JP3303637B2 - Light switch - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an optical fiber (optical fiber).
(B) optical switches used for connection switching .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, when inspecting and inspecting an optical transmission line or a plurality of optical fiber cores (optical lines) of an optical circuit for an optical transmission abnormality, an inspection apparatus is used for an optical line of each core on a wiring or circuit side. Inspection and inspection of each core are performed by switching and connecting optical lines (optical fibers) on the side, and an optical switch is used for switching connection of the optical lines.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a recently proposed optical switch. In FIG.
The optical fibers 5 on the receiving side are arranged and fixed in the longitudinal direction of each V-groove 15 in the receiving side optical fiber 5 in the optical fiber arraying member 1 formed in parallel. A master optical fiber 16 fixed to a movable stage (not shown) movable in, for example, the X direction and the Y direction in the drawing is provided on the connection end face 20 side of the optical fiber 5 on the receiving side. By the movement of the fiber 16, the connection end face 21 side of the master optical fiber 16 is selectively inserted into one of the V grooves 15 of the optical fiber array member 1.

In this optical switch, for example, when the master optical fiber 16 is inserted into the V groove 15a, the master optical fiber 16 and the receiving optical fiber 5a are inserted.
When the master optical fiber 16 is inserted into the V-groove 15b as shown by the chain line in the figure, the master optical fiber 16 is connected to the receiving optical fiber 5b. And the receiving side optical fiber 5 are switched freely.

As is well known, optical fibers such as the master optical fiber 16 and the receiving-side optical fiber 5 are arranged around a core 3 which is an optical path having a high refractive index, as shown in FIG. It is formed so as to be covered with a cladding 4 having a lower refractive index, and the light propagating through the optical fiber propagates in the core 3.

In the above optical switch, it is necessary to align the end faces (connection end faces) 20 of the plurality of receiving side optical fibers 5 arranged and fixed to the optical fiber array member 1. Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, a plurality of V-grooves 15 arranged in a direction perpendicular to the paper
After inserting the receiving side optical fibers 5 and fixing them with the adhesive 10, the plurality of optical fibers 5 are cut together by the dicing saw 11 or the like. In this way, when the optical fiber 5 is disposed in the V-groove 15, the cut surface of the dicing saw 11 can be used to connect the optical fiber 5 even if the connection end face 20 side is not aligned like the optical fiber 5 a. As the end faces 20, the connection end faces 20 of all the optical fibers 5 are aligned.

[0007]

However, as described above, when the optical fiber 5 is cut using the dicing saw 11 or the like, when the dicing saw 11 cuts, the cut surface of the optical fiber 5 has a high quality called a work-affected layer. Since the refractive index layer is formed, when light propagates through the optical fiber 5, the light is reflected on the connection end face 20 of the optical fiber 5 and returns to the light transmitting side. In this case, there is a problem that the optical switch having the optical fiber 5 has an adverse effect when performing optical communication, inspection and inspection of an optical line, and the like.

Therefore, when cutting the optical fiber 5,
For example, as shown in FIG.
0 may be inclined at an angle θ (eg, θ = 8 °) from a plane R perpendicular to the optical axis Z of the optical fiber 5 to form an oblique end surface. Then, light passes through the core 3 of the optical fiber 5 as shown in FIG.
When the light reaches the connection end face 20 as shown in FIG. 3, the reflected light is reflected in a direction away from the core 3 and does not return to the light transmitting side, as shown at A 'in FIG.

However, when the connection end face 20 of the optical fiber 5 is formed at an oblique end face, as shown in FIG. Since the acute angle portion 18 is very easily chipped, for example, when the master optical fiber 16 is moved in the optical switch and inserted into the V-groove 15 of the optical fiber array member 1, the master optical fiber 16 Any contact with the acute angle portion 18 will cause the acute angle portion 18
There was a problem that was missing. In such a case, the missing acute angle portion 18 is present as a foreign substance in the optical switch, which adversely affects the accuracy of the optical switch. When the acute angle portion 18 is lacking, the core 3 is also damaged. This not only increases the optical connection loss between the optical fiber 5 and the master optical fiber 16, but also is dangerous when inspecting the optical switch.

In order to prevent the master optical fiber 16 from coming into contact with the acute angle portion 18 at all, it is conceivable to increase the distance between the connection end faces of the receiving optical fiber 5 and the master optical fiber 16. Since the gap between the connection end faces becomes large, the connection loss between the optical fiber 5 and the master optical fiber 16 increases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to prevent light from being reflected on an end face from adversely affecting an optical transmitting side and to provide a receiving side.
An object of the present invention is to provide an optical switch that can safely connect an optical fiber and a master optical fiber with low connection loss.

[0012]

Means for Solving the Problems To achieve the above object, the present invention provides means for solving the problems by the following constitution. That is, the first invention has an optical fiber array member in which a plurality of V-grooves are arranged in parallel on the surface, and is immersed in each V-groove of the optical fiber array member to an intermediate position in the longitudinal direction to receive the V-groove. The moving-side master optical fiber is selectively inserted into any one of a plurality of V-grooves on the front side of the immersion tip of the receiving-side optical fiber. In an optical switch in which connection switching between an optical fiber and a receiving optical fiber is performed, the receiving optical fiber extends around a core.
An optical fiber formed by covering with a clad;
Connecting the receiving optical fiber to a star optical fiber
The connecting end surface is blunt from one end of the outer peripheral surface of the receiving side optical fiber.
Diagonal extending beyond the core position with an angle of angle
An optical filter is formed from a slope and a position of the slope beyond the core.
A vertical surface formed substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of the fiber.
This vertical surface is provided on the bottom side of the V-groove.
It is characterized by having been characterized.

In the second invention, a plurality of V grooves are provided on the surface.
Have an optical fiber array member arranged side by side.
Submerged in each V-groove of the arranging member up to halfway in the longitudinal direction
The receiving optical fiber is fixed and
Of a plurality of V-grooves on the front side of the immersion tip of the optical fiber on the side
The moving side master optical fiber is inserted into one of the V-grooves.
The master optical fiber and the receiving optical fiber are inserted selectively.
Optical switch for switching connection with fiber
The cladding around the core of the receiving optical fiber
The covered connection end face is below the core position.
The bottom side of the V-groove and the upper end side above the core position are
It is formed almost perpendicular to the optical axis of the recording side optical fiber.
The upper and lower vertical surfaces have an obliquely inclined surface on the inner end side of the upper and lower vertical surfaces, which bites inward beyond the core.

[0014] In the first aspect of the present invention, the connection end face of the receiving-side optical fiber is provided outside the receiving-side optical fiber.
Exceed the core position at an obtuse angle from one end of the peripheral surface
And the core of this inclined surface
Formed almost perpendicular to optical axis of optical fiber from over position
And the end face (connection end face) of the core is within this inclined face, so that when light propagating through the core is reflected by the end face of the optical fiber, the reflected light is removed from the core. Reflection in the direction is suppressed from returning to the light transmitting side, and the reflected light does not adversely affect the light transmitting side.

Further, in the first aspect of the present invention, the vertical
A surface is provided on the bottom side of the V-groove of the optical fiber array member, and the inclined surface is extended beyond the core to the other end of the outer peripheral surface of the optical fiber like an optical fiber having a conventional oblique end surface. (A sharp angle portion at which the angle formed by the inclined surface and the other end of the outer peripheral surface of the optical fiber becomes an acute angle) is not formed. Therefore, in the first aspect of the present invention, when the connection between the master optical fiber and the receiving optical fiber is switched as in the conventional end face structure of an optical fiber having an acute angle portion, the acute angle portion is not damaged, and the acute angle portion is not broken. Damage to the core will not cause damage,
There is no danger associated with breakage of the sharp corner.

Therefore, the optical switch of the first invention is
By connecting the master optical fiber to the receiving optical fiber by using the optical fiber , the optical connection can be safely performed, and the connection loss due to the reflection at the connection end face and the damage to the connection end face can be achieved. Does not occur. Moreover, in the first aspect of the present invention, a vertical surface is formed below the core position to connect the end surface of the master optical fiber as compared with the conventional optical fiber having an acute-angled end portion. Connection end face of the other party ( connection end of the receiving optical fiber
Surface) , optical connection with low connection loss can be performed, and the above problem is solved.

In the second aspect of the present invention, the core of the receiving side optical fiber is located between the upper and lower vertical planes.
Is formed in the inclined surface that cuts into the inside,
The upper and lower ends of the connection end face of the receiving optical fiber are vertical.
Because forms and, since the angle between the outer peripheral edge of the optical fiber as in the prior art do not have a sharp portion as the acute angle, as in the present first invention, the connection counterpart of the optical The above-mentioned problem is solved because the component is safely connected to the component and there is no adverse effect due to the reflected light at the connection end face or no adverse effect due to damage to the connection end face.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the description of the present embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to the same parts as those in the conventional example, and the overlapping description will be omitted. FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention.
The end face structure of the receiving side of the optical fiber used in the optical switch according to Example is shown a sectional view, in Figure 2,
The perspective view is shown. The optical fiber of the receiving side is intended to be arranged fixed in the optical fiber array member 1 as shown in FIG.

[0019] In FIGS. 1 and 2, the receiving-side optical fiber 5
(Hereinafter also referred to simply as optical fiber 5) end face of the (connection end face 20), beyond the position of the core 3 at an angle of obtuse over the end side of the outer peripheral surface 9 of the optical fiber 5 alpha (alpha = 98 °) It has a slanting inclined surface 6 extending and a vertical surface 8 formed substantially perpendicularly to the optical axis Z of the optical fiber 5 below the position of the inclined surface 6 beyond the core 3. And
As described above, in the present embodiment, the end face of the core 3 is aligned with the optical axis Z.
9 and an inclined surface inclined at an angle θ from a surface R perpendicular to
The vertical surface 8 is formed by removing the acute angle portion 18 as shown in FIG.

The present embodiment is configured as described above. Next, a method of forming the end face structure of the optical fiber 5 will be described with reference to FIG. In this embodiment, as in the conventional example shown in FIG. 7, the optical fibers 5 are arranged in the respective V-grooves 15 of the optical fiber array member 1 and fixed with the adhesive 10. The operation of cutting the plurality of optical fibers 5 at once is performed by 11, but FIG. 3 shows the optical fiber arrangement member 1 with the V-groove omitted. Further, in the present embodiment, the escape grooves 13 are provided in the optical fiber array member 1 so as to correspond to the positions where the optical fibers 5 are collectively cut by the dicing saw 11.
Is formed.

First, as shown in FIG. 3A, the connection end face 20 side of the optical fiber 5 fixed to the optical fiber array member 1 with the adhesive 10 is cut obliquely by the dicing saw 11. In this embodiment, the adhesive 10 used to fix the optical fiber 5 to the optical fiber array member 1 is a water-soluble UV-curing adhesive, and the connection end face side of the optical fiber 5 is used. After the adhesive 10 is applied, the adhesive 10 is cured by ultraviolet light to fix the optical fiber 5, but then, if necessary, the adhesive 1
0 can be easily removed. Then, when the cut end of the optical fiber 5 cut by the dicing saw 11 and the adhesive 10 are removed, (b) of FIG.
As shown in the figure, the upper end of the connection end face 20 of the optical fiber 5 is
It is formed obliquely inclined surface 6 which is a rectangular side.

Next, as shown in FIG. 2C, the entirety of the optical fiber 5 including the inclined surface 6 on the side of the connection end face 20 is again covered with the adhesive 10 so that the acute angle portion 18 is not chipped. Then, the dicing saw 11 is lowered in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis Z of the optical fiber 5, and the acute angle portion 1 at the lower end of the connection end face 20 formed in the state shown in FIG.
8 is removed, and a vertical surface 8 is formed below the inclined surface 6 from the position beyond the core 3 as shown in FIG.
Then, if necessary, a part of the adhesive 10 on the connection end face side of the optical fiber 5 is removed.

According to this embodiment, as described above, the light
An inclined surface 6 extending beyond the core 3 from one end of the outer peripheral surface of the fiber 5 is formed, and the end surface of the core 6 is in this inclined surface and is obliquely inclined. Similarly to 5, the reflected light at the connection end face of the optical fiber 5 can be reflected in a direction deviating from the core 3, and the adverse effect of the reflected light returning to the light transmitting side can be suppressed.

[0024] Moreover, according to this embodiment, unlike the optical fiber 5 shown in FIG. 9, the connection end face of the optical fiber 5
Since the lower end 20 does not have the acute angle portion 18 formed at an acute angle with the outer peripheral surface 9, the acute angle portion 18 is not chipped, and the danger due to the damage of the acute angle portion 18 and the damage of the core 3 are suppressed. be able to. Therefore, the optical fiber 5 is not adversely affected by the breakage of the acute angle portion 18, and in the optical switch to which the optical fiber 5 is applied, the connection between the optical fiber 5 and the master optical fiber 16 is safely performed, and
Connection can be made with low connection loss.

Further, according to this embodiment, the acute angle portion 1
8 is removed to form a vertical surface 8 that is substantially perpendicular to the optical axis Z of the optical fiber 5, so that the optical fiber 5 has a master optical fiber 1
6 can be made closer to each other, and the connection loss due to the gap between the connection end faces of the optical fiber 5 and the master optical fiber 16 can be reduced. Therefore, it is possible to further reduce the connection loss of this optical fiber 5 and the master optical fiber 16, a safe switching universal optical connection between the master optical fiber, and can be performed with low connection loss excellent light switch and ing.

FIG. 4 shows a second example of the optical switch according to the present invention.
The sectional structure of the end face structure of the optical fiber in the embodiment example is shown. In the figure, the optical fiber (receiving side
The end faces (connection end faces 20) of the upper and lower ends of the optical fiber 5 are formed substantially perpendicular to the optical axis Z of the optical fiber 5.
Department side of the vertical plane 8 (8a, 8b) and the vertical surface of the upper end 8
a has an inclined surface 6 that cuts inward from the inner end side beyond the core 3, and has an inner end side and a lower end side of the inclined surface 6.
A slope 7 is interposed between the vertical surface 8b and the inner end of the vertical surface 8b. Since the present embodiment is configured as described above, also in the present embodiment, similar to the above-described first embodiment,
The end surface of the core 3 is formed as an inclined surface formed in the inclined surface 6, and the present embodiment also has a configuration having no acute angle portion 18 as shown in FIG. .

[0027] Next, a manufacturing method of the optical switch of the present embodiment will be described based on FIG. Note that the present embodiment example also
As in the first embodiment, the optical fiber 5 of the receiving side of the optical switch shown in FIG. 6 is intended to be arranged fixed in the optical fiber array member 1, the optical fiber array member even 5 The V-groove 1 is omitted. First, as shown in FIG. 5A, the connection end face 2 of the optical fiber 5 in this embodiment is also similar to the first embodiment.
The 0 side is fixed to the optical fiber array member 1 with an adhesive 10, and an oblique cut is made on the connection end face 20 side of the optical fiber 5 using a dicing saw 11. This notch is
Unlike the first embodiment, the upper end of the optical fiber 5
And the dicing saw 11 is stopped at a position beyond the core 3.

Then, as shown in FIG.
The connection end face 20 side of the optical fiber 5, the inclined surface 6 which extends from the top end side of the outer peripheral surface 9 position to beyond the core 3 is formed. Next, as shown in FIG. 3C, the connection end face 20 side of the optical fiber 5 is again covered with the adhesive 10 and the dicing saw 11 is illuminated by the optical fiber 5 in the same manner as in the first embodiment. The optical fiber 5 is cut by being lowered vertically to the axis Z. Then, as shown in FIG. 3D, the upper end side of the inclined surface 6 and the upper end of the optical fiber 5 (the connection end surface).
A vertical surface 8a is formed over the upper end of the optical fiber 5, and a vertical surface 8b is formed from the inner end side (lower end side) of the inclined surface 6 to the outer peripheral surface 9 of the lower end of the optical fiber 5 via the inclined surface 7.

According to this embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, the connection end face of the core 3 is formed in the inclined surface 6 which is obliquely inclined with respect to the optical axis Z of the optical fiber 5. The first optical fiber 5 does not have an acute angle portion 18 unlike the conventional optical fiber 5 shown in FIG.
The same effect as that of the embodiment can be obtained.

Further, according to the present embodiment, since the inclined surface 6 is formed as a slope that cuts inward beyond the core 3 from the inner end side of the vertical surface 8a, the connection end surface of the core 3 is directed outward. than when it is protruded to form a connection end face is hardly damaged core 3, it is hardly causing an increase in connection loss caused by the damage of the core 3, more increase in connection loss between the master optical fiber 16 It can be prevented more reliably.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can adopt various embodiments. For example,
In the above-described second embodiment, the slope 7 is formed between the slope 6 and the vertical face 8b, but instead of the slope 7, for example,
The surface 23 (for example, a vertical surface) and the surface 24 (for example, a horizontal surface) in FIG. 5D may be interposed between the inclined surface 6 and the vertical surface 8b.

Further, in the above embodiment, FIG.
After forming the inclined surface 6 on the connection end face side of the optical fiber 5 as shown in FIG. 5B and FIG. 5B, as shown in FIG. 3C and FIG. After the connection end face side of the optical fiber 5 was covered with the adhesive 10, the vertical surfaces 8, 8a and 8b were formed by the dicing saw 11, but the acute angle portion 18 was removed without covering the connection end face side of the optical fiber 5 with the adhesive 10. The vertical surfaces 8, 8a, 8b may be formed.

Further, in the above embodiment, the adhesive 10
Used an ultraviolet-curable water-soluble adhesive, but the adhesive 1
0 is not particularly limited.
After forming the end face structure described above, it is sufficient that the end face structure can be easily removed from the connection end face side of the optical fiber 5.

In the above-described embodiment, the inclined surface 6 has an angle θ (θ = 8) from a surface R perpendicular to the optical axis Z of the optical fiber 5.
°) Although the inclined surface is inclined, the angle of the inclined surface 6 with respect to the optical axis Z or the surface R is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, an angle of 4 ° or more from the surface R.

[0035]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the connection end face of the receiving side optical fiber is one of the outer peripheral surfaces of the receiving side optical fiber.
Extends beyond the core position at an obtuse angle from the end
In the second aspect of the present invention, the connection end face of the receiving-side optical fiber has a bottom side of the V-groove below the core position and an upper end above the core position. The side is a vertical surface formed substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of the receiving side optical fiber, and the inner end side of the upper and lower vertical surfaces has an oblique inclined surface that bites inward beyond the core. In any case, the connection end face of the core is formed on an inclined surface, and the reflected light propagating through the core and reflected at the connection end face can be reflected in a direction away from the core. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the reflected light returning to the light transmitting side from adversely affecting the optical communication and the inspection and inspection of the optical system.

Moreover, according to the first and second aspects,
Configured as described above, the lower end side of the connecting end surface of the receiving side of the optical fiber is a vertical plane, the upper end side of the connecting end face,
In the case of the first invention, the end of the outer peripheral surface of the optical fiber is
So that it becomes a slope inclined at an obtuse angle ,
In the case of the second invention, since the vertical surface is formed, the angle formed between the outer peripheral surface of the optical fiber and the connection end surface does not have an acute angle portion. When switching the connection between the receiving side optical fiber and the master optical fiber as in a conventional optical fiber having the same, it is possible to suppress the danger due to the lack of the acute angle portion and the increase in connection loss. Moreover, since the master optical fiber can be brought closer to the receiving optical fiber by the amount that does not have an acute angle portion, the loss due to the gap between the connection end faces can be reduced, so that the connection can be performed with low connection loss. Optical switch.

[Brief description of the drawings]

To a first embodiment of an optical switch according to the present invention; FIG
It is a longitudinal sectional view showing an end face structure of the definitive receiving side optical fiber.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the receiving optical fiber .

FIG. 3 shows light on the receiving side of the optical switch according to the embodiment.
It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the connection end surface formation method of a fiber .

To a second embodiment of an optical switch according to the present invention; FIG
It is a longitudinal sectional view showing an end face structure of the definitive receiving side optical fiber.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a reception of an optical switch according to the second embodiment.
It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the connection end surface formation method of a receiving side optical fiber .

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an optical switch of a type that directly moves a master optical fiber.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing a method for forming an end face structure of a receiving-side optical fiber used in the optical switch shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a cross-sectional configuration of a general optical fiber.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing an end face structure of a conventional optical fiber in which a connection end face is formed on an oblique end face.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 3 core 4 clad 5 optical fiber 6 inclined surface 8, 8a, 8b vertical surface 9 outer peripheral surface

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Naoki Nakao 3-192-2 Nishi Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Takashi Ebihara 3-19-2 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Sun (56) References JP-A-7-49436 (JP, A) JP-A-6-3550 (JP, A) JP-A-1-60203 (JP, U) (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G02B 6/00 G02B 6/10 G02B 6/16-6/26

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] An optical fiber array member having a plurality of V-grooves arranged in parallel on a surface thereof, wherein each of the V-grooves of the optical fiber array member is immersed to an intermediate position in the longitudinal direction so that an optical fiber on a receiving side is provided. The moving-side master optical fiber is selectively inserted into any one of the plurality of V-grooves on the front side of the immersion tip of the receiving-side optical fiber, and the master optical fiber and the receiving optical fiber are received. In the optical switch in which connection switching with the optical fiber on the receiving side is performed, the optical fiber on the receiving side is formed by covering the core with a cladding around the core.
And the receiver for the master optical fiber.
The connection end face of the optical fiber on the side is outside the optical fiber on the receiving side.
Exceed the core position at an obtuse angle from one end of the peripheral surface
And the core of this inclined surface
Formed almost perpendicular to optical axis of optical fiber from over position
And a vertical surface which is formed.
An optical switch provided on the bottom side of the groove . 2. An optical fiber arranging member having a plurality of V-grooves arranged in parallel on a surface thereof, and a receiving-side optical fiber is immersed in each V-groove of the optical fiber arranging member to an intermediate position in the longitudinal direction. The moving-side master optical fiber is selectively inserted into any one of the plurality of V-grooves on the front side of the immersion tip of the receiving-side optical fiber, and the master optical fiber and the receiving optical fiber are received. In the optical switch in which connection switching with the optical fiber on the receiving side is performed, the connection end face formed by covering the periphery of the core of the receiving optical fiber with the clad is connected to the bottom side of the V-groove below the core position. The upper end side above the core position forms a vertical surface formed substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of the receiving side optical fiber, and the core is formed on the inner end side of the upper and lower vertical surfaces. Has a diagonal slope that cuts over and inwards An optical switch, comprising: