JP2006047817A - Fusion splicing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fusion splicing machine for an optical fiber, a machine that makes more accurate and easier fusion splicing operation possible and that has low loss and high reliability. <P>SOLUTION: A display magnification of the X- and Y-axis direction images each displayed in the respective image display windows Wx, Wy can be freely set in the machine, as can the size of these windows Wx, Wy. Further, the images after the magnification change are displayed in the post-magnification image display window Wm, while an extracted specific image region is displayed in the extracted image display window Ws. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical fiber fusion splicer.

Conventionally, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example, a fusion splicer for fusion splicing two optical fibers having the same number of cores (number of optical fibers) is an optical fiber that performs fusion splicing. The optical fiber at the time of the fusion splicing process from each of two axes (X axis and Y axis) perpendicular to (or intersecting with) each other perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the fiber (the longitudinal direction of the fiber is called the Z axis) An image of the connection point is taken, and the taken images in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction are displayed on a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) (see FIGS. 2A and 2B). ). The operator performs a fusion splicing operation of the optical fiber while referring to the respective captured images displayed in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction displayed on the display device.
For example, as disclosed in Patent Document 2, an optical fiber connection state display method for detecting the position of an optical fiber by image processing and displaying the image processing result superimposed on the optical fiber with characters or the like according to the position. Is marked.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-282358 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 02-251805

However, the above conventional technique has the following problems.
For example, in the conventional display example shown in FIG. 7, an X-axis direction image and a Y-axis direction image based on the same magnification are displayed in the X-axis direction image display window Wx1 and the Y-axis direction image display window Wy1, respectively. The X-axis direction image display window Wx1 and the Y-axis direction image display window Wy1 are displayed in the same size in parallel (or not shown, but in series) in the entire display screen W1 (or not shown) Only one of the X-axis direction image display window Wx1 and the Y-axis direction image display window Wy1 is displayed in the entire display screen W1). That is, conventionally, the display windows that can be displayed are only the X-axis direction image display window Wx1 and the Y-axis direction image display window Wy, and are displayed on the X-axis direction image display window Wx1 and the Y-axis direction image display window Wy1, respectively. The magnifications of the X-axis direction image and the Y-axis direction image, and the sizes of the display windows of the X-axis direction image display window Wx1 and the Y-axis direction image display window Wy1 are constant and unchanged.
For this reason, in order to realize a more accurate and easy fusion splicing operation, that is, in order to facilitate detailed observation of the fusion spliced portion of the optical fiber, an X-axis direction image and a Y-axis direction image Magnification, the size of each window of the X-axis direction image display window Wx1 and the Y-axis direction image display window Wy1, etc. can be freely changed, or only a specific image area can be extracted and displayed. Realization of a destination connection machine is desired.
An object of the present invention is to provide a low-loss and highly reliable optical fiber fusion splicer capable of performing a more accurate and easy fusion splicing operation.

In order to solve the above problems, the first aspect of the fusion splicer of the present invention is:
In a fusion splicer (for example, fusion splicer 100) that performs fusion splicing of optical fibers,
Imaging means (for example, imaging unit 14) that images the fusion spliced part of the optical fiber that performs fusion splicing from one or more directions;
Display means (for example, a monitor 15) for displaying a captured image in one or more directions obtained by the imaging means;
Display control means (for example, image processing unit 1a) for controlling display so that one or a plurality of captured images to be displayed on the display means are displayed in at least one screen at a desired size and / or display position. This is a fusion splicer characterized by the above.

The second aspect of the fusion splicer of the present invention is:
Image extraction means (for example, image processing unit 1a) for extracting an image in a desired region from the captured image displayed by the display means,
The display means displays the extracted extracted image,
The display control means is a fusion splicer that performs display control so that an extracted image displayed on the display means is displayed side by side and / or superimposed on the captured image being displayed by the display means. .

The third aspect of the fusion splicer of this invention is:
The display control means is a fusion splicer characterized by performing display control so that an extracted image to be displayed on the display means is displayed at a desired size and / or display position.

The fourth aspect of the fusion splicer of this invention is:
When the display magnification change instruction is input, the image extraction unit extracts an image in a desired region or a region including a predetermined portion set in advance from the captured image,
The display control means performs display control to change the display magnification by enlarging or reducing the extracted image based on an instruction to change the display magnification, and to display the image after the magnification change on the display means. It is a fusion splicer.

The fifth aspect of the fusion splicer of the present invention is:
The display control unit is a fusion splicer that performs display control so that the image after the magnification change is displayed side by side and / or superimposed on the captured image being displayed by the display unit.

The sixth aspect of the fusion splicer of the present invention is:
The display control unit is a fusion splicer that performs display control so that the image after the magnification change is displayed in a desired size and / or display position.

The seventh aspect of the fusion splicer of this invention is
The display control unit performs display control so as to display a corresponding portion of the extracted image among the captured images being displayed by the display unit during display of the designated magnification extraction image. It is a destination connection machine.

The eighth aspect of the fusion splicer of this invention is:
In the fusion splicer, the specified magnification is an enlargement or reduction in a direction perpendicular to a fiber longitudinal direction of the optical fiber that performs the fusion splicing.

The ninth aspect of the fusion splicer of this invention is
The mark displayed on the display means can be moved to a desired position on the end of one or a plurality of optical fibers displayed on the display means, and when a predetermined key is pressed and / or the screen of the display means is touched The fusion splicer is capable of displaying the end portions of the one or more optical fibers by being enlarged or reduced at a desired size and / or display position.

The tenth aspect of the fusion splicer of the present invention is:
Display means for displaying a picked-up image in one or more directions obtained by the image pick-up means, and display for display control so as to rotate and display one or a plurality of picked-up images displayed on the display means at an arbitrary angle A fusion splicer comprising a control means.

The eleventh aspect of the fusion splicer of the present invention is
Storage means for storing one or more captured images to be displayed on the display means;
The fusion splicer can store or read one or a plurality of captured images from the storage unit.

According to the present invention, the display magnifications of the X-axis direction image and the Y-axis direction image respectively displayed in the X-axis direction image display window and the Y-axis direction image display window, the X-axis direction image display window, and the Y-axis direction image are displayed. The size of each window of the display window can be set freely. Further, the display magnification can be freely changed, and the image after the magnification change can be displayed in the image display window after the magnification change. Further, only a specific image region can be extracted and displayed on the extracted image display window.
For this reason, it is possible to easily perform detailed observation on the fusion splicing part of the optical fiber, and therefore it is possible to provide a low-loss and high-reliability optical fiber fusion splicer capable of more accurate and easy fusion splicing work. .

Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.
In FIG. 1, the schematic structure of the control system which the fusion splicer 100 has is shown.
As shown in FIG. 1, the fusion splicer 100 includes a control unit 1, an image storage unit 18, a discharge unit 11, a drive mechanism 12, an illumination unit 13, an imaging unit 14, a monitor 15, a power supply unit 16, an operation unit 17, and the like. Is provided.

  The discharge unit 11 has a pair of electrodes 11a and 11b directed to an alignment table (not shown) for mounting the two optical fibers B1 and B2 to be fusion-bonded. Accordingly, the electrodes 11a and 11b are discharged, and the optical fibers B1 and B2 (that is, the optical fiber ends F of the optical fibers B1 and B2) placed on the alignment table are fusion spliced. Two or more electrodes may be used.

The drive mechanism 12 moves the alignment table for placing the two optical fibers B1 and B2 that are to be fusion-bonded, and abuts or aligns the end faces of the two optical fibers B1 and B2 that face each other. Etc.
Further, in the fusion splicing that handles the polarization-maintaining optical fiber that requires alignment by rotating the optical fiber, a rotation mechanism is provided.
In addition, when two optical fibers to be connected have different outer diameters or different diameter cores, a fusion mechanism having a moving mechanism for moving the connected optical fibers and / or discharging electrodes during or after fusion splicing. There is also an arrival machine.

  The image storage unit 18 is a storage unit that stores one or a plurality of captured images. In addition, one or a plurality of captured images can be stored or read from the image storage unit 18 via the control unit 1 from an operation unit (not shown) of the fusion splicer 100 and can be displayed on the monitor 15.

  As shown in FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B, the imaging unit 14 images from the X-axis direction the connection portion of the optical fibers B1 and B2 placed on the alignment table that performs fusion splicing. An X-axis direction camera (such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) camera or a C-MOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) camera) 14a and a Y-axis direction camera 14b that captures an image from the Y-axis direction are provided. As shown in FIG. 2A, the X-axis direction camera 14a and the Y-axis direction camera 14b are positions facing each other on the X-axis and the Y-axis, respectively, with the fusion spliced portions of the optical fibers B1 and B2 interposed therebetween. Placed in.

  As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the illumination unit 13 includes an X-axis direction illumination 13a and a Y-axis direction illumination 13b, and includes two connection portions of optical fibers B1 and B2 that perform fusion splicing. Illuminate from the direction (X-axis direction, Y-axis direction).

The monitor 15 includes a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), and various images (an X-axis direction image, a Y-axis direction image, and an extracted image) stored in the image storage unit 18 in response to an instruction from the image processing unit 1a. , Image after magnification change, etc.) are displayed.
Further, the monitor 15 may be a touch panel type in which a predetermined operation is activated when a screen such as an LCD is touched and / or various operations can be performed.

  The control unit 1 includes a CPU (Central Perocessing Unit) (not shown), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a RAM (Random Access Memory). By executing various programs stored in the control unit 1, the respective units of the fusion splicer 100 are controlled in an integrated manner. In particular, the control unit 1 controls each part of the fusion splicer 100 to perform fusion splicing processing on various optical fibers B1 and B2 (single core, multi-core, mode, rare earth doping species and amount, core diameter, etc.). Do.

The control unit 1 includes an image processing unit 1a that performs various types of image processing (including display processing). In particular, the image processing unit 1a responds to the monitor 15 in accordance with various instruction inputs (designation / instruction related to image display) from the operation unit 17 and / or the monitor 15 (touch panel type or the like) during the fusion splicing process. Various image display processes are performed.
Here, the image processing unit 1a may represent a function of a program stored in the control unit or may be hardware.

  In the fusion splicing process, the image processing unit 1a responds to an instruction input from the operation unit 17 and displays an image (X-axis direction image) representing the fusion spliced portion of the optical fibers B1 and B2 imaged by the imaging unit 14. , Y-axis direction image) is stored in the image storage unit 18. Then, the image processing unit 1a displays the X-axis direction image and the Y-axis direction image stored in the first storage area 21, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the X-axis direction image display window Wx, the Y-axis direction image. In the display window Wy, the window is displayed in accordance with the size of each window (designated via the operation unit 17 or a size designated in advance by default, which may be different from each other). Further, the size of the displayed window can be further enlarged or reduced.

  Here, in the illustration of FIG. 3, the X-axis direction image display window Wx is displayed larger than the Y-axis direction image display window Wy. In addition, images of three sets of optical fiber ends F are displayed in the X-axis direction image display window Wx and the Y-axis direction image display window Wy, respectively. Further, in FIG. 3, not all of the number of cores of one ribbon type optical fiber (total number) is displayed in both the X-axis direction image display window Wx and the Y-axis direction image display window Wy. Any one or several of them are displayed. Of course, the total number of 8 cores can be displayed. As will be described later, an arbitrary optical fiber can be selected, enlarged or reduced, and / or displayed at an arbitrary position.

  When an image area for extraction display is designated via the operation unit 17, the image processing unit 1a uses the designated image area (area indicated by reference numeral A1 in the figure) as illustrated in FIG. The extracted image is extracted from the X-axis direction image and the Y-axis direction image, and the extracted image is stored in the image storage unit 18, and the extracted image is stored in the extracted image display window Ws (the operation unit 17). The size is specified in accordance with (or a size specified in advance by default). In this case, the image processing unit 1a displays the extracted image display window Ws so as to overlap the front surface of the X-axis direction image display window Wx and the Y-axis direction image display window Wy currently displayed on the monitor 15. Here, in the illustration of FIG. 4, three images of the optical fiber end F are displayed in the X-axis direction image display window Wx and the Y-axis direction image display window Wy, respectively.

  The image processing unit 1a is a display magnification change instruction for the X-axis direction image and the Y-axis direction image (a display magnification change instruction for a direction perpendicular to the fiber longitudinal direction, and the display magnification in the Z-axis direction which is the fiber longitudinal direction is When (invariant) is input via the operation unit 17, an image for changing the display magnification is extracted from the X-axis direction image and the Y-axis direction image, and the extracted image is expanded based on the input magnification (or The image after expansion (or compression) (after changing the display magnification) is displayed in the image display window Wm after the magnification change as shown in FIG. 5 (the window of the image display window Wm after the magnification change). The size is specified via the operation unit 17 or is a size specified in advance by default). At this time, the image area corresponding to the magnification-changed image currently displayed in the X-axis direction image and the Y-axis direction image is clearly indicated by shading (or coloring), a frame, or the like (see symbol B in the figure). (See symbol A2 in the figure). In this case, the image processing unit 1a uses the image display window Wm after the magnification change as the X-axis direction image display window Wx and the Y-axis direction image display window Wy (or the extracted image display window Ws) currently displayed on the monitor 15. It is also possible to display the image so as to overlap the front surface. Here, images of three sets of optical fiber ends F are displayed in the X-axis direction image display window Wx.

  When an instruction to change the display magnification is input via the operation unit 17, the image processing unit 1 a determines whether the image area is designated and input via the operation unit 17 or a predetermined location (for example, fused) set in advance as a default. The image of the image area including the connection portion of the optical fiber end F to be connected is extracted from the X-axis direction image and the Y-axis direction image.

  Further, for example, in FIG. 6A, four optical fibers at a predetermined position of the fusion splicer are observed from the X and Y directions, and the left and right eight cores in the X direction and the eight right and left cores in the X direction. It is displayed so that (all 16 hearts) can be seen.

  Further, in FIG. 6A, for example, when the “X direction” character displayed on the screen is touched or a predetermined key is pressed, the end portion of the optical fiber in the X direction is enlarged as shown in FIG. 6B. The left and right sides of the optical fiber at the time of setting to the fusion splicer are discriminated and displayed separately on the X left side and the X right side.

  Further, in FIG. 6 (A), for example, when a mark displayed on the screen (dotted circle in FIG. 6 (C)) is touched or a predetermined key is pressed with the cursor positioned, as shown in FIG. 6 (D). The ends of the selected pair of optical fibers in the X direction are displayed in an enlarged manner, and can be further enlarged or reduced, or can be enlarged or reduced by selecting one fiber.

  Further, in FIG. 6D, the end portion of the optical fiber in the X direction is displayed. For example, X-L3 and Y-L3 are vertically or horizontally, and X-L4 and Y-R4 are horizontally or vertically. As described above, an arbitrary optical fiber end can be selected and images can be arranged side by side.

  Also, one or more images of the optical fiber end can be rotated to any angle. Also, the monitor can be reversed to the operator side, and the image may be rotated and / or rearranged in a direction that is easy to view manually or automatically in accordance with the reversing direction of the monitor.

  When an instruction to change the display magnification is input via the operation unit 17, the image processing unit 1 a determines whether the image area is designated and input via the operation unit 17 or a predetermined location (for example, fused) set in advance as a default. The image of the image area including the connection portion of the optical fiber end F to be connected is extracted from the X-axis direction image and the Y-axis direction image.

  The image processing unit 1a instructs the operation unit 17 to change the size of each of the X-axis direction image display window Wx, the Y-axis direction image display window Wy, the extracted image display window Ws, and the magnification-changed image display window Wm. The X-axis direction image, the Y-axis direction image, the extracted image, and the image after the magnification change, the changed X-axis direction image display window Wx, the Y-axis direction image display window Wy, and the extracted image. The display window Ws and the image display window Wm after the magnification change are displayed according to the size of each window.

  The X-axis direction image display window Wx, the Y-axis direction image display window Wy, the extracted image display window Ws, and the image display window Wm after the magnification change are designated via the operation unit 17 (or designated in advance by default). Although displayed at the display position, the display position can be freely changed in accordance with an instruction input from the operation unit 17. For example, the size of the displayed optical fiber end F can be further enlarged or reduced.

  The image processing unit 1a can also perform scale display in the X axis direction, the Y axis direction, and the Z axis direction in the X axis direction image display window Wx and the Y axis direction image display window Wy.

  The image storage unit 18 includes a first storage area 21 that stores the X-axis direction image and the Y-axis direction image, and a second storage area 22 that stores the extraction image.

  The power supply unit 16 is a device for supplying a voltage supplied from an external power supply to each part of the fusion splicer 100.

  The operation unit 17 includes various operation buttons for operating the fusion splicer 100. The operation unit 17 arranges the X-axis direction image display window Wx and the Y-axis direction image display window Wy displayed on the monitor 15 in the entire display screen and which image display window to display on the image processing unit 1a. Various operation buttons are provided for selecting, specifying a display scale, specifying an image area to be extracted for enlarged display, specifying a magnification, and the like. The various instruction signals input through the operation unit 17 are output to the control unit 1. Here, the operation button may be a keyboard including various function keys (cursor keys, execution keys, etc.), or may be a pointing device such as a touch panel or a mouse attached to the monitor 15.

According to the fusion splicer 100 described above, display magnifications of the X-axis direction image and the Y-axis direction image displayed in the X-axis direction image display window Wx and the Y-axis direction image display window Wy, and the X-axis direction, respectively. The sizes of the image display window Wx and the Y-axis direction image display window Wy can be freely set. Further, the image after the magnification change whose display magnification has been changed can be displayed in the image display window Wm after the magnification change. Further, only a specific image region can be extracted and displayed in the extracted image display window Ws.
For this reason, detailed observation of the fusion splicing part of the optical fiber end F can be easily performed, and therefore, a low-loss and high-reliability optical fiber fusion splicer capable of performing a more accurate and easy fusion splicing operation. Can be provided.

  2A and 2B, there are two pairs of the imaging unit 14 and the illumination unit 13, but there may be three or more imaging units 14 and / or illumination units 13. Or the imaging part 14 and the illumination part 13 which illuminate with one direction illumination and image with one camera may be one set of fusion splicers.

  In addition, data can be exchanged via an I / O (input / output) interface provided in the fusion splicer. For example, image processing and fusion splicing processing can be performed based on a version upgrade or a newly installed program. Can be changed or updated.

  Note that the fusion splicer is provided with a recoating device for protecting the fusion splicing portion and a device for processing a protective tube. Alternatively, it may be connected to the fusion splicer with a connector or the like.

  Furthermore, the fusion splicer may be configured to be able to output to an external monitor via an RS-232C or video terminal.

  In addition, the description in this Embodiment shows an example of the fusion splicer which concerns on this invention, and is not limited to this. The detailed configuration and detailed operation of the fusion splicer 100 according to the present embodiment can be changed as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

It is a figure for demonstrating schematic structure of the control system of the fusion splicer to which this invention is applied. (A) is a figure for demonstrating the principal part structure in the discharge unit shown in FIG. 1 from the direction perpendicular | vertical to the fiber longitudinal direction of the optical fiber to carry out fusion splicing, (b) is shown in FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the principal part structure in a discharge unit from the fiber longitudinal direction of the optical fiber to melt-connect. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the fusion splicing part to which this invention is applied. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the fusion splicing part to which this invention is applied. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the fusion splicing part to which this invention is applied. It is a figure which shows the other example of a display of the fusion splicing part to which this invention is applied. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the conventional fusion splicing location.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Control part 100 Fusion splicer 11 Discharge unit 11a, 11b Electrode 12 Drive mechanism 13 Illumination part 13a X-axis direction illumination 13b Y-axis direction illumination 14 Imaging part 14a X-axis direction camera 14b Y-axis direction camera 15 Monitor 16 Power supply unit 17 Operation unit 18 Image storage section 1a Image processing section 21 First storage area 22 Second storage area 23 Third storage area B1, B2 Optical fiber F Optical fiber end W1 Full display screen Wm Image display window Ws after magnification change Extracted image display Window Wx X-axis direction image display window Wy Y-axis direction image display window

Claims (11)

A fusion splicer for performing fusion splicing of optical fibers,
Imaging means for imaging the fusion spliced portion of the optical fiber that performs the fusion splicing from one or more directions;
Display means for displaying captured images in one or more directions obtained by the imaging means;
Display control means for controlling display so that one or a plurality of captured images to be displayed on the display means are displayed in at least one screen at a desired size and / or display position. Machine. Image extraction means for extracting an image in a desired region from the captured image displayed by the display means;
The display means displays the extracted extracted image,
2. The display control unit according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit performs display control so that an extracted image to be displayed on the display unit is displayed side by side and / or superimposed on the captured image being displayed by the display unit. Fusion splicer.   The fusion splicer according to claim 2, wherein the display control unit performs display control so that the extracted image displayed on the display unit is displayed in a desired size and / or display position. When the display magnification change instruction is input, the image extraction unit extracts an image in a desired region or a region including a predetermined portion set in advance from the captured image,
The display control means performs display control to change the display magnification by enlarging or reducing the extracted image based on an instruction to change the display magnification, and to display the image after the magnification change on the display means. The fusion splicer according to any one of claims 1 to 3.   The fusion control according to claim 4, wherein the display control unit performs display control so that the image after the magnification change is displayed side by side and / or superimposed on the captured image being displayed by the display unit. Connection machine.   The fusion splicer according to claim 5, wherein the display control unit performs display control so that the image after the magnification change is displayed in a desired size and / or display position.   The display control unit performs display control so as to display a corresponding portion of the extracted image among the captured images being displayed by the display unit during display of the designated magnification extraction image. Item 7. The fusion splicer according to any one of Items 4 to 6.   The fusion splicer according to any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the designated magnification is expansion or contraction in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of an optical fiber that performs the fusion splicing. .   The mark displayed on the display means can be moved to a desired position on the end of one or a plurality of optical fibers displayed on the display means, and when a predetermined key is pressed and / or the screen of the display means is touched The fusion splicing according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein an end portion of the one or a plurality of optical fibers can be displayed by being enlarged or reduced at a desired size and / or display position. Machine. Display means for displaying captured images in one or more directions obtained by the imaging means;
The display control means which controls display so that one or a plurality of picked-up images displayed on the display means may be rotated and displayed at an arbitrary angle. The fusion splicer described. Storage means for storing one or more captured images to be displayed on the display means;
The fusion splicer according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein one or a plurality of captured images can be stored or read from the storage unit.

Images