GB2238398A - Optical fibre coupling device - Google Patents
Optical fibre coupling device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2238398A GB2238398A GB8926423A GB8926423A GB2238398A GB 2238398 A GB2238398 A GB 2238398A GB 8926423 A GB8926423 A GB 8926423A GB 8926423 A GB8926423 A GB 8926423A GB 2238398 A GB2238398 A GB 2238398A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- fibre
- substrate
- optical
- optical device
- sleeve
- 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.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/255—Splicing of light guides, e.g. by fusion or bonding
- G02B6/2558—Reinforcement of splice joint
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/26—Optical coupling means
- G02B6/28—Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals
- G02B6/2804—Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals forming multipart couplers without wavelength selective elements, e.g. "T" couplers, star couplers
- G02B6/2821—Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals forming multipart couplers without wavelength selective elements, e.g. "T" couplers, star couplers using lateral coupling between contiguous fibres to split or combine optical signals
- G02B6/2826—Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals forming multipart couplers without wavelength selective elements, e.g. "T" couplers, star couplers using lateral coupling between contiguous fibres to split or combine optical signals using mechanical machining means for shaping of the couplers, e.g. grinding or polishing
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
- G02B6/3628—Mechanical coupling means for mounting fibres to supporting carriers
- G02B6/3648—Supporting carriers of a microbench type, i.e. with micromachined additional mechanical structures
- G02B6/3652—Supporting carriers of a microbench type, i.e. with micromachined additional mechanical structures the additional structures being prepositioning mounting areas, allowing only movement in one dimension, e.g. grooves, trenches or vias in the microbench surface, i.e. self aligning supporting carriers
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Optics & Photonics (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Plasma & Fusion (AREA)
- Mechanical Coupling Of Light Guides (AREA)
Abstract
An optical half coupler (8) comprises a thermoplastic substrate (4) and a length of D-fibre (2) embedded in the substrate (4) such that the flat surface of the D-fibre is flush with the surface (7) of the substrate (4). Each end of the D-fibre (2) is spliced to a system fibre tail (3) such that the coupler may be incorporated into a system. The splices are each protected by PTFE sleeves (6) positioned in slots (5) in the substrate (4). <IMAGE>
Description
AN OPTICAL DEVICE
This invention relates to an optical device, and particularly but not exclusively to a half coupler block formed using a D-fibre. D-fibres are optical fibres having a D-shaped cross-section with the core of the fibre near the linear portion of the cross-section.
Conventional fibres of substantially circular cross-section have been used as optical couplers by removing part of the cladding surrounding the fibre core of a pair of fibres and placing them in contact. The reduced cladding allows coupling between the cores due to their close proximity. One method of forming such a coupler is to make half-coupler blocks by embedding a gently curved fibre in a glass substrate and polishing it to remove a portion of the cladding. A pair of these half-coupler blocks can then be placed together to form an optical coupler. The surfaces of the substrate being flush with the expcsed fibre surfaces hold the fibres in the desire pcsition.
A device for use as a half coupler and using a D-fibre s described in the Applicant's British Patent Application No. 88?36 6E. b. The device there described has a longer interaction length and a better defined core to flat surface distance than the device using conventional fibres described hereinbefore. Additionally, it is relatively cheap and simple to manufacture. Once such an optical device comprising D-fibre has been formed, it is often necessary to introduce the fibre into an optical system in which it is to be used. Typically, fibre used in optical systems comprises conventional single-mode system fibre having a substantially circular cross-section. D-fibre is not suitable for use as a system fibre as it has a much higher loss and is more fragile than conventional fibre.
In addition, it is necessary to apply a primary coating to a system fibre in order to protect it. If a D-fibre were used as a system fibre, all of the optical energy in the
D-fibre core would be stripped out of the core due to the close proximity of the primary coating to the D-fibre core. It is therefore necessary to splice the D-fibre used in the optical device to conventional system fibre.
According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided an optical device comprising: a first optical fibre having a first end, a second end and a flat surface which fibre is embedded in a substrate with a portion of the flat surface flush with any adjacent surface of the substrate; a second optical fibre spliced to the first end of the first optical; and a first protective sleeve having an upper surface and surrounding the first end of the first fibre.
By flat surface is meant the surface defined by the 1 near portion of the cross-sections of an optical fibre, as found, for example with rectangular or D-shaped optical fibres, notwithstanding that the surface may be curved or twisted.
Thus the invention provides a device in which a first optical fibre having a flat surface is spliced at one end to a second optical fibre. The protective sleeve serves to protect the splice from its surroundings.
Preferably, the invention further comprises a third optical fibre spliced to the second end of the first optical fibre; and a second protective sleeve having an upper surface and surrounding the second end of the first fibre.
Advantageously, the substrate comprises first and second recesses for locating the first and second sleevings respectively. Thus the weight of each of the second and third fibres is supported by the substrate.
This reduces the strain on each splice and renders the
D-fibre less likely to fracture.
Preferably the recesses each comprise a slot having a depth and an orientation such that the respective upper surfaces of the first and second sleeves are located flush with any adjacent surface of the substrate. In this arrangement the second and third fibres and the sleeves do not protrude above any surface of the substrate and thus two optical devices may be mated together with the respective substrate surfaces adjacent one another. This allows a device such as an optical coupler to be formed.
The substrate may be formed from any convenient material such as silicon but preferably it comprises a deformable material such as rubber, or a thermoplastic material.
According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of forming an optical device comprising: a first optical fibre having a first end, a second end and a flat surface which fibre is embedded in a thermoplastic substrate with the flat surface flush with any adjacent surface of the substrate; a second optical fibre spliced to the first end of the first optical fibre; and a first protective sleeve having an upper surface and surrounding the first end of the first fibre comprising the steps of: splicing the first end of the first optical fibre to the second fibre to form a fibre assembly; positioning the fibre assembly relative to the first protective sleeve such that the sleeve surrounds the first end of the first fibre; and pressing the first fibre into the heated thermoplastic substrate with a former surface until the flat surface of the fibre is flush with any adjacent surface of the substrate.
Advantageously, the method further comprises the initial steps of: forming a first slot in the thermoplastic substrate; locating and fixing the first sleeve in the first slot such that the upper surface of the sleeves is flush with the adjacent surface of the substrate.
Preferably the method further comprise fixing means for fixedly locating the first sleeve in the first recess.
Preferably, the method further comprises splicing the second end of the first optical fibre to a third fibre to form a fibre assembly; and positioning the fibre assembly such that a second protective sleeve surrounds the second end of the first fibre. Advantageously, the method also comprises the initial steps of: forming first and second slots in the thermoplastic substrate; locating and fixing the first and second sleeves in the first and second slots respectively such that the upper surface of each sleeve is flush with any adjacent surface of the substrate.
Each sleeve may comprise a length of hyperdermic needle, but preferably each sleeve comprises a length of
PTFE tubing.
Advantageously, the first fibre comprises a D-fibre ar.- the second and third fibres each comprises a conventIonal single mode system fibre.
rcociments of the invention will now be described by way cf example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fibre assembly comprising a D-fibre spliced to two system fibre tails;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of a slotted noryl substrate with PTFE tubing guided into the slots;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention; and
Figure 4 is a perspective view of apparatus for forming a device according to the first aspect of the invention.
Referring to Figure 1, a fibre assembly 1 is shown comprising a length of D-fibre 2 spiced at each end to a conventional single mode fibre 3. tn practice, it is not practical to splice the D-fibre 2 to system fibres in the field because of the special skill and equipment required. Therefore, the length of D-fibre 2 is spliced to two system fibre tails 3. The fibre tails 3 may subsequently be spliced to system fibres in the field.
Referring now to Figure 2, a thermoplastic substrate 4 formed from noryl has two slots 5. A length of PTFE tubing 6 is guided into each slot i and held in position by means of an adhesive applied to each slot 5. The slots 5 are dimensioned and angled such that when the PTFE sleeves 6 are located in respective slots 5, no part of the sleeves 6 extends above the surface 7 of the substrate 4. Lengths of hyperderric needle may be used instead of PTFE sleeves.
Referring now to Figure 3, an embodiment of the invention is shown in the form of an optical device 8.
The device 8 comprises the substrate 4 illustrated in
Figure 2 in which the lengths of TFE tubing 6 have been guided into the slots 5 and then fixed therein by means of an adhesive. The fibre assembly 1 illustrated in Figure 1 is then carefully threaded through the tubings 6 such that the D-fibre 2 is located centrally with its flat surface uppermost. The fibre assembly 1 mst then be pressed into the substrate 4 such that its flat surface is flush with the surface 7 of the substrate.
Referring to Figure 4, apparatus 9 for pressing the
D-fibre 2 into the substrate 4 is shown. The apparatus 9 comprises two ceramic strip heaters 11 held in PTFE blocks 12. The blocks 12 are faced with copper sheet 13. A temperature sensor 14 built into the lower block 12 monitors the temperature and passes its analogue to a
Eurotherm temperature controller 15. The controller 15 controls a thymistor power controller 16 whIch supplies ac power to the heaters 11. The heater blocks 2 are screwed to the fixed 17 and moving 18 jaws of a machine vice. The fibre assembly 1 and substrate 4 are placed on the pressing tool 10 as shown in the figure. The substrate 4 is pressed against a microscope slide 19 which ensures an optically fiat surface to the moulded substrate 4. The press is closed by means of a screw 20.By controlling the temperature profile and the torque, the fibre assembly 1 is pressed appropriately into the substrate 4.
The present invention provides a simple method of forming a robust splice between an optical fibre having a flat surface, for example a D-fibre, and at least a second optical fibre, for example a system fibre tail. The resultant splice is protected from the environment by a protective sleeve mounted in a substrate into which the
D-fibre is embedded. When the D-fibre is spliced at both ends, the resulting device is a D-fibre half coupler which may form the basis of many other devices, such as an optics coupler, a modulator using a piezo transducer, an optical test access point, a waveler.th division Z,1~ p exer, anc an optical switch.
In this specification the term "optical" is intended to refer to that part of the electromagnetic spectrum which is generally known as the visible region together with those parts of the infra-red and ultraviolet regions at each end of the visibie region which are capable of being transmitted by dielectric optical waveguides such as optical fibres.
Claims (19)
1. An optical device comprising:
a first optical fibre having a first end, a
second end and a flat surface embedded in a substrate
with a portion of the flat surface flush with any
adjacent surface of the substrate;
a second optical fibre spliced to the first end
of the first optical fibre; and
a first protective sleeve having an upper surface
and surrounding the first end respectively of the
first fibre.
2. An optical device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a third optical fibre spliced to the second end of the first optical fibre, and a second protective sleeve having an upper surface and surrounding the second end of the first fibre.
3. An optical device according to claim 1 wherein the substrate comprises a first recess for locating the first sleeve.
4. An optical device according to claim 2 wherein the substrate comprises first and second recesses for locating the first and second sleeves respectively.
5. An optical device according to claim 3 or claim 4 whereIn the or each recess comprises a slot having an orientation such that the respective upper surfaces of the sleeves are located flush with any adjacent surface of the substrate.
6. An optical device according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising fixing means for fixedly locating the or each sleeve in the recess respectively.
7. An optical device according to claim 6 wherein the fixing means is an adhesive.
8. An optical device according to any of the preceding claims wherein the or each sleeve comprises a length of
PTFE tubing.
9. An optical device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the or each sleeve comprises a length of hyperdermic needle.
10. An optical device according. to any one of the preceding claims wherein the first optical fibre comprises a D-fibre.
11. An optical device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the second and third optical fibres each comprises a single mode fibre.
12. An optical device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the substrate comprises a thermoplastic substrate.
13. An optical device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the substrate comprises a mouldable material.
14. A method of forming an optical device according to claim 12 comprising the steps of: splicing the first end of the first optical fibre to the second fibre to form a fibre assembly; positioning the fibre assembly relative to the first protective sleeve such that the sleeve surrounds the first end of the first fibre; and pressing the first fibre into a heated thermoplastic substrate with a former surface until the flat surface of the fibre is flush with any adjacent surface of the substrate.
15. A method according to claim 14 comprising the additional initial steps of:
forming a first slot in the thermoplastic
substrate;
locating and fixing the first sleeve in the first
slot such that the upper surface of the sleeve is
flush with any adjacent surface of the substrate.
16. A method according to claim 14 further comprising the steps of splicing the second end of the first optical fibre to a third fibre to form a fibre assembly; and positioning the fibre assembly such that a second protective sleeve surrounds the second end of the first fibre.
17. A method according to claim 16 comprising the initial steps of: forming first and second slots in the thermoplastic substrate; locating and fixing the first and second sleeves in the first and second slots respectively such that the upper surfaces of the sleeves are flush with any adjacent surface of the substrate.
18. An optical device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
19. A method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB8926423A GB2238398A (en) | 1989-11-22 | 1989-11-22 | Optical fibre coupling device |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB8926423A GB2238398A (en) | 1989-11-22 | 1989-11-22 | Optical fibre coupling device |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB8926423D0 GB8926423D0 (en) | 1990-01-10 |
| GB2238398A true GB2238398A (en) | 1991-05-29 |
Family
ID=10666738
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB8926423A Withdrawn GB2238398A (en) | 1989-11-22 | 1989-11-22 | Optical fibre coupling device |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2238398A (en) |
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0530875A1 (en) * | 1991-08-09 | 1993-03-10 | BELL TELEPHONE MANUFACTURING COMPANY Naamloze Vennootschap | Optically coupling structure, substrate therefor and method for realizing such a structure |
| CN100509282C (en) * | 2007-12-20 | 2009-07-08 | 中国科学院长春光学精密机械与物理研究所 | D type optical fiber clamp |
| US20120243845A1 (en) * | 2011-03-21 | 2012-09-27 | Tyco Electronics Corporation | Fiber Optic Component Holders and Enclosures and Methods Including the Same |
Citations (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB1603139A (en) * | 1977-08-24 | 1981-11-18 | Felten & Guilleaume Carlswerk | Optical conductor junctions |
| US4335933A (en) * | 1980-06-16 | 1982-06-22 | General Dynamics, Pomona Division | Fiber optic wavelength demultiplexer |
| EP0229711A2 (en) * | 1986-01-17 | 1987-07-22 | The Board Of Trustees Of The Leland Stanford Junior University | Fiber optic mode selector |
| EP0287252A1 (en) * | 1987-04-02 | 1988-10-19 | BRITISH TELECOMMUNICATIONS public limited company | A method of forming an optical fibre junction |
-
1989
- 1989-11-22 GB GB8926423A patent/GB2238398A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB1603139A (en) * | 1977-08-24 | 1981-11-18 | Felten & Guilleaume Carlswerk | Optical conductor junctions |
| US4335933A (en) * | 1980-06-16 | 1982-06-22 | General Dynamics, Pomona Division | Fiber optic wavelength demultiplexer |
| EP0229711A2 (en) * | 1986-01-17 | 1987-07-22 | The Board Of Trustees Of The Leland Stanford Junior University | Fiber optic mode selector |
| EP0287252A1 (en) * | 1987-04-02 | 1988-10-19 | BRITISH TELECOMMUNICATIONS public limited company | A method of forming an optical fibre junction |
Cited By (9)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0530875A1 (en) * | 1991-08-09 | 1993-03-10 | BELL TELEPHONE MANUFACTURING COMPANY Naamloze Vennootschap | Optically coupling structure, substrate therefor and method for realizing such a structure |
| BE1005172A3 (en) * | 1991-08-09 | 1993-05-11 | Bell Telephone Mfg | KONSTRUKTIE for optically coupling, substrate THEM AND METHOD FOR ACHIEVING SUCH KONSTRUKTIE. |
| US5253310A (en) * | 1991-08-09 | 1993-10-12 | Alcatel N.V. | Optical coupling structure and method |
| AU654368B2 (en) * | 1991-08-09 | 1994-11-03 | Alcatel N.V. | Optical coupling device |
| CN100509282C (en) * | 2007-12-20 | 2009-07-08 | 中国科学院长春光学精密机械与物理研究所 | D type optical fiber clamp |
| US20120243845A1 (en) * | 2011-03-21 | 2012-09-27 | Tyco Electronics Corporation | Fiber Optic Component Holders and Enclosures and Methods Including the Same |
| US8687934B2 (en) * | 2011-03-21 | 2014-04-01 | Tyco Electronics Corporation | Fiber optic component holders and enclosures and methods including the same |
| US20140150237A1 (en) * | 2011-03-21 | 2014-06-05 | Tyco Electronics Corporation | Fiber optic component holders and enclosures and methods including same |
| US9494765B2 (en) * | 2011-03-21 | 2016-11-15 | Commscope Technologies Llc | Fiber optic component holders and enclosures and methods including same |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB8926423D0 (en) | 1990-01-10 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |