JP4164276B2 - Optical fiber array - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an optical fiber array used for coupling a plurality of optical fibers to an optical waveguide of an optical waveguide element in optical communication or the like.
[0002]
[Prior art]
An optical fiber array removes the coating of the tip of an optical fiber tape having a configuration in which a plurality of optical fibers are arranged in a strip shape to expose the optical fiber, and the optical fibers are striped at a constant pitch by an optical fiber array tool. It is configured to be bonded and fixed in an aligned state.
[0003]
An optical fiber is composed of an optical fiber core having a structure in which a core is covered with a cladding, and a coating layer coated around the optical fiber core. The coating layer generally includes a primary coat and an outer side thereof. It is composed of a covering nylon coating layer. The outer diameter of the optical fiber generally used is about 250 μm, and the outer diameter of the optical fiber core located at the center thereof is about 125 μm, which is a half. The optical fiber tape has a structure in which a plurality of optical fibers are arranged in a strip shape and covered with a tape coating layer, and usually the optical fibers are arranged in contact with each other. That is, they are arranged at a pitch of about 250 μm.
[0004]
The optical fiber arranging tool includes a V-groove substrate on which V-grooves are arranged for arranging optical fiber core wires at a constant pitch, usually 250 μm, and a pressing substrate that is laminated and bonded to the V-groove substrate. A plurality of optical fiber core wires exposed by removing the coating on the tip portion of the optical fiber tape are accommodated in each V-groove and bonded and fixed. At the front end surface of the optical fiber arranging tool to which the optical fiber core wire is bonded and fixed, the front end surface of the optical fiber core wires arranged at a constant pitch is exposed.
[0005]
Here, in recent years, in response to demands for miniaturization and compactness of optical communication devices, there is an increasing demand for miniaturization and compaction of those constituent elements. For this purpose, it is necessary to reduce the pitch of the waveguide of the waveguide element incorporated in the optical communication device. When the waveguide is narrowed, the optical fiber pitch of the optical fiber array is adjusted accordingly. It is necessary to narrow the pitch.
[0006]
Here, a so-called half pitch array optical fiber array is proposed in which optical fiber core wires are arrayed by an optical fiber array tool at half the optical fiber pitch in the optical fiber tape. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-96836 discloses an optical fiber array having a structure in which optical fiber tapes are stacked one above the other and optical fiber core wires drawn from the respective optical fiber tapes are alternately arranged at a half pitch. Yes.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the conventional half pitch array optical fiber array has the following problems to be solved. An optical fiber color arrangement standard is defined by ISO standards and the like, and generally, when connecting optical fibers, the optical fibers are coupled to each other according to the color arrangement standard. For this reason, the optical fiber tape has a configuration in which the optical fibers are arranged in a color arrangement order according to the color arrangement standard. For this reason, when the optical fiber ribbons are overlapped on the upper and lower sides as described above and the optical fiber core wires alternately drawn from these are alternately arranged, the optical fiber core wires are arranged in the color arrangement order according to the standard. An optical fiber array cannot be manufactured.
[0008]
As a result, in the operation of connecting the optical fiber array having this configuration to an optical waveguide or the like, a connection error is likely to occur. Further, even in the production of the optical fiber array, the work of alternately arranging the optical fiber core wires drawn from the upper and lower optical fiber tapes is the optical fiber core wire drawn from any of the optical fiber tapes by visual inspection. Since it is necessary to alternately arrange the optical fiber cores while confirming whether or not, the arrangement work is troublesome and error is likely to occur.
[0009]
In view of this point, an object of the present invention is to propose a half-pitch optical fiber array that can be manufactured by a simple array operation and that does not cause connection errors.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is exposed by removing an optical fiber tape having a configuration in which a plurality of optical fibers are arranged in a band at a constant pitch, and removing the coating on the tip portion of the optical fiber tape. In an optical fiber array provided with an optical fiber array tool that holds each optical fiber core wire that is arranged in a band shape at a constant pitch,
The optical fiber tape includes a first and second optical fiber tapes stacked vertically,
The optical fiber arranging tool holds the optical fiber core wires drawn from the first and second optical fiber tapes in an alternately arranged state,
The arrangement of the colors of the optical fibers in the first and second optical fiber tapes so that the arrangement order of the colors of the optical fibers held by the optical fiber arrangement tool is the color arrangement standard based on the ISO code. Is characterized by the fact that
[0011]
Here, in the first optical fiber tape, the color arrangement of the optical fibers is determined so that the arrangement order of the even-numbered or odd-numbered colors in the color arrangement standard based on the ISO code is determined. In the second optical fiber tape, The color arrangement of the optical fibers may be determined so that the order of arrangement of odd-numbered or even-numbered colors in the color arrangement standard based on the ISO code is obtained.
[0013]
In the optical fiber array of the present invention, the color arrangement of the optical fiber cores arranged on the optical fiber arrangement tool is in accordance with a standard arrangement such as an ISO code. Therefore, when the optical fiber array is connected to another optical component or the like, it is only necessary to perform the connection according to the color arrangement, so that it is possible to eliminate a connection error. Further, when the optical fiber array of the present invention is manufactured, in the operation of alternately arranging the optical fiber cores drawn from the upper and lower optical fiber tapes, the optical fiber core wires of the respective colors are sequentially arranged according to the standard arrangement. It is not necessary to confirm which optical fiber ribbon is drawn from which optical fiber tape. Therefore, the arrangement work can be performed easily and without error.
[0014]
Next, the present invention relates to first and second optical fiber tapes having a configuration in which a plurality of optical fibers are arranged in a strip shape at a constant pitch, and coating of the tip portions of these first and second optical fiber tapes. The first and second optical fiber tapes in an optical fiber array comprising: an optical fiber array device that holds the optical fiber core wires exposed by removing the optical fiber in a state of being arranged in a strip shape at a constant pitch An optical fiber tape set comprising :
In the first optical fiber tape, the color arrangement of each optical fiber is determined so as to be the even-numbered or odd-numbered color arrangement order in the color arrangement order according to the color arrangement standard based on the ISO code.
In the second optical fiber tape, the color arrangement of each optical fiber is determined so as to be the odd-numbered or even-numbered color arrangement order in the color arrangement order according to the color arrangement standard based on the ISO code.
Wherein the first and second when held in a state of being alternately arranged with the optical fiber being drawn before Symbol optical fiber array member from the optical fiber tape, the color arrangement order is ISO code of the optical fiber It is characterized by becoming a color arrangement standard by.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[0016]
(Optical fiber connector)
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a 24-fiber optical fiber array according to an embodiment of the present invention, and a partial end view showing a tip surface thereof. FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing an optical fiber tape of this example. It is. Referring to these drawings, the optical fiber array 1 of the present example includes a first light in which 12 optical fibers 2A (2A (1) to 2A (12)) are arranged in a strip shape at a pitch of about 250 μm. A fiber tape 3A, a second optical fiber tape 3B in which twelve optical fibers 2B (2B (1) to 2B (12)) are arranged in a strip shape at a pitch of about 250 μm, and an optical fiber array 4 for 24 cores And. The 1st and 2nd optical fiber tapes 3A and 3B are arrange | positioned in the state piled up and down.
[0017]
As can be seen from FIG. 2, each optical fiber 2A of the first optical fiber tape 3A includes an optical fiber core wire 23 having a core 21 having a circular cross section and a clad 22 having an annular cross section formed therearound, It is comprised from the annular | circular shaped coating layer 24 which coat | covers the circumference | surroundings of this optical fiber core wire 23. FIG. The outer diameter of the optical fiber 2 is about 250 μm, and the outer diameter of the optical fiber core wire 23 is about 125 μm, which is a half. The optical fiber tape 3A is arranged in a strip shape with twelve optical fibers 2A (1) to 2A (12) in contact with each other, and therefore, each optical fiber is arranged at a pitch of about 250 μm. These optical fibers 2A are covered with a tape coating layer 3a and bonded to each other. Since the other optical fiber tape 3B has the same structure, the description thereof is omitted.
[0018]
The tip portions of the optical fiber tapes 3A and 3B having this configuration are removed over a predetermined length, and the optical fiber 2A (1) to 2A (12) and 2B (1) to 2B (12 ) Are exposed and separated from each other. Also, the coating layer 24 is removed from the exposed optical fibers 2A (1) to 2A (12) and 2B (1) to 2B (12) at the tip end side, and the optical fiber cores 23A are removed. (1) to 23A (12) and 23B (1) to 23B (12) are exposed over a predetermined length. These optical fiber core wires 23A (1) to 23A (12) and 23B (1) to 23B (12) are held by the optical fiber array 4 in an aligned state at a pitch of 125 μm.
[0019]
The optical fiber arranging tool 4 includes a V-groove substrate 41 made of quartz glass and the like, and a pressing substrate 42 made of quartz glass and the like laminated and bonded to the surface 41a. On the surface 41a of the V-groove substrate 41, 24 V-grooves 43 are formed at a pitch of 125 μm, and optical fiber cores 23A (1) -23A (12) and 23B (1)- When 23B (12) is accommodated, the depth of each V-groove is set so that the upper end of each optical fiber core line coincides with the surface 41a. Each V-groove 43 contains optical fiber cores 23A (1) to 23A (12) and 23B (1) to 23B (12), and these optical fiber core wires are covered with a holding substrate 42. It is fixed with an adhesive.
[0020]
Here, in the optical fiber array 1 of this example, the optical fiber tapes 3A and 3B are arranged in a vertically stacked state, and the optical fibers 2A (1) to 2A (1) to 2A extending from the lower first optical fiber tape 3A. 2A (12) optical fiber cores 23A (1) to 23A (4) are accommodated in odd-numbered V grooves 43 (1) 43 (3), 43 (5). On the other hand, the optical fiber cores 23B (1) to 23B (12) of the optical fibers 2B (1) to 2B (12) extending from the upper second optical fiber tape 3B are even-numbered Vs, respectively. It accommodates in groove | channel 43 (2), 43 (4), 43 (6), .... That is, the optical fiber core wires 23A (1) to 23A (12) and 23B (1) to 23B (12) drawn from the optical fiber tapes 3A and 3B are alternately arranged.
[0021]
The rear end portion of the V-groove substrate 41 of the optical fiber arranging tool 4 extends rearward from the end surface of the holding substrate 42, and a step portion 45 is formed at the rear end of the extended portion 44. The tip portions of the laminated optical fiber tapes 3A and 3B are attached. Further, an adhesive 46 is filled between the front end portions of the optical fiber tapes 3A and 3B and the rear end of the holding substrate 42, and the optical fiber tape front end portion and each optical fiber extending therefrom by the adhesive 46. The core wires 23A (1) to 23A (12) and 23B (1) to 23B (12) are bonded and fixed.
[0022]
In the optical fiber array 1 of this example, two optical fiber tapes 3A in which optical fibers 2A (1) to 2A (12) and optical fibers 2B (1) to 2B (12) are arranged at a pitch of 250 μm, The optical fiber core wires 23A (1) to 23A (12) and 23B (1) to 23B (12) exposed from 3B are vertically stacked and aligned by the optical fiber arrangement tool 4 at a half pitch of 125 μm. It has a configuration.
[0023]
Here, FIG. 3A is an end view of the optical fiber tapes 3A and 3B in an overlapped state, and FIG. 3B is the color of the optical fiber core wire when arranged at a half pitch by the optical fiber arrangement tool. It is explanatory drawing which shows an arrangement | sequence order.
[0024]
As shown in these drawings, in the optical fiber tapes 3A and 3B of this example, the optical fiber core wires 23A (1) to 23A (12) and 23B (1) to 23B (12) drawn out from each are alternately arranged. In this case, the arrangement of the colors of the optical fibers in each optical fiber tape is determined so that the arrangement order of the colors of the optical fibers becomes a predetermined arrangement standard.
[0025]
Since the color arrangement of the optical fibers is generally according to the ISO code, the color arrangement order of the optical fiber cores in the state where the optical fibers are arranged in the optical fiber arrangement tool 4 also conforms to the ISO code in this example. FIG. 4 shows a color arrangement based on the ISO code.
[0026]
More specifically, in the first optical fiber tape 3A of the present example, the light is arranged so as to be in the odd-numbered (1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11) color arrangement order in the ISO color arrangement order. The color arrangement of the fiber is defined. Here, since the number of optical fibers arranged is 12, the arrangement order of odd-numbered colors is arranged to be repeated twice.
[0027]
On the other hand, in the second optical fiber tape 3B, the colors of the optical fibers are arranged in the even-numbered (2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12) color arrangement order in the ISO code color arrangement order. An array is defined. Even in this case, the arrangement order of even-numbered colors is arranged to be repeated twice.
[0028]
When the optical fiber array 1 of this example is manufactured, the optical fiber core wires 23A (1) to 23A (12) and 23B (1) to 23B (12) drawn from the optical fiber tapes 3A and 3B are alternately arranged. In the operation of arranging at a half pitch, the arrangement operation may be performed according to the color of each optical fiber core wire so that the color arrangement conforms to the ISO code. Therefore, it is not necessary to perform a troublesome and error-prone operation of alternately arranging the optical fiber core wires while visually confirming from which side each optical fiber core wire is drawn. That is, since the optical fibers can be arranged based only on the color of the optical fiber core wire, the arrangement work can be performed efficiently and without any misalignment.
[0029]
Further, in the optical fiber array 1 of the present example, the optical fiber core wires are arranged in a half pitch with a color arrangement according to the ISO code. Accordingly, the operation of connecting the optical fiber array 1 to another optical component or the like may be performed based on the color of the optical fiber in the same manner as a general optical fiber connection operation. It can be carried out.
[0030]
In the above example, the optical fiber tape has 12 cores. However, the present invention can be similarly applied to the case of different numbers such as 8 cores, 6 cores, 4 cores, and 2 cores.
[0031]
The present invention can also be applied to the case where optical fiber tapes having the same structure are stacked in three or more upper and lower stages, and the optical fiber core wires drawn from each are alternately arranged at a predetermined pitch by an optical fiber arrangement tool. Even in this case, the color arrangement of the optical fibers in each optical fiber tape may be determined so that the color arrangement order of the optical fiber cores arranged on the optical fiber arrangement tool matches a predetermined arrangement standard.
[0032]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, in the present invention, two or more optical fiber tapes having a configuration in which optical fibers are arranged in a strip shape at a constant pitch are laminated in two or more stages, and the optical fiber core wires drawn from them are arranged at a narrower pitch. In the optical fiber array arranged and arranged by the optical fiber arrangement tool, the optical fibers in each optical fiber tape are arranged so that the color arrangement order of the optical fiber cores arranged and arranged by the optical fiber arrangement tool becomes a predetermined color order. The feature is that the color order is determined.
[0033]
According to the present invention, when the optical fiber core wires drawn from the optical fiber tapes are arrayed on the optical fiber array tool, the optical fibers can be arrayed based only on the color of each optical fiber core wire. Therefore, since it is not necessary to perform the alignment work while visually confirming which optical fiber core is drawn from which optical fiber tape, it becomes possible to easily arrange the optical fiber cores without error. .
[0034]
Also, in the optical fiber array, the optical fiber core wires are arranged at a narrow pitch in accordance with a predetermined color arrangement standard. Therefore, the operation of connecting the optical fiber array to other optical components is also connected based on the color. Since work can be performed, it can be easily performed without error.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an optical fiber array to which the present invention is applied and a partial end view showing a front end face thereof.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing the optical fiber tape of FIG. 1;
3A is a diagram showing the color arrangement in each optical fiber tape of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3B is an explanatory diagram showing the arrangement order of the colors of the optical fiber cores when arranged at a half pitch. .
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a color arrangement according to an ISO code.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Optical fiber array 2, 2A (1) -2A (12), 2B (1) -2B (12) Optical fiber 21 Core 22 Clad 23, 23A (1) -23A (12), 23B (1) -23B ( 12)
Optical fiber core wire 24 Coating layer 3A, 3B Optical fiber tape 3a Tape coating layer 4 Optical fiber array tool 41 V-groove substrate 42 Holding substrate 43, 43 (1) -43 (8) V-groove 46 Adhesive

Claims (3)

An optical fiber tape having a configuration in which a plurality of optical fibers are arranged in a band at a constant pitch, and each optical fiber core wire exposed by removing the coating on the tip of the optical fiber tape in a band at a constant pitch In an optical fiber array comprising an optical fiber array that is held in an arrayed state,
The optical fiber tape includes a first and second optical fiber tapes stacked vertically,
The optical fiber arranging tool holds the optical fiber core wires drawn from the first and second optical fiber tapes in an alternately arranged state,
The arrangement of the colors of the optical fibers in the first and second optical fiber tapes so that the arrangement order of the colors of the optical fibers held by the optical fiber arrangement tool is the color arrangement standard based on the ISO code. An optical fiber array characterized in that The optical fiber array according to claim 1, wherein
In the first optical fiber tape, the color arrangement of the optical fibers is determined so as to be the even-numbered or odd-numbered color arrangement order in the color arrangement order according to the color arrangement standard based on the ISO code.
In the second optical fiber tape, the color arrangement of the optical fibers is determined so that the arrangement order of the odd-numbered or even-numbered colors in the color arrangement order according to the color arrangement standard based on the ISO code is established. Optical fiber array. The first and second optical fiber tapes having a configuration in which a plurality of optical fibers are arranged in a band at a constant pitch, and the coating of the tip portions of the first and second optical fiber tapes are removed to remove the optical fibers. An optical fiber tape set comprising the first and second optical fiber tapes in an optical fiber array having an optical fiber array that holds the optical fiber core wires in a state of being arranged in a band at a constant pitch Because
In the first optical fiber tape, the color arrangement of each optical fiber is determined so as to be the even-numbered or odd-numbered color arrangement order in the color arrangement order according to the color arrangement standard based on the ISO code.
In the second optical fiber tape, the color arrangement of each optical fiber is determined so as to be the odd-numbered or even-numbered color arrangement order in the color arrangement order according to the color arrangement standard based on the ISO code.
Wherein the first and second when held in a state of being alternately arranged with the optical fiber being drawn before Symbol optical fiber array member from the optical fiber tape, the color arrangement order is ISO code of the optical fiber An optical fiber tape set characterized by the color arrangement standard according to

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