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US 2024/0174546 A1Published application
Microgravity crucible-controlled manufacturing
AssigneeDSTAR Communications, Inc.
InventorDmitry Starodubov
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments are directed to systems and methods for material processing in a low gravity environment, and an optical fiber formed in a low gravity environment. In some embodiments, the system may include a radiation-based heating element, such as a laser, to heat portions of a work volume of the system to process materials in the work volume. The system may control temperature and the temperature gradients to compensate for effects of a microgravity environment on the material during processing.
Claims20
A system comprising:
- an assembly defining a work volume for material processing;
- one or more heating elements arranged to generate heat in the work volume, the heating elements comprising a radiation-based energy source;
- and
- controller circuitry to control the one or more heating elements to provide a non-uniform heat distribution along a length of the work volume.
1 more element
A method of material processing comprising:
- applying a non-uniform heat distribution along a length of a work volume using a set of heating elements comprising at least one radiation-based energy source;
- and
- moving a preform material through the work volume to yield an optical fiber.
A system comprising:
- an assembly defining a work volume for material processing;
- means for providing a providing a non-uniform temperature distribution along a length of the work volume, the means comprising at least one radiation-based energy source.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.