Method and system for determining curing tube clarity
A system and method for monitoring a fiber curing system is disclosed. In one example, transmittance of a curing tube is determined so that curing of a coating applied to a fiber may be more uniform.
1. A method for operating a fiber curing system, comprising:
directing collimated light into only one elliptical reflecting chamber of a dual elliptical reflecting chamber; and
adjusting operation of the fiber curing system in response to output of a photo detector receiving energy from the collimated light,
wherein a centerline of the collimated light is offset from a fiber in the dual elliptical reflecting chamber.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising adjusting output of a UV light source in response to output from the photo detector.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising adjusting flow of an inert gas in response to output from the photo detector.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising adjusting flow of coolant in response to output from the photo detector.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising adjusting electrical energy supplied to a UV light source in response to output from the photo detector.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising curing a coating applied to the fiber via a UV light source.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dual elliptical reflecting chamber includes a first and a second elliptical reflecting chamber that meet to form a non-smooth vertex.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising supplying light from both a first and a second light source that are arranged opposite one another.