JP4916938B2 - Optical fiber holding parts - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical fiber holding component for bending and holding an optical fiber.

Conventionally, an optical module in which an optical component such as AWG (Arrayed Wavelength Grating) is incorporated in a quartz glass substrate or a silicon substrate has been widely used. With the progress of FTTH (Fiber To The Home), miniaturization of optical modules is progressing. The optical fibers connecting these optical modules are preferably arranged in a straight line in order to reduce optical loss due to bending. However, for the sake of layout, the optical fiber is often bent and disposed, while the minimum bending radius is determined. An optical fiber holder that holds an optical fiber while ensuring the minimum bending radius is used (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In the conventional optical fiber holder disclosed in Patent Document 1, a cylindrical sponge having a radius equal to or larger than the minimum bending radius is attached to the board, and the optical fiber can be bent and held by the cylindrical sponge.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-30719

  Since the conventional optical fiber holder has a cylindrical sponge and a board, there is a problem that the number of parts is large and the size is increased. For this reason, when an optical fiber is bent and arranged in a narrow place, the conventional optical fiber holder may not be able to cope.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide an optical fiber holding component that can bend and hold an optical fiber with a small and simple structure.

  In order to achieve the above object, an optical fiber holding component according to the present invention has a bellows structure in which mountain folds and valley folds are alternately continued.

Specifically, the optical fiber holding component according to the present invention includes a plurality of cylindrical body portions that hold holey fibers, and a tube having a bellows structure in which the body portions are connected to each other and mountain folds and valley folds are alternately continued. The holey fiber is bent and held , and a difference between the outer dimension radius of the mountain fold apex and the outer dimension radius of the valley fold apex is equal to or greater than the minimum bending radius of the holey fiber .

The optical fiber holding part is small, and a simple structure, can be held bent the holey fiber. Furthermore, the optical fiber holding component can bend and hold the holey fiber while ensuring a minimum bending radius of the optical fiber.

  In the optical fiber holding component according to the present invention, it is preferable that the body portion and the connection portion have a tubular structure.

The optical fiber holding component can be attached directly to the planned bending portion without being inserted from the end face side of the holey fiber when the holey fiber is bent and held, and is highly convenient.

  In the optical fiber holding component according to the present invention, it is preferable that the body portion and the connection portion have a circular, elliptical, triangular, quadrangular, or rounded rectangular shape in cross section.

The optical fiber holding component can more strongly bend and hold the holey fiber.

  In the optical fiber holding component according to the present invention, it is preferable that the body portion and the connection portion are made of a polymer material or a metal capable of retroactive deformation.

  The said optical fiber holding component can form the said trunk | drum and the said connection part integrally, and can reduce a manufacturing cost.

  The present invention can provide an optical fiber holding component capable of bending and holding an optical fiber with a small and simple structure.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiment described below is an example of the configuration of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the following embodiment. Moreover, the same code | symbol was attached | subjected to the same member and the same site | part.

  1A and 1B are schematic views of an optical fiber holding component according to the present embodiment. FIG. 1A shows a case where there are two barrels, and FIG. 1B shows a case where there are three barrels. The optical fiber holding component 100 according to the present embodiment has a cylindrical body 110 that holds the optical fiber 200, and a cylinder having a bellows structure in which the body 110 is connected to each other and the mountain folds and valley folds are alternately continued. And a connection portion 120 that bends and holds the optical fiber 200. In FIG. 1, the optical fiber 200 is indicated by a broken line.

  Each of the trunk portions 110 may have a length in the major axis direction according to the arrangement of the optical fibers 200. In order to hold the optical fiber 200, the inner diameter of the body 110 may be equal to or larger than the outer diameter of the optical fiber 200. Each of the trunk portions 110 has an inner diameter of 4 mm and a length in the longitudinal direction of 100 mm, for example.

  In order to hold the optical fiber 200, the inner diameter of the valley fold apex portion of the connecting portion 120 may be equal to or larger than the outer diameter of the optical fiber 200. Since the connection part 120 has a bellows structure, the connection part 120 can be bent. Moreover, although the connection part 120 is a bellows structure with which six mountain folds and five valley folds continue alternately, the number of mountain folds and valley folds is not restrict | limited. The bending angle of the connecting part 120 is not limited. Each of the connection portions 120 has, for example, an outer diameter of a mountain fold apex of 6 mm, an inner diameter of a valley fold apex of 4 mm, and a length in the longitudinal direction of 50 mm.

  An example of a method for holding the optical fiber 200 with the optical fiber holding component 100 will be described. The optical fiber 200 is inserted from one end face side of the optical fiber holding component 100. The optical fiber holding component 100 is slid and moved so that the planned bending position of the optical fiber 200 coincides with the position of the connecting portion 120. Thereafter, the optical fiber holding component 100 bends the connection portion 120 at an arbitrary angle.

  The optical fiber holding component 100 shown in FIG. 1A can bend and hold the optical fiber 200 in an L shape. FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of a state in which the optical fiber is bent and held in an L shape with the optical fiber holding component according to the present embodiment. When the connecting portion 120 is bent, the optical fiber holding component 100 is fixed at the bending position of the optical fiber 200, and the optical fiber 200 can be bent and held. Furthermore, the optical fiber holding component 100 can easily remove the optical fiber holding component 100 from the optical fiber 200 by returning the connecting portion 120 to the straight state that is not bent, and the optical fiber 200 and the optical fiber holding component. The positional relationship of 100 can be easily changed.

  The optical fiber holding component 100 shown in FIG. 1B can bend and hold the optical fiber 200 in a U-shape. FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of a state in which the optical fiber is bent and held in a U-shape by the optical fiber holding component according to the present embodiment. The number of connecting portions 120 in the optical fiber holding component 100 may be determined according to the arrangement of the optical fibers 200. As described above, the optical fiber holding component 100 can bend and hold the optical fiber 200 with a small and simple structure. Furthermore, the optical fiber holding component 100 is easy to handle.

  When the optical fiber 200 is fixed to a substrate (not shown) via the optical fiber holding component 100, the optical fiber holding component 100 is bent at an arbitrary angle and bonded to the substrate using a UV adhesive or silicone resin. Here, when it is desired to change the bending angle of the optical fiber holding component 100 after fixing, only the body 110 may be bonded to the substrate. Since the connecting portion 120 is not bonded, it can be bent freely even after bonding. On the other hand, when it is not necessary to change the bending angle of the optical fiber 200, both the body part 110 and the connection part 120 may be bonded to the substrate.

  4A and 4B are sectional views of the optical fiber holding component according to the present embodiment, in which FIG. 4A is a straight line state and FIG. 4B is a state bent 180 °. As shown in FIG. 4A, the outer diameter of the valley fold apex of the connecting portion 120 and the outer diameter of the trunk portion 110 are substantially equal. Moreover, in FIG. 4, the boundary of the trunk | drum 110 and the connection part 120 was shown with the broken line. An optical fiber (not shown) has a minimum bending radius for each product. If the optical fiber is bent less than the minimum bending radius, the optical fiber may increase optical loss or break the optical fiber. In order to secure the minimum bending radius of the optical fiber, in the optical fiber holding component 100 according to the present embodiment, the difference r between the outer dimension radius of the mountain fold apex and the outer dimension radius of the valley fold apex of the connecting portion 120 It is preferable that the radius be equal to or greater than the minimum bending radius of the fiber (hereinafter, “the difference in the outer dimension radius between the mountain fold apex and the valley fold apex of the connecting portion 120” is abbreviated as “the difference in the outer dimension radius”. ). The difference r in the outer radius is, for example, 2 mm. Here, as shown in FIG. 4B, since the minimum value of the bending radius of the optical fiber is the difference r of the outer dimension radius, if the difference r of the outer dimension radius is greater than or equal to the minimum bending radius of the optical fiber, The minimum bending radius of the optical fiber can be ensured at the connection portion 120.

  5A and 5B are cross-sectional views of the optical fiber holding component according to the present embodiment, in which FIG. 5A is a straight line state and FIG. 5B is a state bent 180 °. As shown in FIG. 5A, the outer diameter of the mountain fold apex of the connecting portion 120 and the outer diameter of the trunk portion 110 are substantially equal. Here, similarly to FIG. 4B, the outer radius r may be set to be equal to or larger than the minimum bending radius of the optical fiber (see FIG. 5B). As described above, the optical fiber holding component 100 can bend and hold the optical fiber while ensuring the minimum bending radius of the optical fiber.

In the optical fiber holding component 100 according to the present embodiment, it is preferable that the trunk portion 110 and the connecting portion 120 bend and hold a holey fiber (not shown) in which holes are formed around the core. The holey fiber can enhance the light confinement effect by lowering the substantial refractive index, and can realize a minimum bending radius smaller than that of a conventional optical fiber (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 1). The holey fiber enables a minimum bending radius of 2 mm, for example (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 2). Here, by holding the holey fiber having a small minimum bending radius with the small optical fiber holding component 100, it is possible to realize a bending radius, for example, a bending radius of 2 mm, which has been difficult with a conventional optical fiber holder.
2003 IEICE Technical Committee, C-3-90, “A Study on Practical Use of Holey Fiber” Furukawa Electric Times Report No. 118, “Design and Fabrication of Hole Assist Fiber and Application to Pulse Compressors”

  6A and 6B are views showing the cross-sectional shape of the body portion of the optical fiber holding component according to this embodiment, where FIG. 6A is circular, FIG. 6B is elliptical, and FIG. 6C is triangular. (D) is a quadrangular shape, and (e) is a rounded quadrangular shape. As shown in FIG. 6, in the optical fiber holding component 100 according to the present embodiment, the body 110 and the connecting portion (not shown) have a circular, elliptical, triangular, quadrangular, or rounded square shape in cross section. It is preferably in any shape. By making the shape of the cross section of the body part 110 and the connection part into the above-described shape, at least a part of the optical fiber 200 strongly contacts the inner wall surface of the body part 110 and the connection part, and the optical fiber holding component 100 The fiber 200 can be bent and held more strongly. In the optical fiber holding component 100, the number of optical fibers 200 to be held is not limited to the number shown in FIG.

  FIGS. 7A and 7B are diagrams showing the cross-sectional shape of the barrel portion of the split structure in the optical fiber holding component according to the present embodiment, where FIG. 7A is circular, and FIG. 7B is elliptic. c) is a triangular shape, (d) is a quadrangular shape, and (e) is a rounded quadrangular shape. As shown in FIG. 7, in the optical fiber holding component 100 according to the present embodiment, the body portion 110 and the connection portion (not shown) preferably have a split structure. Since the body part 110 and the connection part are provided with a slit 130 and have a split structure, the optical fiber holding component 100 can insert an optical fiber (not shown) from the slit 130. For this reason, the optical fiber holding component 100 can be directly attached to a place to be bent without being inserted from the end face side of the optical fiber when the optical fiber is bent and held, and is highly convenient.

  In the optical fiber holding component 100 according to the present embodiment, it is preferable that the body portion 110 and the connection portion are made of a polymer material or a metal capable of retroactive deformation. Examples of the polymer material include a polymer. Examples of metals that can be retroactively deformed include aluminum, tin, and brass. The optical fiber holding component 100 can integrally form the trunk portion 110 and the connection portion, and can reduce the manufacturing cost.

  FIG. 8 is a view showing the optical fiber holding component according to this embodiment, in which (a) is a front view and (b) is a right side view. The plan view, bottom view, and rear view of the optical fiber holding component appear the same as the front view (see FIG. 8A), and are therefore omitted. Further, the left side view is the same as the right side view (see FIG. 8B), and is omitted.

  The optical fiber holding component according to the present invention can be used for bending and holding an optical fiber laid indoors or outdoors. Moreover, the optical fiber holding component according to the present invention can be used when fixing the optical fiber to the optical module.

It is the schematic of the optical fiber holding component which concerns on this embodiment, (a) is a case where the trunk | drum is two, (b) is a case where the trunk | drum is three. It is the schematic of the state which bent and hold | maintained the optical fiber in the L shape with the optical fiber holding component which concerns on this embodiment. It is the schematic of the state which bent and hold | maintained the optical fiber in the U shape with the optical fiber holding component which concerns on this embodiment. It is a cutaway view of the optical fiber holding component according to this embodiment, (a) is a straight state, (b) is a state bent 180 degrees. It is a cutaway view of the optical fiber holding component according to this embodiment, (a) is a straight state, (b) is a state bent 180 degrees. It is a figure which shows the shape of the cross section of the trunk | drum of the optical fiber holding component which concerns on this embodiment, (a) is circular, (b) is elliptical, (c) is triangular, d) is a quadrangular shape, and (e) is a rounded quadrangular shape. In the optical fiber holding component which concerns on this embodiment, it is a figure which shows the cross-sectional shape of the trunk | drum of a split structure, (a) is circular, (b) is elliptical, (c) is a triangle. (D) is a quadrangular shape, and (e) is a rounded quadrangular shape. It is a figure which shows the optical fiber holding component which concerns on this embodiment, (a) is a front view, (b) is a right view.

Explanation of symbols

100 Optical fiber holding part 110 Body 120 Connecting part 130 Slit 200 Optical fiber r Difference in outer radius

Claims (4)

A plurality of cylindrical barrels for holding holey fibers;
Connecting said body portions, a cylindrical bellows structure mountain fold and valley fold are continuous alternately hold folding the holey fiber, the outer dimensions radius of outer dimension radius valley fold apex of mountain fold vertices The difference between the connection portion is equal to or greater than the minimum bending radius of the holey fiber ,
An optical fiber holding part. The optical fiber holding component according to claim 1, wherein the body portion and the connection portion have a cylindrical structure. 3. The optical fiber holding device according to claim 1, wherein the trunk portion and the connection portion have a cross-sectional shape of any one of a circle, an ellipse, a triangle, a quadrangle, and a rounded quadrangle. parts. The body portion and the connection portion, the optical fiber holding part according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the material of the metal capable of polymeric material or runup deformation.

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