JP2000028845A - Optical fiber positioning device and optical fiber fusion splicing device using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a positioning device smaller in size, lighter in weight, lower in cost and higher in reliability. SOLUTION: This device has two optical fiber fixing bases 3, 4 for supporting and butting two optical fibers 1, 2 by one piece each, a centering drive mechanism for centering the optical fibers 1, 2 by moving the respective optical fiber fixing bases 3, 4 in directions different from each other and two independent photographing units 7, 8 which detect the misalignment of the optical axes by photographing the butt parts of the two optical fibers 1, 2 from the two directions orthogonal with their optical axes. The respective photographing units 7, 8 are disposed by one piece each at the optical fiber fixing bases 3, 4 and are made movable discretely together with the respective optical fiber fixing bases 3, 4.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical fiber positioning device for abutting two optical fibers so that the optical axes of the two fibers coincide with each other, and an optical fiber fusion splicing device using the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 3 shows a conventional example of an optical fiber positioning mechanism in an optical fiber fusion splicing apparatus. In this positioning mechanism, two optical fibers A and B to be connected are set in V-grooves E and F of optical fiber fixing tables C and D, respectively, and one of the two optical fiber fixing tables C and D is aligned with an axis X. When the other is turned in the centering axis Y direction, the optical fibers A and B are turned in two directions orthogonal to each other to adjust the optical axis. The rotation of the optical fiber fixing bases C and D is performed by micrometers G and H attached to the lower ends thereof, and each of the micrometers G and H is driven by a motor (not shown).

On the other hand, this positioning device automatically includes an imaging unit I and an image processing unit (not shown) for automatically aligning the optical fibers A and B set on the optical fiber fixing tables C and D. Is provided. The photographing unit I comprises a lens J and a camera (image pickup device) K, and is arranged so that the butted portions of the optical fibers A and B can be photographed from two directions orthogonal to their optical axes. , B, the mirror L is disposed on the opposite side, so that the light from the light source (LED) M is reflected by the mirror L as shown in FIG.
Can be photographed from two different directions (the photographing direction X and the photographing direction Y). The photographing unit I can switch the photographing position so that an image can be accurately photographed in each of the photographing directions X and Y, and can adjust a focus shift accompanying the axis alignment by the optical fiber fixing tables C and D. There is. That is, the photographing unit I includes a photographing position switching mechanism, a focus adjusting mechanism, and these prime movers. Although these mechanisms are not shown, they are rotated and reciprocated by a motor similar to the centering shaft.

The image processing unit detects the cores of the two optical fibers A and B from the image photographed by the photographing unit I, detects their optical axes, and detects the deviation of the optical axes between the optical fibers A and B. A control signal for moving the optical fiber fixing tables C and D is output so as to eliminate the deviation, and a control signal for moving the photographing position switching mechanism for moving the photographing unit I and the focus adjusting mechanism is output. Output.

Some conventional optical fiber positioning devices include two photographing units. In this case, since each of the photographing directions X and Y in FIG. 4 can be photographed by a separate photographing unit, the photographing unit does not require a photographing position switching mechanism, but each photographing unit requires a focus adjustment mechanism.

[0006]

In the optical fiber positioning apparatus shown in FIG. 3, the photographing unit I requires a photographing position switching mechanism and a focus adjusting mechanism. Further, the photographing unit I is controlled based on control signals of a motor and an image processing unit. A controller for driving the prime mover is also required,
This results in an increase in size, weight, cost, and reliability. Also,
In the case of a positioning device having two photographing units, a photographing position switching mechanism is not required, but a focus adjusting mechanism is required for each photographing unit, and a prime mover and a controller are required. Weight increase,
This leads to high cost and reduced reliability. However, in the latter case, since the photographing directions X and Y in FIG. 4 can be photographed at the same time, there is an advantage that the time required for switching the photographing position can be cut and the positioning can be speeded up.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to reduce the number of drive mechanisms and to reduce the size, weight, and cost.
An object of the present invention is to provide an optical fiber positioning device capable of reducing a function and a decrease in reliability due to transportation and rough handling, and an optical fiber fusion splicing device using the same.

In the optical fiber positioning apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, two optical fiber fixing tables 3, 4 for supporting and abutting two optical fibers 1, 2 one by one.
And aligning drive mechanisms 5 and 6 for moving the respective optical fiber fixing bases 3 and 4 in different directions to align the optical fibers 1 and 2 and a butted portion of the two optical fibers 1 and 2 Are provided in two independent imaging units 7 and 8 for detecting the deviation of the optical axis by photographing the optical fiber from two directions orthogonal to their optical axes, respectively. 4 and can be individually moved together with the optical fiber fixing stands 3 and 4.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optical fiber fusion splicing device comprising an optical fiber positioning device and a fusion mechanism.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (Embodiment of Optical Fiber Positioning Apparatus) FIGS. 1 and 2 show an embodiment of an optical fiber positioning apparatus according to the present invention, in which two optical fibers 1 and 2 to be connected are supported one by one. Two optical fiber fixing bases 3 and 4 for abutting each other, and an alignment driving mechanism 5 for moving the respective optical fiber fixing bases 3 and 4 in two different directions to align the optical fibers 1 and 2, 6 and two independent photographing units 7 and 8 for photographing the butted portion of the two optical fibers 1 and 2 from two directions orthogonal to their optical axes and detecting the deviation of the optical axes.
Is provided.

One of the optical fiber fixing bases 3, 4 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2 (a), it is attached via a slide mechanism 9 to an inclined portion which rises to the left by 45 degrees with respect to the vertical line, and the other is mounted by 45 degrees with respect to the vertical line as shown in FIG. A slide mechanism 9 is attached to the upwardly inclined portion, and each can be slid parallel to the inclined surface. Each of the optical fiber fixing bases 3 and 4 has a lower end provided with driving devices 5 and 6 for realizing precise driving such as a combination of a micrometer and a motor.
Are connected to each other in the sliding direction (FIG. 2A).
(The direction of the centering axis X in FIG. 2B and the direction of the centering axis Y in FIG. 2B). In addition, each optical fiber fixing base 3, 4
Has a V-groove 10 formed on the upper end surface, and optical fibers 1 and 2 can be set and supported in the V-groove 10.

The photographing units 7 and 8 are each formed by attaching a lens 12 to a camera 11 such as a solid-state image pickup device. The photographing units 7 and 8 are mounted on the optical fiber fixing tables 3 and 4 one by one. With each other. In this case, the photographing unit 7 is attached to the optical fiber fixing stand 3 as shown in FIG. 2A and moves together with the fixing stand 3, and the photographing unit 8 is moved to the optical fiber fixing stand as shown in FIG. 4 and moves with the fixed base 4. Each photographing unit 7, 8 is shown in FIG.
As shown in (a) and (b), V of the
The optical fibers 1 and 2 set in the V-groove 10 are set so that the centers of the grooves 10 are oriented, and the focal points are set to the centers of the V-grooves 10 of the optical fiber fixing stands 3 and 4.
Is photographed from the obliquely lower side, and the two optical fibers 1 and 2 can be photographed from directions of 45 degrees opposite to each other with respect to a vertical line. Although not shown,
A light source such as an LED is disposed on the opposite side of each of the photographing units 7 and 8 across the optical fibers 1 and 2.

(Embodiment of Optical Fiber Fusion Splicing Apparatus) The optical fiber fusion splicing apparatus of the present invention can be constituted by providing a discharge electrode and a high voltage power supply to the positioning apparatus shown in FIGS. Discharge electrodes are provided on both sides of the butting portion of the optical fibers 1 and 2 supported by the optical fiber fixing tables 3 and 4, and a high voltage is applied between the electrodes to cause a discharge, thereby heating and melting the optical fibers between the electrodes. It is to be fusion spliced.

The optical fiber positioning apparatus of the present invention is shown in FIG.
Configurations other than those shown in FIG. 2 are also possible. For example, similarly to the conventional example, the optical fiber fixing bases 3 and 4 are rotatably attached to the alignment axes X and Y (as shown in FIG. 3), and the V-groove 10 has a structure that draws an arc. The photographing units 7 and 8 are attached to the optical fiber fixing stands 3 and 4 one by one so that the photographing units 7 and 8 are moved together with the optical fiber fixing stands 3 and 4. Also in this case, the two photographing units 7 and 8 are attached so that the optical fibers 1 and 2 can be photographed from two different directions, and the focus is set on the optical fibers 1 and 2 in the V-groove 10. It is preferable that the practical centering movement is performed by an arc having the observation axis (the imaging direction of the camera) as a tangent.

[0015]

According to the optical fiber positioning apparatus of the present invention, the following effects can be obtained. 1. The photographing position switching mechanism and the focus adjusting mechanism of the photographing units 7 and 8 are unnecessary, and the prime mover and its controller related thereto are also unnecessary. 2. Therefore, the structure of the positioning device is simplified, miniaturization, weight reduction, and cost reduction are possible. In addition, failures due to transportation and rough handling are reduced, and the reliability of the device is improved.

The optical fiber fusion splicer of the present invention has the following effects. 1. The miniaturization, weight reduction, and cost reduction of the positioning device can achieve the miniaturization, weight reduction, and cost reduction of the fusion splicing device. Further, the number of failures due to transportation and rough handling is reduced, and the reliability of the device is improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an embodiment of an optical fiber positioning device of the present invention.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are side views of an optical fiber fixing base in the optical fiber positioning device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a conventional optical fiber positioning device.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing two-direction imaging by the positioning device of FIG. 3;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Optical fiber 2 Optical fiber 3 Optical fiber fixing stand 4 Optical fiber fixing stand 5 Driving mechanism 6 Driving mechanism 7 Imaging unit 8 Imaging unit

Claims (2)

[Claims] An optical fiber fixing base for supporting and abutting two optical fibers one by one, and an optical fiber fixing base for each of the two optical fiber fixing bases. Are moved in different directions from each other to align the optical fibers (1, 2), and the abutting portions of the two optical fibers (1, 2) are connected to their optical axes. 2 orthogonal to
It has two independent photographing units (7, 8) for photographing from different directions and detecting the deviation of the optical axis.
8) An optical fiber positioning apparatus, wherein each of the optical fiber fixing tables (3, 4) is provided one by one, and each optical fiber fixing table (3, 4) can be individually moved together with each optical fiber fixing table (3, 4). 2. An optical fiber fusion splicing device comprising the optical fiber positioning device according to claim 1, and a fusion mechanism.