JPH05157947A - Assembly device for optical element module - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the assembly device which facilitates optical-axis adjusting operation for aligning the axis of light emitted by an optical element with the optical axis of an optical fiber and operation for fixing an optical element holder and an optical fiber holder in operation for assembling the optical element module, and facilitates the operation that a skilled operator requires a long time for. CONSTITUTION:The assembly device is enabled to move in the directions of two X and Y axes between an optical element holder 1 and a lens holder 2 by a motor-driven stage 9 moving linearly and move in the directions of the X, Y, and Z axes between an optical fiber holder 7 and the optical element holder 1 by a stage 19 moving vertically on the stage 18, and consists of a slanting stage 12 positioned in two axial directions so as to adjust the relative tilt angle of the contact part between the optical element holder 1 and lens holder 2 after the optical axes of three components are adjusted, a mechanism for a vertical stage 14 where the lens holder 2 can slide upward and downward following the stage 12, and a magnet scale 15 which measures the quantity of vertical displacement on the lens holder 2.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an assembling apparatus for adjusting and joining an optical axis of a light emitting module for connecting a light emitting element such as a semiconductor laser or a light emitting diode to an optical fiber.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of a target optical element module. In the figure, 1 is an optical element holder, 2 is a lens holder for holding a lens, 3 is an optical fiber, 4 is a light emitting element such as a semiconductor laser or a light emitting diode, and 5 is a spherical, columnar or convex shape. A lens having a light collecting function, 6 is an optical fiber terminal, 7 is an optical fiber holder for holding the optical fiber, and 8 is a welding place for fixing the optical element holder 1 and the lens holder 2 by welding. Is.

The work targeted by the assembling apparatus is to adjust and fix the three parts of the optical element holder 1, the lens holder 2 and the optical fiber holder 7 to optimum positions. Light emitting element 4
The light emitted from the optical fiber is condensed by the lens 5, enters the optical fiber 3 held by the optical fiber terminal 6, and is emitted to the external device.

When the amount of light at the optical fiber 3 is monitored while moving the position of the optical fiber terminal 6, there is a position where the power becomes maximum.
A YAG laser is simultaneously emitted from a and the welding place 8b to fix the optical element holder 1 and the lens holder 2.

Since the conventional optical element module assembling apparatus is configured as described above, the positioning between the optical element holder 1 and the lens holder 2 can be performed only in the horizontal direction for welding. Since the required parallelism between the joint surfaces of the optical element holder 1 and the lens holder 2 cannot be maintained, axis misalignment often occurs during welding. In order to avoid this, the squareness of the component and the holding jig is processed with high accuracy. In addition, it is necessary to set the parallelism between the holding jigs so that there is no angle as much as possible during work, and the price of parts becomes expensive, and even skilled workers can assemble the optical element module. There was a problem that the work was difficult and required a long time, and the production cost of the product was high.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an optical axis adjusting operation for aligning an optical axis of light emitted from an optical element with an optical axis of an optical fiber and an optical element. An object of the present invention is to provide an assembling apparatus that enables a joining work of welding a holder and a lens holder with a YAG laser to easily perform an assembling work of an optical element module, which conventionally takes a long time for a skilled worker. There is.

The optical fiber 3 and the optical fiber terminal 6 have a pigtail structure which is a part of a product to be produced, and an optical connector type which is not a product but a jig for manufacturing equipment. Since the optical device module assembling device of (1) can basically support both cases, the pigtail structure will be described below.

A separate application has been filed for an assembling method and apparatus for adjusting and fixing the two parts of the optical element holder 1 and the optical fiber holder 7 at optimal positions, and here, the lens holder 2 is used.
We propose an assembling device that adjusts and fixes the three parts including the above to the optimum position.

[0009]

An optical fiber holder, a lens holder, and an optical element holder are separately held, and the lens holder is arranged below the optical fiber holder and above the optical element holder. An optical element for assembling the lens holder and the optical element holder by irradiating the contact portion with laser light while the lens holder and the optical element holder are in contact with each other, having a mechanism for adjusting the relative position of the holder and the optical element holder. In the module assembly device, the light emitted from the optical element when the optical element holder is moved in the horizontal direction is received by the optical fiber, the intensity of the light is measured, and the relative position between the lens holder and the optical element holder is measured. A means for moving the optical element holder in two axial directions in the horizontal direction for adjustment, and a motor-driven linear stage for moving the optical element holder in the horizontal direction while measuring the intensity of light. Go to 2 axially to adjust the optical element holder to an optimal position, a mechanism capable of sliding in the vertical direction the lens holder to follow the tilt means of the optical element holder,
The optical element holder is a two-axis tilt stage for measuring the vertical displacement of the lens holder and adjusting the relative tilt angle between the lens holder and the optical element holder. The optical element holders are arranged in the biaxial directions, and the optical element holders are provided with a mechanism capable of adjusting the optimum relative tilt angle.

[0010]

With the mechanism configured as described above, the relative positions of the optical fiber holder, the lens holder, and the optical element holder are adjusted so that the power of the light from the optical element is maximized to be supplied to the optical fiber. In addition to the adjustment operation, the lowest position of the upper lens holder that moves up and down following the lower optical element holder can be detected, and the gap between the contact surfaces of the two parts to be welded is eliminated. The parallelism can be maintained with extremely high precision, and the laser welding can be performed without any misalignment, so that the optical power adjustment work and the laser welding machine joining work can be performed.

[0011]

【Example】

Example 1. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a stage configuration of the present invention. In the figure, 9 is a motor driven linear stage, 10 is a horizontal surface plate, 11 is a vertical surface plate, 12 is an optical element holder 1 and a lens holder. A motor-driven tilt stage having a rotation center on the joint surface of 2, a rotary stage 13, a vertical slide 14, a magnet scale for detecting the amount of movement of the vertical slide 14, and a drop 16 of the vertical slide 14. A stopper for prevention, 17 is a holder for the light emitter, 18 is a linear stage (2), 19 is a vertical stage, 20 is an optical fiber terminal holder, and 21 is a lens holder holder. 1 to 8 are exactly the same as the above description of the product structure.

A stage 9a which is constructed like the stage shown in FIG. 1 and which moves in a straight line by driving a motor and a stage 9b which moves in a direction perpendicular to the stage 9a are superposed, and XY is formed on a plane.
It is constructed so that it can be moved in two axial directions, is placed on a horizontal surface plate 10, the optical element holder 1 is held on a stage 9b, and the lens holder 2 is placed on the optical element holder 1 and is a vertical surface plate. The optical element holder 1 and the lens holder 2 are connected to each other and fixed, and the optical element holder 1 and the lens holder 2 are attached to the optical element holder 1 to adjust the relative tilt angle between the optical element holder 1 and the lens holder 2 at the contact portion. Axial tilting stage 12
Then, the light emitter holder 13 mounted on the tilt stage 12 mechanically holds the optical element holder 1 and is electrically connected to the optical element 4, and follows the tilting operation of the optical element holder 1. Mechanism for vertically sliding the lens holder 2 in the vertical direction, a magnescale 15 for measuring the vertical displacement of the lens holder 2, the vertical slide 1
4 is composed of a stopper 16 for preventing falling. Reference numeral 17 is a holder for the light emitter, 18 is a rectilinear stage (2) different from the stage 9 arranged on the horizontal surface plate 10, and 1
9 is a vertical stage, 20 is an optical fiber terminal holder for fixing the optical fiber terminal 6, and 21 is a lens holder holder. The vertical stage 14 and Magnescale 1
5. The stopper 16 is fixed on the vertical surface plate 11.

Light emitted from a light emitting element 4 such as a semiconductor laser or a light emitting diode inside the optical element holder 1 is incident on an optical fiber 3 held by an optical fiber terminal 6 and the amount of light is converted from the optical fiber 3 into electricity. After being converted into a signal, it is sent to the control device. The stage 9 and the optical fiber holder 2 are provided as means for moving the optical element holder 1 in the horizontal direction in order to adjust the relative position between the optical fiber holder 2 and the optical element holder 1.
As a mechanism capable of sliding in the vertical direction following the tilting movement of the optical element holder 1, a vertical stage 14, a magnet scale 15 for measuring the vertical displacement of the optical fiber holder 2, the optical fiber holder 2 and the optical element holder 1. The optical element holder 1 is a motor-driven tilt stage 12 for adjusting the relative tilt angle with respect to and the vertical displacement is detected by a magnescale 15 and measured by a magnescale measuring device. The optimum relative tilt angle of the optical element holder 1 is adjusted by driving the device holder 1 in the biaxial direction.

Since the optical element module is made of a cylindrical shape, the XY plane is fixed by rotating the several-point rotary stage 13 on the circumference of the abutting portion and performing welding.

A vertical stage 19 for moving the optical fiber holder 6 arranged on the stage 18 in three dimensions, an optical fiber terminal holder 20 for fixing the optical fiber terminal 6 from the vertical stage 19, and a lens from the vertical stage 14 Lens holder holder 2 for fixing the holder 5
It is 1.

Since the optical element module is made of a cylindrical shape, the XY plane is fixed at several points (for example, 3 points × 2 times) on the circumference of the abutting portion and assembled so as to withstand the tensile strength. Therefore, the welding angle is rotated until the welding is completed on the entire circumference, the welding work is completed, and finally the power level is confirmed, and the optical element module is adjusted after confirming that it is within the standard. Complete the assembly consisting of work and joining work.

In the above embodiment, the light emitting element was used as an example of the optical element. However, it can be easily inferred that the light receiving element can be produced by reversing the light direction by the same method and apparatus.

[0018]

As described above, according to the present invention, in the optical element module assembling apparatus, the relative position in the horizontal direction between the lens holder and the optical element holder is adjusted while measuring the intensity of the light emitted from the optical element. In addition, it is possible to detect the lowermost state in the Z direction of the upper lens holder that moves up and down following the lower optical element holder, and to perform the optical power adjustment work and the joining work by the laser welder. As a result, it has become possible for the skilled worker to easily perform the assembling work of the optical element module, which conventionally takes a long time.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a stage that is an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a structure of a target optical element module.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Optical Element Holder 2 Lens Holder 3 Optical Fiber 4 Light Emitting Element 5 Lens 6 Optical Fiber Terminal 7 Optical Fiber Holder 8 Welding Point 9 Linear Stage 1 10 Horizontal Surface Plate 11 Vertical Surface Plate 12 Motorized Tilt Stage 13 Rotation Stage 14 Vertical Slide 15 Magnescale 16 Stopper 17 Light emitter holder 18 Straight stage 2 19 Vertical stage 20 Optical fiber terminal holder 21 Lens holder holder

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An assembly device for fixing an optical fiber holder, a lens holder, and an optical element holder of an optical element module by irradiating a laser beam after adjusting the optical axes of the optical element holder and fixing the lens holder below the optical fiber holder. Z of the lens holder that is placed above and moves up and down following the optical element holder
The optical element holder in the biaxial direction while detecting the displacement in the direction, and a first means for detecting the lowest position, and the optical element holder with respect to the lens holder in XY
Second means for moving in the plane at equal intervals, third means for moving the optical fiber holder in the XYZ three-axis directions with respect to the lens holder, and the second means and the third means are repeated. A fourth means for finding the position in the five dimensions where the light emitted from the optical element inside the optical element holder enters the optical fiber most, and at that position, the optical element holder and the lens holder are YAG. An apparatus for assembling an optical element module, characterized in that an adjusting work and a joining work are performed by a fifth means for fixing a matching portion of the XY plane by welding.