JPH0551232A - Production of image fiber - Google Patents

Production of image fiber

Info

Publication number
JPH0551232A
JPH0551232A JP3236808A JP23680891A JPH0551232A JP H0551232 A JPH0551232 A JP H0551232A JP 3236808 A JP3236808 A JP 3236808A JP 23680891 A JP23680891 A JP 23680891A JP H0551232 A JPH0551232 A JP H0551232A
Authority
JP
Japan
Prior art keywords
image
image fiber
glass tube
fiber
base material
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
JP3236808A
Other languages
Japanese (ja)
Inventor
Katsuyuki Seto
克之 瀬戸
Naoki Shamoto
尚樹 社本
Tomoaki Toritani
智晶 鳥谷
Kouji Tsumanuma
孝司 妻沼
Kazuo Sanada
和夫 真田
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Fujikura Ltd
Original Assignee
Fujikura Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Fujikura Ltd filed Critical Fujikura Ltd
Priority to JP3236808A priority Critical patent/JPH0551232A/en
Publication of JPH0551232A publication Critical patent/JPH0551232A/en
Pending legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C03—GLASS; MINERAL OR SLAG WOOL
    • C03B—MANUFACTURE, SHAPING, OR SUPPLEMENTARY PROCESSES
    • C03B37/00—Manufacture or treatment of flakes, fibres, or filaments from softened glass, minerals, or slags
    • C03B37/01—Manufacture of glass fibres or filaments
    • C03B37/012—Manufacture of preforms for drawing fibres or filaments
    • C03B37/01205—Manufacture of preforms for drawing fibres or filaments starting from tubes, rods, fibres or filaments
    • C03B37/01211—Manufacture of preforms for drawing fibres or filaments starting from tubes, rods, fibres or filaments by inserting one or more rods or tubes into a tube
    • C03B37/01214—Manufacture of preforms for drawing fibres or filaments starting from tubes, rods, fibres or filaments by inserting one or more rods or tubes into a tube for making preforms of multifibres, fibre bundles other than multiple core preforms
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C03—GLASS; MINERAL OR SLAG WOOL
    • C03B—MANUFACTURE, SHAPING, OR SUPPLEMENTARY PROCESSES
    • C03B37/00—Manufacture or treatment of flakes, fibres, or filaments from softened glass, minerals, or slags
    • C03B37/01—Manufacture of glass fibres or filaments
    • C03B37/02—Manufacture of glass fibres or filaments by drawing or extruding, e.g. direct drawing of molten glass from nozzles; Cooling fins therefor
    • C03B37/025—Manufacture of glass fibres or filaments by drawing or extruding, e.g. direct drawing of molten glass from nozzles; Cooling fins therefor from reheated softened tubes, rods, fibres or filaments, e.g. drawing fibres from preforms
    • C03B37/028—Drawing fibre bundles, e.g. for making fibre bundles of multifibres, image fibres
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C03—GLASS; MINERAL OR SLAG WOOL
    • C03B—MANUFACTURE, SHAPING, OR SUPPLEMENTARY PROCESSES
    • C03B2203/00—Fibre product details, e.g. structure, shape
    • C03B2203/40—Multifibres or fibre bundles, e.g. for making image fibres

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Optical Fibers, Optical Fiber Cores, And Optical Fiber Bundles (AREA)
  • Glass Melting And Manufacturing (AREA)
  • Manufacture, Treatment Of Glass Fibers (AREA)

Abstract

(57)【要約】 【目的】 画像伝送に不要な部分のないイメージファイ
バの製造方法を提供する。 【構成】 ガラス管の肉厚部に多数の孔をあけ、ガラス
管内とこの孔内に光ファイバ素線を詰込んでイメージフ
ァイバ母材となし、このイメージファイバ母材を一端か
ら溶融線引きして、全体に画像伝送用の画素を有するイ
メージファイバとする方法である。 (57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To provide a method of manufacturing an image fiber having no unnecessary portion for image transmission. [Structure] A large number of holes are made in the thick portion of the glass tube, and the optical fiber element wires are packed in the glass tube and in the holes to form an image fiber base material. The image fiber base material is melt-drawn from one end. , A method of using an image fiber having pixels for transmitting an image as a whole.

Description

【発明の詳細な説明】Detailed Description of the Invention

【０００１】[0001]

【産業上の利用分野】この発明は、医療用などに使用し
て好適な高密度で極細径のイメージファイバの製造方法
に関する。BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing an image fiber having a high density and an extremely fine diameter, which is suitable for medical use.

【０００２】[0002]

【従来の技術】イメージファイバは、多数の画素からな
るイメージサークルとこれを囲むジャケットとからなる
もので、その典型的な製法としてはジャケットとなるガ
ラス管を用意し、この中に多数の画素となる光ファイバ
素線を詰込んでイメージファイバ母材となし、しかる後
この母材を一端から溶融線引きする方法である。こうし
て得られたイメージファイバにおいては、ジャケットは
光学的に何の役をも果たしていないが、製法上不可欠な
ため止むを得ないものとされてきている。2. Description of the Related Art An image fiber is composed of an image circle composed of a large number of pixels and a jacket surrounding the image circle. As a typical manufacturing method thereof, a glass tube serving as a jacket is prepared and This is a method of filling the following optical fiber element wires into an image fiber base material, and then melting and drawing the base material from one end. In the image fiber thus obtained, the jacket does not play any role optically, but it is inevitable because it is indispensable in the manufacturing method.

【０００３】[0003]

【発明が解決しようとする課題】しかしながら、近年医
療用などにおいてイメージファイバのより細径化の要求
が強くなり、光学的に何等寄与しないジャケットを除い
て高密度でかつ細径化を図るということが行われるよう
になってきた。その具体的手段としては、ガラス管内に
画素となる光ファイバ素線を詰込んだ後加熱して一体化
し、その後にガラス管の部分を機械的研磨などで除去
し、次いで線引きしてイメージファイバとする方法であ
る。ところが、この方法では一体化時に泡が生じがち
で、この泡が内部に残ってしまうと線引き時にこの泡を
除くことは実際上困難なため画像劣化の要因をなすとい
うことがあった。However, in recent years, there has been a strong demand for a smaller diameter of the image fiber for medical use and the like, and it is intended to achieve a high density and a small diameter except for the jacket which does not contribute optically. Has started to take place. As a concrete means, the optical fiber element wires to be pixels are packed in a glass tube and then heated to be integrated, and then the glass tube portion is removed by mechanical polishing or the like, and then drawn to form an image fiber. Is the way to do it. However, in this method, bubbles tend to be generated during integration, and if the bubbles remain inside, it is actually difficult to remove the bubbles at the time of drawing, which may cause deterioration of the image.

【０００４】[0004]

【課題を解決するための手段】この発明は、以上の観点
から高密度で細径のイメージファイバを、泡を生じさせ
ることなく簡単に製造する方法を提供しようとするもの
で、その特徴とする請求項１記載の発明は、その肉厚部
分に適宜間隔をおいて多数の孔が形成されたガラス管を
用意し、このガラス管内および前記各孔内に画素となる
光ファイバ素線を詰込んでイメージファイバ母材とな
し、しかる後この母材を一端から溶融線引きしてイメー
ジファイバとする製造方法にある。なお、ガラス管の肉
厚部分に孔をあける手段としては、超音波によるボーリ
ング方法があげられる。SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION From the above viewpoints, the present invention is intended to provide a method for easily producing a high-density and small-diameter image fiber without causing bubbles, and is characterized by the features. The invention according to claim 1 prepares a glass tube in which a large number of holes are formed at appropriate intervals in its thick portion, and an optical fiber element wire to be a pixel is packed in the glass tube and each hole. Then, the image fiber preform is formed, and then the preform is fused and drawn from one end to form an image fiber. As a means for making a hole in the thick portion of the glass tube, there is an ultrasonic boring method.

【０００５】[0005]

【作用】光ファイバ素線がガラス管内およびその肉厚部
に形成された孔内に詰込まれた状態の母材を一端から溶
融線引するので、他端から泡が逃げることができ、泡の
ないイメージファイバとすることができ、かつイメージ
ファイバ全体に画素ファイバが埋め込まれ、画像伝送上
不要な部分がないので高密度かつ細径のイメージファイ
バとなる。[Function] Since the base material in a state where the optical fiber element wire is packed in the glass tube and the hole formed in the thick portion thereof is melt-drawn from one end, bubbles can escape from the other end. It is possible to obtain an image fiber having no diameter, a pixel fiber is embedded in the entire image fiber, and there is no unnecessary portion for image transmission.

【０００６】[0006]

【実施例】図１は、この発明のイメージファイバ母材の
断面図である、図において、１はガラス管で、その肉厚
部２にはその一端から他端に貫通する多数の孔３が同心
状に形成されている。４はガラス管１内とこのガラス管
１の肉厚部２に、同心状に形成された孔３内に詰込まれ
た光ファイバ素線である。このイメージファイバ母材を
溶融線引きすると、従来のジャケット部に相当する部分
にも光ファイバ素線が存在することとなり、全体に画素
が配置された、画像伝送上不要な部分の少ない構造のイ
メージファイバが得られる。1 is a sectional view of an image fiber preform of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a glass tube, and a thick portion 2 thereof has a large number of holes 3 penetrating from one end to the other end thereof. It is formed concentrically. Reference numeral 4 denotes an optical fiber element wire which is packed in a glass tube 1 and a hole 3 formed concentrically in the thick portion 2 of the glass tube 1. When this image fiber base material is fused and drawn, the optical fiber strands also exist in the part corresponding to the conventional jacket part, and the image fiber has a structure in which pixels are arranged all over and there are few unnecessary parts for image transmission. Is obtained.

【０００７】（具体例）まず、直径３０ｍｍのＧｅをド
ープしてＳｉＯ2 に対する比屈折率差Δｎを３％とした
ＳｉＯ2 系コアの周りに、外径４０ｍｍになるようにフ
ッ素をドープしてＳｉＯ2 との比屈折率差Δｎを−１％
としたＳｉＯ2 系クラッドを有する母材を用意し、これ
を外径４００μｍに線引きして各画素の元になる光ファ
イバ素線を得た。この光ファイバ素線を長さ５００ｍｍ
に切断し、そのうちの６０００本を束ねた。一方、石英
ガラス管として外径４０ｍｍ、内径３６ｍｍ、長さ６０
０ｍｍのものを用意し、その肉厚部分に軸方向に添って
内径１ｍｍの貫通孔を等間隔になるように１００本あけ
た。この石英ガラス管の孔内に上記光ファイバ素線を１
本づつ詰めるとともに、石英ガラス管内に６０００本の
束を詰込んでイメージファイバ母材とした。この母材を
線引きして全体が溶融一体化された、外径５００μｍの
イメージファイバとなし、その上にコーティングを施し
て外径６００μｍとした。かくして、中心部に６０００
本の画素を有し、外側の石英ガラス部分に１００本の画
素を有する、総数６１００本の画素数のイメージファイ
バが得られた。かくして得られたこの発明のイメージフ
ァイバは、外側の石英ガラス部分に画素ファイバを有し
ない従来のそれと比較して同断面積でも画素数が１００
本多いため無駄な部分がなくなり、同じ程度の画素数を
得るとすれば外径５００μｍから数％程度細径化ができ
る。(Specific Example) First, fluorine having a diameter of 30 mm was doped around a SiO 2 core having a relative refractive index difference Δn with respect to SiO 2 of 3% so as to have an outer diameter of 40 mm. The relative refractive index difference Δn with SiO 2 is -1%
A base material having a SiO 2 -based clad was prepared and drawn to have an outer diameter of 400 μm to obtain an optical fiber element wire which is a basis of each pixel. This optical fiber strand is 500 mm long
It was cut into pieces, and 6000 of them were bundled. On the other hand, as a quartz glass tube, outer diameter 40 mm, inner diameter 36 mm, length 60
One having a diameter of 0 mm was prepared, and 100 through holes having an inner diameter of 1 mm were formed in the thick portion along the axial direction at equal intervals. Insert one of the above optical fiber wires into the hole of this quartz glass tube.
The image fiber base material was prepared by packing each of them and packing 6000 bundles in a quartz glass tube. The base material was drawn to form an image fiber having an outer diameter of 500 μm, which was melted and integrated as a whole, and a coating was applied on the image fiber to give an outer diameter of 600 μm. Thus 6000 in the center
An image fiber having a total of 6100 pixels was obtained, which has 100 pixels in the outer quartz glass portion. The image fiber of the present invention thus obtained has a pixel number of 100 even with the same cross-sectional area as compared with the conventional one which does not have a pixel fiber in the outer quartz glass portion.
Since the number is large, there is no wasteful portion, and if the same number of pixels is obtained, the outer diameter can be reduced from 500 μm to several percent.

【０００８】[0008]

【発明の効果】この発明によるイメージファイバの製法
は、以上のように光ファイバ素線を詰込むためのガラス
管の肉厚部に孔をあけて、この孔にも光ファイバ素線を
詰込んでイメージファイバ母材となし、この母材を一端
から溶融線引きする方法であるので、簡単な方法により
高密度化、細径化を図ることができる。As described above, according to the method of manufacturing an image fiber of the present invention, a hole is formed in the thick portion of the glass tube for packing the optical fiber element wire, and the optical fiber element wire is also packed in this hole. Since this is a method of forming an image fiber base material and melting and drawing the base material from one end, it is possible to achieve high density and small diameter by a simple method.

【図面の簡単な説明】[Brief description of drawings]

【図１】この発明のイメージファイバ母材の断面図。FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an image fiber preform of the present invention.

【符号の説明】[Explanation of symbols]

１ ガラス管 ２ 肉厚部 ３ 孔 ４ 光ファイバ素線 1 Glass tube 2 Thick part 3 Hole 4 Optical fiber wire

───────────────────────────────────────────────────── フロントページの続き (72)発明者 妻沼 孝司 千葉県佐倉市六崎1440番地 藤倉電線株式 会社佐倉工場内 (72)発明者 真田 和夫 千葉県佐倉市六崎1440番地 藤倉電線株式 会社佐倉工場内 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Koji Tamanuma 1440 Rokuzaki, Sakura City, Chiba Prefecture, Sakura Factory, Fujikura Cable Co., Ltd. (72) Kazuo Sanada, 1440, Rokuzaki, Sakura City, Chiba, Fujikura Cable Company, Ltd.

Claims (1)

【特許請求の範囲】[Claims] 【請求項１】 その肉厚部分に適宜間隔をおいて多数の
孔が形成されたガラス管を用意し、このガラス管内およ
び前記各孔内に画素となる光ファイバ素線を詰込んでイ
メージファイバ母材となし、しかる後この母材を一端か
ら溶融線引きしてイメージファイバとすることを特徴と
するイメージファイバの製造方法。1. An image fiber in which a glass tube having a large number of holes formed at appropriate intervals in its thick portion is prepared, and an optical fiber element wire serving as a pixel is packed in the glass tube and in each of the holes. A method of manufacturing an image fiber, which comprises forming a base material, and then melting and drawing the base material from one end to form an image fiber.
JP3236808A 1991-08-26 1991-08-26 Production of image fiber Pending JPH0551232A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP3236808A JPH0551232A (en) 1991-08-26 1991-08-26 Production of image fiber

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP3236808A JPH0551232A (en) 1991-08-26 1991-08-26 Production of image fiber

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
JPH0551232A true JPH0551232A (en) 1993-03-02

Family

ID=17006091

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
JP3236808A Pending JPH0551232A (en) 1991-08-26 1991-08-26 Production of image fiber

Country Status (1)

Country Link
JP (1) JPH0551232A (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2005076047A1 (en) * 2004-02-06 2005-08-18 Matthew Henderson Optical product with integral terminal part

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2005076047A1 (en) * 2004-02-06 2005-08-18 Matthew Henderson Optical product with integral terminal part

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