JP2006154418A - Flexible optical waveguide, manufacturing method and manufacturing apparatus therefor - Google Patents

Flexible optical waveguide, manufacturing method and manufacturing apparatus therefor Download PDF

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JP2006154418A
JP2006154418A JP2004346022A JP2004346022A JP2006154418A JP 2006154418 A JP2006154418 A JP 2006154418A JP 2004346022 A JP2004346022 A JP 2004346022A JP 2004346022 A JP2004346022 A JP 2004346022A JP 2006154418 A JP2006154418 A JP 2006154418A
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transparent
optical waveguide
clad film
flexible optical
thin wire
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JP4577559B2 (en
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Atsushi Takahashi
敦之 高橋
Hiroshi Masuda
宏 増田
Toru Takahashi
亨 高橋
Hiroshi Kawazoe
宏 河添
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Showa Denko Materials Co Ltd
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Hitachi Chemical Co Ltd
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Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a structure, a manufacturing method and a manufacturing apparatus, which inexpensively manufacture a large amount of a multi-mode film optical waveguide having a large core size. <P>SOLUTION: The flexible optical waveguide has a structure in which transparent fine wire materials being cores are arranged side by side to be formed into a lower layer transparent clad film having a refractive index smaller than the refractive index of the transparent fine wire materials and the transparent fine wire is held between the lower layer transparent clad film and an upper layer transparent clad film having a refractive index smaller than the refractive index of the transparent fine wire materials. In the manufacturing method of the flexible optical waveguide, the transparent fine wire materials being the cores, are arranged side by side to be formed into the lower layer transparent clad film having the refractive index smaller than the refractive index of the transparent fine wire materials, and the transparent fine wire materials are held by the the lower layer transparent clad film and the upper layer transparent clad film having the refractive index smaller than the refractive index of the transparent fine wire materials, then heated and pressed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

本発明は、フレキシブル光導波路及びその製造方法並びに製造装置に関し、特にコアとなる透明細線材を所定の位置に並べクラッドとなる透明フィルムによって挟んだフレキシブル光導波路とその製造方法及び製造装置に関する。   The present invention relates to a flexible optical waveguide, a method for manufacturing the same, and a manufacturing apparatus, and more particularly, to a flexible optical waveguide in which a transparent thin wire material serving as a core is arranged at a predetermined position and sandwiched by a transparent film serving as a cladding, and a manufacturing method and manufacturing apparatus.

フレキシブル光導波路に関して、特許文献1には、高分子フィルム光導波路が作製可能なことが示されている。高分子フィルムは、シリコン等の基板上に高分子の溶液等をスピンコートし、ベークすることにより下部クラッド層を形成し、同様の方法によりコア層を形成した後、Si含有レジスト等でマスクパターンを形成し、ドライエッチングによってコアパターンを形成後、下部クラッド層を形成した方法と同様の方法により上部クラッド層を形成する。そして、最後に基板から光導波路はがすことによってフィルム化した光導波路を作製している。特にはがしやすくするために基板として熱酸化したSi基板を用い、導波路形成後フッ酸に浸漬することにより剥離する方法を示している。   Regarding a flexible optical waveguide, Patent Document 1 shows that a polymer film optical waveguide can be produced. A polymer film is formed by spin-coating a polymer solution or the like on a substrate such as silicon and baking to form a lower clad layer. After a core layer is formed by the same method, a mask pattern is formed using a Si-containing resist or the like. After forming the core pattern by dry etching, the upper cladding layer is formed by the same method as the method of forming the lower cladding layer. Finally, the optical waveguide formed into a film is produced by peeling the optical waveguide from the substrate. In particular, a method is shown in which a thermally oxidized Si substrate is used as a substrate for easy peeling, and peeling is performed by immersing in hydrofluoric acid after forming a waveguide.

特開平7−239422号公報JP-A-7-239422

前記フィルム化した光導波路では下部クラッド、コア、上部クラッドの各層をスピンコート、ベークによって形成しているため、この方法では各層の形成に時間がかかるとともに各層を順番に形成する必要が有り全体の製造時間が数10時間を要している。また、Siを基板に用いていることから数cmから10数cmのサイズの光導波路を大量に製造するには向かない。また、上記の製造方法には、ドライエッチング工程を有しており、コア層が厚いマルチモード光導波路を作製するためには、非常に長い時間ドライエッチングを行う必要がある。
本発明はコアサイズの大きなマルチモードフレキシブル光導波路を安価に大量に製造可能な構造と製造方法、製造装置を提供することにある。
In the filmed optical waveguide, each layer of the lower clad, core, and upper clad is formed by spin coating and baking. Therefore, in this method, it takes time to form each layer, and it is necessary to form each layer in order. Manufacturing time is several tens of hours. Further, since Si is used for the substrate, it is not suitable for manufacturing a large number of optical waveguides having a size of several centimeters to several tens of centimeters. Further, the above manufacturing method includes a dry etching step, and in order to produce a multimode optical waveguide having a thick core layer, it is necessary to perform dry etching for a very long time.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a structure, a manufacturing method, and a manufacturing apparatus capable of manufacturing a multi-mode flexible optical waveguide having a large core size in a large amount at a low cost.

上記目的を達成するための本発明に係るフレキシブル光導波路は、[1] コアとなる透明細線材を並べて透明細線材より屈折率の小さい下層透明クラッドフィルムと透明細線材より屈折率の小さい上層透明クラッドフィルムによって上記透明細線材を挟んだ構造であることを特徴とするフレキシブル光導波路に関する。
また、本発明は、[2] 上記[1]において透明細線材の断面形状が角を持たない円形もしくは円形に近い形状であることを特徴とするフレキシブル光導波路に関する。
また、本発明は、[3] 上記[1]または上記[2]において透明細線材と下層透明クラッドフィルム及び上層透明クラッドフィルムの屈折率差が1%以上であるフレキシブル光導波路に関する。屈折率差は、好ましくは、2%以上で、更に好ましくは5%以上である。
また、本発明は、[4] 上記[1]ないし上記[3]のいずれかに記載のフレキシブル光導波路において、透明細線材、下層透明クラッドフィルム及び上層透明クラッドフィルムがプラスチックであることを特徴とするフレキシブル光導波路に関する。
また、本発明は、[5] 上記[4]において下層透明クラッドフィルム及び上層透明クラッドフィルムの弾性率が2GPa以下であることを特徴とするフレキシブル光導波路に関する。
また、本発明は、[6] 上記[1]ないし上記[5]のいずれかに記載のフレキシブル光導波路の上面または下面のいずれか又は両面が別の材料で覆われていることを特徴とするフレキシブル光導波路に関する。
また、本発明は、[7] 上記[1]ないし上記[6]のいずれかに記載の光導波路においてコアの位置に対して相対的に定まった位置に合わせマークが付けられていることを特徴とするフレキシブル光導波路に関する。
また、本発明は、[8] コアとなる透明細線材を並べて透明細線材より屈折率の小さい下層透明クラッドフィルムと透明細線材より屈折率の小さい上層透明クラッドフィルムによって上記透明細線材を挟み加熱プレスすることを特徴とするフレキシブル光導波路の製造方法に関する。
また、本発明は、[9] 下層透明クラッドフィルム上にコアとなる透明細線材を下層透明クラッドフィルムの長手方向に所定の間隔で並べ上層透明クラッドフィルムを重ね合わせて挟む工程を含むフレキシブル光導波路の製造方法に関する。
また、本発明は、[10] 上記[8]または上記[9]において透明細線材を下層透明クラッドフィルムと上層透明クラッドフィルムによって挟む前に透明細線材と下層透明クラッドフィルムと上層透明クラッドフィルムの少なくともいずれかに表面処理を行うことを特徴とするフレキシブル光導波路の製造方法に関する。
また、本発明は、[11] 上記[10]において表面処理はコロナ放電処理、プラズマ放電処理、溶剤塗布処理、UV照射処理のいずれか又は組合せであることを特徴とするフレキシブル光導波路の製造方法に関する。
また、本発明は、[12] プレスローラの前後少なくとも一方に透明細線材の間隔を読み取る装置と透明細線材の間隔を調整する装置を有することを特徴とするフレキシブル光導波路の製造装置に関する。
また、本発明は、[13] 透明細線材のコア位置読み取り装置とプレスローラの後に透明細線材から所定の位置に合わせマークを付ける装置を有していることを特徴とするフレキシブル光導波路の製造装置に関する。
In order to achieve the above object, the flexible optical waveguide according to the present invention comprises: [1] a transparent transparent wire that is a core, a lower transparent clad film having a refractive index lower than that of the transparent thin wire, and an upper transparent material having a refractive index lower than that of the transparent wire. The present invention relates to a flexible optical waveguide having a structure in which the transparent thin wire is sandwiched between clad films.
The present invention also relates to [2] the flexible optical waveguide according to [1], wherein the cross-sectional shape of the transparent thin wire is a circle having no corners or a shape close to a circle.
The present invention also relates to [3] a flexible optical waveguide according to [1] or [2], wherein the difference in refractive index between the transparent fine wire, the lower transparent clad film, and the upper transparent clad film is 1% or more. The difference in refractive index is preferably 2% or more, more preferably 5% or more.
[4] The flexible optical waveguide according to any one of [1] to [3], wherein the transparent thin wire material, the lower transparent clad film, and the upper transparent clad film are plastics. The present invention relates to a flexible optical waveguide.
The present invention also relates to [5] the flexible optical waveguide according to [4], wherein the lower transparent clad film and the upper transparent clad film have an elastic modulus of 2 GPa or less.
[6] The present invention is characterized in that either or both of the upper surface and the lower surface of the flexible optical waveguide according to any one of [1] to [5] are covered with another material. The present invention relates to a flexible optical waveguide.
[7] In the optical waveguide according to any one of [1] to [6], the present invention is characterized in that an alignment mark is attached at a position relatively determined with respect to the position of the core. To a flexible optical waveguide.
In addition, the present invention provides [8] a transparent thin wire material that is a core, and sandwiches and heats the transparent thin wire material between a lower transparent clad film having a refractive index smaller than that of the transparent thin wire material and an upper transparent clad film having a refractive index smaller than that of the transparent thin wire material. The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a flexible optical waveguide characterized by pressing.
The present invention also provides [9] a flexible optical waveguide including a step of placing a transparent thin wire material serving as a core on a lower transparent clad film in a longitudinal direction of the lower transparent clad film at a predetermined interval and sandwiching the upper transparent clad film. It relates to the manufacturing method.
The present invention also provides [10] the transparent thin wire material, the lower transparent clad film, and the upper transparent clad film before the transparent thin wire material is sandwiched between the lower transparent clad film and the upper transparent clad film in [8] or [9]. The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a flexible optical waveguide, wherein at least one surface treatment is performed.
[11] The method for producing a flexible optical waveguide according to [11], wherein the surface treatment is any one or a combination of corona discharge treatment, plasma discharge treatment, solvent coating treatment, and UV irradiation treatment. About.
The present invention also relates to [12] an apparatus for manufacturing a flexible optical waveguide, characterized in that a device for reading the distance between the transparent fine wires and a device for adjusting the distance between the transparent fine wires are provided at least before and after the press roller.
The present invention also provides [13] a core position reading device for transparent fine wire material and a device for attaching a mark to a predetermined position from the transparent fine wire material after a press roller. Relates to the device.

本発明のフレキシブル光導波路によれば、コアは円形もしくは円形に近い形とした場合、コアをクラッド間に形成する際捻れを考慮する必要がない。また、角が無いことからコアとクラッド界面に生じる応力を緩和することが出来る。応力の集中は耐屈曲性を低下させる要因となり、本発明の構造とすることにより耐屈曲性を向上させることが出来る。また、本発明のフレキシブル光導波路によれば、コアとなる透明細線材を並べて透明細線材より屈折率の小さい下層透明クラッドフィルムと透明細線材より屈折率の小さい上層透明クラッドフィルムによって前記透明細線材を挟むという構造により光導波路を形成出来る。そのためコアサイズの大きいマルチモード光導波路でもドライエッチング工程を必要としないため、短時間で光導波路を製造することが出来る。例えば、従来方法によるSiウエハ上にマルチモード光導波路を製造する場合には、下部クラッド、コア、上部クラッドを順番にウエハ上に形成し、しかも、それぞれを形成するための各工程に要する時間が少なくとも2〜5時間のため、光導波路の剥離、カッティングを含めると製品が完成するまでに1週間以上要していた。一方、本発明を用いると、下部クラッド、コア、上部クラッドとなる部材はそれぞれ別に製造したものを用いることが出来、これらの部材を投入してから最初の製品が出来上がるまで、1〜2分間で済む。また、下部クラッド、コア、上部クラッドとなる部材を装置内で形成する場合でも樹脂の硬化に時間がかかるのみで、それ以外の工程にはほとんど時間を要しないことから、材料投入から完成まで数時間で終了する。従来方法では工程毎に装置が必要なのに対し、本発明の製造装置1台でフレキシブル光導波路を製造することが可能になる。また、光導波路を作製する際にSi基板を用いないため、最も大きなSiのウエハサイズ300mmより大きなフィルムサイズにすることにより数cmから10数cmのサイズ、必要により更に長さの長い光導波路でも大量に安価に製造することが可能である。   According to the flexible optical waveguide of the present invention, when the core is circular or nearly circular, it is not necessary to consider twist when forming the core between the clads. Further, since there are no corners, the stress generated at the core / cladding interface can be relaxed. The concentration of stress becomes a factor that lowers the bending resistance, and the bending resistance can be improved by using the structure of the present invention. Further, according to the flexible optical waveguide of the present invention, the transparent thin wire material is arranged by arranging the transparent thin wire material as a core and arranging the lower transparent clad film having a refractive index smaller than that of the transparent thin wire material and the upper transparent clad film having a refractive index smaller than that of the transparent thin wire material. An optical waveguide can be formed by the structure of sandwiching the film. For this reason, a multi-mode optical waveguide having a large core size does not require a dry etching process, so that the optical waveguide can be manufactured in a short time. For example, when a multi-mode optical waveguide is manufactured on a Si wafer according to a conventional method, a lower clad, a core, and an upper clad are formed on the wafer in order, and the time required for each process for forming each of them is increased. Since it takes at least 2 to 5 hours, it took one week or more to complete the product, including peeling and cutting of the optical waveguide. On the other hand, when the present invention is used, the lower clad, core, and upper clad can be manufactured separately, and it takes 1-2 minutes from the introduction of these members until the first product is completed. That's it. In addition, even when the lower clad, core, and upper clad members are formed in the equipment, it only takes time to cure the resin, and other processes require little time. End in time. While the conventional method requires an apparatus for each process, a flexible optical waveguide can be manufactured with one manufacturing apparatus of the present invention. Also, since an Si substrate is not used when producing an optical waveguide, a film size larger than 300 mm, the largest Si wafer size, can be several centimeters to several tens of centimeters, and even longer optical waveguides if necessary. It can be manufactured in large quantities at low cost.

以下、本発明を適用したフレキシブル光導波路、その製造方法及び製造装置の実施例を説明する。本発明を用いたフレキシブル光導波路を上から見た図とその断面構造を図1に示した。図1には、光が通るコアとなる透明細線材を下層透明クラッドフィルムと上層透明クラッドフィルムで挟んだ構造になっている。図1ではコアの断面は円形となっているが、真円である必要はない。また、断面が四角形であってもよい。コア材と上下クラッド材は透明であることが求められ、特に光の通るコア材は光の損失が小さい材料であることが求められる。コアとクラッドの屈折率差は大きいほうが光導波路を曲げた際の損失を抑えることが出来ることから、1%以上、好ましくは2%以上、更に好ましくは5%以上である。具体的には、1〜25%であることが求められ、より好ましくは2〜25%、更に5〜25%であることが好ましい。ここで、屈折率の測定はプリズムカプラを用いて行った。
更に、光導波路がフレキシブルに曲がるためにはコア材及びクラッド材の両方の弾性率が2GPa以下と小さいことが求められ、特にクラッド材の弾性率は0.05から2GPaであることが好ましく、0.05〜1GPaがより好ましく、0.05〜500MPaが最も好ましい。これらの弾性率はISO178に示されている3点曲げ法により求めた(使用状態の温度、0〜30℃)。ここでの弾性率は、曲げ弾性率の値であり、2GPa以下とすることにより、広く使用されているポリイミド樹脂製のフレキシブルプリント板より弾性率が小さくなり、フレキシブルプリント板からの移行を容易にすることができる。さらに曲げ弾性率を小さくすることにより、クラッド厚さの設計裕度が広がるとともに、屈曲させた際の導波路内部の応力が減少し、剥れ等に対する信頼性が向上する。
コア材としては、ポリカーボネート樹脂、ポリスチレン樹脂、非晶質ポリオレフィン樹脂、アクリル樹脂、シリコーン樹脂、ポリアミド樹脂、フッ素樹脂、ポリイミド樹脂等が挙げられる。また、クラッド材としては、前記コア材に加えて、ポリウレタン樹脂、ポリエチレン樹脂、ポリプロピレン樹脂、更にはエラストマ樹脂が挙げられる。また、図1には示してないが、保護、情報表示用等のために図1で示したフレキシブル光導波路の上面及び下面のいずれか又は両面を別の材料で覆った構造とすることが好ましい。覆う材料としては難燃性や高耐湿な特性を持つ樹脂や、金属薄膜や、それらを複合させたものが挙げられる。具体的にはポリ塩化ビニル樹脂、ポリエチレン樹脂、ポリエステルエラストマ、シリコーンゴム、フッ素樹脂、オレフィン系エラストマ、サントプレーン、ポリウレタン樹脂、ポリプロピレン樹脂、ポリイミド樹脂、ポリアミド樹脂の他、これらの樹脂とAl等の金属薄膜を重ねたものがある。本実施例では0.1mm厚のポリ塩化ビニル樹脂フィルムを用いた。
Embodiments of a flexible optical waveguide, a manufacturing method thereof, and a manufacturing apparatus to which the present invention is applied will be described below. The figure which looked at the flexible optical waveguide using this invention from the top, and its cross-sectional structure were shown in FIG. FIG. 1 shows a structure in which a transparent thin wire material serving as a core through which light passes is sandwiched between a lower transparent clad film and an upper transparent clad film. In FIG. 1, the cross section of the core is circular, but it need not be a perfect circle. The cross section may be a quadrangle. The core material and the upper and lower cladding materials are required to be transparent, and in particular, the core material through which light passes is required to be a material with a small light loss. A larger refractive index difference between the core and the clad can suppress loss when the optical waveguide is bent, so that it is 1% or more, preferably 2% or more, and more preferably 5% or more. Specifically, it is required to be 1 to 25%, more preferably 2 to 25%, and further preferably 5 to 25%. Here, the refractive index was measured using a prism coupler.
Further, in order for the optical waveguide to bend flexibly, the elastic modulus of both the core material and the clad material is required to be as small as 2 GPa or less, and in particular, the elastic modulus of the clad material is preferably 0.05 to 2 GPa. 0.05-1 GPa is more preferable, and 0.05-500 MPa is most preferable. These elastic moduli were determined by a three-point bending method shown in ISO178 (temperature in use, 0 to 30 ° C.). The elastic modulus here is a value of bending elastic modulus, and by setting it to 2 GPa or less, the elastic modulus becomes smaller than the widely used flexible printed board made of polyimide resin, and the transition from the flexible printed board is easy. can do. Further, by reducing the flexural modulus, the design tolerance of the cladding thickness is widened, the stress inside the waveguide when bent is reduced, and the reliability against peeling and the like is improved.
Examples of the core material include polycarbonate resin, polystyrene resin, amorphous polyolefin resin, acrylic resin, silicone resin, polyamide resin, fluorine resin, and polyimide resin. Further, examples of the clad material include polyurethane resin, polyethylene resin, polypropylene resin, and elastomer resin in addition to the core material. Although not shown in FIG. 1, it is preferable to have a structure in which either or both of the upper and lower surfaces of the flexible optical waveguide shown in FIG. 1 are covered with another material for protection, information display, and the like. . Examples of the covering material include resins having flame retardancy and high moisture resistance, metal thin films, and composites thereof. Specifically, in addition to polyvinyl chloride resin, polyethylene resin, polyester elastomer, silicone rubber, fluorine resin, olefin elastomer, santoprene, polyurethane resin, polypropylene resin, polyimide resin, polyamide resin, these resins and metals such as Al There is a stack of thin films. In this example, a 0.1 mm thick polyvinyl chloride resin film was used.

図2に本発明の第2の実施形態であるフレキシブル光導波路を上から見た図と断面構造を示した。本発明ではコアとなる透明細線材が曲線状態で複数本並んで配置されている。断面形状は図1と同様に光が通るコアとなる透明細線材1を上部透明クラッド材と下部透明クラッド材で挟んだ構造になっている。コアの断面は円形となっているが、真円である必要はない。また、断面が四角形であってもよい。また、コア材、クラッド材は上記の第1の実施形態と同様の材料が選べる。また、図2には示してないが、図2で示したフレキシブル光導波路の上面及び下面のいずれか又は両面を覆った構造とすることが好ましい。覆う材料としては上記と同様難燃性や高耐湿な特性を持つ樹脂や金属薄膜、それらを複合させたものが挙げられる。   FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a flexible optical waveguide according to the second embodiment of the present invention as viewed from above. In the present invention, a plurality of transparent thin wire rods serving as cores are arranged side by side in a curved state. As in FIG. 1, the cross-sectional shape is a structure in which a transparent thin wire 1 serving as a core through which light passes is sandwiched between an upper transparent cladding material and a lower transparent cladding material. The cross section of the core is circular, but need not be a perfect circle. The cross section may be a quadrangle. For the core material and the clad material, the same materials as in the first embodiment can be selected. Although not shown in FIG. 2, it is preferable to have a structure that covers either or both of the upper and lower surfaces of the flexible optical waveguide shown in FIG. Examples of the covering material include resins and metal thin films having flame retardancy and high moisture resistance as described above, and composites thereof.

図3に本発明の第3の実施形態であるフレキシブル光導波路の実施例を示した。光導波路の両端部には発光素子や受光素子等の光素子が実装されたり、光ファイバ等が実装される。その際、光導波路のコアと光素子、光ファイバは精度良く位置合せして実装することが求められる。そこで図3に示したようにコアの位置を特定するための合せマークをフレキシブル光導波路に形成することが好ましい。この合せマークは、コアの位置に対して相対的に定まった位置に形成されることが好ましい。本実施例では、合せマークは、レーザを用いて形成し、光導波路を精度良く所定の形状に加工するため前記合せマークを使用し、この合わせマークを光学的に認識させフレキシブル光導波路を所定の形状に切断し製品としてのフレキシブル光導波路を得た。前記のように合わせマークはスキャン式のYAGレーザマーカーを用いて形成した。   FIG. 3 shows an example of a flexible optical waveguide that is the third embodiment of the present invention. Optical elements such as a light emitting element and a light receiving element are mounted on both ends of the optical waveguide, or an optical fiber is mounted. At that time, it is required that the core of the optical waveguide, the optical element, and the optical fiber be accurately aligned and mounted. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, it is preferable to form an alignment mark for specifying the position of the core on the flexible optical waveguide. This alignment mark is preferably formed at a position relatively determined with respect to the position of the core. In this embodiment, the alignment mark is formed using a laser, and the alignment mark is used to accurately process the optical waveguide into a predetermined shape. The alignment mark is optically recognized, and the flexible optical waveguide is The product was cut into a shape to obtain a flexible optical waveguide as a product. As described above, the alignment mark was formed using a scanning YAG laser marker.

本発明を用いた第1の実施の形態であるフレキシブル光導波路の製造方法を図4に示した。下層透明クラッドフィルム上にコアとなる透明細線材を並べて上層透明クラッドフィルムで挟んだ後、加熱されたローラで圧着し図1及び図2で示した構造のフレキシブル光導波路を製造する。その際、フィルムの密着性を向上するため、フィルムの密着する面の表面処理やコア材の表面処理を行うと好ましい。本実施例では表面処理としてコロナ放電を用いた。コロナ放電処理は印加電圧を12kVとし、下部及び上部の接する側のクラッドフィルム表面に対して行った。その他、表面処理としてプラズマ放電処理、溶剤塗布処理、UV照射処理などを用いても良い。具体的には下層透明クラッドフィルム2及び上層透明クラッドフィルム3としてポリエチレン樹脂フィルム、コアとなる透明細線材1としてナイロンを用いた場合、ラミネート用ローラ4は115℃に設定した。また、透明細線材1のピッチは本発明の光導波路と組み合わせる光素子のピッチに合わせ250μmとした。   The manufacturing method of the flexible optical waveguide which is 1st Embodiment using this invention was shown in FIG. A transparent thin wire material serving as a core is arranged on the lower transparent clad film and sandwiched between the upper transparent clad films, and then pressed with a heated roller to produce a flexible optical waveguide having the structure shown in FIGS. In that case, in order to improve the adhesiveness of the film, it is preferable to perform a surface treatment of the surface to which the film adheres or a surface treatment of the core material. In this example, corona discharge was used as the surface treatment. The corona discharge treatment was performed on the surface of the clad film on the side in contact with the lower and upper portions with an applied voltage of 12 kV. In addition, plasma discharge treatment, solvent coating treatment, UV irradiation treatment, or the like may be used as the surface treatment. Specifically, when a polyethylene resin film was used as the lower transparent clad film 2 and the upper transparent clad film 3, and nylon was used as the transparent thin wire 1 serving as the core, the laminating roller 4 was set at 115 ° C. The pitch of the transparent wire 1 was 250 μm in accordance with the pitch of the optical element combined with the optical waveguide of the present invention.

図5に本発明を用いたフレキシブル光導波路の製造装置の例を示す。図5の上段は製造装置を上から見た装置構成図、図5の下段は製造装置を横から見た装置構成図である。本装置を用いることにより、例えば図3に示したフレキシブル光導波路を製造できる。本装置において、下層透明クラッドフィルム2が巻かれたロールと上層透明クラッドフィルム3が巻かれたロールが回転しながらコアとなる透明細線材1を挟むように送り出し、ラミネート用ローラ4によってラミネートされ、フレキシブル光導波路としてロール5に巻き取られる。本装置ではコアとなる透明細線材1が4本並ぶように構成されており、透明細線材1が設定したピッチで並ぶようにコア位置調整用ガイド6が取り付けてありコア位置読み取り機7で読み取ったコア位置情報を元にコア位置調整ガイド6で調整を行うことができる。また、コア位置調整用に粗合せコア位置調整用ガイド9と張力調整用ガイド10も組み合わせている。巻かれている透明細線材1の位置に合せ、粗合せコア位置調整用ガイド9は僅かに傾いて設置されている。本製造装置では下層透明クラッドフィルム2及び上層透明クラッドフィルム3としてポリエチレン樹脂フィルム、コアとなる透明細線材1としてナイロンを用いた場合、ラミネート用ローラ4は115℃に設定した。また、透明細線材1のピッチは本発明の光導波路と組み合わせる光素子のピッチに合わせ250μmとした。また、合せマーク形成用にコア位置アライメントマーク形成レーザ8が組み込まれ、コア位置読み取り機7の情報を元にコア位置から所定の距離は離れたところにマークを形成する。形成するマークは直線パターンのほか、十字マークも形成することが出来る。十字マークはフィルムの流れを一旦止めて形成する場合とレーザの光軸をフィルムの流れる速さに合わせて移動する方法があるが、本製造装置では後者の方法を取っている。   FIG. 5 shows an example of an apparatus for manufacturing a flexible optical waveguide using the present invention. The upper part of FIG. 5 is an apparatus configuration diagram when the manufacturing apparatus is viewed from above, and the lower part of FIG. 5 is an apparatus configuration diagram when the manufacturing apparatus is viewed from the side. By using this apparatus, for example, the flexible optical waveguide shown in FIG. 3 can be manufactured. In this apparatus, the roll around which the lower transparent clad film 2 is wound and the roll around which the upper transparent clad film 3 is wound are fed so as to sandwich the transparent thin wire 1 serving as a core, and laminated by a laminating roller 4. It is wound up on a roll 5 as a flexible optical waveguide. This apparatus is configured so that four transparent thin wire rods 1 serving as cores are arranged, and a core position adjusting guide 6 is attached so that the transparent thin wire rods 1 are arranged at a set pitch. Adjustment can be performed by the core position adjustment guide 6 based on the core position information. Further, a rough alignment core position adjustment guide 9 and a tension adjustment guide 10 are also combined for core position adjustment. In accordance with the position of the wound transparent thin wire 1, the rough alignment core position adjusting guide 9 is installed slightly inclined. In this manufacturing apparatus, when a polyethylene resin film is used as the lower transparent clad film 2 and the upper transparent clad film 3, and nylon is used as the transparent thin wire 1 serving as the core, the laminating roller 4 is set to 115 ° C. The pitch of the transparent wire 1 was set to 250 μm in accordance with the pitch of the optical element combined with the optical waveguide of the present invention. A core position alignment mark forming laser 8 is incorporated for forming an alignment mark, and a mark is formed at a predetermined distance from the core position based on information from the core position reader 7. Marks to be formed can form a cross mark as well as a linear pattern. The cross mark is formed by temporarily stopping the flow of the film and there is a method of moving the optical axis of the laser in accordance with the flow speed of the film, but this manufacturing apparatus adopts the latter method.

本発明による第1の実施形態に係わるフレキシブル光導波路の構造を示す図。The figure which shows the structure of the flexible optical waveguide concerning the 1st Embodiment by this invention. 本発明による第2の実施形態に係わるフレキシブル光導波路の構造を示す図。The figure which shows the structure of the flexible optical waveguide concerning the 2nd Embodiment by this invention. 本発明による第3の実施形態に係わるフレキシブル光導波路の構造を示す図。The figure which shows the structure of the flexible optical waveguide concerning the 3rd Embodiment by this invention. 本発明によるフレキシブル光導波路の製造方法を示す図。The figure which shows the manufacturing method of the flexible optical waveguide by this invention. 本発明によるフレキシブル光導波路の製造装置を示す図。The figure which shows the manufacturing apparatus of the flexible optical waveguide by this invention.

符号の説明Explanation of symbols

1 コアとなる透明細線材
2 下層透明クラッドフィルム
3 上層透明クラッドフィルム
4 ラミネート用ローラ
5 ロール(導波路フィルム)
6 コア位置用調整ガイド(高精度位置合せ)
7 コア位置読み取り装置
8 コア位置アライメントマーク書き込み用レーザ
9 コア位置用調整ガイド(粗合せ)
10 張力調整用ガイド
11 合わせマーク
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Transparent thin wire material used as a core 2 Lower layer transparent clad film 3 Upper layer transparent clad film 4 Laminating roller 5 Roll (waveguide film)
6 Core position adjustment guide (high precision alignment)
7 Core position reader 8 Core position alignment mark writing laser 9 Core position adjustment guide (rough alignment)
10 Tension adjustment guide 11 Alignment mark

Claims (13)

コアとなる透明細線材を並べて透明細線材より屈折率の小さい下層透明クラッドフィルムと透明細線材より屈折率の小さい上層透明クラッドフィルムによって上記透明細線材を挟んだ構造であることを特徴とするフレキシブル光導波路。 Flexible, characterized in that the transparent thin wire material is sandwiched between a lower transparent clad film having a refractive index lower than that of the transparent thin wire and an upper transparent clad film having a refractive index smaller than that of the transparent fine wire material. Optical waveguide. 請求項1において透明細線材の断面形状が角を持たない円形もしくは円形に近い形状であることを特徴とするフレキシブル光導波路。 2. The flexible optical waveguide according to claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional shape of the transparent thin wire is a circle having no corners or a shape close to a circle. 請求項1または請求項2において透明細線材と下層透明クラッドフィルム及び上層透明クラッドフィルムの屈折率差が1%以上であるフレキシブル光導波路。 The flexible optical waveguide according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the refractive index difference between the transparent fine wire, the lower transparent clad film, and the upper transparent clad film is 1% or more. 請求項1ないし請求項3のいずれかに記載のフレキシブル光導波路において、透明細線材、下層透明クラッドフィルム及び上層透明クラッドフィルムがプラスチックであることを特徴とするフレキシブル光導波路。 4. The flexible optical waveguide according to claim 1, wherein the transparent thin wire material, the lower transparent clad film and the upper transparent clad film are plastic. 請求項4において下層透明クラッドフィルム及び上層透明クラッドフィルムの弾性率が2GPa以下であることを特徴とするフレキシブル光導波路。 The flexible optical waveguide according to claim 4, wherein the elastic modulus of the lower transparent clad film and the upper transparent clad film is 2 GPa or less. 請求項1ないし請求項5のいずれかに記載のフレキシブル光導波路の上面または下面のいずれか又は両面が別の材料で覆われていることを特徴とするフレキシブル光導波路。 6. The flexible optical waveguide according to claim 1, wherein either one or both of the upper surface and the lower surface of the flexible optical waveguide is covered with another material. 請求項1ないし請求項6のいずれかに記載の光導波路においてコアの位置に対して相対的に定まった位置に合わせマークが付けられていることを特徴とするフレキシブル光導波路。 The flexible optical waveguide according to claim 1, wherein an alignment mark is attached at a position relatively determined with respect to the position of the core in the optical waveguide according to claim 1. コアとなる透明細線材を並べて透明細線材より屈折率の小さい下層透明クラッドフィルムと透明細線材より屈折率の小さい上層透明クラッドフィルムによって上記透明細線材を挟み加熱プレスすることを特徴とするフレキシブル光導波路の製造方法。 A flexible optical device characterized by arranging transparent thin wire materials as cores, sandwiching the transparent thin wire material between a lower transparent clad film having a refractive index lower than that of the transparent thin wire material, and an upper transparent clad film having a refractive index smaller than that of the transparent thin wire material, and then heating and pressing. A method for manufacturing a waveguide. 下層透明クラッドフィルム上にコアとなる透明細線材を下層透明クラッドフィルムの長手方向に所定の間隔で並べ上層透明クラッドフィルムを重ね合わせて挟む工程を含むフレキシブル光導波路の製造方法。 A method for producing a flexible optical waveguide, comprising a step of placing a transparent thin wire material serving as a core on a lower transparent clad film at a predetermined interval in a longitudinal direction of the lower transparent clad film and sandwiching the upper transparent clad film. 請求項8または請求項9において透明細線材を下層透明クラッドフィルムと上層透明クラッドフィルムによって挟む前に透明細線材、下層透明クラッドフィルム及び上層透明クラッドフィルムの少なくともいずれかに表面処理を行うことを特徴とするフレキシブル光導波路の製造方法。 The surface treatment is performed on at least one of the transparent fine wire material, the lower transparent clad film and the upper transparent clad film before the transparent fine wire material is sandwiched between the lower transparent clad film and the upper transparent clad film. A method for producing a flexible optical waveguide. 請求項10において表面処理はコロナ放電処理、プラズマ放電処理、溶剤塗布処理、UV照射処理のいずれか又は組合せであることを特徴とするフレキシブル光導波路の製造方法。 The method of manufacturing a flexible optical waveguide according to claim 10, wherein the surface treatment is any one or a combination of corona discharge treatment, plasma discharge treatment, solvent coating treatment, and UV irradiation treatment. プレスローラの前後少なくとも一方に透明細線材の間隔を読み取る装置と透明細線材の間隔を調整する装置を有することを特徴とするフレキシブル光導波路の製造装置。 An apparatus for manufacturing a flexible optical waveguide, comprising: a device for reading a distance between transparent thin wire members and a device for adjusting a distance between transparent thin wire members at least one of front and rear sides of a press roller. 透明細線材のコア位置読み取り装置とプレスローラの後に透明細線材から所定の位置に合わせマークを付ける装置を有していることを特徴とするフレキシブル光導波路の製造装置。

An apparatus for manufacturing a flexible optical waveguide, comprising: a core position reading device for transparent thin wire material; and a device for attaching a mark to a predetermined position from the transparent thin wire material after a press roller.

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Cited By (2)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2008038838A1 (en) * 2006-09-29 2008-04-03 Jsr Corporation Film optical waveguide
US8716403B2 (en) 2008-12-10 2014-05-06 Electronics And Telecommunications Research Institute Prepolymer prepared by a condensation reaction and a polymer sheet obtained therefrom

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JPS6459201A (en) * 1987-08-31 1989-03-06 Nok Corp Flexible optical waveguide circuit
JPH05281428A (en) * 1992-03-30 1993-10-29 Nippon Telegr & Teleph Corp <Ntt> Optical interconnection board and optcal waveguide

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JPS6459201A (en) * 1987-08-31 1989-03-06 Nok Corp Flexible optical waveguide circuit
JPH05281428A (en) * 1992-03-30 1993-10-29 Nippon Telegr & Teleph Corp <Ntt> Optical interconnection board and optcal waveguide

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2008038838A1 (en) * 2006-09-29 2008-04-03 Jsr Corporation Film optical waveguide
US8716403B2 (en) 2008-12-10 2014-05-06 Electronics And Telecommunications Research Institute Prepolymer prepared by a condensation reaction and a polymer sheet obtained therefrom
US9201169B2 (en) 2008-12-10 2015-12-01 Electronics And Telecommunications Research Institute Compound containing crosslinkable moieties, prepolymer, blend and polymer sheet obtained therefrom, and waveguide for optical interconnection
US9864104B2 (en) 2008-12-10 2018-01-09 Electronics And Telecommunications Research Institute Blend prepared by mixing a prepolymer and a vinyl monomer and a polymer sheet obtained therefrom

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