprise one or more of a group comprising a polymer, a polymer plus dopant, an inorganic material, a metal, and a composite material.
  • a ratio of channel areas to main body area in cross-sectional ring areas around a central region of the respective at least one core-regions decreases as a function of distance from said central regions.
  • the refractive index of the filler material is higher than that of the body material.
  • Light propagation in the core-region may be, in use, through the filler material.
  • the central regions of the one or more core-regions may be in the form of central channels filled with the filler material.
  • the refractive index of the filler material may be lower than that of the body material.
  • the signal guiding element may be arranged as a single-mode or multi-mode signal guiding element.
  • the channels are disposed in the preform body such that the formed signal guiding element exhibits a desired modal dispersion.
  • the substantially similar processing characteristics of the body material and the filler material may comprise one or more of a group comprising viscosity, coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) and surface energy.
  • CTE coefficient of thermal expansion
  • a polymer based microstructured signal guiding element comprising a main body made from a polymer based material; and a plurality of channels in the main body; wherein the channels are disposed in the main body such that the formed signal guiding element exhibits a substantially graded refractive index profile defining at least one core-region of the signal guiding element.
  • a ratio of channel areas to main body area in cross-sectional ring areas around a central region of the respective at least one core-regions decreases as a function of distance from said central regions.
  • the channels may be hollow or filled with a filler material.
  • FIGS. 1 A to C are schematic drawings illustrating a fabrication process embodying the present invention.
  • Figures 2A and B are schematic drawings of a cross section view of the core-region, and the refractive index profile in that region respectively, of an optical fibre embodying the present invention.
  • Figure 3 is a schematic drawing showing a cross sectional view of the core-region of an optical fibre embodying the present invention.
  • Figure 4 shows the graded refractive index profile in the core-region of the optical fibre of Figure 3.
  • Figure 5 is a schematic drawing showing a cross-sectional view of an optical fibre embodying the present invention.
  • Figure 6 shows the graded refractive index profile in the core-region of the optical fibre of Figure 5.
  • Figure 7 is a schematic drawing showing a cross-sectional view of an optical fibre embodying the present invention.
  • Figure 8 shows a schematic drawing of an extrusion system for manufacture of an optical fibre.
  • Figure 9 shows a schematic drawing of a casting system for manufacture of a preform for an optical fibre.
  • the present invention provides a microstructured polymer fibre in which hollow channels extending along the length of the optical fibre are disposed in a manner such that the polymer optical fibre exhibits a substantially graded refractive index profile defining at least one signal propagating region or core-region of the optical fibre.
  • graded refractive index profile is not intended to be limited to any particular refractive index profile, but rather is intended to cover more broadly a more refined refractive index profile than a "conventional" core/cladding stepped refractive index profile, and includes what is sometimes referred to as multi-step refractive index profiles.
  • Preform preparation techniques such as capillaries stacking, polymerisation casting, drilling, extrusion and injection moulding can be modified to implement such an embodiment.
  • Such an embodiment may be implemented for fabrication of e.g. an optical fibre by direct extrusion through a die, rather than from a preform.
  • This example embodiment of the present invention in its different implementations can provide microstructured polymer signal guiding elements comprising a plurality of hollow channels arranged such that an averaging effect results in a graded refractive index profile, as is desired for many applications as outlined in the background of the invention section.
  • FIGS. 1 A-C illustrate the basic elements of a formation process for a microstructured polymer optical fibre embodying the present invention.
  • a preform body 10 is provided in the form of a polymer rod 10.
  • a plurality of material filled channels e.g. 12 are provided in the preform body 10.
  • the filler material of the filled channels 12 is chosen from "like material” when compared with the material of the preform body 10.
  • the disposition, dimensions and shapes of the filled channels 12 are chosen to achieve a desired optical characteristic in the resulting optical fibre, e.g. to create a graded refractive index profile around a central axis of the optical fibre.
  • a protective cladding sleeve or coating layer 13 is provided around the polymer rod 10.
  • the material for the cladding sleeve 13 is chosen from "like material" when compared with the material of the preform body 10, and in the example embodiment is the same as the filler material in the filled channels 12.
  • the preform body 10 incorporating the filled channels e.g. 12 is then subjected to a fibre formation process, in the example embodiment a conventional fibre drawing technique indicated in Figure IC by box 14, for drawing of the optical fibre 16. Processing characteristics of the body material and the filler material relevant to the formation process of the signal guiding element are substantially similar in the "like material" approach of the embodiment.
  • the application of the formation process to the preform body 10 incorporating the filled channels 12 preferably affects the body and filler material in substantially the same way, thus avoiding introduction of unwanted differential changes between the body and channel materials.
  • the body material and the filler material may have similar viscosity, and/or coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) and/or surface energy.
  • Figure 2A and B show a schematic drawing of a cross sectional view of the core-region 100, and the graded refractive index profile 102 in that region respectively, for an optical fibre embodying the present invention.
  • the core-region 100 comprises a central area 104 of a body material having a refractive index n 0 , and a plurality of filled channels e.g. 106 with a filler material having refractive
  • the filled channels e.g. 106 are arranged in concentric rings, with the number and size of the channels for each ring varying to achieve the graded refractive index profile 102 shown in Figure 2B.
  • a typical diameter of the core-region 100 would be about 120 ⁇ m, with a concentric cladding region (not shown) around the core-region 100, formed from a material having a refractive index of m or lower.
  • the term "graded refractive index profile" is intended to include a profile such as curve 102 in
  • Figure 2B which may sometimes be referred to as a multi-step refractive index profile.
  • the refractive index of the filler material is chosen to be lower than the refractive index of the material of the preform or main body, hi the following, some typical design features of optical fibres of that type, i.e. using higher index polymer as body material when compared with the filler material, will be described: - Light propagation in that type of fibre is through the body material.
  • the filler material could be one or more materials with indices ny...n x , which are lower than the refractive index of the body material.
  • a ratio of channel areas to main body area in cross-sectional ring areas around a central region of respective one or more core-regions of the fibre increases as a function of distance from the central regions.
  • the average effective index of the out layers in that type of fibre will be gradually lower than in the central region, i.e. lower than that of the body material index. This results in the average effective index gradually decreasing with distance from the central region, thus creating a graded refractive index profile.
  • the graded refractive index profile can be designed to manage or minimise modal dispersion.
  • the core-region size can be varied to above 0.5mm in diameter depending upon design, such as variations on number of rings of channels, channel and main body ratio, the use of different channel arrangements, channel density and/or cross-sectional size and or variations with radius, and/or other parameters.
  • the transmission window for fibres of that type for currently available materials is expected to be from 510nm to 1310nm. However, it is noted that the provision of new materials may expand the transmission window in the future.
  • - By using higher index polymer as body material and large overall core-region size, there are typically thousands of modes supported into a fibre of that type. Confinement problems may occur for the modes, which is sometimes referred to as modes leaking.
  • a proper design using appropriate design parameters such as channel arrangement, channel size, shape of the overall structure, or increasing number of rings of channels, is expected to reduce confinement loss down to negligible values if required.
  • Materials for use in the "like material" embodiments include:
  • a polymeric material(s) with different refractive index for example: PMMA (polymethylmethacrylate)
  • polymer plus dopant for example: doped PMMA (polymethylmethacrylate)
  • inorganic for example: dielectric material, soft glasses, such as fluoride glass and chalcoginide glasses.
  • Figure 3 shows a cross sectional view of a core-region 302 of an optical fibre embodying the present invention.
  • the core-region 302 comprises a main body material 306 having a ref active index n 0 .
  • a plurality of filled channels e.g. 304 are provided in the core-region 304, filled with a material having a refractive index
  • the core-region 302 comprises a filled central channel 307, filled also with the material having refractive ni.
  • the refractive index of the main body material 306 is lower than the refractive index of the filler material in the filled channels e.g. 304, i.e. n ⁇ no.
  • Figure 4 shows the graded refractive index profile 400 of the core-region 302 shown in Figure 3. Also shown in Figure 4 is the theoretical graded index profile 402, which the core- region 302 ( Figure 3) was designed to approximate.
  • the curve 402 shows the average circularly symmetric index profile of the actual fibre.
  • the term "graded refractive index profile" is intended to include a profile such as that shown in 400 in Figure 4, which may sometimes be referred to as a multi-step refractive index profile.
  • FIG. 5 shows a schematic cross sectional view of an optical fibre 500 embodying the present invention.
  • the fibre 500 comprises a core-region 502, which in turn comprises hexagonal arrays of filled channels eg. 504, filled with a material having a refractive index n*-.
  • the optical fibre 500 is formed from a main body material 506, and in the example embodiment, the refractive index of the main body material 506, nb, is lower than the refractive index of the filler material, n f , ie n f >n b .
  • Figure 6 shows the graded refractive index profile 600 of the core-region 502 shown in Figure 5. Also shown in Figure 6 is the theoretical graded index profile 602, which the core- region 502 ( Figure 5) was designed to approximate.
  • the curve 600 shows the average circularly symmetric index profile of the fibre 500 ( Figure 5).
  • the term "graded refractive index profile" is intended to include a profile such as curve 600 in Figure 6, which may sometimes be referred to as a multi-step refractive index profile.
  • Table I summarises the design parameters for the fibre 500 shown in Figure 5, in an example embodiment.
  • Table II summarise the bandwidth properties of different lengths of the optical fibre 500 shown in Figure 5, in the example embodiment of Table I.
  • Figure 7 shows a schematic cross sectional view of another optical fibre 700 embodying the present invention.
  • the fibre 700 comprises a core-region 702, which in turn comprises a hexagonal array of filled channels eg. 704, filled with a material having a refractive index n f .
  • the optical fibre 700 is formed from a main body material 706, and in the example embodiment, the refractive index of the main body material 706, n , is lower than the refractive index of the filled material, n f .
  • Insert 708 shows the graded refractive index profile 710 of the core-region 702. Also shown in insert 708 is the theoretical graded index profile 712, which the core-region 702 was designed to approximate.
  • the curve 710 shows the average circularly symmetric index profile of the fibre 700.
  • the term "graded refractive index profile" is intended to include a profile such as curve 710, which may sometimes be referred to as a multi-step refractive index profile.
  • Table TU summarises the design parameters for the fibre 700 shown in Figure 7, in an example embodiment.
  • Table IV summarise the bandwidth properties of different lengths of the optical fibre 700 shown in Figure 7, in the example embodiment of Table HI.
  • hexagonal-type structures such as the ones in the example embodiments described above with reference to Figures 5 to 8 can increase the quality of the obtainable graded index profile, ie. a closer match to a desired theoretical profile, eg. a parabolic profile, can be achieved. It is believed that one of the reasons for this improved quality attainable is the fact that hexagonal structures can provide high packing ratios, which can be utilised to increase the average index in the central region of the core-region. In a modification of such designs, channels may be selectively removed from the hexagonal areas in different embodiments of the present invention, to exercise further control over the achievable index profile.
  • some typical design features of optical fibres of the type described with reference to Figures 3 to 8, i.e. in which the refractive index of the filler material is higher than that of the body material, will be described.
  • the filler material could comprise one or more materials with indices and ni ...n x , which are higher than n 0 .
  • a ratio of channel areas to main body area in cross-sectional ring areas around a central region of respective one or more core-regions of the fibre decreases as a function of distance from the central regions.
  • the average effective index of the out layers in that type of fibre will be gradually lower than in the central region, i.e. lower than that of the filler material index. This results in the average effective index gradually decreasing with distance from the central region, thus creating a graded refractive index profile.
  • the graded refractive index profile can be designed to manage or minimise modal dispersion.
  • the size of the core-region can be varied to above 0.5mm in diameter depending on design features such as variations on number of rings of channels, channel and main body ratio, the use of different channel arrangements, channel density and/or cross-sectional size and/or variations with radius, and/or other parameters.
  • polymer fibres of this type are expected to have a transmission window from 51 Onm to 131 Onm. However, depending on the availability of future materials, this transmission window may well be expanded.
  • the core-region supports selected modes, which reduces the number of modes significantly compared with designs of the type described above with reference to Figures 1 and 2. This can provide the following advantages:
  • Fibres of this type may again be manufactured by a variety of different techniques, including for example hole drilling on a body polymer rod plus filling the filler materials into the holes to form a preform for subsequent drawing of the fibre.
  • Another example is utilising casting and extrusion techniques, either for preform fabrication or direct formation of the optical fibre.
  • the cladding material does not have to be provided as an additional component in the preform or fibre fabrication process. Rather, the main body of the polymer rod or cast provides the "envelope" of the cladding/core-region structure, into which the micro-structured core-region is manufactured, i.e. the guiding material is inserted/provided. At the same time, a further protective sleeve material may be provided, if required.
  • a hexagonal-type structures design may also be implemented with a filler material having a lower refractive index then the body material, in different embodiments.
  • design features similar to the ones described with reference to the embodiment shown in Figure 2 would be applicable.
  • thermomechanical techniques such as extrusion dies and injection moulding apparatus which a person skilled in the art may use to prepare the above mentioned preforms and fibres.
  • a die may be configured to provide a preform of optically suitable material with a series of channels there through.
  • Either rigid or fluid lumens can be positioned within the die to produce the aforementioned channels.
  • such lumens are variable to alter the position of channels and thereby change the resultant characteristics of the fibre.
  • the size, shape and orientation of the channels eg air holes can also be altered. With conventional techniques, the channels must ordinarily be circular in shape.
  • the extrusion die may be configured to have several injection points for such filling material.
  • heterogeneous microstructured fibres or preforms may be produced, ie layers or areas of different optical materials. For instance, extrusion of a single monomer may be followed by selective polymerisation of certain areas to alter the refractive index. Alternatively, mixtures of various monomers/polymers/oligomers with different refractive indices may be provided directly to the extrusion die or mould. Different refractive indices may be provided by different dopants in the monomer/polymer applied to the die. Very complex fibres can also be manufactured using this process even allowing for heterogeneity along the length of the fibre or preform.
  • the channels can be created within the fibre by leaving voids, or by extruding/moulding dummy materials in the relevant position, eg using the 'wax method' whereby the formed wax elements or other material is removed from the preform after extrusion/moulding to thereby leave the desired air holes.
  • Figure 8 shows a schematic drawing of a suitable system 800. It comprises a series of extruders 822 to
  • a conveyer pump 806 is used for the extrusion of the "preform" 808 through the core extruder 810.
  • the use of various patterned dies (not shown) for each material extruder enables the preform to be built up with the desired microstructure.
  • An (optional) cladding extruder 812 is utilised to extrude a cladding layer around the preform 808 in a coating and drawing unit 814. h the unit 814, the drawing, i.e. reducing of the preform diameter, is effected.
  • a diameter control unit 816 is provided, through which the drawn fibre 818 passes prior to collection on the fibre drum 820.
  • Direct extrusion is possible in some cases where the signal guiding element is formed directly from the base material(s).
  • the more typical process involves extrusion of the preform, although the preform could be optionally annealed, and then followed by drawing and optionally coating of the optical fibre.
  • the die for extrusion can be altered. This is particularly important for microstructured fibres using photonic band gap effect.
  • the positioning and shape of the channels is crucial to such photonic band gap microstructured fibres.
  • the above discussed continuous production technique may be used to rapidly provide the various channel arrangements allowing easy and rapid testing of various microstructured fibre structures.
  • An alternative method of producing structured polymer preforms suitable for subsequent drawing to form a microstructured polymer fibre involves casting.
  • the entire preform may be cast as a'unitary body, or smaller elements of the preform may be cast and combined to produce a polymer preform.
  • the casting may use patterned end plates 904, 906 connected by predetermined structures e.g. 902.
  • These structures e.g. 902 may be polymer strings, which then become the filler material or can be removed to leave air channels or be replaced with another filler material.
  • the casting process includes curing the polymer body material (not shown) in a preform receptacle (not shown) surrounding the predetermined structures e.g. 902 and abutting the end plates 904, 906.
  • the present invention in its broadest form is not limited to any particular disposition, dimensions or shapes of the channels, which may be dictated by the desired signal guiding properties of the signal guiding element.

Abstract

L'invention concerne un procédé de fabrication d'un élément de guidage de signaux (500) microstructuré, à base de polymère, comme une fibre optique polymère microstructurée, comportant au moins une zone centrale (502). Ledit procédé comprend les étapes suivantes : former un corps de préforme à partir d'un matériau de corps (506) à base de polymère ; former une pluralités de canaux (504) dans le corps de préforme, remplis d'un matériau de charge à indice de réfraction différent de celui du matériau de corps à base de polymère et former l'élément de guidage de signaux à partir du corps de préforme par processus de formation, le matériau de charge étant choisi de manière que les caractéristiques de traitement du matériau de corps et du matériau de charge significatives pour le processus de formation de l'élément de guidage de signaux soient sensiblement similaires. Le processus de formation est appliqué au corps de préforme incorporant les canaux remplis de charge. De préférence, lesdits canaux (504) sont disposés dans le corps de préforme, de sorte que l'élément de guidage de signaux (500) formé présente un profil d'indice de réfraction sensiblement à gradient dans la zone centrale (502).
PCT/AU2003/001564 2002-11-21 2003-11-21 Element polymere microstructure de guidage de signaux WO2004046777A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2003283077A AU2003283077A1 (en) 2002-11-21 2003-11-21 Microstructured polymer signal guiding element

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2002952812 2002-11-21
AU2002952812A AU2002952812A0 (en) 2002-11-21 2002-11-21 Microstructured polymer signal guiding element
AU2003901882 2003-04-16
AU2003901882A AU2003901882A0 (en) 2003-04-17 2003-04-17 Improved microstructured polymer signal guiding element

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2004046777A1 true WO2004046777A1 (fr) 2004-06-03

Family

ID=32327197

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/AU2003/001564 WO2004046777A1 (fr) 2002-11-21 2003-11-21 Element polymere microstructure de guidage de signaux

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2004046777A1 (fr)

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1482334A1 (fr) * 2003-05-29 2004-12-01 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Préforme pour fibre optique à cristal photonique et fibre optique à cristal photonique fabriquée à partir de celle-ci
EP1536256A1 (fr) * 2003-11-27 2005-06-01 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Fibre optique plastique, préforme pour fibre optique plastique et procédé de fabrication de la préforme
WO2006093627A1 (fr) * 2005-02-28 2006-09-08 3M Innovative Properties Company Fibres de cristaux photoniques polymeres
US7356229B2 (en) 2005-02-28 2008-04-08 3M Innovative Properties Company Reflective polarizers containing polymer fibers
US7356231B2 (en) 2005-02-28 2008-04-08 3M Innovative Properties Company Composite polymer fibers
US7362943B2 (en) 2005-02-28 2008-04-22 3M Innovative Properties Company Polymeric photonic crystals with co-continuous phases
US7406239B2 (en) 2005-02-28 2008-07-29 3M Innovative Properties Company Optical elements containing a polymer fiber weave
CN100406915C (zh) * 2004-11-10 2008-07-30 中国科学院西安光学精密机械研究所 微结构聚合物光纤制造方法及其装置
WO2009003228A1 (fr) * 2007-06-29 2009-01-08 The University Of Sydney Fibres optiques multimodales microstructurées à largeur de bande élevée
CN103645535A (zh) * 2013-12-11 2014-03-19 江苏大学 一种高双折射太赫兹光纤
WO2019045046A1 (fr) * 2017-08-31 2019-03-07 旭化成株式会社 Fibre optique en plastique, câble à fibre optique en plastique, câble à fibre optique en plastique avec connecteurs fixés, système de communication optique et capteur à fibre optique en plastique

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6188824B1 (en) * 1997-02-07 2001-02-13 Asahi Kasei Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Optical signal transmission multicore plastic optical fiber
WO2002016984A1 (fr) * 2000-08-25 2002-02-28 The University Of Sydney Guide d'onde optique polymere
WO2002095460A1 (fr) * 2001-05-22 2002-11-28 Cactus Fiber Pty Limited Procede de production d'une preforme de fibre optique
WO2002101422A2 (fr) * 2001-06-13 2002-12-19 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Procede de fabrication de preformes de fibres optiques a l'aide d'une filiere d'extrusion
WO2003009028A1 (fr) * 2001-07-20 2003-01-30 The University Of Sydney Realisation de preformes pour la fabrication de fibres

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6188824B1 (en) * 1997-02-07 2001-02-13 Asahi Kasei Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Optical signal transmission multicore plastic optical fiber
WO2002016984A1 (fr) * 2000-08-25 2002-02-28 The University Of Sydney Guide d'onde optique polymere
WO2002095460A1 (fr) * 2001-05-22 2002-11-28 Cactus Fiber Pty Limited Procede de production d'une preforme de fibre optique
WO2002101422A2 (fr) * 2001-06-13 2002-12-19 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Procede de fabrication de preformes de fibres optiques a l'aide d'une filiere d'extrusion
WO2003009028A1 (fr) * 2001-07-20 2003-01-30 The University Of Sydney Realisation de preformes pour la fabrication de fibres

Cited By (21)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7206485B2 (en) 2003-05-29 2007-04-17 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Photonic crystal fiber preform and photonic crystal fiber manufactured using the same
EP1482334A1 (fr) * 2003-05-29 2004-12-01 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Préforme pour fibre optique à cristal photonique et fibre optique à cristal photonique fabriquée à partir de celle-ci
EP1536256A1 (fr) * 2003-11-27 2005-06-01 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Fibre optique plastique, préforme pour fibre optique plastique et procédé de fabrication de la préforme
CN100406915C (zh) * 2004-11-10 2008-07-30 中国科学院西安光学精密机械研究所 微结构聚合物光纤制造方法及其装置
US7738763B2 (en) 2005-02-28 2010-06-15 3M Innovative Properties Company Composite polymer fibers
WO2006093627A1 (fr) * 2005-02-28 2006-09-08 3M Innovative Properties Company Fibres de cristaux photoniques polymeres
US7356229B2 (en) 2005-02-28 2008-04-08 3M Innovative Properties Company Reflective polarizers containing polymer fibers
US7356231B2 (en) 2005-02-28 2008-04-08 3M Innovative Properties Company Composite polymer fibers
US7362943B2 (en) 2005-02-28 2008-04-22 3M Innovative Properties Company Polymeric photonic crystals with co-continuous phases
US7386212B2 (en) 2005-02-28 2008-06-10 3M Innovative Properties Company Polymer photonic crystal fibers
US7406239B2 (en) 2005-02-28 2008-07-29 3M Innovative Properties Company Optical elements containing a polymer fiber weave
US7526164B2 (en) 2005-02-28 2009-04-28 3M Innovative Properties Company Reflective polarizers containing polymer fibers
WO2009003228A1 (fr) * 2007-06-29 2009-01-08 The University Of Sydney Fibres optiques multimodales microstructurées à largeur de bande élevée
CN103645535A (zh) * 2013-12-11 2014-03-19 江苏大学 一种高双折射太赫兹光纤
CN103645535B (zh) * 2013-12-11 2015-08-26 江苏大学 一种高双折射太赫兹光纤
WO2019045046A1 (fr) * 2017-08-31 2019-03-07 旭化成株式会社 Fibre optique en plastique, câble à fibre optique en plastique, câble à fibre optique en plastique avec connecteurs fixés, système de communication optique et capteur à fibre optique en plastique
CN110869828A (zh) * 2017-08-31 2020-03-06 旭化成株式会社 塑料光纤、塑料光纤线缆、带有连接器的塑料光纤线缆、光通信系统、和塑料光纤传感器
JPWO2019045046A1 (ja) * 2017-08-31 2020-07-16 旭化成株式会社 プラスチック光ファイバ、プラスチック光ファイバケーブル、コネクタ付プラスチック光ファイバケーブル、光通信システム、及びプラスチック光ファイバセンサ
US11054548B2 (en) 2017-08-31 2021-07-06 Asahi Kasei Kabushiki Kaisha Plastic optical fiber, plastic optical fiber cable, connector-attached plastic optical fiber cable, optical communication system, and plastic optical fiber sensor
JP7035064B2 (ja) 2017-08-31 2022-03-14 旭化成株式会社 プラスチック光ファイバ、プラスチック光ファイバケーブル、コネクタ付プラスチック光ファイバケーブル、光通信システム、及びプラスチック光ファイバセンサ
CN114252953A (zh) * 2017-08-31 2022-03-29 旭化成株式会社 塑料光纤、塑料光纤线缆、带有连接器的塑料光纤线缆、光通信系统、和塑料光纤传感器

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP1297368B1 (fr) Procede de fabrication d'une fibre en cristal photonique plastique pour la transmission par ondes terahertziennes
WO2005017569A3 (fr) Fibres emettant des infrarouges a bande interdite photonique et a noyau creux
WO2004046777A1 (fr) Element polymere microstructure de guidage de signaux
KR20050081236A (ko) 다공 광섬유 및 그 제조방법
KR100359907B1 (ko) 플라스틱 광섬유용 모재의 제조방법 및 그 플라스틱광섬유용 모재
US10822262B2 (en) Optical fibers with multiple openings from additive manufacturing
KR20030026336A (ko) 압출 다이를 이용한 플라스틱 광섬유의 제조방법
KR20050006295A (ko) 굴절율 분포형 광섬유의 제조 방법
US20050036731A1 (en) Method of optical fibre preform manufacture
JP2004020836A (ja) 光ファイバ及びその製造方法
WO2004053550A1 (fr) Ameliorations relatives a des fibres a cristaux photoniques
White et al. Manufacture of perfluorinated plastic optical fibers
KR100368692B1 (ko) 반경 방향으로 변화하는 물성을 지니는 봉형 고분자 모재,그의 제조방법 및 이에 사용되는 장치
JP3848597B2 (ja) プラスチックホーリーファイバの製造方法
CN220429189U (zh) 用于制作聚合物光纤的分层共挤模具及生产设备
KR100384440B1 (ko) 반경 방향으로 변화하는 물성을 지니는 고분자 섬유의제조방법 및 이에 사용되는 장치
KR100390329B1 (ko) 광섬유 제조 방법
EP1536256A1 (fr) Fibre optique plastique, préforme pour fibre optique plastique et procédé de fabrication de la préforme
WO2005096048A1 (fr) Preforme pour fibre optique
AU2002308422A1 (en) Method of optical fibre preform manufacture
CN116330609A (zh) 用于制作聚合物光纤的分层共挤模具及生产设备
US20050056952A1 (en) Method of manufacturing multi-polymer optical fiber cable
CN116330610A (zh) 聚合物光纤及聚合物光缆的制备方法
KR100437281B1 (ko) 플라스틱 광섬유 모재 내부 첨가 물질의 열 확산을 이용한유사 포물선형 굴절률 분포 제조방법 및 가열기
WO2001043954A9 (fr) Element optique en plastique a indice de progressif et son procede de fabrication

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AE AG AL AM AT AU AZ BA BB BG BR BW BY BZ CA CH CN CO CR CU CZ DE DK DM DZ EC EE EG ES FI GB GD GE GH GM HR HU ID IL IN IS JP KE KG KP KR KZ LC LK LR LS LT LU LV MA MD MG MK MN MW MX MZ NI NO NZ OM PG PH PL PT RO RU SC SD SE SG SK SL SY TJ TM TN TR TT TZ UA UG US UZ VC VN YU ZA ZM ZW

AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): BW GH GM KE LS MW MZ SD SL SZ TZ UG ZM ZW AM AZ BY KG KZ MD RU TJ TM AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IT LU MC NL PT RO SE SI SK TR BF BJ CF CG CI CM GA GN GQ GW ML MR NE SN TD TG

121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application
32PN Ep: public notification in the ep bulletin as address of the adressee cannot be established

Free format text: NOTING OF LOSS OF RIGHTS PURSUANT TO RULE 69(1) EPC (EPO FORM 1205A) SENT ON 31.10.2005

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase
NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: JP

WWW Wipo information: withdrawn in national office

Country of ref document: JP