JP2002048922A - Multiple optical module - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a multiple optical module in which miniaturization and cost reduction are attained. SOLUTION: The multiple optical module 1 is provided with a module main body 4. A connecting multiple fiber tape 5, an examining multiple fiber tape 6 and an optical coupler part 20 which is composed of two sets of four-fiber tape couplers 19 formed by mutually welding these multiple fiber tapes 5, 6 are stored within the module main body 4. The optical coupler part 20 is composed by respectively welding and integrating a fiber 8a of the connecting multiple fiber tape 5 which is exposed in respective fiber tape dividing parts 8 with a bare fiber 11a of the examining multiple fiber tape 6 which is exposed in respective fiber tape dividing parts 11, by dividing the welding part at a unit of the fiber tape dividing part and by being reinforced with two reinforcing members 21. Such two sets of four-fiber tape couplers 19 are juxtaposed within the module main body 4.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multi-core optical module having an optical coupler formed by integrating multi-core tapes.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional multi-core optical module, for example, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-258035, an optical coupler is formed by fusing and integrating fibers of an optical fiber ribbon. It is known that this optical coupler is housed in a module body.

[0003]

In a multi-core optical module having an optical coupler as described above, the number of cores of the multi-core tape increases with the density of the optical communication line.
If the number of optical couplers is increased to cope with this, the thickness of the module may increase or the cost may increase.

An object of the present invention is to provide a multi-core optical module which can be made thinner and lower in cost.

[0005]

According to the present invention, an optical coupler is formed by integrating a part of a first multi-core tape and a part of a second multi-core tape. A multi-core optical module having a unit housed in a module main body together with a first multi-core tape core and a second multi-core tape, wherein the optical coupler unit divides the first multi-core tape into a plurality of cores. A first tape core splitting portion is formed, and the fiber of each first tape core splitting portion and the fiber of the second multi-core tape core are respectively fused and integrated, and the fused portion is divided into the first tape core split. It has a plurality of multi-core tape couplers formed by dividing by a unit and reinforcing by a plurality of reinforcing members, and the plurality of multi-core tape couplers are arranged side by side in the module main body. Things.

In the multi-core optical module having such an optical coupler section, the fused portion of the fiber of the first multi-core tape and the fiber of the second multi-core tape is collectively reinforced by one reinforcing member. When the configuration is adopted, the width dimension (dimension in the arrangement direction of the fibers) of the reinforcing member increases. Due to its structure, the reinforcing member integrated with the first multi-core tape and the second multi-core tape is placed inside the module main body in a state where the fiber arrangement direction is set up so as to match the thickness direction of the module main body. Since it is housed, if the width of the reinforcing member is increased, the thickness of the multi-core optical module must be increased. In addition, when a large reinforcing member is used to collectively reinforce the fused portion of the multi-core tape cores, thermal distortion accompanying the enlargement of the member increases, and optical characteristics may be deteriorated. However, expensive and low expansion materials must be used.

Accordingly, the first multi-core ribbon is divided into a plurality of first multi-core ribbons as described above, and the fiber of each first multi-core ribbon and the second multi-core ribbon are divided. By dividing the fused portion of the wire with the fiber in units of the first tape core division unit and reinforced with a plurality of reinforcing members, the width of the reinforcing member is reduced as compared with the case where the reinforcing members are collectively reinforced with one reinforcing member. Can be smaller. For this reason, the thickness of the multi-core optical module can be reduced by arranging a plurality of reinforcing members in the module main body such that the fiber arrangement direction matches the thickness direction of the module main body. Further, when the fused portion of the multi-core tape is divided and reinforced with a plurality of reinforcing members, the reinforcing member is reduced in size, so that the thermal distortion is relatively small and can be ignored. Thus, the reinforcing member can be made of an inexpensive material. As described above, it is possible to reduce the thickness and cost of the multi-core optical module even when the number of cores of the multi-core tape core increases with the increase in the density of the optical communication line.

Preferably, the optical coupler section further divides the second multi-core ribbon to form a plurality of second ribbon split sections, and includes a plurality of first tape split sections and a plurality of first tape split sections. It is configured such that the fibers of the second tape core division part are fused and integrated, respectively. Second in the module body
When storing the extra length of the multi-core tape core, if there are a plurality of second multi-core tape cores, the tape cores may be entangled when the second multi-core tape core is taken out. By separating and using the core fiber and storing the extra length of the undivided portion of the second multi-core fiber, such troubles are eliminated. Easier to do.

In this case, it is preferable that the second tape-core splitting portion is formed by being split from one end of the second multi-core tape, and the other side of the second multi-core tape not being split. Is connected to the multi-core optical connector for the second multi-core tape. In this case, for example, one end of the second multi-core optical fiber ribbon can be connected to the optical fiber core outside the office connected to the subscriber side.

Preferably, each end of the divided side of the second multi-core ribbon is further divided into individual optical fibers and connected to a single-core optical connector. In this case, for example, the second multi-core optical fiber ribbon can be connected to the station-side single-core optical fiber connected to the transmission device.

Further, preferably, a surplus length storage area for storing the surplus length of the undivided portion of the second multi-core ribbon is provided in the module main body. Thus, it is possible to prevent the second multi-core tape from being entangled with another optical fiber, the second multi-core tape from being entangled with each other, and the like.

Preferably, the first tape core division portion is formed by being divided at an intermediate portion of the first multicore tape, and both ends of the first multicore tape are the same. It is connected to a multi-core optical connector for multi-core tape. In this case, for example, by connecting the multi-core optical connector for the first multi-core tape core to the optical switch connected to the optical test device, the multi-core optical module can perform the optical test function of the optical line. It can be used for optical communication networks that need it.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of a multi-core optical module according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a multi-core optical module according to one embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, a plurality of multi-core optical modules 1 of the present embodiment are housed in an optical termination (not shown) and are connected to a plurality of in-house optical fibers 2 connected to a transmission device (not shown) and a subscriber side. The plurality of connected outside optical fibers 3 are connected.

The multi-core optical module 1 has a module main body 4 in which a multi-core fiber ribbon 5 for connecting the inside optical fiber 2 and the outside optical fiber 3 is connected. A test multi-core ribbon 6 connected to an optical switch (not shown) of the test apparatus is housed therein.

As shown in FIG. 2, the connecting multi-core tape core 5 includes a common tape core portion 7 composed of an 8-core tape core,
Two tape core divisions 8 each composed of a four-core ribbon formed by dividing the common tape core 7 into two, and a single core formed by dividing each tape core division 4 by four. And a fiber section 9. The test multi-core tape core wire 6
Common tape cores 10a and 10b, each of which is composed of an 8-core tape core located at both ends thereof, and these common tape cores 1
It is composed of two tape core division parts 11 each composed of a four-core ribbon formed by dividing the two cores from 0a and 10b.

One end of the connecting multi-core tape 5 (the end of the common tape core 7) is connected to the 8-core MT optical connector 12, and the other end of the connecting multi-core tape 5 (each single core). The distal end of the fiber section 9 is connected to the single-core optical connector 13. Both ends (tips of the common tape core portions 10a and 10b) of the test multi-core ribbon 6 are connected to the same one 16-core MT optical connector 14. This optical connector 14
It has a structure in which holes for optical fibers are arranged in two stages, one on top of the other, so that two test multi-core ribbons 6 can be assembled neatly.

Returning to FIG. 1, one end of the multi-core fiber ribbon 5 for connection is led out of the module main body 4, and the optical connector 12 at the end thereof is connected to the outer optical fiber 3, which is an eight-core fiber ribbon. 8-core MT optical connector 15 provided at the tip
Are detachably connected. The single-core optical connector 13 is provided on the front surface of the module body 4, and the distal end of the inside optical fiber 2, which is a single-core optical fiber, is detachably connected to the single-core optical connector 13. Both end portions of the test multi-core tape core wire 6 are led out of the module main body 4, and the optical connector 14 at the tip is detachably connected to an optical switch (not shown) of the optical test device.

The module body 4 generally comprises an optical component storage area 16, a connection optical fiber storage area 17, and a station outside optical fiber storage area 18. The optical component housing area 16 includes two sets of four-core tape couplers 19 formed by integrating a part of the connecting multi-core tape core 5 and a part of the test multi-core tape core 6. A coupler unit 20 is provided.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the optical coupler unit 20 includes a plurality of tape core division units 8 of the multi-core tape core 5 for connection.
The fiber 8a (see FIG. 4) exposed by the above is fused and integrated with the fiber 11a (see FIG. 4) which is exposed by each of the ribbon splitting portions 11 of the test multi-core ribbon 6, and the fusion is performed. The portion is divided by a unit of a tape core division part (a unit of four cores) and reinforced by two reinforcing members 21. In FIG. 2, the four-core tape coupler 19 is used.
Are shown in parallel for the sake of convenience, but they actually overlap vertically as shown in FIG. FIG. 4 shows a part of the manufacturing process of such an optical coupler unit 20.

In the figure, first, the tape core division part 8 of the connecting multi-core tape core 5 and the tape core division part 11 of the test multi-core tape core 6 are set up and down. Then, the coating of a predetermined portion of both tape core division portions 8 and 11 is removed to expose the fibers 8a and 11a. And
Fiber coating portions 8b, 1 of both tape core division portions 8, 11
1b is set on a pair of tension applying clamps 22, and a constant tension is applied to the fiber coating portions 8b and 11b. In this state, the fiber coating portions 8b,
11b is set in a close contact state, and the fibers 8a and 11a are set in a pair of fiber clamps 24 in a close contact state. Then, each fiber 8 is
a, 11a are heated and fused. After the fusion for a certain period of time, the tension applying clamp 22 and the fiber clamp 24
Is removed from each of the ribbon splitting portions 8 and 11, and the fiber coating portions 8 b and 11 b are clamped only by the coating clamp 23. In this state, the fused fibers 8a, 11
a is heated by a gas burner 25 and stretched. This stretching is performed until a desired branching ratio is obtained.

Thereafter, the fused and drawn fiber 8
a and 11 a are reinforced by two reinforcing members 21. The reinforcing member 21 has a glass case 26 as shown in FIG.
The four fibers 8a, 11a corresponding to one tape core division portion 8, 11 are put in each glass case 26, and then the adhesive S is filled in the glass case 26 and hardened. As a result, the four fibers 8a and 11a in one tape core division portion 8 and 11 are firmly connected.

Returning to FIG. 1, the two sets of 4
The core tape coupler 19 is juxtaposed in the optical component storage area 16,
It is fixed to the module body 4. Here, the two sets of four-core tape couplers 19 are arranged in the module main body 4 in a state of being arranged in the width direction of the reinforcing member 21 (the fiber arrangement direction indicated by D in the figure) as shown in FIG. Instead, as shown in FIG. 1, the reinforcing members 21 are arranged side by side in the optical component housing area 16 in a state where the reinforcing members 21 stand upright so that the width direction (fiber arrangement direction) matches the thickness direction of the module body 4.

The optical component housing area 16 is provided with a plurality of guide members including R guides 27a and 27b and a plurality of holding members 28 having slits for entering and exiting the fiber. Each of the ribbon splitting portions 8 of the tape core 5, each single-core optical fiber 9, and the test multi-core ribbon 6 are routed along the guide member and held by the holding member 28. . Note that the R guide 27a,
The plurality of guide members including 27b include a minimum bending radius of the connecting multi-core tape 5 and the test multi-core tape 6 (30
mm) is maintained.

The connection optical fiber storage area 17 is disposed on the rear side of the optical component storage area 16 in the module main body 4 and has a common tape core portion 7 of the connection multi-core tape core wire 5.
To store the extra length. The connection optical fiber storage area 17 is provided with an inner bending radius regulating member 29 made of an R guide and an outer bending radius regulating member 30 located around the inner bending radius regulating member 29 and including a plurality of R guides 30a. Have been. The extra length of the common tape core portion 7 is wound and stored in a region R between the inner bending radius regulating member 29 and the outer bending radius regulating member 30. Further, a fiber outlet 31 is provided in the upper part of the rear surface of the module main body 4 for leading out the common tape core portion 7 housed in the connection optical fiber housing area 17 from inside the module main body 4. At this time, the common tape core portion 7 is wound in a state of slack in the region R, and is led out from the fiber lead-out port 31 so that the minimum bending radius of the common tape core portion 7 is secured. The wire 7 can be pushed into and pulled out of the connection optical fiber storage area 17.

Since the connection optical fiber storage area 17 is provided in the module main body 4 as described above, the connection multi-core tape core wire 5 is connected to the outside optical fiber 3 or the multi-core tape of the other multi-core optical module 1. It is possible to avoid entanglement with the cord. Further, a multi-core tape core wire 5 obtained by dividing an eight-core tape core wire is used as the connection multi-core tape core wire 5, and one end of each of the tape core wire division portions 8 in the connection multi-core tape core wire 5 is connected. Since the excess length of the portion 7 is stored in the connection optical fiber storage area 17, the tape cores are entangled as in the case where two four-core tape cores are stored in the connection optical fiber storage area 17. There is no such thing. As described above, the work of connecting and changing the connection of the optical fiber becomes easy.

A test optical fiber guide 32 is provided above the connection optical fiber storage area 17.
The test multicore tape core wire 6 retained in the optical component storage area 16 passes through the guide part 32 and is taken out of the module main body 4.

The outside optical fiber storage area 18 is disposed below the connection optical fiber storage area 17 in the module body 4 and stores the extra length of the outside multicore tape core wire 3. An R guide 33 for securing a minimum bending radius of the out-of-office multi-core ribbon 3 is formed in the out-of-office optical fiber storage area 18. The outside office multi-core tape core wire 3 is pushed into the outside office optical fiber housing area 18 from an opening 34 formed in the rear surface of the module main body 4 and housed therein.

A connector holding member 35 is provided on the rear surface of the module body 4.
Numeral 5 removably holds optical connectors 12 and 15 connecting the office-side multi-core tape core 3 and the connecting multi-core tape core 5.

In this case, as the multi-core ribbon for connection and the multi-core ribbon for testing, an 8-core ribbon having no tape core division as shown in FIG. 6 was used, and one optical coupler was used. The following inconvenience occurs in the case of using eight 8-core tape couplers. That is, in this case, the fiber of the connecting multi-core tape 51 and the test multi-core tape 52
Is to be collectively reinforced by one reinforcing member 53, so that the width dimension D of the reinforcing member 53 is correspondingly increased.
Increase. As described above, since the reinforcing member 53 is set up so that the width direction thereof coincides with the thickness direction of the module main body 4, if the width of the reinforcing member 53 increases, the module main body 4 becomes thicker. I have to help. In addition, if the reinforcing member 53 is enlarged in order to collectively reinforce the fusion portion between the connecting multi-core tape core 51 and the test multi-core tape core 52, the cost of the reinforcing member 53 increases. Further, as the number of cores of the multi-core tape increases, it becomes difficult to set the fusion condition, so that the fibers of the multi-core tape 51 for connection and the multi-core tape 52 for test are uniformly heated. And the yield of the optical coupler unit is deteriorated. In addition, the equipment configuration such as a tension applying clamp used for manufacturing an 8-core tape coupler becomes complicated,
The cost is high.

It is also conceivable to construct a branch portion equivalent to the above by using two sets of four-fiber tape couplers formed by fusing four-fiber tape cores to each other. Since it is small, it can be stored in a thin module. However, since an eight-core tape connector is used as the terminal optical connector, it is necessary to connect and fix two four-core tape cores. For this reason, there is a problem that the extra length accommodation of the tape core becomes complicated, the workability is deteriorated, and the cost is increased due to an increase in the work time.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the connecting multi-core tape core 5 and the test multi-core tape core 6 are divided, and the fibers of the respective multi-core strips 8 of the connecting multi-core tape core 5 are separated. 8a and each of the tape core division portions 1 of the test multicore tape core 6
The single fiber 11a is fused and integrated, and these fused portions are divided for each tape core division portion and reinforced by two reinforcing members 21. , The width dimension D of the reinforcing member 21
(See FIG. 3) can be reduced. Therefore, by arranging the two reinforcing members 19 in the module main body 4, the thickness of the module main body 4 can be reduced. In the case where the fused portion of the fibers of the connecting multi-core tape 5 and the test multi-core tape 6 is divided and reinforced by the two reinforcing members 19, the small reinforcing member 19 is required. Can be used, so that the cost of the reinforcing member 19 can be reduced. Further, since the tape core splitting section 8 and the tape core splitting section 11 are four-core tape cores having a smaller number of cores than the multi-core tape cores 51 and 52 shown in FIG. The fibers of the wire 5 and the test multi-core tape 6 can be uniformly heated, and a conventional device such as a clamp for applying tension can be used as it is. Also, the multi-core tape core 5 for connection and the multi-core tape core 6 for test are connected to the optical connector 1 of the terminal.
Since the parts connected to the optical connectors 2 and 14 are not divided, the workability in mounting the optical connectors 12 and 14 is improved.

Therefore, with the increase in the density of the optical communication line,
Even when the number of cores of the connecting multi-core tape 5 and the test multi-core tape 6 increases, the multi-core optical module 1
It is possible to reduce the thickness and cost of the device.

The multi-core optical module according to the present invention comprises:
It is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in the above-described embodiment, two 8-core tape cores are divided into two parts, and the respective tape core division parts are connected to each other to form two sets of four-core tape couplers. Also, one 8
Two sets of four-fiber tape couplers can also be formed by the core fiber and two four-fiber ribbons. An example is shown in FIG. In the figure, an optical coupler unit 40 fuses and integrates two tape core divisions 42 formed by dividing an eight core ribbon 41 and two four cores 43, respectively. The fused portion is divided in units of tape core divisions and reinforced by two reinforcing members 44. In this case, even if the connection destinations of the two four-core ribbon wires 43 are different, it can be dealt with.

The present invention is also applicable to a WDM coupler (wavelength-dependent optical splitter). That is, one of the multi-core tapes (main-line multi-core tape core) is connected to the optical fiber outer diameter φ.
125 μm, the other multi-core tape (branch-side multi-core tape core) is configured with an optical fiber outer diameter of φ115 μm while keeping the core diameter the same, and φ115 μm as an optical connector
The one having m holes is used. By doing so, in a state where the communication light of the wavelength of 1.31 μm band is passed through the main-core multi-core tape, the measuring instrument passes through the optical switch, the branch multi-core tape, and the multi-core tape coupler. 1.55μm wavelength
Alternatively, the measuring light in the 1.65 .mu.m band is inserted into the multi-core tape on the main line side, and light having only this wavelength can be received by the measuring instrument. An optical connector having a hole of φ115 μm has the commonality with an optical connector having a hole of φ125 μm, and can be mechanically / optically coupled. Therefore, an optical switch in which a terminal section is constituted by an optical fiber of φ125 μm can be used as it is.

[0036]

According to the present invention, the first multi-core ribbon is divided to form a plurality of first-core divisions.
The fiber of the ribbon splitting portion and the fiber of the second multi-core ribbon are each fused and integrated, and the fused portion is bonded to the first fiber.
A plurality of multi-core tape couplers were formed by dividing the tape core division unit and reinforcing with a plurality of reinforcing members. Even if the number increases, it is possible to reduce the thickness and cost of the multi-core optical module. Also,
Since there is no work of connecting a plurality of multi-core tapes having a small number of cores to one multi-core optical connector, workability in mounting the multi-core optical connector is improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating a multi-core optical module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a connection system of the connecting multi-core tape and the testing multi-core tape shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of the optical coupler unit illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating a part of a manufacturing process of the optical coupler unit illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the reinforcing member shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of an optical coupler unit when an eight-core tape core without a tape core division part is used as a multicore tape core.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the appearance of another embodiment of the optical coupler unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Multi-core optical module, 4 ... Module main body, 5 ... Multi-core tape core for connection (2nd multi-core tape core), 6 ... Multi-core tape for test (1st multi-core tape core), 7: Common tape core part, 8: Tape core division part (second tape core division part), 8a: Fiber, 11: Tape core division part (second part)
Tape core division part), 11a: fiber, 12: 8-core M
T-type optical connector (multi-core optical connector for second multi-core ribbon), 13 ... single-core optical connector, 14 ... 16-core MT-type optical connector (multi-core optical connector for first multi-core ribbon) , 1
7 ... connection optical fiber storage area (extra length storage area), 19
... 4 core tape coupler (multi-core tape coupler), 20 ... optical coupler part, 21 ... reinforcement member, 40 ... optical coupler part, 41 ... 8
Core tape (first multicore tape), 42... Tape core splitting section (second tape core splitting section), 43... 4-core tape core (second multicore tape core), 44. Reinforcement members.

Claims (6)

[Claims] An optical coupler unit formed by integrating a part of the first multi-core tape and a part of the second multi-core tape;
A multi-core optical module in which the optical coupler unit is housed in a module main body together with the first multi-core tape core and the second multi-core tape core, wherein the optical coupler unit includes the first multi-core tape core The wire is divided to form a plurality of first tape core divisions, and the fiber of each first tape core division and the fiber of the second multi-core ribbon are fused and integrated, respectively. Part of the first
A plurality of multi-core tape couplers formed by dividing the tape core division unit and reinforcing the plurality of reinforcing members with a plurality of reinforcing members, wherein the plurality of multi-core tape couplers are juxtaposed in the module body; A multi-core optical module. 2. The optical coupler section further divides the second multi-core ribbon to form a plurality of second ribbon split sections, and further comprises a plurality of first tape split sections. 2. The multi-core optical module according to claim 1, wherein the optical fiber module is configured to fuse and integrate the fibers of the plurality of second tape core division parts, respectively. 3. 3. The second tapered ribbon dividing portion is formed by being divided from one end of the second tapered core, and is formed on an undivided side of the second tapered core. 3. The multi-core optical module according to claim 2, wherein the end is connected to the multi-core optical connector for the second multi-core tape. 4. The optical fiber according to claim 3, wherein each of the divided ends of the second multi-core ribbon is further divided into individual optical fibers and connected to a single-core optical connector. Multi-core optical module. 5. An extra length storage area for storing an extra length of an undivided portion of the second multi-core ribbon is provided in the module main body. 4. The multi-core optical module according to 4. 6. The first tapered ribbon dividing portion is formed at an intermediate portion of the first tapered ribbon, and both ends of the first tapered ribbon are the same. The multi-core optical module according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the multi-core optical module is connected to a multi-core optical connector for multi-core tape.