JP4913076B2 - Input / output optical connector - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an input / output optical connector attached to an end of an optical fiber that transmits high-power laser light or high-peak pulsed laser light having an output of 100 mW or more.

  In recent years, cutting, welding, microfabrication, drilling, etc. of workpieces (workpieces) have been widely performed by irradiation with high power laser light with an output of 100 mW or more. At that time, an optical fiber for transmitting high power laser light, In addition to an optical system such as a lens unit that collects high-power laser light, an input / output optical connector that connects an optical fiber to the optical system is used. Patent Document 1 discloses a prior art of an input / output optical connector. The input / output optical connector according to this prior art can prevent damage to components during optical axis alignment of high-power laser light. As a result, the specific configuration is as follows.

  That is, the input / output optical connector according to the prior art includes a cylindrical connector body, which extends in the axial direction (the axial direction of the input / output optical connector) and optical fiber (in Patent Document 1). It has an insertion hole through which the optical fiber cable (13) can be inserted. Further, a cylindrical ferrule is coaxially provided at the distal end side of the connector body, and this ferrule (including the fiber guide (15) and the protective sleeve (16) in Patent Document 1) communicates with the insertion hole. Thus, it has an insertion hole that extends in the axial direction and into which an optical fiber can be inserted. The ferrule is provided with an annular spacer (spacer sleeve (18 in Patent Document 1)) on the tip side, and minute irregularities are formed on the tip surface and the inner peripheral surface of the spacer.

Therefore, as described above, since the minute unevenness is formed on the front end surface and the inner peripheral surface of the spacer which is a part of the ferrule, it is irradiated or reflected from the optical system when the optical axis of the high power laser beam is aligned. Even if the optical axis of the high-power laser beam deviates from the tip surface of the coating removal portion of the optical fiber and reaches the tip surface or inner peripheral surface of the spacer, the high-power laser beam is diffused to The temperature rise of the component parts (ferrule, connector main body, etc.) can be suppressed, and damage to the component parts of the input / output optical connector can be prevented.
JP-A-8-43642

  By the way, when the optical axis of the high-power laser beam is aligned, the temperature rise of the components of the optical connector for input / output is sufficiently suppressed due to the optical axis of the high-power laser beam deviating from the distal end surface of the coating removal portion of the optical fiber. In addition to diffusing high-power laser light, a heat radiating member with excellent thermal conductivity and a large surface area is added to the optical connector for input and output as a component to ensure sufficient heat dissipation of the optical connector for input and output Need to increase. On the other hand, if a heat radiating member having excellent thermal conductivity and a large surface area is added as a component to the optical connector, the optical connector for input / output is increased in size and weight. In other words, it is not easy to sufficiently prevent damage to the components of the input / output optical connector at the time of optical axis alignment of the high power laser light while promoting the downsizing and weight reduction of the input / output optical connector. There is.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an input / output optical connector having a novel configuration that can solve the above-described problems.

The first feature of the present invention, the input and output optical connectors attached to the ends of the optical fiber for transmitting the output 100mW or more high power laser beam, or high peak pulsed laser beam,
A cylindrical connector body extending in the axial direction (axial direction of the optical connector for input and output) and having an insertion hole through which the optical fiber can be inserted;
A cylindrical ferrule provided coaxially on the distal end side (tip portion) of the connector body, extending in the axial direction so as to communicate with the insertion hole, and having an insertion hole into which the optical fiber can be inserted;
The optical fiber is fixed to the tip of the ferrule, is coaxially fused and joined to the tip of the coating removal portion of the optical fiber, and is made of a transparent material having a refractive index larger than the refractive index of air. And an optical terminal having a diameter larger than that of the outer diameter.

  According to the first feature, the optical terminal made of a transparent material having a refractive index larger than the outer diameter of the optical fiber and larger than the refractive index of air is fixed to the tip of the ferrule, High power irradiated or reflected from an optical system such as a lens unit when the optical axis of the high power laser beam is aligned because the terminal is coaxially fused and joined to the distal end surface of the coating removal portion of the optical fiber. Even if the optical axis of the laser beam deviates from the distal end surface of the coating removal portion of the optical fiber, if the high power laser beam is incident on the distal end surface of the optical terminal, the high power laser beam is incident on the optical fiber. It can be urged to enter the front end surface of the coating removal portion.

The second feature of the present invention, in addition to the first feature, the transparent material is summarized in that a quartz glass rod or short glass fibers.

A third feature of the present invention, in addition to the first feature or the second feature, the recessed portion of the annular reduced diameter toward the proximal direction on the distal end side of the ferrule (female tapered portion) is formed The gist of the invention is that the optical terminal is fixed to the ferrule by solder filled between the recess of the ferrule and the outer peripheral portion of the optical terminal.

A fourth feature of the present invention, in addition to the third feature, the solder, there alloy solder, the metal film is formed respectively on the outer periphery of the recess and the optical terminals of said ferrule This is the gist.

According to a fifth feature of the present invention, the base layer of the metal film is made of any one of nickel, chromium, and Inconel (registered trademark) , and the surface layer of the metal film is made of gold, silver, The gist is that it is made of any one of tin, copper, gold-tin alloy, and silver-tin alloy.

The sixth feature of the present invention, the first feature in addition to any of the features of the fifth aspect, the ferrule has a cylindrical which is provided coaxially to the distal end of the connector body It consists of an outer ferrule and a cylindrical inner ferrule provided inside the outer ferrule and having the insertion hole.

Seventh feature of the present invention, in addition to the sixth aspect, and the subject matter in that the optical terminal to the distal end of the inner ferrule is fixed in a state of being accommodated inside said outer ferrule.

Eighth feature of the present invention, in addition to the sixth feature or seventh aspect of the inner ferrule, Abstract copper, brass, aluminum, stainless steel, that are constituted by any one of nickel electroforming And

  According to the present invention, when the optical axis of the high power laser light is aligned with the optical axis of the high power laser light irradiated or reflected from the optical system is deviated from the tip surface of the coating removal portion in the optical fiber, If the high power laser light is incident on the front end surface of the optical terminal, the high power laser light can be prompted to enter the front end surface of the coating removal portion of the optical fiber. The input / output optical connector at the time of optical axis alignment of high-power laser light without being diffused or adding a heat radiating member having excellent thermal conductivity and a large surface area to the input / output optical connector. The temperature rise of the constituent members can be sufficiently suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to sufficiently prevent the components of the optical connector for input / output from being damaged during the optical axis alignment of the high-power laser light while promoting the reduction in size and weight of the optical connector for input / output.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2A and 2B.

  Here, FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an optical connector for input and output according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2A is an enlarged view around an optical terminal, and FIG. 2B is a view in FIG. It is a figure which shows the arrow B part.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the optical connector 1 for input / output according to the embodiment of the present invention is attached to the end of an optical fiber 3 that transmits high power laser light or high peak pulsed laser light with an output of 100 mW or more. Therefore, the optical fiber 3 is used as an SMA connector, FC connector, and SC connector for connecting the optical fiber 3 to an optical system (not shown) such as a lens unit. And the specific structure of the optical connector for entrance / exit which concerns on embodiment of this invention is as follows. The optical fiber 3 includes a multimode optical fiber, a single mode optical fiber, and a fumode optical fiber. A fumode optical fiber is desirable for transmitting high power laser light or high peak pulsed laser light.

  The input / output optical connector 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a cylindrical connector body 5, and the connector body 5 is made of SUS303, copper, brass, or aluminum. The connector body 5 has an insertion hole 7 extending in the axial direction (the axial direction of the input / output optical connector 1, in other words, the axial direction of the connector body 5) and allowing the optical fiber 3 to be inserted therethrough. A flange 9 is formed on the base end side of the connector body 5.

  A coupling nut 11 is provided on the proximal end side of the connector main body 5 so as to be movable and rotatable in the axial direction. The coupling nut 11 is pivoted by a flange 9 of the connector main body 5 and an E-type retaining ring 13. The movement range of the direction is restricted. In addition, the coupling nut 11 is formed with a female screw portion 15 that can be screwed into a male screw portion (not shown) of a mating connection part of the optical system.

  A cylindrical ferrule 17 is coaxially provided on the distal end side of the connector body 5, and the ferrule 17 can be fitted into a fitting hole (not shown) of a mating connection part of the optical system. And the ferrule 17 is provided in the front-end | tip part of the connector main body 5 by the coaxial shape, and is provided in the inner side of this outer ferrule 19 with the cylindrical outer ferrule 19 comprised by SUS304, copper, a brass, or aluminum. And an inner ferrule 21 made of any one of copper, brass, aluminum, stainless steel, and nickel electroforming. The inner ferrule 21 extends in the axial direction (the axial direction of the input / output optical connector 1, in other words, the axial direction of the ferrule 17) so as to communicate with the insertion hole 7 and can be inserted into the optical fiber 3. 23, an annular recess 25 having a diameter reduced toward the proximal direction is formed on the distal end side of the inner ferrule 21.

  As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B, an optical terminal 27 having a diameter larger than the outer diameter of the optical fiber 3 is provided inside the outer ferrule 19 in the recess (tip) 25 of the inner ferrule 21. The optical terminal 27 is composed of a quartz glass rod (an example of a transparent material) having a refractive index larger than the refractive index of air. The optical terminal 27 is coaxially fused and joined to the distal end surface of the coating removal portion 3a of the optical fiber 3, and the distal end surface of the optical terminal 27 is slightly inclined with respect to the direction orthogonal to the axial direction. It is supposed to be. The optical terminal 27 may be made of another transparent material such as short glass fiber instead of the quartz rod.

  A specific description of how the optical terminal 27 is fixed is as follows.

  That is, metal films 29 and 31 are formed on the recess 25 of the inner ferrule 21 and the outer periphery of the optical terminal 27, respectively. The metal film 29 of the inner ferrule 21 and the metal film 31 of the optical terminal 27 are not shown, but the nickel sputter layer, the gold sputter layer, the nickel plating layer, and the gold plating layer are underlayers, respectively. It is a multilayer formed sequentially from the side to the surface layer side. The optical terminal 27 is fixed to the recess 25 of the inner ferrule 21 by a gold-tin alloy solder (an example of alloy solder) 33 filled between the metal film 29 of the inner ferrule 21 and the metal film 31 of the optical terminal 27. It has become so.

The underlayer (nickel sputter layer) in each metal film 29 (31) may be made of chromium or Inconel (registered trademark) instead of nickel, and each metal film 29 (31). The surface layer (gold plating layer) may be made of silver, a gold-tin alloy, or a silver-tin alloy instead of gold. Further, when the optical terminal 27 is fixed to the recess 25 of the inner ferrule 21 by glass solder instead of the gold-tin alloy solder 33, the metal films 29 and 31 can be omitted.

  Then, the effect | action and effect of embodiment of this invention are demonstrated.

  According to the configuration of the input / output optical connector 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the transparent material having a refractive index larger than the outer diameter of the optical fiber 3 and larger than the refractive index of air in the recess 25 of the inner ferrule 21. An optical terminal 27 composed of (quartz glass rod or short glass fiber or the like) is fixed, and the optical terminal 27 is fusion-bonded coaxially to the distal end surface of the coating removal portion 3a of the optical fiber 3, so that high power Even when the optical axis of the high-power laser beam irradiated or reflected from the optical system such as the lens unit is deviated from the front end surface of the coating removal portion 3a in the optical fiber 3 when the optical axis of the laser beam is aligned, the high-power laser beam is If it is incident on the distal end surface of the optical terminal 27, it is possible to prompt the high power laser beam to be incident on the distal end surface of the coating removal portion 3a of the optical fiber 3.

  Therefore, according to the input / output optical connector 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the high-power laser light is diffused, or the input / output optical connector 1 is made of a heat radiating member having excellent thermal conductivity and a large surface area. Without adding, it is possible to sufficiently suppress the temperature rise of the constituent members (connector body 5, outer ferrule 19, inner ferrule 21 and the like) of the input / output optical connector 1 when the optical axis of the high-power laser beam is aligned. it can. Therefore, it is possible to sufficiently prevent damage to the components of the input / output optical connector 1 during alignment of the optical axis of the high-power laser light while promoting the downsizing and weight reduction of the input / output optical connector 1.

  In addition, this invention is not restricted to description of the above-mentioned embodiment, In addition, it can implement in a various aspect. Further, the scope of rights encompassed by the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

It is sectional drawing of the optical connector for entrance / exit which concerns on embodiment of this invention. 2A is an enlarged view of the periphery of the optical terminal, and FIG. 2B is a diagram showing the arrow B in FIG. 2A.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Input / output optical connector 3 Optical fiber 3a Coating removal part 5 Connector main body 7 Insertion hole 17 Ferrule 19 Outer ferrule 21 Inner ferrule 23 Insertion hole 27 Optical terminal 29 Metal film 31 Metal film 33 Gold-tin alloy solder

Claims (3)

In an input / output optical connector attached to the end of an optical fiber that transmits high power laser light or high peak pulsed laser light with an output of 100 mW or more,
A connector body that extends in the axial direction and has an insertion hole through which the optical fiber can be inserted, and is made of SUS303, copper, brass, or aluminum;
A cylindrical shape provided coaxially on the distal end side of the connector body, extending in the axial direction so as to communicate with the insertion hole, and having an insertion hole into which the optical fiber can be inserted, copper, brass, aluminum, stainless steel, A ferrule configured by one of nickel electroforming,
The optical fiber is fixed to the tip of the ferrule, is coaxially fused and joined to the tip of the coating removal portion of the optical fiber, and is made of a transparent material having a refractive index larger than the refractive index of air. An optical terminal having a diameter larger than the outer diameter of
A metal film is formed on the outer periphery of the optical terminal,
The underlayer of the metal film is made of any of nickel, chromium, and Inconel (registered trademark) , and the surface layer of the metal film is made of gold, silver, tin, copper, gold-tin alloy, silver It is composed of one of the tin alloys,
The optical terminal is fixed to the ferrule by the metal film and alloy solder,
An input / output optical connector characterized in that a rise in temperature of components of the input / output optical connector is suppressed.
The optical connector for entrance and exit according to claim 1, wherein the ferrule is made of SUS304, copper, brass, or aluminum.
An annular hollow portion having a diameter reduced toward the proximal direction is formed on the distal end side of the ferrule,
3. The optical connector for input and output according to claim 1, wherein a metal film is formed on each of the recessed portion of the ferrule and an outer peripheral portion of the optical terminal.

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