JP5428913B2 - Optical connector and manufacturing method thereof - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical connector to which an optical fiber is connected and a manufacturing method thereof.

In fields such as optical information communication technology or image projection technology, optical multiplexers that combine light of multiple wavelengths from multiple optical fibers, or light that divides multiplexed optical signals into optical wavelengths and guides them to optical fibers An optical connector such as a duplexer is used.
For example, a concave mirror formed integrally with the substrate is provided on the optical fiber tip side of the substrate, an optical element is disposed above the concave mirror, and the concave mirror is disposed at the intersection of the optical axis of the optical fiber and the optical axis of the optical element. 2. Description of the Related Art An optical connecting device is known in which an aligning groove in which an optical fiber is disposed and a concave mirror are formed at the same time as resin molding of a substrate (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2006-84891 A

In the optical connector, the rigidity between the optical fiber holding unit and the light guide unit through which light enters and exits is high in order to minimize the deviation of the optical axis between the optical fiber and the light guide unit. Required.
However, if the cross-sectional area between the optical fiber holding part and the light guide part is increased in order to increase the rigidity between the optical fiber holding part and the light guide part, for example, heat during molding is dissipated well. Accordingly, there is a possibility that the optical axis between the optical fiber and the light guide portion is displaced due to deformation.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an optical connector capable of aligning an optical axis between an optical fiber and a light guide portion with high accuracy and maintaining the accuracy over a long period of time, and a manufacturing method thereof. .

The optical connector of the present invention capable of solving the above-described problems has a lens part, and guides incident / exited light incident / exited to / from the lens part in a predetermined direction,
An optical fiber, and an optical fiber holding part that holds the end face of the optical fiber so as to face the lens part of the light guide part,
The light guide portion and the optical fiber holding portion are integrally molded,
A space portion is formed in a connecting portion between the light guide portion and the optical fiber holding portion.

  In the optical connector of the present invention, it is preferable that the optical fiber holding portion is integrally formed with the light guide portion by insert molding the preformed light guide portion.

  In the optical connector according to the aspect of the invention, it is preferable that the optical fiber holding portion is composed of a plurality of parts that sandwich and hold the optical fiber.

  In the optical connector according to the aspect of the invention, the optical fiber holding unit can hold a plurality of the optical fibers, and the light guide unit includes a plurality of the lens units, and combines light from the plurality of optical fibers. It is preferable that the light is demultiplexed with respect to the plurality of optical fibers.

The method for manufacturing an optical connector according to the present invention includes a light guide portion that has a lens portion, guides incoming / outgoing light that enters and exits the lens portion in a predetermined direction, and an optical fiber whose end face is the light guide portion. An optical connector having an optical fiber holding part that holds the lens part so as to face the lens part,
The optical fiber holding part is integrally formed by insert molding with respect to the pre-formed light guide part, and is arranged between the light guide part and the optical fiber holding part so as to cover the lens part of the light guide part. The mold member is extracted after the optical fiber holding portion is integrally formed, and a space portion is formed in the connecting portion between the light guide portion and the optical fiber holding portion.

According to the optical connector of the present invention, the light guide part and the optical fiber holding part are integrally formed, and the space part is formed in the connecting part between the light guide part and the optical fiber holding part. It is possible to arrange the optical fiber with high alignment accuracy with respect to the lens portion of the light guide unit without performing a proper alignment operation. In addition, since an alignment mechanism or the like is not required, vibration resistance and reliability can be improved while downsizing. In addition, cost reduction can be achieved by improving productivity. In addition, since the cooling efficiency is enhanced by the space formed in the connection portion between the light guide portion and the optical fiber holding portion, heat can be radiated well and quickly after molding, and deformation due to heat and optical axis misalignment during molding. And high alignment accuracy of the optical fiber with respect to the lens portion can be obtained. Further, by increasing the thickness of the connecting portion, high rigidity can be obtained, and high alignment accuracy can be maintained over a long period of time. That is, both rigidity and heat dissipation can be achieved. When the optical connector of the present invention is an optical multiplexer that has a plurality of lens portions and combines light and an optical demultiplexer that demultiplexes light, high alignment accuracy is obtained in the plurality of lens portions. The accuracy of multiplexing or demultiplexing can be improved.
Moreover, according to the method for manufacturing an optical connector of the present invention, it is possible to easily manufacture an optical connector that can achieve both rigidity and heat dissipation and can maintain high alignment accuracy over a long period of time.

It is a perspective view of the optical multiplexer which shows the embodiment of the optical connector which concerns on this invention. It is AA sectional drawing in FIG. It is a top view of an optical multiplexer. It is a top view of a part of optical multiplexer. It is a perspective view which shows the modification of an optical multiplexer. It is a perspective view of the multiplexing part which shows the manufacturing method of an optical multiplexer. It is sectional drawing which shows the manufacturing method of an optical multiplexer. It is a top view which shows the manufacturing method of an optical multiplexer.

Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of an optical connector and a manufacturing method thereof according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
In this embodiment, an optical multiplexer used in an image projection apparatus that multiplexes and multiplexes a plurality of lights having different wavelengths will be described as an example of the optical connector.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the optical multiplexer (optical connector) 11 includes a light guide unit 12 and an optical fiber holding unit 13.
The light guide unit 12 is formed from a resin material having translucency, and has a light incident surface 22 and a light emitting surface 23. A plurality of lens portions 24 projecting outward are formed on the light incident surface 22, and these lens portions 24 are arranged in a horizontal row at intervals. A surface facing the light incident surface 22 having the lens portion 24 is a reflecting surface 25 inclined to the light emitting surface 23 side with respect to the light incident surface 22. The light guide unit 12 is provided with a multilayer filter 26 therein. In the light guide unit 12, the light incident from the lens unit 24 is reflected in the same direction by the multilayer filter 26 and the reflection surface 25, is combined, and is output from the light output surface 23. As shown in FIG. 4, for example, a diffraction grating is formed by providing a plurality of parallel grooves 25 a at equal intervals on the reflection surface 25, and light incident from each lens unit 24 is transmitted to one of the reflection surfaces 25. The incident light may be concentrated in a certain place, reflected by the diffraction grating of the reflecting surface 25 in the same direction, combined, and emitted from the light emitting surface 23.

  A plurality of optical fiber holding holes 31 are formed in the optical fiber holding part 13, and these optical fiber holding holes 31 are arranged at intervals in a horizontal row, like the lens part 24 of the light guide part 12. Has been. In these optical fiber holding holes 31, the end portions of the optical fibers 32 are inserted and held, respectively, and fixed by an adhesive. These optical fibers 32 are held in the optical fiber holding holes 31 so that the end surfaces thereof face the lens portions 24 of the light guide portion 12.

The optical fiber holding part 13 is formed from a resin material, and the light guide part 12 and the optical fiber holding part 13 are integrally molded and connected by a connecting part 14. The connecting portion 14 that connects the light guide portion 12 and the optical fiber holding portion 13 has a space portion 41 at the center thereof, and thus has a pair of arms 42.
In the optical multiplexer 11 having the above structure, the optical fiber holding portion 13 is integrally formed with the light guide portion 12 by insert-molding the light guide portion 12 that is molded in advance.

  In the optical multiplexer 11, visible light of R (red), G (green), and B (blue) is emitted from the end face of each optical fiber 32 held by the optical fiber holder 13. These outgoing lights enter the light guide section 12 from each lens section 24 facing the end face of the optical fiber 32, are reflected in the same direction by the multilayer filter 26 and the reflection surface 25, and are combined and combined. Light is emitted from the light exit surface 23 and projected as an image or video.

  As described above, according to the optical multiplexer 11 according to the above-described embodiment, the light guide unit 12 and the optical fiber holding unit 13 are integrally formed, and the connecting unit 14 between the light guide unit 12 and the optical fiber holding unit 13 has a space. Since the portion 41 is formed, the optical fiber 32 can be arranged with high alignment accuracy with respect to the lens portion 24 of the light guide portion 12 without performing a complicated alignment operation. In addition, since an alignment mechanism or the like is not required, vibration resistance and reliability can be improved while downsizing. In addition, cost reduction can be achieved by improving productivity.

  Moreover, since the cooling efficiency is enhanced by the space 41 formed in the coupling portion 14 between the light guide portion 12 and the optical fiber holding portion 13, heat can be radiated well and quickly after molding. Thereby, deformation due to heat and optical axis shift during molding can be eliminated, and high alignment accuracy of the optical fiber 32 with respect to the lens portion 24 can be obtained. Further, by increasing the thickness of the connecting portion 14, high rigidity can be obtained, and high alignment accuracy can be maintained over a long period of time. That is, both rigidity and heat dissipation can be achieved.

  In this optical multiplexer 11, since each optical fiber 32 is aligned with respect to each lens unit 24 with high accuracy, the accuracy of multiplexing is also good. Thereby, alignment failure when the R, G, B visible light from each optical fiber 32 is multiplexed by the light guide unit 12 can be eliminated, and a clear image or video can be displayed.

Next, a modification of the optical multiplexer 11 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 5, in this optical multiplexer 11, the optical fiber holding part 13 is comprised from several components. Specifically, the optical fiber holding unit 13 includes a holding unit main body 51 and a presser lid 52 that is attached to and detached from the upper part of the holding unit main body 51.

  A plurality of holding grooves 51a are formed on the upper surface of the holding portion main body 51, and the end portions of the optical fibers 32 are disposed in these holding grooves 51a. The cross-sectional shape of the holding groove 51a in the width direction may be either an arc shape or a V shape. When the holding lid 52 is mounted on the upper part of the holding unit main body 51 in a state where the end portions of the optical fibers 32 are arranged in the holding grooves 51a, the optical fibers 32 arranged in the respective holding grooves 51a are held by the holding units. The main body 51 and the presser lid 52 are sandwiched and held. A holding groove may also be formed in the presser lid 52.

  As described above, according to the structure in which the optical fiber holding unit 13 includes the holding unit main body 51 and the presser lid 52 and the optical fiber 32 is sandwiched and held between the holding unit main body 51 and the presser lid 52, the optical fiber 32 is provided. Can be held at a predetermined position very easily, and the connection workability can be improved.

In order to manufacture the optical multiplexer 11, first, as shown in FIG. 6, a portion of the light guide portion 12 is molded.
Next, the optical fiber holding portion 13 provided integrally with the light guide portion 12 by the connecting portion 14 is formed by insert-molding the light guide portion 12.
When the optical fiber holding unit 13 is integrally formed with the light guide unit 12, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the light incident surface 22 side is arranged so that the resin does not adhere to the light incident surface 22 of the light guide unit 12. A mold (mold member) 61 is disposed in a portion to be the space 41.

The mold 61 includes an upper mold 62 and a lower mold 63. The upper mold 62 is disposed from the upper side, and the lower mold 63 is disposed from the lower side. A relief recess 62 a is formed in the upper mold 62 at the position where the lens portion 24 is formed on the light incident surface 22 side of the light guide portion 12. Accordingly, the upper mold 62 can be disposed on the light incident surface 22 side of the light guide section 12 from above without causing the upper mold 62 to interfere with the lens section 24 and damage the lens section 24. .
Further, since the upper mold 62 and the lower mold 63 are arranged in the vertical direction, the thickness of the arm 42 constituting the connecting portion 14 on both sides of the upper mold 62 and the lower mold 63 is the upper mold 62. It is not limited by the punching of the lower mold 63.

  For example, when the upper mold 62 divided at the center portion in the width direction is used, and the divided body of each upper mold 62 is moved to both sides and pulled out, the arm 42 of the connecting portion 14 is divided into the upper mold 62. In consideration of the direction in which the body is pulled out, it must be formed below the upper mold 62. Thereby, it becomes difficult to increase the thickness of the arm 42 of the connecting portion 14 and increase the rigidity.

On the other hand, when the upper die 62 is moved upward and removed, the thickness of the arm 42 of the connecting portion 14 can be determined without considering the removal direction of the upper die 62. That is, the thickness of the arm 42 of the connecting portion 14 can be increased and the rigidity of the connecting portion 14 can be increased.
Thus, according to the manufacturing method of said optical multiplexer, both rigidity and heat dissipation are achieved, and the optical multiplexer 11 which can maintain high alignment precision over a long period can be manufactured easily. .

  In the above embodiment, an optical multiplexer that multiplexes and multiplexes a plurality of optical signals having different wavelengths has been described as an example of the optical connector. The present invention can also be applied to an optical demultiplexer that leads to an optical fiber by dividing the wavelength, and is also applicable to an optical connector that transmits an optical signal between other optical fibers and a light guide unit.

11: optical multiplexer (optical connector), 12: light guide section, 13: optical fiber holding section, 14: coupling section, 24: lens section, 32: optical fiber, 41: space section, 51: holding section main body ( Parts), 52: Presser lid (parts), 61: Mold (mold member)

Claims (5)

A light guide unit that has a lens unit and guides incoming / outgoing light that enters and exits the lens unit in a predetermined direction;
An optical fiber, and an optical fiber holding part that holds the end face of the optical fiber so as to face the lens part of the light guide part,
The light guide portion and the optical fiber holding portion are integrally molded,
A space portion is formed in the connecting portion between the light guide portion and the optical fiber holding portion ,
An optical connector, wherein the optical fiber holding part is integrally molded with the light guide part by insert molding the preformed light guide part .   A light guide unit that has a lens unit and guides incoming / outgoing light that enters and exits the lens unit in a predetermined direction;
  An optical fiber, and an optical fiber holding part that holds the end face of the optical fiber so as to face the lens part of the light guide part,
  The light guide portion and the optical fiber holding portion are integrally molded,
  The connection part of the said light guide part and the said optical fiber holding part is provided with a pair of arms, and the space part is formed in the center of a pair of said arm, The optical connector characterized by the above-mentioned. The optical connector according to claim 1 or 2,
The optical fiber holding part is composed of a plurality of parts for holding and holding the optical fiber. The optical connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The optical fiber holding unit can hold a plurality of the optical fibers,
The light guide unit includes a plurality of the lens units, and combines light from the plurality of optical fibers, or demultiplexes light to the plurality of optical fibers. Connector. An optical fiber having a lens portion and holding an optical fiber that guides incoming and outgoing light entering and exiting the lens portion in a predetermined direction and an optical fiber so that an end surface thereof faces the lens portion of the light guide portion A method of manufacturing an optical connector having a holding part,
The optical fiber holding part is integrally formed by insert molding with respect to the pre-formed light guide part, and is arranged between the light guide part and the optical fiber holding part so as to cover the lens part of the light guide part. The mold member is extracted after the optical fiber holding portion is integrally formed, and a space portion is formed in the connecting portion between the light guide portion and the optical fiber holding portion.

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