JP2003307654A - Optical fiber connector and manufacturing method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical fiber connector having a structure in which coated optical fibers are arrayed at a narrow pitch. <P>SOLUTION: The optical fiber connector 1 is equipped with an optical fiber tape 3 in which optical fibers 2 are arrayed in a belt-like manner at a 250 μm pitch and a ferrule 4 in which core fibers 23(1)-23(8) of each optical fiber 2 taken out from the optical fiber tape 3 are arrayed and held at a 125 μm pitch. With the tip end portion of the existing optical fiber tape 3 folded in two in the longitudinal direction, the core fibers 23(1)-23(4) extending from the upper folded part 31 and the core fibers 23(5)-23(8) extending from the lower folded part 32 are alternately arrayed, so that the optical fiber connector, in which optical fibers are arrayed at a 125 μm pitch, can be easily manufactured. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical fiber connector used for coupling a plurality of optical fibers to an optical waveguide of an optical waveguide element in optical communication and the like, and a method for manufacturing the same. The present invention also relates to an optical fiber tape suitable for use in a method for manufacturing an optical fiber connector.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an optical fiber connector, an optical fiber is exposed by removing a coating on a tip portion of an optical fiber tape having a structure in which a plurality of optical fibers are arranged in a strip shape. It is known that the ferrule is adhered and fixed in a state of being aligned at a constant pitch.

An optical fiber is composed of an optical fiber core wire whose core is covered with a clad, and a coating layer which is coated around the optical fiber core wire.
The coating layer is generally composed of a primary coat and a nylon coating layer covering the primary coat. The outer diameter of a commonly used optical fiber is about 250 μm,
The outer diameter of the optical fiber core wire located at the center is about 125 μm, which is half the outer diameter. The optical fiber tape has a structure in which a plurality of optical fibers are arranged in a strip shape and covered with a coating layer, and the optical fibers are usually arranged in a state of being in contact with each other. That is, they are arranged at a pitch of about 250 μm.

The ferrule comprises a V-groove substrate having V-grooves for arranging the optical fiber core wires at a constant pitch, usually 250 μm pitch, and a pressing substrate laminated and adhered to the V-groove substrate. Therefore, a plurality of optical fiber core wires exposed by removing the coating on the tip end portion of the optical fiber tape are housed in each V groove and fixed by adhesion. On the tip surface of the ferrule with the optical fiber core bonded and fixed,
The end faces of the optical fiber cores arranged at a constant pitch are exposed.

[0005]

Here, in recent years, in response to the demand for miniaturization and compactness of optical communication equipment,
There is an increasing demand for miniaturization and compactness of those constituent elements. To this end, it is necessary to narrow the pitch of the waveguide of the waveguide element incorporated in the optical communication device,
When the pitch of the waveguide is narrowed, it is necessary to narrow the pitch of the optical fiber of the optical fiber connector accordingly.

An object of the present invention is to use an existing optical fiber tape in which optical fibers are arrayed at a pitch of about 250 μm as it is, and an optical fiber connector having a configuration in which optical fiber cores are arrayed at a pitch of about half. Is to propose a method that can be easily realized. Another object of the present invention is to propose an optical fiber connector manufactured by such a method. Furthermore, the invention is to propose an optical fiber tape suitable for use in the manufacture of optical fiber connectors.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides an optical fiber tape having a plurality of optical fibers arranged in a band at a constant pitch, and a tip of the optical fiber tape. A method for manufacturing an optical fiber connector, comprising: an optical fiber arranging tool that holds the optical fiber cores exposed by removing the coating of a part in a state where they are arranged at a constant pitch. Bend at least the tip portion into two along the longitudinal direction, remove the coating on the tip portions of both tape bending pieces to expose each optical fiber core wire by a predetermined length,
The optical fiber cores exposed from the side of one tape bending piece and the optical fiber cores exposed from the side of the other tape bending piece are arranged alternately so that these optical fiber cores are located. Is held by the optical fiber arranging tool.

Here, in general, the arrangement pitch of the optical fibers by the optical fiber arranging tool may be half the arrangement pitch of the optical fibers in the tape core wire.

Next, at least a part of the tip end portion of the optical fiber tape is bent along the longitudinal direction thereof, and the optical fiber core wire extending from the side of the tape bending portion is replaced with the other portion of the optical fiber tape. It is also possible to form the optical fiber core portions that are arranged between the optical fiber core wires extending from the optical fiber tape and that are partially arranged at a half pitch of the optical fiber arrangement pitch of the optical fiber tape.

Further, instead of bending the optical fiber tape, the optical fiber tape is rounded along its longitudinal direction into a cylindrical shape or a spiral shape, and the respective optical fiber core wires are arranged at a pitch narrower than the optical fiber arrangement pitch in the optical fiber tape. You can also do it.

On the other hand, the present invention relates to an optical fiber connector, and as described above, by folding the optical fiber tape in two, an optical fiber connector in which optical fiber core wires are arranged at a narrow pitch is realized. .

According to the present invention, the existing optical fiber tape having a structure in which optical fibers are arranged in a band at a pitch of about 250 μm is used as it is, and the optical fiber tape is folded in two, which is extremely simple operation or structure. An optical fiber connector in which optical fiber core wires are arranged at a pitch can be realized.

Further, as compared with the case where two optical fiber tapes are used, the work steps for exposing the optical fiber core wire and the like need only be performed for one optical fiber tape, so the number of working steps is halved. There is also an advantage.

Next, the present invention relates to an optical fiber tape suitable for use in the above-described method for manufacturing an optical fiber connector, and includes a right side portion of the tape in which a plurality of optical fibers are arranged at a constant pitch, It is characterized in that the same number of optical fibers have a left side portion of the tape arranged at a constant pitch and a flexible foldable portion connecting the right side portion of the tape and the left side portion of the tape. .

In the optical fiber tape of this structure, since the flexible foldable portion is formed at the center of the tape, the optical fiber tape can be easily folded in two around this portion.

Here, by folding the bendable portion, the right side portion of the tape and the left side portion of the tape are overlapped with each other, and the optical fiber cores drawn out from the respective portions are alternately arranged. It is desirable that the color arrangement of the respective optical fibers in the right side portion and the left side portion of the tape is determined so that the arrangement order is a predetermined arrangement standard.

In general, the color arrangement of the optical fiber adopts the arrangement order according to the ISO code. In this case, in order to make the color arrangement of the optical fibers in the state of being arranged at half the pitch according to this ISO code, in the right side portion of the tape, the even number or the odd number in the color arrangement order by the ISO code is set. The color arrangement of the optical fibers is determined so that the color arrangement order of the optical fibers is the same. You just have to define the color arrangement.

If the optical fiber tape having this structure is used,
In the work of alternately arranging the optical fiber cores drawn out from the bent right side portion and the left side portion of the tape, they may be arranged in the V groove of the optical fiber arranging tool in accordance with the ISO color arrangement. Therefore, the arrangement work of the optical fiber core wires can be efficiently performed without any arrangement error.

[0019]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Optical Fiber Connector) FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing the structure of an 8-fiber optical fiber connector manufactured by the method of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view thereof, and FIG. 3 is this example. It is an explanatory view showing the optical fiber tape of. Describing with reference to these drawings, the optical fiber connector 1 of this example is an optical fiber tape 3 in which eight optical fibers 2 (2 (1) to 2 (8)) are arranged in a strip shape at a pitch of about 250 μm. And an eight-core ferrule 4 as an optical fiber arranging tool.

As shown in FIG. 3, each optical fiber 2 includes an optical fiber core wire 23 having a core 21 having a circular cross section and a clad 22 having an annular cross section formed around the core 21.
And an annular coating layer 24 that covers the circumference of the optical fiber core wire 23. The outer diameter of the optical fiber 2 is about 250 μm, and the outer diameter of the optical fiber core wire 23 is half, about 125 μm. Optical fiber tape 3
Are arranged in a strip shape in a state where eight optical fibers 2 (1) to 2 (8) are in contact with each other. Therefore, each optical fiber is arranged at a pitch of about 250 μm. These optical fibers 2 are coated with a tape coating layer 3a and are coupled to each other.

The tip portion of the optical fiber tape 3 having this structure has a predetermined length and the tape coating 3a is removed,
The tip portions of the optical fibers 2 (1) to 2 (8) are exposed and separated from each other. Further, in the exposed portions of the optical fibers 2 (1) to 2 (8) on the more distal end side, the coating layers 24 are removed, and the optical fiber core wires 23 (1) are removed.
23 (8) are exposed for a predetermined length. These optical fiber core wires 23 (1) to 23 (8) are held by the ferrule 4 in a state of being aligned at a pitch of 125 μm.

The ferrule 4 comprises a V-groove substrate 41 made of quartz glass or the like, and a pressing substrate 42 also made of quartz glass or the like laminated and adhered to the surface 41a. Eight V grooves 43 are formed on the surface 41a of the V groove substrate 41 at a pitch of 125 μm. When each of the V grooves 43 accommodates the optical fiber core wires 23 (1) to 23 (8), The depth of each V groove is set such that the upper end of the fiber core wire 23 is aligned with the surface 41a. The optical fiber cords 23 (1) to 23 (8) are housed in the respective V-grooves 43, and these optical fiber cords are adhered and fixed by an adhesive in a state in which the pressing substrate 42 is covered.

Here, in the optical fiber connector 1 of this embodiment, the tip portion of the optical fiber tape 3 is folded in two along the longitudinal direction at the center position in the width direction. Then, the optical fibers 2 (1) to 2 (2) extending from one tape bending piece 31 (a portion located on the lower side in the drawing)
The optical fiber core wires 23 (1) to 23 (4) of (4) are odd-numbered V grooves 43 (1) 43 (3) and 43, respectively.
(5), 43 (7). On the contrary,
Optical fibers 2 (5) to 2 extending from the other tape bending piece 32 (the portion bent upward in the drawing)
The optical fiber core wires 23 (5) to 23 (8) of (8) have even-numbered V grooves 43 (8), 43 (6), and 43, respectively.
(4), 43 (2). That is, the optical fiber core wires on the side of the tape bending piece 31 and the optical fiber core wires on the side of the tape bending piece 32 are arranged alternately.

The rear end portion of the V-groove base plate 41 of the ferrule 4 extends rearward of the end face of the pressing base plate 42, and a step portion 45 is formed at the rear end of this extended portion 44, which is folded in two. The front end portion of the optical fiber tape 3 is attached. An adhesive 46 is filled between the tip of the optical fiber tape 3 and the rear end of the pressing board 42. The adhesive 46 causes the tip of the optical fiber tape and each optical fiber core wire extending therefrom. 23 (1) ~
23 (8) is adhesively fixed.

In the optical fiber connector 1 of this example,
By folding the optical fiber tape 3 in which the optical fibers 2 (1) to 2 (8) are arranged at a pitch of 250 μm into two, the optical fiber core wire 23 (1) exposed from the optical fiber tape 23 (1)
23 (8) are arranged by the ferrule 4 at a pitch of half of 125 μm. Therefore, it is possible to easily manufacture the optical fiber connector in which the optical fiber core wires are arranged at a half pitch using the existing optical fiber tape.

(Other Embodiments of Optical Fiber Connector) Although the above-mentioned example is an optical fiber connector for eight cores, the present invention has a smaller number of optical fiber connectors or a larger number of optical fiber connectors. The same can be applied to the optical fiber connector of.

In the above example, the optical fiber tape is folded in two, but in the case of a multi-fiber optical fiber tape or the like, it is folded in three as shown in FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b). Alternatively, it can be folded in four or more. By increasing the number of folds in this way, the pitch of the optical fiber core wires can be narrowed to 1/3, 1/4, ... Of the optical fiber pitch in the optical fiber tape.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 4 (c) and 4 (d), the optical fiber ribbons can be arranged in a narrow pitch by rolling the optical fiber tape into a cylindrical shape or a spiral shape. .

In addition to this, as shown in FIG.
By bending a part of the optical fiber tape, the optical fiber cores can be partially arranged at a narrow pitch. Therefore, the optical fiber connector in which the optical fiber cores are partially arranged at a narrow pitch is easy. Can be realized.

(Optical Fiber Tape) In the above example, the existing optical fiber tape is bent or rolled so that the optical fiber core wires are arranged at a narrow pitch.
Alternatively, an optical fiber tape dedicated to bending may be manufactured.

FIG. 5 (a) is a plan view showing an example of an optical fiber tape to which the present invention is applied, FIG. 5 (b) is an end view thereof, and FIG. 5 (c) shows a folded state. FIG. 5D is an end view showing the arrangement sequence of the colors of the optical fiber cores when they are arranged at a half pitch.

A plurality of optical fiber tapes 50 of this example are provided.
For example, twelve optical fibers 51 are arranged on a tape right side portion 52 arranged at a constant pitch, for example, about 250 μm, a tape left side portion 54 on which the same number of optical fibers 53 are arranged at the same pitch, and these tape right side portions 52. And a flexible foldable portion 55 connecting the left side portion 54 of the tape. Each optical fiber 51, 53
Is an optical fiber core wire 51 composed of a core and a clad.
a, 53a and the coating layers 51b, 5 covering the outer circumference thereof
3b and. In the tape right side portion 52 and the tape left side portion 54, the optical fibers 51 and 53 are connected in a strip shape by a tape coating 56. The foldable portion 55 is formed as a thin portion made of only tape coating.

Here, in the optical fiber tape 50 of this example, the right side portion 52 and the left side portion 54 of the tape are overlapped by bending the bendable portion 55, and the optical fiber core wire 5 drawn out from each portion.
In order that the arrangement order of the colors of the optical fibers when the 1a and 53a are arranged alternately is a predetermined arrangement standard,
The color arrangement of each optical fiber in the tape right side portion 52 and the tape left side portion 54 is defined.

The color arrangement of the optical fiber is generally according to the ISO code. The color arrangement according to the ISO code is defined as shown in FIG.

In the optical fiber tape 50 of this example, the right side portion 52 of the tape is arranged so that the odd-numbered (1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11) color arrangement order in the color arrangement order by the ISO code is arranged. A color arrangement of optical fibers is defined. Here, the number of arranged optical fibers 51 is 1
Since there are two lines, the odd-numbered colors are arranged so as to be repeated twice.

On the other hand, in the tape left side portion 54,
The color arrangement of the optical fiber 53 is determined so that the even-numbered (2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12) color arrangement order in the color arrangement order according to the ISO code is obtained. In this case, the even colors are arranged so that the arrangement order is repeated twice.

When the above-described optical fiber connector is manufactured using the optical fiber tape 50 having this structure, the work of folding the optical fiber tape 50 in two becomes simple. Also, in the work of alternately arranging the optical fiber core wires 51a and 53a drawn out from the tape right side portion 52 and the tape left side portion 54 that are folded in two and overlapped with each other at a half pitch, the color arrangement according to the ISO code It suffices to arrange the optical fiber core wires 51a and 53a that are drawn out as described above with respect to the optical fiber arrangement tool. That is, the optical fibers can be arranged based on only the color of the optical fiber. Therefore, it is possible to perform the arraying work without checking which side the optical fiber core wire is pulled out from, so that the work can be performed efficiently and without misalignment.

Next, the right side portion of the tape and the left side portion of the tape may have the same color arrangement. FIG. 7 shows an example of an optical fiber tape when such a color arrangement is adopted. 7A is a plan view showing the optical fiber tape of this example, and FIG. 7B is an end view thereof.
FIG. 7C is an end view showing a state of being folded in half, and FIG.
(D) is an explanatory view showing the arrangement order of the colors of the optical fiber cores when arranged at a half pitch. As shown in these drawings, the structure of the optical fiber tape 50A is the same as that of the above-mentioned optical fiber tape 50, and only the color arrangement is different.
Even in this case, if the color array after being arranged at a half pitch (FIG. 7 (d)) is determined in advance, the optical fiber core wire arranging work can be easily performed based on the predetermined color array table. It is possible to do.

In each of the above examples, the right side portion of the tape and the left side portion of the tape have 12 cores.
The present invention can be similarly applied to the case of different numbers of cores, 6 cores, 4 cores, 2 cores, and the like.

[0041]

As described above, according to the present invention, an optical fiber tape having a structure in which optical fibers are arranged in a band at a constant pitch is bent along its longitudinal direction or rolled into a tubular shape. Thus, the optical fiber cores drawn out from the optical fiber are arranged in a narrower pitch by the optical fiber arranging tool.

Therefore, using the existing optical fiber tape, it is possible to easily realize an optical fiber connector having a structure in which the optical fiber core wires are arranged at a pitch narrower than the optical fiber pitch in the tape.

Next, in the optical fiber tape of the present invention, since a flexible foldable portion is formed between the right side portion and the left side portion of the tape where the optical fibers are arranged, the bending work is simplified. Can be done.
Further, the color arrangement of the optical fiber cores on the right side portion of the tape and the left side portion of the tape are arranged in advance so that when they are bent and arranged alternately at a half pitch, the arrangement order conforms to the color arrangement standard such as ISO code. It is set. Therefore, the work of alternately arranging the optical fibers can be efficiently performed without any error.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing an optical fiber connector to which the present invention is applied and a partial end view showing a front end face of a ferrule thereof.

2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the optical fiber connector of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing the optical fiber tape of FIG.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a modified example of a method of bending an optical fiber tape according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of an optical fiber tape to which the present invention is applied, (a) is a plan view thereof, (b) is an end view thereof, and (c) shows a state of being folded in two. It is an end view shown and (d) is explanatory drawing which shows the arrangement | sequence order of the color of an optical fiber core wire when it arrange | positions at a half pitch.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a color arrangement according to an ISO code.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing another example of an optical fiber tape to which the present invention is applied, (a) is a plan view thereof, (b) is an end view thereof, and (c) is folded in two. It is an end view which shows a state, (d) is explanatory drawing which shows the arrangement order of the color of an optical fiber core wire, when arrange | positioning at a half pitch.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Optical fiber connector 2, 2 (1) to 2 (8) optical fiber 21 core 22 Clad 23 Optical fiber core 24 coating layer 3 optical fiber tape 3a Tape coating layer 31, 32 Tape bending piece 4 ferrules 41 V-groove substrate 42 pressing board 43, 43 (1) to 43 (8) V groove 46 Adhesive 50,50A optical fiber tape 51,53 optical fiber 51a, 53a Optical fiber core wire 52 right side of tape 54 Left side of tape 55 Foldable part

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] March 15, 2002 (2002.3.1)
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Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. An optical fiber tape having a structure in which a plurality of optical fibers are arranged in a band at a constant pitch, and optical fiber cores exposed by removing the coating of the tip of the optical fiber tape. In a method for manufacturing an optical fiber connector provided with an optical fiber arranging tool that is held in a state of being arranged at a constant pitch, at least a tip portion of the optical fiber tape,
Bend at least two along the longitudinal direction, remove the coating on the tip of both tape bending pieces to expose each optical fiber core wire for a predetermined length, and extend it from the side of one tape bending piece. The optical fiber cores are held by the optical fiber arranging tool such that the optical fiber cores and the optical fiber cores extending from the other side of the tape bending piece are alternately located. And a method for manufacturing an optical fiber connector. 2. The optical fiber connector according to claim 1, wherein the arrangement pitch of the optical fiber core wires by the optical fiber arrangement tool is half the arrangement pitch of the optical fibers in the tape core wire. Production method. 3. The optical fiber tape according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the tip end portion of the optical fiber tape is bent along the longitudinal direction thereof, and the optical fiber core wire extending from the side of the tape bending portion is connected to other optical fibers. The optical fiber core wires are arranged between the optical fiber core wires extending from the portion of the fiber tape, and partially form optical fiber core wire parts arranged at a pitch half the optical fiber arrangement pitch of the optical fiber tape. Optical fiber connector manufacturing method. 4. The optical fiber tape according to claim 1, wherein instead of bending the optical fiber tape, the optical fiber tape is rolled into a tubular shape or a spiral shape along a longitudinal direction thereof, and each optical fiber core wire is arranged at an optical fiber arrangement pitch in the optical fiber tape. A method for manufacturing an optical fiber connector, which is characterized in that they are arranged at a narrow pitch. 5. An optical fiber connector manufactured by the manufacturing method according to claim 1, 2, 3, or 4. 6. The optical fiber tape used in the method for manufacturing an optical fiber connector according to claim 2, wherein the right side portion of the tape in which a plurality of optical fibers are arranged at a constant pitch and the same number of optical fibers are provided. An optical fiber tape having a tape left side portion arranged at a constant pitch, and a flexible foldable portion connecting the tape right side portion and the tape left side portion. 7. The tape according to claim 6, wherein the right side portion and the left side portion of the tape are overlapped by bending the bendable portion,
When the optical fiber cores drawn out from the respective portions are alternately arranged, the arrangement order of the colors of the optical fibers becomes a predetermined arrangement standard, so that the optical fibers in the right side portion and the left side portion of the tape are An optical fiber tape having a defined color arrangement. 8. The color arrangement of the optical fiber according to claim 7, wherein the color arrangement of the optical fibers is determined in the right portion of the tape so as to be an even-numbered or odd-numbered color arrangement order in the color arrangement order according to the arrangement standard, The optical fiber tape is characterized in that, on the left side of the tape, the color arrangement of the optical fibers is determined so as to be an odd-numbered or even-numbered color arrangement order in the color arrangement order according to the arrangement standard. 9. The optical fiber tape according to claim 8, wherein the arrangement standard is a color arrangement standard based on an ISO code.