JPH09113766A - Surface mating device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the impartation of mechanical distortions to the optical members to be subjected to surface mating. SOLUTION: A holder 3 which is capable of supporting a second optical member 2 and rotating this member in X-axis and Y-axis directions and is formed to a hemispherical shape is placed on hemispherical three supporting blocks 4. These supporting blocks 4 are installed in a regular triangular shape on a planar permanent magnet 6 embedded in the central part of a supporting block base 5. This permanent magnet 6 acts to increase the contact point pressures at the supporting points by the supporting blocks 4. The holder 3 rotates according to the condition under which a first optical member 1 comes into contact with the second optical member 2 in the process of the optical member, by which the surface mating of the first optical member 1 and the second optical member 2 is executed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a surface aligning apparatus, and more particularly to a surface aligning apparatus suitable for the surface alignment of optical components.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In assembling an optical component such as an LD and a fiber in an LD (laser diode) module, or a waveguide and a fiber in a waveguide component, low loss and reliable face-to-face bonding and fixing are performed by a simple method. Is very important. For that purpose, highly accurate face-to-face adjustment is performed, and then the YAG laser and the adhesive are used for fixing.

As a conventional surface aligning device, for example, there is a device for fixing a lens assembly to a housing, which is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-341154. FIG. 8 shows an outline of this face-to-face aligning apparatus, and 1 is, for example, a terminal portion of the optical fiber 1a (hereinafter,
Reference numeral 2 denotes a first optical member), 2 denotes a lens for focusing the light emitted from the optical fiber 1a on the light receiving surface of the phototransistor (hereinafter referred to as a second optical member), 3 denotes a holder for holding the second optical member, 7 and 8 are θ around the Y and X axes
And a gonio stage that rotates in the ψ direction. First
The optical member 1 is a stage (not shown) that moves slightly in the Z-axis direction.
The holder 3 and the gonio stage 7 and the gonio stage 7 and the gonio stage 8 are mechanically fixed to each other. Gonio Stage 7, 8
Are fixed so that the rotation directions θ and ψ are orthogonal to each other as described above, and each of them has a lock mechanism (not shown) that can be fixed at an arbitrary position.

Next, the operation will be described. First, the second optical member 2 is fixed to the holder 3. Then, the lock mechanism of each of the gonio stages 7 and 8 is removed to put it in a free state,
In this state, the first optical member 1 is lowered in the vertical (Z-axis) direction and brought into contact with the second optical member 2 to perform the surface alignment. After the completion of the face-to-face matching, the lock mechanisms of the goniometers 7 and 8 are fixed, and the face-to-face matching work is completed.

In Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 2-113709, an optical fiber is held by a spherical guide, the spherical guide is supported by a positioning ring having a spherical recess, and the spherical guide is positioned while rotating on the spherical recess. The fixing structure of the optical fiber is shown.

[0006]

However, the conventional surface aligning apparatus has the following problems. (1) Since there are two gonio stages, the overall frictional resistance (rolling resistance) becomes large, and the face-to-face cannot be performed unless the pressing force of the first optical member 1 is increased. In that case, a large strain is applied to the first and second optical members, and in the worst case, the first and second optical members are destroyed. (2) When the gonio stages are respectively locked after the completion of the face-to-face matching, the lock mechanism is mechanically fixed by using a screw, so a force may be applied at the time of fixing and the faces may be displaced. (3) Since two gonio stages are stacked, the height dimension of the device also becomes high, and it is necessary to consider the overall steel properties and the like. (4) Since the surfaces are aligned by the fine movement stages of θ and ψ, it is very difficult to determine the criteria for accurately matching the surfaces (the surface pressure of the bonding surface is constant). Therefore, the adjustment work takes a lot of time. In addition, the introduction of image processing technology is indispensable for automatic processing, and the cost of the assembling apparatus becomes large. (5) In the case of using the positioning ring having the spherical guide and the spherical concave portion, since they are in surface contact, a large force is required due to frictional resistance.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a surface aligning device which does not give mechanical distortion to the optical members to be surface-aligned. Another object of the present invention is to provide a face aligning device which does not require the operation of a special locking mechanism after the face aligning is completed. Further, another object of the present invention is to provide a surface aligning device whose shape can be miniaturized.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a surface aligning apparatus which is easy to operate, can shorten the time, and can reduce the cost. Further, another object of the present invention is to provide
It is an object of the present invention to provide a surface aligning device that enables a robot to fix an optical member.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a moving means for moving in a first direction while supporting a first optical member, and a second means for supporting a second optical member. A holder means that rotates about an axis that is orthogonal to the first direction and that extends in the second and third directions that are orthogonal to each other and that has at least a part formed of a magnetic material and has a spherical shape, and the first means. When the optical member moves in the first direction and comes into contact with the second optical member, the holder means is rotated while rotating the holder means to at least 3 of the spherical portions.
A support means for supporting at a point and a magnetic force means for generating a magnetic field acting on the holder means to bring a contact pressure of the holder means by the support means to a predetermined value are provided.

According to this structure, the first means is provided by the moving means.
When the optical member of is moved in the Z-axis direction which is the first direction,
Contacting the second optical member on the holder means. This contact presses the second optical member and causes the holder means to rotate on the support means on the Y and X axes, which are the second and third directions. Thereby, the surfaces of the first and second optical members are aligned. This state is maintained by the magnetic force of the magnetic force means acting on the holder means.

The holder means may be made of a ferromagnetic material, and the supporting means may be three hemispheres provided at the apexes of an equilateral triangle on the magnetic force means. According to this structure, the holder means mounted on the three hemispheres can be easily rotated on the Y axis and the X axis, and the surface alignment between the first optical member and the second optical member is small. It can be done by giving.

The above-mentioned object is to move the first optical member while moving it in the first direction while supporting the first optical member, and dispose the second optical member in the concave portion formed on the surface of the moving means so as to be orthogonal to the first direction. In addition, each of them rotates about an axis extending in a second direction and a third direction which are orthogonal to each other, and a part of the holder made of a magnetic material has a spherical shape, and the first optical member has the first optical member. A support means for supporting the holder means at at least three points of the spherical portion while rotating the holder means when the holder means moves in a direction and comes into contact with the second optical member,
A magnetic field that acts on the holder means is generated to bring the contact pressure of the holder means by the support means to a predetermined value, and the second optical member arranged in the recess of the holder means is pressed from the side wall. The present invention can also be achieved by a configuration including a pressing member that supports the second optical member on the holder means and a screw mechanism that is provided on the holder means and that moves the pressing member forward and backward.

According to this structure, the second optical member mounted on the holder means is pressed by the V-shaped processing surface of the pressing member, and the second optical member is supported at three points. Therefore, the surface alignment of the first optical member and the second optical member can be performed by applying a small force, and the robot can dispose the second optical member and tighten the pressing member by the automatic screw tightener. Become.

In this case, the end portion of the screw mechanism is exposed from the side wall surface of the holder means, and the shape of the end portion can be T-shaped. With this configuration, the U-shaped jig can be engaged with the T-shaped portion, and the automatic screw tightener can be used. In addition, the above-mentioned purpose is
Moving means for supporting the optical member while moving in the first direction, and the second optical member disposed in the concave portion formed on the surface so as to be orthogonal to the first direction and to be orthogonal to each other. 3 is rotated about an axis extending in the direction of 3, and a part formed of a magnetic material is a holder means having a spherical surface, and the first optical member is moved in the first direction to move the second optical member. When contacting the member, while rotating the holder means,
Support means for supporting the holder means at at least three points of the spherical portion, and magnetic force means for generating a magnetic field acting on the holder means to bring the contact pressure of the holder means by the support means to a predetermined value. A pressing member that presses the second optical member disposed in the recess of the holder means from the side wall to support the second optical member on the holder means,
The present invention can also be achieved by a configuration including a screw mechanism provided in the holder means for moving the pressing member forward and backward, and a fixing means for holding the side wall portion of the holder means from two opposite directions.

According to this structure, when the face aligning and screw mechanism is rotated by the automatic screw tightener, the holder means is fixed at two places by the fixing means, so that the second optical member can be securely and easily tightened. You can In addition, the surface alignment of the first optical member and the second optical member can be performed by applying a small force.

[0016]

1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a surface aligning apparatus of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numerals 1 and 2 denote first and second optical members, and 1 a denotes an optical fiber connected to the first optical member 1. The first optical member 1 is attached to a stage (not shown) that moves in the Z-axis direction. Reference numeral 3 denotes an iron hemispherical holder (holder means) for fixing the second optical member 2 (for example, LD). Reference numeral 4 denotes three support bases located at the vertices of an equilateral triangle, on which the holder 3 is placed. Reference numeral 5 denotes a support base, to which three support bases 4 are fixed. Reference numeral 6 denotes a plate-shaped permanent magnet (for example, special steel magnet, ferrite magnet, rare earth magnet, etc.) as magnetic force means, which is embedded in the upper surface of the support base 5.

Next, the operation of the configuration of FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 (A) and 2 (B). In FIG. 2A, the second optical member 2 is fixed to the holder 3, and is tilted with respect to the horizontal plane of the support base 5 at this time. The holder 3 is attracted downward by the magnetic force of the permanent magnet 6. Therefore, the holder 3 is held in this state without rotating. Here, the first optical member 1 attached to the stage that moves in the Z-axis direction is vertically lowered to perform the surface alignment.

At this time, a pressing load is applied to the point of initial contact, and a moment (rotational force) is generated in the direction to make the holder 3 horizontal. This rotational force causes a small sliding frictional resistance (0.02) at the point contact between the holder 3 and the support 4.
.About.0.05) to rotate the holder 3 so that the surface of the second optical member 2 is forced to the horizontal surface at the tip of the first optical member 1 and the second optical member 1 and the second optical member 2. The surface alignment of the optical member 2 is realized. In this way, the face-to-face state shown in FIG. 2B is obtained, and this state is held by the magnetic force of the permanent magnet 6.

Although the holder 3 is made of iron in the above-mentioned embodiments, a ferromagnetic material such as cobalt, nickel, or an alloy containing these components (for example, Invar) may be used. Further, in the above embodiment, the holder 3
Although the holder 3 is made of iron and the permanent magnet 6 is fixed to the support base 5, the holder 3 may be made of permanent magnet and the support base 5 is made of iron. Further, although the vertical (Z-axis) direction surface aligning device has been described, the present invention can be applied to an X-axis or Y-axis direction surface aligning device which is inclined by 90 °.

In the above embodiment, the holder 3 has a hemispherical shape, and all the spherical portions are curved surfaces. However, the curved surface is provided only in the portion that may come into contact with the support 4. It may be a structure, that is, a structure partially having a curved surface. FIG. 3 shows the second optical member 2 (here,
It is a perspective view showing a fixing mechanism for fixing LD).
4 is a plan view of FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 is VV of FIG.
It is sectional drawing.

The holder 3 is an air hand 1 as a gripping mechanism.
It is held by a holder 9 protruding from the side wall of 0. Therefore, the two opposing side wall portions of the holder 3 are processed to have vertical surfaces. The storage space 11 for the second optical member 2 is secured in the center of the upper part of the holder 3,
Square holes are made with a milling machine. The storage space 11 has a V-shaped concave portion having a V-shaped side surface.
A groove chuck 12 (pressing member) is internally fitted so as to be horizontally movable, an adjusting screw 13 is screwed to the V groove chuck 12, and an end portion is exposed to a side portion of the holder 3, and the exposed portion is T. It is processed into a letter shape. A U-shaped U-shaped rod 14 is engaged with the T-shaped portion of the adjusting screw 13, and the shaft portion of the U-shaped rod 14 is connected to the rotary shaft of the automatic screw tightener 15.

The automatic screw tightening machine 15 comprises a motor as a drive source, a speed reducing mechanism, and the like, and is capable of reversible rotation. By rotating its rotation shaft, the U-shaped rod 14
Rotates, and further, the engaging adjusting screw 13 rotates,
The V-groove chuck 12 moves horizontally. An automatic screw tightener 15 equipped with a U-shaped rod 14 is attached to a robot (not shown).

Next, the operation of the configuration shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 will be described. First, the air hand 10 is operated and the holder 9 holds the holder 3 in which the second optical member 2 is inserted. Then, the robot equipped with the U-shaped rod 14 and the automatic screw tightener 15 is operated so that the shaft of the U-shaped rod 14 is the V-groove chuck 1.
Set the position to match the 2 axis. Here, the rotation direction of the automatic screw tightener 15 is controlled so that the V-groove chuck 12 moves forward. The U-shaped rod 14 rotates and the V-groove chuck 12
In the process of moving forward,
The optical member 2 is pressed, and the optical member 2 is positioned and fixed. When the holder 3 is face-to-face,
If the adjusting screw 13 and the U-shaped bar 14 are in contact with each other, it will be an obstacle, so return the U-shaped bar 14 by half a turn to bring it into a non-contact state.
The automatic screw tightener 15 is retracted.

By the way, as shown in FIG. 6 (perspective view) and FIG. 7 (cross-sectional view), the collet chuck 16 having an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the second optical member 2 is provided on the holder 3, and the second optical member is provided. In the case of a configuration in which 2 is fixed by the adjusting screw 17 protruding to the side wall of the holder 3, it is difficult to arrange the optical member 2 by the robot because the gap between the second optical member 2 and the collet chuck 16 is narrow. . Further, since the holder 3 is fixed by the permanent magnet 6, when the collet chuck is tightened by the automatic screw tightener, the holder 3 is easily moved, which makes the work difficult. However, according to the configurations shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, such a problem does not occur.

[0025]

As is apparent from the above, according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained. (1) Since the holder is point-supported, the surfaces can be aligned by applying a small force to the optical member. Therefore, no mechanical strain is applied to the optical member. (2) Since the face-to-face state is maintained by the magnetic force, the lock mechanism is unnecessary. (3) Since it can rotate in all angles on the point support,
The size of the device can be reduced. (4) Bring the first optical member into contact with the second optical member,
Since the face-to-face contact can be made with a small push of force, the operation becomes easier and the time can be shortened. (5) Since the second optical member can be easily arranged on the holder means and the holder can be easily arranged, the second optical member can be arranged by the robot and fixed by the automatic screw tightener.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a surface aligning device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing an operation of the present invention, (A) showing a state before face-to-face alignment, and (B) showing a state after face-to-face alignment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a fixing mechanism for fixing a second optical member.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line VV of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a general configuration example of a fixing mechanism for a second optical member.

7 is a cross-sectional view of the configuration of FIG.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing a conventional surface aligning device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 1st optical member 1a Optical fiber 2 2nd optical member 3,9 Holder 4 Support stand 5 Support stand base 6 Permanent magnet 10 Air hand 11 Storage space 12 V groove chuck 13 Adjusting screw 14 U-shaped rod 15 Automatic screw tightener

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A moving means that moves in a first direction while supporting a first optical member, and a second means that supports a second optical member and is orthogonal to the first direction and is also orthogonal to each other. A holder means that rotates about an axis extending in a third direction and is formed of a magnetic material, at least a part of which is spherical, and the first optical member moves in the first direction to move the second member. Supporting means for supporting the holder means at at least three points of the spherical portion while rotating the holder means when abutting against the optical member, and a magnetic field acting on the holder means is generated by the supporting means. A surface aligning device comprising: a magnetic force means for setting a contact pressure of the holder means to a predetermined value. 2. The surface aligning device according to claim 1, wherein the supporting means is three hemispheres provided at the positions of the vertices of an equilateral triangle on the magnetic force means. 3. A moving means for moving in a first direction while supporting the first optical member, and a second optical member arranged in a recess formed on the surface of the moving means so as to be orthogonal to the first direction. 2nd and 3rd are orthogonal to each other
And a second spherical member that is rotated about an axis extending in the direction of, and that is made of a magnetic material and that has a spherical part and that moves toward the first direction of the first optical member. When contacting the holder means, the holder means is rotated while supporting the holder means at at least three points of the spherical portion, and a magnetic field acting on the holder means is generated so that the holder is operated by the holder means. Magnetic force means for setting the contact pressure of the means to a predetermined value, and a pressing member for pressing the second optical member arranged in the recess of the holder means from the side wall to support the second optical member on the holder means. And a screw mechanism provided on the holder means for moving the pressing member forward and backward. 4. The surface aligning device according to claim 3, wherein the screw mechanism has an end exposed from the side wall surface of the holder means, and a tip of the screw mechanism having a T-shape. 5. A moving means for moving the first optical member in the first direction while supporting the first optical member, and a second optical member arranged in a recess formed on the surface of the moving means so as to be orthogonal to the first direction. 2nd and 3rd are orthogonal to each other
And a second spherical member that is rotated about an axis extending in the direction of, and that is made of a magnetic material and that has a spherical part and that moves toward the first direction of the first optical member. When contacting the holder means, the holder means is rotated while supporting the holder means at at least three points of the spherical portion, and a magnetic field acting on the holder means is generated so that the holder is operated by the holder means. Magnetic force means for setting the contact pressure of the means to a predetermined value, and a pressing member for pressing the second optical member arranged in the recess of the holder means from the side wall to support the second optical member on the holder means. And a fixing mechanism for holding the side wall portion of the holder means from two opposite directions, and a screw mechanism provided on the holder means for moving the pressing member forward and backward.