WO2006134675A1

WO2006134675A1 - Optical multiplexer/demultiplexer and assembling device thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2006134675A1
Application number: PCT/JP2005/016858
Authority: WO
Inventors: Koichi Hadama; Takeshi Sakamoto; Yoshimitsu Arai; Nobuo Sato; Yukio Komine; Nobuyuki Tanaka; Yusuke Ohtomo
Original assignee: Nippon Telegraph And Telephone Corporation
Priority date: 2005-06-14
Filing date: 2005-09-13
Publication date: 2006-12-21
Also published as: JPWO2006134675A1

Abstract

An optical multiplexer/demultiplexer includes: a plurality of light emission/reception elements (1-5); a plurality of light branching elements (11-14) allowing a part of incident light to pass through and reflecting the remaining part; a plurality of connection elements (6-10) arranged on the optical path connecting the corresponding light emission/reception elements and the light branching elements; and waveguide elements (15-18) arranged on the optical path of a reflected light from a light branching element to another light branching element where the reflected light comes. All the connection elements are formed into a single connection element block (25). This suppresses increase of the assembling time and the production cost. Moreover, by using a spherical mirror requiring a smaller number of design parameters as a connection element, the yield can be increased even if the connection elements are formed in to a single block of array. Moreover, by using a concave mirror as a waveguide element and arranging all the waveguide elements into a single waveguide element block, it is possible to obtain a large alignment allowance of the waveguide element block, which facilitates assembling.

Description

Specification

Optical multiplexer / demultiplexer and assembly apparatus therefor

Technical field

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to an optical multiplexer / demultiplexer that multiplexes and demultiplexes an optical signal and an assembling apparatus thereof. For example, a wavelength division multiplexing optical transmission device that multiplexes and transmits optical signals of a plurality of wavelengths on a single transmission line. And an assembly apparatus thereof.

Background art

[0002] A wavelength division multiplexing optical transmission technology is known as a technology that makes effective use of a single optical transmission line and enables large-capacity transmission. In wavelength division multiplexing optical transmission, a plurality of optical signals with different wavelengths are generated on the transmission side, and these signals are multiplexed and transmitted on a single transmission line using an optical multiplexer, and optical demultiplexing is performed on the reception side. Signals with different wavelengths are separated by a detector, and the signals are received by light receiving elements prepared for each wavelength.

[0003] Wavelength multiplexing transmission makes it easy to increase the transmission capacity per fiber compared to transmission using only one wavelength, and compared to the case where multiple transmission paths are used. Since the transmission path cost can be reduced, it is effective in reducing the communication cost and the communication capacity. When performing wavelength division multiplexing optical transmission, an optical multiplexer / demultiplexer is used to perform optical multiplexing on the transmitting side and optical demultiplexing on the receiving side.

[0004] <First Conventional Example>

A first example of a conventional optical multiplexer / demultiplexer is described in Document 1 (US Pat. No. 6832031). Figure 37 shows the schematic configuration of this optical multiplexer / demultiplexer. This optical multiplexer / demultiplexer demultiplexes the optical signal received by the receiving element 1001a into a plurality of wavelength ranges by the wave converting elements 1003a to 1003d, and transmits the optical signals in the respective wavelength ranges from the transmitting elements 1002a to 1002d. Is.

[0005] More specifically, the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer includes a lower carrier 1004a and an upper carrier 1004b. Coupling devices 1005a to 1005c are attached to the lower carrier 1004a. In the coupling devices 1005a to 1005c, a receiving element 1001, a transmitting element 1002b, and 1002d are individually provided. Upper carrier 1004b And the remaining transmitting elements 1002a and 1002c are disposed in the respective coupling devices. Further, wave conversion elements 1003a to 1003d are disposed in a space between the lower carrier 1004a and the upper carrier 1004b. The wave conversion elements 1003a to 1003d are elements that transmit only light beams having different specific wavelengths and reflect light beams of other wavelengths.

[0006] The configuration of the coupling device 1005a will be further described with reference to FIG. The coupling device 1005a has a stopper surface 1006 that holds the receiving element 1001. In addition, the coupling device 1005a has a reflecting surface 1007 that reflects an optical signal from the receiving element 1001 in an angle direction forming 90 ° with respect to the incident direction, at a position facing the receiving element 1001 on the stopper surface 1006. Is formed. The reflection surface 1007 has a vertical section depicting a part of a parabola, a hyperbola, or an ellipse. Further, a stopper 1008 is provided on the side of the stopper surface 1006 to facilitate positioning of the receiving element 1001 with respect to the coupling device 1005a. The coupling devices 1005b and 1005c have the same configuration as the coupling device 1005a.

[0007] In the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer configured as described above, when an optical signal is emitted from the receiving element 1001, the optical signal has a 90 ° optical axis as shown in FIG. 39 by the reflecting surface 1007 of the coupling device 1005a. It is converted and reflected toward the wave conversion element 1003a. Then, only a light beam having a specific wavelength passes through the wave conversion element 1003a and is transmitted from the transmission element 1002a. The light beam reflected by the wave conversion element 1003a reaches the wave conversion element 1003b, and a light beam having a wavelength region different from that of the wave conversion element 1003a is transmitted and transmitted from the transmission element 1002b. By repeating the same operation, the demultiplexed monochromatic light is transmitted from each of the transmitting elements 1002a to 1002d.

[0008] <Second conventional example>

A second example of a conventional optical multiplexer / demultiplexer is described in Document 2 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-206057). A schematic configuration of this optical multiplexer / demultiplexer is shown in FIG. This optical multiplexer / demultiplexer includes an optical fiber array 2003 in which optical fibers 2001a to 2001f are arranged in parallel and a connector 2002 is attached to the tip, a microlens array 2005 in which microlenses 2004a to 2004f are arranged on the bottom surface, Transparent Kano-Kou wood material 2006 and Finoleta 2007a ~ 2007d Powerful Finoleta layer 2 008, a light guide block 2009, and a planar mirror layer 2010 formed on the lower surface of the light guide block 2009.

In the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer having such a configuration, light multiplexed with wavelengths λ 1, e 2, λ 3, and λ 4 is emitted from the optical fiber 2001a and is output by the microlens 2004a of the microlens array 2005. The axis is bent to become parallel light, which is reflected by the mirror layer 2010 and incident on the filter layer 2008. At this position of the filter layer 2008, a filter 2007a that transmits only light of wavelength λ1 and reflects light of other wavelengths is disposed. Therefore, the light of wavelength λ 1 is transmitted through the filter 2007a, and the optical axis is bent by the microlens 2004c to be coupled to the optical fiber 2001c. Therefore, light of wavelength λ1 is extracted from the light emitting end of the optical fiber 2001c.

On the other hand, the light (wavelength 2, λ 3, λ 4) reflected by the filter 2007a is reflected again by the mirror layer 2010 and enters the filter layer 2008. A filter 2 007b is disposed at this position of the filter layer 2008, and light having a wavelength λ 2 transmitted through the filter 2007b is incident on the microlens 2044d, and the optical axis direction is bent and coupled to the optical fiber 2001d. Therefore, only light having a wavelength of 2 is extracted from the light exit end of the optical fiber 2001d. By repeating the same operation, light of wavelengths 3 and 4 is extracted from the light exit ends of the optical fibers 2001d and 2001e.

[0011] <Third conventional example>

A third example of a conventional optical multiplexer / demultiplexer is shown in FIG. In this optical multiplexer / demultiplexer, a dielectric multilayer filter 3102-1 to 3102-4 is fixed to a holding member 3101, and optical fibers 3103-1 to 3103-5 for inputting and outputting light are emitted from an optical fiber. Lenses 3104-1 to 3 104-5 for converting the reflected light into parallel light and condensing the light that has passed through the dielectric multilayer filter to the optical fiber are mounted in alignment.

This optical multiplexer / demultiplexer multiplexes / demultiplexes wavelength multiplexed light in which lights of four wavelengths λ 1 to 4 are multiplexed. The wavelength multiplexed light emitted from the first optical fiber 3103-1 for light input is converted into parallel rays by the lens 3104-1, transmitted through the holding member 3101, and then the first dielectric multilayer filter. 3102—Is incident on 1. The first dielectric multilayer filter 3102-1 has the characteristic of transmitting light of wavelength λ 4 and reflecting light of other wavelengths. The light of wavelength 4 selected by this filter is condensed by the lens 3104-2 onto the second fiber 3103-2 and output. The light reflected by the first dielectric multilayer filter 3102-1 propagates through the holding member 3101 and sequentially enters the filters 3102-2 to 3102-4. Hereinafter, since the second filter 3102-2 transmits the wavelength 3 and reflects the other wavelengths, the light 3 is similarly output from the third fiber 3103-3. Similarly, the light of λ 2 is transmitted from the fourth fiber 3103-4 by the third filter 3102-3 that transmits λ 2, and the light of λ 1 is transmitted by the fourth filter 3102-4 that transmits λ 1. Output from 5 fiber 3 103-5.

[0013] In such a configuration, the number of lenses for converting the light emitted from the fiber into parallel light and condensing the parallel light on the finer is required, and the number of components increases. In addition, each fiber and lens must be installed in a standing position, which increases the number of assembly steps. In order to solve these problems, inventions for converting the emitted light from each fiber into parallel light, or reducing the number of lens parts for condensing the parallel light onto the fiber have been devised. The

[0014] <Fourth conventional example>

As a fourth example of a conventional optical multiplexer / demultiplexer, reference 3 (Okabe, et al., "Development of a gas multiplexer / demultiplexer S MOP", IEICE General Conference, 2002, Proceedings C-3 — 76, page 208). Figure 42 shows the schematic configuration of this optical multiplexer / demultiplexer. This optical multiplexer / demultiplexer obliquely guides wavelength-multiplexed light from a plurality of beam branching elements 3106 disposed at intervals between transparent holding members 3105 and a port 3107 to the beam branching element 3106. The first lens 3109 and a plurality of second lenses 3110 that collect light of each wavelength reflected by the filter reflecting surface at the port 3107 are provided. In this configuration, since the first lens 3109 and the plurality of second lenses 3110 can be manufactured on one optical substrate, the number of components can be reduced by IJ.

[0015] <Fifth conventional example>

A fifth example of a conventional optical demultiplexer is described in Document 4 (US Pat. No. 6,1988,641). Figure 43 shows the schematic configuration of this optical demultiplexer. This optical demultiplexer includes a plurality of focusing reflectors 3201 formed on the surface of the main optical block 3200 and a plurality of wavelength-specific filters. 3202 is connected, and the light reflected by each filter propagates through the main optical block 3200, is reflected by the converging reflector 3201, and is sequentially guided to the next adjacent wavelength specifying filter.

[0016] After entering the optical demultiplexer, the light incident from the incident fiber 3203 is reflected and collected by the reflecting surface 3204, and then enters the first filter 3202a. The transmitted light passes through the lens 3206a of the lens array block 3205, is collected, and is incident on the detector 3207a. The light reflected by the first filter 3202a is reflected by the converging reflector 3201a and is incident on the second filter 3202b. Thereafter, the same operation is repeated in the second filter 3202b, the third filter 3202c, and the fourth filter 3202d to demultiplex the wavelength multiplexed light.

[0017] In this optical demultiplexer, a lens array block 3205 force in which a plurality of lenses are integrated is aligned with a main optical block 3200 by a protrusion, and light incident from a fiber 3203 is Since it is converted into parallel rays by the reflecting surface 3204 built into the block 3200, it is not necessary to align individual lenses, and assembly costs can be reduced.

[0018] <Sixth conventional example>

A sixth example of a conventional optical multiplexer / demultiplexer is described in Reference 5 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-17811). A schematic configuration of this optical multiplexer / demultiplexer is shown in FIG. This optical multiplexer / demultiplexer has a waveguide element block 3001 formed with waveguide elements 3003 to 3005 force S, and an array element mounting block 3002 formed with beam branch elements 3006 and 3007 and transmission windows 3008 and 3009. . The waveguide element block 3001 is integrally formed with a holding structure for holding the array element mounting block 3002.

Light rays sent into the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer through the transmission window 3008 are alternately reflected by the waveguide elements and the light branching elements, and propagate along the zigzag optical path. Light beams having wavelengths that pass through the light beam splitting elements 3006 and 3007 are extracted from the light beam splitting elements 3006 and 3007, and light beams having other wavelengths are extracted from the transmission window 3009.

[0020] With this configuration, the elements on the waveguide element block 3001 and the array element mounting block are simply placed on the waveguide element block 3001 by placing the array element mounting block 3002 on top of the waveguide element block 3001. The device on the rack 3002 can be positioned accurately.

Disclosure of the invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

However, there are several problems with the conventional optical multiplexer / demultiplexer described above.

[0022] Challenge 1>

In the conventional optical multiplexer / demultiplexer shown in FIG. 37, a receiving element 1001 and transmitting elements 1002a to 1002d are individually arranged in a plurality of coupling devices. For this reason, when assembling the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer, it is necessary to align the relative positions of the receiving side coupling device and the transmitting side coupling device so that the excess loss is reduced. Therefore, it is necessary to align the plurality of reception side coupling devices for each channel during the demultiplexing operation described above and the plurality of transmission side coupling devices for each channel during the multiplexing operation. For this reason, the number of alignment man-hours increases with the increase in the number of channels of the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer, and there is a problem that the assembly time is increased and the manufacturing cost is increased.

[0023] Ku 2>

Also, in the conventional optical multiplexer / demultiplexer shown in FIG. 37, the receiving side coupling device and the transmitting side coupling device are separated. For this reason, if the environmental temperature changes after the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer is assembled, non-uniform expansion and contraction occurs due to the temperature gradient in the device, and the relative coupling between the receiving side coupling device and the transmitting side coupling device. There is a high possibility that misalignment will occur. Since the misalignment causes loss, the conventional optical multiplexer / demultiplexer has a problem that the fluctuation of loss due to environmental temperature change is large.

[0024] Ku 3>

In the conventional optical multiplexer / demultiplexer shown in FIG. 40, the mirror layer 2010 as a waveguide element that reflects the light propagating between the filters has a planar shape. For this reason, even if the position of the mirror layer 2010 is adjusted, the angle of the reflected light cannot be changed and alignment cannot be performed. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 45, alignment is performed by adjusting the position of the optical fiber array 2003 (or microlens array 2005). In this case, the positional deviation tolerance of the incident light with respect to the microlenses 2004a to 2004f as the coupling elements is important. Microlenses 2004a-2004f mutually convert collimated light and convergent light Therefore, it has a large light collecting power. Therefore, even if there is a slight misalignment of the incident light with respect to the microlenses 2004a to 2004f, a large angular deviation occurs in the outgoing (reflected) light, resulting in a large optical axis deviation as the optical path length of the propagating light increases. Loss occurs.

FIG. 46 shows the fiber array shift amount dependency of the coupling efficiency in the conventional optical multiplexer / demultiplexer shown in FIG. As can be seen from this figure, even if the position of the optical fiber array 2003 is shifted by only a few meters, a large excess loss of 5 dB or more may occur. As described above, this optical multiplexer / demultiplexer is manufactured because the alignment tolerance of the optical fiber array 2003 is severe with respect to the allowable excess loss, so a high-precision assembly device is required and the assembly time is increased. There was a problem that the cost increased.

[0026] Issue 4>

In addition, in the conventional optical multiplexer / demultiplexer shown in FIG. 40, when the adhesive used to fix the light guide block 2009 on which the mirror layer 2010 is formed expands and contracts due to changes in the environmental temperature, the mirror layer 2010 The design value may deviate from this angle. In this case, paying attention to the optical axis of the propagating light beam that is multiply reflected between the mirror layer 2010 and the filter layer 2008, neither the mirror layer 20 10 nor the filter layer 2008 can correct the optical axis angle deviation of the propagating light beam. . As a result, as shown in FIG. 47, the optical axis position deviation increases as the optical path length increases. Therefore, the conventional optical multiplexer / demultiplexer shown in FIG. 40 has a problem that large loss fluctuations occur with respect to changes in the environmental temperature.

[0027] Ku Challenge 5>

Also, the conventional optical multiplexer / demultiplexer shown in FIGS. 42 and 43 has a lens array that allows the diffused light, which has also been emitted from the fiber force, to enter the filter to be a lens array that can be integrally molded. Have reduced. However, small optical multiplexers / demultiplexers using these lens arrays have the following problems.

[0028] First, since light is guided inside the optical block, it is necessary to use a material having high optical transparency, so that the degree of freedom in material selection is limited and the material cost is increased. Also, light loss is unavoidable when guided inside the block.

Next, since the fixing member for the fiber or photodetector and the lens array are separate, It is necessary to prepare a member to fix the Aiba or photodetector separately from the lens array and adjust the position to the lens array.

Furthermore, the distance between the lens and the filter is uniquely determined by the dimensions of the optical substrate or optical block, and has no mechanism for adjusting the error.

[0029] Ku Challenge 6>

In the conventional optical multiplexer / demultiplexer shown in FIG. 42, the lenses 3109 and 3110, the filters 3106, and the optical fibers 3107 are manufactured as separate array elements and assembled. At this time, alignment work has to be performed, and furthermore, the number of alignment axes is large, and there is a problem that adjustment time increases. In addition, if the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer assembly device is provided with an adjustment function for each alignment shaft, the number of alignment shafts is large and the device itself becomes complicated.

[0030] Issue 7>

In the conventional optical multiplexer / demultiplexer shown in FIG. 44, the waveguide elements 3003 to 3005 are concave mirrors, and attention is paid to the optical axis of the propagating light beam that is multiply reflected between the waveguide element and the beam branching element. .

[0031] In this optical multiplexer / demultiplexer, since the holding structure of the array element mounting block 3002 is integrally formed with the waveguide element block 3001, if an angle shift occurs in the waveguide element block 3001, the array element mounting block The same amount of angular deviation occurs in 3002. The beam splitters 3006 and 3007 formed in the array element mounting block 3002 correspond to plane mirrors, but the angle deviation of the plane mirrors amplifies the angle deviation of the incident optical axis. Therefore, every time the propagating light beam enters and reflects the light beam splitting elements 3006 and 3007, a large angular deviation occurs in the propagating optical axis, resulting in a large positional deviation when the propagating light beam enters the waveguide elements 3003 to 3005.

On the other hand, since the waveguide elements 3003 to 3005 have a condensing power, the angular deviation can be corrected each time the propagating light beam enters and reflects the waveguide elements 3003 to 3005. However, if the incident position deviation is extremely large, the angle deviation may be amplified or the angle deviation may be amplified. The above effects act synergistically, and the angle deviation of the propagating light beam becomes larger than the case where the array element mounting block 3002 has no angle deviation.

An example is shown in FIGS. 48A and 48B. Waveguide block 30 as shown in Figure 48A When 01 is not tilted, the incident / reflection angle of the propagating light beam to the waveguide element is 11.3. On the other hand, for example, when the mirror curvature radius of the waveguide elements 3003 to 3005 is about 5 mm and the distance between the waveguide elements 3003 to 3005 and the beam branching elements 3006 and 3007 is about 5 mm, the waveguide is guided as shown in FIG. 48B. It can be seen that when the wave element block 3001 is inclined by 5 °, the incident / reflection angle of the propagating light beam is 2 ° to 17 °, and the angular deviation of the propagating light beam is increased. The angular deviation of the propagating beam causes excess loss. Therefore, the conventional optical multiplexer / demultiplexer has a problem that a slight angular shift of the waveguide element block 3001 causes a large excess loss.

[0034] A main object of the present invention is to reduce the manufacturing cost of an optical multiplexer / demultiplexer.

In addition, the present invention has the following objects. That is, another object of the present invention is to reduce the loss fluctuation accompanying the environmental temperature change in the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer, increase the degree of freedom of material selection of the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer, reduce the optical loss of the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer, Reduces the number of alignment axes when assembling the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer, simplifies the position adjustment of the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer and reduces the adjustment time, simplifies the assembly device of the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer, and angle deviation of the waveguide element block Is to suppress excess losses caused by.

Means for solving the problem

In order to achieve such an object, an optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to the present invention transmits a plurality of light receiving and emitting elements that perform at least one of light reception and light emission and a part of incident light. A plurality of beam branching elements that reflect the rest, a plurality of coupling elements arranged on the optical path connecting the corresponding light emitting / receiving element and the beam branching element, and a reflected beam from one beam branching element to another beam branching element And a waveguide element arranged on an optical path until the light enters, and all of the coupling elements are integrally formed in a single coupling element block.

[0036] In the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to the present invention, the coupling element is a concave mirror made of a spherical surface.

[0037] The optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to the present invention is characterized in that the waveguide element is a concave mirror.

[0038] Further, the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to the present invention arranges the light emitting / receiving elements in parallel with a constant interval, and positions the end faces of the light receiving / emitting elements on the same plane. Light receiving / emitting element fixing block having an element fixing structure, and the beam branching element A beam splitter block in which each of the children is arranged on the same plane at the same regular intervals as the light receiving and emitting elements, and a waveguide in which each of the waveguide elements is arranged on the same plane at the same regular intervals as the light emitting and receiving elements An element block, the light receiving / emitting element fixing block, the coupling element block, the light beam branching element block, and the waveguide element block are arranged through a space, and the coupling element block and the waveguide element block are arranged. And an optical main block that arranges the beam splitter block in parallel between the coupling element block and the waveguide element block, and the coupling element block includes Each of the coupling elements is arranged on the same plane at the same regular intervals as the light emitting / receiving element, and the coupling element reflects a light beam from the light emitting / receiving element into parallel light. The waveguide element block is positioned so that the light beam from the coupling element is reflected by the coupling element adjacent to the coupling element, and reflects the light beam to the light emitting / receiving element. The light beam branching element block is positioned so that the light beam branching element is disposed on an optical path between the coupling element and the waveguide element.

[0039] In the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to the present invention, the waveguide element block further includes a protrusion having a curved force on a surface opposite to a surface on which the waveguide elements are arranged. And

[0040] The optical multiplexer / demultiplexer assembling apparatus according to the present invention includes a gripping means capable of gripping a protrusion having a curved force formed on a waveguide element block in which waveguide elements are arranged, and the gripping hand. It is characterized by comprising position adjusting means that can move the step vertically and horizontally, and reaction force generating means that generates a reaction force in accordance with the movement of the gripping means.

[0041] In the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to the present invention, all of the waveguide elements are arranged in a single waveguide element block, and the coupling element block has a holding structure for holding the beam branching element. And the coupling element block and the waveguide element block are separated from each other.

The invention's effect

[0042] In the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer of the present invention, since the coupling element for the light receiving element and the coupling element for the light emitting element are integrally formed in a single coupling element block, an increase in assembly time is suppressed and the manufacturing cost is reduced. Can be suppressed. Further, the loss fluctuation accompanying the environmental temperature change is reduced.

[0043] Further, in the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer of the present invention, the spherical mirror has few design parameters as the coupling element. By using one, the yield increases even if the coupling elements are arrayed in a single block, and as a result, the manufacturing cost can be suppressed.

[0044] In the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer of the present invention, the waveguide elements are concave mirrors, and all the waveguide elements are arranged in a single waveguide element block, so that assembly can be facilitated and manufactured. Cost can be reduced. Moreover, the loss fluctuation | variation with respect to the change of environmental temperature can be suppressed.

[0045] Further, in the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer of the present invention, since the signal light propagates through the space, it is possible to increase the degree of freedom in selecting the material of the block constituting the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer and reduce the optical loss. it can.

In addition, since it is not necessary to use an optically transparent member as the block, it is possible to manufacture the light receiving / emitting element fixing block with a material that is inexpensive and excellent in mechanical strength and thermal characteristics.

Also, when assembling the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer, simply fix a plurality of light emitting / receiving elements to the light receiving / emitting element fixing block in advance, adjust the position of the light receiving / emitting element fixing block, and fix it to the optical main block. In addition, it is possible to align a plurality of light emitting / receiving elements with respect to the coupling element without individually adjusting the individual light emitting / receiving elements. As a result, it is possible to facilitate the alignment work between the two and reduce the assembly cost.

In addition, since the optical main block and the waveguide element block are independent blocks, they are formed on the coupling element block and assembled on the coupling element and waveguide element block when assembled. It is possible to adjust the angle and position of the waveguide element to the optimum position with less loss, and to reduce optical loss.

[0046] According to the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer and the assembling apparatus thereof of the present invention, a complicated rotating mechanism such as a three-axis rotating stage is not required, and the assembling apparatus itself has a simple structure, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost. be able to. Since all the rotating shafts are assembled without having to be adjusted to a predetermined angle, the assembly procedure is simplified, and the assembly time and assembly work can be reduced. In addition, by arranging the protrusion in the center of the substrate of the waveguide element block, when the waveguide element block is gripped by the assembly device, the gripped position and the center of gravity position of the waveguide element block match. The waveguide element block can be gripped stably. In addition, since the vacuum chuck pipe is smaller than the diameter of the projection of the waveguide block, the vacuum chuck pipe is in close contact with the projection of the waveguide block. The waveguide element block can be easily held.

[0047] Further, in the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to the present invention, since the holding structure for holding the beam branching element separates the waveguide element block force, the influence of the angular deviation of the waveguide element block on the increase in excess loss is reduced. Can be suppressed.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0048] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an internal structure of an optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to the first embodiment.

[FIG. 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic internal configuration diagram in the direction of arrow II of the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer used in the first embodiment.

[Fig. 3] Fig. 3 is a schematic internal configuration diagram of the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to the first embodiment in the direction of arrow III.

[FIG. 4] FIG. 4 is a schematic internal configuration diagram of the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to the first embodiment in the direction of arrow IV.

[FIG. 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view schematically showing a specific mirror array block of the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to the first embodiment.

[FIG. 6] FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of an optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to the first embodiment in which a specific mirror array block and a specific waveguide structure are assembled.

FIG. 7 is a perspective schematic external view of a mirror array block of an optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to a second embodiment, which has a structure for holding a beam splitter.

FIG. 8 is a perspective schematic external view of an optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a schematic side view showing the optical system of the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective external view of a specific mirror array block of an optical multiplexer / demultiplexer that works on the third embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view of an optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to a third embodiment in which a specific mirror array block and a specific waveguide structure are assembled.

[FIG. 12] FIG. 12 is a schematic perspective view of a specific mirror array block of an optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to the fourth embodiment.

[FIG. 13] FIG. 13 shows a specific mirror array block and a specific waveguide structure not assembled. FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of an optical multiplexer / demultiplexer that works on the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a schematic configuration diagram of an optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to a fifth embodiment, which is an application example of the first embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a conceptual diagram of an optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to a sixth embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a graph showing the dependence of coupling efficiency on the waveguide block shift amount in the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a conceptual diagram showing a state in which optical axis deviations do not accumulate in the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a schematic perspective view of the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to the seventh embodiment (front side). FIG. 19 is a schematic perspective view of the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to the seventh embodiment (rear side).

FIG. 20 is a schematic view of an optical main block according to a seventh embodiment.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a case where protrusions are formed on the filter block fixing surface and the optical waveguide mirror block fixing surface of the optical main block according to the seventh embodiment.

FIG. 22 is a schematic view of an optical fiber fixing block according to a seventh embodiment.

FIG. 23 is a schematic diagram of a beam splitter block according to a seventh embodiment.

[FIG. 24] FIG. 24 is a schematic view of a different form from FIG. 23 in the light-branching element block according to the seventh embodiment.

FIG. 25 is a schematic view of an optical waveguide mirror block according to a seventh embodiment.

FIG. 26 is a schematic internal structural diagram of the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to the seventh embodiment, and shows the optical path therein.

FIG. 27 is a perspective view of the optical element array according to the eighth example when the unidirectional force is also seen.

FIG. 28 is a perspective view of the optical element array in accordance with the eighth embodiment when viewed from the other direction.

FIG. 29 is a perspective view of an optical multiplexer / demultiplexer using the optical element array according to the eighth embodiment as seen from one direction.

FIG. 30 is a perspective view of the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer using the optical element array in accordance with the eighth embodiment when viewed from the other direction.

FIG. 31 is an explanatory view illustrating the operating principle of the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer using the optical element array according to the eighth embodiment. FIG. 32 is a schematic view of an optical element array assembling apparatus according to an eighth embodiment.

FIG. 33 is a diagram showing a state in which the vacuum chuck of the optical device array assembly apparatus according to the eighth example is in contact with the optical device array.

FIG. 34 is a view showing a state in which the optical element array is chucked by the vacuum chuck of the optical element array assembling apparatus according to the eighth embodiment.

FIG. 35 is a view showing a state in which the optical element array chucked by the vacuum chuck of the optical element array assembling apparatus according to the eighth embodiment is moved in the Y-axis direction.

FIG. 36 is a diagram for explaining an optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention. 37] FIG. 37 is a schematic configuration diagram of the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to the first conventional example.

FIG. 38 is a schematic configuration diagram of a coupling device used in the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to the first conventional example.

FIG. 39 is a side view showing an optical path in the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to the first conventional example.

FIG. 40 is a schematic configuration diagram of an optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to a second conventional example.

FIG. 41 is a schematic configuration diagram of an optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to a third conventional example.

FIG. 42 is a schematic configuration diagram of an optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to a fourth conventional example.

FIG. 43 is a schematic configuration diagram of an optical demultiplexer according to a fifth conventional example.

FIG. 44 is a schematic configuration diagram of an optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to a sixth conventional example.

FIG. 45 is a conceptual diagram for explaining an alignment method of an optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to a second conventional example.

FIG. 46 is a graph showing the dependence of the coupling efficiency on the fiber array shift amount in the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to the second conventional example.

FIG. 47 is a conceptual diagram showing a state in which optical axis deviations are accumulated in the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to the second conventional example.

FIG. 48A is a diagram showing a state when the waveguide element block is tilted in the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to the sixth conventional example.

FIG. 48B is a diagram showing a state when the waveguide element block is tilted in the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to the sixth conventional example. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the following examples do not limit the present invention.

[0050] <First embodiment>

1 to 6 are diagrams for explaining an optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In addition

1 to 4 conceptually show the light rays propagating through the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer when the optical demultiplexer is used.

As shown in FIG. 1, the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to the present embodiment includes a mirror array block 25 portion and a waveguide portion structure 24 portion. In the mirror array block 25, coupling elements (which are provided with auxiliary lines to show curved surfaces) 6 to 10 having concave spherical mirror force, and optical fibers 1 to 5 for inputting / outputting wavelength multiplexed rays or monochromatic rays are provided. Is provided. The waveguide structure 24 is provided with light beam branching elements 11 to 14 that transmit light including a specific wavelength range and reflect light rays outside the specific wavelength range, and reflection surfaces 15 to 18 that reflect light. It has been.

Here, the reflecting surfaces 15 to 18 function as waveguide elements. The mirror array block 25 provided with the coupling elements 6 to 10 can be called a coupling element block.

The operation principle when the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to the present embodiment is used as a demultiplexer will be described. The wavelength multiplexed light input from the outside of the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer propagates through the optical fiber 1, is guided into the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer, and is emitted to the coupling element 6 as a slightly diffused wavelength multiplexed light. The coupling element 6 reflects the emitted wavelength multiplexed light while collimating it and propagates it to the reflecting surface 15. The propagated wavelength multiplexed light is reflected again on the reflecting surface 15 and enters the beam splitter 11.

The wavelength multiplexed light incident on the light beam splitting element 11 is transmitted to the light beam splitting element 11, and a light beam including a specific wavelength region is transmitted to become a monochromatic light beam and propagates to the coupling element 7. The light is reflected and collected, coupled to the optical fiber 2, and output to the outside of the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer.

A wavelength-multiplexed light beam composed of a light beam outside a specific wavelength region is reflected by the light beam splitting element 11 without being transmitted and propagated to the reflecting surface 16. Wavelength multiplexed light propagated to reflecting surface 16 The line is reflected by the reflecting surface 16 and enters the beam splitter 12.

The wavelength multiplexed light incident on the beam splitter 12 is transmitted through the beam splitter 12 with a light having a specific wavelength range different from that of the beam splitter 11, and is transmitted as a monochromatic beam to the coupling element 8. Then, the light is reflected and collected by the coupling element 8, coupled to the optical fiber 3, and output to the outside of the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer.

By repeating the above process, the wavelength multiplexed light incident from the optical fiber 1 can be extracted from the optical fibers 2 to 5 as a plurality of demultiplexed monochromatic light beams.

In addition, when the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to the present embodiment is used as a multiplexer, this corresponds to a case where the traveling directions of the wavelength multiplexed light and the monochromatic light in the demultiplexing operation described above are reversed. In other words, by inputting monochromatic rays to the optical fibers 2 to 5 from the outside of the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer, it is possible to take out the force of the optical fiber as a combined wavelength multiplexed ray.

[0059] In the present embodiment, the number of beam branching elements is four, the number of coupling elements is five, the number of reflecting surfaces is four, and the number of optical fibers is five. Not limited to the number of. Further, the wavelength-multiplexed and monochromatic light-receiving / emitting elements are not limited to optical fibers, and some or all of the light-receiving / emitting elements may be light-receiving / emitting elements such as laser diodes and photodiodes. The light emitting / receiving element refers to an element that performs at least one of light reception and light emission. Furthermore, a configuration may be adopted in which a plurality of light emitting points and light receiving points exist in one optical multiplexer / demultiplexer.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to the present embodiment, the light receiving and emitting points of all the optical fibers 1 to 5, all the coupling elements 6 to 10, and all the light branching elements 11 to 14 are used. All the reflecting surfaces 15 to 18 are arranged on one straight line. For this reason, each optical element can be collectively arranged in an array, and each optical element can be easily arranged and “formed” and fixed.

FIG. 2 shows a state in which the optical system of the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer that is useful in the present embodiment is viewed from the optical axis direction of the optical fiber (in the direction of arrow II). In this figure, the same members as those shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals as in FIG.

[0062] As described above, during the demultiplexing operation, wavelength multiplexed signal light is input to the optical fiber 1 from the outside, Monochromatic rays can be extracted from the optical fibers 2 to 5, respectively.

[0063] Regarding the optical path of the light beam that propagates between the reflecting surfaces 15 to 18 and the light beam branching elements 11 to 14, the optical path length between the reflecting surface and the light beam branching device, the distance between the adjacent light beam branching devices, the light beam component It can be uniquely determined by fixing two of the three elements of the incident angle of light on the junction. Therefore, in general, it is desirable to shorten the optical path length and reduce the light incident angle to the light beam branching element. These designs are limited by the size of the beam splitters 11-14 and the coupling elements 6-10.

[0064] When the surfaces of the coupling elements 6 to 10 are spherical as in this embodiment, the radius of curvature of the reflecting surface felt by the incident light beam does not depend on the incident position of the light beam on the reflecting surface. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 2, the incident and reflection points of the light beam are arranged at appropriate positions on the reflection surface of the coupling element, so that the optical axis of the incident light beam and the reflected light beam are maintained while maintaining the desired focal length. The angle formed by the optical axis can be set arbitrarily.

FIG. 3 shows a state in which the optical system of the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer that is useful in the present embodiment is viewed from the side surface direction (the direction of arrow III). In this figure, the same members as those shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals as in FIG. The portion indicated by reference numeral 30 is the end face of the optical fiber 1 that is the light receiving / emitting surface.

[0066] Convergent light (in the case of a multiplexer) or diffused light (in the case of a demultiplexer) propagates between the end face 30 of the optical fiber 1 and the coupling element 6, so that the light beam can be transmitted as designed. In order to propagate, it is necessary to precisely determine the relative position and angle between the optical fiber 1 and the coupling element 6.

[0067] Further, the radius of curvature of the coupling element 6 having a spherical mirror force and the optical path length from the optical fiber end surface 30 to the coupling element 6 are the mode field diameter (NA) of the optical fiber, and the reflection surface 15 from the coupling element 6. It is necessary to optimize the length of the optical path as a constraint. The effective reflection area of the coupling element 6 also needs to be optimized so that vignetting of incident / reflected rays does not occur.

[0068] FIG. 4 shows a state in which the optical system of the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer that works in the present embodiment is viewed from the direction perpendicular to the plane including the plurality of optical fibers (in the direction of the arrow IV). In this figure, the same members as those shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals as in FIG.

[0069] The optical fibers 1 to 5 of all the channels are arranged so that the straight line Y connecting the adjacent end faces and the optical axes X to X of the light rays passing through the end faces are orthogonal to each other. Fiber 1 The optical path lengths up to the end face of ~ 5 are almost the same for all channels! /

[0070] Therefore, the coupling elements 6 to 1 can obtain the highest possible coupling efficiency regardless of whether the propagation path of the collimated light is the shortest optical path length channel or the longest optical path length channel.

It is necessary to optically design a radius of curvature of zero.

FIG. 5 shows a specific example of the mirror array block 25 in which the coupling element and the V-groove for fixing the optical fiber are formed as members of the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer that is useful in the present embodiment. FIG.

[0072] As shown in FIG. 5, the mirror array block 25 includes a first V-groove 36 formed linearly at one substrate end on the surface of the plate-shaped substrate, and one of the V-grooves 36. Coupling elements 6 to 10 formed by being arranged along the linear axis direction of the V-groove 36 on the inclined surface 3 6a, and perpendicular to the linear axis direction of the V-groove 36 and facing the coupling element 6: LO It consists of a plurality of linear V-grooves (fixed structure) 19-23 formed so as to be connected to the V-groove 36. The plurality of V-grooves 19 to 23 are V-grooves for fixing optical fibers, and are formed so as to face the coupling elements 6 to 10, respectively. A U-groove can be used instead of the V-groove 19-23.

[0073] V-grooves 19 to 23, V-grooves 36 and coupling elements 6 to 10 can be formed by cutting a plate-like substrate directly into a desired shape or cutting a saddle shape of a desired shape. Thereafter, injection molding may be considered in which a resin or the like is poured into the mold and heated and molded. When producing the same mirror array block 25 in large quantities, the injection molding method is suitable!

[0074] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an optical composite according to the first embodiment in which the mirror array block 25 shown in FIG. 5 is combined with a waveguide structure for holding a reflecting surface and a plurality of beam splitters. FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing a specific example of a duplexer.

As shown in FIG. 6, the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to the first embodiment has a waveguide structure 24 fixed so as to cover the upper part of the V groove 36 in the mirror array block 25 shown in FIG. It is configured. The waveguide structure 24 includes a middle shelf 39 for installing the beam splitters 11 to 14 and a long plate shape inside a planar U-shaped structure consisting of walls extending upward in three directions. An upper holding projection 38 for installing the reflective surface 35 is formed, and the inside of the planar U-shaped structure is partially hollow.

[0076] The waveguide structure 24 has a V-shaped structure on the side where the wall surface is not formed. It is installed on the mirror array block 25 so as to face the grooves 19-23. The upper holding projection portion 38 supports both ends of the long plate-like reflecting surface 35, and the reflecting surface 35 is installed in the upper portion of the waveguide structure 24.

[0077] The middle shelf 39 has mounting portions 24-1 to 24-4 formed by notching positions corresponding to the coupling elements 6 to 10 formed in the lower V-groove 36, respectively. On the mounting parts 24-1 to 24-4, the beam splitting elements 11 to 14 are also mounted, respectively, and are held so as not to fall downward.

As in the present embodiment, as the beam splitters 11 to 14, a configuration in which each element is fitted in each channel is conceivable. In this case, an optical multiplexer / demultiplexer having an arbitrary multiplexing / demultiplexing spectrum can be realized by simply replacing the elements. Further, as in the present embodiment, as the reflecting surface 35, a single flat plate separate from the waveguide structure 24 can be applied, but if possible, it is integrally formed with the waveguide structure 24. May be.

[0079] In the present embodiment, the light propagating between each of the light beam splitting elements 11-14 propagates in the space. For example, the light beam propagates inside the optical block formed of glass or transparent resin. This embodiment is also conceivable.

That is, a reflecting surface is formed on the surface of a rectangular parallelepiped optical block, and a light beam splitting element is formed in an array on the back surface. Then, this rectangular parallelepiped optical block is used instead of, for example, the reflecting surface 35, the middle shelf 39, and the beam splitters 11 to 14 in the planar U-shaped structure of the waveguide structure 24 shown in FIG. This is an example of installing and configuring an optical multiplexer / demultiplexer. According to such an embodiment, there is an advantage that the optical path length accuracy between the beam splitter and the reflecting surface can be improved, or a plurality of beam splitters can be formed continuously.

Hereinafter, effects of the present embodiment will be described.

[0082] A plurality of coupling elements 6 to 10 are integrally formed in the same mirror array block 25>

In the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to the present embodiment, the coupling elements 6 to 10 corresponding to the optical fibers 1 to 5 are integrally formed in the same mirror array block 25! Therefore, all the optical fibers An optical system in which 1 to 5 are arranged so as to be adjacent to the mirror array block 25 is formed. Therefore, the alignment operation can be completed simply by adjusting the position of the single mirror array block 25. Therefore, even if the number of channels of the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer increases, the alignment man-hours It becomes constant. Therefore, as compared with the conventional optical multiplexer / demultiplexer shown in FIG. 37, the increase in assembly time can be suppressed and the manufacturing cost can be suppressed.

[0083] In addition, since the coupling elements 6 to 10 corresponding to the optical fibers 1 to 5 are formed in the same mirror array block 25, the temperature is changed even if the environmental temperature changes after the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer is assembled. Gradient generation is suppressed. As a result, the expansion and contraction become uniform, and the relative displacement between the corresponding optical fiber and the coupling element is suppressed. Therefore, the loss fluctuation due to the environmental temperature change is smaller than that of the conventional optical multiplexer / demultiplexer shown in FIG.

[0084] When the coupling element is integrally formed with the coupling element block, it is desirable that the coupling element is a concave mirror as in this embodiment. The reason for this is that if the mirror is a concave mirror, the optical transparency of the coupling element block is not questioned, so it is possible to use low-cost materials such as grease for mass production, and at a lower cost. This is because the manufacturing becomes possible.

[0085] <Shape of coupling element 6-10>

In the conventional optical multiplexer / demultiplexer shown in FIG. 37, the reflecting surface 1007 as the coupling element has a rotating paraboloid, a rotating hyperboloid, or a rotating ellipsoid. However, these shapes have many design parameters. Specifically, a total of seven parameters are required: focal point coordinates (three parameters), rotation axis direction vector (three parameters), and quadratic coefficient (one parameter). When the reflective surface 1007 having such a shape is arrayed by injection molding using a mold in a single block, as in this embodiment, the probability of forming a reflective surface as designed decreases. Yield decreases. It is also difficult to evaluate whether it is manufactured as designed. As a result, the manufacturing cost increases.

On the other hand, in this embodiment, the coupling element 6-: LO is a spherical mirror, so that there are few design parameters. Specifically, only four parameters in total are required: the position coordinate of the center of curvature (three parameters) and the radius of curvature (one parameter). Therefore, as described above, even if the coupling elements 6 to 10 having the spherical mirror force are arrayed in a single block, a reflecting surface having a shape as designed can be easily formed, resulting in a high yield. It is also relatively easy to evaluate whether it is manufactured as designed. As a result, the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

[0087] When the coupling elements 6 to 10 are spherical mirrors, they enter the coupling elements 6 to 10. It is desirable that the angle formed between the incident optical axis of the light beam and the reflected optical axis of the light beam reflected by the coupling elements 6 to 10 is sufficiently small. The reason is that when the beam is incident on the spherical mirror, the coma aberration increases and the excess loss increases as the incident angle increases. It is desirable that all the coupling elements 6 to 10 have the same radius of curvature. When forming coupling elements 6 to 10 having a plurality of curvature radii, it is desirable to make the difference in curvature radii sufficiently small in order to reduce the types of tools for cutting the mold as much as possible.

[0088] <All optical fibers 1 to 5 are arranged on a single plane>

In the conventional optical multiplexer / demultiplexer shown in FIG. 37, the receiving element 1001, the transmitting elements 1002b, and 1002d are placed on the lower carrier 1004a, and the transmitting elements 1002a and 1002c are arranged on the upper carrier 1004b. . That is, the receiving element 1001 and the transmitting elements 1002a to 1002d are arranged on two planes. For this reason, when assembling the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer, it is not possible to mount all the transmitting and receiving elements at once. As a result, assembly time is increased and manufacturing costs are increased.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the optical fibers 1 to 5 as light emitting / receiving elements corresponding to the transmitting / receiving elements are arranged on a single plane of the mirror array block 25. For this reason, all the optical fibers 1 to 5 can be mounted together. As a result, the assembly time can be shortened compared with the conventional optical multiplexer / demultiplexer, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

[0090] It should be noted that the optical axes of all the light emitting / receiving elements are parallel to each other, all the light receiving / emitting points are arranged on the same straight line (light receiving / emitting point connecting line), An orthogonal optical system is desirable. For example, when an optical fiber is used as a light emitting / receiving element, as shown in FIG. 4, it is not possible to align the optical fibers 1 to 5 so that all the fibers are parallel to each other and the protruding amount of all the fibers is uniform. It is relatively easy. Further, by preparing separately a fiber array block in which the optical fibers 1 to 5 are arranged and arranged in this manner, and inserting the fiber array block into the mirror array block, all the fibers can be easily mounted.

[0091] V-groove 19-23>

The conventional optical multiplexer / demultiplexer shown in FIG. 37 has a plurality of coupling devices 1005a to 1005c provided with stoppers 1008 for positioning transmitting and receiving elements. For this reason, when performing alignment work to reduce excess loss, the transmitting element 1001 or the receiving element 1002a After mounting ~ 1002d, coupling device 1005a ~ 1005c must be fine tuned. As a result, the assembly time of the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer becomes longer and the manufacturing cost becomes higher.

On the other hand, in this embodiment, V grooves 19 to 23 used for positioning the plurality of optical fibers 1 to 5 are integrally formed in the mirror array block 25. Therefore, the relative position between the optical fibers 1 to 5 and the coupling element 6 to: LO can be determined accurately and easily, and fine adjustment of the coupling elements 6 to 10 after the optical fibers 1 to 5 are mounted is not necessary. . As a result, the assembly time can be shortened and the manufacturing cost can be reduced as compared with the conventional optical multiplexer / demultiplexer.

[0093] <Second embodiment>

FIG. 7 is a perspective schematic external view of the mirror array block of the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to the second embodiment, which has a structure for holding the beam splitter. FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view of an optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to the second embodiment. This embodiment is a modification of the first embodiment.

[0094] As shown in FIG. 7, the mirror array block 25 of the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to the second embodiment has a V-shape formed linearly at one substrate end across the surface of the plate substrate. And the coupling elements 6 to 6 formed by arranging along the linear axis direction of the V groove 36 on one inclined surface 36a constituting the V groove 36, and the linear axis direction of the V groove 36. It is composed of a plurality of linear V-grooves 19 to 23 formed so as to be connected to the V-groove 36 in a vertical direction and coupled to the V-groove 36. The plurality of V-grooves 19 to 23 are V-grooves for fixing an optical fiber, and are formed so as to be opposed to the coupling elements 6 to 10, respectively.

[0095] Furthermore, a plurality of upwardly extending wall portions provided so as to partition the coupling elements 6 to 10 are formed on the substrate end portion and the inclined surface 36a, and the planar comb-tooth-shaped beam branching element holding unit is held. Form structure 24a. The beam splitter holding structure 24a constitutes a part of the waveguide structure 24. The upper surfaces of the sidewalls on both sides sandwiching the coupling elements 6 to 10 are mounting parts 24-1 to 24-4, respectively, and a beam splitter is installed on each mounting part.

[0096] As shown in FIG. 8, the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to the present embodiment covers the upper part of the V groove 36 (that is, the beam splitter holding structure 24a) in the mirror array block 25 shown in FIG. A reflection surface holding structure 24b, which is a part of the waveguide structure 24, is fixed. The waveguide structure 24 includes a beam splitter holding structure 24a provided in the mirror array block 25 and a mirror. It comprises a reflecting surface holding structure 24b installed on the top of one array block 25.

The reflecting surface holding structure 24b includes a wall portion extending upward at both ends in the linear axis direction of the V-groove 36 of the mirror array block 25, and a ceiling portion extending over the upper surfaces of the two wall portions. The block 25 is a structure that is formed so as to straddle from the V-groove 19 side to the V-groove 23 side. Reflecting surfaces 15 to 18 are formed on the lower surface of the ceiling portion at positions corresponding to the beam splitters 11 to 14 installed below the ceiling portion.

In this embodiment, it is necessary to form the coupling elements 6 to 10 between the walls separating each channel in the planar comb-like beam branching element holding structure 24a. Therefore, rather than applying a cutting process that directly cuts the mirror array block 25 into the target shape, injection molding that cuts and manufactures the saddle shape of the target shape is more suitable as a manufacturing method.

In addition, the waveguide structure 24 includes a light beam branching element holding structure 24a and a reflection surface holding structure 24b. Since the light beam branching element holding structure 24a is formed integrally with the mirror array block 25, the reflection surface The degree of freedom in processing the holding structure 24b can be improved. Therefore, it is optimal when the reflecting surfaces 15 to 18 are concave and formed integrally with the reflecting surface holding structure 24b.

[0100] Further, by forming the beam branching element holding structure 24a based on a predetermined design, the beam branching elements 11-14 can be simply mounted on the upper surface of the beam branching element holding structure 24a. 14 and coupling element 6 ~: The relative position and angle of LO can be determined.

[0101] Also in this embodiment, the same effect as in the first embodiment described above can be obtained.

[0102] <Third embodiment>

9 to 11 are diagrams for explaining an optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to the third embodiment of the present invention. Figure

9 is a schematic side view showing an optical system of an optical multiplexer / demultiplexer that works on the present embodiment. Figure 9 conceptually shows the light rays propagating inside the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the optical axis of the light beam that passes through the end face 50 that is the light receiving and emitting surface of the optical fiber 41 and the optical axis of the light beam that passes through the light beam splitting element 48-1. The feature is that the angle formed is smaller than 45 °. Therefore, the incident angle of the light incident on the coupling element 43 is It can be made sufficiently small to reduce coma and loss.

[0104] In this embodiment, the light branching elements 48-1 to 48-8 and the reflection are made on a plane including a plurality of V grooves 41, 42-1 to 42-8 (see Figs. 10 and 11). Since surface 49 (see Figure 11) must be accurately tilted with respect to the surface of the mirror array probe 40, structural features are provided to accurately and easily position these components. Desirable to give A specific example will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0105] Fig. 10 shows a configuration in which a coupling element, a V-groove for fixing an optical fiber, and a part of a waveguide structure are integrally formed among members constituting an optical multiplexer / demultiplexer that is useful in the present embodiment. FIG. 7 is a perspective schematic external view showing a specific example of a mirror array block 40.

As shown in FIG. 10, the mirror array block 40 includes a V-groove 51 formed linearly at one substrate end on the surface of the plate-shaped substrate, and one slope constituting the V-groove 51. Coupling elements 43, 44-1 to 44-8 formed on the surface 5 la along the linear axis direction of the V groove 51, and perpendicular to the linear axis direction of the V groove 51 and the coupling element 43 44-1 to 44-8, and a plurality of linear V grooves 41 and 42-1 to 42-8 formed so as to be connected to the V groove 51. The multiple V-grooves 41 and 42-1 to 42-8 are V-grooves for fixing optical fibers, and are formed so as to face each other corresponding to the coupling elements 43 and 44-1 to 44-8! RU

[0107] Further, in the two substrate end portions perpendicular to the substrate end portion, the V-groove 51 is not formed, and a pair of substantially prismatic protrusions are formed outside the V-grooves 43 and 44-8. The light beam branching element holding part 45 and the reflection surface holding part 46 which are a pair of substantially prismatic protrusions are formed. The beam splitter holding part 45 is formed closer to the coupling element than the reflecting surface holding part 46. Further, in the light beam branching element holding part 45 and the reflecting surface holding part 46, the surfaces opposite to the surface on the coupling element side are a flat inclined surface 45a and a flat inclined surface 46a, respectively.

[0108] The inclination angle of the inclined surface 51a is compared with the inclined surface of the mirror array shown in Fig. 5 in order to make the incident angle of light incident on the coupling elements 43 and 44-1 to 44-8 sufficiently small. The surface is inclined (nearly perpendicular to the substrate surface).

[0109] When forming a holding structure for arranging the beam splitter directly and obliquely in the mirror array block 40, in order to improve the accuracy of the arrangement angle, the area of the beam splitter is sufficient. It is necessary to increase the size. However, if the area of the beam splitter increases, the manufacturing cost increases, the size of the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer increases, and the optical path length of the propagating light beam increases as the channel spacing increases, resulting in variations in loss between channels. Or problems that increase

[0110] Therefore, in order to avoid these problems, a flat plate (filter array flat plate) in which a plurality of beam branching elements are arranged in an array is prepared separately, and the position and angle of the filter array flat plate are accurately determined. It is desirable to form a holding portion for the mirror array block integrally.

[0111] This eliminates the need for a comb-like structure for holding each light-branching element between adjacent light-branching elements, and increases the channel spacing to form a comb-like structure. There is no need. In addition, since the holding portion only needs to be formed outside the arrayed V-groove, a holding portion having a sufficiently large size can be formed, and a flat plate having a reflective region (a beam splitter arranged in each channel, or a plurality of The accuracy of the arrangement angle of the filter array flat plate formed by arraying the light beam branching elements can be improved. Of course, this holding portion can also be used to accurately determine the position and angle of the reflecting surface other than the beam splitter.

FIG. 11 shows an optical multiplexer / demultiplexer in which the filter array flat plate 47 and the reflection surface 49 are held by the beam splitter holding unit 45 and the reflection surface holding unit 46, respectively. The light beam branching element holding unit 45 and the filter array flat plate 47, the reflection surface holding unit 46, and the held reflection surface 49 constitute a waveguide structure.

[0113] The filter array flat plate 47 is held in an inclined manner by contacting the inclined surfaces 45a of the pair of beam branching element holding portions 45 at both end surfaces. Further, the flat reflection surface 49 is inclined and held by contacting the inclined surfaces 46a of the pair of reflection surface holding portions 46 at both end surfaces. The filter array flat plate 47 has a frame-like appearance, and light branching elements 48-1 to 48-8 are fitted into the frame corresponding to the coupling elements 44-1 to 44-8.

[0114] The filter array flat plate 47 is not limited to the type in which each beam splitting element is fitted into a physical hole in the form of an array as in this embodiment, but is an optically transparent flat plate such as a glass plate. A type in which each beam splitter is pasted in an array and an optically transparent flat plate In addition, a type in which dielectric multilayer films having different transmission wavelength ranges are directly formed in an array is also conceivable. In either case, it is necessary to manufacture the filter array flat plate with care so that the reflecting surfaces of all the beam splitters are arranged on the same plane.

[0115] The effects of this example will be described below.

[0116] <Angle formed by incident / reflecting optical axis is less than 45 °>

When a mirror is used as the coupling element, the angle between the incident light incident on the coupling element and the reflected light reflected by the coupling element is greater than 0 °. Therefore, when the optical axes of all the light emitting / receiving elements are arranged in the same plane, the angle formed by the incident light and the reflected light at each coupling element is made uniform, and the optical path length connecting the light emitting / receiving element and the coupling element is made uniform. For this purpose, a plane including the optical axis of the light emitting / receiving element (hereinafter referred to as the light receiving / emitting element plane) and a plane including the optical axis of the light beam transmitted and reflected by each light branching element (hereinafter referred to as the light beam splitting element plane) are used. It is necessary to intersect three-dimensionally. Furthermore, a reflection surface, that is, a waveguide element, is required for allowing a light beam reflected by a certain light beam branching element to enter another light beam branching element.

Here, in the conventional optical multiplexer / demultiplexer shown in FIG. 37, the reflecting surface 1007 corresponding to the coupling element is a paraboloid of revolution, a hyperboloid of revolution, and a ellipsoid of revolution. In this case, the angle formed by the incident / reflection optical axis of the coupling element is about 90 °, and the angle formed by the light beam splitting element plane and the light receiving / emitting element plane is often about 90 °. Therefore, the waveguide element is arranged at the furthest position with respect to the light emitting / receiving element plane, and it is difficult to form a structure for positioning the light emitting / receiving element and the waveguide element in a single block. is there.

[0118] For this reason, the structure for positioning the light emitting / receiving element and the structure for positioning the waveguide element must be configured in separate blocks. Therefore, the number of parts and assembly man-hours increase, and the manufacturing cost increases. In addition, the excess loss immediately increases due to the influence of strain when the temperature gradient occurs. Furthermore, if the pitch of adjacent beam splitters and the incident angle of the beam incident on the beam splitter are the same, the size of the optical system will increase.

On the other hand, in this embodiment, since the angle force formed by the incident / reflecting optical axes of the coupling elements 43, 44-1 to 44-8 is smaller, the angle formed by the light beam splitting element plane and the light receiving / emitting element plane is also smaller. It can be reduced to the same extent. Therefore, the reflection surface 49 corresponding to the waveguide element is It can be placed closer to the light emitting / receiving element plane than when the angle between the two planes is 90 °, and the structure for positioning the light emitting / receiving element and the waveguide element can be formed with a single block. Easy to configure.

[0120] For this reason, the number of parts and the number of assembly steps can be reduced, and the manufacturing cost can be suppressed.

In addition, it is possible to suppress excessive loss that is difficult to be affected by distortion when a temperature gradient occurs. Furthermore, when the pitch of adjacent beam splitters and the incident angle of the beam incident on the beam splitter are the same, the size of the optical system can be reduced.

[0121] When the coupling element is a spherical mirror, in order to reduce the influence of coma aberration, it is desirable that the angle formed by the light beam splitting element plane and the light emitting / receiving element plane is as small as possible. However, care must be taken so that the propagating light beam and the light emitting / receiving element do not interfere with each other!

[0122] <Light-branching element holding part 45 and reflecting surface holding part 46 are formed integrally with mirror block 45

>

The beam splitters 48-1 to 48-8 and the reflecting surface 49 have a function as a mirror. For this reason, these positional and angular deviations cause optical axis deviations of propagating light rays and increase excess loss, so that high mounting accuracy is required. In particular, it is necessary to pay attention because the beam splitters 48-1 to 48-8 are plane mirrors that amplify the angle deviation of the reflected beam.

Here, in this embodiment, the beam branching element holding part 45 and the reflecting surface holding part 46 are integrally formed with the mirror array block 40. Therefore, the filter array flat plate (filter array block) 47 in which the beam splitters 48-1 to 48-8 are formed in an array is reflected on the inclined surface 45a of the beam splitter holder 45, and the reflecting surface 49 is reflected. The assembly is completed simply by pressing, abutting and bonding to the inclined surface 46a of the surface holding portion 46. This eliminates the need for special assembly equipment and advanced skills, and allows parts to be assembled with high precision and ease, thereby reducing manufacturing costs.

[0124] It should be noted that the beam branching element holding unit 45 and the reflecting surface holding unit 46 may be configured such that the deviation is integrally formed in the mirror array block, but both are in the mirror array block as in this embodiment. It is desirable that they are integrally formed. By doing so, the relative positions and angles of the three elements, the coupling elements 43, 44-1 to 44-8, the beam splitters 48-1 to 48-8, and the reflecting surface 49 can be determined accurately and easily. The assembly time can be greatly reduced. [0125] <Space is interposed between beam splitters 48-l to 48-8 and reflecting surface 49>

When resin is used as the propagation medium, the propagation loss of optical signals with a wavelength of about 1. used in long-distance optical communications is large. When optical glass is used as the propagation medium, propagation loss can be reduced, but it becomes difficult to manufacture waveguide elements such as concave mirrors in a highly accurate array. Mass production using glass injection molding reduces the yield that can be produced with a single mold, leading to increased production costs. Therefore, as in the conventional optical demultiplexer shown in FIG. 43, when the light beam propagates between the wavelength specifying filter 3202 corresponding to the light branching element and the converging reflector 3201 corresponding to the waveguide element, Both propagation loss and manufacturing cost increase.

On the other hand, in this embodiment, a space is interposed between the beam splitters 48-1 to 48-8 and the reflecting surface 49 corresponding to the waveguide element. Therefore, since light rays propagate through space, the propagation loss is negligibly small. Therefore, the propagation loss is much smaller than the conventional optical demultiplexer. Even if the pitch of the beam splitters 48-1 to 48-8 is increased or the incident angle of the propagating beam to the beam splitters 48-1 to 48-8 is increased, the propagation loss does not increase. Design flexibility can also be improved. In this embodiment, since the optical transparency of the waveguide element is not limited, it is desirable to use a material (such as resin) that is easy to process at low cost and suitable for mass production.

[0127] <Fourth embodiment>

12 and 13 are diagrams for explaining an optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12 is a schematic perspective view of a specific mirror array block of the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer that works on the present embodiment. FIG. 13 is a schematic perspective view of an optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to this embodiment in which a specific mirror array block and a specific waveguide structure are assembled. This embodiment is an application example of the third embodiment.

[0128] As shown in Fig. 12, the mirror array block 40 includes, on the surface of the plate-like substrate, side walls 40a, 40b, 40c formed at three substrate end portions, and a substrate on which the side walls 40a are formed. A V-groove 51 formed linearly along the side wall 40a at the end, and an array formed along the linear axis direction of the V-groove 51 on one inclined surface 51a constituting the V-groove 51 Coupling element 43, 44-1 to 44-8 and perpendicular to the linear axis direction of V groove 51, coupling element 43, 44-1 to 44- A plurality of linear V grooves 41, 42-1 to 42-8 formed so as to be connected to the V groove 51 so as to face 8 are also configured. The plurality of V-grooves 41, 42-1 to 42-8 are V-grooves for fixing optical fibers, and are formed so as to face each other corresponding to each coupling element 43, 44-1 to 44-8. !

[0129] The side walls 40a, 40b, and 40c formed at the three substrate ends form a shape in which the outer side of the optical fiber array and the upper side of the coupling element are surrounded. The side wall portion 40b is formed with an inclined surface 45a that serves as an optical beam branching element holding portion and an inclined surface 46a that serves as a reflecting surface holding portion. Similarly, the side wall portion 40c is provided with corresponding inclined surfaces 45a and 46a. Yes. The inclined surface 45a of the beam branching element holding part is formed closer to the coupling element than the inclined surface 46a of the reflecting surface holding part. Each inclined surface 45a, 46a is a flat inclined surface.

[0130] As shown in FIG. 13, the length in the array direction of the filter array flat plate 47 in which a plurality of beam branching elements 48-1 to 48-8 are formed in an array is the longitudinal direction of the flat reflective surface 49. Correspondingly, the inclined surfaces 45a and 46a are formed in the side wall portions 40b and 40c so that the planar shape of the side wall portions is stepped.

[0131] In this embodiment, the four inclined surfaces for positioning the filter array flat plate 47 and the reflecting surface 49 are rectangular flat surfaces, but two minute protrusion structures are provided on each rectangular plane. If formed, the flat plate can be positioned by point contact instead of surface contact, so that the positioning accuracy can be further improved.

[0132] Further, as in this embodiment, the structure is such that side walls are formed on three surfaces so as to surround the V-groove portion, and a flat plate holding portion (inclined surface) and a plurality of coupling elements are formed on those side surfaces. By doing so, the mechanical strength can be improved, and a mirror array block that does not easily deform even when the environmental temperature changes can be obtained.

[0133] It should be noted that this embodiment can also provide the same effects as those of the third embodiment described above.

As described above, as a method of forming the coupling element, the beam branching element holding structure, the V-groove, etc. described in each of the embodiments, a cutting process for directly cutting a substrate into a target shape, After cutting the mold, injection molding, in which resin, etc. is poured into the mold and heated and molded, is considered. However, when manufacturing the same mirror array block etc. in large quantities, the injection molding method is suitable. Yes. Also, regarding the shape of the V-groove, if sufficient attention is paid only to the shape accuracy of the region close to the coupling element and the relative positional accuracy with the coupling element, the other parts are not affected. Is so high, accuracy is required.

FIG. 14 is a schematic configuration diagram of an optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the light rays propagating through the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer are conceptually shown.

As shown in FIG. 14, the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to the fifth embodiment includes a lens array block 110 in which lenses for inputting and outputting light rays are integrally formed, and light rays including a specific wavelength range. The beam splitting elements 111 to 114 that transmit light and reflect light beams outside a specific wavelength range and a reflection surface 128 that reflects light beams are configured. The optical multiplexer / demultiplexer is coupled with optical fibers 115 to 119 so that wavelength multiplexed light or monochromatic light can be input and output.

[0137] The lens array block 110 includes a lens 120 for inputting / outputting wavelength-multiplexed rays, lenses 101-104 for inputting / outputting monochromatic rays, and a beam branching element 111-114 protruding from the lens array block main body. And a beam branching element holding structure 105 to 109 for holding the light. In the lens array block 110, the lenses 101 to 104 and the beam branching element holding structures 105 to 109 are alternately arranged. For example, the lens 101 is disposed between the protruding beam branching element holding structure 105 and the beam branching element holding structure 106, and the other lenses 102 to 104 are respectively disposed between the two protruding beam branching element holding structures. Has been placed.

[0138] Further, for example, the light beam branch element 111 is held at both ends thereof on the upper surfaces of the protruding light beam branch element holding structure 105 and the light beam branch element holding structure 106, and the other light beam branch elements 112 to 114 are also Each of them is held by two projecting beam branching element holding structures. As a result, the lenses 101 to 104 and the beam splitters 111 to 114 corresponding to the lenses 101 to 104 are paired (four pairs in FIG. 14) and arranged on the lens array block body! /. The lenses 101 to 104 are lenses that are convex toward the beam splitters 111 to 114.

[0139] The light branching elements 111 to 114 hold the light branching element so that the light incident and reflecting surfaces thereof are parallel to the surfaces in which the lenses 101 to 104 and 120 in the lens array block 110 are aligned. Held in structures 105-109. Furthermore, the reflective surface 128 is a lens array block 1 On the side of the light beam branching elements 111 to 114 held by 10, the surface that reflects the light beam is installed so as to be parallel to the light incident / reflection surface of the light beam branching elements 111 to 114.

[0140] The optical fiber 115 for inputting / outputting wavelength-multiplexed rays is co-located with the optical fibers 116-119 for inputting / outputting monochromatic rays, and is installed on the opposite side of the reflecting surface 128 with the lens array block 110 interposed therebetween. .

[0141] The line connecting the light receiving and emitting points (light receiving and emitting points on the end faces) in each of the optical fibers 115 to 119 is parallel to the filter array surface and the reflecting surfaces of the beam branching elements 111 to 114. It is not parallel to the light receiving and emitting surfaces (end surfaces) of the fibers 115 to 119. That is, the optical fibers 115 to 119 are arranged such that their light receiving and emitting surfaces are inclined with respect to the filter array surface. Since the beam splitters 111 to 114 are parallel to the lens array surface or the filter array surface (inclined or not), it is possible to use a single flat plate as the reflecting surface 128.

[0142] When the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to the present embodiment is used as a demultiplexer, the operation principle of the demultiplexer is as follows. The wavelength multiplexed light that has propagated through the optical fiber 115 from the outside of the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer is guided to the inside of the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer and enters the lens 120 as a slightly diffused wavelength multiplexed light. The wavelength multiplexed light is collimated by the lens 120 and then propagates to the reflecting surface 128. The wavelength multiplexed light propagated to the reflecting surface 128 is reflected by the reflecting surface 128 and enters the light beam splitting element 111.

The wavelength multiplexed light that has entered the light beam splitting element 111 passes through the light beam splitting element 111 and passes through a light beam having a specific wavelength range, and enters the lens 101 as a monochromatic light beam. Then, the light is condensed in the lens 101, coupled to the optical fiber 116, and output to the outside of the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer.

[0144] A wavelength-multiplexed light beam composed of light beams outside a specific wavelength band is reflected without passing through the light beam splitting element 111 and propagates to the reflecting surface 128. The wavelength multiplexed light propagated to the reflecting surface 128 is reflected by the reflecting surface 128 and enters the beam splitter 112.

The wavelength multiplexed light that has entered the light beam splitting element 112 is transmitted through the light beam splitting element 112 and includes a specific wavelength range, and becomes a monochromatic light beam and enters the lens 102. Then, the light is condensed in the lens 102, coupled to the optical fiber 117, and output to the outside of the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer. It is.

[0146] By repeating the above process, the wavelength multiplexed light incident from the optical fiber 115 can be extracted from the optical fibers 116 to 119 as a plurality of demultiplexed monochromatic light beams.

Further, when the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to the present embodiment is used as a multiplexer, this corresponds to a case where the traveling directions of the wavelength multiplexed light and the monochromatic light in the demultiplexing operation described above are reversed. That is, by inputting monochromatic light beams to the optical fibers 116 to 119 from the outside of the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer, the plurality of monochromatic light beams can be extracted from the optical fiber 115 as multiplexed wavelength multiplexed light beams. it can.

[0148] Convergent light (in the case of a demultiplexer) or diffused light (in the case of a multiplexer) propagates between the end faces of the optical fibers 116 to 119 and the lenses 101 to 104. For this reason, in order to propagate the beam as designed, it is necessary to precisely determine the relative position and angle between the optical fiber and the lens. Therefore, it is desirable to integrally form a structure for fixing the optical fibers 116 to 119 in the lens array block 110 in a simple and accurate manner.

In this embodiment, the optical fibers 116 to 119 for inputting / outputting monochromatic light, the lenses 101 to 104, and the light branching elements 111 to 114 are arranged on one straight line. The optical elements can be collectively arranged in an array, and the optical elements can be easily arranged and formed. Further, in this embodiment, since all the optical fibers 115 to 119 are arranged on one surface of the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer, it is suitable for mounting the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer on the corner of the package.

[0150] In the present embodiment, the number of beam branching elements is four, the number of lenses is five, the number of reflecting surfaces is three, and the number of optical fibers is five. The number is not limited. Further, the light receiving and emitting points for wavelength multiplexed light and monochromatic light are not limited to optical fibers, and some or all of the light receiving and emitting points may be light receiving and emitting elements such as laser diodes and photodiodes. Furthermore, a configuration may be adopted in which a plurality of light emitting points and light receiving points exist in one optical multiplexer / demultiplexer.

[0151] <Sixth embodiment>

FIG. 15 is a conceptual diagram of an optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention. The optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to the present embodiment is disposed on the optical path of the light beam propagating between the adjacent light beam branching elements. The waveguide elements are concave mirrors 215 to 218, and all the concave mirrors 215 to 218 are integrally formed in a waveguide element block 220 that is separate from the mirror array block.

[0152] With such a configuration, only by adjusting the position of the waveguide block 220, the angle of the reflected light from the concave mirrors 215 to 218 is changed, and the excess loss of all channels is reduced. Alignment is possible. In this case, the positional deviation tolerance of the incident light with respect to the concave mirrors 215 to 218 is important. The concave mirrors 215 to 218 have a light condensing power smaller than that of the coupling elements 206 to 210 because the purpose is to mutually convert collimated light (that is, to invert the phase of the wavefront while maintaining the beam diameter substantially). Therefore, it is possible to suppress the influence of the positional deviation of the incident light beam with respect to the concave mirrors 215 to 218 on the angular deviation of the reflected light beam, that is, the excessive loss due to the optical axis deviation.

FIG. 16 shows an example of the dependence of the coupling efficiency on the waveguide element block shift amount in this optical multiplexer / demultiplexer. As shown in the graph, for example, even if the position of the waveguide block 220 is shifted by about 10 m, an optical design that can suppress excess loss within ldB is possible. As described above, this optical multiplexer / demultiplexer can facilitate the assembly in which the alignment tolerance of the waveguide element block 220 is loose with respect to the allowable excess loss, so that the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

[0154] Next, after the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer is assembled, when the angle of the waveguide element block 220 also deviates from the design value due to a change in environmental temperature or the like, the concave mirrors 215 to 218 and the beam splitter elements 211 to Paying attention to the optical axis of the propagating light beam that is reflected multiple times with the 214, the concave mirrors 215 to 218 have a condensing power, so that the propagating light beam enters and reflects the concave mirrors 215 to 218 as shown in FIG. Every time, the positional deviation and angular deviation of the propagation optical axis are periodically corrected. Therefore, even if the optical path length is extended, the positional deviation or angular deviation of the propagation optical axis does not accumulate. Therefore, it is possible to suppress loss fluctuations with respect to changes in environmental temperature.

[0155] <Seventh embodiment>

Next, a seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described. The optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to the present embodiment eliminates the need for an optical block through which light propagates, thereby increasing the degree of freedom in material selection and reducing optical loss. Further, a fiber alignment member (a flange described later) Fixed surface 31 6) and an optical system that collects light (a coupling element block 305, which will be described later) are integrated to facilitate fiber alignment, and a filter (a beam splitter block 303, which will be described later) and an optical system (which will be described later). The low-loss can be realized by the alignment of the optical waveguide mirror block 304 and the like. As a result, the size and the cost can be reduced. Hereinafter, although a present Example is described based on drawing, this Example does not limit this invention. Note that members and portions that are common to all the drawings in the present embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions are omitted.

18 and 19 are perspective external views of the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the front side force of the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer, and FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the rear side force of the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer.

The optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to the present embodiment can multiplex signal light of eight wavelengths into wavelength multiplexed light, or can demultiplex wavelength multiplexed light into signal light of eight wavelengths. This is an example of an 8-channel optical multiplexer / demultiplexer.

As shown in these drawings, the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to the present embodiment includes an optical main block 301, a fiber fixing block 302 to which a plurality of optical fibers are fixed, and a plurality of dielectric multilayer filters. Is composed of a light beam splitter block 303 and an optical waveguide mirror block 304. The optical waveguide mirror block 304 corresponds to a waveguide element block. Here, the coupling element block 305 and the optical main block 301 are integrally formed.

FIG. 20 is a schematic perspective view of the optical main block.

The optical main block 301 includes a flat bottom surface 313, and a coupling element block 305 and a wall surface 312 that are erected on the bottom surface 313 so as to surround three sides of the bottom surface 313. Inside the coupling element block 305, a mirror surface 311 is formed in which a plurality of coupling elements 317 having a concave mirror, a plane mirror and the like are formed, and both ends of the mirror surface 311 are almost perpendicular to the mirror surface 311. In addition, two wall surfaces 312 are formed. On the two wall surfaces 312, a step having a filter block fixing surface 314 parallel to the mirror surface 311 is formed inside each wall surface 312, and the beam splitter block 303 can be fixed to the step. It has been.

[0159] In addition, the end of the wall surface 312 opposite to the mirror surface 311 (coupling element block 305). A notch having an optical waveguide mirror block fixing surface 315 parallel to the mirror surface 311 is formed in the upper part of the wall surface 312 near the portion, and the optical waveguide mirror block 304 can be fixed to the notch. RU Furthermore, a flange fixing surface 316 for fixing the optical fiber fixing block 302 is formed on the end portion opposite to the mirror surface 311 (coupling element block 305) on the bottom surface 313 and the two wall surfaces 312! Has been.

[0160] Here, the wall surface 312 is on the near side (the coupling element block 305 side) in FIG.

When the wall surface 312 having a high height (flange fixing surface 316 side) is viewed from the side, it has a substantially trapezoidal shape. The arrangement position of the block 304 is increased. In addition, the coupling element 317 has a mirror surface so that 13 coupling elements 317 are arranged in a row at the same interval as the fiber fixing groove 321 of the optical fiber fixing block 302 described later, that is, at the same interval as the optical fiber 323. It is formed on 311.

[0161] Note that the filter block fixing surface 314 and the optical waveguide mirror block fixing surface 315 on the optical main block 301 do not need to be completely flat, and a projection 318 as shown in FIG. 21 is formed. Also good. If the surface force connecting the vertices of these projections 318 is made parallel to the mirror surface 311, the beam splitter block 303 and the optical waveguide mirror block 304 are pressed against the vertices of these projections 318, Aligned parallel to the mirror surface 311. If such a projection 318 is used, it is only necessary to control the height of each projection 318 without controlling the flatness of the entire surface with high accuracy, and thus the optical main block 301 can be easily molded.

FIG. 22 is a schematic view of the optical fiber fixing block 302.

In the optical fiber fixing block 302, a plurality of fiber fixing grooves 321 are formed in parallel on the upper surface of a rectangular parallelepiped block 320, and a flange 322 having a plane perpendicular to the fiber fixing groove 321 is formed. The optical fiber 323 is fitted into the fiber fixing groove 321 on the upper surface of the optical fiber fixing block 302, and is fixed so that the plurality of optical fibers 323 are parallel to each other. Examples of the cross-sectional shape of the fiber fixing groove 321 include a V shape, a U shape, and a trapezoid. By fixing the flange 322 of the optical fiber fixing block 302 so as to come into contact with the flange fixing surface 316 of the optical main block 301, the tip of the optical fiber 323 is fixed to the optical main block 30. It is fixed at a position facing the coupling element 317 formed in 1, and is coupled to the coupling element 317 formed in the optical main block 301 that enters and exits from the end face of the optical fiber 323.

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view of the beam splitter block 303.

The beam splitter block 303 is a plate-like substrate that has nine through holes 332 arranged in a row at the same interval as the fiber fixing groove 321 of the optical fiber fixing block 302, that is, at the same interval as the optical fiber 323. Eight dielectric multilayer filters 333 are affixed to the filter mounting surface 334 of 331 so as to block the eight through holes 332 except for one of the through holes 332. is there.

In the example of FIG. 18 (FIG. 20), this beam splitter block 303 has a filter mounting surface 334 opposite to the filter mounting surface 334 and the filter block fixing surface 3 14 inside the wall surface 312 of the optical main block 301. It is adhered so as to come into contact with. Therefore, if the dielectric multilayer filter 333 is pasted so that the surface 336 opposite to the filter mounting surface 334 of the beam splitter block 303 and the surface of the dielectric multilayer filter 333 are parallel, the optical main block 301 Since the filter block fixing surface 314 and the mirror surface 311 are made parallel to each other, simply adjusting the wavelength selection block 3 to the filter block fixing surface 314 of the optical main block 30 1 and fixing it makes a complicated angle adjustment. Therefore, the surface of the dielectric multilayer filter 333 and the mirror surface 311 can be mounted in parallel to simplify the assembly procedure.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 24, in the beam branching element block 303, eight dielectric multilayer filters 333 are attached in a row to a plate-like transparent substrate 335 having no through-holes. It may be configured. In this case, it is desirable to form a non-reflective coating layer on the surface 336 opposite to the filter mounting surface 334 of the transparent substrate 335 to prevent reflection and to prevent the generation of reflection loss and stray light. By using a substrate with no through-holes, the adhesion area of the dielectric multilayer filter 333 can be increased, the adhesion strength can be increased, and the gap between the transparent substrate 335 and the dielectric multilayer filter 333 can be increased. By adhering while observing the generated interference fringes, it is possible to bond the transparent substrate 335 and the dielectric multilayer filter 333 with a high degree of accuracy and a high degree of parallelism.

FIG. 25 is a schematic diagram of the optical waveguide mirror block 304.

The optical waveguide mirror block 304 has an optical fiber on the waveguide mirror forming surface 342 of the plate-like member 341. The eight concave mirrors 343 are formed at the same interval as the fiber fixing groove 321 of the bar fixing block, that is, at the same interval as the optical fiber 323. The optical waveguide mirror block 304 is attached such that the waveguide mirror block fixing surface 315 and the waveguide mirror forming surface 342 formed in the cutout portion of the optical main block 301 are in contact with each other. That is, the optical waveguide block fixing surface 315 and the waveguide mirror forming surface 342 are mounted in parallel. Further, since the optical waveguide block fixing surface 315 of the optical main block 301 is formed to be parallel to the mirror surface 311 of the optical main block 301, the optical waveguide mirror block 304 is connected to the waveguide mirror block of the optical main block 301. By simply pressing and fixing to the fixed surface 315, the waveguide mirror forming surface 342 can be mounted so as to be parallel to the mirror surface 311 of the optical main block 301 without complicated angle adjustment, simplifying the assembly procedure. I can do it.

[0167] Next, the operation when the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer that is helpful in the present embodiment is used as an optical demultiplexer will be described.

[0168] FIG. 26 is a schematic internal structural diagram of an optical multiplexer / demultiplexer that is useful in the present embodiment, and illustrates an optical path inside. The coupling elements 317-1 to 317-9 can be formed by concave mirrors.

As shown in the figure, the diffused light emitted from the end face of the input optical fiber 323-1 is reflected by the common coupling element 317-1 formed in the optical main block 301, thereby being a parallel light beam or a light beam that is nearly parallel. And is folded back in the direction of the optical waveguide mirror block 304. The folded light beam passes through the through-hole 332 of the beam splitter block 303, is reflected by the first concave mirror 343-1 of the optical waveguide mirror block 304, and is reflected on the first dielectric multilayer filter 333-1. Incident.

The light transmitted through the first dielectric multilayer filter 333-1 is collected by the channel 1 coupling element 317-2 onto the first output fiber 23-2 and output. The light reflected by the first dielectric multilayer filter 333-1 is again reflected by the second concave mirror 3 43-2 of the optical waveguide mirror block 304, and the second dielectric multilayer filter 333-2 Is incident on. The light transmitted through the second dielectric multilayer filter 333-2 is condensed and output to the second output fiber 23-3 by the channel 2 coupling element 317-3. The light reflected by the second dielectric multilayer filter 333 2 is again reflected by the concave mirror 343-3 of the optical waveguide mirror block. The light is reflected and incident on the third dielectric multilayer filter 333-3. In the same manner, wavelength division multiplexed light is demultiplexed by sequentially repeating the incidence on the third, fourth,... Dielectric multilayer filters 333-3, 333-4,.

[0170] When the coupling element 317 of the optical main block 301 is a curved surface having a radius of curvature approximately twice as long as the distance from the optical fiber 323 to the coupling element 317, it is emitted from the optical fiber 323 and reflected by the coupling element 317. The emitted light becomes a substantially parallel light beam and propagates in space. In this case, the respective curvatures are adjusted so that the coupling element 317 of the optical main block 301 and the concave mirror 343 of the optical waveguide mirror block 304 form a confocal system, and the dielectric multilayer film filter is positioned at the beam waist. If the 333 filter faces are provided, the beam spot diameters of the light beams on all the dielectric multilayer filter 333 are aligned, and at the same time, all of the outgoing light fibers 323-2 to 323-9 are end faces. Since the beam spot diameters are uniform, an optical system optimally coupled to all the output optical fibers 322-2 to 323-9 can be realized, and light loss can be reduced.

[0171] When the optical path inside the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer is viewed from the side (in FIG. 26, when the inside of the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer is viewed from the wall surface 312 side), for example, when functioning as a demultiplexer, The light emitted from the emission fiber 323-1 is reflected upward at a predetermined angle by the common coupling element 317-1 and passes through the beam branching element block 303 disposed above the optical fiber fixing block 302. The light passes through the hole 332 and is incident on the concave mirror 343-1 of the optical waveguide mirror block 304 disposed above the optical fiber fixing block 302. Then, the light incident on the coupling element 343-1 is reflected downward at a predetermined angle by the concave mirror 343-1 and incident on the first dielectric multilayer filter 333-1 of the beam splitter block 303. Further, the optical power transmitted through the first dielectric multilayer filter 333-1 is incident on the channel 1 coupling element 317-2 of the optical main block 301, and then reflected and collected by the coupling element 317-2. , Output from optical fiber 323-2. The light reflected by the first dielectric multilayer filter 333-1 is reflected again by the second concave mirror 343-2 of the optical waveguide mirror block 304 and is incident on the second dielectric multilayer filter 333-2. Is done. The light transmitted through the second dielectric multilayer filter 333-2 is condensed and output to the second output fiber 23-3 by the channel 2 coupling element 317-3. Thereafter, wavelength multiplexing light is demultiplexed by sequentially repeating the same incident and reflection. [0172] The procedure for assembling the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to the present embodiment will be described in detail below. First, the optical fiber 323 is bonded and fixed to the plurality of fiber fixing grooves 321 of the optical fiber fixing block 302. When bonding and fixing, use a technique such as abutting the tip of the optical fiber 323 against the wall surface. After the optical fiber 323 is bonded and fixed to the optical fiber fixing block 302, the tips of the optical fiber fixing blocks 302 may be polished so that the tip positions of all the optical fibers 323 are aligned. That is, the end surface force of the optical fiber 323 is arranged perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical fiber 323 and on the same plane. In addition, it is desirable that the tip of the optical fiber 323 has an anti-reflection coating to reduce reflection loss.

Next, alignment is performed so that the flange 322 of the optical fiber fixing block 302 to which the optical fiber 323 is fixed is shifted on the flange fixing surface 316 of the optical main block 301, and the optical fiber fixing block 302 and the optical main After the alignment of the block 301, the adhesive fixing is performed. For alignment, the force to adjust the angle between the optical main block 301 and the optical fiber fixing block 302 using the plane mirror 317-10 consisting of the plane mirror of the optical main block 301 and the plane mirror fiber 323-10 is also included. start. Since the plane mirror 317-10 is made perpendicular to the optical axis design value of the optical fiber 323, the light emitted from the plane mirror fiber 323-10 is reflected by the plane mirror 317-10. The amount of light returning to the plane mirror fiber 323-10 again becomes the largest when the angle is adjusted so that the optical fiber fixing block 302 has an angle as designed. For this reason, it is possible to check whether the optical fiber fixing block 302 is attached at a predetermined angle by monitoring the light incident and returning from the plane mirror fiber 32 3-10.

[0174] After adjusting the angle of the optical fiber fixing block 302, the position is adjusted. The alignment mirrors 317-11 and 317-12 at both ends of the optical main block 301 are spherical surfaces (from the optical fiber to the concave mirror) that are centered at the positions to be the end surfaces of the alignment optical fibers 323-11 and 323-12. A concave mirror composed of a spherical surface having a radius substantially equal to the distance up to. Therefore, the light emitted from the alignment optical fibers 323-11 and 323-12 is reflected by the alignment mirrors 317-11 and 317-12 and returns to the same fiber end face again. The amount of light is greatest when the end faces of the alignment optical fibers 323-11 and 323-12 are in the center of the alignment mirrors 317-11 and 317-12. Since these alignment mirrors 317-11 and 317-12 are provided at both ends of the mirror surface 311, light is incident from the two alignment optical fibers 323-11 and 323-12 and the returned light is monitored. By doing so, the optical fiber fixing block 302 can be adjusted to the position as designed.

In this way, the optical main block 301 and the optical fiber fixing block 302 having the adjusted angle and position are bonded and fixed.

Next, the beam splitter block 303 is fixed to the optical main block 301. As described above, the optical main block 301 is formed with the filter block fixing surface 314 parallel to the mirror surface 311, and the light branching element block 303 is pressed against the filter block fixing surface 314 to fix it. The multilayer filter 333 is mechanically fixed at a predetermined angle! /. If the area of the dielectric multilayer filter 333 is sufficiently large compared to the beam diameter of the beam, the alignment accuracy of the beam splitter block 303 is not required. Therefore, the alignment of the beam splitter block 303 is adjusted to the optical main block. Adequate alignment is possible by using a method such as mechanical contact with the corner of the step of the filter block fixing surface 314 of 301.

After fixing the beam splitter block 303, the optical waveguide mirror block 304 is fixed to the optical main block 301. Also here, as described above, since the waveguide mirror block fixing surface 315 is formed on the optical main block 301, the optical main block 301 and the optical waveguide mirror block 304 are formed by pressing the optical waveguide mirror block 304 against this surface. It is adjusted to a predetermined angle.

In this embodiment, in order to confirm the force with which the optical main block 301 and the optical waveguide mirror block 304 are correctly attached at a predetermined angle, as one of the coupling elements 317 of the optical main block 301, the optical waveguide Block angle adjusting mirrors 317-13 are formed. Light emitted from the optical waveguide mirror block angle adjusting fiber 323-13 is reflected by the optical waveguide mirror block angle adjusting mirror 317-13 and converted into parallel rays perpendicular to the waveguide mirror forming surface 342 of the optical waveguide mirror block 304. Is done. This parallel light beam is reflected by the plane mirror 344 formed on the waveguide mirror forming surface 342 of the optical waveguide mirror block 304, and light is again emitted. The light is reflected and collected by the waveguide mirror block angle adjusting mirror 317 13 and returned to the optical waveguide mirror block angle adjusting fiber 323-13. The return light returning to the optical waveguide mirror block angle adjusting fiber 323-13 is the largest when the optical waveguide mirror block 304 is mounted at a predetermined angle, so monitor the intensity of this return light. Thus, it is possible to confirm whether or not the optical waveguide mirror block 304 is attached at a predetermined angle.

[0179] After adjusting the angle of the optical waveguide mirror block 304, the light is incident from the input optical fiber 323-1, so that the output light from each of the output optical fibers 323-2 to 323-9 is maximized. Adjust and fix the position of block 304. By providing the optical main block 301 with the plane mirror 317-10, the alignment mirrors 317-11 and 317-12, and the optical waveguide mirror block angle adjusting mirror 317-13, the optical main block 301 and the optical fiber The bar fixing block 302, the beam splitter block 303, and the optical waveguide mirror block 304 can be fixed at the correct angle and position.

Note that the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to the present embodiment corresponds to the transmission spectrum of each dielectric multilayer film from each output optical fino, with the input / output of light being in the direction opposite to that described above. By inputting a wavelength signal, it can be emitted from the input optical fiber as wavelength multiplexed light, and can also be used as an optical multiplexer.

[0181] In this embodiment, the optical fiber 323 is exemplified as the light emitting / receiving element. However, as the light emitting / receiving element, a laser diode, a photodiode, an optical fiber, a laser diode, a photodiode, and the like can be used. Examples include parts combined with a lens system, that is, optical package parts such as a tip spherical fiber, a fiber collimator, a transmission system optical subassembly (TOSA), and a reception system optical subassembly (ROSA).

[0182] Also, the light receiving and emitting element fixing structure for positioning them may be other structures such as a V-groove, U-groove and concave groove. For example, when the optical fiber 323 is used as the light emitting / receiving element, the end face of the optical fiber 323 is arranged on the same plane, and when the photodiode is used as the light emitting / receiving element, Use a V-groove to position the light emitting and receiving points on the same plane.

[0183] The coupling element 317 refers to an element that reflects incident light and collimates or collects light. [0184] Moreover, the force that exemplifies the dielectric multilayer filter 333 as a light beam splitting element. This light beam splitting element transmits a light beam in a specific wavelength region among incident light beams, and reflects a light beam in other wavelength regions. It is an element to be made. Specific examples of the light branching element when using a specific wavelength range fixedly include a bandpass filter using a dielectric multilayer film, an edge filter, and a wavelength-order fine lattice structure formed on the surface. A resonance mode filter is considered. In addition, the wavelength range to be transmitted can be changed independently for each beam splitter by external control. In that case, a wavelength tunable filter using the electro-optic effect or the thermo-optic effect, MEMS An etalon filter using technology can be considered. Of course, it is also conceivable that the wavelength range that transmits the light beam includes the entire wavelength range of the incident light beam. In that case, the beam splitter corresponds to an optical transmission window. Conversely, the entire wavelength range of the incident light beam is not transmitted! /, And the light beam splitting element has the same function as a flat reflecting surface.

In this embodiment, the light that has also received the light receiving and emitting element force such as the optical fiber 323 propagates through the space, is reflected by the coupling elements 317-1 to 317-9 formed in the optical main block 301, and again. After propagating through the space, the light is reflected by a waveguide element such as a concave mirror 343 formed on the optical waveguide mirror block 304. The reflected light is demultiplexed or multiplexed by being repeatedly reflected between the waveguide element formed on the optical waveguide mirror block 304 and the beam branching element such as the dielectric multilayer filter 333.

As described above, since all the light incident from the light receiving and emitting elements propagates in the space, an optically transparent material is used as a material for forming the coupling element block 305 and the optical waveguide mirror block 304. Even if it is optically opaque, it is possible to use inexpensive materials with excellent mechanical strength and thermal properties. Further, the diffused light emitted from the light emitting / receiving element is collected by the coupling elements 317-1 to 317-9, not the lens, and converted into a light beam suitable for wave guiding. In addition, a light beam that has been multiplexed and demultiplexed by repeating reflection between a waveguide element formed on the optical waveguide mirror block 304 and a beam branching element such as a dielectric multilayer filter 333 is Since the light is collected on the light receiving / emitting element by the coupling elements 317-1 to 317-9 formed on the optical main block 301, it can be efficiently coupled to the light receiving / emitting element to output the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer force. [0187] Further, a plurality of light emitting / receiving elements are fixed to the light receiving / emitting element fixing block such as the optical fiber fixing block 302, and the position of the light receiving / emitting element fixing block is determined when the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer is assembled. By simply adjusting and fixing to the light main block 301, it is possible to align multiple light emitting / receiving elements to the coupling element without adjusting each light emitting / receiving element individually, making it easy to align both become. In addition, since the optical main block 301 and the optical waveguide mirror block 304 are independent blocks, they are mounted on the coupling element formed on the coupling element block and the optical waveguide mirror block 304 during assembly. It is possible to adjust the angle and position of the waveguide element to an optimum position with little loss, and light loss can be reduced.

In this embodiment, as the coupling elements 317-1 to 317-9, concave mirrors having a spherical force having a radius of about twice the distance from the light emitting / receiving element to the coupling element can be used. In this case, the light emitted from the light emitting / receiving element for light input / output is converted into a light beam by the concave mirror, but is converted into a light beam and enters the light beam branching element, although some spherical aberration occurs. When the light beam is combined by the light beam splitting element, it is close to the parallel light beam that has been split, and the light beam is collected by another concave mirror and output to the light emitting / receiving element force for light output. The radius of curvature of the concave mirror should be approximately twice the distance to the light incident / exit point force coupling element of the light receiving / emitting element. Ideally, the beam waist of the light beam reflecting the light of the light receiving / emitting element force splits the beam. It is desirable to make the radius as formed on the element.

In this embodiment, as the coupling elements 317-1 to 317-9, concave mirrors having a parabolic curved surface force having a focal point near the light emitting / receiving element can be used. In this case, the light emitted from the light receiving and emitting element force for light input / output is converted into a parallel light beam by the concave mirror and enters the light beam splitting element. This parallel light beam is a light beam that can be best selected by the beam splitter. The parallel light beam combined or demultiplexed by the light beam branching element is condensed by another concave mirror, and the light emitting / receiving element force for light output is also output. The parallel light beam emitted from the light emitting / receiving element and converted by the coupling element is reflected by the plane mirror 344 formed on the optical waveguide mirror block 304 and then collected again by the coupling element on the light emitting / receiving element. The light may be output. With this configuration, when the optical waveguide mirror block 304 is mounted differently from the predetermined mounting angle, The light reflected by the plane mirror 344 of the optical waveguide mirror block 304 is condensed by the coupling element at a point different from the light receiving point of the light receiving / emitting element. Therefore, by observing the output light from the light emitting / receiving element, it is possible to confirm whether the optical waveguide mirror block 304 is attached at a predetermined mounting angle. Can be fixed to the main block 301.

In this embodiment, as the coupling elements 317-1 to 317-9, a concave mirror having a spherical force having a radius substantially equal to the distance from the light emitting / receiving element to the coupling element can be used. In this case, the light emitted from the light receiving and emitting element force for light input / output is reflected by the concave mirror, and is again condensed and output to the light receiving and emitting point of the light receiving and emitting element. With such a configuration, when the light receiving / emitting element fixing block and the optical main block 301 are attached at different positions from the predetermined mounting position, the light receiving / emitting element is emitted from the light receiving / emitting element, and the concave mirror of the optical main block 301 is used. The reflected light is collected at a point different from the light emitting / receiving point of the light emitting / receiving element. For this reason, by observing the intensity of the output light from the light emitting / receiving element, it is possible to confirm whether the light receiving / emitting element fixing block is attached at a predetermined position. The fixed block can be fixed to the optical main block 301.

[0191] Also, in this embodiment, the plane mirror 317-10 having a surface perpendicular to the optical axis of the light emitting / receiving element can be used as the positioning mirror. In this case, since the plane mirror 317-10 is designed to be perpendicular to the optical axis of the light receiving / emitting element, the light emitted from the light receiving / emitting element is reflected by the plane mirror 317-10 toward the light receiving / emitting element. Reflected. The output when the reflected light is received by the light emitting / receiving element is maximum when the light receiving / emitting element is mounted at the designed angle, and when the light receiving / emitting element is mounted at a deviation from the designed angle, the flat mirror is used. The light receiving and emitting means are not perpendicular to each other, and the reflected light from the reflecting surface that can be received by the light emitting / receiving element is reduced compared to the case where it is installed as designed. For this reason, by observing the intensity of the output light from the light emitting / receiving element, it is possible to confirm whether the light receiving / emitting element fixing block is attached at a predetermined angle, so that the light receiving / emitting element is fixed with high positional accuracy. The block can be fixed to the optical main block 301.

In this embodiment, a concave mirror 343 can be used as the waveguide element of the optical waveguide mirror block 304. In this case, reflect the reflection surface of the optical waveguide mirror block 304 The optical beam force in the optical multiplexer is similar to that of a lens array waveguide that propagates the beam while condensing it, so light loss can be reduced compared to the case of using a plane mirror. In particular, when the number of wavelengths to be multiplexed / demultiplexed increases and the number of reflections in the optical waveguide mirror block 304 increases, the loss can be greatly reduced as compared with the case of using a plane mirror.

[0193] Further, as in this embodiment, if a light receiving / emitting element fixing block in which a plurality of optical fibers 323 are fixed in a fiber fixing groove is prepared in advance, the light emitting / receiving element fixing block is used as the optical main block 301. By simply aligning and fixing, each of the plurality of fibers can be fixed to the optical main block 301 without individually aligning, so the assembly procedure can be reduced. Also, when a plurality of optical fibers 323 are fixed to the light receiving / emitting element fixing block, the light receiving / emitting element fixing block has a plurality of V-shaped, U-shaped or square-shaped grooves for fixing the optical fiber 323. Since the optical fiber 323 is formed in this groove, the light receiving / emitting element fixing block and the optical fiber 323 are aligned with each other, and the assembly procedure can be reduced.

[0194] When the light beam branching element block is configured by using a transparent member such as glass as the substrate 335 and pasting the light beam branching element on the substrate 335, if a substrate 335 with high flatness is used, a plurality of light beam branching element blocks are formed on this plane. By pressing and fixing the light beam branching element, a plurality of light beam branching elements are mounted with a small angle variation, so that a highly accurate light beam branching element block can be manufactured. However, in this case, a non-reflective coating is necessary so that reflection loss does not occur on the surface of the substrate 335, and it is necessary to use an expensive member with high optical transparency, which causes an increase in cost. In addition, light loss due to absorption of the transparent member cannot be avoided.

[0195] On the other hand, if the substrate 331 having the through-hole 332 is used as the beam branching element block, an expensive optically transparent member is not used, and a non-reflective coating is not required, thereby reducing costs. . Also, light loss due to light absorption of the substrate 331 can be avoided.

[0196] <Eighth embodiment>

Next, an eighth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In this example, 8 This is an example in which the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer and its assembling apparatus of the present invention are applied to an optical demultiplexer that demultiplexes wavelength-multiplexed light of waves into light beams of respective wavelengths. This example does not limit the invention. In addition, the member and part which are common in all drawings are shown with the same code | symbol, and the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted.

FIG. 27 is a perspective view of the optical element array in accordance with the eighth embodiment of the present invention viewed from one direction (projection portion side). FIG. 28 is a perspective view of this optical element array as viewed from the other direction (optical element side).

As shown in FIG. 27 and FIG. 28, the optical element array 410 has a hemispherical (dome-shaped) chuck dome 403 that is a protrusion having a curved surface force on one surface (dome forming surface) 402. A concave mirror array composed of a plate-like substrate 401 formed by arranging the first to eighth concave mirrors 405a to 405h in a row on the other surface (mirror formation surface) 404 formed on Are reflected by the first to eighth concave mirrors 405a to 405h. However, the chuck dome 4003 is molded such that its center coincides with the substantially center of the substrate 401, that is, the position of the center of gravity of the substrate 401. By molding the chuck dome 403 at such a position, when the optical element array 410 is gripped by an assembly device described later, the gripped position and the center of gravity of the optical element array 410 coincide with each other. The element array 410 can be stably held.

29 and 30 are perspective views of an 8-wave optical multiplexer / demultiplexer using the optical element array 410. FIG. As shown in these figures, the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer 420 includes an optical main block 421, an input fiber 22, and output fibers 423a to 423h, which are first to eighth dielectric multilayers having different transmission wavelengths. It has a filter array flat plate 425 on which membrane filters 424a to 424h are arranged and attached in a row, and an optical element ray 410.

That is, on the surface of the plate-like substrate of the optical main block 421, side wall portions 421a, 421b, 421c forces ^ are respectively formed on the three substrate end portions, and the 佃 J wall portions 421b, 421c Filter array holding portions 426a and 426b for holding the filter array flat plate 425 and reflecting surface holding portions 427a and 427b for holding the optical element array 410 are formed. However, the mirror forming surface 404 of the photonic element array 410 is disposed to face a coupling element 429 of the optical main block 421 described later.

[0201] Further, on the surface of the plate-like substrate of the optical main block 421, a straight line is formed along the side wall 421a. The first to ninth coupling elements 429a to 429i are arranged along the linear axis direction of the V groove 428 on one inclined surface 428a constituting the V groove 428. It is. The input fiber 422 and the output fibers 423a to 423h are respectively installed in V grooves formed on the surface of the plate-like substrate of the optical main block 421 at predetermined intervals. The nine coupling elements 429a to 429i are arranged to face each other. The filter array holding portions 426a and 426b are made so as to hold the filter array flat plate 425 at a predetermined angle. The reflection surface holding portions 427a and 427b are formed so as to hold the optical element array 410 at a predetermined angle. Further, when the side surface of the optical element array 410 is pressed against the holding portions 427a and 427b, the angle around the axis perpendicular to the mirror forming surface 404 is adjusted to be a predetermined angle.

[0202] The operation principle of such an optical multiplexer / demultiplexer 420 will be described with reference to FIG. In order to make this operation principle easy to divide, rays are drawn in this figure. Hereinafter, a demultiplexing operation by the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer 420 will be described. As shown in this figure, the diffused light input from the input fiber 422 is reflected by the first coupling element 429a of the optical main block 421 as a substantially parallel light beam toward the optical element array 410, and the optical element The light is reflected by the first concave mirror 405a of the array 410 and is incident on the first dielectric multilayer filter 424a. The light in the specific wavelength range that has passed through the first dielectric multilayer filter 424a is collected by the second coupling element 429b and output from the first output fiber 423a. The light beam reflected by the first dielectric multilayer filter 424a is reflected again by the second concave mirror 405b of the optical element array 410 and is incident on the second dielectric multilayer filter 424b.

[0203] The light beam transmitted through the second dielectric multilayer filter 424b is collected by the third coupling element 429c and output from the second output fiber 423b. The light in the specific wavelength range reflected by the second dielectric multilayer filter 4 24b is reflected again by the third concave mirror 40 5c of the optical element array 410 and is incident on the third dielectric multilayer filter 424c. The Thereafter, the same operation is repeated to demultiplex the wavelength multiplexed light. If the input and output are reversed, wavelength multiplexed light is multiplexed and functions as a multiplexer.

FIG. 32 is a schematic diagram of an optical multiplexer / demultiplexer assembling device according to the present embodiment. This assembling device 450 has a gripping mechanism (which can grip the chuck dome 403 of the optical element array 410). (Gripping means) 441 and position adjusting mechanism (position adjusting means) 442 capable of moving the holding mechanism 441 in the vertical and horizontal directions, and reaction force generating means for generating reaction force as the position adjusting mechanism 442 moves. And an arm 452 that supports the gripping mechanism 441 via a holding member 459. The arm 452 is installed on an XYZ stage 458 that can move in three directions: X, Y, and Z.

[0205] The position adjusting mechanism 442 includes two slide rails 453 and 454 that slide (move) in the Z direction (vertical direction) and the Y direction (horizontal direction), respectively. The gripping mechanism 441 is a vacuum chuck 451 having a pipe at the tip, and the inner diameter of the pipe is formed smaller than the diameter of the chuck dome 403 of the optical element array 410. By forming the nove in such a shape, the pipe of the vacuum chuck 451 can be brought into close contact with the chuck dome 403 of the optical element array 410, and the optical element array 410 can be easily held (adsorbed).

[0206] The elastic member 443 is attached between the vacuum chuck 451 and the holding member 459, and is attached between the leaf spring 455 that generates a pressing force in the downward direction in the Z direction, and between the holding member 459 and the tip of the arm 452. And a coil spring 456 for generating a pressing force in a direction away from the arm 452 in the Y direction. A rubber hose 457 connected to a vacuum pump (not shown) is connected to the upper end of the vacuum chuck 451, and the chuck dome 403 of the optical element array 410 described above is adsorbed (gripped) to the lower end of the vacuum chuck 451. . In addition, the arm 452 has a shape that extends upward and the top end of the arm 452 extends further in the lateral direction, and the tip of the vacuum chuck 451 is attached to the tip of the arm 452 facing downward, so that it is attracted to the vacuum chuck 451. The optical element array 410 can be arbitrarily moved in the X, Y, and Z directions.

A procedure for aligning and attaching (assembling) the optical element array 410 to the optical main block 421 using the assembling apparatus 450 will be described with reference to FIGS. 33, 34, and 35. FIG.

First, the reflecting surface holding portion 427 of the optical main block 421 is fixed so as to face upward, and the optical element array 410 is mounted on the reflecting surface holding portion 427 so that the mirror forming surface 404 faces downward.

[0208] The X and Y directions of the XYZ stage 458 of the assembly device 450 are moved, and the vacuum chuck 451 is placed on the chuck dome 403 of the optical element array 410 mounted on the optical main block 421. Adjust so that is placed. Thereafter, the Z direction of the stage 458 is adjusted, the vacuum chuck 451 is lowered, and the tip of the vacuum chuck 451 is brought into contact with the chuck dome 4003 as shown in FIG.

[0209] The vacuum chuck 451 is pressed against the chuck dome 403 by the pressing force of the leaf spring 455 after contacting the chuck dome 403 as the arm 452 is lowered. When the vacuum pump 4 51 is pressed against the chuck dome 403 and the vacuum pump connected to the vacuum chuck 451 is operated, the vacuum chuck 451 forms a portion to be sucked, and the vacuum chuck 451 The reflective surface holding part 427 of the optical main block 421 has a reflective surface holding without adjusting the angle of the vacuum chuck 451 even if the reflective surface holding part 427 of the optical main block 421 is not pointing directly upward. The optical element array 410 is fixed to the vacuum chuck 451 while the parallelism of the part 427 and the mirror forming surface 404 of the optical element array 410 is maintained.

[0210] By moving the optical element array 410 fixed to the vacuum chuck 451 slightly in the Z direction of the XYZ stage 458, a slight gap is formed between the optical main block 421 and the optical element array 410 as shown in FIG. So that frictional force does not work on both.

[0211] In this state, by moving the XYZ stage 458 in the Y direction, the vacuum chuck 451 moves in the Y axis direction, and the optical element array 410 is brought into contact with the optical main block 421 as shown in FIG. You can hit 431. Since the vacuum chuck 451 has a pipe shape, the optical element array 410 pressed against the abutting surface 431 of the optical main block 421 has the vacuum chuck 451 so that the side surface 406 is at an angle along the abutting surface 431. It rotates as an axis, and the angle around the Z axis is adjusted to a predetermined angle.

[0212] In this way, by forming the chuck dome 403 in the optical element array 410 and using the assembly device 450 having the pipe-shaped vacuum chuck 451, the assembly device 450 has 0χ, θγ, and θζ. All the angle adjustments of the optical element array 410 can be performed without providing any rotation mechanism.

[0213] The optical element array 410, which has been angle-adjusted by the above-described operations, is adjusted in the X position and the heel position so as to obtain the optimum optical coupling by moving the ΧΥΖ stage 458 in the X and Υ directions. . After that, move the ΧΥΖ stage 458 Ζ direction downward to maintain the optical element array 410 and the reflective surface. The holding part 427 is brought into contact. After making contact between the optical element array 410 and the reflecting surface holding portion 427, it is confirmed again whether optimal optical coupling is obtained, and then fine adjustment in the X and Y directions is performed as necessary. The optical multiplexer / demultiplexer is completed by fixing the optical main block 421 using a method such as bonding.

[0214] By such an assembly device 450 and an assembly method, the assembly device 450 does not require a complicated rotation mechanism such as a three-axis rotation stage, and the assembly device itself has a simple structure, thereby reducing its manufacturing cost. be able to. Since it can be assembled without having to adjust all the rotating shafts to a predetermined angle, the assembling procedure is simplified, and the assembling time and the assembling work can be reduced.

[0215] The optical element of the optical element array 410 is not limited to the concave mirror 405 that reflects the light beam as described above. For example, a flat mirror, a dielectric multilayer filter, a diffraction grating, or a lens may be used. The same effect as the optical element array 410 is obtained.

[0216] In the above, the force chuck dome described using the optical element array 410 in which the chuck dome 403 is formed on the surface 402 facing the mirror forming surface 404 is formed so as not to overlap the optical element. The same effect as the good optical element array 410 is obtained.

[0217] <Ninth embodiment>

FIG. 36 is a diagram for explaining an optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to the ninth embodiment of the present invention, and shows a state when the waveguide element block of the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer is tilted.

[0218] The optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to the present embodiment includes a waveguide element block 501 in which waveguide elements 502 to 505 also having concave mirror force are formed, and a beam branch element block in which beam branch elements 507 to 510 are formed. 506. The beam branching element block 506 is held by block holding structures 511 and 512 formed in the coupling element block, and is arranged opposite to the waveguide element block 501. The coupling element block and the waveguide element block 501 are separated. Therefore, unlike the conventional optical multiplexer / demultiplexer shown in FIG. 44, the block holding structures 511 and 512 are separated from the waveguide element block 501.

[0219] The block holding structure 511, 512 is separated from the waveguide element block 501, so that even if the angle of the waveguide element block 501 is deviated, the angle of the beam splitter block 506 does not change, and the beam splits. The angle deviation does not affect the elements 507 to 510. Therefore, the propagating ray is Even if the light beams enter and reflect the light beam splitting elements 507 to 510, the angular deviation of the propagating optical axis is not amplified, and an extremely large shift does not occur in the incident position of the propagating light beam to the light guiding elements 502 to 505.

On the other hand, since the waveguide elements 502 to 505 have a condensing power, the angular deviation can be corrected each time the propagating light beam is reflected on the waveguide elements 502 to 505. Therefore, as in the conventional optical multiplexer / demultiplexer shown in FIG. 44, the angle deviation of the propagating light beam can be suppressed as compared with the case where the holding structure is integrally formed with the waveguide element block.

[0221] For example, the radius of curvature of the waveguide elements 502 to 505 is about 5 mm, the distance between the waveguide elements 502 to 505 and the beam branching elements 507 to 510 is also about 5 mm, and the light beam propagates to the waveguide elements 502 to 505. Let us consider the case where the design value of the incident / reflection angle is 11.31 °. When the waveguide element block 501 is inclined by 5 °, the incident / reflection angle of the propagating light beam to the waveguide elements 502 to 505 is conventionally about 2 ° to 17 °, whereas in this embodiment, it is 10 It is about 14 °, and the error from the design value of the incident / reflection angle is small. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to suppress the influence of the angle shift of the waveguide element block 501 on the optical axis shift, that is, the increase in excess loss.

[0222] The present invention has been described with reference to the case where the present invention is applied to an optical multiplexer / demultiplexer. However, a light ray having a function of transmitting a specific light amount of incident light and reflecting the remaining light amount. Even when the present invention is applied to a device using a branch element, that is, an optical power bra or an optical distributor, it is possible to provide substantially the same effect as that in an optical multiplexer / demultiplexer.

Claims

The scope of the claims

[1] a plurality of light emitting and receiving elements that perform at least one of receiving and emitting light;

A plurality of beam branching elements that transmit part of the incident light beam and reflect the rest, a plurality of coupling elements disposed on the optical path connecting the corresponding light emitting / receiving element and the beam branching element,

A waveguide element disposed on an optical path until a reflected light beam from one light beam branching element enters another light beam branching element;

An optical multiplexer / demultiplexer characterized in that all of the coupling elements are integrally formed in a single coupling element block.

[2] In the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to claim 1,

The optical multiplexer / demultiplexer, wherein the coupling element is a concave mirror having a spherical force.

[3] In the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to claim 1,

The optical multiplexer / demultiplexer, wherein the waveguide element is a concave mirror.

[4] In the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to claim 2,

An optical multiplexer / demultiplexer characterized in that an incident angle of light incident on the coupling element is smaller than 45 °.

[5] In the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to claim 1,

The optical axes of the light beams received and emitted by each of the light emitting / receiving elements are all arranged on a single plane! An optical multiplexer / demultiplexer characterized by squeezing.

[6] In the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to claim 1,

An optical multiplexer / demultiplexer characterized in that the coupling element block has a fixed structure for holding the light emitting / receiving element.

[7] In the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to claim 6,

The optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to claim 1, wherein the fixing structure is a shift between a V groove and a U groove.

[8] In the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to claim 1,

The coupling element block includes a holding structure that holds at least one of the light beam branching element and the waveguide element.

[9] In the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to claim 1, An optical multiplexer / demultiplexer, wherein all of the waveguide elements are arranged in a single waveguide element block.

[10] In the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to claim 1,

An optical multiplexer / demultiplexer characterized in that the waveguide element and the beam branching element are arranged through a space.

[11] The optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to claim 9,

The coupling element block includes a holding structure that holds the light beam branching element, and the coupling element block and the waveguide element block are separated from each other.

[12] The optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to claim 6,

The light emitting / receiving element is characterized in that a straight line formed by connecting light receiving / emitting points of adjacent light emitting / receiving elements and an optical axis of a light beam received / emitted by the light emitting / receiving element are orthogonal to each other. Duplexer.

[13] The optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to claim 6,

The coupling element block is:

A plate-like substrate in which one end and the other end are parallel;

A first V-groove formed linearly at one end of the substrate on the surface of the substrate;

Each of the coupling elements is arranged on one inclined surface constituting the first V-groove, and the fixing structure is perpendicular to the first V-groove on the surface of the substrate, and each of the coupling elements. An optical multiplexer / demultiplexer comprising a plurality of V grooves formed in a straight line so as to be connected to the first V groove from the other end of the substrate.

[14] The optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to claim 13,

A structure which is formed in a U-shape with a wall surface on three sides, and is disposed above the first V-groove so that the wall surface is formed and the heel side faces the plurality of V-grooves. The structure further comprises:

The positions corresponding to the coupling elements arranged in the first V-groove are notched. A beam branching element holding structure comprising a shelf,

A waveguide element holding structure comprising a protrusion formed above the beam branching element holding structure,

The light beam branching elements are respectively arranged in the notched portions of the shelves constituting the light beam branching element holding structure,

An optical multiplexer / demultiplexer characterized in that both ends of the waveguide element are held by protrusions constituting the waveguide element holding structure.

[15] The optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to claim 13,

A light-branching element holding structure comprising a plurality of planar comb-like walls formed on one end of the substrate and the inclined surface of the first V-groove and partitioning each of the coupling elements;

The optical multiplexer / demultiplexer, wherein each of the beam splitters is disposed on an upper surface of a wall portion constituting the beam splitter holding structure.

[16] The optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to claim 15,

A lateral U-shaped structure formed so as to straddle both longitudinal ends of the first V-groove;

The optical multiplexer / demultiplexer, wherein the waveguide element is disposed on a lower surface of a ceiling portion of the structure.

[17] The optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to claim 13,

Further comprising a frame in which the beam branching elements are arranged and arranged;

The coupling element block is:

A light-branching element holding structure having a pair of projecting portion forces formed on two side end portions sandwiching one end portion and the other end portion of the substrate and having a flat inclined surface on the surface facing the coupling element; ,

A pair of two side end portions of the substrate which are formed at positions closer to the other end portion of the substrate than the beam branching element holding structure, respectively, and whose surfaces facing the coupling element are flat inclined surfaces. And further comprising a waveguide element holding structure consisting of protrusions,

Both ends of the frame where the light beam branching element is arranged are the light beam branching element holding structure. Is held in contact with the inclined surface of the protruding portion constituting the

An optical multiplexer / demultiplexer characterized in that both ends of the waveguide element are held in contact with the inclined surfaces of the protrusions constituting the waveguide element holding structure.

[18] The optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to claim 13,

The waveguide element is longer in the longitudinal direction than the frame body

The coupling element block is:

A side wall formed on one end of the substrate and two side ends sandwiching the one end and the other end;

The side walls formed on the two side wall portions of the substrate are formed by cutting out from the central vicinity of the one end portion and the other end portion of the substrate to the other end portion, and the surface facing the coupling element is flat. A beam splitter holding structure comprising a pair of inclined surfaces;

The side walls formed on the two side wall portions of the substrate are further cut out to the other end portion of the light beam branching element holding structure closer to the other end portion than the inclined surface of the beam branching element holding structure. And a waveguide element holding structure having a pair of inclined surface forces with flat back surfaces,

Both ends of the frame on which the beam branching element is arranged are held in contact with the inclined surfaces of the beam branching element holding structure,

Both ends of the waveguide element are held in contact with the inclined surfaces of the waveguide element holding structure.

[19] In the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to claim 1,

A light receiving / emitting element fixing block having a light receiving / emitting element fixing structure that positions each of the light receiving / emitting elements in parallel at a constant interval and positions each end face of the light receiving / emitting element on the same plane;

A beam splitter block that arranges each of the beam splitters on the same plane at the same regular intervals as the light receiving and emitting elements;

A waveguide element block in which each of the waveguide elements is arranged on the same plane at the same regular intervals as the light emitting and receiving elements; The light receiving / emitting element fixing block, the coupling element block, the light beam branching element block, and the waveguide element block are arranged through a space, and the coupling element block and the waveguide element block are opposed to each other in parallel. And an optical main block arranged in parallel between the coupling element block and the waveguide element block.

The coupling element block arranges the coupling elements on the same plane at the same regular intervals as the light emitting / receiving elements,

The coupling element reflects a light beam from the light emitting / receiving element into a parallel light, and reflects and collects the light beam to the light receiving / emitting element.

The waveguide block is positioned such that light from the coupling element is reflected by a coupling element adjacent to the coupling element;

The optical multiplexer / demultiplexer, wherein the beam splitter block is positioned so that the beam splitter is disposed on an optical path between the coupling device and the waveguide device.

[20] The optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to claim 19,

At least one of the coupling elements is a concave mirror having a spherical force having a radius of about twice the distance from the light emitting / receiving element to the coupling element.

[21] The optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to claim 19,

At least one of the coupling elements is a concave mirror having a spherical force having a radius substantially equal to a distance from the light emitting / receiving element to the coupling element.

[22] The optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to claim 19,

At least one of the coupling elements is a plane mirror having a plane perpendicular to the optical axis of the light emitting / receiving element.

[23] The optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to claim 19,

[24] The optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to claim 19,

The light receiving / emitting element fixing block is a flange having a surface perpendicular to the optical axis of the light receiving / emitting element. Equipped with

The optical main / demultiplexer includes a light receiving / emitting element fixing surface that contacts the surface of the flange and fixes the light receiving / emitting element fixing block.

[25] The optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to claim 19,

The light emitting / receiving element is an optical fiber,

The light receiving and emitting element fixing block includes, as the light receiving and emitting element fixing structure, a plurality of any one of a V groove, a U groove, and a square cross section groove for fixing the optical fiber.

[26] The optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to claim 19,

The beam splitter block is:

A plate-like member;

Provided with a plurality of through holes provided in the plate member at regular intervals,

The optical beam splitter is disposed so as to close the through hole.

[27] The optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to claim 19,

The beam splitter block is:

An optically transparent plate-like member;

An anti-reflective coating layer formed on one surface of the plate-like member,

An optical multiplexer / demultiplexer, wherein the beam splitters are arranged at regular intervals on the other surface of the plate-like member.

[28] In the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to claim 9,

The optical multiplexer / demultiplexer, wherein the waveguide element block further includes a protrusion having a curved surface on a surface opposite to a surface on which the waveguide elements are arranged.

[29] The optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to claim 28,

The optical multiplexer / demultiplexer, wherein the protrusion is formed at the center of the waveguide element block.

[30] A gripping means capable of gripping a protrusion having a curved surface force formed on the waveguide element block in which the waveguide elements are arranged; A position adjusting means capable of moving the gripping means in a vertical direction and a horizontal direction; a reaction force generating means for generating a reaction force in accordance with the movement of the gripping means;

An optical multiplexer / demultiplexer assembling apparatus comprising:

The assembly device for an optical multiplexer / demultiplexer according to claim 30,

An assembly apparatus for an optical multiplexer / demultiplexer, wherein the gripping means is a vacuum chuck having an inner diameter smaller than the diameter of the projection of the waveguide element block and having a pipe at the tip.