JP2819954B2 - Connection method and connection structure between multi-core tape fiber and ferrule - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and structure for connecting a multi-core tape fiber to a ferrule.

In recent years, multi-core tape fibers as shown in FIG. 3 have been used as optical transmission lines in various optical devices and optical devices. The multi-core tape fiber 1 has an optical fiber 21 having a diameter D ₁ of 125 μm,
The fiber coating 22 is covered with a urethane acrylate UV resin or the like, and a plurality (for example, 4 to 10) of optical fiber cores ₂ having a diameter D2 of about 0.25 mm are arranged in a row in the lateral direction. Is integrally covered with the urethane acrylate UV resin of the tape coating 3 and molded. The thickness T of this multi-core tape fiber 1 is about 0.4 mm, and the pitch interval between the optical fibers 2 is about 0.2 mm.
5 mm.

An optical connector for optically connecting a pair of such multi-core tape fibers 1 has a ferrule attached to the end of each multi-core tape fiber 1 and the front ends of both ferrules face each other in an optical adapter. The corresponding optical fiber strands 21 are optically coupled to each other by being inserted and brought into close contact with the end faces on the distal end side.

[0004]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 4 shows a conventional coupling method and coupling structure between a multi-core optical fiber and a ferrule. FIG. (A) is a cross-sectional view before coupling, and FIG. (B) is a side cross-sectional view in a coupled state.

A ferrule 30 having a plurality of optical fiber insertion holes 31 arranged side by side has a front end surface 36 and a rear end surface 35 which are planes perpendicular to the central axis of the optical fiber insertion hole 31. At the same time, an optical fiber insertion hole 31 is formed between both end faces so as to penetrate therethrough.

The inner diameter of the optical fiber insertion hole 31 is about 1
27 μm, the pitch interval is about 0.25 mm, and the number of insertion holes is equal to the number of optical fiber wires 21 of the multi-core tape fiber 1.

The ferrule 30 is made of a material such as a synthetic resin, ceramics, metal, or the like, and is formed in a flat plate shape having a substantially square shape. As shown in FIG. 1A, a tape coating 3 which is a coating of the multi-core tape fiber 1
And the fiber coating 22 are peeled off to remove the optical fiber 2
The adhesive 6 is applied to the outer peripheral surface of each optical fiber 21 and inserted into the optical fiber insertion hole 31 from the rear end surface of the ferrule 30.

The peeled end face 5 of the coatings 3 and 22 is
The multi-core tape fiber 1 and the ferrule 30 are integrally connected to each other in a state of being in close contact with the rear end face 35 of the tape 0. After the adhesive 6 is cured, the distal end face 36 is polished to finish the optical fiber 21 so that the end face of the optical fiber 21 matches the distal end face 36 and the optical fiber 21 has an optically flat end face. .

[0009]

According to the above-described conventional method of connecting a multi-core tape fiber to a ferrule, the distal end surfaces of a plurality of optical fiber strands 21 are identical to each other and are orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the multi-core tape fiber 1. The rear end face 35 of the ferrule 30 into which the optical fiber wire 21 is inserted and the optical fiber wire insertion hole 31 of the ferrule 30 is also inserted is perpendicular to the length direction of the optical fiber wire insertion hole 31. Of the plane.

Therefore, a plurality of optical fibers 21
Of the front end face of the corresponding optical fiber insertion hole 31
Must be inserted simultaneously in a facing state, and there is a problem that the insertion work is extremely difficult because the front end faces come into contact with the rear end face 35 and compete with each other.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and has a multi-core structure capable of sequentially and easily inserting a plurality of optical fiber wires into an optical fiber wire insertion hole of a ferrule. An object of the present invention is to provide a method and a structure for coupling a tape fiber and a ferrule.

[0012]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optical fiber device comprising: a plurality of optical fiber wires arranged in parallel in a coating inner width direction; A multi-core tape fiber that is aligned on the same plane perpendicular to the direction and is led out a predetermined length from the tip to the coated surface peeled off, and a plurality of optical fibers into which the plurality of optical fiber wires are inserted in parallel. A ferrule in which fiber insertion holes are juxtaposed, and an end face of the insertion hole on the optical fiber wire insertion side is inclined so as to have a length in the parallel direction which is the width direction, and an optical fiber of the plurality of optical fiber wires and the ferrule. A method of connecting a multi-core optical tape fiber and a ferrule, in which the end face on the wire insertion side is opposed on the same axis and the optical fiber is inserted sequentially from the optical fiber closest to the optical fiber insertion hole of the ferrule. It is.

The second means, which is a gist of the present invention, is applied to the first means, wherein the peeled end face of the multi-core tape fiber coating is formed as an inclined face in the same direction as the inclined end face of the ferrule.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a multi-core tape fiber comprising: a plurality of optical fibers arranged in parallel in a width direction within a coating; And a plurality of optical fiber wire insertion holes into which the optical fiber wires of the multi-core tape fiber are respectively inserted. A ferrule having an end face inclined in a parallel direction that is the width direction, and a stripped end face of a multi-core tape fiber having an optical fiber inserted into the optical fiber insertion hole of the ferrule, and a ferrule. Is a coupling structure of a multi-core tape fiber and a ferrule, which are configured so that the inclined end faces thereof face each other.

The fourth means, which is the gist of the present invention, is applied to the third means in that the peeled end face of the multi-core tape fiber coating is formed as an inclined face in the same direction as the inclined end face of the ferrule.

The fifth means, which is a gist of the present invention, is characterized in that the plurality of optical fiber strands arranged in parallel in the coating inner width direction are stepwise so as to be successively longer and shorter in the parallel direction from one end to the other end. A multi-core tape fiber led out a predetermined length from the tip to the coated surface peeled off, and a plurality of optical fiber wire insertion holes into which the plurality of optical fiber wires are inserted in parallel, respectively, are provided side by side. The ferrule in which the end face of the hole on the optical fiber wire insertion side is formed on the same surface orthogonal to the length direction, and the tip of the plurality of optical fiber wires and the end face of the ferrule on the optical fiber wire insertion side are This is a method of coupling a multi-core tape fiber and a ferrule which are coaxially opposed and are sequentially inserted from the optical fiber strand closest to the optical fiber insertion hole of the ferrule.

[0017]

The first means is that the tip of the optical fiber wire of the multicore tape fiber and the end face of the optical fiber wire insertion hole of the ferrule on the optical fiber wire insertion side are coaxial. By opposing, the ends of the plurality of optical fiber strands of the multi-core tape fiber are aligned on the same plane orthogonal to the length direction, and the end faces of the ferrule on the optical fiber insertion side are lengthened and shortened in the parallel direction. Because of the inclination, a stepwise gap difference is formed between the opening of the optical fiber insertion hole and the corresponding end of the optical fiber in order from one end.

When the two optical fibers are brought close to each other on the same axis, the distal end of the optical fiber at one end becomes closest and can be inserted into the corresponding optical fiber insertion hole. In this way, since the insertion can be performed one after another while approaching one another, the insertion operation is easy, and the insertion can be performed quickly and reliably.

The second means is that the stripped end face of the multi-core tape fiber coating is formed in the same direction as the slanted end face of the ferrule, so that the coated end face and the ferrule end face can be brought into a facing contact state. The gap between them can be reduced, or a state without a gap can be obtained.

The third means is that the tip of the optical fiber of the multi-core tape fiber and the end face of the optical fiber insertion hole of the ferrule on the optical fiber insertion side are opposed to each other on the same axis. By approaching each other, the relative gap difference is formed in a stepwise manner from the end, so that the tip of the optical fiber at one end becomes closest and can be inserted into the corresponding optical fiber insertion hole. . In this way, it is possible to smoothly and surely and easily insert one after another while sequentially approaching, so that a high quality coupling structure can be obtained.

The fourth means is that the stripped end face of the multi-core tape fiber coating is inclined in the same direction as the inclined end face of the ferrule so that the coated end face and the end face of the ferrule can be brought into an opposing contact state. The surface of the coating and the surface of the coating have a small gap or are continuous without any gap, and a high quality bonding structure can be obtained from this surface.

The fifth means is that the front end of the optical fiber of the multi-core tape fiber and the end face of the optical fiber insertion hole of the ferrule on the optical fiber insertion side are opposed to each other on the same axis. In this way, the ends of the plurality of optical fiber strands of the multi-core tape fiber are stepwise in a direction that is sequentially longer and shorter in a parallel direction from one end to the other end with respect to a plane orthogonal to the length direction. Since the end face on the line insertion side is the same plane as the orthogonal plane,
A stepwise gap difference is formed in order from one end between the opening of the optical fiber insertion hole and the tip of the corresponding optical fiber.

When the two optical fibers are brought close to each other on the same axis, the end of the optical fiber at one end becomes closest and can be inserted into the corresponding optical fiber insertion hole. In this way, since the insertion can be performed one after another while approaching one another, the insertion operation is easy, and the insertion can be performed quickly and reliably.

[0024]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a method for connecting a multi-core tape fiber to a ferrule according to an embodiment of the present invention; It is to be noted that like parts are denoted by like reference numerals throughout the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
FIG. 1B is a plan view showing a cross section of the ferrule in a state immediately before coupling, and FIG. 2B is a detailed structural view of a state in which a part of the multi-core tape fiber is broken.

The multi-core tape fiber 1 is formed by arranging a plurality of optical fiber strands 21 in parallel with being covered by a fiber coating 22, and integrally covering with the tape coating 3 in that state.

The ends of the plurality of optical fiber strands 21 arranged in parallel in the width direction of the coatings 3 and 22 are aligned on the same plane orthogonal to the length direction, and the stripped end face 5 of the coating stripped from the tip. The optical fiber 21 is led out to a predetermined length.

The ferrule 40 has a plurality of optical fiber insertion holes 41 into which a plurality of optical fiber wires 21 are inserted in parallel, respectively. Is a plane orthogonal to the central axis of
The rear end face 45, which is the end face on the optical fiber wire insertion side, is inclined so as to be longer and shorter in the width direction, that is, in the parallel direction of the optical fiber wire insertion holes 41.

The inclination angle of the rear end face 45 is set to an inclined plane having a desired angle θ (for example, about 30 degrees) as shown in the figure with the central axis of the optical fiber insertion hole 41. The optical fiber wire insertion hole 41 is a hole for inserting and bonding and fixing the optical fiber wire 21 and has an inner diameter of about 127 μm.
The pitch interval is set to about 0.25 mm, and the number of insertion holes is set to the number of the optical fiber wires 21 of the multi-core tape fiber 1.

The ferrule 40 is made of a material such as a synthetic resin, ceramics, metal, or the like, and is formed into a substantially rectangular flat plate shape. The peeling end face 5 in the width direction of the coatings 3 and 22 of the multi-core tape fiber 1 is set to the same inclination angle θ as the inclination angle of the rear end face 45 of the ferrule 40. Therefore, each optical fiber strand 21
Is approximately equal to the length of the corresponding optical fiber insertion hole 41.

With the above-described configuration, as shown in FIG.
When the front end of the optical fiber 21 and the rear end face 45 on the insertion side of the ferrule 40 into the optical fiber insertion hole 41 are positioned on the same axis, the ends of all the optical fibers 21 of the multicore tape fiber 1 are long. End surface 45 of the ferrule 40 on the optical fiber wire insertion side.
Are inclined so as to be longer and shorter in the parallel direction.

As is apparent from FIG. 3A, the opening of the optical fiber wire insertion hole 41 and the corresponding end of the optical fiber wire 21 are stepwise sequentially from one end. An interval having a step is formed.

An adhesive 6 (not shown) is applied around each of the optical fiber strands 21. Then, when they are brought close to each other while being positioned on the same axis, one end on the upper side in FIG. Since the tip of the optical fiber strand 21 is closest to the optical fiber strand insertion hole 41 and can be inserted into the corresponding optical fiber strand insertion hole 41, if necessary, it is aligned and inserted using an auxiliary tool such as tweezers.

By further approaching, the adjacent optical fiber wire 21 is inserted into the corresponding optical fiber wire insertion hole 41.
Can be inserted in the same manner. In this way, it is inserted one after another while approaching sequentially, and the insertion is completed by inserting the optical fiber 21 on the near side in the drawing, so that the peeled end face 5 is held in contact with the rear end face 45 of the ferrule, The curing of the adhesive 6 is performed.

As described above, not only is the insertion operation easy, but also it is possible to perform the operation smoothly, quickly and reliably. After the adhesive 6 is cured, the ferrule 40
Is polished so that the end face of the optical fiber strand 21 and the tip end face 46 coincide with each other, and the distal end face of the optical fiber strand 21 is optically flattened.

When the coated end face 5 of the multi-core tape fiber 1 is inclined in the same direction as the rear end face 45 of the ferrule 40, the coated end face 5 and the rear end face 45 of the ferrule can be brought into an opposed contact state. Since the gap between the continuous and opposing portions can be reduced or the gap can be completely eliminated, a state in which the adhesive 6 is filled during this time is obtained, and the optical fiber 21 is reliably protected without being exposed. You.

FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the present invention, and shows a state immediately before the coupling in a plan view in which the ferrule is sectioned. The multi-core tape fiber 1 is composed of a plurality of optical fiber strands 21 which are covered and arranged in parallel by a fiber coating 22, and are integrally coated with a tape coating 3 in this state. This configuration is as described with reference to FIG.

The multi-core tape fiber 1 has the coatings 3, 2
(2) The optical fibers from the distal end to the peeled end face 5 where the coating has been peeled off in a stepwise manner so that the tips of the plurality of optical fiber strands 21 arranged in parallel in the inner width direction become longer and shorter sequentially in the parallel direction from one end to the other end. The strand 21 is derived for a predetermined length.

The ferrule 30 having a plurality of optical fiber insertion holes 31 arranged side by side is provided with a plurality of optical fiber wires 21.
Are arranged side by side, and a plurality of optical fiber insertion holes 31 are respectively arranged in parallel, and both the distal end face 36 and the rear end face 35 are aligned with the central axis of the optical fiber insertion hole 31. The planes are orthogonal to each other.

The step between the adjacent optical fiber wires 21 is, for example, about 1 to 2 mm, and the shortest length up to the exfoliated end face 5 is set substantially equal to the length of the optical fiber wire insertion hole 41. .

In the above configuration, as shown in FIG. 2, the rear ends of the ends of the plurality of optical fiber wires 21 of the multi-core tape fiber 1 and the ferrule 30 are inserted into the optical fiber insertion holes 31. When the end surface 35 is opposed to the same axis, the stepped long and short optical fiber wires 21 of the multi-core tape fiber 1 are opposed to the optical fiber wire insertion holes 31 of the ferrule 30.

As is apparent from the drawing, each of the openings of the optical fiber insertion hole 31 and the corresponding end of the optical fiber 21 have a step difference in order from one end. An interval is formed.

An adhesive 6 (not shown) is applied to the periphery of each of the optical fiber strands 21. Then, when they are brought close to each other while being positioned on the same axis, one end on the near side in FIG. Since the tip of the optical fiber 21, that is, the longest led-out optical fiber 21, is closest and can be inserted into the corresponding optical fiber insertion hole 31,
If necessary, use an auxiliary tool such as tweezers to align and insert.

By further approaching, the adjacent optical fiber wire 21 is inserted into the corresponding optical fiber wire insertion hole 31.
Can be inserted in the same manner. In this way, the fibers are inserted one after another while approaching one another, and the optical fiber strand 21 on the upper side of the drawing is inserted. Thus, the peeled end face 5 is held in a state of being in contact with the rear end face 35 of the ferrule. The curing of the agent 6 is performed.

As described above, not only is the insertion operation easy, but also it can be performed smoothly, quickly, and reliably one after another. After the adhesive 6 is cured, the ferrule 30
The optical fiber 21 protruding from the distal end face 36 of the optical fiber 21 is cut and removed, and the end face 36 is polished so that the end face of the optical fiber 21 and the distal end face 36 coincide with each other. Finish the tip surface optically flat.

The coated end face 5 and the rear end face 35 of the ferrule
Are in an opposing contact state, there is no gap between the opposing parts, and the adhesive 6 is filled during this time and the optical fiber 2
1 is reliably protected without being exposed.

[0047]

As described in detail above, the method and structure for coupling a multi-core tape fiber to a ferrule according to the present invention is a method for connecting a plurality of optical fiber strands of a multi-core tape fiber to a plurality of optical fibers corresponding to the ferrule. In the fiber insertion hole,
The practical effect that can be inserted smoothly and securely is extremely remarkable.

In addition, since the coated end face of the multi-core tape fiber and the end face of the ferrule can be brought into close contact with each other, the optical fiber is not exposed between the opposing faces, so that it is not necessary to take any special protective measures. It works.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration of a multi-core tape fiber.

FIG. 4 is a conventional explanatory diagram.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Multi-core tape fiber 2 Optical fiber core wire 3 Tape coating 5 Peeling end face 6 Adhesive 21 Optical fiber strand 22 Fiber coating 30 Ferrule 31 Optical fiber strand insertion hole 35 Back end face 36 Front end face 40 Ferrule 41 Optical fiber element Wire insertion hole 45 Back end face 46 Front end face

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A plurality of optical fibers arranged in parallel in a coating inner width direction.
The ends of the fiber strands are aligned on the same plane perpendicular to the length direction.
To the covered surface that has been peeled off from the tip
The multi-core tape fiber and the plurality of optical fibers are inserted in parallel
A plurality of optical fiber insertion holes are provided side by side,
Length in the parallel direction where the end face of the optical fiber insertion side is the width direction
A ferrule which is inclined so as to be short, and an optical fiber of the ferrule and the tips of the plurality of optical fibers.
If the end face on the fiber insertion side is opposed on the same axis,
The closest to the optical fiber insertion hole of the ferrule
Characterized in that the optical fiber is inserted sequentially from the
A method for joining a multicore tape fiber and a ferrule. 2. The multi-core tape fiber coating in the width direction.
The peeled end face is inclined in the same direction as the inclined end face of the ferrule.
2. The multi-core tape according to claim 1, wherein the tape is a surface.
How to combine fiber and ferrule. 3. A multi-core tape fiber which is arranged side by side in the coating width direction.
The ends of the multiple optical fiber strands are stripped of the coating.
The plurality of optical fiber strands derived in the above and the optical fiber strand of the multi-core tape fiber are
Multiple optical fiber insertion holes to be inserted into each
And the juxtaposed ends of the optical fiber wire insertion holes.
Ferrule whose surface is inclined in the parallel direction that is the width direction
When made, light to the optical fiber insertion hole of the ferrule
Peeling of multi-core tape fiber with inserted fiber
So that the coated end face and the inclined end face of the ferrule face each other.
A multi-core tape fiber characterized by being constituted
Connection structure with ferrule. 4. The multi-core tape fiber coating in the width direction.
The peeled end face is inclined in the same direction as the inclined end face of the ferrule.
4. The multi-core tape according to claim 3 , wherein the multi-core tape is formed as a surface.
Connection structure between fiber and ferrule. 5. A plurality of optical fibers arranged in parallel in a coating inner width direction.
The end of the fiber strand is a sequential length from one end to the other in the parallel direction.
Step from the tip to the stripped surface to make it short
A multi-core tape fiber whose length has been derived and a plurality of optical fiber strands inserted in parallel
A plurality of optical fiber insertion holes are provided side by side,
The end face on the optical fiber wire insertion side is the same orthogonal to the length direction
A ferrule formed on the surface, and a tip of the plurality of optical fiber wires and an optical fiber of the ferrule.
When the end face on the fiber insertion hole side is opposed to the same axis,
Both are closest to the optical fiber insertion hole of the ferrule.
Characterized by being inserted sequentially from the
To join multi-core tape fiber and ferrule.