JP2004317974A - Clamp, assembling device, and fixing method for optical component - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a clamp, an assembling device, and a fixing method for an optical component which are capable of surely suppressing optical axis deviation of an optical component. <P>SOLUTION: The optical component clamp 4 is provided with a base 14 and, at the tip end of this base 14, a lower chuck 16 is installed which has a component holding V-groove 15 where an optical passive component 2 is arranged. In addition, in a pair of supporting plates 17 installed in the base 14, there is freely rotatably supported the base end of a holder 18 which holds, relative to the base 14, the optical passive component 2 arranged in the component holding V-groove 15. At the top end of the holder 18, an upper chuck 19 is installed which clamps, in cooperation with the lower chuck 16, the optical passive component 2 arranged in the component holding V-groove 15. Further, the optical component clamp 4 is provided with a screw 20 which tightens the optical passive component 2 held down on the base 14 by the holder 18. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an optical component fixing tool for fixing an optical component such as a component to be welded, an optical component assembling apparatus, and an optical component fixing method.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a conventional optical component fixing device, for example, a device described in Patent Document 1 is known. The one described in this document has a collet housed inside a holder head, and a tapered sleeve inserted between the outer periphery of the collet and the inner periphery of the holder head, and is connected to the tapered sleeve. By releasing the piston, the tapered sleeve is pushed forward by the force of the compression coil spring, and the work is clamped to the collet.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-355707
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
When welding with an YAG laser or the like in assembling the optical component, the optical component is fixed by a component fixing tool. At this time, when the optical component is an optical passive component, unlike the case of a laser diode (LD), an optical axis shift of several μm results in insertion loss, so that highly accurate optical axis alignment is required. For this reason, it is necessary to strictly control the fixing force of the optical passive component by the component fixing device. However, in the above-mentioned prior art, since the supply pressure of air (fixing force of the work) is not controlled, the optical axis of the optical component is displaced when welding the optical component as a work or when releasing the clamp of the optical component. Loss fluctuation may increase.
[0005]
An object of the present invention is to provide an optical component fixing device, an optical component assembling apparatus, and an optical component fixing method that can reliably suppress the optical axis deviation of the optical component.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
An optical component fixing device of the present invention includes a base portion having a component holding groove in which an optical component is disposed, a pressing portion for pressing the optical component disposed in the component holding groove against the base portion, and a base portion formed by the pressing portion. And a tightening means for tightening the optical component pressed against the optical component.
[0007]
In such an optical component fixing tool, the fastening force of the optical component can be easily optimized by the fastening means. For example, when the optical component is tightened so that the optical component does not rattle and has a fixing force that does not cause distortion of the optical component, when the optical component is welded, the optical axis of the optical component shifts due to the rattling of the optical component. In addition, when the fixing of the optical component by the optical component fixing tool is released, the optical axis of the optical component is reliably prevented from being shifted due to the release of the distortion of the optical component. As a result, it is possible to reduce loss fluctuation due to optical axis deviation of the optical component.
[0008]
Preferably, the fastening means has a screw, a through hole provided in the holding portion, and through which the screw passes, and a screw hole provided in the base portion, into which the screw passing through the through hole is screwed. In this case, the tightening force (fixing force) of the optical component can be easily adjusted.
[0009]
Preferably, a first chuck having a component holding groove is provided on the distal end side of the base portion, and the base end portion of the pressing portion is rotatably supported by the base portion, and the distal end side of the pressing portion is provided on the distal end side of the pressing portion. And a second chuck for sandwiching the optical component arranged in the component holding groove in cooperation with the first chuck. In this case, the optical component can be pressed against the base portion only by rotating the pressing portion, so that the optical component can be easily fixed.
[0010]
An optical component assembling apparatus according to the present invention includes the optical component fixing device described above and a drive unit that moves the optical component fixing device in a predetermined direction. By providing the above-described optical component fixture, the fixing force of the optical component can be easily optimized, and the optical axis deviation of the optical component can be reliably suppressed.
[0011]
Further, the present invention provides an optical component fixing method for fixing an optical component to be welded by an optical component fixing device, wherein the fixing force of the optical component to be welded and the optical component to be welded are welded in a state where the optical component to be welded is fixed. The relationship between the loss fluctuation amount and the relation between the fixing force of the optical component to be welded and the loss fluctuation amount when the fixing of the optical component to be welded is released is calculated. Finding the fixing force of the optical component to be welded such that the sum of the loss fluctuation amount when the fixing of the optical component to be welded is released is equal to or less than the reference value, and fixing the optical component to be welded with the fixing force. Is what you do.
[0012]
This ensures that when the optical component is welded, the optical axis of the optical component is prevented from being displaced due to rattling of the optical component, and when the optical component is fixed by the optical component fixing tool, the distortion of the optical component is released. The displacement of the optical axis of the optical component is reliably suppressed. Therefore, loss fluctuation due to optical axis shift of the optical component can be reduced.
[0013]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of an optical component fixing device, an optical component assembling apparatus, and an optical component fixing method according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0014]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an optical component assembling apparatus provided with an embodiment of an optical component fixture according to the present invention. In the figure, an optical component assembling apparatus 1 is an apparatus for fixing an optical passive component 2 to a base component 3 by welding. The optical passive component 2 is, for example, an optical component containing a ferrule holding an optical fiber in a sleeve and a condenser lens.
[0015]
The optical component assembling apparatus 1 includes an optical component fixture 4 for fixing the optical passive component 2 and a mounting table 5 on which the base component 3 is placed. The optical component fixture 4 is attached to a drive unit 7 via a bracket 6.
[0016]
The drive unit 7 includes a posture adjustment portion 8 to move the optical component fixing tool 4 in the theta _X direction of the X axis, the orientation adjuster 9 to move the optical component fixing tool 4 in the theta _Y direction of the Y axis, the optical component fixing It has a position adjustment unit 10 for moving the fixture 4 in the X-axis direction, a position adjustment unit 11 for moving the optical component fixture 4 in the Y-axis direction, and a position adjustment unit 12 for moving the optical component fixture 4 in the Z-axis direction. ing.
[0017]
The optical component assembling apparatus 1 further includes a plurality (for example, three) of YAG laser heads 13 for welding the optical passive component 2 fixed to the optical component fixture 4 to the base component 3.
[0018]
FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the optical component fixing device 4, and FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view of the optical component fixing device 4. In each of the drawings, the optical component fixing device 4 has a base portion 14 screwed to one side surface of the bracket 6, and a component holding V on which the optical passive component 2 is disposed is provided at the tip of the base portion 14. A lower chuck 16 having a groove 15 is provided. A pair of support plates 17 are provided at the base end of the base portion 14.
[0019]
The support plate 17 supports a base end of a holding portion 18 so as to be freely rotatable. The holding portion 18 holds the optical passive component 2 arranged in the component holding V-groove 15 against the base portion 14. An upper chuck 19 for holding the optical passive component 2 disposed in the component holding V-groove 15 in cooperation with the lower chuck 16 is provided on the distal end side of the pressing portion 18.
[0020]
In addition, the optical component fixing tool 4 has a screw 20 for fastening the optical passive component 2 pressed against the base portion 14 by the pressing portion 18. The holding portion 18 is formed with a through hole 21 through which the screw 20 passes, and the base portion 14 is formed with a screw hole 22 into which the screw 20 is screwed. By tightening the optical passive component 2 using the screw 20 in this manner, adjustment of the tightening force (tightening amount) of the optical passive component 2 can be performed easily and accurately.
[0021]
When assembling the optical passive component 2 to the base component 3 by the optical component assembling apparatus 1 configured as described above, the base component 3 is first placed at a predetermined position on the mounting table 5. Further, the optical passive component 2 is fixed by the optical component fixing tool 4. Specifically, the optical passive component 2 is inserted into the component holding V-groove 15 of the base portion 14 of the optical component fixing tool 4, and in this state, the pressing portion 18 is rotated to move the optical passive component 2 to the base portion 14. Hold down. Then, the optical passive component 2 is tightened by inserting the screw 20 into the through hole 21 of the holding portion 18 and screwing the screw 20 into the screw hole 22 of the base portion 14 with a torque wrench or the like.
[0022]
Subsequently, the optical component fixture 4 is moved in the Z-axis direction by the position adjustment unit 12, and the optical passive component 2 is pressed against the base component 3. Then, the optical component fixing device 4 is rotated in the θ _X , θ _Y directions by the attitude adjusting units 8 and 9, and the optical component fixing device 4 is moved in the X axis and Y axis directions by the position adjusting units 10 and 11. Thereby, the optical axis of the optical passive component 2 is aligned with the optical axis of the base component 3. Subsequently, the optical passive component 2 and the base component 3 are welded at a plurality of locations by the YAG laser head 13.
[0023]
By the way, when the optical passive component 2 is fixed by the optical component fixing tool 4, the optical axis deviation of the optical passive component 2 occurs unless the tightening force (the amount of tightening) of the optical passive component 2 by the screw 20 is properly controlled. Sometimes. More specifically, if the optical passive component 2 has a small tightening force, the optical passive component 2 will rattle. Therefore, when welding the optical passive component 2, the optical passive component 2 is irradiated with the laser beam emitted from the YAG laser head 13. The optical axis of the passive component 2 is shifted. On the other hand, if the tightening force of the optical passive component 2 is too strong, the optical passive component 2 is distorted. In this state, the optical passive component 2 is welded, and then the screw 20 is loosened to chuck (fix) the optical passive component 2. Is released, the distortion of the optical passive component 2 is released, and the optical axis of the optical passive component 2 shifts. Such an optical axis shift of the optical passive component 2 leads to an increase in light loss, which is not preferable.
[0024]
Therefore, in the present embodiment, the tightening force of the optical passive component 2 is optimized as described below. That is, first, prior to assembling the optical passive component 2, the tightening torque (fixing force) of the optical passive component 2 by the screw 20 and the optical loss generated when the optical passive component 2 is welded with the optical passive component 2 fixed. A graph showing the relationship with the variation (see the solid line P in FIG. 4) and a graph showing the relationship between the tightening torque of the optical passive component 2 and the optical loss variation generated when the chuck of the optical passive component 2 is released ( 4 (see dashed-dotted line Q in FIG. 4). The creation of these graphs is performed based on experiments.
[0025]
Subsequently, for each of the tightening torques, a graph (see dotted line R in FIG. 4) in which the optical loss fluctuation amount generated when the optical passive component 2 is welded and the light loss fluctuation amount generated when the optical passive component 2 is released from the chuck is added. ). At this time, the tightening torque T ₀ the sum is minimum between the optical loss change amount generated when the chuck releases the optical loss variation and optical passive component 2 generated during the welding of the optical passive component 2, the passive optical component 2 Optimum tightening force.
[0026]
Therefore, when the optical passive component 2 is fixed by the optical component fixing tool 4, the sum of the optical loss variation generated when the optical passive component 2 is welded and the optical loss variation generated when the chuck of the optical passive component 2 is released is equal to the total. The optical passive component 2 is tightened with a tightening torque within a range not more than the reference value. The reference value at this time is, for example, a value such that the optical loss variation generated when welding the optical passive component 2 is 0.05 dB or less, and the optical loss variation generated when the optical passive component 2 is released from the chuck is 0.01 dB or less. It is.
[0027]
By optimizing the tightening force of the optical passive component 2 as described above, the rattling of the optical passive component 2 is almost eliminated. The optical axis shift of the optical passive component 2 due to the above is reduced. In addition, since the optical passive component 2 has almost no distortion, when the chuck of the optical passive component 2 is released after welding of the optical passive component 2, the optical axis shift of the optical passive component 2 due to the release of the distortion of the optical passive component 2 is also reduced. Is done. This makes it possible to stably suppress fluctuations in light loss that occur when the optical passive component 2 is welded or the optical passive component 2 is released from the chuck.
[0028]
Note that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in the above embodiment, the optical passive component 2 is tightened by using the screw 20, but the optical passive component 2 may be tightened by a spring. In this case, the adjustment of the tightening force (the amount of tightening) of the optical passive component 2 is performed by changing the spring itself or changing the position where the spring stops.
[0029]
In the above-described embodiment, the optical component assembling apparatus 1 having the YAG laser head 13 for welding the optical passive component 2 is provided with the optical component fixture 4. The present invention can be applied to any optical component assembling apparatus that needs to adjust the optical axis of the optical component with high accuracy.
[0030]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, by optimizing the fixing force of the optical component by the optical component fixture, the optical axis deviation of the optical component when the optical component is fixed or when the optical component is released is reliably suppressed, and the loss fluctuation is reduced. It becomes possible to reduce.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an optical component assembling apparatus provided with an embodiment of an optical component fixture according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the optical component fixture shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a front view of the optical component fixture shown in FIG. 2;
4 is a diagram showing a graph used for processing for optimizing the tightening force of the optical passive component shown in FIG. 2;
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Optical component assembling apparatus, 2 ... Optical passive component (optical component, optical component to be welded), 4 ... Optical component fixing tool, 7 ... Drive unit, 14 ... Base part, 15 ... V groove for component holding (component holding groove) ), 16: lower chuck (first chuck), 18: holding part, 19: upper chuck (second chuck), 20: screw (tightening means), 21: through hole (tightening means), 22: screw hole (Tightening means).

Claims (5)

A base portion having a component holding groove in which the optical component is arranged,
A pressing portion that presses the optical component disposed in the component holding groove against the base portion,
Fastening means for fastening the optical component pressed against the base portion by the pressing portion. The fastening means may include a screw, a through hole provided in the holding portion, and through which the screw is passed, and a screw hole provided in the base portion, into which the screw passing through the through hole is screwed. The optical component fixture according to claim 1, wherein: A first chuck having the component holding groove is provided on a tip side of the base portion,
A base end portion of the holding portion is rotatably supported by the base portion,
The second chuck for holding the optical component arranged in the component holding groove in cooperation with the first chuck is provided on a tip side of the holding portion. 2. The optical component fixing device according to item 2. An optical component fixture according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
An optical component assembling apparatus, comprising: a drive unit that moves the optical component fixture in a predetermined direction. In an optical component fixing method for fixing an optical component to be welded by an optical component fixture,
The relationship between the fixing force of the optical component to be welded and the loss fluctuation amount when the optical component to be welded is welded in a state where the optical component to be welded is fixed, the fixing force of the optical component to be welded, and the light to be welded. Find the relationship with the amount of loss fluctuation when the component is unlocked,
The fixing force of the optical component to be welded is determined such that the sum of the amount of loss variation when welding the optical component to be welded and the amount of loss variation when the fixing of the optical component to be welded is released is equal to or less than a reference value. ,
An optical component fixing method, wherein the optical component to be welded is fixed by the fixing force.

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