JPH0815531A - Treatment of surplus length of optical fiber and its structure - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve workability at the time of treating (housing) a surplus length part. CONSTITUTION:The surplus length part 12 of an optical fiber is disposed in the form of a loop on a laying material 22 implanted with flexible lawn-like bodies 21 on one surface thereof and is embedded into these lawn-like bodies 21. Another laying material 23 may be put thereon in such a manner that the respective lawn-like bodies 21 mesh each other at need. The front ends of the lawn-like bodies 21 are preferably provided with curling parts 21a to prevent protruding of the optical fiber.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical fiber surplus length processing method and structure thereof, and more particularly to improvement of workability.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An optical fiber gyro will be described as an example. As shown in FIG. 2, the optical fiber gyro 1 includes a light source 2 from which an optical fiber 2a is derived, an optical fiber coupler 3 in which optical fibers are combined by, for example, a fusion drawing method, an optical fiber type polarizer 4, an optical fiber. It is composed of a coupler 5, an optical fiber coil 6, an optical fiber phase modulator 7 in which an optical fiber is wound around a piezoelectric element, a phase detector 8 and the like. From each component, the extra long part of the optical fiber necessary for fusion splicing is derived, and the extra length of the optical fiber to be spliced is extended to the fusion splicer, and the end faces are heated and fused by electric discharge. I'm wearing it. In order to reinforce the fusion-bonded portion 9, a heat-shrinkable tube is covered or a protective coating is applied by a dedicated coating device.

In order to accommodate the extra length 12 of the optical fiber which is extended and fusion-spliced to the dedicated device in this manner and further reinforced, for example, as shown in FIG. 3A, a plurality of hook-shaped molds are provided on the substrate 10. The members 11 are planted, and the extra length portions 12 are wound around them in a ring shape for storage. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 3B, as shown in FIG. 3B, the fusion splicing portion 9 is not coated with a protective coating, the extra length portion 12 is arranged in a loop on the substrate 10, and the whole is potted with a silicone resin 14 or the like. are doing.

[0004]

In the conventional surplus length treating method of FIG. 3A using the hook-shaped member 11, the length of the surplus portion is (an integer multiple of the loop length formed by the hook-shaped member 11) + If it is not (fixed length), it cannot be stored properly. Therefore, the length of the entire extra length portion to be stored must be adjusted to that value in advance.

Even if the length of the extra length portion is adjusted in advance, if the fusion splicing fails, it is necessary to cut the extra length portion near the fusion splicing portion and perform the fusion splicing again. , You have to adjust the cut length. Further, in the method of FIG. 3B in which potting is performed with a silicone resin or the like, the optical fiber itself has elasticity, and it is difficult to form a loop on a plane.

The time required for potting is long. As described above, each of the surplus length processing methods has a drawback that the workability is extremely poor. An object of the present invention is to solve these conventional drawbacks and improve workability.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

(1) In the surplus length treating method according to claim 1, the surplus length of the optical fiber is arranged in a loop on a laying material in which a flexible grass-like body is planted on one surface, To be buried in. (2) In the surplus length treating method according to claim 2, in (1), a flexible lawn-like body is planted all over the laying material on which the surplus length of the optical fiber is arranged. The covering material is covered so that the grass-like bodies mesh with each other.

(3) The extra length processing structure of claim 3 defines a structure corresponding to the processing method of the above (1), and includes substantially the same contents. (4) The extra length portion processing structure of claim 4 defines a structure corresponding to the processing method of the above (2). (5) In the invention of claim 5, in the above (3) or (4), a curl portion is provided at the tip of the grass-like body.

(6) The invention of claim 6 is based on (3) to
In any one of (5), the fusion spliced portion of the optical fiber is included in the extra length portion of the optical fiber arranged on the laying material.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, an extra length portion 12 of an optical fiber is arranged in a loop on a laying material 22 in which a flexible grass-like body 21 is planted on one surface. And turf 21
Buried inside. As shown in FIG. 1C, a similar laying material 23 may be placed on the laying material 22 provided with the optical fiber extra length portion 12 so that the turf-like bodies 21 mesh with each other. By doing so, the optical fiber can be held more stably and reliably.

A curled portion 21 curved at the tip of the grass-like body 21.
It is desirable to provide a so that the optical fiber does not overflow. Although the fusion splicing portion 9 is included in the extra length portion 12 of the optical fiber disposed on the flooring material 22 in the above description, the present invention is not limited to this case, and the fusion splicing portion 9 may be used. Obviously, it may be used to store the extra length portion not included.

[0012]

According to the present invention, the extra length portion 12 of the optical fiber is used.
Can be stored simply by arranging them in a loop shape on the flooring material 22 and burying them in the grass-like body 21, and there is no need to adjust the length of the extra length section to be stored to a specific length, and workability is extremely good. You can do it. Further, even if the extra length portion is shortened because the fusion splicing is redone, it does not affect the storage.

Even if the extra length portion to be accommodated includes the fusion splicing portion, since the surrounding grass-like material is flexible, the internal stress of the extra length portion is affected by external vibration and ambient temperature change. Also, even if the external stress applied to the extra length portion changes, the grass-like body can absorb these stress changes and always hold them stably.
Therefore, in some cases, the reinforcing member (heat shrinkable tube or protective coating) of the fusion splicing part can be omitted.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, in which A is a plan view and B is a plan view.
Is an enlarged side view of A, and C is a side view in which another laying material 23 is covered on the laying material 22 of A and B.

FIG. 2 is a principle configuration diagram of an optical fiber gyro.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a conventional processing structure of an extra length portion of an optical fiber.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An optical fiber characterized in that an extra length of an optical fiber is arranged in a loop shape on a laying material having a flexible grass-like material planted on one surface and is embedded in the grass-like material. Fiber extra length processing method. 2. The laying material according to claim 1, wherein a second laying material in which a flexible turf-shaped body is planted on one surface is provided on the laying material in which the extra length portion of the optical fiber is arranged. A method for treating an extra length of an optical fiber, characterized in that the body is covered so as to mesh with each other. 3. A laying material in which a flexible grass-like body is planted on one surface, and an optical fiber surplus portion which is arranged in a loop shape on the laying material and is embedded in the turf-like material. Optical fiber extra length processing structure. 4. The second laying material according to claim 3, wherein a flexible turf-shaped body is planted on one surface of the laying material in which the extra length portion of the optical fiber is arranged, An extra length processing structure for an optical fiber, characterized in that the body is covered so as to mesh with each other. 5. The extra length treatment structure for an optical fiber according to claim 3, wherein a curl portion is provided at a tip of the grass-like body. 6. The optical fiber according to claim 3, wherein a fusion splicing portion of the optical fiber is included in an extra length portion of the optical fiber arranged on the floor covering. Extra length processing structure.