JP2004012486A - Method of manufacturing optical connector, and optical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method of manufacturing optical connector which becomes suitable when it is assembled to a module, with which the inside of the ferrule can speedily be filled with an adhesive without gaps and air bubbles; the outer diameter dimension of the setting adhesive at the sleeve portal part can be formed with good accuracy; and the reliability and tensile strength can be improved, and to provide an optical connector. <P>SOLUTION: The optical connector is completed as a finished product through the processes comprising; an optical fiber insertion step f1 for inserting the bare fiber part of an optical fiber whose tip part is worked into the capillary hole of the ferrule and inserting the cladding part into the sleeve hole of the ferrule; a step f2 for sealing the tip part of the capillary hole; a tube fitting step f3 for fitting a fluorine tube; an adhesive injection step f4; for injecting a proper quantity of an adhesive into the tube; an adhesive filling step f5 for filling the tube inside with the adhesive without gaps and bubbles; an adhesive setting step f6; and a tube removal step f7 for removing the tube. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an optical connector and an optical connector.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a conventional method for manufacturing an optical connector, for example, when a ferrule 10 in which a sleeve hole 6 and a capillary hole 8a are provided in a sleeve itself 6 shown in FIG. The bare fiber portion 1 from which the coating 2 was removed was inserted through a sleeve hole and a capillary hole into which an adhesive had been injected in advance, and then the adhesive was cured to form an optical connector 70 as shown in FIG. Reference numeral 13 denotes a cured adhesive at the entrance of the ferrule 10.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the conventional optical connector manufacturing method has the following problems. First, when the adhesive is injected into the ferrule, the adhesive does not sufficiently penetrate into the inside of the sleeve hole and the inside of the capillary hole, and it has been difficult to fill the tip of the capillary hole without any gap. In addition, it is difficult to remove air bubbles that have entered inside, and since the adhesive remains inside after curing of the adhesive, there is a problem that the characteristics of the optical connector are deteriorated. Further, when the optical fiber is inserted into the sleeve, the adhesive inside the sleeve stains the fiber tip, which is not preferable for the optical fiber having the fiber tip processed. There is also a problem that the area near the entrance of the sleeve hole is also stained by the adhesive. There is also a problem that the outer diameter of the sleeve entrance is not constant due to the cured adhesive. Note that the outer diameter of the sleeve is required to be very high precision because it serves for positioning and the like during assembly into the module.
[0004]
The present invention has been made in order to solve the various problems of the above-described conventional technology, and the adhesive is quickly, without gaps, without bubbles, from the inside of the sleeve hole of the ferrule, and from the inside of the capillary hole to the tip of the capillary hole. It can be filled, the tip of the fiber and the vicinity of the sleeve hole entrance are not stained with adhesive, and the outer diameter of the cured adhesive at the sleeve entrance can be made accurate, resulting in improved reliability and tensile strength. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of manufacturing an optical connector and an optical connector that can increase strength and are suitable for assembly into a module.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
As a first aspect, the present invention uses a ferrule in which a sleeve hole and a capillary hole are provided in a sleeve itself, or a ferrule formed of a sleeve and a capillary, and removes the bare fiber portion from which the coating on the end of the optical fiber is removed. The optical connector is inserted into the capillary hole of the ferrule, the fiber coating is inserted into the sleeve hole of the ferrule, and the bare fiber and the fiber coating in the capillary hole and the sleeve hole are fixed with an adhesive to form an optical connector. A manufacturing method,
An optical fiber insertion step of removing the coating of the end portion of the optical fiber, inserting the bare fiber portion having the fiber tip processed into the capillary hole of the ferrule, and inserting the fiber coating portion into the sleeve hole of the ferrule. Sealing the end of the capillary hole into which the bare fiber portion is inserted, sealing the end of the capillary hole, and attaching a fluorine-based tube or a silicon-based tube from the inlet end of the sleeve to the fiber coating. And an adhesive injecting step of injecting an appropriate amount of adhesive into the tube by means of a minute amount of injecting means; and a step of centrifugally applying the adhesive in the tube from the inside of the sleeve hole and the inside of the capillary hole to the sealed end. Adhesive filling process, filling without gaps and without bubbles; inside the tube, inside the sleeve hole and An optical connector by an adhesive curing step of curing the adhesive filled from the inside of the capillary hole to the sealing tip; and a tube removing step of removing a tube attached from the inlet end of the sleeve to the fiber coating. A method for manufacturing an optical connector, which is a finished product.
The fiber tip processing is, for example, vertical polishing fiber processing, oblique polishing fiber processing, or wedge-shaped lensed fiber processing. In addition, as the microinjection means, for example, a syringe, a micro syringe, or the like can be used.
In the manufacturing method according to the first aspect, the adhesive is formed inside the sleeve hole and the capillary by manufacturing using the above-described steps, particularly, the step of sealing the tip end of the capillary hole, the step of attaching the tube, and the step of filling the adhesive by centrifugal force. From the inside of the hole to the tip of the capillary hole, filling and curing can be performed quickly, without gaps, without bubbles. Further, since the fluorine-based tube or the silicon-based tube is used, the tube is not affected by the adhesive, and the tube can be easily removed after the adhesive is cured. In addition, since the adhesive is prevented from being scattered by the tube, the tip of the fiber and the vicinity of the sleeve hole entrance are not stained with the adhesive. In addition, since the outer diameter of the cured adhesive at the inlet of the sleeve is the same as the inner diameter of the tube, the outer diameter of the cured adhesive can be made with high accuracy. Further, in the adhesive injection step, the amount of the adhesive can be controlled by using a small amount injection means, and the problem of coagulation and shrinkage of the adhesive can be solved. As a result, the obtained optical connector can be improved in reliability and tensile strength, which is suitable for assembly into a module.
[0006]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing an optical connector, characterized in that the capillary hole tip is sealed with an adhesive or a resin.
In the manufacturing method according to the second aspect, the capping of the capillary hole tip can be performed by applying and curing an adhesive, for example, an epoxy adhesive, or by using a resin, for example, an ultraviolet curable resin.
[0007]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, a ferrule or a capillary in which a sleeve hole and a capillary hole are provided in the sleeve itself is made of metal or metal, and the outer periphery of the bare fiber portion is metal-plated. The method of manufacturing an optical connector, wherein the sealing at the tip of the capillary hole is performed by soldering.
In the manufacturing method according to the third aspect, a ferrule or a capillary in which a sleeve hole and a capillary hole are provided in the sleeve itself is made of metal or metal, and the outer periphery of the bare fiber portion is metal-plated. If it is, the end of the capillary hole can be sealed by soldering.
[0008]
As a fourth aspect, the present invention resides in an optical connector obtained by the manufacturing method described in each of the above aspects.
In the optical connector according to the fourth aspect, since the optical connector is obtained by the manufacturing method described in each of the above aspects, the adhesive is filled from the inside of the sleeve hole and the inside of the capillary hole to the sealed end without any gap, without bubbles, Has been cured. Further, the outer diameter of the hardened adhesive at the sleeve entrance is made accurate by the tube. As a result, the reliability of the optical connector is improved, and the tensile strength is increased, which makes the optical connector suitable for assembly into a module.
[0009]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the contents of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to this.
FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an example of an optical connector obtained by the manufacturing method of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a chart showing an example of a method for manufacturing an optical connector of the present invention. FIG. 3 shows an end-coated optical fiber (FIG. 3A) having a coated bare fiber portion in which the coating at the end of the optical fiber has been removed and the fiber tip has been processed in the manufacturing method of the present invention. To explain an optical fiber insertion step f1, in which a bare fiber portion is inserted into a capillary hole and an optical fiber portion is inserted into a sleeve hole of a ferrule in which a sleeve hole and a capillary hole are provided in the sleeve itself (FIG. 2B). FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining a capillary hole tip sealing step f2 by soldering or the like, a tube attaching step f3, an adhesive injecting step f4, and an optical connector intermediate after the optical fiber insertion step f1. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for explaining the adhesive filling step f5 and the centrifugal force applying device. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the optical connector intermediate body after the adhesive filling step f5 and the adhesive curing step f6. FIGS. 7A and 7B are schematic views showing another example of the manufacturing method of the present invention. FIGS. 7A and 7B show a bare fiber in which the coating on the end of the optical fiber has been removed and the fiber end has been processed. A bare fiber portion is inserted through a capillary hole of a ferrule (FIG. 2B) composed of a sleeve and a capillary, and an optical fiber portion is inserted through a sleeve hole. (C) is a schematic diagram for explaining the optical fiber insertion step f1, and FIG. (C) uses the ferrule of FIG. (A) to seal the capillary hole tip portion with an adhesive step f2, attach a tube f3, and inject the adhesive. It is a schematic diagram for explaining process f4 and an optical connector intermediate.
[0010]
In these figures, 1 is a bare fiber, 1 m is a plated bare fiber (metallized fiber), 2 is a coating (fiber coated portion), 5 and 5 ′ are optical fibers (body), 6 is a sleeve (body), and 7 is a sleeve. Hole, 8 is a capillary, 8a is a capillary hole, 10 and 20 are ferrules, 11 is a sealing tip, 12 is a tube (fluorine tube), 13 is an adhesive, 50 is an optical connector, 50a and 60a are optical connector intermediates. (Before the adhesive is cured), 50b is an optical connector intermediate (after the adhesive is cured), 100 is an adhesive filling device (high-speed rotating device), and j is a rotation axis.
[0011]
-1st Embodiment-
A first embodiment of the method for manufacturing an optical connector according to the present invention will be described with reference to the chart of FIG.
First, an optical fiber insertion step in which a coating at an end of an optical fiber is removed, a bare fiber portion having been subjected to fiber tip processing is inserted into a capillary hole of the ferrule, and a fiber coating portion is inserted into a sleeve hole of the ferrule. f1;
Capillary hole tip sealing step f2, which seals the tip of the capillary hole through which the bare fiber portion is inserted;
A tube attaching step f3 of attaching a fluorine-based tube or a silicon-based tube from the inlet end of the sleeve to the fiber coating portion;
An adhesive injecting step f4 of injecting an appropriate amount of adhesive into the tube by a minute amount injecting means;
An adhesive filling step f5, in which the adhesive in the tube is filled by centrifugal force from the inside of the sleeve hole and the inside of the capillary hole to the sealed end without gaps and without bubbles;
An adhesive curing step f6 of curing the adhesive filled from the inside of the tube, the inside of the sleeve hole and the inside of the capillary hole to the tip of the sealing;
Removing the tube attached from the inlet end of the sleeve to the fiber coating portion, and removing the tube f7; and a method of manufacturing an optical connector as a finished optical connector.
[0012]
-2nd Embodiment-
A second embodiment of the method for manufacturing an optical connector according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 3 (a), the optical fiber used in the present embodiment is formed on a bare bare fiber (metallized fiber) 1m in which metal plating, for example, Au (gold) plating is applied to the outer circumference of a bare bare fiber. Coating 2, for example an optical fiber provided with a nylon coating. Then, an optical fiber body 5 having a plated bare fiber portion 1m in which the coating of the end portion of the optical fiber is removed and the fiber end is processed is obtained. For example, the fiber tip processing is vertical polishing. The length of the plated bare fiber portion 1 m may be appropriate, but is, for example, 0.5 mm to 20 mm. The ferrule used in the present embodiment is, for example, as shown in FIG. 3B, a metal sleeve such as Kovar or SUS (stainless steel) plated with Ni (nickel) + Au plating or the like (not shown). The ferrule 10 has a body 6 provided with a sleeve hole 7 and a capillary hole 8a.
First, the optical fiber body 5 shown in FIG. 3A is brought into the sleeve hole 7 of the ferrule 10 shown in FIG. 3B, and the plated bare fiber portion 1m is inserted into the capillary hole 8a of the sleeve body 6. The fiber coating 2 was inserted through the sleeve hole 7 (optical fiber insertion step f1).
Next, as shown in part (f2) of FIG. 4, the tip of the capillary hole was sealed by soldering to provide a sealing tip 11 (capillary hole tip sealing step f2). The solder is, for example, Pb / Sn, Au / Sn, Sn, Ag / In, or Pb / In.
Next, as shown in part (f3) of FIG. 4, the fluorine-based tube 12 was attached from the inlet end of the sleeve 6 to the fiber coating part 2 (tube attaching step f3). The fluorine-based tube 12 is, for example, a PTFE tube.
Next, as shown in part (f4) of FIG. 4, a predetermined amount of an adhesive 13, for example, an epoxy-based adhesive Epotek 353ND (trade name) is injected into the tube 12 by using a syringe, and an optical connector intermediate (hereinafter, referred to as an optical connector intermediate). , 50a (adhesive injection step f4).
Next, as shown in FIG. 5, the intermediate body 50a is installed and fixed to an adhesive filling device (high-speed rotating device) 100 so that centrifugal force is applied in the distal direction, and the intermediate body 50a is rotated about a rotation axis j. The adhesive 13 in the tube 12 was filled by the centrifugal force from the inside of the sleeve hole 7 and the inside of the capillary hole 8a to the sealing tip 11 without any gap and without bubbles (adhesive filling step f5). For example, the rotation speed of the adhesive filling device 100 is 1,500 rpm, and the time required for filling is 5 minutes. It is to be noted that the bubbles can be completely removed only by controlling the number of rotations and the time, thereby improving the reliability. The intermediate 50b after the adhesive filling step f5 is shown in FIG.
Next, the intermediate 50b was held in a high-temperature bath (not shown), and the adhesive 12 filled in the tube 11, the inside of the sleeve hole 7, and the like was cured (adhesive curing step f6). For example, the curing condition is 85 ° C. × 1 to 2 hours.
Next, the intermediate 50b was taken out of the high-temperature bath, and after cooling, the tube 12 attached from the inlet end of the sleeve 6 to the fiber coating 2 was removed to obtain a completed optical connector 50 as shown in FIG. (Tube removal step f7). Since the tube 12 used was a fluorine-based tube, the cured adhesive 13 could be easily removed without adhering to the tube.
When the completed optical connector 50 was inspected, it was found that the adhesive was filled and hardened without gaps and air bubbles from the inside of the sleeve hole and the inside of the capillary hole to the tip of the capillary hole. The cured adhesive 13 in the portion from which the tube was removed had the same outer diameter as the inner diameter of the tube, and had good accuracy. As a result, the obtained optical connector 50 was able to improve reliability and increase tensile strength, and was more suitable for assembly into a module.
In some cases, a fluorine-based tube 12 having a predetermined length may be attached to the inlet end of the sleeve 6 before the optical fiber body 5 is inserted into the ferrule 10.
[0013]
-Third embodiment-
A third embodiment of the manufacturing method of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
The optical fiber used in the present embodiment is a normal optical fiber in which a nylon coating 2 is provided on the outer periphery of a quartz bare fiber 1 as shown in FIG. Then, the coating of the end of the optical fiber is removed, and the optical fiber body 5 ′ having the bare fiber portion 1 on which the fiber end processing is performed. For example, the fiber tip processing is vertical polishing. The ferrule is a ferrule 20 in which a zirconia capillary 8 is fitted into a SUS sleeve 6 as shown in FIG.
First, the optical fiber body 5 ′ shown in FIG. 7A is brought into the sleeve hole 7 of the ferrule 20 shown in FIG. 7B, and the bare fiber portion 1 is inserted into the capillary hole 8 a of the capillary 8. The coated portion 2 of the fiber was inserted into the sleeve hole 7 (optical fiber insertion step f1).
Next, as shown in part (f2) of FIG. 7C, the tip of the capillary hole was sealed with an adhesive to provide a sealing tip 11 (capillary hole tip sealing step f2). Next, similarly to the second embodiment, a tube attaching step f3 and an adhesive injecting step f4 were sequentially performed to obtain an intermediate 60a. Although not shown hereafter, similarly to the second embodiment, an adhesive filling step f5, an adhesive curing step f6, and a tube removing step f7 were sequentially performed to manufacture a completed optical connector (not shown).
[0014]
【The invention's effect】
According to the manufacturing method and the optical connector of the present invention, the adhesive is inserted into the sleeve hole by manufacturing using the optical fiber insertion step, the capillary hole tip sealing step, the tube attaching step, the adhesive filling step by centrifugal force, and the like. From the inside and from the inside of the capillary hole to the tip of the capillary hole, filling and curing can be performed quickly, without gaps, without bubbles. In addition, the outer diameter of the cured adhesive at the sleeve entrance can be accurately adjusted by the tube. As a result, the obtained optical connector was improved in reliability and tensile strength, and was more suitable for assembly into a module. Therefore, the present invention has an extremely large effect of contributing to industry.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an example of an optical connector obtained by a manufacturing method of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a chart showing an example of a method for manufacturing an optical connector of the present invention.
In the manufacturing method of the present invention, the coating at the end of the optical fiber is removed, and the end-coated stripped optical fiber (FIG. (A)) having a plated bare fiber portion that has been subjected to fiber tip processing is To explain an optical fiber insertion step f1 of inserting a bare fiber portion into a capillary hole and an optical fiber portion into a sleeve hole of a ferrule in which a sleeve hole and a capillary hole are provided in the sleeve itself (FIG. 2B). FIG.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining a capillary hole tip sealing step f2 by soldering or the like, a tube attaching step f3, an adhesive injecting step f4, and an optical connector intermediate after an optical fiber insertion step f1.
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating an adhesive filling step f5 and a centrifugal force applying device.
FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing an optical connector intermediate body after an adhesive filling step f5 and an adhesive curing step f6.
7A and 7B are schematic views showing another example of the manufacturing method of the present invention. FIG. 7A shows a ferrule including a sleeve and a capillary, and FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for explaining a capillary hole tip sealing step f2, a tube mounting step f3, an adhesive injecting step f4, and an optical connector intermediate according to the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing an example of an optical connector obtained by a conventional manufacturing method.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 bare fiber 1m plated bare fiber (metallized fiber)
2 Coating (fiber coating part)
5, 5 'optical fiber (body)
6 sleeve (body)
7 Sleeve hole 8 Capillary 8a Capillary hole 10, 20 Ferrule 11 Sealing tip 12 Tube (fluorine tube)
13 Adhesive 50 Optical connector 50a, 60a Optical connector intermediate (before adhesive curing)
50b Optical connector intermediate (after curing adhesive)
100 Adhesive filling device (high-speed rotation device)
j rotation axis

Claims (4)

Using a ferrule provided with a sleeve hole and a capillary hole in the sleeve itself, or a ferrule consisting of a sleeve and a capillary, inserting the bare fiber portion from which the coating of the end of the optical fiber has been removed into the capillary hole of the ferrule, A method of manufacturing an optical connector in which a fiber coating portion is inserted into a sleeve hole of a ferrule, and a bare fiber portion and a fiber coating portion in a capillary hole and a sleeve hole are fixed to an optical connector by an adhesive, respectively.
An optical fiber insertion step of removing the coating of the end portion of the optical fiber, inserting the bare fiber portion having the fiber tip processed into the capillary hole of the ferrule, and inserting the fiber coating portion into the sleeve hole of the ferrule. ,
Sealing the tip of the capillary hole through which the bare fiber portion is inserted, sealing the tip of the capillary hole;
Attaching a fluorine-based tube or a silicon-based tube from the inlet end of the sleeve to the fiber coating portion, a tube attaching step;
An adhesive injecting step of injecting an appropriate amount of adhesive into the tube by a minute amount injecting means;
An adhesive filling step of filling the adhesive in the tube from the inside of the sleeve hole and the inside of the capillary hole with no gap and without bubbles by centrifugal force from the inside of the sleeve hole and the inside of the capillary hole;
An adhesive curing step of curing the adhesive filled from the inside of the tube, the inside of the sleeve hole and the inside of the capillary hole to the sealing tip;
Removing a tube attached from the inlet end of the sleeve to the fiber coating portion, and removing the tube; and a finished optical connector by a method of manufacturing the optical connector. 2. The method for manufacturing an optical connector according to claim 1, wherein the sealing of the tip of the capillary hole is performed with an adhesive or a resin. A ferrule in which a sleeve hole and a capillary hole are provided in the sleeve itself, or a capillary of a ferrule including a sleeve and a capillary is made of metal or metal plating, and the outer periphery of the bare fiber portion is metal-plated. 2. The method for manufacturing an optical connector according to claim 1, wherein in the case, the capping of the tip of the capillary hole is performed by soldering. An optical connector obtained by the manufacturing method according to claim 1.

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