Slow cooling of reduced cladding diameter optical fibers

Abstract

Methods, systems, and device implementing slow cooling of reduced cladding diameter optical fibers are described. An optical fiber manufacturing system may draw optical fibers based on heating and extruding, via a draw furnace, optically transmissive material. The optical fiber manufacturing system may include a cooling device positioned after the draw furnace and configured to cool the optical fibers. Cooling the optical fibers with the cooling device may include applying one or more gases with low thermal conductivity to the optical fibers. Applying the one or more gases to the optical fibers may reduce a rate at which the optical fibers are cooled. For example, the cooling device may be configured to transition the optical fibers from a relatively pliable state associated with exiting the furnace to a relatively hardened state at a relatively slow rate. The optical fibers may have a cladding diameter less than or equal to 115 μm.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.