JPH08152533A - Structure of optical fiber-aligned body - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a structure with which an optical fiber-aligned body is accurately formable by an easy and practicable means relating to a structure of optical fiber aligning parts arranging and fixing plural pieces of optical fibers. CONSTITUTION: This optical fiber-aligned body consists of the plural optical fibers 11, 12 and members for aligning and fixing the optical fibers and a fixing layer for holding and fixing the optical fibers 11, 12 after arranging the optical fibers 11, 12. Members 21, 22 for dummy are arranged on both outer sides of the plural optical fibers 11, 12 aligned in order to be used in the positions apart spacings nearly equal to the spacings formed by the plural optical fibers.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a structure of an optical fiber alignment component in which a plurality of optical fibers are arranged and fixed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a structure for aligning and fixing a plurality of optical fibers while keeping their optical axes parallel, a structure as shown in FIG. 2 has been generally used. 2A is a cross-sectional view of the optical fiber alignment component, and FIG. 2B is a perspective view. A guide groove (V groove 6) for determining the position of the optical fiber is formed on one of the rectangular aligned substrates 4 in parallel with a desired interval. As a forming method, a processing method such as mechanical grinding or etching is generally used. After the optical fibers are respectively installed in the aligned substrate guide grooves formed in parallel, a holding fixed substrate 3 for fixing the optical fibers in the guide grooves is covered from above, and the voids are filled with the adhesive 5 and fixed. . After a while
The side surface on the side where the end face of the optical fiber is located is polished to align the end face position of the optical fiber in the optical axis direction. Mechanical polishing is usually performed in the polishing step.

[0003]

However, in the conventional structure as described above, in the pair of optical fibers 11 and 12 located on both outer sides of the aligned optical fibers, the adhesive layer regions on the left and right of the optical fibers are formed. Since the size is asymmetric, the fixing substrate 3 for pressing is covered from above with the adhesive 5
When the adhesive is filled and fixed, stress is generated when the adhesive cures and shrinks, but the stress generated parallel to the substrate surface is the force applied to both outer sides of the aligned optical fibers and the force applied to the inner optical fibers. Since the sizes of the optical fibers are not the same, the positions on both outer sides of the aligned optical fibers often deviate from the desired positions.

The present invention is intended to solve the above-mentioned problems in the conventional manufacturing method, and an object thereof is to provide a structure capable of manufacturing an optical fiber alignment body by an easy and practical means. .

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, a damaging member is formed on both outer sides of a plurality of optical fibers aligned on an array substrate to form a gap between the plurality of optical fibers. It was placed at approximately equally spaced positions.

[0006]

According to the above means, in the step of manufacturing the optical fiber alignment body, when the plurality of optical fibers are aligned and aligned on the alignment substrate and then the adhesive is filled and cured, when the adhesive cures and shrinks. Since the stresses that are generated are on the outside of the optical fibers at both ends at almost equal intervals, the stress will be applied to the optical fibers at both ends in the same way as other optical fibers. There will be no misalignment.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an embodiment of an optical fiber array according to the present invention. FIG. 1A shows a perspective view of the whole, and FIG. 1B shows a sectional view thereof. A V-groove 6 for optical fiber positioning is formed on the upper surface of the optical fiber array alignment substrate 4. An optical fiber is installed in each groove of the V groove 6. Further, outside the aligned optical fibers 11 and 12, the damaging members 21 and 22 are arranged in parallel with the optical fibers at substantially the same intervals as the arrayed optical fibers. The shape of the dummy member is adapted to the aligned optical fibers. Here, the same optical fiber as the optical fiber to be aligned is used as a member for the dummy. The dummy members 21 and 22 do not necessarily have to have the same sectional shape as the aligned optical fibers, but the size in the height direction is an adhesive layer formed by the alignment substrate 4 and the optical fibers and the cover-3. It is necessary that the thickness of the cover 3 be 5 or less. If the thickness is 5 or more, the bottom surface of the cover 3 must be before the contact with the optical fiber.
Since it is in contact with and fixed to the optical fiber 22, it is impossible to fix the optical fiber by firmly pressing it into the V groove 6 with the cover. Also, the dummy members 21, 22 and the optical fiber 11,
It is important that the distance to 12 be equal to the optical fiber alignment distance to some extent. In this way, the dummy member 2
Since the distance between the optical fibers 11 and 22 and the optical fibers 11 and 12 is the same as the alignment distance between the optical fibers, the adhesive 5 filled in the gaps
Is the same on both sides of the optical fibers 11 and 12 on both outer sides, the stress generated on both sides of the optical fiber due to the adhesive curing shrinkage is also equal on the outer optical fibers 11 and 12, and at the time of curing. It is possible to reduce positional deviation due to stress.

The present invention can be applied to an optical fiber alignment body which does not use a V-groove substrate. FIG. 3 shows an example in which the present invention is applied to an optical fiber alignment body in which a V-groove alignment substrate for aligning optical fibers is not used. Although the mold resin 7 is used for fixing the optical fiber, in such a case as well, by arranging the damaging members 21 and 22 on both sides of the aligned optical fiber, both outside light at the time of resin molding is formed. It is possible to reduce the positional deviation of the fibers 11 and 12.
4 and 5 show another embodiment according to the present invention, which is an example in which the substrate has a convex shape to form a dummy member. The convex portions 2 formed on the alignment substrate 4 on the outside of the optical fibers 11 and 12 at intervals similar to the intervals of the aligned optical fibers.
You can get the same effect by positioning 3. still,
In this embodiment, the dummy part is provided on the aligned substrate, but it goes without saying that the same result can be obtained even if it is provided on the cover side. FIG. 6 shows another embodiment according to the present invention. In the optical fiber alignment body having a structure in which the optical fiber is projected from the alignment fixing substrate 4 and the portion is fixed with the resin 6,
Similarly, by arranging and molding the dummy members 21 and 22, it is possible to reduce the positional deviation of the optical fibers 11 and 12 on both sides.

[0009]

As described above in detail with reference to the embodiments, according to the present invention, it becomes possible to manufacture an optical fiber alignment body with high accuracy and at low cost.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of an optical fiber alignment body according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a conventional embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

11, 12: Optical fibers on both sides among four optical fibers aligned at equal intervals 21, 22: Dummy member 3: Fixed substrate for pressing 4: Aligning substrate 5: Adhesive 6, 7: Molding resin

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A structure comprising a plurality of optical fibers and a member for aligning and fixing the optical fibers, arranging the optical fibers, and then forming a fixing layer for holding and fixing the optical fibers. In the optical fiber alignment body according to the present invention, the damascene members are arranged on both outer sides of the aligned optical fibers used for optical transmission at positions substantially equal to the intervals formed by the plurality of optical fibers. An optical fiber alignment body characterized by: 2. The optical fiber alignment body according to claim 1, wherein the damaging member is arranged in parallel to the aligned optical fibers at least in the vicinity of the end faces of the optical fibers. 3. The optical fiber aligning body according to claim 1, wherein the height of the damaging member is equal to or lower than the height created by the optical fibers aligned on the alignment substrate. 4. The optical fiber alignment body according to claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional shape of the dummy member is equal to that of aligned optical fibers.