JP2005308856A - Optical module and method for manufacturing optical module - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical module which can be manufactured in a short time, provides a stable optical output and facilitates maintenance and repair. <P>SOLUTION: The optical module in which optical fibers are stored in a state bundled in a circular form is provided with a storage tray having grooves in which the optical fibers are stored, cushioning material formed on linear parts of the grooves and ribs pressing the cushioning material. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical module of a handy type device, for example, an optical module of an optical measuring device related to an optical time domain reflection measurement method OTDR (Optical Time Domain Reflectometry) or an optical spectrum analyzer.

  In addition, the present invention relates to an optical module of a field measuring instrument in a plan (FTTH) for constructing a high-speed communication environment by using an optical fiber for an access network connecting a subscriber line from a telephone station to each home. Furthermore, the present invention relates to an optical module for a battery-powered hand-held field measuring instrument.

  Furthermore, the present invention particularly relates to an optical module of a handy optical light source used as a light source for optical fiber loss testing.

  A conventional optical module will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a storage tray of a conventional optical module.

  The storage tray B1 is made of metal or plastic. The storage tray B1 is mounted on a printed circuit board (not shown) and stored in a housing (not shown).

  Further, the laser diode (LD) B5 and the laser diode B6 are formed of light emitting elements having different oscillation wavelengths. Furthermore, the laser diode B5 and the laser diode B6 are fixed to the storage tray B1 by the fixing means B9.

  Furthermore, terminals B7 of the laser diode B5 and the laser diode B6 are electrically connected to a printed circuit board (not shown) through a hole. Further, a laser diode driving circuit and a user interface circuit are formed on a printed circuit board (not shown).

  Further, the output of the laser diode B5 is connected to the optical coupler B4 via the optical fiber B2. The output of the laser diode B6 is also connected to the optical coupler B4 via the optical fiber B2. Further, the output of the optical coupler B4 is connected to the connector B8 via the optical fiber B2.

  The optical coupler B4 includes a fusion part of the plurality of optical fibers B2 and a means for mechanically protecting the fusion part.

  The optical fiber B2 is fixed to the storage tray B1 with an adhesive (or tape, plastic tie wrap / wire clamp, or other fixing means) B3. Furthermore, the optical fiber B2 is fixed to the storage tray B1 at a plurality of locations at predetermined intervals with an adhesive B3.

  Furthermore, there is a tilt at the end of the storage tray B1. The optical fiber B2 is fixed along the tilt of the end of the storage tray B1.

  Thus, the optical fiber B2 is bundled in a circle with a predetermined bending radius or more. Further, the optical fiber B2 is firmly fixed to the storage tray B1 so as not to move.

The operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 will be described.
Laser diode B5 and laser diode B6 each output light. Then, the optical coupler B4 combines the output of the laser diode B5 and the output of the laser diode B6. The connector B8 emits the output of the optical coupler B4. That is, the connector C8 emits a combined wave of the output of the laser diode B5 and the output of the laser diode B6.

  Further, since the optical fiber B2 is fixed at a predetermined bending radius or more, the loss of light in the optical fiber B2 is small and stable characteristics are obtained.

  Some conventional optical modules have a storage tray and holding means (see, for example, Patent Document 1 or Patent Document 2).

Japanese Patent No. 3126653 JP 2000-92688 A

  However, since the optical fiber B2 of the embodiment of FIG. 5 is fixed by the adhesive B3 at a plurality of locations, there is a problem that it takes time to manufacture. Specifically, it takes time to cure the adhesive B3 at a plurality of locations.

  Further, when the adhesive B3 of the embodiment of FIG. 5 is a tape, there is a problem that the adhesive strength is weak. Further, when the adhesive B3 of the embodiment of FIG. 5 is a tie wrap / wire clamp, there is a problem that stress is easily generated in the optical fiber B2, and there is a problem that it takes time to manufacture.

  Further, the embodiment of FIG. 5 has a problem that it is difficult to correct, maintain and repair the optical fiber B2 because the adhesive B3 is cured.

  An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems, and to provide an optical module that can be manufactured in a short time. Another object of the present invention is to provide an optical module capable of obtaining a stable optical output. Furthermore, an object of the present invention is to provide an optical module that can be easily maintained and repaired.

The present invention which achieves such an object is as follows.
(1) In an optical module for storing optical fibers in a bundle, a storage tray having a groove for storing the optical fiber, a buffer material formed in a straight portion of the groove, and a rib for pressurizing the buffer material An optical module comprising:

(2) The optical module according to (1), wherein a width of a corner portion of the groove is wider than a width of the linear portion.

(3) The radius of the inner wall of the corner portion is a value based on the minimum bending of the optical fiber, and the radius of the outer wall of the corner portion is a value based on a tolerance of the length of the optical fiber (2 ) Optical module described.

(4) The optical module according to any one of (2) and (3), wherein the buffer material is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped corresponding to the linear portion.

(5) The optical module according to any one of (2) to (4), wherein the rib is formed integrally with a housing for storing the storage tray.

(6) The optical module according to (5), wherein the buffer material is formed of a foaming agent.

(7) The optical module according to (6), wherein the linear portion includes an optical coupler for fusing a plurality of the optical fibers.

(8) An assembly that integrally forms the storage tray having a laser diode and a power supply unit that supplies power to a circuit such as the laser diode is formed to form a handy type optical light source ( 7) The optical module as described.

(9) In the method of manufacturing an optical module for storing excess optical fibers by bundling them in a circular shape, storing the optical fibers in a groove of a storage tray, forming a buffer material in a linear portion of the groove, and the buffer material Pressurizing with a rib. A method for manufacturing an optical module, comprising:

(10) In an optical module manufacturing method for storing excess optical fibers by bundling them in a circular shape, the optical fibers are stored in grooves of a storage tray, and power is supplied to the storage tray and circuits in the storage tray. Forming an assembly with a supply means; testing the operation of the assembly; forming a cushioning material in a linear portion of the groove; storing the assembly in a housing and pressurizing the cushioning material with a rib; An optical module manufacturing method comprising:

As is apparent from the above description, the present invention has the following effects.
According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an optical module that can be manufactured in a short time, can obtain a stable light output, and can be easily maintained and repaired.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention. The feature of the embodiment of FIG. 1 is that a storage tray E9 having a groove, a buffer material E7, and a rib E8 are provided.

  The configuration of the embodiment of FIG. 1 will be described. The embodiment of FIG. 1 forms part of a handy optical light source. That is, the embodiment of FIG. 1 is an optical module that can be easily carried with one hand. The embodiment of FIG. 1 is an optical module that outputs predetermined light.

  In the drawing, an optical fiber E6, a buffer material E7, and a part of a rib E8 are stored in a groove formed in the storage tray E9. Further, the optical coupler E5, the buffer material E7, and a part of the rib E8 are accommodated in the groove formed in the tray E9.

  The rib E8 pressurizes the buffer material E7. The rib E8 is formed integrally with the housing E2. Furthermore, the buffer material E7 is formed of, for example, a foaming agent (urethane). And a foaming agent has the characteristic of a suitable pressurization, and is cheap.

  Further, the housing E3 and the housing E2 are connected. Further, a rib E4 formed in the housing E3 fixes the storage tray E9 and the printed board E1. Then, for example, the housing E3, the housing E2, the rib E4, the storage tray E9, and the printed board E1 are fixed with self-tapping screws (not shown).

  In the embodiment of FIG. 1 as described above, the optical fiber E6 and the optical coupler E5 are firmly fixed to the storage tray E9, the housing E3, and the housing E2 so as not to move by the repulsive force of the buffer material E7. Is done.

Hereinafter, the storage tray of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the storage tray of the embodiment of FIG.
The feature of the embodiment of FIG. 2 is the groove C7, the groove C8, and the groove C10.

  The configuration of the embodiment of FIG. 2 will be described. Here, the storage tray C1, optical fiber C6, and optical coupler C9 in the embodiment of FIG. 2 correspond to the storage tray E9, optical fiber E6, and optical coupler E5 in the embodiment of FIG. Further, the optical fiber C6, optical coupler C9, laser diode C3, laser diode C4, connector C2, and fixing means C5 of the embodiment of FIG. 2 are the same as the optical fiber B2, optical coupler B4, laser diode B5, This corresponds to the laser diode B6, the connector B8, and the fixing means B9.

  In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the storage tray C1 is made of plastic, for example. The grooves C7, C8, and C10 are also formed of plastic, for example. The storage tray C1, the groove C7, the groove C8, and the groove C10 are integrally formed. Further, the storage tray C1 is mounted on a printed circuit board (not shown) and stored in a housing (not shown).

  Further, the laser diode C3 and the laser diode C4 are formed of light emitting elements having different oscillation wavelengths. Furthermore, the laser diode C3 and the laser diode C4 are fixed to the storage tray C1 by the fixing means C5. The fixing means C5 may be formed by a bolt / nut or a self-tapping screw.

  Further, the terminals B7 of the laser diode C3 and the laser diode C4 are electrically connected to a printed circuit board (not shown) through the hole C11. Further, a laser diode driving circuit and a user interface circuit are formed on a printed circuit board (not shown).

  Further, the output of the laser diode C3 is connected to the optical coupler C9 via the optical fiber C6. The output of the laser diode C4 is also connected to the optical coupler C9 via the optical fiber C6. Further, the output of the optical coupler C9 is connected to the connector C2 via the optical fiber C6.

  The optical coupler C9 includes a fused portion of the plurality of optical fibers C6 and means for mechanically protecting the fused portion.

  The optical fiber C6 and the optical coupler C9 are fixed to the groove C7, the groove C8, and the groove C10 in the storage tray C1. That is, the groove C7, the groove C8, and the groove C10 guide and arrange the arrangement of the optical fiber C6.

  The groove in the storage tray C1 has a straight portion, for example, the groove 10. Further, the groove in the storage tray C1 has a corner portion, for example, a groove C7 and a groove C8. Further, the optical coupler C9 is housed in the groove 10 which is a linear portion.

  Further, the radius of the inner wall of the grooves C7 and C8 (corner portion) is set to a value based on the minimum bending of the optical fiber C6, and the bending radius is guaranteed. That is, the optical fiber C6 is fixed at a predetermined bending radius or more.

  Further, the width of the groove C8 (corner portion) is made wider than the width of the straight portion. The radius of the outer wall of the groove C8 (corner portion) is a value based on the maximum value of the length of the optical fiber C6. That is, the width of the groove C8 (corner portion) is a value based on the tolerance of the length of the optical fiber C6.

  In this way, the groove C8 (corner portion) absorbs the tolerance of the length of the optical fiber C6. Then, the optical fiber C6 having an excessive length is bundled in a circular shape and stored in the storage tray C1.

  Further, as in the embodiment of FIG. 2, the one having the optical coupler C9 increases the tolerance of the length of the optical fiber C6. Even in such a case, the width of the groove C8 (corner portion) is formed based on tolerance. Specifically, the radius of the outer wall of the groove C8 (corner portion) is formed based on tolerance.

The operation of the embodiment of FIG. 2 as described above will be described.
The laser diode C3 and the laser diode C4 each output light. The optical coupler C9 combines the output of the laser diode C3 and the output of the laser diode C4. The connector C2 emits the output of the optical coupler C9. That is, the connector C2 emits a combined wave of the output of the laser diode C3 and the output of the laser diode C4.

  Below, based on FIG.1 and FIG.3, the manufacturing method of this invention is demonstrated in detail. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an assembly of a storage tray and a printed circuit board according to the embodiment of FIG. FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating a state in which the storage tray D1 and the printed circuit board D3 are not connected. FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating a state after the storage tray E9 and the printed board E1 are connected.

  The configuration of the embodiment of FIG. 3 will be described. Here, the storage tray D1 of the embodiment of FIG. 3A and the storage tray E9 of the embodiment of FIG. 3B correspond to the storage tray C1 of the embodiment of FIG. Corresponds to the storage tray E9. Also, the printed circuit board D3 of the embodiment of FIG. 3A and the printed circuit board E1 of the embodiment of FIG. 3B correspond to the printed circuit board E1 of the embodiment of FIG. Further, the cushioning material E7 of the embodiment of FIG. 3B corresponds to the cushioning material E7 of the embodiment of FIG.

  In the embodiment of FIG. 3A, the rib D2 is a rib having a latch function, and is inserted into the hole D4 of the printed board D3. The rib D2 is fixed to the storage tray D1 and the printed board D3. The bolts and nuts D6 are also fixed to the storage tray D1 and the printed board D3. Further, the terminal D7 of the storage tray D1 is electrically connected to the terminal D5 of the printed board D3.

  In the embodiment of FIG. 3B, the cushioning material E7 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped. Further, the cushioning material E7 is formed to have a dimension corresponding to the linear portion of the groove of the storage tray E9. And the buffer material E7 is formed long in the depth direction.

  Further, the rib E8 in FIG. 1 is also made longer in the depth direction in correspondence with the cushioning material E7 in the embodiment of FIG.

  First, a step of storing optical fibers in a circular shape in a groove of the storage tray is executed. And a storage tray and a printed circuit board are integrated like the Example of FIG.

  Next, as in the embodiment of FIG. 3B, the step of forming the cushioning material E7 in the linear portion of the groove is executed.

  Further, next, as in the embodiment of FIG. 1, a step of pressurizing the cushioning material E7 with the rib E8 is executed. The optical fiber E6, the optical coupler E5, the storage tray E9, the casing E3, and the casing E2 are firmly fixed.

  Accordingly, the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 is provided with a fixing means for fixing the laser diode in advance in the storage tray and a groove for storing the optical fiber and the optical coupler, so that the optical module can be easily manufactured. be able to.

  In addition, since the radius of the inner wall at the corner portion of the groove of the storage tray is the minimum bend of the optical fiber and the bending radius is guaranteed, the loss of light in the optical fiber can be suppressed. And in the groove | channel of a storage tray, the corner part contributes to absorption of the tolerance in the length of an optical fiber, The linear part contributes to fixation of an optical fiber and a storage tray.

  Further, since the buffer material E7 is pressed by the rib E8 integrated with the housing E2, the optical fiber E6 and the optical coupler E5 can be fixed simultaneously with the assembly of the housing E2 and the housing E3. It becomes easy. Moreover, it can be stably fixed.

  Furthermore, the optical fiber and the optical coupler are in contact with the buffer material E7 and the rib E8 on a wide surface, and receive a uniform repulsive force from the buffer material E7. For this reason, the optical fiber and the optical coupler have stable characteristics.

  Further, when the housing is disassembled, the fixing of the optical fiber and the fixing of the optical coupler are released. Therefore, it is possible to easily correct, maintain and repair the optical module.

  Hereinafter, the storage tray of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an assembly of a storage tray and a printed circuit board according to another embodiment of the present invention. 4 corresponds to the embodiment of FIG. 3B, the printed circuit board F3 of the embodiment of FIG. 4 corresponds to the printed circuit board E1 of FIG. 3B, and the storage of the embodiment of FIG. The tray F1 corresponds to the storage tray E9 in FIG.

  The feature of the embodiment of FIG. 4 is that it includes power supply means F2. Further, for example, the power supply means F2 is formed of a battery or the like. That is, the storage tray F1 and the power supply means F2 are integrally formed. Further, the embodiment of FIG. 4 is formed in the same manner as the embodiment of FIG.

  The power supply unit F2 supplies power to a circuit (laser diode) in the storage tray F1 through the printed board F3. Specifically, the sheet metal electrically connected to the battery in the power supply means F2 is soldered to the printed circuit board F3.

  Such an embodiment of FIG. 4 has the same operation and effect as the embodiment of FIG. Further, the operation test can be performed by the assembly of the storage tray F1, the printed board F3, and the power supply means F2 in FIG. That is, a pass product and a fail product can be discriminated before being stored in a housing (not shown).

Therefore, the following optical module manufacturing method can be realized.
First, a step of forming an assembly of the storage tray F1 and power supply means F2 for supplying power to a circuit (laser diode) or the like in the storage tray F1 is executed. Then, the step of testing the operation of this assembly is performed. Then, the step of storing the assembly in a housing (not shown) is performed.

  For this reason, it becomes easy to rework the fail product in the operation test. In addition, the number of man-hours for returning can be reduced.

  As described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and includes many changes and modifications without departing from the essence thereof.

It is sectional drawing of one Example of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the storage tray of the Example of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the assembly of the storage tray and printed circuit board based on the Example of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the assembly of the storage tray and printed circuit board based on the other Example of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the storage tray of the conventional optical module.

Explanation of symbols

C1, D1, E9, F1 Storage tray C2 Connector C3, C4 Laser diode C5, D6 Fixing means C6, E6 Optical fiber C7, C8, C10 Groove C9, E5 Optical coupler C11, D4 Hole D2, E4, E8 Rib D3, E1 , F3 Printed circuit board D5, D7 Terminal E7 Buffer material E2, E3 Case F2 Power supply means

Claims (10)

In an optical module that stores optical fibers bundled in a circle,
A storage tray having a groove for storing the optical fiber;
A cushioning material formed on a straight portion of the groove;
An optical module comprising: a rib that pressurizes the buffer material.   The optical module according to claim 1, wherein a width of a corner portion of the groove is wider than a width of the linear portion.   The radius of the inner wall of the corner portion is a value based on the minimum bend of the optical fiber, and the radius of the outer wall of the corner portion is a value based on a tolerance of the length of the optical fiber. Optical module.   4. The optical module according to claim 2, wherein the buffer material is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped corresponding to the straight portion.   The optical module according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the rib is formed integrally with a housing for storing the storage tray.   6. The optical module according to claim 5, wherein the buffer material is formed of a foaming agent.   The optical module according to claim 6, wherein the straight portion includes an optical coupler for fusing a plurality of the optical fibers. An assembly that integrally forms the storage tray having a laser diode and power supply means for supplying power to a circuit such as the laser diode;
8. The optical module according to claim 7, wherein a hand-held optical light source is formed. In the method of manufacturing an optical module for storing excess optical fibers in a circular bundle,
Storing the optical fiber in a groove of a storage tray;
Forming a cushioning material on the straight portion of the groove;
Pressurizing the cushioning material with a rib;
An optical module manufacturing method comprising: In the method of manufacturing an optical module for storing excess optical fibers in a circular bundle,
Storing the optical fiber in a groove of a storage tray, and forming an assembly of the storage tray and power supply means for supplying power to a circuit or the like in the storage tray;
Testing the operation of the assembly and forming a cushioning material in a straight portion of the groove;
Storing the assembly in a housing and pressurizing the cushioning material with a rib;
An optical module manufacturing method comprising:

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