System and method for manufacturing optical fiber

Abstract

A system for receiving optical fiber in microgravity including a spool portion to hold optical fiber created in microgravity, a catching mechanism to secure the fiber end to the spool and a capturing device that is extendable from near and retractable to near the spool portion to pull the optical fiber to the spool portion.

1 . A system for receiving optical fiber in microgravity, the system comprising:
 a spool portion to hold optical fiber created in microgravity;   a catching mechanism to secure the fiber end to the spool; and   a capturing device that is extendable from near and retractable to near the spool portion to pull the optical fiber to the spool portion.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the catching mechanism comprises a grip that is triggered to cease receiving optical fiber once a predefined amount of fiber is in contact with the spool. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein the grip is at least one of magnetically driven and spring-driven. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein the grip is triggered based on at least one of a predefined amount of pressure applied by at least one of the capturing device and the optical fiber, and a control mechanism. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the spool portion further comprise at least one of a friction lock and a v-catch to engage the optical fiber as it is spooled. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein a surface where the optical fiber contacts the spool portion comprises a sticky material. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a cutting mechanism cut the optical fiber once the spool portion has a defined amount of optical fiber on the spool portion. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the spool portion comprises an endoscopic spool component which controls opening and closing of the capturing device. 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 8 , wherein the endoscopic spool component controls placement of the capturing device to retrieve the optical fiber and pull the optical fiber to the spool portion. 
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a gripping mechanism to apply approximately an acceptable force to the optical fiber when the optical fiber is still a part of a preform material to create the optical fiber. 
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 10 , wherein the gripping mechanism comprises a load cell to provide the acceptable force within an acceptable tolerance. 
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 10 , wherein the acceptable force is 1G. 
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of capstan and tractor to provide a pulling force to draw the optical fiber from a preform material and onto the spool portion. 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a housing to hold the spool portion, catching mechanism and capturing device within a controlled environment that comprises a gas. 
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 14 , wherein the gas is a noble gas. 
     
     
         16 . A method for receiving optical fiber in microgravity, the method comprises:
 separating an optical fiber from a preform material within a heated furnace;   pulling the optical fiber from within the heated furnace with a gripping mechanism;   monitoring tension of the optical fiber with a tension sensor and a diameter of the optical fiber with a diameter sensor;   attaching a capturing device, having a first end attached to the spool portion, to an end of the optical fiber with a second end of the capturing device;   at least one extending the forceps from the spool portion and retracting the forceps to the spool portion to pull the optical fiber to the spool portion; and   spooling the optical fiber onto the spool portion.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising securing the optical fiber to the spool portion with a catching mechanism. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising cutting the optical fiber once the spool portion has a defined amount of optical fiber on the spool portion with a cutting mechanism. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the gripping mechanism further comprises applying approximately 1G of force to the optical fiber when the optical fiber is still a part of a preform material to create the optical fiber. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the capturing device comprises forceps.