Draw tower grating production method and system

Abstract

A system for producing an optical fiber with inscribed grating array is described. The system comprises a fiber drawing apparatus for drawing an optical fiber, a writing system for inscribing a grating in the optical fiber during the drawing process of the optical fiber and a controller for controlling the driving of the writing system. According to the present invention the fiber drawing apparatus also comprises a fiber length and/or drawing detecting means for determining the fiber length and/or fiber drawing speed and/or a fiber drawing parameter during the drawing process. The controller thereby is configured for capturing information from the fiber length and/or drawing detecting means and for controlling the writing system based on the captured information captured from the fiber length and/or drawing detecting means.

1 . A method for producing an optical fiber with inscribed grating, the method comprising:
 drawing an optical fiber;   inscribing a grating in the optical fiber during a drawing process of the optical fiber using a coherent radiation source,   wherein during said drawing, the method comprises   capturing information regarding the length of the fiber and/or the drawing fiber speed and/or a fiber drawing parameter during the drawing process, and   controlling said inscribing based on the captured information.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein capturing information regarding the length of the fiber and/or the drawing fiber speed and/or a fiber drawing parameter comprises guiding the optical fiber in a non-slipping mode. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein capturing information comprises recording a speed of the drawing process. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein controlling said inscribing comprises controlling the inscribing so as to fine tune the position and/or a wavelength of a fiber Bragg grating in a fiber Bragg grating array to be inscribed in the optical fiber. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein controlling comprises dynamically controlling the inscribing during the drawing of a same fiber. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein controlling comprises continuously controlling the inscribing during the drawing of a same fiber. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein controlling comprises controlling the inscribing in between inscription processes in a same fiber. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein controlling comprises selecting and/or tuning a frequency of the laser based on the captured information regarding the length of the fiber and/or the drawing fiber speed and/or a fiber drawing parameter during the drawing process. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein controlling comprises selection of irradiation pulses based on the captured information regarding the length of the fiber and/or the drawing fiber speed and/or a fiber drawing parameter during the drawing process. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein controlling comprises controlling the radiation modulation during the fiber drawing process. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein controlling comprises dynamically controlling the radiation modulation during the fiber drawing process. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein dynamically controlling is continuous controlling or controlling in between inscriptions. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein controlling comprises adjusting, for said inscribing, a Talbot interferometer to a desired Bragg wavelength. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 1 , the method furthermore comprising providing marking on the optical fiber based on the information from the fiber length and/or drawing detecting means, said controlling comprising controlling the marking. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said inscribing comprises inscribing a grating using a pulse train that is generated such that the pulses in the pulse train lie sufficiently close together such that the fiber can be considered static with respect to the pulse train. 
     
     
         16 . An optical fiber with inscribed grating, the optical fiber being made by a method comprising:
 drawing an optical fiber;   inscribing a grating in the optical fiber during a drawing process of the optical fiber using a coherent radiation source,   wherein during said drawing, the method comprises   capturing information regarding the length of the fiber and/or the drawing fiber speed and/or a fiber drawing parameter during the drawing process, and   controlling said inscribing based on the captured information.