Non-circular multicore fiber and method of manufacture

Abstract

A multicore fiber is provided. The multicore fiber includes a plurality of cores spaced apart from one another, and a cladding surrounding the plurality of cores and defining a substantially rectangular or cross-sectional shape having four corners. Each corner has a radius of curvature of less than 1000 microns. The multicore fiber may be drawn from a preform in a circular draw furnace in which a ratio of a maximum cross-sectional dimension of the preform to an inside diameter of the preform to an inside diameter of the draw furnace is greater than 0.60. The multicore fiber may have maxima reference surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A multicore fiber comprising:
 a plurality of cores spaced apart from one another; and   a cladding surrounding the plurality of cores and defining a non-circular cross-sectional shape having at least four corners, wherein the shape has a maxima structure located near each of at least two of the corners and reduced minima surfaces between the enlarged maxima structures to allow for alignment of the multicore fiber with an interconnecting device.   
     
     
         2 . The multicore fiber of  claim 1 , wherein the multicore fiber is formed from a preform that comprises a plurality of core canes having one or more flat surfaces that are aligned together and consolidated to form the preform which is inserted in a furnace to draw the fiber. 
     
     
         3 . The multicore fiber of  claim 1 , wherein the cladding defines a generally rectangular cross-sectional shape having four side walls. 
     
     
         4 . The multicore fiber of  claim 3 , wherein the generally rectangular shape has rounded corners between interconnecting side walls. 
     
     
         5 . The multicore fiber of  claim 4 , wherein the maxima structure and reduced minima surfaces are located on one or more of the four side walls. 
     
     
         6 . The multicore fiber of  claim 5 , wherein the maxima structure and minima surfaces are located on each of the four side walls. 
     
     
         7 . The multicore fiber of  claim 1 , wherein the maxima structure has a height greater than the minima surfaces by a distance which serves as a standoff to allow for orientation and alignment of the fiber to a connecting device. 
     
     
         8 . The multicore fiber of  claim 1 , wherein the maxima structure comprises a flat maxima surface. 
     
     
         9 . The multicore fiber of  claim 8 , wherein the maxima surface comprises a flat surface. 
     
     
         10 . The multicore fiber of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of cores are aligned in rows and columns.