Development of machine for the fusion and traction of fibers for the manufacture of passive optical components

• Grant number: 02/02218-9
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE
• Start date: November 01, 2002
• End date: March 31, 2005
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Mechanical Engineering - Mechanical Engineering Design
• Principal Investigator: Francisco Martim Smolka
• Grantee: Francisco Martim Smolka
• Company: Optolink Indústria e Comércio Sociedade Ltda
• City: Campinas

Abstract

In the last few years a vast optical network has been built covering almost the entire world and which constitutes an infrastructure (backbone) on which rates of the order of tens of gigabytes connect huge hubs. The next stages will be the access network to link large users and the subscriber’s optical network. As the capillarity of this network increases, greater will be the consumption of optical components. Despite the basic technology of optical couplers having been developed from the scientific point of view years ago, only today have relevant commercial applications begun to emerge in Brazil. The two main aims of this project are: first, to develop a new heat source for the fusion and pulling of optical fibers. And secondly, to develop a traction drive for fibers, incorporating active control of the pulling tension. In addition, the new equipment will have a more up-to-date control system, as well as high precision mechanics and an optical monitoring system in more than one wave compliment. The new heat source will act by heat transfer through special ceramics, so as to protect the fiber from direct incidence. This source will allow better control and reduction of the hot zone, making it possible to make components of a smaller dimension than the present ones. The active control of the tractioning tension of the fibers will enable an improved performance in terms of losses, as well as mechanical reliability, by means of the knowledge and control of residual tensions of the encapsulated fibers. (AU)