Large numerical aperture bend resistant multimode optical fiber
First Claim
1. A bend resistant optical fiber which is multi-moded at 1300 nm comprising a core, an inner cladding, a low index ring and an outer cladding, wherein:
- the core is formed from silica-based glass and comprises a graded index of refraction with a core alpha profile where 1.9≦
α
C≦
2.1, a maximum relative refractive index percent Δ
1Max% relative to the outer cladding, and a numerical aperture NA of greater than 0.23;
the inner cladding surrounds and is in direct contact with the core, the inner cladding having a maximum relative refractive index percent Δ
2Max% relative to the outer cladding, a minimum relative refractive index percent Δ
2Min% relative to the outer cladding, and a radial thickness of at least 0.5 microns, wherein Δ
1Max% is greater than Δ
2Max%;
the low index ring that surrounds and is in direct contact with the inner cladding such that the low index ring is spaced apart from the core, the low index ring having a relative refractive index percent Δ
3% relative to the outer cladding, a radial thickness of at least 0.5 microns and a profile volume with an absolute magnitude of greater than 50%-μ
m2, wherein the minimum relative refractive index percent Δ
2Min% of the inner cladding is greater than or equal to Δ
3%; and
the outer cladding surrounds and is in direct contact with the low index ring, the outer cladding comprising a relative refractive index percent Δ
4% relative to pure silica glass, wherein Δ
1Max%>
Δ
4%≧
Δ
2Max%.
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Abstract
Bend resistant optical fibers which are multi-moded at 1300 nm include a core, an inner cladding, a low index ring and an outer cladding. The core has a graded index of refraction with a core alpha profile where 1.9≦αC≦2.1, a maximum relative refractive index percent Δ1Max%, and a numerical aperture NA of greater than 0.23. The inner cladding surrounds the core and has a maximum relative refractive index percent Δ2Max%, a minimum relative refractive index percent Δ2Min%, and a radial thickness ≧0.5 microns, wherein Δ1Max%>Δ2Max%. The low index ring surrounds the inner cladding and has a relative refractive index percent Δ3%, a radial thickness of at least 0.5 microns, a profile volume with an absolute magnitude of greater than 50%-μm2, wherein Δ2Min%≧Δ3%. The outer cladding surrounds the low index ring and has a relative refractive index percent Δ4%, such that Δ1Max%>Δ4%≧Δ2Max%.
280 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A bend resistant optical fiber which is multi-moded at 1300 nm comprising a core, an inner cladding, a low index ring and an outer cladding, wherein:
-
the core is formed from silica-based glass and comprises a graded index of refraction with a core alpha profile where 1.9≦
α
C≦
2.1, a maximum relative refractive index percent Δ
1Max% relative to the outer cladding, and a numerical aperture NA of greater than 0.23;the inner cladding surrounds and is in direct contact with the core, the inner cladding having a maximum relative refractive index percent Δ
2Max% relative to the outer cladding, a minimum relative refractive index percent Δ
2Min% relative to the outer cladding, and a radial thickness of at least 0.5 microns, wherein Δ
1Max% is greater than Δ
2Max%;the low index ring that surrounds and is in direct contact with the inner cladding such that the low index ring is spaced apart from the core, the low index ring having a relative refractive index percent Δ
3% relative to the outer cladding, a radial thickness of at least 0.5 microns and a profile volume with an absolute magnitude of greater than 50%-μ
m2, wherein the minimum relative refractive index percent Δ
2Min% of the inner cladding is greater than or equal to Δ
3%; andthe outer cladding surrounds and is in direct contact with the low index ring, the outer cladding comprising a relative refractive index percent Δ
4% relative to pure silica glass, wherein Δ
1Max%>
Δ
4%≧
Δ
2Max%. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A bend-resistant optical fiber which is multi-moded at 1300 nm comprising a core, an inner cladding, a low index ring, and an outer cladding, wherein:
-
the core is formed from silica-based glass and comprises a graded index of refraction with a core alpha profile where 1.9≦
α
C≦
2.1, a maximum relative refractive index percent Δ
1Max% relative to pure silica glass, and a numerical aperture NA of greater than 0.23;the inner cladding surrounds and is in direct contact with the core, the inner cladding having a graded index of refraction with an inner cladding alpha profile α
IC, a maximum relative refractive index percent Δ
2Max% relative to pure silica glass, and a minimum relative refractive index percent Δ
2Min% relative to pure silica glass, wherein Δ
1Max%>
Δ
2Max%;the low index ring surrounds and is in direct contact with the extended core region such that the low index ring is spaced apart from the core, the low index ring having a relative refractive index percent Δ
3% relative to pure silica glass, a radial thickness of at least 1 micron and a profile volume with an absolute magnitude of greater than 50%-μ
m2, wherein Δ
2Min%≧
Δ
3%;the outer cladding surrounds and is in direct contact with the low index ring, the outer cladding comprising a relative refractive index percent Δ
4% relative to pure silica glass, wherein Δ
1Max%>
Δ
4%≧
Δ
2Max%. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
-
-
18. A bend resistant optical fiber which is multi-moded at 1300 nm comprising a core, an inner cladding, a low index ring and an outer cladding, wherein:
-
the core is formed from silica-based glass and comprises a graded index of refraction with a core alpha profile where 1.9≦
α
C≦
2.1, a maximum relative refractive index percent Δ
1Max% relative to pure silica glass, and a numerical aperture NA of greater than 0.23;the inner cladding surrounds and is in direct contact with the core, the inner cladding having a maximum relative refractive index percent Δ
2Max% relative to pure silica glass, a minimum relative refractive index percent Δ
2Min% relative to pure silica glass, a radial thickness of at least 0.5 microns, wherein Δ
2Max%−
Δ
2Min≦
0.1% and Δ
1Max%>
Δ
2Max%;the low index ring that surrounds and is in direct contact with the inner cladding such that the low index ring is spaced apart from the core, the low index ring having a relative refractive index percent Δ
3% relative to pure silica glass, a radial thickness of at least 0.5 microns and a profile volume with an absolute magnitude of greater than 50%-μ
m2, wherein the minimum relative refractive index percent Δ
2Min% of the inner cladding is greater than or equal to Δ
3%; andthe outer cladding surrounds and is in direct contact with the low index ring, the outer cladding comprising a relative refractive index percent Δ
4% relative to pure silica glass, wherein Δ
1Max%>
Δ
4%≧
Δ
2Max%. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
-
Specification