Optical fiber fusion splice having a controlled mode field diameter expansion match
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorsCraig R. Sykora, James R. Onstott, Mark T. Anderson, Craig R. Schardt, Lawrence J. Donalds, Alessandra O. Chiareli
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fusion splice including a first optical fiber having a first MFD and a first MFD expansion rate. The splice further includes a second fiber having a second MFD and a second MFD expansion rate, wherein the second MFD is lower than the first MFD. The second fiber comprises a core, a cladding radially surrounding the core, and a zone of high-concentration of fluorine between the core and the cladding. The rate of MFD expansion of the first fiber is less than the rate of MFD expansion of the second fiber during the fusion splicing operation.
Claims19
A fusion splice comprising:
- a) a first optical fiber having a first MFD and a first rate of MFD thermal expansion;
- b) a second fiber having a second MFD and a second rate of MFD thermal expansion, wherein the second MFD is lower than the first MFD;
- c) the second fiber comprising
- i) a core,
- ii) a cladding, radially surrounding the core,
- iii) a zone across the boundary of the core and the cladding having a high concentration of fluorine, and
- iv) at least one diffusion barrier layer;
- wherein the first rate of MFD thermal expansion of the first fiber is less than the second rate of MFD thermal expansion of the second fiber during fusion splicing.
A method for fusion splicing a first and a second optical fiber, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a first fiber having a first MFD and a first MFD expansion rate upon heating;
- b) providing a second fiber having a second MFD and a second MFD expansion rate, wherein the second MN) is less than the first MFD, and the second MFD expansion rate is greater than the first MFD expansion rate;
- c) wherein the second fiber comprises
- i) a core
- ii) a cladding radially surrounding the core;
- iii) a high concentration F-ring intermediate the core and the cladding, wherein the average concentration of F in the ring is higher than that of the center of the core or the outer edge of the cladding, and
- iv) at least one diffusion barrier layer,
- wherein the F-ring reduces the rate of MFD expansion of the second fiber when compared to a similar fiber without the F-ring;
- d) fusing the first and second fibers by applying heat to the end faces of each fiber and bringing them into close contact and optical alignment, while matching the MFD of the first and second fibers.
A fusion splice comprising:
- a) a first optical fiber having a first MFD and a first rate of MFD thermal expansion;
- b) a second fiber having a second MFD and a second rate of MFD thermal expansion, wherein the second MFD is lower than the first MFD;
- c) the second fiber comprising:
- i) a core
- ii) a cladding, radially surrounding the core,
- iii) a zone across the boundary of the core and the cladding having a high concentration of fluorine, and
- iv) at least one diffusion barrier layer;
- d) wherein the first rate of MFD thermal expansion of the first fiber is less than the second rate of ME) thermal expansion of the second fiber controlled by the amount of fluorine in the zone.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.