JPH1078527A - Optical fiber array - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To lessen the possibility of peeling of a pair of substrates, to improve reliability, to prevent the degradation in workability and to prevent a cost increase by forming the stuck surfaces of both substrates stuck by housing optical fibers in respective grooves as rough surfaces. SOLUTION: The optical fiber array has the first substrate 3 having V- grooves 2 for positioning and aligning of the respective optical fibers 1 and the second substrate 4 to be stuck to the first substrate 3. The stuck surface 3a of the first substrate 3 is formed as the rough surface of about 0.1 to 5μm by co-lapping holding, for example, a polishing material of a prescribed diameter. The range to form the rough surface may be the entire range of the stuck surface 3a of the first substrate 3 or may be a part thereof and the formation of the rough surface on the stuck surface of the second substrate 4 is equally well. The respective optical fibers 1 are housed in the V-grooves 2 of the first substrate 3 and the second substrate 4 is stuck to the first substrate 3 by using an adhesive consisting of a thermosetting resin, etc., by which both substrates 3, 4 are integrated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical fiber array, and more specifically, to at least one of a pair of substrates, a groove for positioning and alignment is provided, and the optical fibers are accommodated in each groove. The present invention relates to an optical fiber array bonded and integrated.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an optical fiber array in which grooves for positioning and alignment are provided in at least one of a pair of substrates, and both substrates are bonded and integrated in a state in which optical fibers are accommodated in each groove has been widely used. Have been.

[0003]

Such an optical fiber array is completed by bonding the two substrates together and then polishing them so that the end faces of the optical fibers and the substrates are flush with each other. . By the way, at the time of polishing, a considerably large force is applied to the optical fiber array, and in the worst case, there is an inconvenience that the bonded substrates are separated. The rate at which both substrates are separated is about 30%.
, And the yield of the optical fiber array is significantly reduced. As a result, the reliability of the optical fiber array is reduced, and the manufacturing operation must be performed again on the separated optical fiber array, so that the workability is reduced and the cost is increased.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and significantly reduces the risk of peeling of both substrates, and achieves improvement in reliability, prevention of reduction in workability, and prevention of cost increase. It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical fiber array capable of performing such operations.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, at least one of a pair of substrates is provided with grooves for positioning and aligning, and the substrates are bonded together in a state in which optical fibers are accommodated in each groove. At least a part of the bonding surface of at least one of the pair of substrates is formed as a rough surface, and an adhesive is interposed between both bonding surfaces.

[0006]

According to the optical fiber array of the first aspect, grooves for positioning and alignment are provided in at least one of the pair of substrates, and both substrates are bonded and integrated in a state where the optical fibers are accommodated in each groove. And at least a part of the bonding surface of at least one of the pair of substrates is formed with a rough surface, and an adhesive is interposed between the bonding surfaces. The adhesive strength of the adhesive can be increased without increasing the size. Then, with the increase in the adhesive strength, the possibility of peeling of both substrates at the time of polishing the end surface can be greatly reduced, and the reduction in workability, cost, and reliability due to peeling can be prevented. . Furthermore, sufficient adhesive strength can be obtained without increasing the size of the substrate, and the optical fiber array can be reduced in size.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic exploded perspective view showing one embodiment of the optical fiber array of the present invention. This optical fiber array includes a plurality of optical fibers 1, a first substrate 3 having a V-groove 2 for positioning and aligning each optical fiber 1, and a second substrate 4 bonded to the first substrate 3. Have. Then, the bonding surface 3a of the first substrate 3 is formed into a rough surface of 0.1 μm to 5 μm (for example, in a ground glass shape) by, for example, a torsion sandwiching an abrasive having a predetermined diameter. In addition, the optical fiber 1
For example, they are made of quartz glass, and both substrates are made of, for example, quartz glass. The range formed on the rough surface may be the entire range of the bonding surface of the first substrate 3 or a part of the bonding surface. Then, a rough surface may also be formed on the bonding surface of the second substrate 4. Further, a V-groove may be formed in the second substrate 4 as well. However, instead of V-groove 2, U-groove etc.
Other shaped grooves may be employed.

Then, each optical fiber 1 is connected to the V of the first substrate 3.
The second substrate 4 is housed in the groove 2 and then bonded to the first substrate 3 using an adhesive made of a thermosetting epoxy resin or the like, and both substrates are integrated. Thereafter, the integrated substrates are polished to obtain an optical fiber array having a flat end surface.
In this case, since both substrates are integrated by using an adhesive on the bonded surface 3a formed on the rough surface, the two substrates are firmly integrated, and the two substrates are separated during polishing. Can be greatly reduced, and the reliability of the optical fiber array can be greatly improved. Specifically, peeling of both substrates during polishing could be reduced to almost 0%.

[0009] Further, it is possible to prevent the rework of the optical fiber array production work due to the occurrence of peeling, and to improve the workability. Further, since a sufficient adhesive strength can be obtained without increasing the area of the bonding surface 3a, the size of the optical fiber array can be reduced.

[0010]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the adhesive strength by the adhesive can be increased without increasing the size of the two substrates that hold the optical fiber, and the increase in the adhesive strength is accompanied by an increase in the edge polishing time. Possibility of peeling of both substrates can be greatly reduced, workability accompanying delamination, cost increase,
It is possible to prevent a decrease in reliability, to obtain a sufficient adhesive strength without increasing the size of the substrate, and to achieve a specific effect of reducing the size of the optical fiber array.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic exploded perspective view showing an embodiment of an optical fiber array according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Optical fiber 2 V groove 3 First substrate 3a Bonding surface 4 Second substrate

Claims (1)

[Claims] A groove (2) for positioning and alignment is provided in at least one of a pair of substrates (3) and (4), and both substrates (3) and (3) are accommodated in such a state that an optical fiber (1) is accommodated in each groove (2). In an optical fiber array obtained by bonding and integrating (4), at least a part of at least one bonding surface (3a) of the pair of substrates (3) and (4) is formed as a rough surface. An optical fiber array characterized in that an adhesive is interposed between both bonding surfaces.