JPH0566562B2 - - Google Patents
Info
- Publication number
- JPH0566562B2 JPH0566562B2 JP59035128A JP3512884A JPH0566562B2 JP H0566562 B2 JPH0566562 B2 JP H0566562B2 JP 59035128 A JP59035128 A JP 59035128A JP 3512884 A JP3512884 A JP 3512884A JP H0566562 B2 JPH0566562 B2 JP H0566562B2
- Authority
- JP
- Japan
- Prior art keywords
- lens
- optical fiber
- ferrule
- coupling
- precision sleeve
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
- 239000013307 optical fiber Substances 0.000 claims description 28
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 14
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 claims description 11
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 claims description 11
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 claims description 11
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 7
- 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 description 7
- 239000000853 adhesive Substances 0.000 description 3
- 230000001070 adhesive effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000007796 conventional method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229910000831 Steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 230000007613 environmental effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000835 fiber Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000010959 steel Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/26—Optical coupling means
- G02B6/32—Optical coupling means having lens focusing means positioned between opposed fibre ends
Description
【発明の詳細な説明】
発明の技術分野
本発明は光フアイバとレンズの光学的な結合方
法に関するものである。DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method for optically coupling an optical fiber and a lens.
従来技術と問題点
従来の光フアイバとレンズの結合方法は、先ず
第１図ａに示すように光フアイバ１を固定したフ
エルール２を、該フエルールを挿入できる精密ス
リーブ３の中に挿入し、レンズ４はレンズ保持部
材５に接着剤等で固定しておき、光フアイバ１に
光６を通し、レンズ４を透過した光をスクリーン
７上に投影するなどして光軸およびフアイバ、レ
ンズ間距離を調整した後、第１図ｂの如くレンズ
保持部材５と精密スリーブ３との間に接着８を充
填し固定する方法がとられていた。ところがこの
ような方法は、調整の時間が必要な上、レンズが
接着剤で浮いた形となり、温度特性等に影響を与
えることが少なくないという欠点があつた。Prior Art and Problems In the conventional method of coupling an optical fiber and a lens, first, as shown in FIG. 4 is fixed to the lens holding member 5 with adhesive or the like, and the optical axis and the distance between the fiber and the lens are determined by passing light 6 through the optical fiber 1 and projecting the light transmitted through the lens 4 onto a screen 7. After the adjustment, a method of filling and fixing adhesive 8 between the lens holding member 5 and precision sleeve 3 as shown in FIG. 1B has been used. However, such a method requires time for adjustment and has the disadvantage that the lens becomes floating due to the adhesive, which often affects temperature characteristics and the like.
発明の目的
本発明は上記従来の欠点に鑑み、無調整でレン
ズ・光フアイバ間距離および光軸を合わせること
ができ、且つ温度特性に影響のない光フアイバと
レンズの結合方法を提供することを目的とするも
のである。Purpose of the Invention In view of the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for coupling an optical fiber and a lens, which allows the distance between the lens and the optical fiber and the optical axis to be matched without adjustment, and which does not affect the temperature characteristics. This is the purpose.
発明の構成
そしてこの目的は本発明によれば、光フアイバ
とレンズの結合方法であつて、光フアイバをその
中心部に固定した円柱形のフエルールの端面と、
該フエルールを整列保持する円筒穴を有する精密
スリーブの内面と、レンズの球面部との３点にそ
れぞれ接する３個以上の球を配置させ無調整で光
フアイバとレンズを光学的に結合させることを特
徴とする光フアイバとレンズの結合方法を提供す
ることによつて達成される。Structure of the Invention According to the present invention, the object is to provide a method for coupling an optical fiber and a lens, the end face of a cylindrical ferrule having an optical fiber fixed at its center;
The optical fiber and the lens are optically coupled without adjustment by arranging three or more spheres that are in contact with the inner surface of a precision sleeve having a cylindrical hole that holds the ferrules in alignment and the spherical surface of the lens. This is accomplished by providing a unique method for coupling optical fibers and lenses.
発明の実施例 以下本発明実施例を図面によつて詳述する。Examples of the invention Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.
第２図は本発明による光フアイバとレンズの結
合方法を説明するための図である。同図におい
て、１０は光フアイバ、１１は光フアイバを固定
したフエルール、１２はフエルールを保持する精
密スリーブ、１３は球レンズ、１４はレンズホル
ダ、１５は球をそれぞれ示している。 FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a method of coupling an optical fiber and a lens according to the present invention. In the figure, 10 is an optical fiber, 11 is a ferrule to which the optical fiber is fixed, 12 is a precision sleeve that holds the ferrule, 13 is a ball lens, 14 is a lens holder, and 15 is a ball.
本実施例は中心に光フアイバ１０を固定したフ
エルール１１の端面と、該フエルール１１を保持
する精密スリーブ１２の内面と、球レンズ１３の
表面の３点に接触する球１５（例えば鋼球）を３
個以上配置し（なるべく等間隔か、それに近いこ
とが好ましい。）た後レンズホルダ１４を精密ス
リーブ１２にねじ結合することによりレンズ１３
を固定するのである。このようにすることによ
り、球レンズ１３の中心は精密スリーブの穴の中
心線上に位置することになり、フエルール１１の
中心に固定された光フアイバ１０の光軸と一致す
る。また球レンズ１３と光フアイバ１０の端面
（即ちフエルール１１の端面）間の距離は球１５
の直径により決定される。 In this embodiment, a ball 15 (for example, a steel ball) is in contact with three points: the end face of a ferrule 11 to which an optical fiber 10 is fixed at the center, the inner surface of a precision sleeve 12 that holds the ferrule 11, and the surface of a ball lens 13. 3
The lens holder 14 is screwed to the precision sleeve 12 after arranging the lens holders 14 (preferably equally spaced or close to it).
It is fixed. By doing so, the center of the ball lens 13 is located on the center line of the hole in the precision sleeve, and coincides with the optical axis of the optical fiber 10 fixed at the center of the ferrule 11. Also, the distance between the ball lens 13 and the end face of the optical fiber 10 (that is, the end face of the ferrule 11) is the ball 15.
determined by the diameter of
第３図は球１５の選択方法を説明するための図
であり、１０は光フアイバ、１１はフエルール、
１２は精密スリーブ、１３は球レンズ、Ｄは精密
スリーブの内径、はレンズ・フエルール端面間
の距離、Ｒはレンズの半径、ｒは球の半径をそれ
ぞれ示す。 FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the method of selecting the sphere 15, in which 10 is an optical fiber, 11 is a ferrule,
12 is a precision sleeve, 13 is a spherical lens, D is the inner diameter of the precision sleeve, R is the distance between the end faces of the lens and ferrule, R is the radius of the lens, and r is the radius of the sphere.
レンズ・光フアイバ端面（フエルール端面）間
の距離はレンズ１３の焦点距離から決定され、
球１５の直径2rは次の関係式によつて算出するこ
とができる。 The distance between the lens and the optical fiber end face (ferrule end face) is determined from the focal length of the lens 13,
The diameter 2r of the sphere 15 can be calculated using the following relational expression.
＝√（Ｒ＋ｒ）2−（Ｄ／２−ｒ）2−Ｒ＋ｒ
本実施例によれば無調整でレンズの位置決めが
でき、その精密度はフエルール１１の寸法精度
（光フアイバと同心度、平行度、および外径）、精
密スリーブの内径、球１５の外径等に依存する
が、これらを考慮しても光フアイバとレンズは数
μmの精度で位置決めをすることが可能である。 =√(R+r) 2 -(D/2-r) 2 -R+r According to this embodiment, the lens can be positioned without adjustment, and its accuracy is determined by the dimensional accuracy of the ferrule 11 (concentricity and parallelism with the optical fiber). , and outer diameter), the inner diameter of the precision sleeve, the outer diameter of the sphere 15, etc., but even taking these into consideration, it is possible to position the optical fiber and lens with an accuracy of several μm.
第４図は他の実施例を説明するための図であ
り、ａはレンズに平凸レンズを用いた場合、ｂは
両凸レンズを用いた場合である。同図において、
第２図と同一部分は同一符号を付して示した。 FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining another embodiment, where a shows a case where a plano-convex lens is used as the lens, and b shows a case where a biconvex lens is used. In the same figure,
The same parts as in FIG. 2 are indicated with the same reference numerals.
本実施例は、ａ図の場合は平凸レンズ１６であ
るため、レンズだけでは光軸の一致ができないた
め、精密スリーブ１２に挿入されるレンズホルダ
１４の端面１４ａの直角度を利用して光軸の一致
を行なうものであり、ｂは両凸レンズ１７である
ため、光軸の一致のためにレンズホルダ１４の端
面１４ａの直角度および球１８を利用したもので
ある。なおレンズ・光フアイバ端面間の距離を決
定する球１５の大きさは前実施例と同様の計算式
で求めることができる。また効果の点も前実施例
と同様である。但しレンズの光軸決定の精度は前
実施例の条件のほかにレンズホルダの外径、直角
度が関係する。 In this embodiment, since the plano-convex lens 16 is used in the case of Fig. a, the optical axes cannot be aligned with the lens alone. Since b is a biconvex lens 17, the perpendicularity of the end surface 14a of the lens holder 14 and the sphere 18 are used to match the optical axes. The size of the sphere 15, which determines the distance between the lens and the end face of the optical fiber, can be determined using the same calculation formula as in the previous embodiment. Furthermore, the effects are also similar to those of the previous embodiment. However, the accuracy of determining the optical axis of the lens is related to the outer diameter and squareness of the lens holder in addition to the conditions of the previous embodiment.
発明の効果
以上、詳細に説明したように本発明の光フアイ
バとレンズの結合方法は、フエルール端面と精密
スリーブ内面とレンズの球面に接する球を３個以
上用いることにより無調整で光フアイバとレンズ
の光学的結合ができるので組立工数の削減が図れ
ると共に、レンズが機械的に固定できるので環境
特性（主に温度特性）の安定化が得られるといつ
た効果大なるものである。Effects of the Invention As described above in detail, the method for coupling an optical fiber and a lens according to the present invention uses three or more balls that are in contact with the end face of the ferrule, the inner surface of a precision sleeve, and the spherical surface of the lens. Since the optical coupling is possible, the number of assembly steps can be reduced, and since the lens can be fixed mechanically, environmental characteristics (mainly temperature characteristics) can be stabilized, which is a great effect.
第１図は従来の光フアイバとレンズの結合方法
を説明するための図、第２図は本発明による光フ
アイバとレンズの結合方法を説明するための図、
第３図はその結合方法に用いる球の選択方法を説
明するための図、第４図は他の実施例を説明する
ための図である。
図面において、１０は光フアイバ、１１はフエ
ルール、１２は精密スリーブ、１３は球レンズ、
１４はレンズホルダ、１５，１８は球、１６は平
凸レンズ、１７は両凸レンズをそれぞれ示す。
FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a conventional method of coupling an optical fiber and a lens, and FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a method of coupling an optical fiber and a lens according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a method of selecting spheres used in the joining method, and FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining another embodiment. In the drawing, 10 is an optical fiber, 11 is a ferrule, 12 is a precision sleeve, 13 is a ball lens,
14 is a lens holder, 15 and 18 are spheres, 16 is a plano-convex lens, and 17 is a biconvex lens.
Claims (1)
フアイバをその中心部に固定した円柱形のフエル
ールの端面と、該フエルールを整列保持する円筒
穴を有する精密スリーブの内面と、レンズの球面
部との３点にそれぞれ接する３個以上の球を配置
させ無調整で光フアイバとレンズを光学的に結合
することを特徴とする光フアイバとレンズの結合
方法。1. A method for coupling an optical fiber and a lens, which comprises: an end face of a cylindrical ferrule with an optical fiber fixed at its center; an inner surface of a precision sleeve having a cylindrical hole for aligning and holding the ferrule; and a spherical part of the lens. A method for connecting an optical fiber and a lens, which comprises arranging three or more spheres that are in contact with each of the three points, and optically connecting the optical fiber and the lens without adjustment.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP3512884A JPS60179707A (en) | 1984-02-28 | 1984-02-28 | Method for coupling optical fiber with lens |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP3512884A JPS60179707A (en) | 1984-02-28 | 1984-02-28 | Method for coupling optical fiber with lens |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| JPS60179707A JPS60179707A (en) | 1985-09-13 |
| JPH0566562B2 true JPH0566562B2 (en) | 1993-09-22 |
Family
ID=12433290
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP3512884A Granted JPS60179707A (en) | 1984-02-28 | 1984-02-28 | Method for coupling optical fiber with lens |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPS60179707A (en) |
Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPS5652715A (en) * | 1979-10-08 | 1981-05-12 | Nippon Telegr & Teleph Corp <Ntt> | Terminal construction of optical fiber |
| JPS5685720A (en) * | 1979-11-02 | 1981-07-13 | Philips Nv | Optical fiber connector |
-
1984
- 1984-02-28 JP JP3512884A patent/JPS60179707A/en active Granted
Patent Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPS5652715A (en) * | 1979-10-08 | 1981-05-12 | Nippon Telegr & Teleph Corp <Ntt> | Terminal construction of optical fiber |
| JPS5685720A (en) * | 1979-11-02 | 1981-07-13 | Philips Nv | Optical fiber connector |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| JPS60179707A (en) | 1985-09-13 |
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