JP2003248132A - Optical fiber array - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To inexpensively provide a two-dimensional optical fiber array having an extremely small array error. <P>SOLUTION: In the optical fiber array 10, a cylindrical ferrule 12 provided at the tip section of an optical fiber 11 is inserted into a through hole that is aligned on an aligning board 14, and a plurality of optical fibers 11 are aligned. The optical fiber 11 is fitted into the through hole for penetrating the center section of the ferrule 12, and a light incidence/emission end face 11d in the optical fiber 11 is exposed to the side of an end face 12a in the ferrule 12. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical switch, an isolator, an input / output unit of an optical connection device, a semiconductor laser, an optical coupling component of a photodiode and an optical fiber, or a multi-core optical connector used in optical communication. The present invention relates to an optical fiber array.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A backbone network is strongly required to have a large capacity with the rapid increase of data traffic.
In this backbone network, the WD is
Large-capacity optical networks using M (wavelength division multiplexing) technology have already been introduced. However, the node part is a system in which an optical signal is once converted into an electric signal, and a route using a conventional electric circuit is used to switch the route, and then converted into an optical signal and returned to the transmission line part. There is.

It has been pointed out that such a device for converting an optical signal and an electric signal has a significant increase in cost and power consumption as the signal band is improved (see Non-Patent Document 1). Therefore, utilization of an optical switch that switches an optical signal as it is is being studied. In particular, a free space type optical switch that uses a light beam for connection inside a switch (optical connection) and connection between switches without using an optical waveguide medium for wiring inside the optical switch can be downsized. Practical application to the switch part of a large-scale router is under consideration.

FIG. 7 shows a schematic configuration of such a conventional free space type optical switch (see Non-Patent Document 2).
The optical switch 110 shown in FIG.
1, a microlens array 112, a micro movable mirror array 113, and a fixed mirror 114. The optical fiber array 111 is a two-dimensionally or one-dimensionally arranged array of optical fibers with a certain interval by using a fiber alignment member. In the microlens array 112, the microlenses are arranged two-dimensionally or one-dimensionally with a certain space therebetween as in the spatial light beam connecting device.

Further, the micro movable mirror array 113
Is one in which a plurality of micro movable mirrors, which are active elements formed on a semiconductor substrate by using micromachine technology, are arrayed one-dimensionally or two-dimensionally, and the tilt angles θ of the mirror surfaces are dynamically changed. It is possible to change. In addition, in FIG. 7, in order to avoid complication, each part is
Each is described as a one-dimensional array.

In such a conventional free space type optical switch 110, the optical signal 100 emitted from each optical fiber of the optical fiber array 111 is converted into parallel light by each microlens of the microlens array 112, and then, After being reflected by each micro movable mirror of the micro movable mirror array 113, it is reflected by the fixed mirror 114,
The light is reflected again by the micro movable mirror of the micro movable mirror array 113, and finally focused on the optical fiber of the optical fiber array 111 via the micro lens of the micro lens array 112.

In the optical switch 110 thus constructed, the optical signal 100 is adjusted by adjusting the tilt angle θ of the micro movable mirror of the micro movable mirror array 113.
Is switched to guide the optical signal 100 to the target optical fiber of the optical fiber array 111. The optical system shown here, which is used for converting or coupling an optical fiber composed of an optical fiber and a microlens and a light beam, is generally called an optical collimator.

In the above optical switch 110, the connection loss between the input and output optical fibers is not only the reflection loss at the refractive index boundary surface between each optical component and the air gap, but also the optical fiber and the microlens constituting the optical collimator. The coupling loss between the light beam and the output optical fiber, which is caused by the optical axis tilt of the light beam caused by the deviation of the optical axes from the optical axis, the vignetting loss from the lens aperture, and the reflection loss at the refractive index boundary surface are dominant. Further, the optical beam that causes the optical axis tilt due to the optical axis shift causes crosstalk with respect to the adjacent channel, and causes deterioration of the optical communication path quality.

In particular, in the two-dimensional optical collimator array, the amount of optical axis deviation between each optical fiber and the lens is greatly affected by the fiber arrangement error in the optical fiber array. Therefore, in the two-dimensional optical collimator array, there is a strong demand for improvement in array manufacturing accuracy. The device using the optical collimator array shown here is not limited to an optical switch, but is similarly applied to an optical isolator or an optical interconnection device that uses a light beam for connection. Further, it is also applied to a coupling portion between a semiconductor laser or a photodiode and an optical fiber.

FIG. 8 shows a schematic structure of a conventional example of a two-dimensional optical fiber array used for a free space type optical switch. As shown in FIG. 8, in the two-dimensional optical fiber array 120, the optical fiber 121 has the V-groove substrate 12
The two V-shaped groove portions are respectively inserted and aligned, temporarily fixed by the fiber press plate 123, and fixed by the adhesive agent filled in the voids generated between these components.
A plurality of groove substrates 122 are laminated and adhered.
As the V-groove substrate 122, a substrate made of ceramic, glass, silicon, or the like in which a V-shaped groove portion is formed by using a precision processing technique is widely used, and an optical fiber array in the horizontal direction with respect to the substrate surface is used. It is said that the error can be suppressed to 1 μm or less.

FIG. 9 shows a schematic structure of another example of a conventional two-dimensional optical fiber array (a ferrule of an MT type optical connector). As shown in FIG. 9, in the two-dimensional optical fiber array 130, the optical fiber 131 has a ferrule 132.
Are inserted into the guide holes 132a for alignment and are fixed by the adhesive injected from the adhesive filling holes 132b. The ferrule 132 is made of a polymer-based thermoplastic material (thermoplastic resin) that causes a small amount of deformation during heat shrinkage or after molding. The heated transfer material is extruded into a mold and cooled to be molded. Method ”. In general, a plastic molding technique represented by a transfer molding method is suitable for mass production, and enables a highly accurate optical fiber array to be manufactured at low cost.

[0012]

[Non-Patent Document 1] ASM Morris III, "In search of tran"
sparent networks ", IEEE Spectrum, pp47-51 (Oct. 2001)

[Non-Patent Document 2] DT Neilson, et. Al., “Fully pr
ovisioned 112x112 micro-mechanical optical cross c
onnect with 35.8Tb / s demonstrate capacity ", OFC20
00.paper-PD12-1, (2000)

[0013]

However, in the two-dimensional optical fiber array 120 as shown in FIG.
There were the following problems. (1) First, when the V-groove substrates 122 are stacked, since the substrates are aligned in the horizontal direction with respect to the substrates and then bonded, it is necessary to consider the influence of shrinkage due to the adhesive material.
Position control by this contraction is difficult. Therefore, in the optical fiber array 120, there is a limit to the improvement in the arrangement accuracy of the optical fibers 121 with respect to the substrate stacking direction (the direction perpendicular to the substrate surface).

(2) If the number of the optical fibers 121 is increased in a direction parallel to the V-groove substrate 122 with the expansion of the scale, the warp of the V-groove substrate 122 easily causes an alignment error of the optical fibers 121. Further, if the number of laminated V-groove substrates 122 is increased, an array error of the optical fibers 121 is likely to occur due to variations in the thickness of the V-groove substrates 122 and the thickness of the adhesive. Even if the V-groove substrate 122 is formed with high dimensional accuracy, due to the thickness variation of the adhesive,
The overall array error is large.

(3) Generally, the V-groove substrate 122 is manufactured by forming V-shaped grooves on a substrate made of semiconductor, glass, ceramics or the like by precision machining or etching process. Manufacturing methods involving machining and processes are not suitable for mass production, and it is difficult to reduce manufacturing costs. (4) Further, since the outer diameter of the optical fiber is as very small as 125 μm, it is relatively difficult to handle the optical fiber. Since an optical fiber that is difficult to handle is used, it is difficult to reduce the assembly cost of the optical fiber array 120 shown in FIG.

On the other hand, the two-dimensional optical fiber array 130 shown in FIG. 9 has the following problems. In general, a non-reflection coating film made of a dielectric multilayer film is formed on the refractive index boundary surface between the optical fiber and the lens forming the optical collimator and air to avoid the influence of reflection. In many cases, a vapor deposition method is used to form this antireflection coating film.
In the process of forming the film, the formation target is exposed to a high temperature environment of several hundreds of degrees Celsius or higher.

When the ferrule 132 shown in FIG. 9 is used, a plurality of optical fibers 131 are inserted into the guide holes 132a, and the optical fibers 131 are held by the ferrules 132, and the light entering and exiting the respective optical fibers 131 is performed. The end face is polished and a non-reflective coating film is formed on the polished light input / output end face. However, the thermoplastic resin forming the ferrule 132 has a glass transition temperature of 180 to 20.
It is around 0 ° C., and it is technically difficult to form the antireflection coating film by using the vapor deposition method together with the ferrule 132.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a two-dimensional optical fiber array having a very small array error at a low cost.

[0019]

An optical fiber array according to the present invention holds an optical fiber and is provided with a cylindrical ferrule made of a material having heat resistance and a plurality of guide holes into which the ferrule is inserted. And an alignment substrate made of a thermoplastic material. Further, the optical fiber array according to the present invention includes an array substrate having a plurality of guide holes penetrating two-dimensionally and a through hole in the central portion inserted in the respective guide holes in the same direction. A plurality of cylindrical ferrules, and a plurality of optical fibers fitted and held in the through holes of each of the ferrules, the guide hole is a cylinder having an inner diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the ferrule. The optical fiber is formed in a shape, and the light input / output end face of the optical fiber is exposed at one end face of the ferrule. In this optical fiber array, the arrangement accuracy of the optical fibers is determined by the arrangement accuracy of the guide holes arranged on the alignment substrate and the dimensional accuracy of the ferrule.

In the above-mentioned optical fiber array, the ferrule is made of a heat-resistant material so that the antireflection coating film is formed on the light input / output end face of the optical fiber by, for example, a vapor deposition method while the optical fiber is fitted in the ferrule. Can be formed.

Further, in the above optical fiber array, a buffering means for buffering a dimensional error between the inner diameter of the guide hole of the alignment substrate and the outer diameter of the ferrule may be provided. The cushioning means may be constituted by, for example, an arcuate cushioning groove formed around the guide hole of the alignment substrate along the peripheral edge of the guide hole. Further, the buffer means includes buffer holes formed along the arrangement of the guide holes near the edge of the aligned substrate,
A buffer groove formed by communicating between the adjacent guide holes of the aligned substrate and between the buffer hole and the guide hole may be used.

In the above optical fiber array, an antireflection coat may be attached to the tip of the ferrule. Further, the aligned substrate may be manufactured by a transfer molding method. Moreover, the aligned substrate may be made of a thermoplastic resin. In addition, it is provided with a non-reflective coating film formed on the light input / output end face of the optical fiber.

[0023]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. [First Embodiment] First, an optical fiber array according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described. Figure 1
It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the optical fiber array 10 in this Embodiment. The optical fiber array 10 includes a cylindrical ferrule 12 provided at the tip of an optical fiber 11.
Are inserted into the through holes provided on the aligned substrate 14 so that the plurality of optical fibers 11 are arranged. The optical fiber 11 is fitted in a through hole penetrating the central portion of the ferrule 12, and the light incident / exiting end face 11d of the optical fiber 11 is exposed on the end face 12a side of the ferrule 12.

As shown in FIG. 2, the ferrule 12 has
The outer cover 11c at the tip of the optical fiber 11 is removed,
The exposed portion of the waveguide including the core 11a and the clad 11b is fitted. In addition, on the side of the ferrule 12 into which the optical fiber is inserted, a cylindrical tube 13 is hung from the ferrule 12 to the optical fiber 11 to protect them.
Is provided. The tube 13 is composed of a thick portion and a thin portion, a part of the ferrule 12 is fitted in the thick portion, and an optical fiber 11 is fitted in the thin portion.

The ferrule 12 is an optical fiber holding component and is currently commercially available. This generally commercially available ferrule has a very high accuracy with an eccentricity amount of several μm or less, which is a deviation amount between the center of the inner diameter and the center of the outer diameter. Although not shown, the light input / output end face 11d of the optical fiber 11 fitted in the ferrule 12 is
The antireflection coating film is formed by mirror polishing. In addition, the light incident / exiting end face 11 d is the end face 12 of the ferrule 12.
It is in a state of forming the same plane as a.

In this embodiment, since the ferrule 12 is made of a material having high heat resistance, the ferrule 12 holds the ferrule 12 on the light input / output end face 11d of the optical fiber 11 as described above. It becomes possible to form the antireflection coating film by the vapor deposition method. In this case, the antireflection coating film is formed on the end face 12a of the ferrule 12 as well as the light entrance / exit end face 11d. In this way, if the antireflection coating film is also formed on the tip portion of the ferrule 12, the optical fiber array 10 can be applied to the input / output portion of an optical switch used for optical communication or the like, an optical connector, or the like. it can.

The alignment substrate 14 is made of, for example, a polymer thermoplastic material (thermoplastic resin), and has a plurality of guide holes 14a arranged therein as shown in FIG. The inner diameter of the guide hole 14a is the ferrule 1
It corresponds to the outer diameter of 2 and is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the ferrule 12. When the aligned substrate 14 is made of a thermoplastic resin, it can be manufactured by, for example, a transfer molding method. The aligned substrate 14 may be made of metal, ceramic, or glass.

In the optical fiber array 10 according to the present embodiment described above, if the alignment substrate 14 such as the position of the guide hole 14a is formed with high accuracy and the ferrule 12 is formed with high dimensional accuracy, the ferrule is formed. A plurality of optical fibers 11 fixed to the alignment substrate 14 via 12
, Are arranged two-dimensionally with a very small error. As described above, according to the present embodiment, by using the ferrule 12 and the alignment substrate 14 (guide holes 14a) formed with high accuracy, a two-dimensional optical fiber array in which the array error is extremely small is obtained. It becomes possible.

Next, the procedure for assembling the ferrule 12 and the alignment substrate 14 in the optical fiber array 10 according to this embodiment described above will be described with reference to FIG. First, as shown in FIG. 4A, the alignment substrate 14 is temporarily fixed on the block 1 on which the reference plate (optical flat) 1a and the spacer 1b are stacked. The alignment substrate 14 may be temporarily fixed by, for example, an adhesive having a weak adhesive force.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4B, pressure is applied to the ferrule 12 in the guide hole 14a of the alignment substrate 14 so that the tip of the ferrule 12 is brought into contact with the upper surface of the reference plate 1a of the block 1. While inserting each. Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 4C, the ferrule 12 and the aligned substrate 14
Adhesive 15 is applied to the joints with and ferrules 12 are fixed to alignment substrate 14. After that, the alignment substrate 14 is removed from the block 1. Thereby, the optical fiber array 10 can be manufactured. The manufactured optical fiber array 10 is in a state in which the same plane is formed by the end faces 12a of the ferrules 12, that is, the light input / output end faces 11d of the respective optical fibers 11.

As described above, the optical fiber array 10 of this embodiment can be easily manufactured. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, by using the ferrule 12 and the alignment substrate 14 (guide holes 14a) formed with high dimensional accuracy, it is possible to reduce the two-dimensional optical fiber array in which the array error is extremely small. It can be obtained at a cost.

By the way, in the present embodiment, the reference board 1a
Although the block 1 in which the spacer 1b and the spacer 1b are overlapped with each other is used to manufacture the optical fiber array 10 in which the tip of the ferrule 12 is projected from the alignment substrate 14, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, omit the spacer 1b,
If only the reference plate 1a is used, the tip of the ferrule 12 is arranged on the surface of the alignment substrate 14, in other words,
An optical fiber array in which the end surface 12a of the ferrule 12 and the surface of the array substrate form the same plane can be manufactured. In addition, the emission end face 11d of each optical fiber 11
However, they do not have to form the same plane.

[Second Embodiment] Next, an optical fiber array according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 5 is a plan view showing, in an enlarged manner, a part of the alignment substrate 24 that constitutes the optical fiber array according to the present embodiment. In the following description, the same members as those in the above-described first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals as those used in the above-described first embodiment, and thus the same components as those in the above-described first embodiment will be described. A duplicate description will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 5, the guide hole 14a of the alignment substrate 24 is provided with a pair of arcuate buffer grooves 24b around the guide hole 14a along the periphery of the guide hole 14a. Further, a notch 24c communicating with the guide hole 14a is provided between the ends of the pair of buffer grooves 24b. When the ferrule 12 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is inserted into the guide hole 14a, the buffer groove 24b and the notch 24c serve as buffer means.

In the aligned substrate 24 having such buffer grooves 24b formed therein, the ferrule 1 is inserted in the guide hole 14a.
2 can be easily inserted. For example, when the outer diameter of the ferrule 12 is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the guide hole 14a, when the ferrule 12 is inserted into the guide hole 14a, the space between the buffer groove 24b and the guide hole 14a is elastically deformed to form the buffer groove 24b. It becomes narrower and the guide hole 14a expands. As a result, according to this embodiment, the ferrule 12
Can be easily inserted into the guide hole 14a.

In the first embodiment described above, when there is almost no difference between the inner diameter of the guide hole 14a of the alignment substrate 14 and the outer diameter of the ferrule 12, it is difficult to insert the ferrule 12 into the guide hole 14a smoothly. Become. Therefore,
In the case of the aligned substrate 14 shown in FIG. 3, it is necessary to mold the ferrule 12 and the aligned substrate 14 (guide holes 14a) with high precision. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, since the above-mentioned cushioning means is provided in the guide hole 14a,
Even when the outer diameter of the ferrule 12 is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the guide hole 14a, these errors are buffered by the buffering means.

As a result, according to the present embodiment, the ferrule 12 and the aligned substrate 24 can be molded on the array substrate 24 with high accuracy even if they are not molded with the same high accuracy as in the first embodiment. It becomes possible to arrange them. As a result, also in this embodiment, the plurality of optical fibers 11 are arranged two-dimensionally with a very small error. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to obtain the same effect as that of the first embodiment described above, and the accuracy of the ferrule 12 and the alignment substrate 24 is higher than that of the first embodiment described above. Since it is not necessary to perform molding with, it is possible to further reduce the cost.

[Third Embodiment] Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 6 shows the third embodiment.
4 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of an alignment substrate 34 that constitutes the optical fiber array in FIG. It should be noted that, hereinafter, the same reference numerals as those used in the description of the above-described first and second embodiments are used for the same members as those in the above-described first and second embodiments. The description overlapping with the description in the first and second embodiments described above will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 6, the alignment substrate 34 is first provided in the vicinity of one edge of the guide holes 14a on the arrangement direction side (vertical direction side in FIG. 6) near the edge thereof, and the buffer holes 3 are formed along the arrangement.
4c. In addition, the aligned substrate 34 is disposed between the guide holes 14a adjacent to each other and in the guide hole 14a in the arrangement direction.
And the buffer hole 34c, the buffer groove 3 for communicating these
4b. When inserting the ferrule 12 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 into the guide hole 14a, the buffer groove 34b and the buffer hole 34c serve as buffer means.

In the aligned substrate 34 having such buffer grooves 34b, etc., even if the outer diameter of the ferrule 12 is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the guide hole 14a, the ferrule 12 is placed in the guide hole 14a. When inserted, the space between the guide holes 14a is elastically deformed so that the buffer groove 34b becomes narrower, and the guide hole 14a expands, so that the ferrule 12 can be easily inserted into the guide hole 14a.

As described above, in this embodiment, by forming the buffer groove 34b between the adjacent guide holes 14a, the error between the outer diameter of the ferrule 12 and the inner diameter of the guide hole 14a is buffered. In the above-described second embodiment, when the distance between the adjacent guide holes 14a is made extremely small, the arcuate buffer groove 2 is formed between the adjacent guide holes 14a.
4b will be formed, and a very advanced molding technique is required. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the guide hole 1
Since it is only necessary to form the buffer groove 34b that allows the 4a to communicate with each other, the aligned substrate 34 can be manufactured by a simple molding technique.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to obtain the same effects as those of the above-described second embodiment, and it is possible to carry out with a molding technique simpler than that of the above-described second embodiment. Therefore, the cost can be reduced even when the interval between the adjacent ferrules 12 is extremely small.

[0043]

As described above, according to the present invention, the optical fiber is inserted into the ferrule and then inserted into the guide hole provided in the alignment substrate. Therefore, the arrangement accuracy of the optical fiber array is determined by the arrangement accuracy of the guide holes arranged on the alignment substrate and the dimensional accuracy of the ferrule. As a result, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a two-dimensional optical fiber array having a very small array error at low cost.

For example, according to one embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of guide holes are formed in an alignment substrate made of a thermoplastic polymer material (thermoplastic resin), and the guide holes hold an optical fiber and have heat resistance. An optical fiber array was constructed by inserting a cylindrical ferrule made of a material.
As a result, the arrangement error of the optical fibers can be made extremely small at low cost. In addition, while being held by the ferrule, the antireflection coat can be attached to the light input / output end face of the optical fiber together with the tip of the ferrule. In this way, if a non-reflective coating is formed on the tip of the ferrule, the optical fiber array
It can be applied to an input / output unit of an optical switch used in optical communication or the like, an optical connector, or the like.

According to another aspect of the present invention, in the above-described optical fiber array structure, a buffer means is provided for buffering an error between the inner diameter of the guide hole of the alignment substrate and the outer diameter of the ferrule. For example, the cushioning means may be provided with a circular arc-shaped cushioning groove formed around the guide hole of the aligned substrate along the peripheral edge of the guide hole. By doing so, the alignment error of the optical fibers can be made extremely small without molding the ferrule and the alignment substrate with high precision, and the optical fiber array can be provided at a lower cost.

Further, for example, the above-mentioned cushioning means includes a cushioning hole formed along the arrangement of the guide holes in the vicinity of the edge of the aligning substrate, a space between adjacent guide holes of the aligning substrate, and the cushioning hole and the guide hole. And a buffer groove formed between the two and communicating with each other. By doing so, even when the distance between the adjacent ferrules (optical fibers) is made extremely small, the arrangement error of the optical fibers can be made extremely small without molding the ferrule and the alignment substrate with high accuracy. Therefore, the optical fiber array can be provided at a lower cost.

Further, for example, in any one of the configurations of the above-mentioned optical fiber array, if the alignment substrate is manufactured by the transfer molding method, the alignment error of the optical fibers can be easily reduced at a low cost.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of an optical fiber array according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing each part of the optical fiber array shown in FIG.

3 is a perspective view showing a configuration of an alignment substrate 14 that constitutes the optical fiber array shown in FIG.

4A to 4D are process diagrams illustrating an assembling procedure of the optical fiber array of FIG.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged plan view showing a part of an alignment substrate which constitutes an optical fiber array according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of an alignment substrate that constitutes an optical fiber array according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of a free space type optical switch.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a schematic structure of a conventional two-dimensional optical fiber array.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a schematic structure of a conventional two-dimensional optical fiber array.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Optical fiber array, 11 ... Optical fiber, 11a ...
Core, 11b ... Clad, 11c ... Outer skin, 11d ... Light incident / exiting end face, 12 ... Ferrule, 12a ... End face, 13 ... Tube, 14 ... Aligned substrate, 14a ... Guide hole.

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Yuji Uenishi             2-3-1, Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo             Inside Telegraph and Telephone Corporation F-term (reference) 2H036 JA04 LA00

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A cylindrical ferrule that holds an optical fiber and is made of a heat-resistant material, and an alignment substrate that is made of a polymer thermoplastic material and has a plurality of guide holes into which the ferrules are inserted. An optical fiber array characterized in that 2. An array substrate having a plurality of guide holes penetrating two-dimensionally, and a plurality of cylindrical plates having a through hole inserted into each of the guide holes in the same direction and having a through hole at a central portion thereof. A ferrule and a plurality of optical fibers fitted and held in through holes of each of the ferrules are provided, and the guide hole is formed in a cylindrical shape having an inner diameter substantially equal to an outer diameter of the ferrule, The optical fiber array is characterized in that a light input / output end face of the fiber is exposed at one end face of the ferrule. 3. The optical fiber array according to claim 2, wherein the ferrule is made of a material having heat resistance. 4. The optical fiber array according to claim 1, further comprising buffer means for buffering a dimensional error between an inner diameter of the guide hole of the alignment substrate and an outer diameter of the ferrule. An optical fiber array characterized in that 5. The optical fiber array according to claim 4, wherein the buffering means is provided with an arcuate buffering groove formed around the guide hole of the alignment substrate along the peripheral edge of the guide hole. An optical fiber array characterized in that 6. The optical fiber array according to claim 4, wherein the buffer means includes buffer holes formed along an array of the guide holes near an edge of the alignment substrate, and the alignment substrate is adjacent to the buffer holes. An optical fiber array comprising: a buffer groove formed between the guide holes and between the buffer hole and the guide hole. 7. The optical fiber array according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a non-reflection coating is attached to the tip of the ferrule. 8. The optical fiber array according to claim 1, wherein the aligned substrate is manufactured by a transfer molding method. 9. The optical fiber array according to claim 1, wherein the alignment substrate is made of a thermoplastic resin. 10. The optical fiber array according to claim 1, further comprising a non-reflective coating film formed on a light input / output end face of the optical fiber. .