JP3590126B2 - Mounting structure of fiber type optical components - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial applications]
The present invention relates to a mounting structure of a fiber type optical component used for an optical circuit such as an optical communication or an optical sensor.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art In an optical fiber communication system, an optical fiber coupler is often used to branch, combine or demultiplex light, an optical isolator is used to remove return light, and an optical switch is used to switch an optical path. Such an optical component has input and output optical fibers at both ends of a case, and is frequently used in an optical communication network. Therefore, since it is used under a high temperature, high humidity such as outdoors, or under a very cold natural environment, it is necessary that the characteristics do not fluctuate even in the environment. Conventionally, this type of optical component does not have a completely closed structure with the outside, but has air permeability by sealing with an adhesive or the like. Therefore, in the case of the mounting method according to the conventional method, it is difficult to form a complete seal structure due to the use of an adhesive, and it is difficult to remove the influence of a change in the humidity of the outside air. This has the following disadvantages.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
(1) Due to a change in humidity, for example, the internal optical element fixing adhesive absorbs and expands and contracts moisture, so that the element mounting stress fluctuates and the coupling optical characteristics fluctuate accordingly.
[0004]
(2) At low temperatures, moisture that has entered the inside dewed on the element surface and changed its characteristics.
[0005]
(3) Under poor conditions such as high temperature and high humidity, the internal fixing agent was deteriorated due to moisture absorption, the fixing conditions were changed, and the characteristics were deteriorated.
[0006]
(4) It is difficult to use under pressure application conditions such as in water due to water absorption and air absorption.
[0007]
Therefore, it cannot be said that it is reliable, and in order to eliminate characteristic fluctuations and deterioration, it is necessary to protect and seal the inside from the outside under a withstand voltage condition.
[0008]
[Means for solving the problem]
Conventionally, in order to solve this kind of problem, there is a method of peeling the fiber coating directly, attaching solder or solder glass, and sealing and fixing the case by filling it, but the reinforcing part of the part where the protective coating was peeled off There was no fixation, local fixation, and weak strength such as vibration and impact. The present invention has been made in order to solve these drawbacks, and has a structure in which a reinforcing structure is used and a hermetically sealed structure is used. Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail.
[0009]
【Example】
FIG. 1 is a side sectional view (a) and an external view (b) of a mounting structure of a fiber-type optical component according to the present invention. In this mounting method, for example, if a non-reciprocal optical element is sandwiched between lens coupling portions inside both ends. An in-line optical isolator is configured. Alternatively, the present invention can be applied to a fiber type optical component that splits or combines light. The fiber type external mounting component includes an outer case 2, a protective cap 3, and a fixed cap 4. It should be noted here that the rigid material 1 typified by solder or solder glass is used for fixing the fiber passage hole in the fixing cap 4 and the optical fiber, the protective cap 3 and the outer case 2, By being sealed, the protective coating of the fiber at that portion is peeled off and the cladding is exposed. A hole or a V-groove is used for fixing and fixing the fiber. In the case of a single-core configuration, a single hole may be used. The optical fiber insertion part of the protective cap 3 is filled with an elastic adhesive or sealant, where the boundary between the protective coating part and the part where the protective coating part has been peeled off is set up, thereby connecting the outer optical fiber core wire 8. It can be easily bent and does not break.
[0010]
A method for producing a fiber-type optical component according to the present invention will be described. First, the exposed portion of the optical fiber tip clad from which the protective coating has been partially removed is passed through the protective cap 3, and the hole there is filled with a rigid material 1 such as solder or solder glass and fixed, and an elastic adhesive or sealant is applied from the outside. Fill 12 Thereafter, the rigid material 1 is fixed through the fixing cap 4, and the rigid material 1 is similarly filled from the fiber insertion hole. Then, the protective cap 3 and the outer case 2 are attached, and similarly fixed with the rigid material 1. Due to such a manufacturing method, a fiber-type optical component having a mounting structure completely shielded from the outside air is realized. In addition, by making the outer case 2 thicker, the outer case 2 becomes durable against external pressure, and a mounting structure of a fiber type optical component which can be used even under pressure conditions can be realized.
[0011]
By using a rigid material 1 such as solder or solder glass for fixing the optical element 5 inside the outer case 2, an element having no change in optical characteristics even with a change in temperature can be formed. . That is, since the coefficient of thermal expansion of such a rigid material 1 is very small, the fixing position of the element does not change in response to a change in temperature, and no stress is applied to the element itself. Reliability is improved.
[0012]
FIG. 2 shows an embodiment in which a fiber-type optical component according to the present invention is applied to a tape core. A tape-fiber core 6 is placed on a V-groove substrate 10, filled with a rigid material 1 and fixed with a holding plate 9. It can be used for mounting structures of components and optical integrated circuit type components. The V-groove substrate 10 to which the tape fiber core wire 6 is fixed and the holding plate 9 are fixed and sealed to the mounting portion 11 with the rigid material 1, and the space between the outer case 2 and the mounting portion 11 is also fixed and sealed with the rigid material 1. By forming both sides or one side of the exterior case 2 in which the optical element 5 is mounted and fixed therein, a sealed optical component mounting structure can be realized. Also, by fixing the internal optical element using solder or solder glass, a mounting structure having a structure in which the optical characteristics do not change with changes in temperature and humidity can be obtained.
[0013]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the present invention has the following excellent effects.
[0014]
(1) Since the solder fork can be completely shielded from the outside by using a rigid material called solder glass, there is no intrusion of moisture into the inside, and the optical characteristics are stable even under poor conditions of high humidity. And there is almost no characteristic deterioration.
[0015]
(2) By using a rigid material for mounting and fixing the internal optical element, it is possible to obtain a mounting structure in which characteristics do not change with temperature changes.
[0016]
(3) By using a high-strength structure for the outer case, it can be used under pressure application conditions such as underwater.
[0017]
(4) For the above reasons, a highly reliable optical component mounting structure is obtained.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIGS. 1A and 1B show an embodiment of a fiber type optical component according to the present invention, wherein FIG. 1A is a side sectional view and FIG.
FIGS. 2A and 2B show another embodiment of the mounting structure of the fiber type optical component according to the present invention, wherein FIG. 2A is a top view of one side of the fiber type optical component, FIG. FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
1: Rigid material 2: Outer case 3: Protective cap 4: Fixed cap 5: Optical element 6: Tape fiber core 7: Fiber support 8: Optical fiber core 9: Holding plate 10: V-groove substrate 11: Mounting part 12: Sealant

Claims (2)

In a fiber type optical component having optical fibers at both ends, an outer case having openings at both ends and internally mounting an optical element with a rigid material such as solder or solder glass, and an optical fiber for performing optical transmission with the optical element And a protective cap for inserting and fixing the opening to the opening, wherein the exposed portion of the optical fiber tip clad is inserted into the fiber passage hole of the fixing cap and sealed and fixed by the filled rigid substance in the protective cap , A mounting structure for a fiber-type optical component, wherein the protective cap is fixed to an opening of the outer case with a rigid substance and the inside of the outer case is sealed from the outside. In a fiber type optical component having optical fibers at both ends, an outer case having openings at both ends and internally mounting an optical element with a rigid material such as solder or solder glass, and an optical fiber for performing optical transmission with the optical element And a fixing means for inserting and fixing the optical fiber tip clad exposed portion, and a V-groove substrate and a holding plate for supporting and fixing the exposed portion of the optical fiber tip clad, wherein the V-groove is provided between the V-groove substrate and the holding plate. A mounting structure for a fiber-type optical component , wherein a rigid material is used to fix a space between the substrate and the holding plate and the mounting means, and between the mounting means and the outer case, and the inside of the outer case is sealed from the outside.

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