CA2039413A1 - Method and apparatus for producing plastic optical fiber coupler - Google Patents
Method and apparatus for producing plastic optical fiber couplerInfo
- Publication number
- CA2039413A1 CA2039413A1 CA 2039413 CA2039413A CA2039413A1 CA 2039413 A1 CA2039413 A1 CA 2039413A1 CA 2039413 CA2039413 CA 2039413 CA 2039413 A CA2039413 A CA 2039413A CA 2039413 A1 CA2039413 A1 CA 2039413A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- optical fibers
- plastic optical
- optical fiber
- fiber coupler
- producing
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
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- Mechanical Coupling Of Light Guides (AREA)
Abstract
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING
PLASTIC OPTICAL FIBER COUPLER
Abstract of the Disclosure A method of producing a plastic optical fiber coupler, includes steps of arranging two plastic optical fibers in a manner that their parts extend in parallel with each other, and heating the parts of the fibers to a temperature higher than 100°C, while pressing the parts of the fibers. An apparatus for producing a plastic optical fiber coupler includes a heater unit having a heating wire as heat source for heating optical fibers, and a pressure-joining unit for fixing and pressing optical fibers. The pressure-joining unit has an arcuate surface in the form of a parabola for fixing the optical fibers.
PLASTIC OPTICAL FIBER COUPLER
Abstract of the Disclosure A method of producing a plastic optical fiber coupler, includes steps of arranging two plastic optical fibers in a manner that their parts extend in parallel with each other, and heating the parts of the fibers to a temperature higher than 100°C, while pressing the parts of the fibers. An apparatus for producing a plastic optical fiber coupler includes a heater unit having a heating wire as heat source for heating optical fibers, and a pressure-joining unit for fixing and pressing optical fibers. The pressure-joining unit has an arcuate surface in the form of a parabola for fixing the optical fibers.
Description
.
~03~4~3 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING
PL~STIC OPTICAL FIBER CO~PLER
This invention relates to a method and an apparatus for producing a plastic optical fiber coupler branching signals between appliances of a light communication system.
05 As light communication systems have been widely used, recently there has developed great interest in the use o light directional couplers (referred to herein~
; after as "optical coupler") using optical fibers branching signals between appliances of light communication systems.
According to this requirement, optical couplers using optical fibers made of silica or multi-component glass have been produced by way of trial and used.
Optical couplers using quartz or multi-component glass of the prior art have generally been produced by the so-called fuse drawin~ method. In this method, two optical fibers are arranged in parallel to each other to permit parts of them to contact each other over a predetermined length, for example, 10 mm to 30 mm. Their contacting parts are then heated and the optical fibers are pulled axially outwardly, while their parts are kept in a melted state so that the optical fibers are stretched.
. -, ~ .~ . . . . .
;~039~13 Hitherto used optical couplers are made of quartæ or glass. Optical couplers made of plastic materials have never been made commercially. In the case of producing such plastic couplers by way of trial, 0~ they are made by the melt stretching method or an improved variation in the same manner as producing optical couplers of quartz or glass. These methods are insufficient in producing optical couplers made of plastic materialsO In these methods, for example, it is very difficult to heat, melt and stretch optical fibers under proper conditions. Therefore, couplers of predetermined sizes could not be obtained.
It is an object of the invention to provide a method and an apparatus for a plastic optical fiber 1~ coupler, which eliminates all the disadvantages of the prior art as described above.
In ordPr to accomplish this object, the method of producing a plastic optical fiber coupler according to the invention, comprises steps of arranging two 2~ plastic optical fibers with their parts extending in parallel to each other, and heating the parts of the fibers to a temperature higher than lQ0C, while pressing the parts of the flbers.
Moreover, the apparatus for producing a plastic optical fiber coupler according to the invention comprises a heater unit including a heating wire as heat source for heating optical fibers, and 3 pressure-, ~ 039~3joining unit for fixing and pressing optical fibers and having an arcuate surface in the form of a parabola for fixing the optical fibers.
In this case, the term "parabola" used hereln 0~ is intended to include simple circular arcs, hyperbolas or other smooth convex curves. That i~ to say, the curves used for the pressing surfaces (12r 121) of the pressure-joining unit are smooth curves having small curvatures (large radii of curvatures) so that they are approximately parabolas (indicated by y = x2/2R, where R
is radius of curvature in x-y orthogonal coordinates).
According to the invention the plastic optical fibers arranged one above the other are heated to soften them and pressed to be welded. Therefore, plastic 1~ optical fiber couplers in predetermined shapes and sizes can be readily obtained by adjusting pressing forces and pressing surfaces.
The invention will be more fully understood by referring to the following detailed specification and 2~ claims taken in connection with the appended drawings.
Fig. 1 is an explanatory perspective view of an apparatus used for carrying out the method of producing a plas~ic optical fiber coupler according to the invention; and a~ Fig. 2 illustrates a plastic optical fiber coupler produced by the method according to the invention.
;.
:
~039~13 Fig. l illustrates the outline of an apparatus for producing the plastic optical fiber coupler according to the invention. This apparatus mainly comprises a heater unit for heating optical fibers and a pressure-joining unit for fixing and pressing the optical fibers.
Referring to Fi~. 1, the apparatus includes a holding base Z and holding plate 3, respectively, formed with holding grooves 4 and 4' and provided with optical fiber holding members 5 and 5' for optical fibers l. The apparatus further includes a pressing block 6 having a groove rectangular in section whose bottom has a pressing surface 12 for the optical fibers, and a pressing die 7 formed with a guide groove 9.
on the other hand, a guide plate 8 is fixed to the pressing block 6 and partially fitted in the guide groove 9 of the pressing die 7 for guiding vertical movements of the pressing die 7. ThPse guide plate 8 and the guide groove 9 pr~vent the pressing die 7 from shifting in lengthwise directions of the optical fibers 1.
Fig. 1 illustrates an example of the apparatuses to be applied to plastic optical fibers having a diameter of about 1 mm. With such an apparatus ~6 for optical fibers of this size, the pressing die 7 preferably has a width of 30 ~m to 50 mm and a thickness of about lO mm. The pressing block 6 may be made in any ~0394~3 configuration so long as it includes the pressing surface 12 shaped in a parabola facing upward at the bottom of the rectangular groove. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the pressiny block 6 i5 composed of 0~ a main body formed with the groove and a lower chip formed with the pressing surface 12 and adapted to be snugly fitted in the groove at its bottom.
Side walls of the pressing block 6 forming the groove are formed with ~hrough-apertures for receiving heating wires 10. The lower chip is formed in both sides with semicircular notches for preventing tip ends of the heating wires 10 from conta~ting the lower chip.
As the notches are provided on both the sides of the lower chip, the distance between tips of the heating 1~ wires 10 inserted from both the sides of the lower chip is about 4 mm so that the heating wires can heat the optical fibers effectively. In the pressing block 6 in the embodiment may have a width of 30 mm to 50 mm, a thickness of about 25 mm and a groove width of about 24 10 mm.
The heating wires 10 are in general so-called nichrome wires. Reference numeral 11 denotes ceramics.
Rated power and shape of thP nichrome wire should be determined in consideration of temperatures and lengths 2~ Of portions of optical fibers to be heated. It can be determined witnout difficulty~ In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, a nichrome wire of 0.5 mm diameter and about ;~)39~
200 mm length is bent into a U-shape whose parallel legs are spaced by about 10 mm to form each of the heating wires 10. In actual production of couplersr voltage less than 5 volt was applied to the nichrome wires ~or 06 heating optical fibers, while the voltage was being adjusted.
In the heating unit, the nichrome wires are ; exposed for preventing the optical fibers from softening and welding to excessive extent as shown in Fig. 1.
In the event that parts of optical fibers to be heated are longer, it is preferable that the tip portions of the U-shaped heating wires are formed ~traight.
The pressing block 6 and pressing die 7 may be made of any solid materials of the majority of metals, plastics and ceramics in consideration of heat-resistance. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, both the pressing block 6 and the pressing die 7 are formed by 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethylene resin, and brass plates having a 3 mm thickness are attached to the pressing surfaces 12 and 12' thereof and the surfaces of the brass plates are made mirror surfaces. Metals superior in heat conductivity such as bra3s are provided on the pre~sing surfaces 12 and 12' to assist in heating the optical fibers effectively. Moreover, in the event that 2~ grooves (for example, V-shaped grooves) are provided in the pressing surfaces 12 and 12' for making easy the fixation of the optical fibers to the pressing surfaces :
~ ID394~3 as later described, such groove~ can be easily formed in the brass surfaces with high accuracy.
However, the pressing surfaces 12 and 12' may be formed by a fluoride resin, for example, 1,1,2,2~
0~ tetrachloroethylene resin (Teflon: the trade name of Du Pont) only in consideration of release properties after pressing and heat-resistance when heated.
Moreover, the pressing block 6 may be made of a metal or ceramic material as a whole. However, if the main body of the pressing block 6 is made of a material inferior in heat conductivity to a material of the lower die chip, heat retaining property of the heating unit for the optical fibers is improved so that heating temperature becomes stable~ For example, a combination 1~ of a lower die chip made of brass and a main body made of a ceramic material may be conceivable.
The pressing surfaces 12 and 12' may be formed with grooves for facilitating the fixation of the optical fibers as above described. In the embodiment ~o shown in Fig. lr with optical fibers having a diameter of 1 mm, the pressing surfaces 12 and 12' were formed with V-shaped grooves along the curved surfaces having a depth of about 0.5 mm and 60 angle. While the V-shaped grooves having narrow bottoms are easy to form 2~ by machining, grooves having smoothly curved bottoms or U-shaped grooves being preferable because optical couplers can be finished better. Moreover, the pressing ~0394~
surfaces are arcuate in order to prevent steps formed therein. Such steps have difference in height to cause optical losses.
With plastic optical fibers having a di~meter 0~ of about 1 mm, the radius R of curvature of the arcuate surfaces is preferably more than 60 rnm. If it i8 less than thi~ value, steps can occur at pressed portions of the optical couplers to an unacceptable extent.
If possible, it is preferable that the radius R of the curvature is more than 500 mm in consideration of other conditions.
In producing the plastic optical fiber coupler with the apparatus above described, clads of the parts of plastic optical fibers (whose diameters are 1 mm) to 1~ be welded are first removed over 5 mm length to expose cores thereof. The fibers are then fixed in parabola to the pressing block 6 and the pressing die 7 and heated to more than 100C by means of the heating unit.
As soon as the parts of the fibers to be welded are ao softened, they are pressed between the pressing block 6 and the pressing die 7.
In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, plastic optical fibers having a 1 mm diameter were fixed to the pressing block 6 and the pressing die 7, respectively~
2~ Before heating, the optical fibers above and below were brought in slight contact with each other and heated for 10 to 60 seconds, while voltage of the nichrcme wires ~039~3 was being adjusted. After ascertaining the melting condition of the fibers visually by an operator, the pressing die 7 was lowered through 0.1 mm to 0.2 mm to establish the pressure-jolning of the flbers.
0~ Fig. 2 illustrates a coupler manufactured in this manner. The plastic optical fibers used herein include a core of high purity methacrylic resin (polymethyl methacrylate, PMMA) surrounded by thin clads of fluoroplastics to form a double construction, so called step index type optical fibers.
He~Ne laser beams (A = 6328) were irradiated to one end of the coupler manufactured in the above manner and branched outputs were measured. Fig. 2 illustrates the irradiated end Pl, and branched output ends P3 and 1~ P4. The distribution ratio at the output ends was defined as P3 : P4. Table 1 shows the relation between the distribution ratios of two cases, that is to say, couplers A and B of welded fibers having locally removed clads and couplers C, D and E of welded fibers without locally removing clads.
2~
~039~3 Table 1 ~_ Couplers without Couplers having locally removing clads removed clads p3 (mW)124 ~ 120 125 ~ 113 ~ 89 P4 ~mW)25 18 _ 43 40 P3, P4 1:0.20 1:0.15 1:0.36 1:0.3~ 1:0.41 Remarks: For the purpose of comparing with melt stretching method, couplers were made of plastic optical fibers of the same specifications in the melt stretching method. However, any samples of couplers produced by this method could not be obtained because of the flowing of melted fibers and breakdown of fibers due to tensile forces.
From the result of Table 1, better distribution ratios wPre obtained with the couplers whose clads had been locally removed. However, the best distribution ratio 1:1 could not be obtained. It might result from incompleteness of treatment after removal of the clads so that bubbles occurred in melted optical fibers which detrimentally affected the distribution ratios.
As can be seen from the above explanation, this invention can provide the method and the apparatus for simply and easily producing improved plastic optical fiber couplers which have never been obtained by the hitherto well-known melt stretching method~ Therefore, this invention can bring about very useful and Z~139f~3 significant industrial effects and contribute to the development of industries.
While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred emhodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
1~
2~
.
~03~4~3 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING
PL~STIC OPTICAL FIBER CO~PLER
This invention relates to a method and an apparatus for producing a plastic optical fiber coupler branching signals between appliances of a light communication system.
05 As light communication systems have been widely used, recently there has developed great interest in the use o light directional couplers (referred to herein~
; after as "optical coupler") using optical fibers branching signals between appliances of light communication systems.
According to this requirement, optical couplers using optical fibers made of silica or multi-component glass have been produced by way of trial and used.
Optical couplers using quartz or multi-component glass of the prior art have generally been produced by the so-called fuse drawin~ method. In this method, two optical fibers are arranged in parallel to each other to permit parts of them to contact each other over a predetermined length, for example, 10 mm to 30 mm. Their contacting parts are then heated and the optical fibers are pulled axially outwardly, while their parts are kept in a melted state so that the optical fibers are stretched.
. -, ~ .~ . . . . .
;~039~13 Hitherto used optical couplers are made of quartæ or glass. Optical couplers made of plastic materials have never been made commercially. In the case of producing such plastic couplers by way of trial, 0~ they are made by the melt stretching method or an improved variation in the same manner as producing optical couplers of quartz or glass. These methods are insufficient in producing optical couplers made of plastic materialsO In these methods, for example, it is very difficult to heat, melt and stretch optical fibers under proper conditions. Therefore, couplers of predetermined sizes could not be obtained.
It is an object of the invention to provide a method and an apparatus for a plastic optical fiber 1~ coupler, which eliminates all the disadvantages of the prior art as described above.
In ordPr to accomplish this object, the method of producing a plastic optical fiber coupler according to the invention, comprises steps of arranging two 2~ plastic optical fibers with their parts extending in parallel to each other, and heating the parts of the fibers to a temperature higher than lQ0C, while pressing the parts of the flbers.
Moreover, the apparatus for producing a plastic optical fiber coupler according to the invention comprises a heater unit including a heating wire as heat source for heating optical fibers, and 3 pressure-, ~ 039~3joining unit for fixing and pressing optical fibers and having an arcuate surface in the form of a parabola for fixing the optical fibers.
In this case, the term "parabola" used hereln 0~ is intended to include simple circular arcs, hyperbolas or other smooth convex curves. That i~ to say, the curves used for the pressing surfaces (12r 121) of the pressure-joining unit are smooth curves having small curvatures (large radii of curvatures) so that they are approximately parabolas (indicated by y = x2/2R, where R
is radius of curvature in x-y orthogonal coordinates).
According to the invention the plastic optical fibers arranged one above the other are heated to soften them and pressed to be welded. Therefore, plastic 1~ optical fiber couplers in predetermined shapes and sizes can be readily obtained by adjusting pressing forces and pressing surfaces.
The invention will be more fully understood by referring to the following detailed specification and 2~ claims taken in connection with the appended drawings.
Fig. 1 is an explanatory perspective view of an apparatus used for carrying out the method of producing a plas~ic optical fiber coupler according to the invention; and a~ Fig. 2 illustrates a plastic optical fiber coupler produced by the method according to the invention.
;.
:
~039~13 Fig. l illustrates the outline of an apparatus for producing the plastic optical fiber coupler according to the invention. This apparatus mainly comprises a heater unit for heating optical fibers and a pressure-joining unit for fixing and pressing the optical fibers.
Referring to Fi~. 1, the apparatus includes a holding base Z and holding plate 3, respectively, formed with holding grooves 4 and 4' and provided with optical fiber holding members 5 and 5' for optical fibers l. The apparatus further includes a pressing block 6 having a groove rectangular in section whose bottom has a pressing surface 12 for the optical fibers, and a pressing die 7 formed with a guide groove 9.
on the other hand, a guide plate 8 is fixed to the pressing block 6 and partially fitted in the guide groove 9 of the pressing die 7 for guiding vertical movements of the pressing die 7. ThPse guide plate 8 and the guide groove 9 pr~vent the pressing die 7 from shifting in lengthwise directions of the optical fibers 1.
Fig. 1 illustrates an example of the apparatuses to be applied to plastic optical fibers having a diameter of about 1 mm. With such an apparatus ~6 for optical fibers of this size, the pressing die 7 preferably has a width of 30 ~m to 50 mm and a thickness of about lO mm. The pressing block 6 may be made in any ~0394~3 configuration so long as it includes the pressing surface 12 shaped in a parabola facing upward at the bottom of the rectangular groove. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the pressiny block 6 i5 composed of 0~ a main body formed with the groove and a lower chip formed with the pressing surface 12 and adapted to be snugly fitted in the groove at its bottom.
Side walls of the pressing block 6 forming the groove are formed with ~hrough-apertures for receiving heating wires 10. The lower chip is formed in both sides with semicircular notches for preventing tip ends of the heating wires 10 from conta~ting the lower chip.
As the notches are provided on both the sides of the lower chip, the distance between tips of the heating 1~ wires 10 inserted from both the sides of the lower chip is about 4 mm so that the heating wires can heat the optical fibers effectively. In the pressing block 6 in the embodiment may have a width of 30 mm to 50 mm, a thickness of about 25 mm and a groove width of about 24 10 mm.
The heating wires 10 are in general so-called nichrome wires. Reference numeral 11 denotes ceramics.
Rated power and shape of thP nichrome wire should be determined in consideration of temperatures and lengths 2~ Of portions of optical fibers to be heated. It can be determined witnout difficulty~ In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, a nichrome wire of 0.5 mm diameter and about ;~)39~
200 mm length is bent into a U-shape whose parallel legs are spaced by about 10 mm to form each of the heating wires 10. In actual production of couplersr voltage less than 5 volt was applied to the nichrome wires ~or 06 heating optical fibers, while the voltage was being adjusted.
In the heating unit, the nichrome wires are ; exposed for preventing the optical fibers from softening and welding to excessive extent as shown in Fig. 1.
In the event that parts of optical fibers to be heated are longer, it is preferable that the tip portions of the U-shaped heating wires are formed ~traight.
The pressing block 6 and pressing die 7 may be made of any solid materials of the majority of metals, plastics and ceramics in consideration of heat-resistance. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, both the pressing block 6 and the pressing die 7 are formed by 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethylene resin, and brass plates having a 3 mm thickness are attached to the pressing surfaces 12 and 12' thereof and the surfaces of the brass plates are made mirror surfaces. Metals superior in heat conductivity such as bra3s are provided on the pre~sing surfaces 12 and 12' to assist in heating the optical fibers effectively. Moreover, in the event that 2~ grooves (for example, V-shaped grooves) are provided in the pressing surfaces 12 and 12' for making easy the fixation of the optical fibers to the pressing surfaces :
~ ID394~3 as later described, such groove~ can be easily formed in the brass surfaces with high accuracy.
However, the pressing surfaces 12 and 12' may be formed by a fluoride resin, for example, 1,1,2,2~
0~ tetrachloroethylene resin (Teflon: the trade name of Du Pont) only in consideration of release properties after pressing and heat-resistance when heated.
Moreover, the pressing block 6 may be made of a metal or ceramic material as a whole. However, if the main body of the pressing block 6 is made of a material inferior in heat conductivity to a material of the lower die chip, heat retaining property of the heating unit for the optical fibers is improved so that heating temperature becomes stable~ For example, a combination 1~ of a lower die chip made of brass and a main body made of a ceramic material may be conceivable.
The pressing surfaces 12 and 12' may be formed with grooves for facilitating the fixation of the optical fibers as above described. In the embodiment ~o shown in Fig. lr with optical fibers having a diameter of 1 mm, the pressing surfaces 12 and 12' were formed with V-shaped grooves along the curved surfaces having a depth of about 0.5 mm and 60 angle. While the V-shaped grooves having narrow bottoms are easy to form 2~ by machining, grooves having smoothly curved bottoms or U-shaped grooves being preferable because optical couplers can be finished better. Moreover, the pressing ~0394~
surfaces are arcuate in order to prevent steps formed therein. Such steps have difference in height to cause optical losses.
With plastic optical fibers having a di~meter 0~ of about 1 mm, the radius R of curvature of the arcuate surfaces is preferably more than 60 rnm. If it i8 less than thi~ value, steps can occur at pressed portions of the optical couplers to an unacceptable extent.
If possible, it is preferable that the radius R of the curvature is more than 500 mm in consideration of other conditions.
In producing the plastic optical fiber coupler with the apparatus above described, clads of the parts of plastic optical fibers (whose diameters are 1 mm) to 1~ be welded are first removed over 5 mm length to expose cores thereof. The fibers are then fixed in parabola to the pressing block 6 and the pressing die 7 and heated to more than 100C by means of the heating unit.
As soon as the parts of the fibers to be welded are ao softened, they are pressed between the pressing block 6 and the pressing die 7.
In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, plastic optical fibers having a 1 mm diameter were fixed to the pressing block 6 and the pressing die 7, respectively~
2~ Before heating, the optical fibers above and below were brought in slight contact with each other and heated for 10 to 60 seconds, while voltage of the nichrcme wires ~039~3 was being adjusted. After ascertaining the melting condition of the fibers visually by an operator, the pressing die 7 was lowered through 0.1 mm to 0.2 mm to establish the pressure-jolning of the flbers.
0~ Fig. 2 illustrates a coupler manufactured in this manner. The plastic optical fibers used herein include a core of high purity methacrylic resin (polymethyl methacrylate, PMMA) surrounded by thin clads of fluoroplastics to form a double construction, so called step index type optical fibers.
He~Ne laser beams (A = 6328) were irradiated to one end of the coupler manufactured in the above manner and branched outputs were measured. Fig. 2 illustrates the irradiated end Pl, and branched output ends P3 and 1~ P4. The distribution ratio at the output ends was defined as P3 : P4. Table 1 shows the relation between the distribution ratios of two cases, that is to say, couplers A and B of welded fibers having locally removed clads and couplers C, D and E of welded fibers without locally removing clads.
2~
~039~3 Table 1 ~_ Couplers without Couplers having locally removing clads removed clads p3 (mW)124 ~ 120 125 ~ 113 ~ 89 P4 ~mW)25 18 _ 43 40 P3, P4 1:0.20 1:0.15 1:0.36 1:0.3~ 1:0.41 Remarks: For the purpose of comparing with melt stretching method, couplers were made of plastic optical fibers of the same specifications in the melt stretching method. However, any samples of couplers produced by this method could not be obtained because of the flowing of melted fibers and breakdown of fibers due to tensile forces.
From the result of Table 1, better distribution ratios wPre obtained with the couplers whose clads had been locally removed. However, the best distribution ratio 1:1 could not be obtained. It might result from incompleteness of treatment after removal of the clads so that bubbles occurred in melted optical fibers which detrimentally affected the distribution ratios.
As can be seen from the above explanation, this invention can provide the method and the apparatus for simply and easily producing improved plastic optical fiber couplers which have never been obtained by the hitherto well-known melt stretching method~ Therefore, this invention can bring about very useful and Z~139f~3 significant industrial effects and contribute to the development of industries.
While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred emhodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
1~
2~
.
Claims (6)
- Claims;
l. A method of producing a plastic optical fiber coupler, comprising steps of arranging two plastic optical fibers with their parts extending in parallel to each other, and heating the parts of the fibers to a temperature higher than 100°C, while pressing parts of the fibers. - 2. A method of producing a plastic optical fiber coupler as set forth in claim l, wherein before arranging, clads of the parts of the plastic optical fibers are removed.
- 3. An apparatus for producing a plastic optical fiber coupler comprising a heater unit including a heating wire as heat source for heating optical fibers, and a pressure-joining unit for fixing and pressing optical fibers and having an arcuate surface in the form of a parabola for fixing the optical fibers.
- 4. An apparatus for producing a plastic optical fiber coupler as set forth in claim 3, wherein the arcuate surface for fixing the optical fibers is provided with a laminate attached to at least its surface layer, said laminate being superior in heat conductivity to other portions of the pressure-joining unit.
- 5. An apparatus for producing a plastic optical fiber coupler as set forth in claim 3, wherein the arcuate surface for fixing the optical fibers is formed with a groove for positioning the optical fibers.
- 6. An apparatus for producing a plastic optical fiber coupler as set forth in claim 3, wherein a radius of curvature of the arcuate surface is more than 60 mm.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP2-83,257 | 1990-03-30 | ||
| JP8325790A JPH03282405A (en) | 1990-03-30 | 1990-03-30 | Manufacture of plastic optical fiber coupler and device used for same method |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2039413A1 true CA2039413A1 (en) | 1991-10-01 |
Family
ID=13797289
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2039413 Abandoned CA2039413A1 (en) | 1990-03-30 | 1991-03-28 | Method and apparatus for producing plastic optical fiber coupler |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPH03282405A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2039413A1 (en) |
-
1990
- 1990-03-30 JP JP8325790A patent/JPH03282405A/en active Pending
-
1991
- 1991-03-28 CA CA 2039413 patent/CA2039413A1/en not_active Abandoned
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| JPH03282405A (en) | 1991-12-12 |
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