Multi-core fiber

• US 7,418,178 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2007
• Issued: 08/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujikura Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujikura Limited
• Inventors: Tsumanuma, Takashi, Aikawa, Kazuhiko, Kudou, Manabu
• Primary Examiner(s): Pak; Sung
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith; Chad H
• Application Number:
  US11/935,113
• Publication Number:
  US 20080107386A1
• Time in Patent Office: 295 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 385/126
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/02042 Multicore optical fibres

Abstract

A multi-core optical fiber apparatus is disclosed. The multi-core optical fiber apparatus includes a cladding comprising quartz and a plurality of cores embedded in the cladding. Each of the cores has a diameter (D) ranging from 1.3 μm to 2.0 μm, a numerical aperture (NA) from 0.35 to 0.45 and a refractive index profile factor (α) from 2.0 to 4.0. A center of each of the cores has a germanium content of 20 wt % to 30 wt %. An interval between adjacent cores is 3.0 μm or more.

Claims

1. A multi-core optical fiber comprising:

a cladding further comprising quartz; and

a plurality of cores embedded in the cladding, each of the cores having a diameter (D) from 1.3 μ

m to 2.0 μ

m, a numerical aperture (NA) from 0.35 to 0.45, a refractive index profile factor (α

) from 2.0 to 4.0, and a center of each of the cores having a germanium content from 20 wt % to 30 wt %,

wherein an interval (d) between adjacent cores is 3.0 μ

m or more.

2. The multi-core optical fiber of claim 1, wherein each of the cores has a chlorine content of 0.05 wt % or less.

3. The multi-core optical fiber of claim 1, wherein the cladding includes fluorine.

4. The multi-core optical fiber of claim 1, wherein a ratio of the interval (d) to the diameter (D) is from 1.7 to 2.6.

5. The multi-core optical fiber of claim 1, wherein the cores transmit light at a wavelength of 635 nm in a single mode.