JP5492840B2 - Plastic optical fiber structure, lighting device, endoscope, and method for manufacturing plastic optical fiber structure - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a plastic optical fiber structure that can be suitably used for an illumination device, an endoscope, and the like, an illumination device including the plastic optical fiber structure, an endoscope, and a method for manufacturing the plastic optical fiber structure.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a light guide for transmitting illumination light in an illumination device such as an endoscope, an optical fiber made of multicomponent glass (multicomponent fiber) is known.
In Patent Document 1, a plurality of plastic optical fiber bare wires are arranged substantially evenly in a cylindrical or cylindrical resin body capable of transmitting light along the circumference of the resin body. A plastic optical fiber structure is described.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-288935

Conventional light guides using multi-component fibers are configured by bundling multi-component fibers, so that it is relatively easy to change the shape such as bending or dividing into several lines for use in an endoscope. However, the conventional light guide using multi-component fibers is relatively expensive because the multi-component fibers are bundled and manufactured.
Further, the plastic optical fiber structure described in Patent Document 1 is low in cost because it can be manufactured as a whole by extrusion molding. However, since this plastic optical fiber structure is intended for side light emission (light emission from the cylindrical outer peripheral surface), there is no description about using it as a light guide that emits end face light.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and is intended to ensure low cost and high light incidence efficiency.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides the following configuration.
1st invention is comprised using the ring fiber which arranged the bare wire of the plastic optical fiber along the resin body longitudinal direction in the inside of the cylindrical resin body over the whole circumferential direction, A machined end in which at least one end in the longitudinal direction is cut along the longitudinal direction of the bare wire, and different portions in the circumferential direction of the ring fiber are wrapped so as to be thinner than the cylindrical portion of the ring fiber. Department have a,
Provided is a plastic optical fiber structure in which a light-receiving projection having a curved convex surface is formed at the end of the processed end using a transparent adhesive having a refractive index smaller than that of the bare wire .
2nd invention provides the plastic optical fiber structure of 1st invention by which the said process edge part is inserted in the nozzle | cap | die which clamps this process edge part.
A third invention provides the plastic optical fiber structure according to the first or second invention, wherein the processed end portion is formed by twisting the end portion of the ring fiber.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the plastic optical fiber structure according to any one of the first to third aspects, the processed end portion is a set of divided pieces obtained by dividing the end portion of the ring fiber by the cutting. I will provide a.
A fifth invention provides the plastic optical fiber structure according to the second invention, wherein the base has a tapered inner hole.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, at least one end in the longitudinal direction of a ring fiber in which a plurality of bare plastic optical fibers along the longitudinal direction of the resin body are arranged inside the cylindrical resin body over the entire circumferential direction is provided. Cutting along the longitudinal direction of the bare wire, wrapping mutually different parts in the circumferential direction of the ring fiber, forming a processed end that is thinner than the cylindrical part of the ring fiber , Provided is a method for producing a plastic optical fiber structure in which a light-receiving projection having a curved convex surface is formed at the end of the processed end using a transparent adhesive having a smaller refractive index .
7th invention provides the manufacturing method of the plastic optical fiber structure of 6th invention which further has the process of inserting the edge part of the cut | disconnected ring fiber in the nozzle | cap | die which clamp | tightens the said process edge part.
8th invention provides the manufacturing method of the plastic optical fiber structure of 6th or 7th invention which further has the process of twisting the edge part of the cut | disconnected ring fiber.
A ninth invention provides a method for producing a plastic optical fiber structure according to any one of the sixth to eighth inventions, wherein the split piece portions obtained by dividing the end portion of the ring fiber into a plurality of pieces by the cutting are gathered.
A tenth aspect of the invention comprises a ring fiber in which a plurality of bare plastic optical fibers along the longitudinal direction of the resin body are arranged inside a cylindrical resin body over the entire circumferential direction. At least one end in the longitudinal direction is cut into a plurality of divided pieces by cutting a plurality of locations in the circumferential direction along the longitudinal direction of the bare wire, and each divided piece is adjacent on one side. Provided is an assembled plastic optical fiber structure so that when one split piece is wrapped outward, the other split piece adjacent on the other side is wrapped inward.
An eleventh invention, the end portion of the inlet morphism side of the plastic optical fiber structure of any one invention of the first to 5,10, to provide a lighting apparatus having a light source.
In a twelfth aspect of the present invention, an image of an observation region facing the output side end of the plastic optical fiber structure is transmitted into the plastic optical fiber structure according to any one of the first to fifth and tenth aspects. An endoscope comprising an image transmission means is provided.

According to the present invention, the light incident efficiency from the light source to the plastic optical fiber structure can be increased, and as a result, the end opposite to the end where light is incident from the light source in the longitudinal direction of the plastic optical fiber structure. An increase in the amount of light emitted from the portion can be easily realized.
The ring fiber used for manufacturing the plastic optical fiber structure has a configuration in which a plurality of bare plastic optical fibers along the longitudinal direction of the resin body are arranged inside the cylindrical resin body over the entire circumferential direction. Therefore, it can be easily manufactured at low cost by, for example, extrusion molding. The production of the plastic optical fiber structure using the ring fiber also contributes to the cost reduction of the plastic optical fiber structure.

It is a figure explaining the 1st form example of this invention, Comprising: (a) is a perspective view which shows the state which cut | disconnected the edge part of the ring fiber in the bare wire longitudinal direction, (b) is a perspective view which shows the structure of a process edge part. FIG. It is a figure explaining the 2nd form example of this invention, Comprising: (a) is a perspective view which shows the state which cut | disconnected the edge part of the ring fiber in the bare wire longitudinal direction, (b) is a perspective view which shows the structure of a process edge part. FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows an example of a cross section perpendicular | vertical to the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical part of the plastic optical fiber structure of this invention. It is sectional drawing in alignment with a longitudinal direction which shows an example of the ring fiber before processing an edge part. It is sectional drawing which shows the edge part vicinity of the ring fiber of FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the state (illuminating device) which provided the light source in the edge part of the incident side of a plastic optical fiber structure. (A), (b) is a figure which shows the example of the state which inserted the process edge part in a nozzle | cap | die. It is a perspective view which shows an example (C-shaped base) of a base of FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the state which protruded the protrusion for light absorption in the process edge part of the plastic optical fiber structure. It is a model figure which shows an example of the process edge part which performed the twist process, Comprising: (a) is an example of the state which inserted the process edge part in a nozzle | cap | die, (b) is used in an exposed state without being inserted in a nozzle | cap | die. An example of the processed end portion is shown. It is a figure explaining the 3rd form example of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the state (endoscope) which provided the image acquisition means and the image transmission means in the plastic optical fiber structure shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the state (endoscope) which provided the image acquisition means and the image transmission means in the plastic optical fiber structure shown in FIG.

The present invention will be described below based on preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1B and FIG. 2B show the shape in the vicinity of the incident side end (the processed end 11 described later) in the plastic optical fiber structure 10 of the first and second embodiments of the present invention.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the plastic optical fiber structure 10 of the present invention includes a plastic optical fiber bare wire 2 along the longitudinal direction of the resin body 3 inside the cylindrical resin body 3. It is manufactured by using a plurality of ring fibers 1 arranged in a row. The plastic optical fiber structure 10 has a configuration in which one end in the longitudinal direction of the ring fiber 1 is processed to be thinner than the cylindrical portion of the ring fiber 1. Hereinafter, the processed end portion is also referred to as a processed end portion 11.

The ring fiber 1 has a ring-shaped cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and the inside of the ring-shaped resin body 3 is a hollow portion 4.
In addition, a plurality of bare wires 2 are provided inside the ring-shaped resin body 3. These bare wires 2 extend along the longitudinal direction of the ring fiber 1 (the left-right direction in FIG. 1). The bare wire 2 is a plastic optical fiber (POF) in which a resin sheath made of a material having a lower refractive index than the core is provided around the core. Each bare wire 2 functions as an optical waveguide due to a difference in refractive index between the core and the resin sheath. Both the core and the resin sheath are made of a plastic that can transmit light transmitted by the plastic optical fiber structure 10.

  The plastic constituting the core of the bare wire 2 is not particularly limited, and a conventional plastic for optical fiber core can be used. Examples of the bare wire plastic include a homopolymer of methyl methacrylate (polymethyl methacrylate: PMMA), a copolymer of methyl methacrylate and an acrylate ester, a copolymer of methyl methacrylate and styrene, a polycarbonate, and a styrene series. Resin etc. are mentioned.

  The plastic constituting the resin sheath of the bare wire 2 is not particularly limited, and a conventional plastic for a resin sheath of a plastic optical fiber can be used. Examples of the plastic for the resin sheath include a copolymer of vinylidene fluoride and tetrafluoroethylene, a copolymer of vinylidene fluoride and hexafluoropropene, and a copolymer of vinylidene fluoride, tetrafluoroethylene and hexafluoropropene. And a copolymer of vinylidene fluoride, trifluoroethylene, and hexafluoroacetone, a fluoroalkyl methacrylate resin, and a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate.

  The resin constituting the resin body 3 includes polyethylene, a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate, a copolymer of ethylene and ethyl acrylate, polyvinyl chloride, a thermoplastic polyurethane, an elastomer made of a styrene / butadiene block copolymer, Alternatively, most of the double bonds of this copolymer are hydrogenated, a copolymer of vinylidene fluoride and hexafluoropropene, a copolymer of vinylidene fluoride, hexafluoropropene and tetrafluoroethylene, vinylidene fluoride And a copolymer of chlorotrifluoroethylene, silicon resin and the like.

The ring fiber 1 can be easily manufactured at low cost, for example, by extrusion. Further, the ring fiber 1 has such flexibility that the user can easily bend it with fingers.
Further, the ring fiber 1 can be easily cut by a blade, and for example, it is possible to easily cut an end portion in the longitudinal direction in the longitudinal direction of the bare wire and divide it into a plurality of pieces.

As shown in FIG. 6, in the plastic optical fiber structure 10, one end portion along the longitudinal direction is an end portion 7 on the incident side, and the other end portion on the opposite side is an end on the output side. Part 5. The bare wire 2 and the resin body 3 both extend from the incident-side end 7 to the emission-side end 5 along the longitudinal direction of the plastic optical fiber structure 10. The hollow portion 4 also extends along the longitudinal direction of the plastic optical fiber structure 10 and is open at both ends (that is, the end portion 7 on the incident side and the end portion 5 on the emission side).
In the plastic optical fiber structure 10, as shown in FIG. 6, when a light source 8 is provided at the end 7 on the incident side, light from the light source 8 is transmitted along each bare wire 2 and emitted from the end 5 on the emission side. Is possible.

  As shown in FIG. 5, in the conventional plastic optical fiber structure, one end portion in the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical ring fiber 1 is used as it is as an end portion on the incident side without being processed. When an LED (Light Emitting Diode) is used as the light source 8 for making light incident on the plastic optical fiber structure, as shown by the phantom line in FIG. 5, the central portion of the light emitting surface 8a of the LED is used. Is aligned with the central axis of the incident side end of the plastic optical fiber structure (ring fiber 1), so that the light incident on the plastic optical fiber structure can be equalized.

  In contrast, in the present invention, as shown in FIG. 6, at least one end in the longitudinal direction of the plastic optical fiber structure 10 is thinner than the cylindrical portion of the plastic optical fiber structure 10. 11. The LED generally has a light emission profile in which the light intensity of the light emitted from the outer peripheral portion of the light emitting surface is lower than the light emitted from the central portion of the light emitting surface. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 6, the plastic optical fiber structure 10 is provided with an LED as the light source 8 at the processed end portion 11, and the processed end portion 11 is incident-side end to which light emitted from the light source 8 is incident. When used as the part 7, if the central part of the light emitting surface 8 a of the light source 8 (LED) is positioned on the central axis of the processed end part 11, high optical coupling efficiency can be secured between the light source 8 and the light source 8.

  In other words, the plastic optical fiber structure 10 has a light source 8 projecting from the end face of each bare wire 2 at the incident side end 7 compared to the cylindrical incident side end of the plastic optical fiber structure illustrated in FIG. Since it can arrange | position close to a light-emitting axis, high optical coupling efficiency is securable between the light sources 8. FIG. Therefore, the plastic optical fiber structure 10 can easily secure a large amount of light incident from the light source 8 (ensure high light incident efficiency) as compared with the plastic optical fiber structure illustrated in FIG. As a result, the plastic optical fiber structure 10 can easily realize an increase in the amount of outgoing light from the end face on the outgoing side, compared with the plastic optical fiber structure illustrated in FIG.

An LED is a light source that generates significantly less heat due to light emission than, for example, an incandescent bulb. Adopting an LED as the light source 8 is preferable in that it prevents the heat from the light source from affecting the plastic optical fiber structure, such as deformation, deterioration of mechanical characteristics, and increase in optical loss.
Employing an LED as the light source 8 can be applied to all the embodiments according to the present invention.

The processed end portion 11 of the plastic optical fiber structure 10 according to the present invention is obtained by cutting the end portion in the longitudinal direction of the ring fiber 1 (also simply referred to as an end portion in this specification) along the longitudinal direction of the bare wire 2. (Cut process), the ring fiber 1 is formed by wrapping different parts in the circumferential direction and making it thinner than the cylindrical part 6 of the ring fiber 1 (end forming process).
The plastic optical fiber structure 10 can be manufactured by processing the ring fiber 1 that is easy to manufacture and can be obtained at low cost. For this reason, the plastic optical fiber structure 10 can be obtained at low cost.

Further, the shape of the processed end portion 11 is fixed using, for example, an adhesive. The end portion forming step includes a shape fixing step for fixing the shape of the processed end portion 11.
The presence of a portion where different portions are wrapped in the circumferential direction of the ring fiber 1 is effective for securing the shape of the processed end 11 and ensuring the shape stability by bonding and fixing the wrapped portion with an adhesive. Contribute.

  In FIG. 1A and FIG. 2A, reference numeral 12 denotes a cutting line formed by cutting the end portion of the ring fiber 1. 1A and 2A, the cutting line 12 is formed so as to extend from the end surface 1 a of the ring fiber 1 along the longitudinal direction of the bare wire 2. The cutting (cutting process) of the end of the ring fiber 1 is a process in which one or a plurality of positions in the circumferential direction of the end of the ring fiber 1 is cut off and made discontinuous. Cutting the end of the ring fiber 1 along the longitudinal direction of the bare wire 2 reduces the number of cuts of the bare wire 2 and is effective in increasing the amount of light emitted from the end surface of the plastic optical fiber structure 10 Contribute to.

As a method for cutting the end portion of the ring fiber 1, for example, cutting using a blade can be employed. As other cutting methods, for example, a known method employed for cutting a plastic material, such as laser cutting, can be employed.
Since the ring fiber 1 is made of plastic, processing using a blade is easy.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b), the processed end portion 11 (indicated by reference numeral 11A in the drawing) of the first embodiment is only one place in the circumferential direction of the end portion of the ring fiber 1. Cut along the longitudinal direction of the bare wire 2, the end portion is wound around the axis of the ring fiber 1 (the axis of the cylindrical portion 6), and formed into a tapered shape extending from the cylindrical portion 6. (Tapered winding part). Further, the shape of the processed end portion 11A is fixed using, for example, an adhesive. The processed end portion 11A has a portion where different portions are wrapped in the circumferential direction of the ring fiber 1.

The processed end portion 11A illustrated in FIG. 1B has, in its tip, a ring fiber 1 circumferential direction from one of a pair of cut surfaces formed by cutting the end portion of the end portion of the ring fiber 1. A range of about one third is inserted into the inner surface side from the circumferential end where the other cut surface is located.
In the processed end portion 11A, of the end portion of the ring fiber 1, a portion (insertion wrap portion) inserted from the circumferential end portion (winding outer end portion) where the other cut surface is located to the inner surface side, It overlaps (wraps) with the part located outside. However, in the processed end portion 11A, the size of the insertion wrap portion of the end portion of the ring fiber 1 can be appropriately changed.

  2 (a) and 2 (b), the processed end 11 of the second embodiment (indicated by reference numeral 11B in the figure) is the end of the ring fiber 1 and a plurality of portions in the circumferential direction are bare. Cut along the longitudinal direction of the line 2 to be divided into a plurality (four in the illustrated example) of divided piece portions 13 (cutting step), and these divided piece portions 13 are assembled and fixed in shape using an adhesive. It is. The end surfaces of the plurality of bare wires 2 are exposed at the end surfaces of the divided piece portions 13.

  This processed end portion 11B (divided piece assembly end portion) is also formed by being formed into a tapered shape extending from the cylindrical portion 6 of the ring fiber 1. Moreover, in the process end part 11B, about the division | segmentation piece part 13 adjacent formed by the cutting | disconnection of the ring fiber 1 edge part, the part mutually wrapped is ensured.

The technique for fixing the shape of the processed end 11 is not limited to adhesive fixing with an adhesive.
For example, it is also possible to employ a technique in which a plurality of or the entire end portion of the ring fiber 1 subjected to the cutting process is heated and the lap portions between the end portions of the ring fiber 1 are heat-welded.
Further, as shown in FIG. 7A, the end portion of the ring fiber 1 subjected to the cutting process is press-fitted into a ring-shaped base 14 having an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion 6 of the ring fiber 1, It is also possible to fix the shape of the processed end 11. As the base 14, for example, a C-shaped base 14a illustrated in FIG. 8 or a ring member having no discontinuous portion in the circumferential direction can be employed.

The inner hole penetrating the inside of the base 14a illustrated in FIG. 7A has a constant inner diameter over the entire length in the axial direction. However, as the base 14, for example, as shown in FIG. 7B, a base having a tapered inner hole may be used. Reference numeral 14b in the figure is added to the base 14 in FIG.
The inner hole 14c that penetrates the inside of the base 14b illustrated in FIG. 7B is formed so as to taper from one end in the axial direction of the straight hole 14d and the straight hole 14d that forms an opening at one end in the axial direction. And a tapered hole portion 14e. The straight hole portion 14 d is formed with an inner diameter slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion 6 of the ring fiber 1. In the case of this base 14b, the ring fiber 1 end portion subjected to the cutting process can be press-fitted into the inner hole 14c from the straight hole portion 14d side, whereby the end portion of the ring fiber 1 can be tightened. The shape of the part 11 can be fixed.

  The base having the tapered inner hole may be either a C-shaped base or a ring member having no discontinuous portion in the circumferential direction. Moreover, as a nozzle | cap | die, the whole inner hole is formed by the taper hole part, and besides a taper hole part, as a part of an inner hole, it is equivalent to or slightly larger than the outer diameter of the cylindrical part 6 of the ring fiber 1 A configuration having a portion that is formed on the inner diameter and does not contribute to tightening of the processed end portion 11 can also be employed.

7 (a) and 7 (b), the end portion of the ring fiber 1 subjected to the cutting process is press-fitted into the base 14 (press-in process) and tightened so that the processed end portion 11 becomes the processed end portion. 11 is inserted into a base 14 for fastening 11. The base 14 functions to fix the shape of the processed end 11 and keep the shape stable.
After the cutting step, when the end portion of the ring fiber 1 before shape fixing by adhesive fixing using an adhesive is press-fitted into the base 14, the base 14 is processed into a target shape by tightening the end portion of the ring fiber 1. The end portion 11 is formed and the shape of the processed end portion 11 is fixed.

In this case, the processed end portion 11 is formed in a shape (outer shape) along the inner surface of a portion (hereinafter also referred to as a tightening hole portion) for tightening the processed end portion of the inner hole of the die.
For example, as in the base 14 a illustrated in FIG. 7A, if the base 14 has a tightening hole portion having a constant inner diameter over the entire length in the axial direction, the processed end portion 11 has its axial line. It is formed in a certain cross-sectional shape in the direction.
When a die having a straight hole portion 14d and a tapered hole portion 14e functioning as the tightening hole portion is used like the die 14b in FIG. 7B, the straight hole portion 14d of the processed end portion 11 is inserted. The portion that is formed has a constant cross-sectional shape in the axial direction, and the portion that is inserted into the tapered hole portion 14e is formed in a tapered shape.

The end portion of the ring fiber 1 to be press-fitted into the base 14 may be in the state of the processed end portion 11 whose shape is fixed by adhesive fixing using an adhesive or the like after completion of the cutting process.
Note that the press-fitting step of press-fitting the end portion of the ring fiber 1 subjected to the cutting step corresponds to a step of interpolating the end portion of the ring fiber that has been cut into the cap for tightening the processed end portion.

FIG. 9 shows an example in which a light capturing protrusion 15 having an external dome shape is provided at the tip of the processed end 11 using an adhesive. The light capturing protrusion 15 forms a curved convex surface.
As the adhesive, a material having a refractive index smaller than that of the bare wire 2 of the ring fiber 1 and transparent in the cured state is adopted. The light capturing protrusion 15 functions to increase the coupling efficiency of the light emitted from the light source 8 to the processing end 11. Therefore, with the configuration in which the light capturing projection 15 is provided at the processing end 11, the increase in the amount of light incident from the light source 8 onto the plastic optical fiber structure can be realized more easily.

The light capturing protrusion 15 is formed, for example, by depositing an adhesive for fixing the shape of the processed end 11 on the tip of the processed end 11.
In FIG. 9, the processed end 11 of the plastic optical fiber structure is inserted into the base 14, and the base 14 and the processed end 11 are bonded and fixed using an adhesive. The light capturing protrusion 15 may be formed by depositing an adhesive for fixing the base 14 and the processing end 11 on the tip of the processing end 11. The adhesive for fixing the base 14 and the processed end 11 may be the same as the adhesive for fixing the shape of the processed end 11.

  The base 14 can be omitted. The present invention also includes a configuration in which the base is omitted from the plastic optical fiber structure illustrated in FIG.

As described above, the plastic optical fiber structure 10 in which the incident side end 7 is the processed end 11 is provided with the light source 8 at the incident side end 7 (processed end 11), and the bare wire 2 from the light source 8 is provided. It can be used as the illumination device 9 (see FIG. 6) by being configured so that light enters.
The light source 8 is arranged with its light emitting surface 8 a facing the tip surface of the processed end portion 11. The light source 8 aligns the central portion of the light emitting surface 8 a with the extension of the axis of the processing end 11 of the plastic optical fiber structure 10, and the optical axis of the emitted light from the light source 8 is set to the axis of the processing end 11. Match roughly. With this configuration, the illuminating device can ensure high coupling efficiency with respect to the processing end 11 for the light emitted from the light source 8, and the amount of incident light from the incident side end of the plastic optical fiber structure 10 and from the output side end. An increase in the amount of emitted light can be easily realized.

  As shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, the processed end portion 11 of the plastic optical fiber structure 10 may be configured to be twisted in the direction around the axis. Reference numeral 11C is added to the processed end 11 in FIG. The processed end portion 11C is made thinner than the cylindrical portion 6 of the ring fiber 1 by twisting the end portion of the ring fiber 1 that has been subjected to the cutting process, and further, for example, a shape such as adhesive fixing using an adhesive. It is formed by performing a fixing process and fixing its shape. Twisting the end of the ring fiber 1 that has been subjected to the cutting process makes it easier to form the processed end 11 narrower than the cylindrical portion 6 of the ring fiber 1.

FIG. 10A shows an example of a configuration in which the processed end portion 11C is inserted into the base 14, and FIG. 10B shows an example of the processed end portion 11C that is used without being inserted into the base 14 while being exposed. .
FIG. 10A illustrates the configuration using the C-shaped base 14a illustrated in FIG. 8 as the base 14, but the base is not limited thereto, and the configuration already described in this specification is used. It can be appropriately selected and used.
10A and 10B illustrate a configuration in which a light capturing protrusion 15 is provided at the tip of the processing end 11C. However, in the present invention, the light capturing protrusion is provided at the tip of the processing end 11C. The structure which does not provide the protrusion 15 is also included.

FIG. 11 shows the shape of the vicinity of the end 7A on the incident side in the plastic optical fiber structure 10A according to the third embodiment of the present invention.
The incident side end portion 7A of the plastic optical fiber structure 10A is obtained by dividing and dispersing the end portion of the ring fiber 1 into a plurality of portions in the circumferential direction.
For example, as illustrated in FIG. 2A, the incident-side end portion 7A is formed by cutting the end portion of the ring fiber 1 along a longitudinal direction of the bare wire 2 at a plurality of locations in the circumferential direction (see FIG. It is formed by dividing into four (4 in the example) divided piece portions 13 (cutting step) and dispersing these divided piece portions 13. The plurality of divided piece portions 13 are radially dispersed from the cylindrical portion 6 of the ring fiber 1, and the distal end portions of the divided piece portions 13 are separated from each other. The end surfaces of the plurality of bare wires 2 are exposed at the end surfaces of the divided piece portions 13.

As shown in FIG. 11, the incident side end portion 7 </ b> A is formed by fixing each divided piece portion 13 to the shape fixing member 16 provided on the incident side end portion 7 </ b> A by adhesive fixing using an adhesive or the like. You may maintain the state which the front-end | tip part of the piece part 13 mutually separated.
As a technique for fixing the positions of the tip portions of the plurality of split piece portions 13 of the incident side end portion 7A and keeping the tip portions of the split piece portions 13 separated from each other (split piece fixing method), The method is not limited to the method of fixing the divided piece portion 13 to the shape fixing member 16. As a split piece fixing method, for example, formation of a mold resin portion that collectively covers all the split pieces 13 of the incident side end portion 7A can be employed.

As shown in FIG. 11, the plastic optical fiber structure 10 </ b> A includes a plurality of light sources 8 corresponding to the divided piece portions 13, and is configured so that light from the light sources 8 enters the bare wire 2. It can be used as the lighting device 9A.
The light source 8 is disposed with its light emitting surface 8 a facing the tip surface of the segment piece 13. Further, the light source 8 aligns the central portion of the light emitting surface 8 a with the central portion of the distal end surface of the divided piece portion 13. Thereby, this illuminating device can ensure the high coupling | bonding efficiency with respect to the division | segmentation piece part 13 with respect to the emitted light from the light source 8, the incident light quantity from the incident side edge part of 10 A of plastic optical fiber structures, and the emission from an emission side edge part An increase in the amount of light can be easily realized.

  In this plastic optical fiber structure 10A, the light emitted from the light source 8 provided corresponding to each divided piece 13 and the bare wire 2 of the plastic optical fiber exposed at the distal end surface of the divided piece 13 are provided. In order to increase the optical coupling efficiency, a dome-shaped light capturing protrusion may be formed on the front end surface of each divided piece 13 using a transparent resin (adhesive or the like).

The plastic optical fiber structure according to each of the above-described embodiments is provided with an image transmission unit that transmits an image from the observation site when the emission-side end portion 5 is opposed to the observation site, thereby observing an endoscope or the like. It can also be applied as a device.
According to the endoscope of this embodiment, by providing the image transmission means inside the cylindrical portion 6 of the plastic optical fiber structure, light is emitted from each bare wire 2 around the image transmission means, and the observation site Since the obtained image can be transmitted to the operation side of the endoscope by the image transmission means, it is preferable.

FIG. 12 shows an example of a configuration (observation apparatus) in which an image transmission means is provided at the emission side end portion 5 of the plastic optical fiber structure 10 of the illumination device 9 illustrated in FIG. FIG. 13 illustrates an example of a configuration (observation apparatus) in which an image transmission unit is provided at the emission-side end portion 5 of the plastic optical fiber structure 10A of the illumination device 9A illustrated in FIG.
12 and 13, a light source 8 is provided at the incident side end portions 7 and 7A of the plastic optical fiber structure 10A.

In the example shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, an image acquisition unit 22 is provided at the tip of the image transmission unit 21, and the end surface 23 of the image acquisition unit 22 is configured to face the observation site.
In an observation apparatus such as an endoscope of this embodiment, if the image acquisition unit 22 is configured to acquire an image of an observation site and the image transmission unit 21 is configured to transmit an image of the observation site, the specific example A general means can be employed without any particular limitation. For example, when the image transmission means 21 is an image fiber, an objective lens can be used as the image acquisition means 22. In addition, when the image transmission means 21 is an electrical conductor, an image sensor 22 such as a CCD can be provided at the tip to transmit an image as an electrical signal.
Furthermore, the plastic optical fiber structure 10 allows various means such as injection means for injecting chemicals such as gas and liquid from the hollow portion 4 (see FIG. 3) and mechanical means for operating the observation part to reach the observation part. Can also be used.

12 and 13, a linear image transmission means 21 such as an image fiber or an electrical lead is an opening formed in the middle portion between the emission side end portion 5 and the incident side end portion 7 of the plastic optical fiber structure 10. Through the portion 16, the plastic optical fiber structure 10 extends from the inside of the cylindrical portion 6 to the outside of the cylindrical portion 6.
The opening 16 is formed by cutting the cylindrical portion 6 of the plastic optical fiber structure 10 along its longitudinal direction, that is, along the longitudinal direction of the bare wire 2. This opening portion 16 is preferable in that it can keep the number of cuts of the bare wire 2 at the time of formation small, and thus secures a larger amount of light emitted from the end portion on the emission side.

As mentioned above, although this invention has been demonstrated based on suitable embodiment, this invention is not limited to the above-mentioned example, Various modifications are possible in the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention.
The plastic optical fiber structure of the present invention can also be used with the resin body 3 exposed to the outside. It is also possible to provide another coating or tube outside the plastic optical fiber structure.
Moreover, as a plastic optical fiber structure, it is good also considering the edge part of both the longitudinal directions as the process edge part 11. FIG. If the output side end of the plastic optical fiber structure is a processed end, there is an advantage that it can be smoothly inserted into a narrow pipe or the like.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Ring fiber, 1a ... End surface of (ring fiber), 2 ... Bare wire of plastic optical fiber, 3 ... Resin body, 4 ... Hollow part, 5 ... End part of the output side of plastic optical fiber structure, 6 ... Cylindrical part (of ring fiber, plastic optical fiber structure), 7, 7A ... End of incident side (of plastic optical fiber structure), 8 ... Light source, 9, 9A ... Lighting device 10, 10A ... Plastic Optical fiber structure, 11, 11A, 11B, 11C ... processing end.

Claims (12)

A cylindrical resin body is formed using a ring fiber in which a plurality of bare plastic optical fibers along the resin body longitudinal direction are arranged over the entire circumferential direction, and at least one of the ring fibers in the longitudinal direction is formed. the ends, cut along the longitudinal direction of the bare wire, to wrap different parts to each other in the ring fiber circumferentially have a working end that is thinner than the cylindrical portion of the ring fibers,
A plastic optical fiber structure in which a light-receiving projection having a curved convex surface is formed at a tip of the processed end using a transparent adhesive having a refractive index smaller than that of the bare wire .   The plastic optical fiber structure according to claim 1, wherein the processed end is inserted into a base for fastening the processed end.   The plastic optical fiber structure according to claim 1, wherein the processed end is formed by twisting an end of the ring fiber. The plastic optical fiber structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the processed end is a collection of divided pieces obtained by dividing the end of a ring fiber into a plurality of pieces by the cutting.   The plastic optical fiber structure according to claim 2, wherein the base has a tapered inner hole. At least one end in the longitudinal direction of the ring fiber in which a plurality of bare plastic optical fibers along the longitudinal direction of the resin body are arranged in the entire circumferential direction inside the cylindrical resin body, the longitudinal direction of the bare wire Cut along the direction and wrap different parts in the circumferential direction of the ring fiber to form a processed end that is thinner than the cylindrical part of the ring fiber, and has a smaller refractive index than the bare wire A method for producing a plastic optical fiber structure , wherein a light-receiving projection having a curved convex surface is formed at a tip of the processed end using a transparent adhesive . The method for manufacturing a plastic optical fiber structure according to claim 6 , further comprising a step of interpolating the cut end portion of the ring fiber into a base for fastening the processed end portion. The method for manufacturing a plastic optical fiber structure according to claim 6 or 7 , further comprising a step of twisting an end portion of the cut ring fiber. The method for manufacturing a plastic optical fiber structure according to any one of claims 6 to 8 , wherein the split piece portions obtained by dividing the end portion of the ring fiber into a plurality of pieces by the cutting are gathered.   A cylindrical resin body is formed using a ring fiber in which a plurality of bare plastic optical fibers along the resin body longitudinal direction are arranged over the entire circumferential direction, and at least one of the ring fibers in the longitudinal direction is formed. The end portion is cut into a plurality of divided pieces by cutting a plurality of portions in the circumferential direction along the longitudinal direction of the bare wire, and each divided piece is adjacent to one side on one side. Is a plastic optical fiber structure assembled so that when the outer side wraps outward, the other split piece on the other side wraps inward. The end of the inlet morphism side of the plastic optical fiber structure according to any one of claims 1 to 5 and 10, the lighting apparatus including a light source. The image transmission means which transmits the image of the observation site | part which opposes the edge part of the emission side of the said plastic optical fiber structure inside the plastic optical fiber structure of any one of Claims 1-5, 10 An endoscope characterized by comprising.

Images