JP2005156888A - Optical fiber attitude detector and optical fiber attitude detection method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical fiber attitude detector and an optical fiber attitude detection method which enhance accuracy and work efficiency of positioning of an optical fiber. <P>SOLUTION: The optical fiber attitude detector is provided with: an illuminator 4 as a light projection means which irradiates the optical fiber 1b and a fixing member 2 with light from the side opposite from the fixing member 2 with the optical fiber 1b interposed between the illuminator and the fixing member; a camera 3 as an imaging means which images the optical fiber 1b and the fixing member 2 from the side opposite from the fixing member 2 with the optical fiber 1b interposed between the camera and and the fixing member; and a control part 6 which detects attitude of the optical fiber 1b based on light intensity distribution of a side of the optical fiber 1b obtained by performing image processing of an image of the camera 3. Thus, since it is not necessary to check the attitude of the optical fiber 1b by visual observation, the accuracy and the work efficiency of positioning of the optical fiber 1b are enhanced in comparison with the case of checking the attitude of the optical fiber 1b by the visual observation. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical fiber attitude detection device and an optical fiber attitude detection method for detecting the attitude of an optical fiber.

  The optical communication unit is assembled by mounting a light emitting element, a light receiving element, an optical fiber or the like on a substrate. Here, in order to suppress the loss of the optical signal, when fixing the optical fiber on the substrate, it is necessary to adjust the attitude of the optical fiber so that the optical axis is directed in a predetermined direction (for example, refer to Patent Document 1). .

Conventionally, when fixing an optical fiber, the posture of the optical fiber has been confirmed visually.
JP 2001-350056 A (page 3-5, FIG. 1)

  Conventionally, however, it has been necessary to rely on the visual inspection of the operator as described above in order to confirm the posture of the optical fiber, so that the alignment accuracy and work efficiency of the optical fiber are low.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described reasons, and an object thereof is to provide an optical fiber attitude detection device and an optical fiber attitude detection method capable of improving the accuracy and work efficiency of optical fiber alignment. There is.

  The invention of claim 1 is an optical fiber attitude detecting device for detecting the attitude of an optical fiber temporarily placed on a fixing member to which a side surface of the optical fiber is fixed, and the optical fiber and the fixing member are fixed to each other. In addition, light projecting means for irradiating light from the opposite side of the fixing member with the optical fiber interposed therebetween, and imaging means for imaging the part of the optical fiber and the fixing member that are fixed to each other from the opposite side of the fixing member with the optical fiber interposed therebetween And detecting means for detecting the attitude of the optical fiber based on the image picked up by the image pickup means.

  According to this configuration, since it is not necessary to rely on visual inspection to confirm the attitude of the optical fiber, the accuracy and work efficiency of alignment of the optical fiber can be improved as compared with the case where the attitude of the optical fiber is visually confirmed. Can do.

  The invention of claim 2 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 1, the detecting means detects the attitude of the optical fiber based on the light intensity distribution of the optical fiber imaged by the imaging means.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to detect the attitude of the optical fiber in the depth direction as viewed from the imaging unit.

  The invention of claim 3 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 1 or claim 2, the light irradiated by the light projecting means is laser light.

  According to this configuration, laser light is less likely to diffuse than light from incandescent lamps and fluorescent lamps, so that detection accuracy can be improved as compared to the case where light from these light sources is used. In addition, the detection fringes can be further improved by using the interference fringes by the laser light for detecting the attitude of the optical fiber.

  According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in the invention of the second or third aspect, the detection means is a difference in light intensity between a portion with the highest light intensity and a portion with the lowest light intensity of the optical fiber imaged by the imaging means. The attitude of the optical fiber is detected based on the above.

  The invention of claim 5 is based on the output of the holding means for holding the optical fiber, the attitude adjusting means for adjusting the attitude of the optical fiber with respect to the fixing member by moving the holding means, and the detection means in the invention of claim 4. Control means for controlling the posture adjusting means.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to improve the alignment accuracy and work efficiency of the optical fiber as compared with the case where the posture of the optical fiber is adjusted manually.

  The invention of claim 6 is an optical fiber attitude detection method for detecting the attitude of an optical fiber temporarily placed on a fixing member to which the side surface of the optical fiber is fixed, and the optical fiber and the fixing member are fixed to each other. In addition, light is irradiated from the opposite side of the fixing member with the optical fiber interposed therebetween, and the portion of the optical fiber and the fixing member fixed to each other is imaged from the opposite side of the fixing member with the optical fiber interposed therebetween. The attitude of the optical fiber is detected based on the above.

  According to this method, since it is not necessary to rely on visual inspection to confirm the attitude of the optical fiber, it is possible to improve the alignment accuracy and work efficiency of the optical fiber as compared with the case where the attitude of the optical fiber is visually confirmed. Can do.

  According to the present invention, the portion of the optical fiber and the fixing member fixed to each other is irradiated with light from the opposite side of the fixing member with the optical fiber interposed therebetween, and the portion of the optical fiber and the fixing member fixed to each other is irradiated with light. Since an image is taken from the opposite side of the fixing member with the fiber sandwiched, and the attitude of the optical fiber is detected based on the taken image, there is no need to rely on visual inspection to confirm the attitude of the optical fiber. Compared with the case of confirming the attitude of the optical fiber, it is possible to improve the alignment accuracy and work efficiency of the optical fiber.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the posture of the optical fiber 1 b temporarily placed on the fixing member 2 when the side surface of the optical fiber 1 b from which the coating 1 a of the optical fiber cable 1 is peeled is fixed to the fixing member 2. Illuminating device 4 as light projecting means for irradiating the optical fiber 1b and the fixing member 2 with light from the opposite side of the fixing member 2, and the optical fiber 1b and the fixing member 2 is a holding means for holding the optical fiber cable 1 and an attitude adjusting means for adjusting the attitude of the optical fiber 1b. The image of the moving stage 5, the image processing unit 7 that performs image processing on the image of the camera 3 and generates an output used to detect the attitude of the optical fiber 1 b, and the optical fiber 1 b based on the output of the image processing unit 7 It detects the energizing and a control unit 6 which is a control means for controlling the moving stage 5 in accordance with the attitude of the optical fiber 1b. That is, the detection means of this embodiment includes the control unit 6 and the image processing unit 7.

  The operation of this embodiment will be specifically described. First, when the optical fiber cable 1 is held on the moving stage 5, the control unit 6 controls the moving stage 5 to temporarily place the optical fiber 1 b on the fixed member 2. Next, the illumination device 4 is turned on to irradiate the optical fiber 1b and the fixing member 2 with light. At the same time, the camera 3 captures the optical fiber 1 b and outputs an image to the image processing unit 7. The image processing unit 7 extracts an image of the optical fiber 1b included in the image of the camera 3 by a known image processing, calculates a light intensity distribution on the side surface of the optical fiber 1b, and outputs the light intensity distribution to the control unit 6. The control unit 6 detects the attitude of the optical fiber 1b based on the light intensity distribution on the side surface of the optical fiber 1b output from the image processing unit 7, and controls the moving stage 5 based on the detected attitude of the optical fiber 1b. By doing so, the optical fiber 1b is translated and rotated so that the optical fiber 1b faces a predetermined direction at a predetermined position. Thereafter, the optical fiber 1b is fixed to the fixing member 2 by adhesion using an adhesive or solder, or by glassing. The control unit 6 and the image processing unit 7 are realized by a known technique using, for example, a microcomputer.

  Hereinafter, the principle of detecting the attitude of the optical fiber 1b based on the light intensity distribution on the side surface of the optical fiber 1b will be described. The light that enters the camera 3 and forms the image of the optical fiber 1b is reflected on the side surface of the optical fiber 1b out of the light emitted from the illumination device 4 in the direction indicated by the arrow A1, as shown in FIG. The light L1 and the light L2 that is transmitted through the optical fiber 1b, reflected by the fixing member 2, and transmitted through the optical fiber 1b. Among these, the light intensity of the latter light L2 becomes higher as the optical fiber 1b is closer to the fixing member 2, whereas the light intensity of the former light L1 is almost dependent on the distance between the optical fiber 1b and the fixing member 2. It does not change. Accordingly, the light intensity on the side surface of the optical fiber 1b in the image of the camera 3 increases as the distance between the optical fiber 1b and the fixing member 2 is shorter.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 2, when the optical fiber 1b is inclined so as to approach the fixing member 2 as it approaches one end along the axial direction of the optical fiber 1b, the image of the camera 3 indicates as indicated by an arrow A2. The light intensity on the side surface of the optical fiber 1b increases from one end away from the fixing member 2 toward one end close to the fixing member 2. Similarly, when the optical fiber 1b has a corrugated shape as shown in FIG. 3, it is fixed toward the direction away from the fixing portion 2 and away from the mountain-shaped portion P1, as indicated by arrows A3 to A5, or fixed. The light intensity increases in the direction approaching the part P2 that is close to the member 2 and has a valley shape. That is, the attitude of the optical fiber 1b in the depth direction when viewed from the camera 3 can be detected by the light intensity on the side surface of the optical fiber 1b.

  Specifically, the control unit 6 reduces the difference in light intensity between the portion with the highest light intensity and the portion with the lowest light intensity based on, for example, the axial light intensity distribution on the side surface of the optical fiber 1b. By controlling the moving stage 5, the attitude of the optical fiber 1 b is adjusted so that the optical axis of the optical fiber 1 b approaches the upper surface of the fixed member 2 in FIG. 1 in parallel.

  According to the above configuration, since it is not necessary to visually confirm the posture of the optical fiber 1b, it is possible to improve the alignment accuracy and work efficiency of the optical fiber as compared with the case of relying on visual observation.

  Furthermore, since the control unit 6 automatically adjusts the attitude of the optical fiber 1b by controlling the moving stage 5, the accuracy of the alignment of the optical fiber 1b is higher than when the attitude of the optical fiber 1b is adjusted manually. In addition, work efficiency can be improved.

  Note that if a laser oscillator that oscillates laser light is used as the light source of the illumination device 4, the laser light is less likely to diffuse than light from an incandescent lamp or a fluorescent lamp. The attitude of the optical fiber 1b can be detected with high accuracy. Moreover, if the interference fringes that appear by using laser light are used for detecting the attitude of the optical fiber 1b, the accuracy of detecting the attitude of the optical fiber 1b can be further improved.

  Further, FIG. 1 shows only one optical fiber 1b, but a plurality of optical fibers 1b may be provided. Further, a groove 10 having a rectangular cross section as shown in FIG. 4 (a) and a groove 11 having a V-shaped cross section as shown in FIG. 4 (b) are provided in the fixing member 2 for positioning the optical fiber 1b. May be provided.

It is a schematic structure figure showing an embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the principle of this invention. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the principle of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the principal part same as the above, (a) (b) shows a different form, respectively.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1b Optical fiber 2 Fixing member 3 Camera 4 Illuminating device 5 Moving stage 6 Control part

Claims (6)

  An optical fiber attitude detecting device for detecting an attitude of an optical fiber temporarily placed on a fixing member to which a side surface of the optical fiber is fixed, wherein the optical fiber is sandwiched between portions of the optical fiber and the fixing member fixed to each other. The light projecting means for irradiating light from the opposite side of the fixing member, the imaging means for imaging the portion of the optical fiber and the fixing member fixed to each other from the opposite side of the optical fiber, and the imaging means An optical fiber attitude detection device comprising: a detecting means for detecting the attitude of the optical fiber based on the obtained image.   2. The optical fiber attitude detection device according to claim 1, wherein the detection means detects the attitude of the optical fiber based on the light intensity distribution of the optical fiber imaged by the imaging means.   3. The optical fiber attitude detection device according to claim 1, wherein the light emitted by the light projecting means is a laser beam.   The detection means detects the attitude of the optical fiber based on a difference in light intensity between a portion with the highest light intensity and a portion with the lowest light intensity of the optical fiber imaged by the imaging means. Or the optical fiber attitude | position detection apparatus of Claim 3.   A holding means for holding the optical fiber; an attitude adjusting means for adjusting the attitude of the optical fiber relative to the fixing member by moving the holding means; and a control means for controlling the attitude adjusting means based on the output of the detecting means. The optical fiber attitude | position detection apparatus of Claim 4 characterized by the above-mentioned.   An optical fiber attitude detection method for detecting an attitude of an optical fiber temporarily placed on a fixing member to which a side surface of the optical fiber is fixed, wherein the optical fiber is sandwiched between portions where the optical fiber and the fixing member are fixed to each other. While irradiating light from the opposite side of the fixing member, the part of the optical fiber and the fixing member fixed to each other is imaged from the opposite side of the fixing member with the optical fiber interposed therebetween, and the attitude of the optical fiber based on the captured image An optical fiber attitude detection method characterized by detecting the above.

Images