JP5787256B2

JP5787256B2 - Optical path switching device and optical signal optical path switching method

Info

Publication number: JP5787256B2
Application number: JP2011251263A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 上野　一郎; 一郎上野; 平賀　隆; 隆平賀; 浩文渡邊; 田中　教雄; 教雄田中; 宝田　茂; 茂宝田
Original assignee: Dainichiseika Color and Chemicals Mfg Co Ltd; National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology AIST
Current assignee: Dainichiseika Color and Chemicals Mfg Co Ltd; National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology AIST
Priority date: 2011-11-17
Filing date: 2011-11-17
Publication date: 2015-09-30
Anticipated expiration: 2031-11-17
Also published as: JP2013105167A

Description

本発明は、光通信や光情報処理等の光エレクトロニクスやフォトニクスの各分野において活用され、熱レンズ方式光制御式光路切替スイッチを利用して光路の切替を行う光路切替装置、および光信号の光路切替方法に関する。 The present invention is used in various fields of optical electronics and photonics such as optical communication and optical information processing, and switches an optical path using a thermal lens type light control type optical path switching switch, and an optical path of an optical signal The switching method.

本発明者等は、先に、新しい原理に基づく光路切替装置および方法を発明した（特許文献１参照）。この光路切替装置等では、熱レンズ形成素子内の制御光吸収領域に対して、制御光吸収領域が吸収する波長帯域の制御光と、制御光吸収領域が吸収しない波長帯域の信号光とを、各光軸が一致するように収束させて照射し得る構成を有している。この構成によれば、熱レンズ形成素子内の制御光吸収領域への信号光の照射に対して、制御光の照射は選択的に行われる。制御光の照射が信号光の照射と同時に行われないときには信号光が穴付ミラーの穴を通して直進し、他方、制御光の照射が信号光の照射と同時に行われるときには信号光の進行方向に対して傾けて設けた穴付ミラーで反射して光路を変更させる。特許文献１には、１種類の波長の制御光によって制御光の進行方向を２方向に切り替えることができる光制御型光路切替装置が開示されている。この光制御型光路切替装置は以下では「１対２型光制御型光路切替装置」と記す。 The inventors previously invented an optical path switching device and method based on a new principle (see Patent Document 1). In this optical path switching device or the like, with respect to the control light absorption region in the thermal lens forming element, the control light in the wavelength band that the control light absorption region absorbs and the signal light in the wavelength band that the control light absorption region does not absorb, It has the structure which can converge and irradiate so that each optical axis may correspond. According to this configuration, the control light irradiation is selectively performed with respect to the signal light irradiation to the control light absorption region in the thermal lens forming element. When the control light irradiation is not performed simultaneously with the signal light irradiation, the signal light travels straight through the hole of the holed mirror. On the other hand, when the control light irradiation is performed simultaneously with the signal light irradiation, the signal light travels in the traveling direction. The optical path is changed by reflecting with a mirror with a hole provided at an angle. Patent Document 1 discloses a light control type optical path switching device capable of switching the traveling direction of control light to two directions by control light of one type of wavelength. This light control type optical path switching device is hereinafter referred to as “one-to-two type light control type optical path switching device”.

更に、本発明者等は、熱レンズ形成素子および穴付ミラーを複数組み合わせて用いて構成した光制御式の光路切替装置および光信号光路切替方法を発明した（特許文献２参照）。この光路切替装置等では、制御光吸収領域が吸収する波長帯域と制御光の波長とを１対１に対応させており、更に、例えば吸収波長帯域の異なる色素を用いた３種類の制御光吸収領域の熱レンズ形成素子を合計７個組み合わせて使用し、併せて、３種類の波長の制御光の各々の明滅を制御することにより、例えばサーバのデータを８箇所に光制御方式で切り替えて配信するシステムが開示されている。 Furthermore, the present inventors have invented an optical control type optical path switching device and an optical signal optical path switching method configured by using a combination of a plurality of thermal lens forming elements and mirrors with holes (see Patent Document 2). In this optical path switching device or the like, the wavelength band absorbed by the control light absorption region and the wavelength of the control light are in a one-to-one correspondence. Further, for example, three types of control light absorption using dyes having different absorption wavelength bands are used. A total of seven thermal lens forming elements in the area are used in combination, and by controlling the blinking of each of the three types of wavelength control light, for example, server data is switched and distributed to eight locations by the light control method. A system is disclosed.

なお、上記の特許文献１，２に開示された光路切替の方式では、制御光を照射した場合、熱レンズ効果によって信号光のビーム断面形状はリング状に変化する。そこで、これらの光路切替方式を以下では「リングビーム方式」と記すこととする。 In the optical path switching methods disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2, when the control light is irradiated, the beam cross-sectional shape of the signal light changes to a ring shape due to the thermal lens effect. Therefore, these optical path switching methods are hereinafter referred to as “ring beam methods”.

更に、本発明者等は、その後、特許文献３〜６に開示される通り、光路変更方法および光路切替装置を提案した。これらの光路変更方法および光路切替装置によれば、熱レンズ形成素子中の制御光吸収領域に、制御光吸収領域が吸収する波長帯域の制御光、および制御光吸収領域が吸収しない波長帯域の信号光を入射させ、制御光および信号光は、制御光吸収領域にて収束するように照射されかつ各々の光の収束点の位置が異なるように照射される。制御光および信号光は、光の進行方向で制御光吸収領域の入射面またはその近辺で収束し、その後、拡散する。これにより、制御光吸収領域内で制御光を吸収した領域およびその周辺領域に温度上昇が起き、当該温度上昇に起因して可逆的に熱レンズの構造が変化し、屈折率が変化して、信号光の進行方向を変化させることができる。特許文献３〜６に記載される光路変更の方式では、制御光を照射しても信号光のビーム断面形状はほぼ円形に保たれる。そこで、当該光路変更の方式を以下では「丸ビーム方式」と記すこととする。 Furthermore, the present inventors proposed an optical path changing method and an optical path switching device as disclosed in Patent Documents 3 to 6 thereafter. According to these optical path changing methods and optical path switching devices, the control light absorption region in the thermal lens forming element has the control light in the wavelength band absorbed by the control light absorption region, and the signal in the wavelength band not absorbed by the control light absorption region. The light is incident, and the control light and the signal light are irradiated so as to converge in the control light absorption region, and are irradiated so that the positions of the convergence points of the respective lights are different. The control light and the signal light converge at or near the incident surface of the control light absorption region in the light traveling direction, and then diffuse. As a result, a temperature rise occurs in the control light absorption region in the control light absorption region and its peripheral region, the structure of the thermal lens reversibly changes due to the temperature rise, the refractive index changes, The traveling direction of the signal light can be changed. In the optical path changing methods described in Patent Documents 3 to 6, even when the control light is irradiated, the beam cross-sectional shape of the signal light is maintained in a substantially circular shape. Therefore, the method of changing the optical path is hereinafter referred to as a “round beam method”.

特許文献４，５には、１種類の波長の制御光によって制御光の進行方向を２方向に切り替える１対２型光制御型光路切替装置が開示されている。また特許文献５，６には、例えば、７芯光ファイバーの中心の光ファイバーから出射する信号光の光路を、中心の光ファイバーの周辺に設けられた光ファイバーから出射する制御光によって７方向に切り替える光制御型光路切替装置が開示されている。この光制御型光路切替装置を以下では「１対７型光制御型光路切替装置」と記す。また、従来の丸ビーム方式の光制御型光路切替装置、特に１対７型光制御型光路切替装置において、制御光および信号光は制御光吸収領域にて収束するように照射されかつ各々の光の収束点の位置が異なるように照射されるが、複数の制御光ビームおよび１つの信号光ビームの光軸の位置合わせの煩雑さを避け、また、偏波依存性に悪影響を与えるダイクロマティックミラーの使用を避けるため、特許文献７に記載の端面近接多芯バンドル光ファイバーが好適に用いられる。更に、特許文献８には熱レンズ効果を有効に利用するために適した熱レンズ形成素子の形態、および、熱レンズ形成素子に用いられる色素溶液の溶剤の粘度および粘度の温度特性について詳しく開示されている。また特許文献６には、例えば、７方向に切り替えられた信号光を７芯光ファイバーで検出する光制御型光路切替装置が開示されている。 Patent Documents 4 and 5 disclose a one-to-two type light control type optical path switching device that switches the traveling direction of control light in two directions with control light of one type of wavelength. Patent Documents 5 and 6 disclose, for example, a light control type in which an optical path of signal light emitted from a central optical fiber of a seven-core optical fiber is switched in seven directions by control light emitted from an optical fiber provided around the central optical fiber. An optical path switching device is disclosed. Hereinafter, this light control type optical path switching device will be referred to as a “1: 7 type light control type optical path switching device”. Further, in a conventional round beam type light control type optical path switching device, in particular, a one-to-seven type light control type optical path switching device, the control light and the signal light are irradiated so as to converge in the control light absorption region and each light The dichroic mirror is irradiated so that the positions of the converging points are different from each other, but avoids the complicated alignment of the optical axes of the plurality of control light beams and one signal light beam, and adversely affects the polarization dependence. In order to avoid the use of the optical fiber, the end face proximity multicore bundle optical fiber described in Patent Document 7 is preferably used. Furthermore, Patent Document 8 discloses in detail the form of a thermal lens forming element suitable for effectively using the thermal lens effect, and the viscosity of the solvent of the dye solution used in the thermal lens forming element and the temperature characteristics of the viscosity. ing. Patent Document 6 discloses, for example, a light control type optical path switching device that detects signal light switched in seven directions with a seven-core optical fiber.

特許第３８０９９０８号公報Japanese Patent No. 3809908 特許第３９０６９２６号公報Japanese Patent No. 3906926 特開２００７−２２５８２５号公報JP 2007-225825 A 特開２００７−２２５８２６号公報JP 2007-225826 A 特開２００７−２２５８２７号公報JP 2007-225827 A 特開２００８−０８３０９５号公報JP 2008-083095 A 特開２００８−０７６６８５号公報JP 2008-076765 A 特開２００９−１７５１６４号公報JP 2009-175164 A

上述の特許文献１〜８では、いずれも１つの信号光源からの信号光を制御光照射の有無により、複数の光路に切り替える方法および装置について述べている。しかし、同一の光路切替装置により、１つの信号光を更に１３以上の複数の光路に切り替えを行いたいという要望がある。ここで、上述の１対７型光制御型光路切替装置に用いられる照射側端面近接７芯バンドル光ファイバーは、中心に配置されたシングルモード信号光照射ファイバーの周りに６本のシングルモード制御光照射ファイバーを最密に配置したものであり、合計７本のシングルモード光ファイバーのコア中心間距離が２５〜４０μｍに規定されたものであるが、この７芯バンドル光ファイバーの外周へ制御光照射ファイバーを最密に追加しても、前記信号光照射ファイバーと前記外周の制御光照射ファイバーとのコア間距離が４０μｍを超えてしまうため、熱レンズ効果による光路変更を充分に行えなくなる、という制約がある。 Patent Documents 1 to 8 described above describe methods and apparatuses for switching signal light from one signal light source to a plurality of optical paths depending on the presence or absence of control light irradiation. However, there is a demand for switching one signal light to more than 13 optical paths by the same optical path switching device. Here, the irradiation side end face proximity seven-core bundle optical fiber used in the above-described one-to-seven type light control type optical path switching device has six single mode control light irradiation around the single mode signal light irradiation fiber arranged at the center. The fibers are arranged in a close-packed manner, and the total distance between the core centers of the seven single-mode optical fibers is specified to be 25 to 40 μm. Even if they are added densely, the distance between the cores of the signal light irradiation fiber and the outer peripheral control light irradiation fiber exceeds 40 μm, so that there is a restriction that the optical path cannot be changed sufficiently by the thermal lens effect.

また、例えば、上述の１対７型光制御型光路切替装置を複数個用いて、それぞれの光路切替装置の信号光を７方向に光路を切り替えて、複数の信号光を複数の光路に切り替えて１つの受光素子に受光させるためには、受光素子の上流側に、光学ミキサーを配置する必要があり、装置構成が煩雑になる。具体的に、例えば、２対２型光制御型光路切替装置を構成する方法として、２台の１対２型光制御型光路切替装置を並列に並べて、これらの２台の１対２型光制御型光路切替装置の出力端を、２台の２対１の光ミキサー（合波器）を用いて束ねることにより、２対２型光制御型光路切替装置を構成可能であるが、順方向については正常動作が可能であるが、逆方向については、光ミキサー（合波器）部分が分波器として働くために、２対２型光制御型光路切替装置が構成できない。これを回避する方法として、４台の１対２型光制御型光路切替装置を用いる構成法がある。すなわち、２台の１対２型光制御型光路切替装置を並列に並べて、上述の光ミキサーの代わりに２台の１対２型光制御型光路切替装置を逆向きに並列に並べて接続することにより、２対２型光制御型光路切替装置が構成できる。この方法により、６対６型光制御型光路切替装置を構成するためには、１２台の１対７型光制御型光路切替装置が必要となり、装置構成が煩雑になる。 In addition, for example, by using a plurality of the above-described one-to-seven type light control type optical path switching devices, the signal light of each optical path switching device is switched in seven directions, and a plurality of signal lights are switched to a plurality of optical paths. In order to cause one light receiving element to receive light, an optical mixer needs to be arranged on the upstream side of the light receiving element, resulting in a complicated apparatus configuration. Specifically, for example, as a method of configuring a 2 to 2 type light control type optical path switching device, two 1 to 2 type light control type optical path switching devices are arranged in parallel, and these two 1 to 2 type light beams are arranged. A two-to-two light control type optical path switching device can be configured by bundling the output ends of the control type optical path switching device using two two-to-one optical mixers (multiplexers). However, in the reverse direction, the optical mixer (multiplexer) part works as a demultiplexer, so that a 2-to-2 type optical control type optical path switching device cannot be constructed. As a method for avoiding this, there is a configuration method using four one-to-two type light control type optical path switching devices. That is, two 1-to-2 type optical control type optical path switching devices are arranged in parallel, and two 1 to 2 type optical control type optical path switching devices are arranged in parallel and connected in reverse in place of the above-mentioned optical mixer. Thus, a 2-to-2 light control type optical path switching device can be configured. In order to configure a 6-to-6 type optical control type optical path switching device by this method, twelve 1 to 7 type optical control type optical path switching devices are required, and the configuration of the apparatus becomes complicated.

本発明の目的は、上記の課題に鑑み、照射側端面近接７芯バンドル光ファイバーを用いた同一の光路切替装置により、１つの信号光を１３以上の複数の光路に切り替え可能とする、光路切替装置および光信号の光路切替方法を提供することにある。 In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an optical path switching device that enables one signal light to be switched to a plurality of 13 or more optical paths by using the same optical path switching device using an irradiation side end face proximity seven-core bundle optical fiber. Another object of the present invention is to provide an optical path switching method for optical signals.

本発明に係る光路切替装置および光信号の光路切替方法は、上記の目的を達成するため、次のように構成される。 In order to achieve the above object, an optical path switching apparatus and an optical signal switching method according to the present invention are configured as follows.

本願請求項１に係る発明の光路切替装置は、
７芯バンドル光ファイバーの中心に配置された光ファイバーであって、１端は１種類以上の波長の信号光の光源に接続され、他端の端面から前記信号光を出射する１本の信号光照射ファイバーと、
前記１本の信号光照射ファイバーの周囲に最密に配置された６本の光ファイバーであって、１端は前記信号光とは異なる特定波長の制御光の光源に各々接続され、他端の６つの端面はいずれも前記信号光の出射端面と同一の平面上に配置され、これらの端面から前記制御光を、いずれか１つの端面から単独で、または、互いに隣接するいずれか２つの端面から２本並列で出射する６本の制御光照射ファイバーと、
前記信号光は透過し、前記制御光を選択的に吸収する光吸収層を含む熱レンズ形成素子と、
前記光吸収層に前記制御光と前記信号光とを各々収束点を光軸に対して垂直方向で異ならせて、前記光吸収層内にて収束させて入射させる第１の集光手段と、
前記制御光が照射されず進行方向が変わらずに、または、前記制御光が照射され進行方向が変更されて、前記熱レンズ形成素子から広がりながら出射する信号光を受光し、コリメートする受光レンズと、
前記制御光が照射されず進行方向が変わらずに前記熱レンズ形成素子から前記受光レンズを経て直進してくる直進信号光と、前記制御光が照射され進行方向が変更されて前記熱レンズ形成素子から前記受光レンズを経て進行してくる光路切替信号光との、直進信号光進行方向に対する光路切替信号光の進行方向の角度差を大きくするための［６Ｎ］角錐台プリズムであって、前記直進信号光は［６Ｎ］角錐台の底面と台面のなす平板部分に垂直に入射して更に直進し、一方、前記光路切替信号光は、［６Ｎ］角錐台の底面と［６Ｎ］面の斜面のいずれか１つが構成するくさび型プリズム部分を通過することで前記角度差が拡大して出射するよう載置された［６Ｎ］角錐台プリズムと、
前記［６Ｎ］角錐台プリズムから出射した信号光を集光する第２の集光手段と、
前記第２の集光手段により集光された信号光の内、制御光が照射されず直進する信号光を受光する１つの直進信号光受光ファイバーと、前記直進信号光受光ファイバーと中心軸を共有する円筒上に等間隔かつ並列に束ねられ配置されていて、第２の集光手段により集光された信号光の内、制御光が照射されて光路切替された信号光を各々受光する［６Ｎ］本の光路切替信号光受光ファイバーとから構成される光ファイバー受光素子と、
を有し、
前記Ｎは、２，３または４であり、
前記熱レンズ形成素子は、前記制御光と前記信号光が、光の進行方向で前記光吸収層内において収束したのち拡散することによって、前記光吸収層内における前記制御光を吸収した領域およびその周辺領域に起こる温度上昇に起因し過渡的に熱レンズが形成され、該熱レンズにより、前記光吸収層内に屈折率分布が生じ、前記信号光の進行方向を変え、光路切替を行い、
前記［６Ｎ］角錐台プリズムにおいては、前記制御光が照射されず進行方向が変わらなかった直進信号光は［６Ｎ］角錐台プリズムの台面と底面からなる平板部分を通過し、前記第２の集光手段により集光されて前記ファイバー受光素子の中心に載置された直進信号光受光ファイバーに入射し、前記制御光の１つ以上が照射され光路が変更された信号光は［６Ｎ］角錐台プリズムの斜面と底面からなるくさび型プリズム断面部分を通過した後、前記第２の集光手段により集光され前記ファイバー受光素子において円筒状に等間隔に整列した［６Ｎ］本の光路切替信号光受光ファイバーのいずれかに入射するように、前記制御光は、いずれか１つの端面から単独で、または、互いに隣接するいずれか２つの端面から２本並列で出射するよう制御されることによって、前記信号光照射ファイバーから出射する信号光の光路を［６Ｎ＋１］方向へ光路切替することを特徴とする。 The optical path switching device of the invention according to claim 1 of the present application,
An optical fiber disposed at the center of a seven-core bundle optical fiber, one end connected to a light source of signal light having one or more wavelengths, and one signal light emitting fiber that emits the signal light from the end face of the other end When,
Six optical fibers arranged in a close-packed manner around the one signal light irradiation fiber, one end of which is connected to a light source of control light having a specific wavelength different from that of the signal light, and the other 6 Each of the two end faces is arranged on the same plane as the signal light emitting end face, and the control light is sent from these end faces alone from any one end face or from any two end faces adjacent to each other. 6 control light irradiation fibers that are emitted in parallel,
A thermal lens forming element including a light absorbing layer that transmits the signal light and selectively absorbs the control light;
First condensing means for causing the control light and the signal light to enter the light absorption layer by making the convergence points different from each other in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis and causing the light to converge in the light absorption layer;
A light receiving lens that receives and collimates the signal light emitted from the thermal lens forming element without being irradiated with the control light and changing the traveling direction without changing the traveling direction; ,
The straight line signal light that travels straight from the thermal lens forming element through the light receiving lens without being irradiated with the control light, and the thermal lens forming element is irradiated with the control light and the traveling direction is changed. A [6N] pyramid prism for increasing the angle difference between the traveling direction of the optical path switching signal light and the traveling direction of the optical path switching signal light with respect to the optical path switching signal light traveling through the light receiving lens. The signal light is perpendicularly incident on the flat part formed by the bottom surface of the [6N] pyramid and the base surface, and further advances straight, while the optical path switching signal light is on the bottom surface of the [6N] pyramid and the slope of the [6N] surface. [6N] pyramid prism placed so that the angle difference is enlarged and emitted by passing through a wedge-shaped prism portion that any one constitutes;
Second condensing means for condensing the signal light emitted from the [6N] pyramid prism;
Of the signal light collected by the second light collecting means, one straight signal light receiving optical fiber that receives straight signal light not irradiated with control light, and the straight signal light receiving optical fiber share a central axis [6N] The signal light that is bundled and arranged in parallel at equal intervals on the cylinder is arranged to receive the signal light whose optical path has been switched by irradiating the control light among the signal light condensed by the second condensing means [6N An optical fiber light receiving element composed of an optical path switching signal light receiving optical fiber;
Have
N is 2, 3 or 4;
The thermal lens forming element includes a region in which the control light and the signal light are absorbed in the light absorption layer by diffusing after the control light and the signal light are converged in the light advancing direction and the light beam. A thermal lens is transiently formed due to the temperature rise occurring in the peripheral region, the refractive index distribution is generated in the light absorption layer by the thermal lens, the traveling direction of the signal light is changed, the optical path is switched,
In the [6N] pyramid prism, the straight traveling signal light that is not irradiated with the control light and does not change its traveling direction passes through a flat plate portion made up of a base surface and a bottom surface of the [6N] pyramid prism, and the second collection. The signal light which is collected by the light means and enters the straight signal light receiving optical fiber placed at the center of the fiber light receiving element and irradiated with one or more of the control lights and whose optical path is changed is the [6N] pyramid [6N] optical path switching signal lights that pass through a wedge-shaped prism cross section composed of the slope and bottom surface of the prism, and are collected by the second light collecting means and aligned in a cylindrical shape at equal intervals in the fiber light receiving element. The control light is controlled so as to be emitted from any one end face alone or in parallel from any two end faces adjacent to each other so as to enter one of the receiving optical fibers. By being, characterized by the optical path switching the optical path of the signal beam emitted from the signal light irradiating fiber to [6N + 1] direction.

本願請求項２に係る発明の光路切替装置は、
前記６本の制御光照射ファイバーは１端において、合計６基の制御光光源と各々１対１に接続され、前記６基の制御光光源のいずれか１基、または、互いに隣接するいずれか２基を発振させることで前記信号光照射ファイバーから出射する信号光の光路を、前記６基の制御光光源のいずれも発振せず前記信号光が直進する場合を含め、［６Ｎ＋１］方向へ光路切替することを特徴とする請求項１に記載の光路切替装置である。 The optical path switching device of the invention according to claim 2 of the present application,
The six control light irradiating fibers are connected one-to-one with each of the six control light sources in one end at one end, and either one of the six control light sources or any two adjacent to each other. The optical path of the signal light emitted from the signal light irradiation fiber by oscillating the optical path is switched to the [6N + 1] direction including the case where the signal light travels straight without oscillating any of the six control light sources. The optical path switching device according to claim 1.

本願請求項３に係る発明の光路切替装置は、
少なくとも、
前記光ファイバー受光素子の中心の信号光受光ファイバーの１端に接続された光電変換素子を有する１基の光信号受信ユニットと、
前記光ファイバー受光素子の周辺の［６Ｎ］本の光路切替信号光受光ファイバーのいずれか１本の１端に接続された光電変換素子と、
１または２基の制御光光源と、
前記１または２基の制御光光源に各々接続された１本の制御光伝搬ファイバーと、
を各々有する［６Ｎ］基の光信号受信ユニットと、
前記６本の制御光照射ファイバーのいずれか１本を１端とし、［Ｎ＋１］本の他端が前記制御光伝搬ファイバーのいずれか１本に接続された、６基の１対［Ｎ＋１］型合波器と、
を有する光路切替装置であって、
前記［６Ｎ］基の光信号受信ユニット中、特定の６基からの各１本の制御光伝搬ファイバーのいずれか１本は前記１対［Ｎ＋１］型合波器の特定の１基と１対１に接続し、
前記［６Ｎ］基の光信号受信ユニット中、前記特定の６基を除く光信号受信ユニットからの各２本の制御光伝搬ファイバーは各々、互いに隣接する２本の制御光照射ファイバーに接続した特定の前記合波器に各々２対２に接続することを特徴とする請求項１に記載の光路切替装置である。 The optical path switching device of the invention according to claim 3 of the present application,
at least,
One optical signal receiving unit having a photoelectric conversion element connected to one end of the signal light receiving optical fiber at the center of the optical fiber light receiving element;
A photoelectric conversion element connected to one end of any one of [6N] optical path switching signal light receiving optical fibers around the optical fiber light receiving element;
One or two control light sources;
One control light propagation fiber connected to each of the one or two control light sources;
[6N] optical signal receiving units each having:
Any one of the six control light irradiation fibers is one end, and [N + 1] other ends are connected to any one of the control light propagation fibers. A multiplexer,
An optical path switching device having
Among the [6N] optical signal receiving units, any one of the control light propagation fibers from each of the specific six units is paired with a specific pair of the one-pair [N + 1] type multiplexer. Connected to 1,
Among the [6N] optical signal receiving units, each of the two control light propagation fibers from the optical signal receiving units excluding the specific six units is connected to the two adjacent control light irradiation fibers. 2. The optical path switching device according to claim 1, wherein two to two are connected to each of the multiplexers.

本願請求項４に係る発明の光路切替装置は、
少なくとも、
前記光ファイバー受光素子の中心の信号光受光ファイバーの１端に接続された光電変換素子を有する１基の光信号受信ユニットと、
前記光ファイバー受光素子の周辺の［６Ｎ］本の光路切替信号光受光ファイバーのいずれか１本の１端に接続された光電変換素子と、
２基の制御光光源と、
前記２基の制御光光源に各々接続された１対の制御光伝搬ファイバーと、
を各々有する［６Ｎ］基の光信号受信ユニットと、
前記６本の制御光照射ファイバーのいずれか１本を１端とし、［Ｎ＋１］本の他端が前記制御光伝搬ファイバーのいずれか１本に接続された、６基の１対［Ｎ＋１］型合波器と、
を有する光路切替装置であって、
前記［６Ｎ］基の光信号受信ユニット中、特定の６基からの各１対の内、１本の制御光伝搬ファイバーは前記１対［Ｎ＋１］型合波器の特定の１基と１対１に接続し、
各々１対の内の残りの１本は何にも接続しないダミーファイバーとし、
前記［６Ｎ］基の光信号受信ユニット中、前記特定の６基を除く光信号受信ユニットからの各２本の制御光伝搬ファイバーは各々、互いに隣接する２本の制御光照射ファイバーに接続した特定の前記合波器に各々２対２に接続することを特徴とする請求項１に記載の光路切替装置である。 The optical path switching device of the invention according to claim 4 of the present application,
at least,
One optical signal receiving unit having a photoelectric conversion element connected to one end of the signal light receiving optical fiber at the center of the optical fiber light receiving element;
A photoelectric conversion element connected to one end of any one of [6N] optical path switching signal light receiving optical fibers around the optical fiber light receiving element;
Two control light sources;
A pair of control light propagation fibers respectively connected to the two control light sources;
[6N] optical signal receiving units each having:
Any one of the six control light irradiation fibers is one end, and [N + 1] other ends are connected to any one of the control light propagation fibers. A multiplexer,
An optical path switching device having
In the [6N] optical signal receiving units, one control light propagation fiber in one pair from each of the specific six units corresponds to one specific pair of the one-pair [N + 1] type multiplexer. Connected to 1,
The remaining one of each pair is a dummy fiber that is not connected to anything,
Among the [6N] optical signal receiving units, each of the two control light propagation fibers from the optical signal receiving units excluding the specific six units is connected to the two adjacent control light irradiation fibers. 2. The optical path switching device according to claim 1, wherein two to two are connected to each of the multiplexers.

本願請求項５に係る発明の光路切替装置は、
前記光ファイバー受光素子は、
少なくとも、
前記制御光が照射されず進行方向が変わらなかった直進信号光を受光する、中心に載置された光ファイバー（以下、「中心光ファイバー」という。）と、
前記中心光ファイバーと中心軸を共通とする円周上に、次の５通りの形態から選択される１つの形態で、等間隔に並列配置された［６Ｎ］本の周辺光ファイバーからなることを特徴とする請求項１に記載の光路切替装置である。
（１）［６Ｎ］本の周辺光ファイバーに共通な外径［２ｒ］に対して、フェルールの外径を［２ｒ〔１／ｓｉｎ（３６０／（６Ｎ×２））−１〕］とし、その周辺に隙間なく前記［６Ｎ］本の周辺光ファイバーが載置され、前記フェルールの中央の孔に中心軸を共通として中心光ファイバーが載置されている。
（２）［６Ｎ］本の周辺光ファイバーに共通な外径［２ｒ］に対して、中心光ファイバーのクラッド径を［２ｒ〔１／ｓｉｎ（３６０／（６Ｎ×２））−１〕］とし、その周辺に隙間なく前記［６Ｎ］本の周辺光ファイバーが載置されている。
（３）［６Ｎ］本の周辺光ファイバーに共通な外径［２ｒ］に対して、フェルールの外径を［２ｒ〔１／ｓｉｎ（３６０／（６Ｎ×２））−１〕］よりも大きくし、
前記フェルールの表面に前記周辺光ファイバーを載置するためのＶ字型断面の溝を［６Ｎ］本、等間隔で設け、前記Ｖ字型断面の溝毎に前記周辺光ファイバーが載置され、前記フェルールの中央の孔に中心軸を共通として中心光ファイバーが載置されている。
（４）［６Ｎ］本の周辺光ファイバーに共通な外径［２ｒ］に対して、フェルールの外径を［２ｒ〔１／ｓｉｎ（３６０／（６Ｎ×２））＋１〕］よりも大きくし、
前記フェルールの中心軸から半径［ｒ〔１／ｓｉｎ（３６０／（６Ｎ×２））−１〕］よりも大きい半径の円周上に等間隔で設けられた［６Ｎ］個の孔に各々周辺ファイバーが載置され、前記フェルールの中央の孔に中心軸を共通として中心光ファイバーが載置されている。
（５）中心光ファイバーの周辺に［６（Ｎ−１）］本の、中心光ファイバーと同じ外径の位置決め用光ファイバーを最密に載置し、更に、前記位置決め用光ファイバーの周囲に［６Ｎ］本の中心光ファイバーと同じ外径の周辺光ファイバーが最密に載置されている。 The optical path switching device of the invention according to claim 5 of the present application,
The optical fiber light receiving element is:
at least,
An optical fiber (hereinafter referred to as “central optical fiber”) placed in the center that receives straight signal light that has not been irradiated with the control light and whose traveling direction has not changed;
It is characterized by comprising [6N] peripheral optical fibers arranged in parallel at equal intervals in one form selected from the following five forms on the circumference having the same central axis as the central optical fiber. The optical path switching device according to claim 1.
(1) For the outer diameter [2r] common to [6N] peripheral optical fibers, the outer diameter of the ferrule is [2r [1 / sin (360 / (6N × 2))-1]] The [6N] peripheral optical fibers are placed without any gap, and the central optical fiber is placed in the central hole of the ferrule with the central axis in common.
(2) For the outer diameter [2r] common to [6N] peripheral optical fibers, the clad diameter of the central optical fiber is [2r [1 / sin (360 / (6N × 2))-1]]. [6N] peripheral optical fibers are placed in the periphery without any gap.
(3) The outer diameter of the ferrule is made larger than [2r [1 / sin (360 / (6N × 2))-1]] with respect to the outer diameter [2r] common to [6N] peripheral optical fibers. ,
[6N] V-shaped cross-section grooves for mounting the peripheral optical fiber are provided at equal intervals on the surface of the ferrule, and the peripheral optical fiber is mounted for each groove of the V-shaped cross section. A central optical fiber is placed in the central hole with the central axis in common.
(4) The outer diameter of the ferrule is larger than [2r [1 / sin (360 / (6N × 2)) + 1]] with respect to the outer diameter [2r] common to the [6N] peripheral optical fibers,
Around each [6N] holes provided at equal intervals on the circumference of a radius larger than the radius [r [1 / sin (360 / (6N × 2))-1]] from the central axis of the ferrule A fiber is placed, and a central optical fiber is placed in the central hole of the ferrule with a common central axis.
(5) [6 (N-1)] positioning optical fibers having the same outer diameter as that of the central optical fiber are closely packed around the central optical fiber, and further [6N] optical fibers are positioned around the positioning optical fiber. A peripheral optical fiber having the same outer diameter as that of the central optical fiber is mounted in a close-packed manner.

本願請求項６に係る発明の光信号の光路切替方法は、
１本の信号光照射光ファイバーの端面から１種類以上の波長の信号光を出射させ、
前記信号光照射光ファイバーの周囲に最密に配置された６本の制御光照射光ファイバーの端面から前記信号光とは異なる特定波長の制御光を、いずれか１つの端面から単独で、または、互いに隣接する２つの端面から同時に出射させ、
前記信号光は透過し、前記制御光を選択的に吸収する光吸収層を含む熱レンズ形成素子に、前記信号光と前記制御光とを各々収束点を光軸に対して垂直方向で異ならせて、前記光吸収層内にて収束するよう集光して照射し、
前記信号光については前記熱レンズ形成素子を透過させ、
前記制御光については前記熱レンズ形成素子内の前記光吸収層において光吸収、光吸収に伴う温度上昇、温度上昇に伴う密度低下、密度低下に伴う屈折率低下を、前記制御光を吸収した領域およびその周辺領域に起こさせ、その結果、熱レンズを過渡的に形成させて、前記信号光の進行方向を変えて光路切替させ、
前記熱レンズ形成素子から広がりながら出射する直進および光路切替信号光を受光レンズにてコリメートし、
前記制御光が照射されず進行方向が変わらなかった直進信号光は［６Ｎ］角錐台プリズムの台面と底面がなす平板部分を通過させ、
前記制御光が照射され光路切替された信号光は前記［６Ｎ］角錐台プリズムの台面と斜面がなすくさび型プリズム部分を通過させ、
前記制御光が照射されず進行方向が変わらなかった前記直進信号光は受光素子の１つの中心素子へ収束入射させ、
前記制御光が照射されて進行方向が切替られた光路切替信号光は、前記中心素子を中心として受光素子の周辺の円周上に等間隔で並列に配置された受光素子の［６Ｎ］周辺素子へ収束入射させ、
前記Ｎは２、３または４であり、
前記信号光の光路を、直進の１方向と周辺への［６Ｎ］方向との合計［６Ｎ＋１］の方向へ光路切替する、
ことを特徴とする光信号の光路切替方法である。 An optical path switching method of an optical signal according to the invention of claim 6 is as follows:
The signal light having one or more wavelengths is emitted from the end face of one signal light irradiation optical fiber,
Control light having a specific wavelength different from that of the signal light from the end faces of the six control light irradiation optical fibers arranged closest to the periphery of the signal light irradiation optical fiber, either alone or adjacent to each other. To emit from two end faces at the same time,
The signal light and the control light are transmitted to the thermal lens forming element including a light-absorbing layer that selectively transmits the control light, and the signal light and the control light are made to have different convergence points in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis. Then, the light is condensed and irradiated so as to converge in the light absorption layer,
The signal light is transmitted through the thermal lens forming element,
For the control light, the light absorption layer in the thermal lens forming element absorbs light, increases in temperature due to light absorption, decreases in density due to temperature increase, and decreases in refractive index due to decrease in density. And its peripheral region, as a result, a thermal lens is formed transiently, the traveling direction of the signal light is changed and the optical path is switched,
The light receiving lens collimates the straight and light path switching signal light emitted while spreading from the thermal lens forming element,
The straight traveling signal light that has not been irradiated with the control light and whose traveling direction has not changed passes through the flat plate portion formed by the base surface and the bottom surface of the [6N] pyramid prism,
The signal light that is irradiated with the control light and whose optical path is switched passes through a wedge-shaped prism portion formed by a base surface and a slope of the [6N] pyramid prism,
The straight traveling signal light that has not been irradiated with the control light and whose traveling direction has not changed is converged and incident on one central element of the light receiving element,
The optical path switching signal light whose traveling direction is switched by being irradiated with the control light is a [6N] peripheral element of a light receiving element arranged in parallel at equal intervals on a circumference around the light receiving element with the central element as a center. Convergently incident on
N is 2, 3 or 4;
The optical path of the signal light is switched to a total [6N + 1] direction including one straight direction and a [6N] direction to the periphery.
This is an optical path switching method for optical signals.

本願請求項７に係る発明の光信号の光路切替方法は、
前記６本の制御光照射光ファイバーの他方の端面に各々接続された６基の制御光光源を、いずれか１基が単独で、または、互いに隣接する２基が同時に発振するよう電気的に制御することを特徴とする、請求項６に記載の光信号の光路切替方法である。 The optical signal switching method of the optical signal of the invention according to claim 7 of the present application,
The six control light sources connected to the other end face of each of the six control light irradiation optical fibers are electrically controlled so that any one unit is singly or two adjacent units oscillate simultaneously. The optical signal switching method of an optical signal according to claim 6.

本願請求項８に係る発明の光信号の光路切替方法は、
前記６本の制御光照射光ファイバーの他方の端面に各々接続された６基の合波器へ６基以上の制御光光源からの制御光を１つの合波器へ単独で、または、互いに隣接する２つの合波器へ同時に伝搬させることを特徴とする、請求項６に記載の光信号の光路切替方法である。 The optical signal switching method of the optical signal of the invention according to claim 8 of the present application,
Control light from six or more control light sources is connected to one multiplexer alone or adjacent to each other to six multiplexers respectively connected to the other end face of the six control light irradiation optical fibers. The method of switching an optical path of an optical signal according to claim 6, wherein the optical signal is propagated simultaneously to two multiplexers.

本願請求項９に係る発明の光信号の光路切替方法は、
前記６本の制御光照射光ファイバーの他方の端面に各々直接接続された６基の制御光光源の照射の有無および照射強度を、予め定められた試行錯誤方式プログラミングに従って自動的に調整し、前記信号光が光路切替されて収束入射される前記受光素子の［６Ｎ］周辺素子のいずれか１つへの光路切替を最適化する手順を含むことを特徴とする、請求項６に記載の光信号の光路切替方法である。 The optical signal switching method of the optical signal of the invention according to claim 9 of the present application,
The presence / absence and irradiation intensity of the six control light sources directly connected to the other end faces of the six control light irradiation optical fibers are automatically adjusted according to predetermined trial and error programming, and the signal The optical signal according to claim 6, comprising a step of optimizing optical path switching to any one of the [6N] peripheral elements of the light receiving element on which light is switched and converged and incident. This is an optical path switching method.

本願請求項１０に係る発明の光信号の光路切替方法は、
前記６本の制御光照射光ファイバーの他方の端面に各々接続された６基の合波器を経由して接続された６基以上の制御光光源の照射の有無および照射強度を、予め定められた試行錯誤方式プログラミングに従って自動的に調整し、前記信号光が光路切替されて収束入射される前記受光素子の［６Ｎ］周辺素子へのいずれかへの光路切替を最適化する手順を含むことを特徴とする、請求項６に記載の光信号の光路切替方法である。 The optical signal switching method of the optical signal of the invention according to claim 10 of the present application,
Presence or absence of irradiation and irradiation intensity of six or more control light sources connected via six multiplexers connected to the other end face of each of the six control light irradiation optical fibers are determined in advance. Automatically adjusting according to trial-and-error programming, and including a procedure for optimizing optical path switching to any of the [6N] peripheral elements of the light receiving element on which the signal light is converged and incident after the optical path is switched. The optical signal switching method for an optical signal according to claim 6.

本発明に係る光路切替装置および光信号の光路切替方法は、次の効果を奏する。すなわち、１種類以上の波長の信号光を同一の光学装置により１３，１９または２５の方向に光路切り替えが可能となり、複数の１対２〜６型光路切替装置を組み合わせて使用する方法に比較して、省スペース、低消費電力、利便性向上等の効果を有する。 The optical path switching apparatus and optical signal switching method according to the present invention have the following effects. That is, it becomes possible to switch the optical path of signal light of one or more types of wavelengths in the direction of 13, 19 or 25 by the same optical device, compared with a method using a combination of a plurality of 1 to 2 type 6 optical path switching devices. Thus, it has effects such as space saving, low power consumption, and convenience improvement.

本発明の第１〜第２の実施の形態に共通の光路切替装置の斜視概念図であり、制御光が照射されない場合と、１つの制御光１０１１が照射された場合の信号光の光路を比較して図示したものである。It is a perspective conceptual diagram of the optical path switching apparatus common to the 1st-2nd embodiment of this invention, Comparing the optical path of the signal light when not irradiating control light and one control light 1011 This is shown in the figure. 本発明の第１〜第２の実施の形態に共通の光路切替装置の斜視概念図であり、制御光が照射されない場合と、２つの制御光１０１２および１０１３が同時に照射された場合の信号光の光路を比較して図示したものである。It is a perspective conceptual diagram of the optical path switching apparatus common to the 1st-2nd embodiment of this invention, and when the control light is not irradiated and the two control lights 1012 and 1013 are irradiated simultaneously, the signal light The optical paths are shown in comparison. 図１ａの場合における熱レンズ１１１による信号光・光路切替の様子を理解しやすくするため、レンズ２，３，６，８を省略し、要所を拡大して図示した概念図である。In order to make it easier to understand the state of signal light / optical path switching by the thermal lens 111 in the case of FIG. 1a, it is a conceptual diagram in which the lenses 2, 3, 6, and 8 are omitted and the essential points are enlarged. 図１ｂの場合における熱レンズ１１２および１１３による信号光・光路切替の様子を理解しやすくするため、レンズ２，３，６，８を省略し、要所を拡大して図示した概念図である。In order to make it easier to understand the state of signal light / optical path switching by the thermal lenses 112 and 113 in the case of FIG. 1B, the conceptual diagram is shown with the lenses 2, 3, 6, and 8 omitted and enlarged. 本発明の第１〜第２の実施の形態に共通の光路切替装置において共通に用いられる照射側端面近接７芯バンドル光ファイバー１の出射端面を表す概念図である。It is a conceptual diagram showing the radiation | emission end surface of the irradiation side end surface adjacent 7 core bundle optical fiber 1 used in common in the optical path switching apparatus common to the 1st-2nd embodiment of this invention. 本発明の第１〜第２の実施の形態に共通の光路切替装置において共通に用いられる１３芯バンドル光ファイバー受光素子の受光端面を表す概念図である。It is a conceptual diagram showing the light-receiving end surface of the 13 core bundle optical fiber light receiving element used in common in the optical path switching apparatus common to the 1st-2nd embodiment of this invention. 本発明の第１〜第２の実施の形態に共通の光路切替装置において共通に用いられる１２角錐台プリズムの１例の平面図（ａ）および側面図（ｂ）である。It is the top view (a) and side view (b) of an example of the 12-pyramidal frustum prism used in common in the optical path switching apparatus common to the 1st-2nd embodiment of this invention. 本発明で用いられる［６Ｎ］角錐台における光線の入射と出射を表す概念図である。It is a conceptual diagram showing the entrance and exit of a light beam in the [6N] pyramid used in the present invention. 本発明で用いられる［６Ｎ］芯バンドル光ファイバー受光素子の受光端面における受光光ファイバー端面（受光チャンネル）の配置をＮが（ａ）２の場合、（ｂ）３の場合、および、（ｃ）４の場合について表した概念図である。The arrangement of the light receiving optical fiber end face (light receiving channel) on the light receiving end face of the [6N] core bundle optical fiber light receiving element used in the present invention is as follows: N is (a) 2, (b) 3 and (c) 4 It is a conceptual diagram showing the case. 本発明の第１の実施の形態の光路切替装置における光ファイバー受光素子から受光側光送受信装置への光ファイバー配線（実線の矢線）、および、受光側光送受信装置から６個の制御光光源への電気信号線（鎖線の矢線）を図示した概念図である。In the optical path switching device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the optical fiber wiring (solid arrow) from the optical fiber light receiving element to the light receiving side optical transmitting / receiving device, and the light receiving side optical transmitting / receiving device to the six control light sources It is the conceptual diagram which illustrated the electric signal line (arrow line of a chain line). 本発明の第２の実施の形態の光路切替装置における光ファイバー受光素子から受光側光送受信装置への光ファイバー配線（実線の矢線）、および、受光側光送受信装置が各々２基搭載する制御光光源から６基の光合波器を経由し制御光照射ファイバーへ結合する光ファイバー結線（鎖線の矢線）を図示した概念図である。The optical fiber wiring (solid arrow) from the optical fiber light receiving element to the light receiving side optical transceiver in the optical path switching device of the second embodiment of the present invention, and the control light source mounted on each of the two light receiving side optical transceivers It is the conceptual diagram which illustrated the optical fiber connection (arrow line of a chain line) couple | bonded with a control light irradiation fiber via six optical multiplexers from 1 to. 本発明の第１の実施の形態の光路切替装置において用いられる１３芯バンドル光ファイバー受光素子の受光端面の１例を表す概念図である。It is a conceptual diagram showing an example of the light-receiving end surface of the 13-core bundle optical fiber light-receiving element used in the optical path switching device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 本発明の第１の実施の形態の光路切替装置において用いられる１３芯バンドル光ファイバー受光素子の受光端面の１例を表す概念図である。It is a conceptual diagram showing an example of the light-receiving end surface of the 13-core bundle optical fiber light-receiving element used in the optical path switching device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 本発明の第１の実施の形態の光路切替装置において用いられる１３芯バンドル光ファイバー受光素子の受光端面の１例を表す概念図である。It is a conceptual diagram showing an example of the light-receiving end surface of the 13-core bundle optical fiber light-receiving element used in the optical path switching device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 本発明の第１の実施の形態の光路切替装置における受光側の端面１９（１３）芯バンドル光ファイバー受光素子の受光端面を表す概念図である。It is a conceptual diagram showing the light-receiving end surface of the end surface 19 (13) core bundle optical fiber light receiving element in the light-receiving side in the optical path switching apparatus of the 1st Embodiment of this invention.

以下に、本発明の好適な実施形態（実施例）を添付図面に基づいて説明する。 DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments (examples) of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

〔第１の実施形態〕
図１ａ，１ｂ、図２ａ，２ｂ、図３、図４、図５ａ，５ｂおよび図７を参照して本発明の第１の実施形態に係る光路切替装置を説明し、併せて光信号の光路切替方法を説明する。なお、各図面において共通の構成要素については同一の符号を付して表している。 [First Embodiment]
The optical path switching apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1a and 1b, FIGS. 2a and 2b, FIGS. 3, 4, 5a, 5b and FIG. A switching method will be described. In the drawings, common components are denoted by the same reference numerals.

本発明の光路切替装置は共通して、以下に記述するような構成要素からなり、機能を発揮する。図１ａおよび図１ｂに示すように、照射側端面近接７芯バンドル光ファイバー１の信号光照射ファイバー１０の端面から出射した信号光１０００はコリメートレンズ２によってコリメートされ、次いで集光レンズ３によって集光され、熱レンズ形成素子４に照射される。ここで、照射側端面近接７芯バンドル光ファイバー１の制御光照射ファイバー１１〜１６（図３に示す）のいずれからも制御光が照射されない場合、信号光１０００は制御光吸収層５に吸収されず、直進し、受光レンズ６、１２角錐台プリズム７の底面７７０と台面７００（図５ａに示す）のなす平板部分７８０（図５ｂに示す）を通過し、結合レンズ８にて収束されて、１３芯バンドル光ファイバー受光素子９の中心に載置された光ファイバーのコア９００に入射する。 The optical path switching device of the present invention is composed of the following components in common and exhibits its function. As shown in FIGS. 1 a and 1 b, the signal light 1000 emitted from the end face of the signal light irradiation fiber 10 of the irradiation side end face proximity seven-core bundle optical fiber 1 is collimated by the collimator lens 2 and then condensed by the condenser lens 3. The thermal lens forming element 4 is irradiated. Here, when the control light is not irradiated from any of the control light irradiation fibers 11 to 16 (shown in FIG. 3) of the irradiation side end face proximity seven-core bundle optical fiber 1, the signal light 1000 is not absorbed by the control light absorption layer 5. , Go straight, pass through a flat plate portion 780 (shown in FIG. 5b) formed by the bottom surface 770 and the base surface 700 (shown in FIG. 5a) of the light receiving lens 6 and the 12-pyramidal prism 7, and are converged by the coupling lens 8 to be 13 The light enters the core 900 of the optical fiber placed at the center of the core bundle optical fiber light receiving element 9.

熱レンズ形成素子４は上記信号光１０００の波長、例えば１２５０〜１６００ｎｍは透過し、一方、制御光１０１１〜１０１３の波長、例えば９８０ｎｍを選択的に吸収する制御光吸収層５を有する。熱レンズ形成光素子４としては、例えば、厚さ５００μｍの石英製円板２枚と厚さ５００μｍの石英製スペーサーからなる直径８〜１０ｍｍのコイン型の溶液セルに、吸収極大波長９５０ないし１０５０ｎｍであって信号光の波長帯域、例えば１３１０ないし１６００ｎｍの帯域に光吸収のない有機色素を沸点範囲２９０ないし３００℃の有機溶剤に溶解し、液厚５００μｍの場合で９８０ｎｍの吸光度を５．０以上に濃度調整した色素溶液を充填し、注入孔をエポキシ接着剤で密閉したものが用いられる。言うまでもなく、色素溶液は制御光吸収層５の色素吸収層として作用する。 The thermal lens forming element 4 has a control light absorption layer 5 that selectively transmits the wavelength of the signal light 1000, for example, 1250 to 1600 nm, while selectively absorbing the wavelength of the control light 1011 to 1013, for example, 980 nm. As the thermal lens forming optical element 4, for example, a coin-type solution cell having a diameter of 8 to 10 mm made of two quartz disks having a thickness of 500 μm and a quartz spacer having a thickness of 500 μm is used with an absorption maximum wavelength of 950 to 1050 nm. An organic dye that does not absorb light in the wavelength band of signal light, for example, the band of 1310 to 1600 nm, is dissolved in an organic solvent having a boiling point range of 290 to 300 ° C., and the absorbance at 980 nm is increased to 5.0 or more when the liquid thickness is 500 μm. A dye solution whose concentration is adjusted is filled and the injection hole is sealed with an epoxy adhesive. Needless to say, the dye solution acts as a dye absorbing layer of the control light absorbing layer 5.

このような熱レンズ形成素子４へ、その制御光吸収層５が吸収する波長の制御光を、照射側端面近接７芯バンドル光ファイバー１の制御光照射ファイバーのコア１１〜１６の１つまたは隣接する２つから照射させ、コリメートレンズ２によってコリメートし、次いで集光レンズ３によって集光し、熱レンズ形成素子４の特定の位置に照射し、制御光吸収層５の内部に熱レンズを形成させる。図１ａおよび図２ａに例示するように、例えば、照射側端面近接７芯バンドル光ファイバー１の制御光照射ファイバーのコア１１から制御光１０１１のみが出射した場合、熱レンズ形成素子４の制御光吸収層５を通過している信号光ビームの数十μｍ上方に熱レンズ１１１が形成され、信号光ビームは熱レンズから遠ざかる方向、この場合、下方に光路切替され、点線の矢線で表示された信号光１１０１として、受光レンズ６を通過した後、１２角錐台プリズム７の底面７７０と傾斜面７０７（図５ａに示す）からなるくさび型プリズム部分７８７（図５ｂに示す）を通過することで光路切替され、この場合、上方に進行する信号光ビーム１１０２として結合レンズ８を通過した後、収束された信号光ビーム１９０１として１３芯バンドル光ファイバー受光素子９の「時計の１２時の位置」に配置された周辺光ファイバーのコア９０１に入射する。また、図１ｂおよび図２ｂに例示するように、例えば、照射側端面近接７芯バンドル光ファイバー１の制御光照射ファイバーのコア１２および１３から２本の制御光１０１２および１０１３が出射した場合、熱レンズ形成素子４の制御光吸収層５を通過している信号光ビームの数十μｍ右方に熱レンズ１１２および１１３が形成され、信号光ビームは熱レンズから遠ざかる方向、この場合、左方に光路切替され、点線の矢線で表示された信号光１２１３１として、受光レンズ６を通過した後、１２角錐台プリズム７の底面７７０と傾斜面７１０または７０４（図５ａに示す）からなるくさび型プリズム部分を通過することで光路切替され、この場合、右方に進行する信号光ビーム１２１３２として結合レンズ８を通過した後、収束された信号光ビーム１９０４として１３芯バンドル光ファイバー受光素子９の「時計の３時の位置」に配置された周辺光ファイバーのコア９０４に入射する。 Control light having a wavelength that is absorbed by the control light absorption layer 5 is adjacent to one of the cores 11 to 16 of the control light irradiation fiber of the seven-core bundle optical fiber 1 near the irradiation side, or adjacent to the thermal lens forming element 4. The two are irradiated, collimated by the collimating lens 2, then condensed by the condenser lens 3, and irradiated to a specific position of the thermal lens forming element 4 to form a thermal lens inside the control light absorbing layer 5. As illustrated in FIG. 1a and FIG. 2a, for example, when only the control light 1011 is emitted from the core 11 of the control light irradiation fiber of the irradiation-side end-surface proximity seven-core bundle optical fiber 1, the control light absorption layer of the thermal lens forming element 4 The thermal lens 111 is formed several tens of μm above the signal light beam passing through 5, and the signal light beam is switched in the direction away from the thermal lens, in this case, the optical path is switched downward, and the signal indicated by the dotted arrow line After passing through the light receiving lens 6 as the light 1101, the light path is switched by passing through a wedge-shaped prism portion 787 (shown in FIG. 5b) composed of the bottom surface 770 and the inclined surface 707 (shown in FIG. 5a) of the 12-pyramidal prism 7. In this case, after passing through the coupling lens 8 as the signal light beam 1102 traveling upward, the 13-core bundle light as the converged signal light beam 1901 Aiba enters the core 901 around the optical fiber which is arranged in "12 o'clock position of the watch" of the light receiving element 9. Further, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 b and 2 b, for example, when two control lights 1012 and 1013 are emitted from the cores 12 and 13 of the control light irradiation fiber of the irradiation side end face proximity seven-core bundle optical fiber 1, a thermal lens Thermal lenses 112 and 113 are formed to the right of several tens of μm of the signal light beam passing through the control light absorption layer 5 of the forming element 4, and the signal light beam travels away from the thermal lens, in this case, the optical path to the left A wedge-shaped prism portion comprising the bottom surface 770 and the inclined surface 710 or 704 (shown in FIG. 5a) of the dodecagonal truncated pyramid 7 after passing through the light-receiving lens 6 as the signal light 12131 that is switched and displayed by the dotted arrow line In this case, the optical signal is switched, and in this case, the signal light beam 12132 traveling rightward is passed through the coupling lens 8 and then converged. To enter the core 904 around the optical fiber which is arranged in "3 o'clock position of the watch" of the beam 1904 as a 13-core bundle fiber receiving element 9.

同様にして、照射側端面近接７芯バンドル光ファイバー１の制御光照射ファイバーのコア１１〜１６（図３に示す）の１つまたは隣接する２つから制御光照射させることで、照射側端面近接７芯バンドル光ファイバー１の信号光照射ファイバー１０の端面から出射した信号光１０００を光路切替して、１３芯バンドル光ファイバー受光素子９の「時計の１２，１〜１１時の位置」に配置された周辺光ファイバーのコア９０１〜９１２（図４に示す）のいずれかへ入射させることができる。すなわち、制御光が照射されない場合の信号光の直進および１３芯バンドル光ファイバー受光素子９の中心に載置された光ファイバーのコア９００への入射を含め、信号光１０００の光路を１３方向に切り替えることが可能となり、１対１３型光路切替装置が提供される。照射側端面近接７芯バンドル光ファイバー１の制御光照射ファイバーのコア１１〜１６からの制御光照射と、光路切替後の受光側１３芯バンドル光ファイバー７への信号光入射の詳細については後述する（表１，２参照）。 In the same manner, irradiation with the control light from one or two adjacent cores 11 to 16 (shown in FIG. 3) of the control light irradiation fiber of the irradiation-side end-surface proximity 7-core bundle optical fiber 1 causes the irradiation-side end surface proximity 7. Peripheral optical fiber arranged at “position at 12, 1-11 o'clock position” of the 13-core bundle optical fiber light receiving element 9 by switching the optical path of the signal light 1000 emitted from the end face of the signal light irradiation fiber 10 of the core bundle optical fiber 1 Can be incident on any one of the cores 901 to 912 (shown in FIG. 4). That is, the optical path of the signal light 1000 can be switched in 13 directions, including the straight traveling of the signal light when the control light is not irradiated and the incidence of the optical fiber placed at the center of the 13-core bundle optical fiber light receiving element 9 into the core 900. It becomes possible to provide a 1 to 13 type optical path switching device. The details of the control light irradiation from the cores 11 to 16 of the control light irradiation fiber of the irradiation side end face proximity 7-core bundle optical fiber 1 and the signal light incidence to the light reception side 13-core bundle optical fiber 7 after the optical path switching will be described later (Table). 1 and 2).

以下、本発明の光路切替装置に共通して用いられる構成要素の各々について、順を追って説明する。 Hereinafter, each of the components used in common in the optical path switching device of the present invention will be described step by step.

照射側端面近接７芯バンドル光ファイバー１の出射端面の概略構成を図３に示す。照射側端面近接７芯バンドル光ファイバー１は、熱レンズ方式の光制御光スイッチを構成する重要な素子の１つである。すなわち、熱レンズ形成素子４の内部に過渡的に形成された熱レンズを用いて信号光１０００の進行方向を、信号光のビーム断面のエネルギー分布をガウス分布（光路切替された信号光を光ファイバーに戻す上で重要な条件である）のまま、変更するためには、平行して進行する信号光と制御光のビーム中心間の距離を２５ないし４０μｍに制御する必要があることが実験的に確認されており、この条件を繊細な光学系の調整無しに実現するために端面近接７芯バンドル光ファイバーが開発された。 FIG. 3 shows a schematic configuration of the emission end face of the irradiation-side end face proximity seven-core bundle optical fiber 1. The irradiation side end face proximity 7-core bundle optical fiber 1 is one of the important elements constituting a thermal lens type light control optical switch. That is, using the thermal lens formed transiently inside the thermal lens forming element 4, the traveling direction of the signal light 1000, the energy distribution of the beam cross section of the signal light is Gaussian distribution (the signal light whose optical path has been switched is converted into an optical fiber). It is experimentally confirmed that it is necessary to control the distance between the beam center of the signal light traveling in parallel and the control light beam to 25 to 40 μm in order to change it while maintaining the important condition for the return. In order to realize this condition without adjusting a delicate optical system, a 7-core bundle optical fiber with close proximity to the end face has been developed.

照射側端面近接７芯バンドル光ファイバー１は、信号光の波長のレーザー伝搬に好適なシングルモード光ファイバー１本を中心に置き、その周りに、制御光の波長のレーザー伝搬に好適なシングルモード光ファイバー６本を、以下の条件で最密に束ねたものである。
（１）合計７本のファイバーの外径（以下、クラッド径ともいう）を±１μｍ未満、好ましくは±０．３μｍの精度で揃える。
（２）前記クラッド径は４０μｍ以下が好ましい。 The irradiation side end face proximity 7-core bundle optical fiber 1 is centered on one single mode optical fiber suitable for laser propagation of the signal light wavelength, and around the single mode optical fiber suitable for laser propagation of the control light wavelength. Are tightly bundled under the following conditions.
(1) The outer diameters (hereinafter also referred to as cladding diameters) of a total of seven fibers are aligned with an accuracy of less than ± 1 μm, preferably ± 0.3 μm.
(2) The cladding diameter is preferably 40 μm or less.

例えば、信号光の波長１３１０〜１４９０ｎｍの伝搬に適合した光ファイバー（コア径約１０μｍ、クラッド径１２５μｍ）および制御光の波長９８０ｎｍの伝搬に適した光ファイバー（コア径約８μｍ、クラッド径１２５μｍ）を、それぞれ、フッ化水素−フッ化アンモニウム水溶液にて室温でエッチングしてクラッド径を３９μｍとし、クラッド径の公差が上記条件を満足することを確認し、信号光用光ファイバー１本を中心に置き、制御光用光ファイバー６本をその周辺に配置して束ね、エポキシ接着剤３１とともに、セラミック製フェルール３０の孔に挿入し、接着剤を硬化させた後、束ねた方の端面をフェルールとともに垂直に研磨することによって、照射側端面近接７芯バンドル光ファイバー１を製造することができる。 For example, an optical fiber (core diameter of about 10 μm and a cladding diameter of 125 μm) suitable for propagation of signal light having a wavelength of 1310 to 1490 nm and an optical fiber suitable for propagation of a control light having a wavelength of 980 nm (core diameter of about 8 μm and cladding diameter of 125 μm) are respectively used. Etching at room temperature with an aqueous solution of hydrogen fluoride-ammonium fluoride to make the cladding diameter 39 μm, confirming that the tolerance of the cladding diameter satisfies the above conditions, placing one optical fiber for signal light at the center, and controlling light 6 optical fibers for use are arranged and bundled around them, inserted into the hole of the ceramic ferrule 30 together with the epoxy adhesive 31, and after the adhesive is cured, the end face of the bundle is polished vertically with the ferrule. Thus, the irradiation side end face proximity seven-core bundle optical fiber 1 can be manufactured.

照射側端面近接７芯バンドル光ファイバー１の非結束末端は、中心の１本の信号光用ファイバーは信号光光源（図示せず）に、周辺の６本の制御光用ファイバーは、制御光光源およびその制御装置２１１〜２１６（図７の場合）または制御光合波器８１１〜８１６（図８の場合）に接続される。 The unbound end of the irradiation side end face proximity 7-core bundle optical fiber 1 is such that one central signal light fiber is a signal light source (not shown), and six surrounding control light fibers are a control light source and The control devices 211 to 216 (in the case of FIG. 7) or control light multiplexers 811 to 816 (in the case of FIG. 8) are connected.

本発明の第１の実施の形態においては、以下、照射側端面近接７芯バンドル光ファイバー１の非結束末端の内、周辺の６本の制御光用ファイバーを６基の制御光光源およびその制御装置２１１〜２１６に接続した場合（図７）について詳細に説明する。なお、照射側端面近接７芯バンドル光ファイバー１の６本の制御光用ファイバーを６基の制御光光源に１対１に接続する方式は、用途として、例えば、複数の光ファイバーセンサーからの信号を、光信号解析装置の手前で、光−光スイッチで切り替える場合に好適に用いられる。 In the first embodiment of the present invention, six control light sources and their control devices including six control light fibers in the periphery of the unbound end of the irradiation-side end-surface-proximal seven-core bundle optical fiber 1 will be described below. The case of connecting to 211 to 216 (FIG. 7) will be described in detail. In addition, the method of connecting the six control light fibers of the irradiation side end face proximity seven-core bundle optical fiber 1 to the six control light sources in a one-to-one manner is, for example, signals from a plurality of optical fiber sensors, It is preferably used when switching with an optical-optical switch before the optical signal analyzer.

照射側端面近接７芯バンドル光ファイバー１を構成する７本の光ファイバーのクラッド径は、熱レンズ効果のみを効率良く発揮させるためには４０μｍ以下、可能であれば２５μｍ程度が好ましい。しかしながら、クラッド径を４０μｍよりも小さくすると、コア内を伝搬するレーザーの閉じ込めが充分行えず、伝搬損失が増大する（トンネル効果）、また、外力に対する強度が著しく低下し７本束ねる際の歩留まりが極めて悪化する、などの制約が大きくなる。これらの相反する事象のバランスを考慮すると、照射側端面近接７芯バンドル光ファイバー１を構成する７本の光ファイバーのクラッド径は、３８ないし４０μｍ程度が最適である。 The clad diameter of the seven optical fibers constituting the irradiation side end face proximity seven-core bundle optical fiber 1 is preferably 40 μm or less, and preferably about 25 μm if possible, in order to efficiently exhibit only the thermal lens effect. However, if the cladding diameter is smaller than 40 μm, the laser propagating in the core cannot be sufficiently confined, propagation loss increases (tunnel effect), and the strength against external force is significantly reduced, resulting in a yield of 7 bundles. Constraints such as extremely worsening increase. Considering the balance of these contradictory events, the optimum cladding diameter of the seven optical fibers constituting the irradiation-side end face proximity seven-core bundle optical fiber 1 is about 38 to 40 μm.

以上の制約を解消し、熱レンズ効果を効率良く発揮させるため、照射側端面近接７芯バンドル光ファイバー１の端面から各々出射する信号光および制御光を、コリメートレンズ２および集光レンズ３からなる縮小光学系によって、熱レンズ形成素子４の制御光吸収層５において、信号光ビームの中心軸と制御光ビームの中心軸の垂直方向の間隔を３０μｍ程度まで近づけることができる。例えば、コリメートレンズ２および集光レンズ３として、焦点距離２ｍｍの非球面凸レンズを共通に使用することで、約０．８倍の縮小光学系を構成し、上記の要請に応え、信号光ビームの中心軸と制御光ビームの中心軸の垂直方向の間隔を３０μｍ程度まで近づけることができる。なお、コリメートレンズ２および集光レンズ３の焦点距離は２ｍｍに限定されるものではなく、４ｍｍや８ｍｍなど、特に制約はない。 In order to eliminate the above-mentioned restrictions and to efficiently exhibit the thermal lens effect, the signal light and the control light respectively emitted from the end face of the irradiation side end face proximity 7-core bundle optical fiber 1 are reduced by the collimating lens 2 and the condenser lens 3. By the optical system, in the control light absorbing layer 5 of the thermal lens forming element 4, the vertical distance between the central axis of the signal light beam and the central axis of the control light beam can be reduced to about 30 μm. For example, an aspherical convex lens having a focal length of 2 mm is commonly used as the collimating lens 2 and the condensing lens 3, so that a reduction optical system of about 0.8 times is constructed. The vertical distance between the central axis and the central axis of the control light beam can be reduced to about 30 μm. The focal lengths of the collimating lens 2 and the condensing lens 3 are not limited to 2 mm, and there are no particular restrictions such as 4 mm or 8 mm.

熱レンズ形成素子４の後方に載置される受光レンズ６および結合レンズ８として、上記のコリメートレンズ２および集光レンズ３と同一仕様の非球面凸レンズを用いることができる。言うまでもなく、受光レンズ６および結合レンズ８の仕様に特に制約はない。 As the light receiving lens 6 and the coupling lens 8 placed behind the thermal lens forming element 4, an aspherical convex lens having the same specifications as the collimating lens 2 and the condenser lens 3 can be used. Needless to say, the specifications of the light receiving lens 6 and the coupling lens 8 are not particularly limited.

受光レンズ６および結合レンズ８の間に設置する［６Ｎ］角錐台プリズム７は、制御光が照射されず進行方向が変わらずに熱レンズ形成素子４から受光レンズ６を経て直進してくる直進信号光と、制御光が照射され進行方向が変更されて熱レンズ形成素子４から受光レンズ６を経て進行してくる光路切替信号光との、直進信号光進行方向に対する光路切替信号光の進行方向の角度差を大きくするために用いられる。Ｎが２の場合に相当する１２角錐台プリズムの平面図および側面図を図５ａに示す。 The [6N] pyramid prism 7 installed between the light receiving lens 6 and the coupling lens 8 is a rectilinear signal that travels straight from the thermal lens forming element 4 via the light receiving lens 6 without being irradiated with control light and without changing its traveling direction. The traveling direction of the optical path switching signal light with respect to the traveling direction of the straight-ahead signal light between the light and the optical path switching signal light that is irradiated with the control light and whose traveling direction is changed and travels from the thermal lens forming element 4 through the light receiving lens 6 Used to increase the angular difference. FIG. 5a shows a plan view and a side view of a dodecagonal truncated pyramid prism corresponding to the case where N is 2. FIG.

図５ｂに示すように、制御光が照射されない場合、直進信号光１０００は［６Ｎ］角錐台７の底面７７０と台面７００のなす平板部分７８０に垂直に入射して更に直進し、一方、前記光路切替光は、［６Ｎ］角錐台の底面７７０と［６Ｎ］面の斜面のいずれか１つ、例えば斜面７０７が構成するくさび型プリズム部分７８７を通過することで前記角度差が拡大して出射する。理解を容易にするため、図５ｂにおいては、直進信号光１０００と平行な信号光１００１がくさび型プリズム部分７８７を通過する場合の屈折の様子を図示している。 As shown in FIG. 5b, when the control light is not irradiated, the straight traveling signal light 1000 enters the flat plate portion 780 formed by the bottom surface 770 of the [6N] pyramid base 7 and the base surface 700 and travels further straight, whereas the optical path The switching light passes through one of the bottom face 770 of the [6N] pyramid frustum and the slope of the [6N] plane, for example, the wedge-shaped prism portion 787 formed by the slope 707, and the angle difference is enlarged and emitted. . In order to facilitate understanding, FIG. 5 b shows the state of refraction when the signal light 1001 parallel to the straight signal light 1000 passes through the wedge-shaped prism portion 787.

［６Ｎ］角錐台７を構成するガラス素材の屈折率をｎ（例えば光の波長１．３１μｍのときｎは１．５０４）、空気の屈折率をｎ_０（空気の屈折率は１．０００）とすると、［６Ｎ］角錐台７のくさび型プリズムの角度θと、底面７７０に垂直入射した光１００１（前記信号光１０００と平行）がくさび型プリズム部分７８７の斜面７０７から出射する角度θ’（図５ｂ参照）の関係はスネルの法則から、以下のように記述される：
［数１］
ｎ×ｓｉｎθ ＝ｎ_０×ｓｉｎθ’ …〔１〕 [6N] The refractive index of the glass material constituting the truncated pyramid 7 is n (for example, n is 1.504 when the wavelength of light is 1.31 μm), and the refractive index of air is n ₀ (the refractive index of air is 1.000). Then, the angle θ of the wedge prism of the [6N] pyramid 7 and the angle θ ′ (the light 1001 perpendicular to the bottom surface 770 (parallel to the signal light 1000) exits from the inclined surface 707 of the wedge prism portion 787). The relationship of FIG. 5b) is described as follows from Snell's law:
[Equation 1]
n × sin θ = n ₀ × sin θ ′ (1)

θおよびθ’が小さい場合、式〔１〕は次のように近似される（屈折率の３桁目に誤差が発生）：
［数２］
１．５０４×θ ≒ θ’ …〔２〕 When θ and θ ′ are small, equation [1] is approximated as follows (an error occurs in the third digit of the refractive index):
[Equation 2]
1.504 × θ ≒ θ '... [2]

信号光１０００は、受光レンズ６によってコリメートされているので、結合レンズ８の焦点の位置に像を結び、光ファイバー受光素子９の中心ファイバーの中心と周辺ファイバー中心との間隔をＬ［ｍｍ］とし、結合レンズ８の焦点距離をｆ（例えば、２ｍｍ）とすると、
［数３］
Ｌ＝ｆ×ｔａｎ［θ’−θ］ …〔３〕
式〔３〕に、近似式〔２〕を適用すると、
［数４］
Ｌ＝ｆ×ｔａｎ［０．５０４×θ］ …〔４〕
すなわち、
［数５］
θ ＝［ｔａｎ^−１（Ｌ／ｆ）］／０．５０４ …〔５〕
例えばＬを０．２４１５ｍｍ、ｆを２ｍｍとすると、
［数６］
θ ＝１３．６６° …〔６〕 Since the signal light 1000 is collimated by the light receiving lens 6, an image is formed at the focal position of the coupling lens 8, and the distance between the center fiber center of the optical fiber light receiving element 9 and the peripheral fiber center is L [mm], If the focal length of the coupling lens 8 is f (for example, 2 mm),
[Equation 3]
L = f × tan [θ′−θ] (3)
Applying approximate expression [2] to expression [3],
[Equation 4]
L = f × tan [0.504 × θ] (4)
That is,
[Equation 5]
θ = [tan ⁻¹ (L / f)] / 0.504 [5]
For example, if L is 0.2415 mm and f is 2 mm,
[Equation 6]
θ = 13.66 ° [6]

なお、光ファイバー受光素子９の中心ファイバーの中心と周辺ファイバー中心との間隔が０．２４１５ｍｍになるのは、後に１３芯バンドル光ファイバー受光素子９の構造について詳しく述べるように、クラッド径１２５．０μｍの光ファイバー１２本（図４の９０１〜９１２）を直径３５８．０μｍのフェルールの周囲に隙間なく並列させた場合である。また、クラッド径４０．０μｍの光ファイバー１２本（図４の９０１〜９１２）をクラッド径１１４．５μｍの中心光ファイバーの周囲に隙間なく並列させた場合、Ｌは０．０７７２７ｍｍであり、θは４．３９°である。 The distance between the center fiber center of the optical fiber light receiving element 9 and the center of the peripheral fiber is 0.2415 mm, as will be described in detail later regarding the structure of the 13-core bundle optical fiber light receiving element 9. This is a case where 12 pieces (901 to 912 in FIG. 4) are juxtaposed around a ferrule having a diameter of 358.0 μm without any gap. Further, when twelve optical fibers having a clad diameter of 40.0 μm (901 to 912 in FIG. 4) are arranged in parallel around the central optical fiber having a clad diameter of 114.5 μm, L is 0.07727 mm and θ is 4. 39 °.

受光レンズ６および結合レンズ８の間に設置する［６Ｎ］角錐台プリズム７の斜面の数は、Ｎが２，３，４の場合、それぞれ１２，１８，２４である。Ｎの値の上限が４である理由は後で述べる。［６Ｎ］角錐台プリズム７の斜面の配置については、制御光が照射されない場合において、直進信号光１９０１が［６Ｎ］角錐台プリズム７の台面７００の中心を通過し、制御光が照射された場合においては、例えば、図１ａにおいて制御光が照射側端面近接７芯バンドル光ファイバー１の制御光出射ファイバーのコア１１から制御光１０１１が照射された場合、光路変更された信号光１１０１が、［６Ｎ］角錐台プリズム７の斜面７０７（図５ｂ参照）を通過するよう、［６Ｎ］角錐台プリズム７の斜面は載置される。なお、直進信号光１０００や光路切替信号光１１０１が入射するのは、［６Ｎ］角錐台プリズム７の底面７７０からであっても、台面７００または斜面７０１〜７１２からであっても、どちらでも差し支えない。図１ａ，１ｂにおいては［６Ｎ］角錐台プリズム７の底面７７０から信号光が入射する配置を想定している。 The number of slopes of the [6N] pyramidal prism 7 installed between the light receiving lens 6 and the coupling lens 8 is 12, 18, and 24 when N is 2, 3, and 4, respectively. The reason why the upper limit of the value of N is 4 will be described later. Regarding the arrangement of the slope of the [6N] pyramid prism 7, when the control light is not irradiated, the straight traveling signal light 1901 passes through the center of the base surface 700 of the [6N] pyramid prism 7 and is irradiated with the control light. In FIG. 1A, for example, when the control light is irradiated from the core 11 of the control light emitting fiber of the irradiation-side end-surface proximity 7-core bundle optical fiber 1, the signal light 1101 whose optical path has been changed is [6N]. The slope of the [6N] pyramid prism 7 is placed so as to pass through the slope 707 of the pyramid prism 7 (see FIG. 5b). The straight signal light 1000 and the optical path switching signal light 1101 may be incident from the bottom surface 770 of the [6N] pyramid prism 7 or from the base surface 700 or the inclined surfaces 701 to 712. Absent. In FIGS. 1 a and 1 b, an arrangement in which signal light enters from the bottom surface 770 of the [6N] pyramid prism 7 is assumed.

［６Ｎ］角錐台プリズム７に用いられる素材としては、上記の式〔１〕以降の計算を行うため、使用する信号光の波長（例えば１３１０ｎｍ）における屈折率が確定している光学ガラスを用いる必要がある。［６Ｎ］角錐台プリズム７は公知の切削・研磨法、または、ガラスモールド法によって好適に製造される。なお、［６Ｎ］角錐台プリズム７の構造を正確に表現すると、図５ｂに断面を示すように、［６Ｎ］角柱に［６Ｎ］角錐台を重ねたものである。これは、［６Ｎ］角錐台プリズムの縁が鋭角なままであると製造時に破損しやすくなるためである。直進信号光１０００は錐台の台面を通過し、光路切替信号光１１０１などは台面の近傍の錐台の斜面を通過するため、［６Ｎ］角柱に［６Ｎ］角錐台を重ねた形状であっても差し支えない。 As a material used for the [6N] pyramid prism 7, it is necessary to use an optical glass whose refractive index is determined at the wavelength of the signal light to be used (for example, 1310 nm) in order to perform the calculation after the above formula [1]. There is. The [6N] pyramid prism 7 is suitably manufactured by a known cutting / polishing method or a glass mold method. In addition, when the structure of the [6N] pyramid prism 7 is accurately expressed, the [6N] pyramid is overlaid on the [6N] prism as shown in a cross section in FIG. 5b. This is because if the edge of the [6N] pyramid prism remains sharp, it is likely to be damaged during manufacture. Since the straight signal light 1000 passes through the frustum of the frustum and the optical path switching signal light 1101 and the like pass through the slope of the frustum in the vicinity of the crest, the [6N] pyramid is overlapped with the [6N] pyramid. There is no problem.

本発明で用いられる受光側の［６Ｎ＋１］芯バンドル光ファイバーの概念図を図６に示す。図６の（ａ），（ｂ），（ｃ）は各々、Ｎが２，３，４の場合に対応し、それぞれ１３芯、１９芯、２５芯である。中心光ファイバーと中心軸を共有する円筒上に［６Ｎ］本の外径［２ｒ］光ファイバーを最密に並列に束ねる場合、円筒の半径Ｒは式〔７〕で求められる。
［数７］
Ｒ＝ｒ〔１／ｓｉｎ（３６０／（６Ｎ×２））−１〕 …〔７〕 A conceptual diagram of the [6N + 1] core bundle optical fiber on the light receiving side used in the present invention is shown in FIG. (A), (b), and (c) of FIG. 6 correspond to the cases where N is 2, 3, and 4, respectively, and are 13 cores, 19 cores, and 25 cores, respectively. When [6N] outer-diameter [2r] optical fibers are bundled most closely in parallel on a cylinder sharing the central axis with the central optical fiber, the radius R of the cylinder can be obtained by Equation [7].
[Equation 7]
R = r [1 / sin (360 / (6N × 2))-1] [7]

例えば、Ｎが２（１３芯バンドル）の場合、クラッド径［２ｒ］が一般的な１２５μｍの場合、Ｒは１７８．９８μｍである。同様にＮが３（１９芯バンドル）、４（２５芯バンドル）の場合、Ｒは各々、２９７．４２、４１６．３３μｍである。Ｒが約０．４ｍｍ程度まで大きくなると、光路切替信号光が受光光ファイバーへ入射する角度が、理想的な値である９０度から乖離するため、信号光の光ファイバーへの結合効率が低下してしまう。そこで、２５芯バンドルの場合、クラッド径［２ｒ］を４０μｍとすると、Ｒを１３３．２３μｍまで小さくすることができ、上記のような結合効率の低下は回避できる。ところが、隣り合った外周光ファイバーのコア間間隔が４０μｍまで接近するため、チャンネル間のクロストークが大きくなるという別の障害が問題となる。以上勘案し、Ｎの上限を４とした。 For example, when N is 2 (13-core bundle), when the clad diameter [2r] is a typical 125 μm, R is 178.98 μm. Similarly, when N is 3 (19-core bundle) and 4 (25-core bundle), R is 297.42 and 416.33 μm, respectively. When R is increased to about 0.4 mm, the angle at which the optical path switching signal light is incident on the light receiving optical fiber deviates from the ideal value of 90 degrees, so that the coupling efficiency of the signal light to the optical fiber is reduced. . Therefore, in the case of a 25-core bundle, if the cladding diameter [2r] is 40 μm, R can be reduced to 133.23 μm, and the above-described reduction in coupling efficiency can be avoided. However, since the distance between the cores of adjacent outer peripheral optical fibers approaches 40 μm, another problem that crosstalk between channels becomes large becomes a problem. Considering the above, the upper limit of N is set to 4.

本発明で用いられる受光側の１３芯バンドル光ファイバー受光素子９，９１，９２，６６の端面の概略構成を表す概念図を各々図４，９〜１２に示す。これらの受光素子に用いられる光ファイバー９００〜９１２は信号光の波長、例えば、１３１０〜１６００ｎｍの伝搬に適合したシングルモード光ファイバーが用いられ、そのコア径は概ね１０μｍである。 4 and 9 to 12 are conceptual diagrams showing schematic configurations of end faces of the 13-core bundle optical fiber light receiving elements 9, 91, 92, 66 on the light receiving side used in the present invention. The optical fibers 900 to 912 used for these light receiving elements are single mode optical fibers suitable for propagation of the wavelength of signal light, for example, 1310 to 1600 nm, and the core diameter is approximately 10 μm.

図４に示す１３芯バンドル光ファイバー９は、中心の孔にクラッド直径ｄ_１の光ファイバー９００が挿入された直径ｄ_３のセラミックまたはガラス製内周フェルール４４１の周囲に１２本の、クラッド径ｄ_２の光ファイバー９０１〜９１２を最密に並べて、孔の内径ｄ_５のセラミックまたはガラス製外周フェルール４３１の孔に接着剤４２１とともに挿入し、接着剤を硬化させた後、結束端の端面を垂直に研磨したものである。接着剤としては硬化時の体積収縮が少ない、エポキシ樹脂系またはシリコーン樹脂系接着を好適に用いることができる。 The 13-core bundle optical fiber 9 shown in FIG. 4 has twelve clad diameters d ₂ around a ceramic or glass inner ferrule 441 having a diameter d ₃ in which an optical fiber 900 having a clad diameter d ₁ is inserted into a central hole. the optical fibers 901 to 912 are arranged in close-packed, inserted with the adhesive 421 to the ceramic or pore glass outer peripheral ferrule 431 inner diameter d ₅ of the hole, after curing the adhesive, and polishing the end face of the bundled end vertically Is. As the adhesive, an epoxy resin-based or silicone resin-based adhesive that has a small volume shrinkage at the time of curing can be suitably used.

光ファイバー９０１〜９１２のクラッド径ｄ_２と内周フェルール４４１の外径ｄ_３との関係は式〔８〕で表される：
［数８］
ｄ_３＝ｄ_２〔１／ｓｉｎ（３６０／（６Ｎ×２））−１〕 …〔８〕 Relationship between the outer diameter _{d 3} of the cladding diameter _{d 2} and the inner peripheral ferrule 441 of the optical fiber 901 to 912 are represented by the formula [8]:
[Equation 8]
d ₃ = d ₂ [1 / sin (360 / (6N × 2)) − 1] (8)

また、光ファイバー９０１〜９１２のクラッド径ｄ_２と光ファイバー９０１〜９１２のコアの中心が並ぶ円周の直径ｄ_４との関係は式〔９〕で表される：
［数９］
ｄ_４＝ｄ_２〔１／ｓｉｎ（３６０／（６Ｎ×２））〕 …〔９〕 The relationship between the circumference of the diameter _{d 4} of the core center of the cladding diameter _{d 2} and an optical fiber 901 to 912 of the optical fiber 901 to 912 are arranged is expressed by Equation (9):
[Equation 9]
d ₄ = d ₂ [1 / sin (360 / (6N × 2))] [9]

また、光ファイバー９０１〜９１２のクラッド径ｄ_２と外周フェルール４３１の孔の内径ｄ_５との関係は、挿入を容易にするための隙間をΔｄとして式〔１０〕で表される：
［数１０］
ｄ_５＝ Δｄ＋ｄ_２〔１／ｓｉｎ（３６０／（６Ｎ×２））＋１〕 …〔１０〕 The relationship between the inner diameter _{d 5} of the pore of the cladding diameter _{d 2} and the outer ferrule 431 of the optical fiber 901 to 912 is expressed by formula [10] a gap to facilitate insertion as [Delta] d:
[Equation 10]
d ₅ = Δd + d ₂ [1 / sin (360 / (6N × 2)) + 1] (10)

フェルールの孔へ光ファイバーの束を挿入するための隙間Δｄは光ファイバー９０１〜９１２のクラッド径ｄ_２の公差が±０．３μｍ以下の場合、１．０μｍ程度が好ましい。光ファイバー９０１〜９１２のクラッド径ｄ_２が一般的な光ファイバーの場合の１２５μｍの場合、式〔８〕〜〔１０〕においてＮを２として、ｄ_３は３５８．０μｍ、ｄ_４は４８３．０μｍ、ｄ_５は６０８．０μｍである。この場合、外周フェルール４３１の外径は、例えば１ｍｍであれば強度面で充分である。 The gap Δd for inserting the bundle of optical fibers into the ferrule hole is preferably about 1.0 μm when the tolerance of the cladding diameter d ₂ of the optical fibers 901 to 912 is ± 0.3 μm or less. When the clad diameter _{d 2} of the optical fiber 901 to 912 is 125μm in the case of a general optical fiber, as 2 N In the formula [8] to [10], _{d 3} is 358.0μm, _{d 4} is 483.0Myuemu, d ₅ is 608.0 μm. In this case, if the outer diameter of the outer peripheral ferrule 431 is, for example, 1 mm, the strength is sufficient.

光ファイバー９０１〜９１２として、クラッド径４０．０μｍのものを用いた場合、内周フェルール４４１の外径ｄ_３は１１４．５μｍと計算される。この場合、内周フェルール４４１の孔に中心光ファイバーを挿入するよりも、中心光ファイバーのクラッド径を１２５μｍから１１４．５μｍまでエッチングし、その周辺に１２本のクラッド径４０μｍファイバーを隙間なく並べ、内径１９５．５μｍの孔を有する外周フェルールに接着剤とともに挿入する方法の方が好ましい。 When optical fibers 901 to 912 having a clad diameter of 40.0 μm are used, the outer diameter d ₃ of the inner ferrule 441 is calculated to be 114.5 μm. In this case, rather than inserting the central optical fiber into the hole of the inner ferrule 441, the cladding diameter of the central optical fiber is etched from 125 μm to 114.5 μm, and 12 fibers with a cladding diameter of 40 μm are arranged without any gaps around the inner diameter 195. The method of inserting with an adhesive into the outer peripheral ferrule having a hole of 5 μm is preferable.

また、内周フェルール４４１の代わりに、クラッド径１２５μｍの光ファイバーをエッチングすることなく使用する場合は、周辺光ファイバーとしてクラッド径４３．６５μｍにエッチングした光ファイバー９０１〜９１２を好適に使用することができる。 Further, when using an optical fiber having a cladding diameter of 125 μm without etching instead of the inner ferrule 441, optical fibers 901 to 912 etched to a cladding diameter of 43.65 μm can be suitably used as the peripheral optical fiber.

図４に示すように円筒型の内周フェルール４４１を用いる場合、光ファイバー９０１〜９１２を外周フェルールに挿入する作業が容易でない、また、光ファイバー９０１〜９１２が捻れたり蛇行したりする、などの課題がある。そこで、内周フェルールの直径ｄ_３を大きくしたｄ_６（図９）またはｄ_９（図１０）とし、内周フェルールの表面にＶ字型断面の溝を設けることで、この課題を解決することができる。 When the cylindrical inner ferrule 441 is used as shown in FIG. 4, the operation of inserting the optical fibers 901 to 912 into the outer ferrule is not easy, and the optical fibers 901 to 912 are twisted or meandered. is there. To solve this problem, the diameter d ₃ of the inner ferrule is increased to d ₆ (FIG. 9) or d ₉ (FIG. 10), and a groove having a V-shaped cross section is provided on the surface of the inner ferrule. Can do.

図９はＶ字型断面の溝を設けた内周フェルール４４２を用いた１３芯バンドル光ファイバー受光素子９１の端面を表した概念図であって、外周光ファイバー９０１〜９１２は隙間なく並列している。すなわち、光ファイバー９０１〜９１２のコアの中心が並ぶ円周の直径ｄ_４は図４の場合と同一である。 FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram showing the end face of a 13-core bundle optical fiber light receiving element 91 using an inner peripheral ferrule 442 provided with a groove having a V-shaped cross section, and the outer peripheral optical fibers 901 to 912 are arranged in parallel without a gap. In other words, the circumference of the diameter _{d 4} of the center of the core of the optical fiber 901 to 912 are arranged is the same as in FIG.

図１０はＶ字型断面の溝を設けた内周フェルール４４３を用いた１３芯バンドル光ファイバー受光素子９２の端面を表した概念図であって、外周光ファイバー９０１〜９１２は隙間を開けて並列している。すなわち、光ファイバー９０１〜９１２のコアの中心が並ぶ円周の直径ｄ_８は図４の場合のｄ_４よりも大きい。 FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram showing an end face of a 13-core bundle optical fiber light receiving element 92 using an inner ferrule 443 provided with a groove having a V-shaped cross section. The outer peripheral optical fibers 901 to 912 are arranged in parallel with a gap. Yes. In other words, the circumference of diameter _{d 8} of the core center of the optical fiber 901 to 912 are arranged is greater than _{d 4} in the case of FIG.

図１１は、１３基の孔を設けたセラミック製またはガラス製フェルール９９９の中心孔９８０に中心光ファイバー９００を、周辺の孔９８１〜９９２に周辺光ファイバー９０１〜９１２を挿入し、接着した後、垂直研磨した端面を図示したものである。光ファイバー９０１〜９１２のコアの中心が並ぶ円周の直径ｄ_１０は図４の場合のｄ_４よりも大きい。孔９８０の内径ｄ_１２、孔９８１〜９９２の内径ｄ_１１ともに、例えば、挿入する光ファイバーのクラッド径１２５μｍに対して、クラッド径の公差が±０．５μｍの場合、１．０μｍ程度大きくすることで、挿入を円滑に行うことができる。 FIG. 11 shows that a central optical fiber 900 is inserted into a central hole 980 of a ceramic or glass ferrule 999 provided with 13 holes, and peripheral optical fibers 901 to 912 are inserted into peripheral holes 981 to 992, bonded, and then vertically polished. The end face is illustrated. Circumference of diameter _{d 10} of the core center of the optical fiber 901 to 912 are arranged is greater than _{d 4} in the case of FIG. Both the inner diameter d _{12 of the} hole 980 and the inner diameter d _{11 of the} holes 981 to 992 are increased by about 1.0 μm when the cladding diameter tolerance is ± 0.5 μm with respect to the cladding diameter 125 μm of the optical fiber to be inserted. , Insertion can be performed smoothly.

なお、図４，９〜１１におけるフェルール４４１，４４２，４４３，９９９の長さについては、当該フェルールの直径と同等以上であれば、特に制約はない。 The lengths of the ferrules 441, 442, 443, and 999 in FIGS. 4 and 9 to 11 are not particularly limited as long as they are equal to or larger than the diameter of the ferrule.

以上で説明した１３芯バンドル光ファイバー受光素子９，９１において、光ファイバー９０１〜９１２のコアの中心が並ぶ円周の直径ｄ_４の１／２（半径）は、光ファイバー９０１〜９１２のコアの中心と中心ファイバー９００のコアの中心との距離Ｌである：
［数１１］
Ｌ＝ｄ_４／２ …〔１１〕 In 13 core bundle fiber receiving element 9 and 91 described above, 1/2 (radius) of the circumference of the diameter _{d 4} of the center of the core of the optical fiber 901 to 912 are aligned, the center and the center of the core of the optical fiber 901 to 912 The distance L from the center of the core of the fiber 900 is:
[Equation 11]
L = d _4/2 ... [11]

式〔５〕と式〔１１〕に直径ｄ_４の値と結合レンズ８の焦点距離ｆの値を代入することで、対応する１２角錐台プリズム７の角θ（図５ａに示す）を計算することができる。 By substituting the value of the diameter d _{4 and} the value of the focal length f of the coupling lens 8 into the equations [5] and [11], the angle θ (shown in FIG. 5 a) of the corresponding dodecagonal prism 7 is calculated. be able to.

同様にして、１３芯バンドル光ファイバー受光素子９２，９３においては、各々直径ｄ_８，ｄ_１０と結合レンズ８の焦点距離ｆから対応する１２角錐台プリズム７の角θを計算することができる。 Similarly, in the 13-core bundle optical fiber light receiving elements 92 and 93, the angle θ of the corresponding truncated pyramid prism 7 can be calculated from the diameters d ₈ and d ₁₀ and the focal length f of the coupling lens 8.

図１２の１９芯バンドル光ファイバー受光素子６６（実質、１３芯バンドル光ファイバー受光素子、以下「１９（１３）芯バンドル光ファイバー受光素子６６」という）は、これまで述べてきたものと異なり、１２本の外周光ファイバー６０１〜６７２は同一円周上には配置されず、全部で１９本の光ファイバーを最密充填で束ねたものの、最外周に位置する。この場合、中心光ファイバー６００の周りの６本の光ファイバー６２１〜６２６は、１９本最密充填配置のためのダミーファイバーである。 The 19-core bundle optical fiber light-receiving element 66 (substantially, 13-core bundle optical fiber light-receiving element, hereinafter referred to as “19 (13) -core bundle optical fiber light-receiving element 66”) in FIG. The optical fibers 601 to 672 are not arranged on the same circumference, but are located on the outermost periphery although a total of 19 optical fibers are bundled by closest packing. In this case, the six optical fibers 621 to 626 around the central optical fiber 600 are 19 dummy fibers for the closest packing arrangement.

この配置の場合、中心光ファイバーのコア６００の中心と、周辺光ファイバーのコアとの中心間距離はｄ_１３とｄ_１４の２通りとなり、ｄ_１３とｄ_１４は、式〔１２〕の関係にある。
［数１２］
ｄ_１４＝（１／２×√３）×ｄ_１３ …〔１２〕 In this arrangement, the distance between the centers of the center of the core 600 of the central optical fiber, the core near the optical fiber is two kinds of _{d 13} and _{d _14,} _{d 13} and _{d 14} are in a relationship of the formula [12].
[Equation 12]
d ₁₄ = (1/2 × √3) × d ₁₃ ... [12]

例えば、クラッド径が１２５μｍの光ファイバー１９本を最密に束ねた場合、ｄ_１３は２５０．０μｍに対し、ｄ_１４は２１６．５μｍである。 For example, if the clad diameter is bundled nineteen optical fiber 125μm closely _{packed, d 13} whereas 250.0 _{micrometers, d 14} is 216.5Myuemu.

従って、１９（１３）芯バンドル光ファイバー受光素子６６に対応する１２角錐台プリズム（図示せず）は、角度θ１とθ２の２種類の傾きの斜面が交互に並んだ形状となり、台面は正１２角形ではなくなる。
ｄ_１３が２５０．０μｍ、ｆが２ｍｍの場合、θ１は１４．１４°である。
ｄ_１４が２１６．５μｍ、ｆが２ｍｍの場合、θ２は１２．２６°である。 Accordingly, a 12-pyramidal prism (not shown) corresponding to the 19 (13) -core bundle optical fiber light-receiving element 66 has a shape in which slopes of two kinds of inclinations of angles θ1 and θ2 are alternately arranged, and the base surface is a regular dodecagon. Is not.
d ₁₃ is 250.0 micrometers, when f is 2 mm, .theta.1 is 14.14 °.
If d ₁₄ is 216.5μm, f is 2 mm, .theta.2 is 12.26 °.

以上説明したような１３芯バンドル光ファイバー受光素子９，９１，９２，９３および１９（１３）芯バンドル光ファイバー受光素子６６の束ねられていない側の光ファイバー９０１〜９１２の端面に到達した信号光は、そのまま、信号光の波長のレーザーとして利用することもできるが、通常は、文字通り、信号光の運んだ信号は光ファイバー９２１〜９３２を通じて光信号送受信装置２２１〜２３２に接続され、光信号送受信装置２２１〜２３２に内蔵された光電変換素子によって電気信号に変換され、利用される。また、信号光光源から光信号送受信装置２２１〜２３２のいずれかに光路が切り替えられて接続している場合、光信号送受信装置２２１〜２３２に信号光光源が搭載されていて、信号光の光源側にも光電変換素子などが搭載されている場合、光信号送受信装置２２１〜２３２から信号光光源側へ光信号を送り返すこともできる。 The signal light reaching the end faces of the unbundled optical fibers 901 to 912 of the 13-core bundle optical fiber light-receiving elements 9, 91, 92, 93 and 19 (13) -core bundle optical fiber light-receiving element 66 as described above is used as it is. In general, the signals carried by the signal light are connected to the optical signal transmitting / receiving devices 221 to 232 through the optical fibers 921 to 932, and the optical signal transmitting / receiving devices 221 to 232 are literally used. It is converted into an electrical signal by a photoelectric conversion element built in the device and used. Further, when the optical path is switched from the signal light source to any one of the optical signal transmission / reception devices 221 to 232, the signal light source is mounted on the optical signal transmission / reception devices 221 to 232, and the signal light source side When a photoelectric conversion element or the like is also mounted, an optical signal can be sent back from the optical signal transmission / reception devices 221 to 232 to the signal light source side.

本発明の第１の実施の形態においては、以下、照射側端面近接７芯バンドル光ファイバー１の非結束末端の内、周辺の６本の制御光用ファイバーを６基の制御光光源およびその制御装置２１１〜２１６に接続した場合（図７）について詳細に説明しているが、この場合、制御光照射の制御を６基の制御光光源およびその制御装置２１１〜２１６のみで行うことも、光信号送受信装置２２１〜２３２から制御光光源の制御装置２１１〜２１６へ、電気信号線２４１〜２５２，２６２〜２７２によって制御光点灯のための電気信号を送ることもできる。電気信号線としては平行コードまたは芯線が１本以上の同軸ケーブルを好適に用いることができる。光信号送受信装置２２１〜２３２の内、制御光が１つ単独で照射された場合に信号光が到達する光信号送受信装置２２１，２２３，２２５，２２７，２２９，２３１から制御光光源およびその制御装置２１１〜２１６への電気信号線は１本ずつで良い。互いに隣り合う制御光のいずれか２つが同時に照射された場合に信号光が到達する光信号送受信装置２２２，２２４，２２６，２２８，２３０，２３２から制御光光源およびその制御装置２１１〜２１６への電気信号線は各々２本ずつが、互いに隣り合う制御光光源およびその制御装置２１１〜２１６のいずれか２基へ接続される。図７はこのような制御系の配線と信号光の光ファイバーの接続の様子を図示した概念図である。また、個々の構成要素の符号の組合せを表１に掲げる。 In the first embodiment of the present invention, six control light sources and their control devices including six control light fibers in the periphery of the unbound end of the irradiation-side end-surface-proximal seven-core bundle optical fiber 1 will be described below. The case of connecting to 211 to 216 (FIG. 7) has been described in detail. In this case, the control light irradiation can be controlled only by the six control light sources and the control devices 211 to 216. Electrical signals for lighting the control light can be sent from the transmission / reception devices 221 to 232 to the control devices 211 to 216 of the control light source through the electrical signal lines 241 to 252 and 262 to 272. As the electrical signal line, a parallel cable or a coaxial cable having one or more core wires can be suitably used. Among the optical signal transmission / reception devices 221 to 232, the control light source and its control device are transmitted from the optical signal transmission / reception devices 221, 223, 225, 227, 229, 231 to which the signal light reaches when the control light is irradiated alone. One electrical signal line to 211 to 216 may be provided. Electricity from the optical signal transmitting / receiving devices 222, 224, 226, 228, 230, 232 to which the signal light arrives when any two of the adjacent control lights are simultaneously irradiated to the control light source and its control devices 211-216 Two signal lines are connected to each of the control light sources adjacent to each other and any two of the control devices 211 to 216. FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the state of connection between such control system wiring and optical fibers for signal light. Table 1 shows combinations of symbols of the individual components.

次に、第１の実施形態における光路切替装置における動作ならびに信号光の光路切替方法の１例を、図１ａ〜１ｂ，図２ａ〜２ｂ，図３〜４，図５ａ，図５ｂ，図６〜７を用いて以下に説明する。 Next, an example of the operation of the optical path switching apparatus and the optical path switching method of the signal light in the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1a to 1b, FIGS. 2a to 2b, FIGS. 3 to 4, FIGS. 7 will be described below.

照射側端面近接７芯バンドル光ファイバー１の中央光ファイバーのコア１０から信号光１０００が出射され、周辺光ファイバー１１〜１６のいずれからも制御光が出射されなかった場合、直進信号光１０００は、１２角錐台プリズム７の底面７７０および台面７００を通過して、受光側の１３芯バンドル光ファイバー受光素子７の中央光ファイバーのコア９００で受光される。一方、照射側端面近接７芯バンドル光ファイバー１０の中央光ファイバー１０から信号光１０００が出射され、周辺光ファイバー１１から制御光１０１１が出射された場合、信号光１０００は熱レンズ形成素子４内に形成された熱レンズ１１１（図１ａ，２ａ）で光路が変更され、１２角錐台プリズム７の底面７７０およびの斜面７０７（図５ａ）を通過して、受光側１３芯バンドル光ファイバー受光素子７の周辺光ファイバーのコア９０１で受光される。また、照射側端面近接７芯バンドル光ファイバー１０の中央光ファイバー１０から信号光１０００が出射され、周辺光ファイバー１２から制御光１０１２が出射された場合、信号光１０００は熱レンズ形成素子４内に形成された熱レンズ１１２で光路が変更され、１２角錐台プリズム７の底面７７０およびの斜面７０９（図５ａ）を通過して、受光素子である受光側の１３芯バンドル光ファイバー受光素子７の周辺光ファイバー９０３で受光される。また、照射側端面近接７芯バンドル光ファイバー１０の中央光ファイバー１０から信号光１０００が出射され、互いに隣接する周辺光ファイバー１２および１３から制御光が同時に出射された場合、信号光１０００は熱レンズ形成素子４内に形成された熱レンズ１１２および１１３（図１ｂ）で光路が変更され、１２角錐台プリズム７の底面７７０およびの斜面７１０（図５ａ）を通過して、受光側１３芯バンドル光ファイバー受光素子７の周辺光ファイバーのコア９０４で受光される。 When the signal light 1000 is emitted from the core 10 of the central optical fiber of the irradiation side end face proximity 7-core bundle optical fiber 1 and the control light is not emitted from any of the peripheral optical fibers 11 to 16, the straight traveling signal light 1000 is a 12-pyramidal frustum. The light passes through the bottom surface 770 and the base surface 700 of the prism 7 and is received by the central optical fiber core 900 of the 13-core bundle optical fiber light receiving element 7 on the light receiving side. On the other hand, when the signal light 1000 is emitted from the central optical fiber 10 and the control light 1011 is emitted from the peripheral optical fiber 11, the signal light 1000 is formed in the thermal lens forming element 4. The optical path is changed by the thermal lens 111 (FIGS. 1a and 2a), passes through the bottom surface 770 of the truncated pyramid prism 7 and the inclined surface 707 (FIG. 5a), and the peripheral optical fiber core of the light receiving side 13-core bundle optical fiber light receiving element 7 Light is received at 901. Further, when the signal light 1000 is emitted from the central optical fiber 10 of the seven-core bundle optical fiber 10 near the irradiation side end face, and the control light 1012 is emitted from the peripheral optical fiber 12, the signal light 1000 is formed in the thermal lens forming element 4. The optical path is changed by the thermal lens 112, passes through the bottom surface 770 of the 12-pyramidal prism 7 and the inclined surface 709 (FIG. 5a), and is received by the peripheral optical fiber 903 of the 13-core bundle optical fiber receiving element 7 on the light receiving side which is a light receiving element. Is done. Further, when the signal light 1000 is emitted from the central optical fiber 10 of the seven-core bundle optical fiber 10 adjacent to the irradiation side end face, and the control light is simultaneously emitted from the adjacent optical fibers 12 and 13, the signal light 1000 is converted into the thermal lens forming element 4. The optical path is changed by the thermal lenses 112 and 113 (FIG. 1b) formed therein, passes through the bottom surface 770 and the inclined surface 710 (FIG. 5a) of the dodecagonal truncated pyramid prism 7, and passes through the light receiving side 13-core bundle optical fiber light receiving element 7 Is received by the core 904 of the peripheral optical fiber.

同様にして、表１に示すような構成要素の組合せによって、制御光のいずれか１つが単独で、あるいは、互いに隣接する制御光のいずれか２が同時に照射されることによって、制御光が照射されない場合の直進方向を含め、合計１３方向への光路切替が可能になる。 Similarly, according to the combination of the components as shown in Table 1, any one of the control lights is singly or any two of the control lights adjacent to each other are simultaneously irradiated, so that the control light is not irradiated. The optical path can be switched in a total of 13 directions, including the straight direction.

以上より、第１の実施の形態における光路切替装置および信号光の光路切替方法によれば、１×１３スイッチが実現する。 From the above, according to the optical path switching device and the optical path switching method of signal light in the first embodiment, a 1 × 13 switch is realized.

図６に示すように、１３芯、１９芯および２５芯いずれの場合も、制御光のいずれか１つが単独で照射された場合に接続されるチャンネルｃｈ．０１，０３，０５，０７，０９，１１、ｃｈ．２１，２４，２７，３０，３３，３６、および、ｃｈ．４１，４５，４９，５３，５７，６１以外のチャンネルについては、互いに隣接するいずれか２つの制御光を同時に照射し、更に、２つの制御光の照射強度の組合せを変えることによって、接続先を選択する。図６（ｂ）１９芯の場合、１８角錐台プリズム、また、（ｃ）２５芯の場合、２４角錐台プリズムが用いられる。 As shown in FIG. 6, in any of 13 cores, 19 cores, and 25 cores, the channel ch. Connected when any one of the control lights is irradiated alone. 01, 03, 05, 07, 09, 11, ch. 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36, and ch. For channels other than 41, 45, 49, 53, 57, and 61, any two control lights adjacent to each other are simultaneously irradiated, and the connection destination is changed by changing the combination of the irradiation intensity of the two control lights. select. In the case of FIG. 6 (b) 19 cores, an 18-pyramidal prism is used, and in the case of (c) 25 cores, a 24 pyramid prism is used.

図６に示す、Ｎが２，３，４いずれの場合も、前記６本の制御光照射光ファイバーの他方の端面に各々直接接続された６基の制御光光源の照射の有無および照射強度を、予め定められた試行錯誤方式プログラミングに従って自動的に調整し、前記信号光が光路切替されて収束入射される前記受光素子の［６Ｎ］周辺素子のいずれか１つへの光路切替を最適化する手順を行うことで、本発明の第１の実施の形態の光路切替装置の初期設定を完了し、本発明の第１の実施の形態の信号光の光路切替方法を確実に実施することができる。 In the case where N is 2, 3, or 4 shown in FIG. 6, the presence or absence and irradiation intensity of the six control light sources directly connected to the other end face of the six control light irradiation optical fibers, Procedure for automatically adjusting according to a predetermined trial and error method programming and optimizing the optical path switching to any one of the [6N] peripheral elements of the light receiving element on which the signal light is converged and incident after the optical path is switched. Thus, the initial setting of the optical path switching apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention can be completed, and the optical path switching method for signal light according to the first embodiment of the present invention can be reliably implemented.

〔第２の実施形態〕
図８を参照して本発明の第２の実施形態に係る光路切替装置を説明し、併せて複数光信号の光路切替方法を説明する。なお、図８において、図を見やすくするため、受光側光送受信装置が各々２基搭載する制御光光源からの光ファイバーの内、光合波器へ接続されないもの（これをダミーファイバーと呼ぶ）は図示していない。 [Second Embodiment]
An optical path switching apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 8 and an optical path switching method for a plurality of optical signals will be described together. In FIG. 8, in order to make the drawing easier to see, optical fibers from the control light source mounted on each of the two light receiving side optical transceivers are not connected to the optical multiplexer (this is called a dummy fiber). Not.

また、本発明の第１の実施形態との相違は、制御光照射ファイバーのコア１１〜１６に各々接続された制御光合波器８１１〜８１６、受光側の１３芯バンドル光ファイバー７からの信号光ファイバー９４０〜９５２が各々接続された、光信号受信ユニットとしての光信号送受信装置８２０〜８３２、光信号送受信装置８２１〜８３２と制御光合波器８１１〜８１６を結んだ制御光伝達用光ファイバー８４１〜８５２，８６２〜８７２を用いる点である。また、光信号送受信装置８２１，８２３，８２５，８２７，８２９，８３１は各々少なくとも１基の制御光光源（レーザーダイオード）を、光信号送受信装置８２２，８２４，８２６，８２８，８３０，８３２は各々必ず２基の制御光光源を搭載している。光信号送受信装置８２１，８２３，８２５，８２７，８２９，８３１からの制御光伝達用光ファイバー８４１，８４３，８４５，８４７，８４９，８５１は各々制御光合波器８１１〜８１６と１対１に接続されている。一方、光信号送受信装置８２２，８２４，８２６，８２８，８３０，８３２の２基の制御光光源は各々１本の制御光伝達用光ファイバー８４２〜８５２および８６２〜８７２によって、互いに隣接する２基の制御光合波器８１１〜８１６のいずれか１基と１対１に接続されている。制御光が照射されない場合の直進信号光が接続される光信号送受信装置８２０には制御光光源や制御光伝送用ファイバーは無用であるが、制御光の波長の光を用いた光ＬＡＮを構成し、光信号送受信装置８２０〜８３２の間で光通信を行う場合（図示せず）には、光信号送受信装置８２０にも制御光光源を少なくとも１基搭載し、制御光伝送用ファイバーを接続する。 Further, the difference from the first embodiment of the present invention is that the control light multiplexers 811 to 816 connected to the cores 11 to 16 of the control light irradiation fibers, respectively, and the signal optical fiber 940 from the 13-core bundle optical fiber 7 on the light receiving side. ˜952 are connected to each other, optical signal transmission / reception devices 820 to 832 as optical signal receiving units, optical signal transmission / reception devices 821 to 832 and control optical multiplexers 811 to 816 are connected to optical fibers 841 to 852 and 862 for control light transmission. ˜872 is used. The optical signal transmitting / receiving devices 821, 823, 825, 827, 829, and 831 each include at least one control light source (laser diode), and the optical signal transmitting / receiving devices 822, 824, 826, 828, 830, and 832 are always included. Two control light sources are installed. Optical fibers 841, 843, 845, 847, 849, and 851 for transmitting control light from the optical signal transmitting / receiving devices 821, 823, 825, 827, 829, and 831 are respectively connected to the control optical multiplexers 811 to 816 on a one-to-one basis. Yes. On the other hand, the two control light sources of the optical signal transmission / reception devices 822, 824, 826, 828, 830, and 832 are respectively controlled by two control light transmission optical fibers 842 to 852 and 862 to 872, which are adjacent to each other. One of the optical multiplexers 811 to 816 is connected to the one-to-one relationship. The optical signal transmission / reception device 820 to which the straight signal light when the control light is not irradiated is connected does not use a control light source or a control light transmission fiber, but constitutes an optical LAN using light of the control light wavelength. When optical communication is performed between the optical signal transmission / reception devices 820 to 832 (not shown), at least one control light source is mounted on the optical signal transmission / reception device 820, and a control light transmission fiber is connected.

図８に示す本発明の第２の実施形態に係る光路切替装置を運用する上で、光信号送受信装置８２０〜８３２に搭載されている制御光光源が１つの場合と２つの場合を区別して制御光伝達用光ファイバー８４２〜８５２および８６２〜８７２の中の１本または２本を配線する作業は煩雑であり、誤配線のおそれもある。そこで、前記配線作業を確実かつ簡便にするため、光信号送受信装置８２０〜８３２のすべてに各々２基の制御光光源を搭載し、各々に１対（２本）の制御光伝搬ファイバーを接続し、これらの制御光伝搬ファイバーを制御光合波器８１１〜８１６に接続する際、光信号送受信装置８２１，８２３，８２５，８２７，８２９，８３１からの１対（２本）の制御光伝搬ファイバーの内の各々１本は、制御光合波器８１１〜８１６に接続されないダミーファイバーとすることができる。更に、光信号送受信装置８２０〜８３２を本発明の第２の実施形態に係る光路切替装置に組み込む際のシステム初期化手順として、光信号送受信装置８２０〜８３２が各々搭載する２基の制御光光源を、前記光信号送受信装置毎に順番に、１つずつ発振、次いで２つ同時に発振し、光路切替信号光が光信号送受信装置８２０〜８３２の各々が搭載する光電変換素子へ到達するよう、各々搭載する２基の制御光光源の１つまたは２つの発振有無と発振強度を、予め設定された試行錯誤方式プログラミングに従って、自動的に制御することによって、装置の光路切替機能を最適化することが可能である。このような本発明の第２の実施形態に係る光路切替装置の初期化手順としての機能最適化手順は、Ｎが２のときだけでなく、光信号送受信装置８２０〜８３２が各々搭載する２基の制御光光源の照射強度の調整が必要な、Ｎが３および４の場合（図６参照）において特に有効である。 When operating the optical path switching apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 8, control is performed by distinguishing between the case where the control light source mounted in the optical signal transmission / reception apparatuses 820 to 832 is one and the case where there are two. The operation of wiring one or two of the optical fibers for light transmission 842 to 852 and 862 to 872 is complicated and there is a risk of incorrect wiring. Therefore, in order to make the wiring work reliable and simple, each of the optical signal transmission / reception devices 820 to 832 is equipped with two control light sources, and one pair (two) of control light propagation fibers is connected to each. When these control light propagation fibers are connected to the control light multiplexers 811 to 816, one pair (two) of the control light propagation fibers from the optical signal transmitting / receiving devices 821, 823, 825, 827, 829, 831 One of each can be a dummy fiber that is not connected to the control light multiplexers 811 to 816. Furthermore, as a system initialization procedure when incorporating the optical signal transmission / reception devices 820 to 832 into the optical path switching device according to the second embodiment of the present invention, two control light sources mounted on the optical signal transmission / reception devices 820 to 832 respectively. Are sequentially oscillated one by one for each optical signal transmitting / receiving device, and then simultaneously oscillated by two, so that the optical path switching signal light reaches the photoelectric conversion elements mounted on each of the optical signal transmitting / receiving devices 820 to 832. It is possible to optimize the optical path switching function of the device by automatically controlling one or two oscillation presence / absence and oscillation intensity of the two control light sources to be mounted according to preset trial and error programming. Is possible. The function optimization procedure as the initialization procedure of the optical path switching device according to the second embodiment of the present invention is not only when N is 2, but also two optical signal transmission / reception devices 820 to 832 are mounted. This is particularly effective when N is 3 or 4 (see FIG. 6), which requires adjustment of the irradiation intensity of the control light source.

表２は各構成要素の接続の組合せを符号の組合せで表したものである。 Table 2 shows the connection combinations of the respective constituent elements by the combination of symbols.

例えば、光信号送受信装置８２１の制御光光源が点灯され、制御光が光ファイバー８４１、制御光合波器８１１を経由して照射側端面近接７芯バンドル光ファイバー１の制御光照射ファイバーのコア１１から制御光１０１１として照射された場合、本発明の第１の実施形態の場合と全く同様にして、信号光１０００は光路を切り替えられ、１３芯バンドル光ファイバー受光素子９のコア９０１にて受光され（図１ａおよび図２ａ）、光ファイバー９４１を通じて、光信号送受信装置８２１に届けられる。 For example, the control light source of the optical signal transmitting / receiving device 821 is turned on, and the control light is transmitted from the core 11 of the control light irradiation fiber of the seven-core bundle optical fiber 1 near the irradiation side end surface via the optical fiber 841 and the control light multiplexer 811. When irradiated as 1011, the optical path of the signal light 1000 is switched in the same manner as in the first embodiment of the present invention, and is received by the core 901 of the 13-core bundle optical fiber light receiving element 9 (FIG. 1a and FIG. 2a), the optical signal 941 is delivered to the optical signal transmitting / receiving device 821.

また、光信号送受信装置８２４の２つの制御光光源が同時に点灯され、制御光が光ファイバー８４４から制御光合波器８１３を経由して照射側端面近接７芯バンドル光ファイバー１の制御光照射ファイバーのコア１３から制御光１０１３として照射され、また、制御光が光ファイバー８６４から制御光合波器８１２を経由して照射側端面近接７芯バンドル光ファイバー１の制御光照射ファイバーのコア１２から制御光１０１２として照射された場合、本発明の第１の実施形態の場合と全く同様にして、信号光１０００は光路を切り替えられ、１３芯バンドル光ファイバー受光素子９のコア９０１にて受光され（図１ｂおよび図２ｂ）、光ファイバー９４４を通じて、光信号送受信装置８２４に届けられる。 In addition, the two control light sources of the optical signal transmission / reception device 824 are simultaneously turned on, and the control light is transmitted from the optical fiber 844 via the control light multiplexer 813 to the core 13 of the control light irradiation fiber of the seven-core bundle optical fiber 1 near the irradiation side end surface. Is emitted as control light 1013 from the optical fiber 864 via the control light multiplexer 812 and from the core 12 of the control light irradiation fiber of the 7-core bundle optical fiber 1 near the irradiation side. In this case, in the same manner as in the first embodiment of the present invention, the signal light 1000 is switched in optical path and received by the core 901 of the 13-core bundle optical fiber light receiving element 9 (FIGS. 1b and 2b). 944 to the optical signal transmitting / receiving device 824.

以上より、第２の実施の形態における光路切替装置および信号光の光路切替方法によれば、１×１３スイッチが実現する。 From the above, according to the optical path switching device and the optical path switching method of signal light in the second embodiment, a 1 × 13 switch is realized.

１照射側端面近接７芯バンドル光ファイバー、
２コリメートレンズ、
３集光レンズ、
４熱レンズ形成素子、
５制御光吸収層、
６受光レンズ、
７１２角錐台プリズム、
８結合レンズ、
９，９１，９２，９３１３芯バンドル光ファイバー受光素子、
１０信号光照射ファイバーのコア、１１〜１６制御光照射ファイバーのコア、
３０，６０フェルール、
３１，６１接着剤、
６６１９（１３）芯バンドル光ファイバー受光素子、
１００１対１３型光路切替装置、
１１１，１１２，１１３熱レンズ、
２１１〜２１６制御光照射ファイバーのコア１１〜１６に各々接続された制御光光源およびその制御装置、
２２１〜２３２光路切替信号光受光ファイバーのコア９０１〜９１２に接続された光信号送受信装置、
２４１，２４３，２４５，２４７，２４９，２５１光信号送受信装置２２１，２２３，２２５，２２７，２２９，２３１の制御装置と制御光光源の制御装置２１１〜２１６を各々結ぶ電気信号線、
２４２，２４４，２４６，２４８，２５０，２５２光信号送受信装置２２２，２２４，２２６，２２８，２３０，２３２の制御装置と制御光光源の制御装置２１１〜２１６を各々結ぶ電気信号線、
２６２，２６４，２６６，２６８，２７０，２７２光信号送受信装置２２２，２２４，２２６，２２８，２３０，２３２の制御装置と制御光光源の制御装置２１１〜２１６を各々結ぶ電気信号線、
３１０信号光照射ファイバーのクラッド、
３１１〜３１６制御光照射ファイバーのクラッド、
４００直進信号光受光ファイバーのクラッド、
４０１〜４１２光路切替信号光受光ファイバーのクラッド、
４２１，４２２，４２３接着剤、
４３１，４３２，４３３外周フェルール、
４４１内周フェルール、４４２，４４３Ｖ字断面溝付内周フェルール、
６００直進信号光受光ファイバーのコア、６０１〜６１２光路切替信号光受光ファイバーのコア、
６２１〜６２６ダミーファイバー、
６６０直進信号光受光ファイバーのクラッド、
６６１〜６７２光路切替信号光受光ファイバーのクラッド、
７００１２角錐台プリズムの台面、
７０１〜７１２１２角錐台プリズムの斜面、
７７０１２角錐台の底面、
７８０１２角錐台プリズムの台面７００と底面７７０が構成する平板部分、
７８７角錐台プリズムの斜面７０７と底面７７０が構成するくさび型プリズム部分、
８１１〜８１６制御光照射ファイバーのコア１１〜１６に各々接続された制御光合波器、
８２０直進信号光受光ファイバーのコア９００に接続された光信号送受信装置、
８２１〜８３２光路切替信号光受光ファイバーのコア９０１〜９１２に接続された光信号送受信装置、
８４１，８４３，８４５，８４７，８４９，８５１光信号送受信装置８２１，８２３，８２５，８２７，８２９，８３１に各１基搭載された制御光光源と制御光合波器８１１〜８１６を各々結ぶ制御光伝送光ファイバー、
８４２，８４４，８４６，８４８，８５０，８５２光信号送受信装置８２２，８２４，８２６，８２８，８３０，８３２に各２基搭載された制御光光源の１と制御光合波器８１１〜８１６を各々結ぶ制御光伝送光ファイバー、
８６２，８６４，８６６，８６８，８７０，８７２光信号送受信装置８２２，８２４，８２６，８２８，８３０，８３２に各２基搭載された制御光光源の１と制御光合波器８１１〜８１６を各々結ぶ制御光伝送光ファイバー、
９００直進信号光受光ファイバーのコア、９０１〜９１２光路切替信号光受光ファイバーのコア、
９２１〜９３２光路切替信号光受光ファイバーのコア９０１〜９１２と光信号送受信装置２２１〜２３２の光-電子変換器を各々結ぶ光ファイバー、
９４０直進信号光受光ファイバーのコア９００と光信号送受信装置８２０の光-電子変換器を結ぶ光ファイバー、
９４１〜９５２光路切替信号光受光ファイバーのコア９０１〜９１２と光信号送受信装置８２１〜８３２の光-電子変換器を各々結ぶ光ファイバー、
９８０直進信号光受光ファイバーを載置する孔、
９８１〜９９２光路切替信号光受光ファイバーを載置する孔、
９９９１３孔フェルール、
１０００，１００１信号光、
１０１１，１０１２，１０１３制御光、
１９００直進信号光、
１９０１，１９０４，１１０１，１１０２，１２１３１，１２１３２光路切替信号光。 1 irradiation side end face proximity 7-core bundle optical fiber,
2 collimating lens,
3 Condensing lens,
4 Thermal lens forming element,
5 Control light absorption layer,
6 Receiving lens,
7 12 pyramid prism,
8 coupling lens,
9, 91, 92, 93 13-core bundle optical fiber light receiving element,
10 Core of signal light irradiation fiber, 11-16 Core of control light irradiation fiber,
30, 60 ferrules,
31, 61 adhesive,
66 19 (13) core bundle optical fiber light receiving element,
100 1 to 13 type optical path switching device,
111, 112, 113 thermal lens,
211 to 216 Control light sources connected to the cores 11 to 16 of the control light irradiation fibers, respectively, and their control devices,
221-232 Optical path switching signal Optical signal transmitting / receiving apparatus connected to the cores 901-912 of the optical fiber,
241, 243, 245, 247, 249, 251 Electrical signal lines connecting the control devices of the optical signal transmission / reception devices 221, 223, 225, 227, 229, 231 and the control devices 211 to 216 of the control light source,
242, 244, 246, 248, 250, 252 Electrical signal lines connecting the control devices of the optical signal transmitting / receiving devices 222, 224, 226, 228, 230, 232 and the control devices 211 to 216 of the control light source,
262, 264, 266, 268, 270, 272 Electrical signal lines connecting the control devices of the optical signal transmitting / receiving devices 222, 224, 226, 228, 230, 232 and the control devices 211-216 of the control light source,
310 cladding of the signal light irradiation fiber,
311 to 316 Clad of control light irradiation fiber,
400 Clad of straight signal receiving optical fiber,
401 to 412 Optical path switching signal clad optical fiber,
421,422,423 adhesive,
431, 432, 433 peripheral ferrule,
441 inner periphery ferrule, 442, 443 V-section grooved inner periphery ferrule,
600 straight signal optical fiber core, 601-612 optical path switching signal optical fiber core,
621-626 dummy fiber,
660 Clad of straight signal light receiving optical fiber,
661 to 672 Optical path switching signal clad optical fiber,
700 The surface of the 12-pyramidal prism,
701-712 slopes of a truncated pyramid prism,
770 The bottom of the truncated pyramid,
780 A flat plate portion formed by the base surface 700 and the bottom surface 770 of the truncated pyramid prism,
787 A wedge-shaped prism portion formed by the inclined surface 707 and the bottom surface 770 of the truncated pyramid prism,
811 to 816 Control light multiplexers respectively connected to the cores 11 to 16 of the control light irradiation fibers,
820 An optical signal transmitting / receiving device connected to the core 900 of the straight signal optical receiving optical fiber,
821-832 Optical path switching signal Optical signal transmitting / receiving device connected to cores 901-912 of optical receiving optical fiber,
841, 843, 845, 847, 849, 851 Control light transmission connecting the control light source mounted on each of the optical signal transmitting and receiving devices 821, 823, 825, 827, 829, and 831 and the control light multiplexers 811 to 816. Optical fiber,
842, 844, 846, 848, 850, 852 Controls for connecting one of the control light sources mounted on each of the optical signal transmitting / receiving apparatuses 822, 824, 826, 828, 830, and 832 to the control light multiplexers 811 to 816, respectively. Optical transmission optical fiber,
862, 864, 866, 868, 870, 872 Controls for connecting one of the control light sources mounted on each of the two optical signal transmitting / receiving devices 822, 824, 826, 828, 830, and 832 to the control light multiplexers 811 to 816 Optical transmission optical fiber,
900 Straight signal optical fiber core, 901 to 912 Optical path switching signal optical fiber core,
921-932 optical path switching signals, optical fibers connecting the cores 901-912 of the optical receiving optical fibers and the optical-electronic converters of the optical signal transmitting / receiving devices 221-232,
940 An optical fiber connecting the straight signal optical receiving optical fiber core 900 and the optical-electronic converter of the optical signal transmitting / receiving device 820,
941 to 952 Optical path switching signals Optical fibers that connect the cores 901 to 912 of the optical receiving optical fibers and the optical-electronic converters of the optical signal transmitting / receiving devices 821 to 832,
980 A hole for placing a straight signal receiving optical fiber,
981 to 992 Optical path switching signal hole for receiving the optical fiber,
999 13-hole ferrule,
1000, 1001 signal light,
1011, 1012, 1013 Control light,
1900 Straight signal light,
1901, 1904, 1101, 1102, 12131, 12132 Optical path switching signal light.

Claims

An optical fiber disposed at the center of a seven-core bundle optical fiber, one end connected to a light source of signal light having one or more wavelengths, and one signal light emitting fiber that emits the signal light from the end face of the other end When,
Six optical fibers arranged in a close-packed manner around the one signal light irradiation fiber, one end of which is connected to a light source of control light having a specific wavelength different from that of the signal light, and the other 6 Each of the two end faces is arranged on the same plane as the signal light emitting end face, and the control light is sent from these end faces alone from any one end face or from any two end faces adjacent to each other. 6 control light irradiation fibers that are emitted in parallel,
A thermal lens forming element including a light absorbing layer that transmits the signal light and selectively absorbs the control light;
First condensing means for causing the control light and the signal light to enter the light absorption layer by making the convergence points different from each other in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis and causing the light to converge in the light absorption layer;
A light receiving lens that receives and collimates the signal light emitted from the thermal lens forming element without being irradiated with the control light and changing the traveling direction without changing the traveling direction; ,
The straight line signal light that travels straight from the thermal lens forming element through the light receiving lens without being irradiated with the control light, and the thermal lens forming element is irradiated with the control light and the traveling direction is changed. A [6N] pyramid prism for increasing the angle difference between the traveling direction of the optical path switching signal light and the traveling direction of the optical path switching signal light with respect to the optical path switching signal light traveling through the light receiving lens. The signal light is perpendicularly incident on the flat part formed by the bottom surface of the [6N] pyramid and the base surface, and further advances straight, while the optical path switching signal light is on the bottom surface of the [6N] pyramid and the slope of the [6N] surface. [6N] pyramid prism placed so that the angle difference is enlarged and emitted by passing through a wedge-shaped prism portion that any one constitutes;
Second condensing means for condensing the signal light emitted from the [6N] pyramid prism;
Of the signal light collected by the second light collecting means, one straight signal light receiving optical fiber that receives straight signal light not irradiated with control light, and the straight signal light receiving optical fiber share a central axis [6N] The signal light that is bundled and arranged in parallel at equal intervals on the cylinder is arranged to receive the signal light whose optical path has been switched by irradiating the control light among the signal light condensed by the second condensing means [6N An optical fiber light receiving element composed of an optical path switching signal light receiving optical fiber;
Have
N is 2, 3 or 4;
The thermal lens forming element includes a region in which the control light and the signal light are absorbed in the light absorption layer by diffusing after the control light and the signal light are converged in the light advancing direction and the light beam. A thermal lens is transiently formed due to the temperature rise occurring in the peripheral region, the refractive index distribution is generated in the light absorption layer by the thermal lens, the traveling direction of the signal light is changed, the optical path is switched,
In the [6N] pyramid prism, the straight traveling signal light that is not irradiated with the control light and does not change its traveling direction passes through a flat plate portion made up of a base surface and a bottom surface of the [6N] pyramid prism, and the second collection. The signal light which is collected by the light means and enters the straight signal light receiving optical fiber placed at the center of the fiber light receiving element and irradiated with one or more of the control lights and whose optical path is changed is the [6N] pyramid [6N] optical path switching signal lights that pass through a wedge-shaped prism cross section composed of the slope and bottom surface of the prism, and are collected by the second light collecting means and aligned in a cylindrical shape at equal intervals in the fiber light receiving element. The control light is controlled so as to be emitted from any one end face alone or in parallel from any two end faces adjacent to each other so as to enter one of the receiving optical fibers. By being, an optical path of the signal beam emitted from the signal light irradiating fiber [6N + 1] 1 pair, characterized in that the optical path switching the direction [6N + 1] type optical path switching device.

The six control light irradiating fibers are connected one-to-one with each of the six control light sources in one end at one end, and either one of the six control light sources or any two adjacent to each other. The optical path of the signal light emitted from the signal light irradiation fiber by oscillating the optical path is switched to the [6N + 1] direction including the case where the signal light travels straight without oscillating any of the six control light sources. The optical path switching device according to claim 1, wherein:

at least,
One optical signal receiving unit having a photoelectric conversion element connected to one end of the signal light receiving optical fiber at the center of the optical fiber light receiving element;
A photoelectric conversion element connected to one end of any one of [6N] optical path switching signal light receiving optical fibers around the optical fiber light receiving element;
One or two control light sources;
One control light propagation fiber connected to each of the one or two control light sources;
[6N] optical signal receiving units each having:
Any one of the six control light irradiation fibers is one end, and [N + 1] other ends are connected to any one of the control light propagation fibers. A multiplexer,
An optical path switching device having
In the [6N] optical signal receiving units, each one control light propagation fiber from the specific six units is connected to the specific one unit of the one-pair [N + 1] type multiplexer, one-to-one.
Among the [6N] optical signal receiving units, each of the two control light propagation fibers from the optical signal receiving units excluding the specific six units is connected to the two adjacent control light irradiation fibers. 2. The optical path switching device according to claim 1, wherein two to two are connected to each of the multiplexers.

at least,
One optical signal receiving unit having a photoelectric conversion element connected to one end of the signal light receiving optical fiber at the center of the optical fiber light receiving element;
A photoelectric conversion element connected to one end of any one of [6N] optical path switching signal light receiving optical fibers around the optical fiber light receiving element;
Two control light sources;
A pair of control light propagation fibers respectively connected to the two control light sources;
[6N] optical signal receiving units each having:
Any one of the six control light irradiation fibers is one end, and [N + 1] other ends are connected to any one of the control light propagation fibers. A multiplexer,
An optical path switching device having
In the [6N] optical signal receiving units, one control light propagation fiber in one pair from each of the specific six units corresponds to one specific pair of the one-pair [N + 1] type multiplexer. Connected to 1,
The remaining one of each pair is a dummy fiber that is not connected to anything,
Among the [6N] optical signal receiving units, each of the two control light propagation fibers from the optical signal receiving units excluding the specific six units is connected to the two adjacent control light irradiation fibers. 2. The optical path switching device according to claim 1, wherein two to two are connected to each of the multiplexers.

The optical fiber light receiving element is:
at least,
An optical fiber (hereinafter referred to as “central optical fiber”) placed in the center that receives straight signal light that has not been irradiated with the control light and whose traveling direction has not changed;
It is characterized by comprising [6N] peripheral optical fibers arranged in parallel at equal intervals in one form selected from the following five forms on the circumference having the same central axis as the central optical fiber. The optical path switching device according to claim 1.
(1) For the outer diameter [2r] common to [6N] peripheral optical fibers, the outer diameter of the ferrule is [2r [1 / sin (360 / (6N × 2))-1]] The [6N] peripheral optical fibers are placed without any gap, and the central optical fiber is placed in the central hole of the ferrule with the central axis in common.
(2) For the outer diameter [2r] common to [6N] peripheral optical fibers, the clad diameter of the central optical fiber is [2r [1 / sin (360 / (6N × 2))-1]]. [6N] peripheral optical fibers are placed in the periphery without any gap.
(3) The outer diameter of the ferrule is made larger than [2r [1 / sin (360 / (6N × 2))-1]] with respect to the outer diameter [2r] common to [6N] peripheral optical fibers. ,
[6N] V-shaped cross-section grooves for mounting the peripheral optical fiber are provided at equal intervals on the surface of the ferrule, and the peripheral optical fiber is mounted for each groove of the V-shaped cross section. A central optical fiber is placed in the central hole with the central axis in common.
(4) The outer diameter of the ferrule is larger than [2r [1 / sin (360 / (6N × 2)) + 1]] with respect to the outer diameter [2r] common to the [6N] peripheral optical fibers,
Around each [6N] holes provided at equal intervals on the circumference of a radius larger than the radius [r [1 / sin (360 / (6N × 2))-1]] from the central axis of the ferrule A fiber is placed, and a central optical fiber is placed in the central hole of the ferrule with a common central axis.
(5) [6 (N-1)] positioning optical fibers having the same outer diameter as that of the central optical fiber are closely packed around the central optical fiber, and further [6N] optical fibers are positioned around the positioning optical fiber. A peripheral optical fiber having the same outer diameter as that of the central optical fiber is mounted in a close-packed manner.

The signal light having one or more wavelengths is emitted from the end face of one signal light irradiation optical fiber,
Control light having a specific wavelength different from that of the signal light from the end faces of the six control light irradiation optical fibers arranged closest to the periphery of the signal light irradiation optical fiber, either alone or adjacent to each other. To emit from two end faces at the same time,
The signal light and the control light are transmitted to the thermal lens forming element including a light-absorbing layer that selectively transmits the control light, and the signal light and the control light are made to have different convergence points in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis. Then, the light is condensed and irradiated so as to converge in the light absorption layer,
The signal light is transmitted through the thermal lens forming element,
For the control light, the light absorption layer in the thermal lens forming element absorbs light, increases in temperature due to light absorption, decreases in density due to temperature increase, and decreases in refractive index due to decrease in density. And its peripheral region, as a result, a thermal lens is formed transiently, the traveling direction of the signal light is changed and the optical path is switched,
The light receiving lens collimates the straight and light path switching signal light emitted while spreading from the thermal lens forming element,
The straight traveling signal light that has not been irradiated with the control light and whose traveling direction has not changed passes through the flat plate portion formed by the base surface and the bottom surface of the [6N] pyramid prism,
The signal light that is irradiated with the control light and whose optical path is switched passes through a wedge-shaped prism portion formed by a base surface and a slope of the [6N] pyramid prism,
The straight traveling signal light that has not been irradiated with the control light and whose traveling direction has not changed is converged and incident on one central element of the light receiving element,
The optical path switching signal light whose traveling direction is switched by being irradiated with the control light is a [6N] peripheral element of a light receiving element arranged in parallel at equal intervals on a circumference around the light receiving element with the central element as a center. Convergently incident on
N is 2, 3 or 4;
The optical path of the signal light is switched to a total [6N + 1] direction including one straight direction and a [6N] direction to the periphery.
An optical signal switching method for an optical signal.

The six control light sources connected to the other end face of each of the six control light irradiation optical fibers are electrically controlled so that any one unit is singly or two adjacent units oscillate simultaneously. The optical signal switching method of an optical signal according to claim 6.

Control light from six or more control light sources is connected to one multiplexer alone or adjacent to each other to six multiplexers respectively connected to the other end face of the six control light irradiation optical fibers. The method of switching an optical path of an optical signal according to claim 6, wherein the optical signal is propagated simultaneously to two multiplexers.

The presence / absence and irradiation intensity of the six control light sources directly connected to the other end faces of the six control light irradiation optical fibers are automatically adjusted according to predetermined trial and error programming, and the signal The optical signal according to claim 6, comprising a step of optimizing optical path switching to any one of the [6N] peripheral elements of the light receiving element on which light is switched and converged and incident. Optical path switching method.

Presence or absence of irradiation and irradiation intensity of six or more control light sources connected via six multiplexers connected to the other end face of each of the six control light irradiation optical fibers are determined in advance. Automatically adjusting according to trial-and-error programming, and including a procedure for optimizing optical path switching to any of the [6N] peripheral elements of the light receiving element on which the signal light is converged and incident after the optical path is switched. The optical path switching method of an optical signal according to claim 6.