JPH1020141A - Optical fiber guide block and two-dimensionally laminated optical fiber array - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a two-dimensionally laminated optical fiber array which may be automatically aligned with high accuracy simply by laminating one- dimensional optical fiber guide blocks without using third members, such as metallic pins or aligning jigs. SOLUTION: The optical fiber guide blocks 11a to 11d which are basic are formed by molding glass transparent to UV rays. Alignment engaging parts 14 are formed at both ends in a transverse direction simultaneously with the formation of engaging parts 12 for fixing optical fibers. Optical fibers 18 are arranged in these engaging parts 12 for fixing optical fibers. The optical fiber guide blocks 11a to 11d are laminated by interengaging engaging slopes 16 with the engaging slopes 15 of the alignment engaging parts 14. The parts between the optical fibers 18 and the engaging parts 12 for fixing optical fibers and the parts between the optical fiber guide blocks 11a to 11d are cured and fixed to each other by using UV curing resins and irradiating these parts with UV rays, by which the two-dimensionally laminated optical fiber array 20 is constituted.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical fiber guide block for two-dimensionally arranging optical fibers and a two-dimensional optical fiber for connecting a plurality of optical fibers to each other or a plurality of optical fibers to a plurality of optical components. The present invention relates to a laminated optical fiber array.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a two-dimensional optical fiber array, a stacked type in which one-dimensional optical fiber arrays are stacked is known. Conventionally, there have been the following types of two-dimensional laminated optical fiber arrays.

(1) A type in which positioning pins are interposed and laminated A plate-shaped substrate is provided with an optical fiber fixing V-groove on the upper surface, and a one-dimensional optical fiber alignment member having positioning pin grooves formed on the upper and lower surfaces. And a two-dimensional optical fiber alignment member. At the time of laminating, cylindrical positioning pins are engaged with positioning pin grooves on the upper surface and the lower surface, and positioning between the optical fiber alignment members is performed (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 3-131803 and 5-196842). .

(2) Lamination type using positioning jig A positioning reference plane for lamination (L
A two-dimensional optical fiber alignment member is formed by laminating one-dimensional optical fiber alignment members having the same dimensions and forming a two-dimensional optical fiber alignment member. (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 05-273442).
No.).

(3) A type in which an optical fiber fixing V-groove is formed while being laminated After forming an optical fiber fixing V-groove on the upper surface of a substrate, another substrate is fixed on the upper surface of the substrate, and further, an optical fiber is fixed on the upper surface. The step of forming a V-groove for use is repeated on the same processing machine with reference to the absolute position of the processing machine to form a two-dimensional optical fiber alignment member (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 04-338703).

[0006]

However, the conventional type described above has the following disadvantages.

(1) A type in which a positioning pin is sandwiched between the alignment members In order to improve the pitch accuracy between the alignment members of the optical fiber fixing groove, that is, the vertical position accuracy between the alignment members and the horizontal position accuracy between the alignment members, positioning is performed. It is necessary to increase the dimensional accuracy of the positioning pin in addition to the dimensional accuracy and shape accuracy of the pin groove. Further, the number of components increases by the number of the positioning pins, and it is difficult to stack the pins while arranging the pins.

The positioning pin is made of metal and has a diameter of 0.5 mm.
When a metal positioning pin is used, the difference in thermal expansion coefficient between the optical fiber and the optical fiber alignment member made of glass, ceramics, silicon, or the like increases. Therefore, in the connection between optical fibers and the connection between the optical fibers and the optical components, the loss fluctuation due to the pitch shift between the upper and lower optical fiber alignment members engaged with the pins when the environmental temperature changes is increased. In addition, in the case of a metal pin, in order to maintain the mechanical strength, the pin diameter is increased (the cladding diameter of a generally used communication optical fiber is 125 μm).
m or more).

On the other hand, in order to increase the density, it is necessary to reduce the pitch between the optical fiber alignment members. Therefore,
In order to reduce the pitch between the optical fiber alignment members, the depth of the positioning pin groove must be increased. But,
As the depth of the groove increases, the substrate thickness at the bottom of the groove decreases, and the mechanical strength of the optical fiber alignment member decreases.

Therefore, in a two-dimensional laminated optical fiber array using positioning pins, the pitch between the optical fiber alignment members depends on the diameter of the positioning pin and the depth of the groove for the positioning pin, and should be smaller than the diameter of the positioning pin. Can not.

Further, when fixing the optical fiber alignment member, the optical fiber, and the positioning pin with a photo-curing adhesive,
Since a metal pin does not transmit light, curing is uneven, and residual stress due to curing shrinkage is likely to occur. Also, when fixing with a thermosetting adhesive, the metal pin has a larger difference in thermal expansion coefficient than an optical fiber or an optical fiber alignment member made of glass, ceramics, silicon, or the like. Stress is likely to occur.

(2) Type of Lamination Using Positioning Jig In order to improve the vertical position accuracy between the alignment members and the horizontal position accuracy between the alignment members of the optical fiber fixing groove, the size of the positioning reference surface for lamination is required. In addition to the accuracy and shape accuracy, it is necessary to increase the dimensional accuracy and shape accuracy of the one-dimensional fiber alignment member substrate to be laminated. For example, in order to configure an optical fiber array that connects single mode optical fibers having a core diameter of 10 μm with low loss, it is necessary to set the dimensional tolerance of the substrate of the one-dimensional fiber alignment member to ± 1 μm or less. In particular, it is difficult to reduce the thickness tolerance of the substrate to ± 1 μm or less by grinding or polishing.

In the one-dimensional optical fiber alignment member, there are two reference surfaces, a processing reference surface and a positioning reference surface for lamination.
When the layers are stacked, the amount of deviation in the lateral position between the alignment members is at most twice as large as that in the case where only one reference surface is provided, and high positioning accuracy cannot be obtained.

(3) A type in which an optical fiber fixing V-groove is formed while laminating The process is performed while fixing the substrate, so that it takes a lot of man-hours and is not efficient.

Further, as in the case of (2), in order to increase the pitch accuracy (vertical pitch) between the alignment members of the optical fiber fixing groove, a one-dimensional fiber alignment member substrate to be laminated is used with a high thickness accuracy. Although it is necessary, grinding and polishing are difficult.

When another substrate is fixed on the upper surface of the substrate,
When a thermosetting adhesive is used, the absolute position of the processing machine easily shifts due to the thermal expansion of the jig. When a photocurable adhesive is used, a material that is opaque to visible light or ultraviolet light cannot be used as a substrate material, and therefore, silicon with particularly good grindability cannot be used.

(4) Disadvantages common to the above (1) to (3) Since the grooves are formed mainly by grinding, the degree of freedom in designing the optical fiber alignment member and the mass productivity are poor. In the grinding process, the positional accuracy between the optical fiber fixing grooves of the optical fiber alignment member can be high, but the positional accuracy of the optical fiber fixing grooves with respect to the positioning pin groove, the lamination positioning reference plane, and the processing reference plane can be improved. Since it is not easy to increase the height, in the two-dimensional stacked optical fiber array, positioning between the members to be stacked (vertical position between upper and lower members and horizontal position between upper and lower members) is performed with high accuracy and high efficiency. It is difficult.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and to perform alignment only by stacking guide blocks without using a third member such as a metal pin or an alignment jig. Thus, an object of the present invention is to provide an optical fiber guide block and a two-dimensional stacked optical fiber array which can perform alignment between guide blocks to be stacked with high accuracy and high efficiency. Another object of the present invention is to
It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical fiber guide block and a two-dimensional laminated optical fiber array which have a high degree of freedom in design and mass productivity and can obtain a highly accurate dimensional shape.

[0019]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the guide blocks are stacked on a guide block having an optical fiber fixing engaging portion formed on the surface, the guide blocks are engaged with each other and aligned. An optical fiber guide block in which a mating engagement portion is provided integrally. Since alignment can be performed only by stacking the guide blocks, an accurate two-dimensional stacked optical fiber array can be configured.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the positioning engagement portion has at least two engagement slopes on a surface thereof.
The optical fiber guide block according to claim 1, further comprising an engaged slope engaged with the two engagement slopes on a back surface. Since the two inclined surfaces on the front and back surfaces of the alignment engagement portion are engaged with each other, the optical fiber guide blocks can be automatically aligned by stacking, the vertical position between the upper and lower members between the optical fiber guide blocks to be stacked, and the horizontal position between the upper and lower members. Direction position can be adjusted with high precision without using positioning pins or positioning jigs.
It can be performed with high efficiency.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the optical fiber guide block according to the first or second aspect, wherein the optical fiber guide block is made of glass or resin. When the optical fiber guide block is made of glass or resin, the optical fiber guide block can be easily obtained by molding.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the optical fiber guide block according to the third aspect formed by molding. When the optical fiber guide block is formed by molding, not only the degree of freedom of design and mass productivity are high, but also the optical fiber guide block is accurately formed including the engaging slope and the engaged slope of the alignment engaging portion. Dimensional accuracy is excellent and high density
A two-dimensional stacked optical fiber array can be configured.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing apparatus comprising:
The optical fiber guide block according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the optical fiber guide block is transparent to light in a range of 00 nm. Optical fiber guide block with wavelength 25
When transparent to light in the range of 0 to 800 nm,
There is no residual stress due to curing shrinkage between the optical fiber and the optical fiber guide block using a light-curing adhesive,
The adhesive can be fixed in an evenly cured state.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, a one-dimensional optical fiber array is formed by fixing an optical fiber to an optical fiber fixing engagement portion of the optical fiber guide block according to any one of the first to fifth aspects. A two-dimensional stacked optical fiber array is formed by stacking the one-dimensional optical fiber array by engaging the front and back surfaces of the alignment engaging portion. According to this, the optical fibers can be two-dimensionally aligned with high accuracy.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, a one-dimensional optical fiber array is formed by arranging optical fibers in the optical fiber fixing engagement portion of the optical fiber guide block according to the fifth aspect. A two-dimensional laminated optical fiber in which a fiber array is laminated by engaging the front and back surfaces of the alignment engaging portion, and the optical fiber and the optical fiber guide block are bonded and fixed with a photocurable adhesive. An array. When an optical fiber guide block that is transparent to light having a wavelength in the range of 250 to 800 nm is used, the photocurable adhesive can be cured uniformly and in a short time.
A two-dimensional stacked optical fiber array can be easily obtained.

[0026]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an example of the structure of a 4 × 8 two-dimensional laminated optical fiber array. FIG.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a one-dimensional optical fiber guide block which is the basis of the two-dimensional stacked optical fiber array.

The one-dimensional optical fiber guide block 11 of this embodiment is made of a molded glass product, has a predetermined thickness, is substantially rectangular in plan view, and has an optical fiber 18 on its surface. Eight parallel optical fiber fixing engaging portions 12 including V grooves and the like for fixing are formed, and a flat optical fiber pressing surface 13 for holding an optical fiber 18 parallel to the front surface is formed on the back surface. Have been.

When the guide blocks 11 are stacked in the same direction on both ends in the width direction of the guide block 11 orthogonal to the optical fiber fixing engaging portion 12, the guide blocks 11 are engaged with each other and automatically aligned. Are formed integrally with each other.

The alignment engaging portion 14 has an engaging slope 15 having an upward slope from the end in the width direction to the outside.
When the guide blocks 11 are stacked, the engaging slopes 63 are engaged with the engaging slopes 63.

This one-dimensional optical fiber guide block 1
The two-dimensional laminated optical fiber array 20 composed of
Four optical fiber guide blocks 11a to 11d each having an optical fiber 18 fixed thereto are laminated on each optical fiber fixing engaging portion 12, and the engaging slope 15 of the positioning engaging portion 14 of each guide block 11a to 11d is covered. It is constituted by engaging the engaging slope 16. The adhesive fixing of the optical fiber 18 to the optical fiber fixing engaging portion 12 and the adhesive fixing after stacking the optical fiber guide blocks 11a to 11d and the optical fiber pressing member 19 are performed by using an adhesive such as a photocurable resin. It is done using.

Next, a method of manufacturing the optical fiber guide block and the two-dimensional laminated optical fiber array of the present embodiment will be described.

First, a block-shaped glass preform is prepared using glass that is transparent to ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 350 nm. This block-shaped glass preform is placed in a mold having a cavity of a predetermined shape, and molded to form an optical fiber guide block 11 having the shape shown in FIG. At the time of molding, eight parallel optical fiber fixing engaging portions 12 each having a V-shaped groove on the surface;
A flat optical fiber pressing surface 13 is formed on the back surface parallel to the front surface. At the same time, at both ends in the width direction of the optical fiber guide block 11, the alignment engaging portion 14 having the engaging slope 15 and the engaged slope 16 on the front and back is integrally formed. Since the optical fiber fixing engaging portion 12 and the positioning engaging portion 14 are simultaneously manufactured by molding,
Highly accurate dimensions and shapes can be obtained. Due to the molding, the thickness tolerance of the optical fiber guide block 11 is set to ± 1 μm.
m or less.

The optical fiber guide block is made of, for example, Si
O ₂ (1 to 30 wt%), B ₂ O ₃ (15 to 40 wt%)
%), ZnO (40-60 wt%), MgO (0-15
wt%), CaO, SrO, BaO, Al 2 O 3 ( each 0
-10 wt%) and PbO (0-20 wt%)
It is made of glass containing 75% by weight or more of these glass components. In addition, a wavelength of 350 mm for a glass thickness of 2 mm.
The transmittance of ultraviolet light of nm is 90% or more.

After the optical fibers 18 are arranged on the eight optical fiber fixing engagement portions 12 on the surface of the first optical fiber guide block 11a made of such a glass molded product, the second optical fiber guide The blocks 11b are stacked. At this time, the first optical fiber guide block 11
The engagement slopes 15 on both end surfaces of the second optical fiber guide block 11b are engaged with the engagement slopes 16 on the rear surfaces of both end portions of the second optical fiber guide block 11b, and the optical fiber pressing surface on the lower surface of the second optical fiber guide block 11b. 13 positions the optical fiber 18 in the optical fiber fixing engaging portion 12 by pressing the upper portion of the optical fiber 18 disposed on the optical fiber fixing engaging portion 12 of the first optical fiber guide block 11a. Only by engaging the engaging slope 15 with the engaged slope 16, the first
And second optical fiber guide blocks 11a, 11b
The vertical position between the upper and lower members and the horizontal position between the upper and lower members are performed with high accuracy and high efficiency.

Similarly, the optical fiber 18 is arranged on the optical fiber fixing engaging portion 12 on the surface of the second optical fiber guide block 11b, and the third optical fiber guide block 11c is stacked thereon while being aligned. Then, the fourth optical fiber guide block 11d is laminated. Finally, an optical fiber pressing member 19 for fixing the optical fiber 18 disposed on the optical fiber fixing engaging portion 12 of the fourth optical fiber guide block 11d is laminated. The optical fiber pressing member 19 has an optical fiber pressing flat surface 2 on the back surface.
1. There are engaging slopes 22 at both ends, which are also made of the same material as the optical fiber guide block, and are manufactured by molding.

An ultraviolet curing adhesive is used for fixing the members. The optical fiber 18 is adhered to the optical fiber fixing engaging portion 12 by applying an ultraviolet curing adhesive between the members and irradiating ultraviolet light of the above-described wavelength through the optical fiber guide block 11 or the optical fiber pressing member 19. Fixed, and between the optical fiber guide blocks 11a to 11d,
The optical fiber guide block 11d and the optical fiber pressing member 19 are bonded and fixed. At this time, since there is no third member, such as a metal pin, that blocks the transmission of ultraviolet light, the use of an ultraviolet-curable adhesive is facilitated, and bonding and fixing between members are reliably performed. In fact, the curing is even, the residual stress is hardly generated, the bonding strength is increased, and a highly reliable fixing can be performed. Further, light energy sufficient for curing can be supplied to the adhesive layer between the optical fiber guide blocks 11 by irradiating ultraviolet rays for a short time.

FIG. 3A shows the positional accuracy of the optical fiber fixing engaging portion 12 of the 4 × 8 two-dimensional laminated optical fiber array shown in FIG. The designed horizontal pitch is 0.250m
m, the vertical pitch is 0.315 mm. FIG. 3 (b)
As shown in the figure, the positional accuracy from the design position of each of the ports 1 to 8 with respect to the origin (0, 0) with respect to the port 1-A can be realized as extremely high as 1 μm or less in both the vertical and horizontal directions. Was. This makes it possible to easily configure an optical fiber array for connecting single-mode optical fibers having a core diameter of 10 μm with low loss.

According to the present embodiment, since the positioning engagement portion is integrally formed by glass molding, the positioning engagement portion, which is difficult to grind, can be formed with high precision. Therefore, the position of the laminated optical fiber guide block can be improved. Matching can be performed with high accuracy. Further, even when the loss fluctuation with respect to the change of the use environment temperature is small and a plurality of optical fibers are arranged at high density, an optical fiber guide block and a two-dimensional laminated optical fiber array having sufficiently high mechanical strength can be obtained.
Further, an optical fiber guide block capable of stacking with high accuracy is obtained, and an optical fiber array in which the optical fiber input / output ends are two-dimensionally aligned with high accuracy. Further, with the above configuration, it is possible to connect the optical fibers and to connect the optical fiber and the optical component with low loss.

It is not always necessary to form the positioning engagement portions 14 at both ends in the width direction of the guide block 11, but they may be formed at an intermediate portion or the like.

In the above description, the optical fiber 18
The optical fiber guide block 11 is laminated after disposing the optical fiber guide block 11 on the optical fiber fixing engagement portion 12. However, after the optical fiber guide block 11 is laminated, the optical fiber fixing engagement portion 12 and the optical fiber guide block are stacked. The optical fiber 18 may be inserted and arranged in a through hole having a substantially triangular cross section formed by the 11 optical fiber pressing surfaces 13.

Further, the optical fiber guide block can be made of resin instead of glass. In this case, a resin optical fiber guide block having the same shape as glass is manufactured using a mold for resin molding. Also, a pin made of a material such as ceramic having the same outer diameter as the optical fiber and having a higher rigidity than the optical fiber is protruded from the glass optical fiber block and aligned, and a two-dimensional array is used as a mold. Alternatively, a two-dimensional optical fiber guide block having a 4 × 8 through-hole through which the optical fiber is inserted may be integrally manufactured.

When an optical fiber guide block is made of ceramics or silicon, a plate made of ceramics is processed with high precision so that the front and back surfaces are parallel to each other, and this plate is subjected to advanced grinding. After processing, as shown in FIG. 2, an optical fiber fixing engaging portion 12 is formed on the surface of the plate-like body, and a positioning engaging portion 14 is formed on both ends.

Incidentally, the alignment engaging portion 14 formed at the end in the width direction of the guide block 11 has a shape having only an upward slope, but can have various shapes as described below. Note that the distinction between the engaged state and the engaged state in the above embodiment is for convenience. Therefore, in the following modified examples, these are not distinguished and are simply referred to as engagement slopes.

(Modification) For example, the one shown in FIG. 4 is a two-dimensional laminated type optical system in which optical fiber guide blocks 41a to 41d in which the orientation of the alignment engaging portion 42 is opposite to that of FIG. FIG. 5 shows a configuration of a fiber array, and FIG. 5 shows a basic optical fiber guide block 41. The alignment engaging portion 42 of the optical fiber guide block 41 has an engaging slope 43 having a downward slope from the end in the width direction toward the outside on the surface thereof. It has a shape having a downwardly inclined engaging slope 44 which engages with the mating slope 43.

As described above, when the positioning engagement portion 42 projects obliquely downward with respect to the back surface of the guide block 41, the lowermost optical fiber guide block 41a
Is line-supported, so that the guide block 4 is located below the lowermost optical fiber guide block 41a as shown in the figure.
It is preferable that an underlaying member 47 to be engaged with 1a is laid to provide surface contact support. An engaging slope 48 is formed on the surface of both ends of the underlay member 47, and an engaging slope 46 is formed on the lower surface of both ends of the uppermost optical fiber pressing member 45.

In FIG. 6, the alignment engaging portion 62 of the optical fiber guide blocks 61a to 61d has an engaging slope 63 and a flat surface 64 whose front ends in the width direction are inclined upward toward the outside. It has a shape.

7 is formed in the direction opposite to that of FIG. 6, and the alignment engaging portions 72 of the optical fiber guide blocks 71a to 71d are formed such that the ends in the width direction are inclined downward toward the outside. It has a shape having an engagement slope 73 and a flat surface 74 on both sides.

In FIG. 8, the alignment engaging portions 82 of the optical fiber guide blocks 81a to 81d have an engaging slope 83, a flat surface 84, and an end in the width direction rising outward.
It has a downwardly inclined engagement slope 85 and a flat surface 86 on the front and back, and has a convex front surface and a concave rear surface.

The distance ΔX of the flat surface 84 following the uphill engaging slope 83, the horizontal distance ΔY of the downhill slope 85,
The distance ΔZ of the plane 86 can be set arbitrarily. FIGS. 1 to 4 show ΔX = ΔY = ΔZ = 0, and FIGS. 5 to 6 show ΔY = ΔZ = 0.

The direction of FIG. 9 is opposite to that of FIG.
The alignment engaging portion 92 of each of the optical fiber guide blocks 91a to 91d has an engaging slope 93, a flat surface 94, a rising slope 95, and a flat surface 96 whose ends in the width direction are inclined downward toward the outside. , The front surface is concave and the back surface is convex.

FIG. 10 shows other possible variations. FIG. 10 (a) shows that the alignment engaging portion 102 of the optical fiber guide block 101 has a width-direction end with an upward slope. Engagement slope 103 and plane 10
8 and a down-slope engagement slope 105.
In the above, ΔZ = 0.

In FIG. 10B, the alignment engaging portion 107 of the optical fiber guide block 106 has an engagement slope 108 having an upward slope and an engagement slope having a downward slope in the width direction. 8 and has a plane 110, and ΔX = 0 in FIG.

In FIG. 10C, the positioning engaging portion 112 of the optical fiber guide block 111 has an engaging slope 113 having an upward slope and an engaging slope having a downward slope in the width direction. 114 and Δ in FIG.
X = ΔZ = 0.

As can be seen from these variations, automatic positioning of the optical fiber guide block is possible if at least two engaging slopes are on the front and back.

In the two-dimensional stacked optical fiber array of the present invention, the blocks need not be stacked vertically as long as the pitch of the optical fibers is accurate, and may be stacked diagonally.

FIG. 11 shows a cross section of a two-dimensional laminated optical fiber array 125 in which the optical fiber guide blocks 121a to 121d are stacked obliquely so that the end face of the optical fiber array has a substantially rhombic shape.

FIG. 12 shows a cross section of a one-dimensional optical fiber guide block 121 which is a basic component of the diamond-shaped two-dimensional laminated optical fiber array 125, and is basically the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. It is the same as the optical fiber guide block 11, but the bottom 126 of the optical fiber guide block 121 is shifted to the left over the entire width so that the engaging slope 122 on the left side of the guide block 121 projects and the engaging slope 123 on the right side is retracted. It is a thing. The distance ΔR from the center of the front engagement slope 124 to the center of the rear engagement slope 123 indicates a lateral movement amount when one guide block 121 is stacked. As a result, the two-dimensional laminated optical fiber array 125 is inclined rightward as a whole. When the bottom of the guide block 121 is shifted to the right, a two-dimensional laminated optical fiber array inclined to the left is obtained.

The two-dimensional laminated optical fiber array 125 having a diamond shape inclined as described above is useful when the space shape is restricted.

(Application Example) The basic structure is the same as that of the embodiment of FIG. 1, but as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the surface of the lowermost optical fiber guide block 131a and the uppermost optical fiber Pin grooves 132, 132 for mounting the positioning pins 134 for passive alignment are formed at predetermined positions on the surface of the guide block 131d, and the second optical fiber guide block 131b located on these optical fiber guide blocks 131a is formed. The lowermost optical fiber guide block 131a and the uppermost optical fiber guide block 13 are provided on the back surface of the optical fiber pressing member 135.
Positioning pin 1 for passive alignment arranged at 1d
Pin grooves 136 and 136 for suppressing the upper part of the groove 34 are formed respectively. In FIG. 14, reference numeral 137 denotes a tape fiber in which optical fibers are one-dimensionally arranged.

According to this, the connection between the two-dimensional laminated optical fiber array and the two-dimensional laminated optical fiber array,
The two-dimensional array type optical fiber array can be easily connected to other two-dimensional array optical elements. Note that the positioning pins 134 for passive alignment are not pins for positioning between the optical fiber guide blocks 131a to 131d, but for connecting the above-described components.

FIG. 15 shows a two-dimensional stacked optical fiber array 151 in which alignment marks 152 are formed at four corners. When the alignment mark 152 is formed in this manner, the two-dimensional stacked optical fiber array 151 and the surface emitting two-dimensional LD array 154 also having the alignment mark 153 are combined using the alignment mark, or a flat PD array or the like. It can also be used for coupling with microlens arrays, filter arrays, and the like.

[0063]

According to the present invention, the optical fiber guide blocks can be laminated with high precision and high efficiency by automatic alignment without using the third member, and the optical fibers are two-dimensionally arranged at a high density. A fiber array is obtained. In particular, when the optical fiber guide block is made of a molded product of glass or resin, the degree of freedom in design and mass productivity are improved, and a more precise dimensional shape can be obtained. can get.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a two-dimensional laminated optical fiber array according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a one-dimensional optical fiber guide block which is the basis of the two-dimensional laminated optical fiber array according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing positional accuracy of an optical fiber fixing engagement portion of a two-dimensional laminated optical fiber array according to an embodiment;
(A) is an accuracy table, (b) is an explanatory diagram of measurement points.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a two-dimensional stacked optical fiber array according to a modification.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a one-dimensional optical fiber guide block which is the basis of the two-dimensional laminated optical fiber array of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a two-dimensional laminated optical fiber array according to a modification.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a two-dimensional stacked optical fiber array according to a modification.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a two-dimensional stacked optical fiber array according to a modification.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a two-dimensional laminated optical fiber array according to a modification.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of an end of a two-dimensional laminated optical fiber array according to a modification.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of an oblique two-dimensional stacked optical fiber array according to a modification.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of an optical fiber guide block that is the basis of the oblique two-dimensional stacked optical fiber array of FIG.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a two-dimensional laminated optical fiber array with a positioning pin for passive alignment according to an application example.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the two-dimensional laminated optical fiber array with the positioning pins for passive alignment of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing coupling between a two-dimensional stacked optical fiber array and a surface emitting two-dimensional LD array according to an application example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11a to 11d Optical fiber guide block 12 Optical fiber fixing engaging part 13 Optical fiber pressing surface 14 Alignment engaging part 15 Engaging slope 16 Engaged slope 18 Optical fiber 20 Two-dimensional laminated optical fiber array

Claims (7)

[Claims] The present invention is characterized in that a guide block having an optical fiber fixing engaging portion formed on its surface is integrally provided with a positioning engaging portion for mutually engaging and aligning when the guide blocks are stacked. Optical fiber guide block. 2. The alignment engaging portion according to claim 1, wherein the positioning engaging portion has at least two engaging slopes on a front surface thereof, and has an engaged slope engaged with the two engaging slopes on a rear surface. Optical fiber guide block. 3. The optical fiber guide block according to claim 1, wherein the optical fiber guide block is made of glass or resin. 4. The optical fiber guide block according to claim 3, wherein the optical fiber guide block is formed by molding. 5. The optical fiber guide block according to claim 1, wherein the optical fiber guide block is transparent to light having a wavelength in the range of 250 to 800 nm. 6. A one-dimensional optical fiber array by fixing an optical fiber to an optical fiber fixing engaging portion of the optical fiber guide block according to claim 1. Are laminated by engaging the front and back surfaces of the positioning engagement portion. 7. An optical fiber guide block according to claim 5, wherein an optical fiber is disposed in the optical fiber fixing engagement portion.
Forming a one-dimensional optical fiber array, stacking the one-dimensional optical fiber array by engaging the front and back surfaces of the alignment engaging portion, and using a photo-curing adhesive between the optical fiber and the optical fiber guide block. A two-dimensional laminated optical fiber array configured by bonding and fixing.