System and method for manufacturing optical fiber
AssigneeMade In Space, Inc.
InventorsJan Clawson, Robert White, Nate Pickslay, Michael Snyder, Geoffrey York Powers, Noah Paul-Gin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for precoating a preform for drawing optical fiber including a diameter sensor to determine a diameter of pulled optical fiber, a cooling system to cool the optical fiber once it is pulled from a furnace, a coating system to apply a coating to the optical fiber once it has cooled and an ultra-violet lamp to cure the coating.
Claims20
A system for drawing an optical fiber from a preform material in microgravity, the system comprising:
- a furnace to heat a preform material to separate an optical fiber from the preform material;
- a grabber to at least one of grab and release the optical fiber;
- a motor to provide movement of the grabber during manufacturing of the optical fiber;
- an optical sensor to determine placement of the grabber on the optical fiber;
- a spooling assembly to house the optical fiber once manufactured;
- and
- a forceps extendable from the spooling assembly to pull the optical fiber to the spooling assembly.
A method for drawing an optical fiber from a preform material in microgravity, comprising:
- melting a tip of the preform material to create a semi-molten globule within a furnace;
- securing the tip of the preform material with a grabber;
- pulling the tip of the preform material to form a fiber from the semi-molten globule which is secured with the grabber;
- and
- releasing the fiber from the grabber once the fiber is at a storage location.
A method for drawing an optical fiber from a preform material in microgravity, the method comprising:
- heating the preform material, within a furnace, in the middle so that weight of the preform material causes the preform material to neck in a molten portion;
- extending a grabber into the furnace to connect to the preform material at a hotspot in the furnace by applying a constant force to simulate 1 G of gravity;
- retracting the grabber from the furnace to cause the optical fiber to form;
- removing excess material from the optical fiber with at least one of an iris and a pinch wheel;
- and
- applying forceps to the optical fiber to direct the optical fiber to a spool for storage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.