JP2010113190A - Optical fiber connection structure - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To practically strengthen an optical fiber including a tube and to provide an optical fiber connection structure in which the generation of accidents is remarkably reduced during the arrangement of the optical fiber. <P>SOLUTION: The optical fiber connection structure with an optical element is provided in the optical fiber and optical equipment, a positioning member is mounted on the outer periphery of the optical fiber at a position in the vicinity of the connection part of the optical fiber and the optical element, and the positioning member is movable within a predetermined range and half-fixed on the optical equipment. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical fiber connection structure, and more particularly to an optical fiber connection structure that can substantially increase the strength of the optical fiber and can significantly reduce the occurrence of accidents in the handling of the optical fiber.

  FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a conventional configuration example of an optical fiber connection structure. In FIG. 3, one optical device 10 and the other optical device 20 are connected via an optical fiber 30.

  Specifically, one end of the core wire 31 of the optical fiber 30 is fused to the end surface of the optical element 11 provided in one optical device 10, and the end surface of the optical element 21 provided in the other optical device 20. The other end of the core wire 31 of the optical fiber 30 is fused.

  The outer periphery of one end of the tube 32 provided so as to protect the outer periphery of the core wire 31 of the optical fiber 30 in a non-contact state is in the opening 13 of the case 12 of one optical device 10 so that one end encloses the optical element 11. It is inserted and held from the tip of a rubber bushing 14 whose cross-sectional shape is inserted and fixed in a conical shape. The outer periphery of the other end of the tube 32 is inserted and fixed in the opening 23 of the case 22 of the other optical device 20. The tube 32 is generally made of plastic in order to maintain the flexibility of the core wire 31. In addition, the core wire 31 and the tube 32 have different linear expansion coefficients depending on their materials, but they are not in close contact with each other, and thus are less susceptible to relative distortion.

  Patent Document 1 relates to an optical fiber connection structure that can prevent vibrations, shocks, or misalignment of an optical axis between an optical fiber and an optical element in a high temperature or low temperature environment, and can be easily connected while aligning the optical axes. .

JP 2007-178552 A

  By the way, when attention is paid to each end of the tube 32 of the optical fiber 30, it is attached to each optical device 10, 20 with the core wire 31 in the tube 32. Although it is difficult to completely absorb the difference in thermal expansion, it is possible to considerably improve the difference in thermal expansion between the core wire 31 and the tube 32 by using the bushing 14 provided in the optical device 10. it can.

  However, in the optical fiber connection structure of FIG. 3, since the bushing 14 and the tube 32 are in a semi-fixed state, there is a problem that a certain amount of friction occurs with a difference in thermal expansion.

  Further, since the protection of the core wire 31 in the conventional optical fiber 30 is a protection function on the premise that an external force such as a tension is not applied to the tube 32, if the outside of the tube 32 is pulled, the end portion of the core wire 31 and the light An external force will be applied to the fusion | melting part with the elements 11 and 21, and the intensity | strength of this fusion | melting part will influence the whole. Further, since the core wire 31 is very thin, it is weak against such an external force. When assembling or wiring to the optical elements 11 and 21, it is necessary to carefully work with great care. There is also a problem that it takes.

  Further, when the fused portion is damaged, the fusion must be performed again, and there is a problem that the structure has an unstable element.

  The present invention solves these problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an optical fiber connection structure that can substantially increase the strength of an optical fiber including a tube and can greatly reduce the occurrence of an accident in the handling of the optical fiber. To do.

In order to achieve the above object, claim 1 of the present invention provides:
In an optical fiber connection structure between an optical fiber and an optical element provided in an optical device,
A positioning member is attached to the outer periphery of the optical fiber in the vicinity of the connection portion with the optical element, and the positioning member is semi-fixed to the optical device so as to be movable within a certain range.

Claim 2 is the optical fiber connection structure according to claim 1,
The outer shape of the positioning member is non-circular.

  By comprising in this way, the intensity | strength of the optical fiber containing a tube can be substantially strengthened and the accident generation | occurrence | production in the handling of an optical fiber can be reduced significantly.

  The optical fiber connection structure of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, and parts common to FIG. In FIG. 1, a holder 15 formed in a truncated cone shape is attached to the opening 13 of the case 12 of one optical device 10 instead of the bushing 14 of FIG. 3. A through hole 15a is provided at the center of the holder 15 so that the optical fiber 30 can be inserted in a state in which the positioning member 33 attached to the outer periphery of the tube 32 is movable along the axial direction. Stoppers 15b for restricting the movement range of the positioning member 33 of the optical fiber 30 within a certain range X are attached to both ends.

  That is, the end of the tube 32 of the optical fiber 30 in which one end of the core wire 31 is fused to the end face of the optical element 11 of the optical device 10 is semi-fixed so as to be movable within a certain range X. The outer periphery of the other end of the tube 32 of the optical fiber 30 in which the other end of the core wire 31 is fused to the end face of the element 21 is inserted and fixed in the opening 23 of the case 22 of the other optical device 20.

  With such a configuration, when a force is applied to the tube 32 due to, for example, a temperature difference or a force applied during assembly and routing, the tube 32 can be received and absorbed within the movement range X of the positioning member 33 of the optical fiber 30. It is possible to prevent a force from being directly applied to 31.

  The specific configuration for providing the movement range of the positioning member 33 of the optical fiber 30 within a certain range X within the holder 15 is not limited to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, and various forms are conceivable. .

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention, and the same reference numerals are given to portions common to FIG. In the optical fiber connection structure of FIG. 2, the difference from FIG. 1 is that the outer peripheral shape of the positioning member 34 of the optical fiber 30 is not circular but is non-circular, for example, elliptical or rectangular.

  Since the outer peripheral shape of the positioning member 34 is formed in a square shape, the rotation of the tube 32 inside the holder 15 can be regulated within a certain angle range, and the core wire 31 accompanying the rotation of the tube 32 and the optical element 11 of the optical device 10 It is possible to prevent damage to the fused portion with one end of the core wire 31 on the end face.

  As described above, according to the present invention, even when an external force or rotation is applied to the optical fiber including the tube, damage to the core of the optical fiber can be greatly reduced, and the strength of the optical fiber can be substantially increased. An optical fiber connection structure in which damage to the portion where the core wire is fused is unlikely to occur.

It is a block diagram which shows one Example of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the other Example of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the conventional optical fiber connection structure.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10, 20 Optical apparatus 11, 21 Optical element 12, 22 Case 13, 23 Opening part 15 Holder 15a Through hole 15b Stopper 30 Optical fiber 31 Core wire 32 Tube 33, 34 Positioning member

Claims (2)

In an optical fiber connection structure between an optical fiber and an optical element provided in an optical device,
An optical fiber connection structure, wherein a positioning member is attached to an outer periphery of an optical fiber in the vicinity of a connection portion with the optical element, and the positioning member is semi-fixed to the optical device so as to be movable within a certain range.   The optical fiber connection structure according to claim 1, wherein an outer shape of the positioning member is non-circular.