JP3097440B2 - Optical fiber array and manufacturing method thereof - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a structure of an optical fiber array for aligning a plurality of optical fibers and a method of manufacturing the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The structure of a conventional optical fiber array will be described with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 4, a plurality of optical fibers 3 are sandwiched between a substrate 2 having a V-groove on the surface and a holding plate 1 (three cases are shown in the figure), and a gap is embedded and fixed with an adhesive. . However, when fixed with an adhesive, heat resistance is poor, so that it cannot be used at high temperatures. Therefore, there is a method of performing metal plating (metallization) on the surfaces of the V-groove substrate 2, the holding plate 1 and the optical fiber 3, and fixing them with solder.

[0003]

However, in this method, if the metallization is applied to the tip of the optical fiber,
Solder adheres to the metallized optical fiber surface, and solder 6a is interposed in the gap between the V-groove substrate 2 and the optical fiber 3 as shown in FIG. There is a problem that the optical fiber arrangement on the array end face cannot be aligned with high accuracy.

If the optical fiber array is configured as shown in FIG. 4, the optical fiber 3 cannot be reinforced at the rear end (right side in the figure) of the optical fiber array on the jacket 4 side. There is a problem that the optical fiber is disconnected.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has as its object to provide a highly reliable optical fiber array and a method for manufacturing the same, which eliminate the drawbacks of the prior art.

[0006]

According to the present invention, a plurality of V
A plurality of optical fibers are aligned on a substrate having a groove, and
In an optical fiber array in which the optical fiber is sandwiched and fixed by a holding plate from above the groove, a portion of the surface of the optical fiber to be sandwiched and fixed is metal-plated in the optical axis direction and a portion without metal plating near at least the end face including the end face position. Wherein the V-groove substrate, the plurality of optical fibers, and the pressing plate are fixed by soldering. Also, in an optical fiber array in which a plurality of optical fibers are aligned on a substrate having a plurality of V-grooves and the optical fibers are sandwiched and fixed by a holding plate from above the V-grooves, an optical fiber is provided on the surface of the optical fiber to be sandwiched and fixed. It has an axially metal-plated portion and a portion without metal plating near the end face including at least the end face position. The V-groove substrate is provided with a step in the optical axis direction in accordance with the step due to the metal plating on the surface of the optical fiber. Optical fiber array. Further, in an optical fiber array in which a plurality of optical fibers are aligned on a substrate having a plurality of V-grooves and the optical fibers are sandwiched and fixed by a holding plate from above the V-grooves, an optical fiber is provided on the surface of the optical fiber to be sandwiched and fixed. The V-groove substrate has a metal-plated portion in the axial direction and a portion without metal plating near at least the end face including the end face position. It has a step at the rear end that sandwiches the fiber jacket, and the holding plate also has a step in the optical axis direction that matches the step due to metal plating on the optical fiber surface and a step at the rear end that sandwiches the jacket, An optical fiber array in which a jacket portion is fixed by an adhesive in a gap between the V-groove substrate and the holding plate formed by the step on the rear end side.

According to the present invention, in a method of manufacturing an optical fiber array comprising a substrate and a holding plate, a V-groove for holding an optical fiber and a V-groove for holding a metallized portion of the optical fiber are provided on the surface of the substrate. It is formed with a step in the direction, and correspondingly, a flat portion for holding the optical fiber also on the holding plate and a flat portion for holding a metallized portion with a step from the holding plate are formed. Form a metal-plated part in the optical axis direction on the surface of the optical fiber and a part without metal plating near the end face including at least the end face position, arrange this optical fiber on a board that has been previously picked and soldered, and pre-welded solder This is a method of manufacturing an optical fiber array in which the holding plate is sandwiched from above and the solder is again melted and fixed. In the method of manufacturing an optical fiber array comprising a substrate and a holding plate, a V-groove for holding an optical fiber, a V-groove for holding a metallized portion of the optical fiber, and a flat surface for holding a jacket portion of the optical fiber are provided on the surface of the substrate. The flat portion is formed with a step in the optical axis direction, and a flat portion for holding the optical fiber also on the holding plate and a flat portion and a flat portion for holding the metallized portion of the optical fiber having the step corresponding thereto. A flat portion for holding the jacket portion is formed with a step in the optical axis direction, and a metal portion is metal-plated in the optical axis direction on the surface of the optical fiber to be sandwiched and fixed by these, and a metal is provided near the end face including at least the end face position. Form an unplated part and a jacket part, arrange this optical fiber on a pre-welded soldered board, and press the pre-welded solder Sandwiched from above a plate, melting the solder again, it is followed by the substrate and the optical fiber of the jacket portion and the pressing plate and the fabrication method of the optical fiber array is bonded and fixed by pouring an adhesive between the jacket of the optical fiber.

[0008]

With the provision of a step in the longitudinal direction between the V-groove substrate and the holding plate, the alignment of the optical fibers at the tip of the optical fiber array can be made with high precision, and the step at the rear end can be further provided with a step. Disconnection of the optical fiber at the rear end of the optical fiber array is prevented. Further, it is possible to prevent the rear end of the optical fiber array from being lifted and to easily polish the front end surface of the optical fiber array.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state before assembling showing the configuration of one embodiment. That is, first, the jacket 4 at the end of the optical fiber 3 connected to the optical fiber array is peeled off, and the optical fiber 3 is exposed. Subsequently, metal plating (metallization) is applied to the plurality of exposed optical fibers 3. Next, metallization of the tip 3a of the optical fiber 3 is removed. On the other hand, a step is provided at the rear part of the V-groove substrate 2 and the holding plate 1 constituting the optical fiber array, and the flat part 2 is provided at the rear end side.
A product in which c and 1c are formed is prepared. These steps should be equal to or greater than the thickness of the jacket provided on the optical fiber. Metallization is applied to the V-groove surface of the V-groove substrate 2 and the surface of the holding plate 1 facing the V-groove surface. Next, the surface facing the V-groove surface of the V-groove substrate 2 and the V-groove surface of the holding plate 1 is picked up and soldered (the solder is previously melted and attached). The V-groove of the V-groove substrate 2 is provided with a metallized portion 3b of the optical fiber 3 extending over the V-groove of the V-groove substrate 2 and the flat portion 2c.
c, a part of the jacket 4 is placed, and the optical fiber 3
To align. The holding plate 1 is contacted from above and the solder is melted again to fix the V-groove substrate 2, the optical fiber 3 and the holding plate 1. Thereafter, an adhesive is poured between the flat portions 2c, 1c, the metallized portion 3b, and the jacket 4 to be integrated.

FIG. 3 shows the assembled optical fiber array. Reference numeral 5 denotes an adhesive portion, and reference numeral 6 denotes a solder joint portion. According to the configuration of the optical fiber array described above, the solder 6a does not adhere to the outer periphery of the optical fiber at the distal end portion 3a from which metallization has been removed.
The positional relationship with the groove substrate 2 is such that the V-groove surface and the optical fiber 3 abut as shown in FIG. Thus, the arrangement at the end face of the optical fiber can be aligned with high accuracy within 1 μm. Flat portions 2c, 1c are provided at the rear of the V-groove substrate 2 and the holding plate 1.
Is provided, and the jacket 4 of the optical fiber 3 is inserted into the gap and bonded and integrated, which is very effective in preventing disconnection of the optical fiber.

However, in this structure, in FIG. 3, which shows a state after assembly, there is a step corresponding to the thickness of the metallization of the optical fiber 3, so that the rear portion of the optical fiber array floats. As a result, when the end face of the tip of the optical fiber array is finish-polished, there is a problem that the polishing angle is difficult to be constant. Therefore, the following embodiment is improved.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of an optical fiber array before assembling. That is, the surface of the V-groove substrate 2 is provided with a plurality of V-grooves 2a. The V groove 2a has two steps formed in the longitudinal direction. That is,
The V-groove 2a on the front end side is a groove for arranging the portion 3a of the optical fiber 3 from which the metallization is removed, and the V-groove 2b is a groove for arranging the metallized portion 3b of the optical fiber 3. A flat portion 2c on which no V-groove is formed is formed on the rear end side (right side in the figure). On the other hand, flat portions 1a, 1b, and 1c are formed in the lower portion of the upper holding plate 1 opposite to the flat portion so as to have two steps with the same length in the longitudinal direction. The step on the front side has a thickness greater than the thickness of the metal plating for applying metal plating to the optical fiber 3, and the step on the rear end side has a thickness greater than the thickness of the jacket 4 of the optical fiber 3.

The optical fiber 3 sandwiched between them has a V-groove 2a of the V-groove substrate 2 and a flat portion 1a of the holding plate 1.
Is a portion 3a from which metallization has been removed, and the V-groove 2b of the V-groove substrate 2 and the flat portion 1 of the holding plate 1
Thickened part 3b by metallizing the part corresponding to b
The rear end portion is formed so as to sandwich the jacket portion 4 collectively.

Next, the V-groove substrate 2 formed as described above
A method for manufacturing an optical fiber array using the holding plate 1 and the optical fiber 3 will be described. First, metallization is performed on the plurality of optical fibers at the ends, the V-grooves 2a and 2b surfaces of the V-groove substrate 2, and the flat portions 1a and 1b surfaces of the holding plate 1 opposed thereto. Subsequently, the metallized portion of the tip of the optical fiber 3 is removed by the length of the V-groove 2a, and the portion 3 without metal plating
a, a metal-plated portion 3b and a jacket portion 4 are formed. Next, the V-groove portions 2a and 2b of the V-groove substrate 2 and the flat portions 1a and 1b of the holding plate 1 are respectively soldered and soldered, and the plurality of optical fibers 3 are mounted on the V-groove substrate 2. The pressing plate 1 is pressed from above the V-groove substrate 2, and the solder is melted again to fix and integrate the V-groove substrate 2, the optical fiber 3 and the pressing plate 1. Then, the flat part 1 on the rear end side
An adhesive is applied between c, 2c, the metallized portion 3b of the optical fiber, and the jacket 4.

According to the above configuration, since two steps of a step corresponding to the metallized thickness of the optical fiber and a step corresponding to the thickness of the jacket are formed in the optical fiber array, the optical fiber is formed by soldering at the metallized portion. Is firmly fixed. Since the optical fibers 3 on the end faces have no metallization, they can be aligned with an arrangement accuracy of 1 μm. In addition, the step provided in the V-shaped groove of the substrate 2 can eliminate the floating of the rear part of the optical fiber array due to the thickness of the metallized optical fiber. Further, by firmly fixing the jacket portion by the step provided at the rear portion, it becomes possible to fix the optical fiber without breaking the optical fiber.

[0016]

As described above, according to the optical fiber array of the present invention, the arrangement accuracy of the optical fibers is within 1 μm, and the optical fiber array has a pull-out strength of 1 kgf or more. In addition, since the pressing plate and the V-groove substrate can be pressed in parallel during assembly, polishing of the end face becomes extremely easy, and a highly accurate optical fiber array capable of obtaining uniform polishing accuracy of the end face can be manufactured. it can. In addition, since the rear end side is reinforced with the jacket and fixed, the disconnection of the optical fiber can be prevented, and the manufacture is easy.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state before assembling showing a configuration of an optical fiber array according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state before assembling in which a metallization at an end of an optical fiber is removed and a step is provided in an optical fiber array.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an optical fiber array showing a state after assembly in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a conventional optical fiber array;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view showing a state where the optical fiber array according to the present invention is fixed by soldering;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a state where the optical fiber array is fixed with solder in a conventional optical fiber array.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 holding plate 2 V-groove substrate 3 optical fiber 4 jacket 5 bonding part 6 soldering part

Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Hideaki Muto 5-1-1, Hidaka-cho, Hitachi City, Ibaraki Prefecture, "Optical System Research Laboratories, Hitachi Cable Ltd." (56) References JP-A-63-85505 (JP) JP-A-5-264868 (JP, A) JP-A-5-264841 (JP, A) JP-A-7-14409 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB G02B 6/00 G02B 6/24-6/40

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. An optical fiber array in which a plurality of optical fibers are aligned on a substrate having a plurality of V-grooves, and the optical fibers are sandwiched and fixed by a holding plate from above the V-grooves. The surface has a metal-plated portion in the optical axis direction and a portion without metal plating near the end face including at least the end face position, and the V-groove substrate, the plurality of optical fibers, and the holding plate are fixed by soldering. An optical fiber array. 2. An optical fiber array in which a plurality of optical fibers are aligned on a substrate having a plurality of V-grooves, and the optical fibers are sandwiched and fixed by a holding plate from above the V-grooves. The surface has a metal-plated portion in the optical axis direction and a portion without metal plating near the end face including at least the end face position. An optical fiber array having a step. 3. An optical fiber array in which a plurality of optical fibers are aligned on a substrate having a plurality of V-grooves, and the optical fibers are sandwiched and fixed by a holding plate from above the V-grooves. The surface has a metal-plated portion in the optical axis direction and a portion without metal plating near the end face including at least the end face position, and the V-groove substrate has a portion in the optical axis direction adjusted to a step due to the metal plating on the optical fiber surface. It has a step and a step on the rear end side that sandwiches the optical fiber jacket, and the holding plate also has a step in the optical axis direction that matches the step by metal plating on the optical fiber surface and a step on the rear end side that sandwiches the jacket. An optical fiber array comprising: a jacket portion fixed by an adhesive in a gap between the V-groove substrate and the holding plate formed by the step on the rear end side. 4. A method of manufacturing an optical fiber array comprising a substrate and a holding plate, wherein a V-groove for holding an optical fiber and a V-groove for holding a metallized portion of the optical fiber have a step in the optical axis direction on the surface of the substrate. A flat portion for holding the optical fiber also on the holding plate and a flat portion for holding a metallized portion having a step therefrom are formed correspondingly, and on the other hand, on the surface of the optical fiber to be sandwiched and fixed by these. A metal-plated part in the optical axis direction and a part without metal plating are formed near the end face including at least the end face position, and this optical fiber is arranged on a board that has been previously soldered and soldered, and a holding plate that has been previously soldered and soldered. A method for manufacturing an optical fiber array, wherein the optical fiber array is sandwiched from above and fixed by melting the solder again. 5. A method of manufacturing an optical fiber array comprising a substrate and a holding plate, wherein a V-groove for holding an optical fiber, a V-groove for holding a metallized portion of the optical fiber, and a jacket portion of the optical fiber are provided on the surface of the substrate. A flat portion to be held is formed with a step in the optical axis direction, and a flat portion to hold the optical fiber correspondingly to the holding plate and a flat portion to hold a metallized portion of the optical fiber having a step from the same. A flat portion for holding the jacket portion of the optical fiber is formed with a step in the optical axis direction, while an end face including a portion metal-plated in the optical axis direction on the surface of the optical fiber to be sandwiched and fixed by these, and at least an end face position Form a part without metal plating and a jacket part in the vicinity,
Arrange this optical fiber on a board that has been picked up and soldered in advance,
It is sandwiched from above with a holding plate that has been previously soldered, melted the solder again, and then poured an adhesive between the substrate and the jacket of the optical fiber and between the holding plate and the jacket of the optical fiber and adhesively fixed. A method for manufacturing an optical fiber array.