System and method for manufacturing optical fiber

Abstract

A system for precoating a preform for drawing optical fiber including a diameter sensor to determine a diameter of pulled optical fiber, a cooling system to cool the optical fiber once it is pulled from a furnace, a coating system to apply a coating to the optical fiber once it has cooled and an ultra-violet lamp to cure the coating.

I/We claim: 
     
         1 . A method for precoating a preform for drawing optical fiber, the method comprising:
 applying a gas within a vacuum chamber housing the preform to clean the preform;   measuring, by at least one sensor, parts per million (PPM) of a water moisture level within the vacuum chamber;   removing water from the vacuum chamber by at least a molecular sieve and a filter membrane to maintain water moisture level at a given range, the at least molecular sieve and filter are within the vacuum chamber;   apply, by a coating system, a coating to a surface of the preform while the PPM of water moisture level remains within the given range within the vacuum chamber; and   curing the coating within the vacuum chamber with an ultraviolet light emitted from an ultraviolet lamp.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising maintaining the water moisture level between approximately 0-1.5 PPM. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising cooling the preform with a cooling device. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the coating system comprises a plurality of coating cups to coat the optical fiber once pulled from the preform. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the curing by the ultraviolet light comprises:
 emitting the ultraviolet light between adjacent coating cups of the plurality of coating cups to provide for at least one of wet on dry coating and wet on wet coating.   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the curing by the ultraviolet light comprises:
 emitting by the ultraviolet light after the plurality of coating cups to provide for a wet on wet coating.   
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the coating system comprises at least one of a capillary subsystem and a sonic levitation subsystem; and   the method further comprising:
 pulling the optical fiber from the preform; and 
 coating the optical fiber once pulled from the preform using the coating system. 
   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 pulling the optical fiber from the preform; and   grabbing, by a grabbing mechanism, at least one of the preform and the pulled fiber.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein:
 the grabbing mechanism comprises a heated grabber; and   the method further comprising:
 heating the preform by the heated grabber to insert into the heated preform and to initiate draw of the pulled fiber. 
   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein:
 the grabbing mechanism comprises an electrostatic charger; and   the method further comprising:
 inducing an electrostatic charge at a tip of the pulled fiber. 
   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the gas is dry nitrogen; and   the at least molecular sieve and filter membrane filter the dry nitrogen.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein:
 the vacuum chamber is a sealed housing and includes a diameter monitor, the at least one sensor, a preform holder to hold the preform, a draw system with a spool for drawing the fiber, a fiber collection mechanism, the at least molecular sieve and filter membrane filter, and an environmental control unit; and   the method further comprising:
 maintaining a dry environment within the vacuum chamber by the environmental control unit. 
   
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 filtering by the at least molecular sieve and filter membrane any outgassed air.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the gas comprises an inert gas; and   the method further comprising:
 controlling an oxygen level within the vacuum chamber with the gas. 
   
     
     
         15 . A method comprising:
 applying a gas to form a dry environment within a sealed housing of a vacuum chamber, the vacuum chamber including a preform holder to hold a preform from which an optical fiber is pulled;   measuring, by at least one sensor, a parts per million (PPM) of water moisture level within the vacuum chamber;   controlling, by an environmental control unit providing a closed system within the vacuum chamber, to maintain the dry environment in the vacuum chamber;   removing water from the vacuum chamber by at least a molecular sieve and a filter membrane to maintain water moisture level at a given range;   coating, by a coating system, to a surface of the fiber pulled from the preform while the PPM of water moisture level remains within the given range; and   curing the coating.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 pulling the optical fiber from the preform; and   grabbing, by a grabbing mechanism, at least one of the preform and the pulled fiber.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein:
 the grabbing mechanism comprises a heated grabber; and   the method further comprising:
 heating the preform by the heated grabber to insert into the heated preform and to initiate draw of the pulled fiber. 
   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein:
 the grabbing mechanism comprises an electrostatic charger; and   the method further comprising:
 inducing an electrostatic charge at a tip of the pulled fiber. 
   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein:
 the gas is dry nitrogen; and   the at least molecular sieve and filter membrane filter the dry nitrogen.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein:
 the gas comprises an inert gas; and   the method further comprising:
 controlling an oxygen level within the vacuum chamber with the gas.