Holey optical fiber with random pattern of holes and method for making same
DCFirst Claim
1. An optical fiber, comprising:
- a holey region with a random and non-uniform array of holes created by a gas generated during fiber drawing, wherein the random and non-uniform array of holes varies along a length of the optical fiber.
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Litigations
0 Petitions
Reexamination
Accused Products
Abstract
A random array of holes is created in an optical fiber by gas generated during fiber drawing. The gas forms bubbles which are drawn into long, microscopic holes. The gas is created by a gas generating material such as silicon nitride. Silicon nitride oxidizes to produce nitrogen oxides when heated. The gas generating material can alternatively be silicon carbide or other nitrides or carbides. The random holes can provide cladding for optical confinement when located around a fiber core. The random holes can also be present in the fiber core. The fibers can be made of silica. The present random hole fibers are particularly useful as pressure sensors since they experience a large wavelength dependant increase in optical loss when pressure or force is applied.
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Citations
75 Claims
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1. An optical fiber, comprising:
a holey region with a random and non-uniform array of holes created by a gas generated during fiber drawing, wherein the random and non-uniform array of holes varies along a length of the optical fiber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 57)
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14. An optical fiber, comprising:
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a) a core; b) a cladding region surrounding the core, wherein the cladding region includes a random and non-uniform array of holes containing a gas, wherein the random and non-uniform array of holes varies along a length of the optical fiber. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 58)
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22. A pressure or force sensor, comprising:
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an optical fiber having a holey region with a random and non-uniform array of holes, wherein the holes are created by gas generated during fiber drawing, wherein the random and non-uniform array of holes varies along a length of the optical fiber; and an optical detector coupled to the optical fiber, operable for detecting pressure applied to the optical fiber. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 59)
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26. An optical fiber, comprising:
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a core; and a cladding region surrounding the core, wherein the cladding region includes a plurality of holes containing a gas, said holes varying in location along the axis of said fiber. - View Dependent Claims (60)
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27. An optical fiber, comprising:
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a core; and a cladding region surrounding the core, wherein the cladding region includes a plurality of holes containing a gas, wherein the gas consists substantially of N2. - View Dependent Claims (61)
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28. An optical fiber, comprising:
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a core; and a cladding region surrounding the core, wherein the cladding region includes a plurality of holes containing a gas, wherein the gas consists substantially of CO2. - View Dependent Claims (62)
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29. An optical fiber, comprising:
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a core; and a cladding region surrounding the core, wherein the cladding region includes a plurality of holes containing a gas, wherein the gas consists substantially of carbon monoxide. - View Dependent Claims (63)
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30. An optical fiber, comprising:
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a core; and a cladding region surrounding the core, wherein the cladding region includes a plurality of holes containing a gas, wherein the gas consists substantially of nitrogen oxides. - View Dependent Claims (64)
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31. An optical fiber, comprising:
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a core; and a cladding region surrounding the core, wherein the cladding region includes a plurality of holes containing a gas, wherein the gas includes at least one of N2, CO2, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen oxides. - View Dependent Claims (65)
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32. An optical fiber, comprising:
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a core; and a cladding region surrounding the core, wherein the cladding region includes a plurality of holes containing a gas, said holes varying in location along the axis of said fiber and said gas consists substantially of N2. - View Dependent Claims (66)
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33. An optical fiber, comprising:
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a core; and a cladding region surrounding the core, wherein the cladding region includes a plurality of holes containing a gas, said holes varying in location along the axis of said fiber and said gas consists substantially of CO2. - View Dependent Claims (67)
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34. An optical fiber, comprising:
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a core; and a cladding region surrounding the core, wherein the cladding region includes a plurality of holes containing a gas, said holes varying in location along the axis of said fiber and said gas consists substantially of carbon monoxide. - View Dependent Claims (68)
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35. An optical fiber, comprising:
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a core; and a cladding region surrounding the core, wherein the cladding region includes a plurality of holes containing a gas, said holes varying in location along the axis of said fiber and said gas consists substantially of nitrogen oxides. - View Dependent Claims (69)
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36. An optical fiber, comprising:
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a core; and a cladding region surrounding the core, wherein the cladding region includes a plurality of holes containing a gas, said holes varying in location along the axis of said fiber and said gas comprises at least one of N2, CO2, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen oxides. - View Dependent Claims (70)
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37. A preform for forming an optical fiber, the preform comprising:
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a tube of an optical material; and a powder comprising the optical material and a gas-generating material, the powder being enclosed in the tube. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39)
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40. A method for forming an optical fiber, the method comprising:
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(a) providing a preform; and (b) forming the optical fiber from the preform so as to form a holey region with a random and non-uniform array of holes, wherein the random and non-uniform array of holes varies along a length of the optical fiber. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 71)
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47. An optical fiber, comprising:
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a core; and a cladding region surrounding the core, wherein the cladding region includes a plurality of holes containing a gas, said holes randomly located along an axis of the optical fiber, and wherein cross-sections taken at different points along the axis of the fiber have differing random hole patterns and differing random hole sizes. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 72, 73)
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55. An optical fiber, comprising:
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a core; and a cladding region surrounding the core, wherein the cladding region includes a plurality of holes containing a gas, wherein the gas consists substantially of an inert gas. - View Dependent Claims (74)
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56. An optical fiber, comprising:
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a core; and a cladding region surrounding the core, wherein the cladding region includes a plurality of holes containing a gas, said holes varying in location along the axis of said fiber and said gas consists substantially of an inert gas. - View Dependent Claims (75)
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Specification