Optical fibers and optical connectors are used in data communication systems. Optical fiber connectors may introduce unwanted higher order optical signal modes in optical signals traveling within optical fibers. A current method to eliminate the unwanted higher order optical signal mode is to wrap the optical fiber around an individual mandrel. A mandrel is a small cylindrical shaped spool and is available in varying fixed sizes. The unwanted higher order optical signal mode can be filtered out depending on the diameter of the mandrel, the point in the length of the optical fiber where the mandrel is located with respect to an optical transceiver in a data communication system, and the number of turns the optical fiber is wrapped around the mandrel.
Non-limiting examples of the present disclosure are described in the following description, read with reference to the figures attached hereto and do not limit the scope of the claims. In the figures, identical and similar structures, elements or parts thereof that appear in more than one figure are generally labeled with the same or similar references in the figures in which they appear. Dimensions of components and features illustrated in the figures are chosen primarily for convenience and clarity of presentation and are not necessarily to scale. Referring to the attached figures:
In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is depicted by way of illustration specific examples in which the present disclosure may be practiced. It is to be understood that other examples may be utilized and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
A system using any length of an optical fiber may include unwanted higher order optical signal modes in the optical signal when the optical fiber is connected to another optical fiber using an optical connector. A single mode optical signal travels in the core of an optical fiber. Optical connectors are attached to the ends of the optical fiber. This allows the optical fiber to connect, via another optical connector, to another optical fiber or an optical transceiver. When two optical connectors are coupled, the core of the optical fiber may not be perfectly aligned with the other optical fiber or optical transceiver. Misalignment may be the cause of the unwanted higher order optical signal. The unwanted higher order optical signal distorts the optical signal.
One common practice to passively filter out unwanted higher order optical signal modes is to wrap optical fiber around mandrels. The optical fiber may be wrapped around the mandrel multiple turns, which can eliminate the unwanted higher order optical signal mode. The mandrels used are fixed in diameter and misalignment can occur when the optical fiber is connected to a system. Mandrels can also be used in sequence along optical fiber, although consistency is hard to achieve as mandrels are placed at varying lengths along the optical fiber. It can be difficult to place mandrels in a system in the exact location where mandrels were placed in another system to produce the same results.
Practices to address unwanted higher order optical signal modes in optical signals center around multiple mandrels, different types of mandrels, or a combination of multiple and different types of mandrels. A block assembly is provided herein. The block assembly includes a first member and a second member extending from a base. The base has an aperture which receives a mandrel. Multiple mandrels may be placed in series on the base. The mandrels that are being used will allow for quick filtering and provide ease of adjustability. In examples, mandrels are placed in series. The mandrels include an adjustable diameter and orientation. The mandrels can also be adjusted in relative positions as to how they are placed in series along the optical fiber length. Once optical fiber is wrapped around a mandrel, the optical fiber is usually not secure in any way. External force may prevent the filtering of the unwanted higher order optical signal modes in the optical signal. Mechanisms for optical fiber retention and protective coverings may be provided.
The first member 140 and second member 160 are illustrated as two planar surfaces extending from the base 120. Optical fiber can be fed through the first member 140, wrapped around the mandrels, and then fed through the second member 160. A vertical opening 210 and a horizontal opening 212 are illustrated in the first member 140 and the second member 160. The optical fiber may be fed through either the vertical opening 210 or the horizontal opening 212 of the first member 140 and the second member 160, according to the orientation of the mandrel. The vertical opening 210 and the horizontal opening 212 are formed to allow a flat, ribbon shape group of optical fibers, but can be formed to allow a round shape group of optical fibers. Near the ends of the vertical opening 210 and the horizontal opening 212 are round apertures 220. These round apertures 220 within the vertical opening 210 and the horizontal opening 212 are for a screw or other retention mechanism to secure the optical fiber. Other optical fiber retention mechanisms may be used. The optical fiber retention mechanism allows for strain relief, so the optical fiber will stay secure when moved or when connected to a system.
The system 500 may also be disposed within a computer system 840, as in
A more detailed method 1100 of filtering unwanted higher order optical signal modes is illustrated in
Although the flow diagram of
The present disclosure has been described using non-limiting detailed descriptions of examples thereof and is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. It should be understood that features and/or operations described with respect to one example may be used with other examples and that not all examples of the present disclosure have all of the features and/or operations illustrated in a particular figure or described with respect to one of the examples. Variations of examples described will occur to persons of the art. Furthermore, the terms “comprise,” “include,” “have” and their conjugates, shall mean, when used in the present disclosure and/or claims, “including but not necessarily limited to.”
It is noted that some of the above described examples may include structure, acts or details of structures and acts that may not be essential to the present disclosure and are intended to be examples. Structure and acts described herein are replaceable by equivalents, which perform the same function, even if the structure or acts are different, as known in the art. Therefore, the scope of the present disclosure is limited only by the elements and limitations as used in the claims
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US2016/042723 | 7/18/2016 | WO | 00 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
WO2018/017037 | 1/25/2018 | WO | A |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
4389090 | LeFevre | Jun 1983 | A |
4721351 | Goepfert | Jan 1988 | A |
4909583 | Williams, III | Mar 1990 | A |
5768464 | Leonard | Jun 1998 | A |
5825489 | Lagakos | Oct 1998 | A |
5894540 | Drewing | Apr 1999 | A |
5895005 | Simchock | Apr 1999 | A |
5913006 | Summach | Jun 1999 | A |
6175079 | Johnston | Jan 2001 | B1 |
6398149 | Hines | Jun 2002 | B1 |
6496301 | Koplow | Dec 2002 | B1 |
6533205 | Kles | Mar 2003 | B1 |
6571047 | Yarkosky | May 2003 | B1 |
6674941 | Tatum et al. | Jan 2004 | B2 |
7266180 | Saunders | Sep 2007 | B1 |
7627223 | Burek | Dec 2009 | B1 |
9036137 | Goldstein | May 2015 | B2 |
20020146228 | Afflerbaugh | Oct 2002 | A1 |
20020163688 | Zhu et al. | Nov 2002 | A1 |
20030026566 | Diep et al. | Feb 2003 | A1 |
20030185269 | Gutin | Oct 2003 | A1 |
20040208216 | Naone et al. | Oct 2004 | A1 |
20050013539 | Chen et al. | Jan 2005 | A1 |
20060237377 | Smith | Oct 2006 | A1 |
20080219307 | Birkedal et al. | Sep 2008 | A1 |
20090262765 | Chang et al. | Oct 2009 | A1 |
20110318003 | Brooks | Dec 2011 | A1 |
20140119397 | Whitney et al. | May 2014 | A1 |
20150071638 | Heroux et al. | Mar 2015 | A1 |
20150205062 | Collins et al. | Jul 2015 | A1 |
20160202418 | Fortin et al. | Jul 2016 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
3411272 | Oct 1985 | DE |
11-094695 | Apr 1999 | JP |
Entry |
---|
Bruce Robertson, 4: Modal Distributions & CPR, 2003, Kingfisher International, 4 pps, <http://www.kingfisherfiber.com/Application-Notes/04-Multimode-Modal-Distribution.aspx>. |
Haglund E.; “Quasi-single Mode VCSELs for Longer-reach Optical Interconnects”; Aug. 2013; 68 pages. |
PCT/ISA/KR, International Search Report and Written Opinion, dated Dec. 8, 2016, PCT/US2016/025591, 15 pages. |
PCT/ISA/KR, International Search Report, dated Jan. 17, 2017, PCT/US2016/042723. |
Tian Z. et al.; “850-nm VCSEL Transmission Over Standard Single-mode Fiber Using Fiber Mode Filter”; Mar. 1, 2012; 3 pages. |
International Search Report and Written Opinion received for PCT Patent Application No. PCT/US16/25591, dated Dec. 8, 2016, 13 pages. |
International Search Report and Written Opinion received for PCT Patent Application No. PCT/US2016/042723, dated Jan. 17, 2017, 10 pages. |
Wikipedia, “Mandrel wrapping”, available online at <https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mandrel_wrapping&oldid=582462047 >, Nov. 20, 2013, 2 pages. |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20200371289 A1 | Nov 2020 | US |