JP2003066264A - Narrow pitch optical fiber array - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a narrow pitch optical fiber array which is excellent in a temperature characteristic and is hardly disconnected. SOLUTION: Tape shape multi-core optical fibers 2u and 2d which are abutted and connected to an optical device are superimposed and arrayed in the narrow pitch optical fiber array 1 which consists of a block 6 with formed V shape grooves 5a-h where a plurality of optical fibers 3a-h are arrayed and of a pressure board for fixing the optical fibers 3a-h in the V grooves 5a-h. The block is constituted by the three-stage configuration of a V shape groove part where the V grooves are formed, an optical fiber fixing part which is lower by one step than the V groove part and a tape shape multi-core optical fiber fixing part which is lower by one step than the optical fiber fixing part.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a narrow-pitch optical fiber array in which a plurality of tape-type multi-core optical fibers are arranged, and in particular, an adhesive for fixing a plurality of optical fibers is optimized. The present invention relates to a narrow pitch optical fiber array.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the expansion of optical communication networks, optical fiber arrays using various optical fiber arranging members are used not only for optical communication equipment but also for connecting optical connectors and optical waveguide devices.

As a method of connecting the optical waveguide and the optical fiber, the optical fiber is fixed in the V groove for arrangement, and the V groove is connected to the end surface of the optical waveguide with an adhesive, and the optical waveguide and the optical fiber are connected. There are a fusion splicing method that melts and connects by melting by high frequency heating, and a pressure connection fixing method that uses the pressure of a spring or the like. Generally, the V-groove connection method has been widely used, and it is most utilized especially when connecting a waveguide and a multicore optical fiber.

On the other hand, with the recent development of the optical waveguide manufacturing technology, the cost of the optical waveguide itself occupied by the optical waveguide itself is relatively low, and the cost for connecting the optical waveguide and the multi-core optical fiber is conspicuous. Is becoming. Therefore, in order to promote the spread of the optical waveguide device, it depends on how to realize the connection between the optical waveguide and the multi-core optical fiber with high density, high accuracy and low cost.

As a conventional narrow-pitch optical fiber array,
For example, a narrow pitch optical fiber array 3 as shown in FIG.
There is 0. The narrow-pitch optical fiber array 30 uses an integrated optical fiber block (hereinafter, block) 31 which is the most important of the narrow-pitch optical fiber array members.

The block 31 has a V groove portion 32 in which the V groove 5 is formed and a thickness D of the tape-type multicore optical fibers 2u and 2d.
Tape-type multi-core optical fibers 2u, 2d having a step 33
And the mounting portion 34 of The block 31 is made of quartz glass. On the other hand, the pressing plate 7 is made of the same material as the block 31, and generally quartz glass is used.

Optical fiber 3 and tape type multi-core optical fiber 2
4, is fixed to the block 31 having an integral structure with the adhesive 13, but only the optical fiber 3 is sandwiched between the pressing plates 7 and fixed by the V groove portion 32. As the adhesive 13, for example, a UV adhesive (ultraviolet curing adhesive) is used.

[0008]

However, in the conventional narrow-pitch optical fiber array 30, when the amount of the adhesive 13 applied to the optical fiber intersection 3x is increased, the adhesive 1
Since 3 has a larger coefficient of thermal expansion than the block 31 made of silica glass, it undergoes expansion and contraction due to ambient temperature changes, and the temperature characteristics deteriorate.

On the other hand, if the amount of the adhesive 13 is too small, the optical fiber 3 is easily broken at the optical fiber intersection 3x. Therefore, there is a problem that it is difficult to control the application amount of the adhesive 13.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a narrow-pitch optical fiber array which is excellent in temperature characteristics and which is hard to break.

[0011]

The present invention was devised to achieve the above object, and the invention of claim 1 is
In a narrow-pitch optical fiber array in which tape-type multicore optical fibers to be butt-connected to an optical device are arranged in an overlapping manner, a block in which a V groove in which a plurality of optical fibers are arranged and an optical fiber in the V groove are arranged. A V-groove portion in which a V-groove is formed, and an optical fiber fixing portion that is one step lower than the V-groove portion.
A narrow-pitch optical fiber array having a three-stage configuration with a tape-type multi-core optical fiber fixing portion that is one step lower than the optical fiber fixing portion.

According to a second aspect of the invention, the optical fiber fixing portion is
The thickness of the tape-type multicore optical fiber is formed to be ⅔ lower than the thickness of the V-groove part, and the tape-type multicore optical fiber fixing part is 1 / thick of the thickness of the tape-type multicore optical fiber than the optical fiber fixing part.
The narrow-pitch optical fiber array according to claim 1, which is formed to be 3 lower.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a narrow-pitch optical fiber array which is a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line AA after the narrow pitch optical fiber array shown in FIG. 1 is assembled. The same reference numerals are used for the same members as in the conventional example shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a narrow-pitch optical fiber array 1 according to the present invention comprises tape-type multi-core optical fibers 2u and 2d which are butt-connected to an optical device such as an optical waveguide substrate and are arranged in upper and lower two stages. And the plurality of optical fibers 3a of the tape-type multi-core optical fibers 2u and 2d.
The h is arranged in a horizontal row.

As the tape-type multi-core optical fiber 2u having a substantially elliptical cross section, for example, four optical fibers 3a to 3d are arranged in a row, and the outer peripheries of these four optical fibers 3a to 3d are 1 respectively. A tape-type 4-core optical fiber is used in which the outer circumferences of the four optical fibers 3a to 3d that are covered with the secondary coating and that are coated with the primary coating are coated with the secondary coating 4. The thickness of the tape-type multi-core optical fiber 2u when the secondary coating 4 is coated is D. The same applies to the configuration of the tape-type multi-core optical fiber 2d.

Narrow-pitch optical fiber array 1 according to the present invention
Is a block 6 in which a plurality of V grooves 5a to h in which eight optical fibers 3a to h are arranged and the optical fibers 3a to h in each of the V grooves 5a to h are pressed from above to be adhesively fixed. And a pressing plate 7 for

The stepped block 6 is an integrated optical fiber block, and has a V groove portion 8 at the tip where V grooves 5a to 5h are formed in the upper portion, and a step lower than the V groove portion 8 at the optical fiber intersection 3x. A central optical fiber fixing portion 9 for adhesive fixing, and a tape type at the rear end for adhesive fixing the tape type multi-core optical fibers 2u, 2d that are one step lower than the optical fiber fixing portion 9 and are vertically stacked in two stages. Multi-core optical fiber fixing part 10
It has a three-stage configuration.

The stepped block 6 is made of, for example, silica glass. The optical fiber intersection 3x is
The optical fibers 3a to 3d of the tape-type multi-core optical fiber 2u and the optical fibers 3e to h of the tape-type multi-core optical fiber 2d, which are superposed in two layers in the upper and lower sides, are alternately crossed so as to be arranged at a narrow pitch. It is a part.

The length of the V-groove portion 8 at the tip of the block 6 is set so that the optical fibers 3a to 3h arranged in the V-grooves 5a to 5h are not subjected to excessive stress. For example, when the tape type multi-core optical fibers 2u and 2d having the thickness D of 0.3 mm are used, the thickness may be about 10 mm.

In FIG. 1, from the bottom surface of the block 6 to the V groove portion 8
Hv, the height from the bottom surface of the block 6 to the upper surface of the optical fiber fixing portion 9 is Hf, and the height from the bottom surface of the block 6 to the upper surface of the tape-type multi-core optical fiber fixing portion 10 is Ht. I am trying.

The optical fiber fixing portion 9 is formed to be lower than the V groove portion 8 by 2/3 of the thickness D of the tape-type multicore optical fibers 2u and 2d. Tape type multi-core optical fiber fixing part 10
Is formed to be ⅓ lower than the thickness D of the tape-type multicore optical fibers 2u and 2d than the optical fiber fixing portion 9. That is, a step 11 having a height of 2D / 3 is formed at the boundary between the V groove portion 8 and the optical fiber fixing portion 9, and a high level is formed at the boundary between the optical fiber fixing portion 9 and the tape-type multi-core optical fiber fixing portion 10. Forming a step 12 of D / 3.

In other words, the difference between the height Hv of the V groove portion 8 and the height Hf of the optical fiber fixing portion 9 is ⅔ of the thickness D of the tape type multicore optical fibers 2u and 2d (Hv-Hf = 2D). /
3) and the height H of the optical fiber fixing part 9
The difference between f and the height Ht of the tape-type multicore optical fiber fixing portion 10 is 1 / th of the thickness D of the tape-type multicore optical fibers 2u and 2d.
3 (Hf-Ht = D / 3).

For example, when the tape type multi-core optical fibers 2u and 2d having the thickness D of 0.3 mm are used, the height of the step 11 is 0.2 mm and the height of the step 12 is 0.1 mm. Good.

The plate-shaped pressing plate 7 has a V-shape at the tip of the block 6.
It is formed so as to have a size that matches the V groove portion 8 when it is superposed on the upper surface of the groove portion 8. Similarly to the block 6, the pressing plate 7 is also made of quartz glass.

Next, a procedure for assembling the narrow-pitch optical fiber array 1 will be described.

First, the tape-type multi-core optical fibers 2u and 2d
Of the optical fibers 3a to h by removing the secondary coating 4 and the primary coating of
Of the tape-shaped multicore optical fibers 2u, 2
The d is fixed by superimposing it on the upper and lower two stages with an adhesive.

Next, the V groove 5a of the V groove portion 8 of the block 6
An adhesive 13 is applied to the inside of h, the upper surface of the optical fiber fixing portion 9 and the upper surface of the tape type multi-core optical fiber fixing portion 10. After the optical fibers 3a to 3d and 3e to h of the tape-type multicore optical fibers 2u and 2d which are overlapped with each other are crossed with each other to have a narrow pitch, the narrowed optical fibers 3a to 3h are provided with the V groove 5
a-h, the optical fiber crossing portion 3x is arranged in the optical fiber fixing portion 9, and the tape-type multi-core optical fibers 2u and 2d whose coating is not removed are attached to the tape-type multi-core optical fiber fixing portion 10. Deploy.

Then, from above the V groove portion 8, the pressing plate 7 having the back surface coated with the adhesive 13 is superposed and pressed,
The optical fibers 3a to 3h arranged in the V grooves 5a to 5h are bonded and fixed.

Further, the adhesive 13 is secondarily coated on the optical fiber crossing portion 3x on the optical fiber fixing portion 9 and the end portions of the tape type multicore optical fibers 2u and 2d on the tape type multicore optical fiber fixing portion 10. 4 so as to cover the optical fiber 3a
~ H and tape type multi-core optical fiber 2 without coating removed
u and 2d are adhesively fixed.

Finally, by a cutting device or the like, block 6
When the tip of the optical fiber, the tips of the optical fibers 3a to 3h, and the tip of the pressing plate 7 are cut to make the respective end faces coincide, the narrow-pitch optical fiber array 1 as shown in FIG. 2 is completed.

In the narrow-pitch optical fiber array 1 thus obtained, the amount of the adhesive 13 applied to the optical fiber intersection 3x is optimized (between the lower portion of the optical fiber intersection 3x and the optical fiber fixing portion 9). Adequate amount of adhesive 13 applied)
As a result, the characteristic variation with respect to the ambient temperature is reduced, so that the temperature characteristic is excellent, and even if bending or pulling is applied at this portion, the wire is not easily broken.

Narrow pitch optical fiber array 1 according to the present invention
Has a tape-type multi-core optical fiber fixing portion 10 lower than the optical fiber fixing portion 9 at the rear end of the block 6, so that a gap is formed between the lower portion of the rear end of the optical fiber intersection 3x and the block 6. Very rarely,
Compared with the conventional narrow-pitch optical fiber array 30 described in Section 1, the amount of adhesive 13 applied can be reduced, and it is less susceptible to expansion and contraction due to ambient temperature changes. On the other hand, in the conventional narrow-pitch optical fiber array 30, since a gap is formed between the block 31 and the lower portion of the rear end of the optical fiber intersection 3x, the adhesive 13 is formed by the thickness to fill the gap.
The coating amount of is increased, and it undergoes expansion and contraction due to changes in ambient temperature.

Further, the tape type multi-core optical fiber fixing portion 10
And a step 12 is formed between the optical fiber fixing portion 9 and
Since the tape-shaped multi-core optical fibers 2u and 2d are always fixed at this position when covered, the length of the optical fiber intersection 3x becomes constant as compared with the conventional one, and the narrow-pitch optical fiber array 1 with uniform characteristics is provided. Can be manufactured stably.

Therefore, according to the present invention, by optimizing the adhesive applied to the optical fiber crossing portion, it is possible to easily manufacture a narrow-pitch optical fiber array having a structure excellent in temperature characteristics and not easily broken.

In the above embodiment, the tape-type multicore optical fiber is used as the tape-type multicore optical fiber, but the tape-type multicore optical fiber such as 8-core or 16-core is used as the block. May be formed according to the number of cores.

In the above embodiment, the tape type four-core optical fiber is described as an example in which the tape type four core optical fibers are vertically stacked.
You may make it arrange | position the thing which laminated | stacked the tape type 4-core optical fiber in two steps | paragraphs of upper and lower sides in parallel, and arrange 16 optical fibers in a V-groove in a horizontal line.

[0038]

As is apparent from the above description,
According to the present invention, the following excellent effects are exhibited.

(1) It is possible to stably manufacture a narrow-pitch optical fiber array which is not easily broken even if a tape-type multi-core optical fiber is bent and pulled, and has excellent temperature characteristics.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a cross-sectional view of the narrow-pitch optical fiber array shown in FIG. 1 taken along the line AA after assembly.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a conventional narrow-pitch optical fiber array.

4 is a cross-sectional view of the narrow-pitch optical fiber array shown in FIG. 1 taken along line BB after assembly.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Narrow pitch optical fiber array 2u, 2d tape type multi-core optical fiber 3a to h optical fiber 5a-h V groove 6 blocks 7 Press plate 8 V groove 9 Optical fiber fixing part 10 Tape type multi-core optical fiber fixing part

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A narrow-pitch optical fiber array in which tape-type multi-core optical fibers that are butt-connected to an optical device are arranged in an overlapping manner, and a block in which a V groove in which a plurality of optical fibers are arranged is formed, and a V groove. It consists of a holding plate for fixing the optical fiber inside, and the above block,
Narrow pitch, characterized by a three-stage configuration of a V-groove portion in which a V-groove is formed, an optical fiber fixing portion one step lower than the V groove portion, and a tape-type multi-core optical fiber fixing portion one step lower than the optical fiber fixing portion. Optical fiber array. 2. The optical fiber fixing part is formed to be 2/3 lower than the thickness of the tape-type multi-core optical fiber than the V groove part, and the tape-type multi-core optical fiber fixing part is taper than the optical fiber fixing part. The narrow-pitch optical fiber array according to claim 1, wherein the narrow-pitch optical fiber array is formed to have a thickness 1/3 lower than that of the multi-core optical fiber.