JPH1096836A - Multi-fiber optical connector and its production - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a multi-fiber optical connector which features a small size, easy production and high reliability. SOLUTION: Plural array guide grooves 22 are arrayed and formed on a flat plate substrate 21. The array pitch intervals of these array guide grooves 22 approximately coincide with the outside diameters of bare optical fibers 4a, 4b. A first optical fiber ribbon 6a and a second optical fiber ribbon 6b are arranged in superposition on the rear end side of the flat plate substrate 21. The first bare optical fibers 4a of the first optical fiber ribbon 6a and the second bare optical fibers 4b of the second optical fiber ribbon 6b are alternately arrayed, converted and are housed in the array guide grooves 22 and are retained by a retaining member 23 from the upper side of the bare optical fibers 4a, 4b on the front end side of this array, by which the bare optical fibers 4a, 4b are held and fixed. A filter insertion groove 17 is formed in the region where the array guide grooves 22 are formed in a direction crossing the array guide grooves 22. A filter 16 is inserted into this filter insertion groove 17, by which the filter 16 is inserted to the respective second bare optical fibers 4b on the second optical fiber ribbon 6b side.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multi-fiber optical connector used for optical communication and the like, and a method for manufacturing the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 26 is a sectional view of a general optical fiber core wire 3 as an optical fiber. As shown in the figure, the optical fiber core 3 has a bare optical fiber 4 having an outer diameter of about 125 μm and formed around a core 8 by a cladding 9. The primary coat 15 is covered, and the periphery is further covered by the nylon jacket 10 or the like. The outer diameter of the optical fiber core 3 is, for example, about 250 μm, and is formed to be about twice the outer diameter of the bare optical fiber 4.

A multi-core optical connector is widely used as an optical fiber connector for connecting a plurality of such optical fiber cores 3 collectively. FIG. 27 shows an example of a conventional multi-core optical connector. ing. In the figure, a plurality (4 in the figure)
The optical fiber tape 6 formed by arranging the optical fiber core wires 3 in a strip shape is a ferrule 2 as an optical fiber arrangement tool.
To form a multi-core optical connector. The optical fiber core 3 of the optical fiber tape 6 is connected to a nylon jacket 10 and a primary coat 15 (FIG.
26) is inserted into the ferrule 2 with the coating removed, and the end face of the bare optical fiber 4 exposed by the removal of the coating is exposed at the connection end face 5 of the ferrule 2 and arranged at a predetermined arrangement pitch. Have been.

The ferrule 2 is usually formed by molding a resin or the like, and the connection end face 5 has an optical fiber insertion hole 13 for arranging the bare optical fibers 4 at a predetermined pitch. Are arranged at intervals of twice the outer diameter of the bare optical fiber 4 (4 in FIG.
And the bare optical fiber 4 is inserted through the optical fiber insertion hole 13 so that the bare optical fiber 4 is
They are arranged at a pitch (2r) that is twice the outer diameter r of the bare optical fiber 4.

[0005]

By the way, recently,
Instead of connecting the optical connectors to each other and connecting the optical fiber cores 3 to each other, the waveguide element having a plurality of optical waveguides is connected to the multi-core optical connector. Eight cores (eight) according to the circuit configuration of the element,
An optical connector in which more optical fibers 3 such as 16 fibers (16 wires) are provided is being developed. Also, with the increase in optical communication densities, 32 cores, 64
There is a demand for a multi-core optical connector in which a large number of optical fibers such as a core are provided.

However, the conventional multi-core optical connector as shown in FIG.
Is formed to be about twice as large as the outer diameter of the bare optical fiber 4 (for example, about 250 μm). Therefore, the width B of the reinforcing margin on both sides of the optical fiber arrangement area is 1000 μm.
m, in a four-core (four) multi-core optical fiber connector as shown in FIG. 27, the element width is 3 mm (250 mm).
μm × the number of cores + 1000 μm × 2), and when the number of cores is eight, the element width is 4 mm, the length of the core is 6 mm, the length of the core is 10 mm, and the length of the core is 18 mm.

As described above, when the number of optical fibers 3 arranged in the multi-core optical connector increases, the dimensions of the multi-core optical connector become very large. When an optical connector is manufactured, there is a problem that when a waveguide element is formed using the same wafer, the amount of elements manufactured in the wafer is extremely reduced. Also, when the element size is large, it becomes bulky and obstructive when incorporating the multi-core optical connector into the optical communication system,
There is a problem that it also hinders high density.

Recently, when a plurality of optical waveguides are formed side by side in a waveguide element, for example, 1, 3, 5
Light of wavelength λ ₁ is incident on odd-numbered optical waveguides, such as light, and light of wavelength λ ₂ is incident on even-numbered optical waveguides. Or, conversely, light of wavelength λ ₁ from odd-numbered optical waveguides and light of wavelength λ ₂ from even-numbered optical waveguides can be alternately taken out and light of the same wavelength can be collectively propagated. Although a multi-fiber optical connector is required, a multi-fiber optical connector having such a function has not been proposed so far.

Therefore, the applicant of the present invention has made it possible to form a compact optical fiber (optical fiber core) even if the number of optical fibers is large. It is possible to alternately input different light in order, or to take out different light alternately from the optical waveguide or the like in the order in which the optical waveguides or the like are arranged, and collectively propagate each light of the same type. Optical fiber connector for Japanese Patent Application Hei 7-2468
No. 87.

FIG. 24 shows a multi-core optical connector proposed by the applicant. As shown in FIG. 1, the proposed multi-core optical connector includes an optical fiber tape 6 and a ferrule 2. FIG. 25 shows the configuration of the ferrule 2.

In order to make the characteristics of the proposed optical connector easy to understand, the size of the optical fiber tape 3 and the like is schematically shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 25, the width W ₁ of the optical fiber tape 6 is, for example, 1 / the width W ₂ of the ferrule 2.
It is formed in a small size such as 3 or less. Also,
FIG. 25A is a bottom view of the ferrule 2 and FIG.
3A shows an AA cross section of FIG. 3A, FIG. 3C shows a front view, and FIG.

As shown in FIG. 24, the proposed multi-core optical connector includes a first optical fiber tape 6a formed by arranging four (four cores) first optical fiber core wires 3a in a strip shape. A second optical fiber tape 6b formed by arranging four second optical fiber core wires 3b in a strip shape is disposed so as to overlap,
As shown in FIG. 22 (a), the first bare optical fiber 4a and the first bare optical fiber 4a, which are exposed by removing the coating of the nylon jacket 10 and the primary coat 15 on the tip side of each of the optical fiber tapes 6a and 6b. And two bare optical fibers 4b,
The array is converted so as to be arranged alternately. This arrangement conversion is performed by a nylon jacket as shown in FIG.
By removing the primary coat 15 and the primary coat 15, the distance (about 125 μm) formed between the bare optical fibers 4a is obtained.
m), the first bare optical fiber 4a and the second bare optical fiber 4b are inserted in a state where the second bare optical fiber 4b is inserted.
This is performed by alternately performing the cutting.

As shown in FIG. 25, the ferrule 2 is provided with an optical fiber tape insertion portion 18 for inserting the optical fiber tapes 6a and 6b in a lateral hole shape on the rear end face 11 side of the connection. An adhesive injection port 20 is formed on the tip side of the optical fiber tape insertion section 18 on the bottom side of the ferrule 2. The upper and lower opening widths of the optical fiber tape insertion portion 18 are the same as those of the first optical fiber tape 6a and the second optical fiber tape 6.
b so that the first optical fiber tape 6a and the second optical fiber tape 6
The opening width is formed to correspond to the thickness obtained by adding the thickness of b.

On the distal end side of the optical fiber tape insertion portion 18,
A corrugated U-shaped groove for arranging the first and second bare optical fibers 4a and 4b is formed, and an optical fiber insertion hole 13 is formed by the U-shaped groove. The arrangement pitch of the optical fiber insertion holes 13 is the outer diameter r (r ≒ 125 μm) of each bare optical fiber 4a, 4b, that is, each optical fiber core 3
The optical fiber insertion holes 13 are formed so as to have a size substantially equal to the outer diameter from which the coatings a and 3b have been removed, and the optical fiber insertion holes 13 are arranged in a line without any gap.

Into the ferrule 2, optical fiber tapes 6a and 6b obtained by converting the arrangement of the first and second bare optical fibers 4a and 4b as shown in FIG. 22 are inserted. Then, the first and second bare optical fibers 4a and 4b are alternately inserted into the optical fiber insertion holes 13 of the ferrule 2 at an arrangement pitch having a size substantially matching the outer diameter of each of the bare optical fibers 4a and 4b. The proposed multi-fiber optical connector is formed by arranging the ferrules 2 and fixing the optical fiber tapes 6a and 6b to the optical fiber tape insertion portion 18 with an adhesive injected from an adhesive injection port 20.

According to the proposed multi-core optical connector, the bare optical fiber 4 on the tip side (connection end face side) of the optical fiber tape is used.
Since the arrangement pitch of the a and 4b is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the bare optical fibers 4a and 4b,
An effect is obtained that a very small multicore optical connector can be formed as compared with a multicore optical connector formed by arranging eight bare optical fibers 4 at a pitch of 250 μm as in the conventional example.

Further, the first optical fiber tape 6a and the second
Since the bare optical fibers 4a and 4b respectively forming the optical fiber tapes 6b are converted and arranged in one row so as to be arranged on the connection end face 5 side of the multi-core optical connector, for example, FIG. as shown in, and light having a wavelength lambda ₁ to the optical fiber 3a of the first optical fiber tape 6a, the wavelength lambda ₂ to the second optical fiber 3b of the second optical fiber tape 6b When light enters, wavelengths λ ₁ and λ
_{The two} lights are respectively a first optical fiber core 3a and a second optical fiber 3a.
Of the bare optical fiber 4b.
The propagation paths of the light beams having the wavelengths λ ₁ and λ ₂ are also subjected to the array conversion in the conversion unit where the arrays a and 4b have been array-converted. Then, from the distal ends of the bare optical fibers 4a and 4b (from the connection end face 5 side of the multi-core optical connector), the light of wavelength λ ₁ emitted from the first bare optical fiber 4a and the second bare optical fiber 4b The emitted light of wavelength λ ₂ is emitted in a state of being alternately arranged.

Therefore, if a waveguide element having a plurality of optical waveguides arranged in parallel is connected to the connection end face 5 side of this multi-core optical connector, for example, the odd-numbered optical waveguides such as 1, 3, and 5 have wavelengths of enters the lambda ₁ light, as such light enters the wavelength lambda ₂ is the even-th optical waveguides, light and the wavelength of the wavelength lambda ₁ alternately in the arrangement order of the optical waveguides arranged in parallel lambda ₂
Of light can be incident.

Conversely, when light of wavelength λ ₁ and light of wavelength λ ₂ are alternately emitted from the respective optical waveguides of a waveguide element having a plurality of optical waveguides arranged in parallel in the arrangement order of the optical waveguides. Then, if this waveguide element is connected to the proposed multi-core optical connector, for example, light having a wavelength of λ ₁ is transmitted to the _first bare optical fiber 4a.
And the light of wavelength λ ₂ is incident on the second bare optical fiber 4b.

Then, the bare optical fibers 4a, 4a,
Since the light propagation path is converted in the array conversion unit 4b,
The light of the wavelength λ ₁ that has propagated through the first bare optical fiber 4a is collected and emitted from the first optical fiber tape 6a, and the light of the wavelength λ ₂ that has propagated through the second bare optical fiber 4b is collected and collected. The light is emitted from the second optical fiber tape 6b. In this way, using the proposed multi-core optical connector, light having different wavelengths emitted alternately and in parallel from the waveguide element or the like is used as the first light.
Optical fiber tape 6a side and second optical fiber tape 6
The effect of being able to distribute to the b side and to take out collectively is obtained.

However, the multi-fiber optical connector proposed by the present applicant has a plurality of ferrules 2 made of a molding resin at a pitch interval substantially matching the outer diameter of the bare optical fiber 4 whose coating is removed inside the distal end side. Since the optical fiber insertion holes 13 are densely arranged, and these optical fiber insertion holes 13 have an extremely small hole diameter (for example, a diameter of about 126 μm) so that the bare optical fiber 4 can be inserted without rattling. When the optical fiber tapes 6a and 6b from which the coating on the tip side has been removed are stacked and inserted from the optical fiber tape insertion portion 18 side,
It is extremely difficult to alternately and correctly arrange the bare optical fibers 4a and 4b on the distal end side and insert them into the optical fiber insertion holes 13 corresponding to the arrangement without error. As a result, there is a problem that the work efficiency of assembling the multi-core optical connector is low, and the cost of assembling the multi-core optical connector is high. This problem becomes more conspicuous as the number of cores of the multi-core optical connector increases. was there.

As described above, the multi-core optical connector has been connected to an optical waveguide component (optical waveguide element) of, for example, a quartz type, but recently, the optical waveguide of this optical waveguide component has been connected. A filter insertion type in which a filter is inserted has been actively developed. This is because a plurality of waveguides of a 2 × 2 optical coupler (two-input two-output optical coupler) as shown in FIG. 23A are formed in parallel on a waveguide substrate, and a predetermined port ( A filter 16 such as a SWPF (Short Wave Pass Filter) is inserted into an odd-numbered or even-numbered port, and the waveguide itself has a function of transmitting or blocking a certain wavelength.

In such an optical waveguide component of the filter insertion type, a slit is formed in the waveguide substrate on which the waveguide is formed so as to cross the waveguide, and the slit in FIG. ) Is manufactured by inserting a comb-shaped filter 16 as shown in FIG.

However, the cost per unit cost of the waveguide substrate itself is very high, and if a failure occurs in the process of forming the slit for inserting the filter 16 or inserting and fixing the filter, it is discarded as a product defect. There is a problem that the product cost of the waveguide component rises depending on the yield.

[0025]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned various problems, and an object of the present invention is to facilitate the work of assembling a multi-fiber optical connector and reduce the assembly cost. Further, by providing the filter inserted and mounted on the waveguide component to the multi-core optical connector side, the production yield of the expensive waveguide component side can be increased, and the optical waveguide component and the multi-core optical connector can be improved. It is an object of the present invention to provide a multi-core optical connector capable of reducing the total cost of a connector product and a method of manufacturing the same.

The present invention employs the following means to achieve the above object. That is, the first invention of the multi-core optical connector comprises a first optical fiber tape formed by arranging a plurality of first optical fibers in a band and a plurality of second optical fibers arranged in a band. The second optical fiber tape is disposed so as to overlap with the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber tape.
The multi-fiber optical connector is arranged so that the optical fibers and the optical fibers are alternately arranged, and is arranged in an optical fiber arrangement tool, wherein the optical fiber arrangement tool removes a coating of each of the optical fibers on a flat board. A plurality of array guide grooves formed at an array pitch substantially equal to the outer diameter of the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber having the coating removed from the array guide grooves. A pressing member is provided above the optical fiber on the arrangement front end side, and each optical fiber is pressed by the pressing member and is fixedly held in the arrangement guide groove to solve the problem.

According to a second invention of the multi-fiber optical connector, in addition to the configuration of the first invention, a filter is provided in a region where the arrangement guide groove is formed, and the first arrangement is arranged in the arrangement guide groove. The above-described filter is inserted into at least one of the optical fiber and the second optical fiber to solve the problem.

Further, a third invention of the multi-core optical connector is as follows.
In addition to the configuration of the first or second aspect of the present invention, as a means for solving the problem, there is provided a configuration in which the rear end side of the pressing member is formed with a roundness on the fiber pressing surface side to ease the contact with the optical fiber. I have.

Further, the fourth invention of the multi-core optical connector is as follows.
With the configuration of the first, second or third invention,
The pressing member is a means for solving the problem by having a configuration in which two or more pressing member pieces are formed in parallel in the optical fiber arrangement direction.

Further, the fifth invention of the multi-core optical connector is as follows.
In addition to the configuration according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the flat substrate of the optical fiber arrangement tool has an optical fiber in the central region of the flat substrate lower than the upper surface of the flat substrate. An array guide groove is formed, and groove forming slopes at both outer ends of the array guide groove are extended so as to reach the upper surface of the flat substrate. The upper surface of the flat substrate has first and second arrays arranged in the array guide groove. This is a means for solving the problem with a configuration in which the upper surface of the flat substrate and the upper ends of the first and second optical fibers are almost completely covered by the pressing member without being substantially coincident with the upper end of the optical fiber.

Further, the sixth invention of the multi-core optical connector is as follows.
In addition to the configuration according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, a tapered surface is formed on the rear end side of the flat substrate of the optical fiber array tool in a direction to reduce the thickness of the flat substrate. The above configuration is used as means for solving the problem.

Further, the seventh invention of the multi-core optical connector is as follows.
In addition to the configuration of any one of the first to sixth aspects, the fiber tape set of the first optical fiber tape and the second optical fiber tape which are superposed is arranged in the optical fiber arrangement direction. A plurality of the first and second optical fiber tapes of the plurality of fiber tape sets are provided as means for solving the problem with a configuration in which at least one side surface adjacent to another fiber tape set is cut. I have.

Further, an eighth invention of the multi-core optical connector is as follows.
In addition to the configuration according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, the first and second optical fiber tapes have a configuration in which the optical fiber tape is branched at a terminal side of an input / output end. Means.

Further, the ninth invention of the multi-core optical connector is as follows.
In addition to the configuration of any one of the first to eighth aspects, an optical fiber tape formed by arranging a plurality of optical fibers in a strip shape is divided into two, and one of the two divided one sides is formed. Forming an optical fiber tape with the first optical fiber tape;
The other side of the optical fiber tape is formed as a second optical fiber tape, and the optical fibers arranged in parallel with the first optical fiber tape are formed as a first optical fiber and arranged in parallel with the second optical fiber tape. The above-mentioned optical fiber is used as a second optical fiber to solve the problem.

Further, a first method of manufacturing a multi-core optical connector is described.
The invention of the above is a method for manufacturing a multi-core optical connector having any one of the first to ninth aspects of the multi-core optical connector, wherein the multi-core optical connector has a middle part of the first and second optical fiber tapes. Is removed, and then the first and second optical fibers from which this coating has been removed are converted into an array so that they are alternately arranged, and are alternately arranged in the array guide grooves of the optical fiber aligner. After a holding member is provided above these optical fibers and each optical fiber is pressed by the holding member and clamped and fixed in the arrangement guide groove, the fixing portion of the holding member and the optical fiber arraying tool intersects the optical fiber array direction. This is a means for solving the problem with a configuration in which two multi-core optical connectors are manufactured at once by dividing and cutting in the direction.

Further, a second method of manufacturing a multi-core optical connector is described.
The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a multi-core optical connector having any one of the first to ninth aspects of the multi-core optical connector, wherein The optical fiber from which the coating of the optical fiber tape on one side is removed is inserted into a plurality of guide grooves of the optical fiber arrangement tool.
Temporarily fixed in the state of being arranged every other optical fiber, and after that, every other optical fiber from which the coating of the optical fiber tape on the other side of the first and second optical fiber tapes has been removed is left. The configuration for arranging the guide grooves is a means for solving the problem.

Further, a third method of manufacturing a multi-core optical connector is described.
The invention of the above is a method for manufacturing a multi-core optical connector having any one of the first to eighth aspects of the multi-core optical connector, wherein the multi-core optical connector includes a first optical fiber tape and a second optical fiber tape. The optical fiber from which the coating of any one of the optical fiber tapes has been removed is arranged in every other one of the plurality of arrangement guide grooves of the optical fiber arrangement tool, and this optical fiber is held down by a holding member. An optical fiber from which the coating of the optical fiber tape on the other side of the first and second optical fiber tapes has been removed is left with every other pressing member from above or below the optical fiber pressed by the pressing member. This is a means for solving the problem with a configuration in which the device is inserted into a gap formed by the arrangement guide grooves.

Further, the fourth method of manufacturing the multi-fiber optical connector is described.
The invention of the second aspect includes the configuration of the second invention or the third invention of the method for manufacturing a multi-core optical connector, and peels off the coating of the first and second optical fiber tapes. At least one side of the fiber tape is slid to the distal end of the optical fiber without removing a part of the coating of the optical fiber tape, and this coating is left on the distal end of the optical fiber as a residual coating, and then the coating is removed. This is a means for solving the problem by a configuration in which the root side of the removed optical fiber is arranged in an optical fiber arrangement tool.

Further, the fifth method of manufacturing the multi-fiber optical connector.
In the invention of the fourth aspect of the present invention, a method for manufacturing a multi-core optical connector is provided, wherein a plurality of optical fiber tapes having a part of the coating left are prepared, and a plurality of optical fiber tapes are arranged side by side in the optical fiber arrangement direction. This is a means for solving the problem by a configuration in which the optical fiber is arranged on the optical fiber arrangement tool after the position of the residual coating of the fiber tape in the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber is shifted.

Further, a sixth method of manufacturing a multi-core optical connector is described.
The invention of the above is a method for manufacturing a multi-core optical connector having any one of the first to ninth aspects of the multi-core optical connector, wherein the optical fibers arranged in the array guide grooves of the optical fiber arrangement tool are provided. After the fiber is pressed by the pressing member, an adhesive is supplied to the connection end face side of the optical fiber, and the optical fiber is fixed to the array guide groove.

Further, the seventh method of manufacturing the multi-core optical connector is described.
The present invention is a method for manufacturing a multi-core optical connector having any one of the first to ninth aspects of the multi-core optical connector, wherein a plurality of optical fibers are arranged in a strip shape. The optical fiber tape is divided into two parts, and the optical fiber tape on one side is divided into a first optical fiber tape and the optical fiber tape on the other side as a second optical fiber tape. I have.

In the present invention having the above-described structure, when assembling the multi-core optical connector, the first optical fiber tape and the second optical fiber tape are superposed and arranged, and the front end side of each of these optical fiber tapes is covered. The first optical fibers and the second optical fibers, from which the optical fibers have been removed, are alternately arranged and inserted into an arrangement guide groove on a flat substrate, which is an optical fiber arrangement tool, and arranged. A holding member is placed above each optical fiber on the side, and this holding member is pressed and fixed to the flat board side, whereby each optical fiber is clamped and fixed in the array guide groove, and the intended multi-core optical connector is manufactured. Is done.

In the present invention, the first and second optical fibers are accommodated in the arrangement guide grooves formed on the flat substrate, so that the state of the optical fibers arranged in the arrangement guide grooves is external. At first sight, the first optical fibers and the second optical fibers can be alternately arrayed so that no error occurs in the array, and the array can be easily arrayed and accommodated in the corresponding array guide groove. Thereby, the work efficiency of assembling the multi-core optical connector is improved, and the assembling cost of the multi-core optical connector can be significantly reduced.

In the second invention of the multi-core optical connector, the filter is inserted into at least one of the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber arranged in the arrangement guide groove. By connecting the multi-core optical connector of the present invention to the waveguide component, the optical component of the waveguide component has a function equivalent to that provided with a filter, and it is more expensive than providing a filter on the expensive waveguide substrate side. Providing a filter on a flat plate substrate of a less expensive optical fiber arranging tool can reduce the cost for the yield of the filter mounting step.

[0045]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the description of the present embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to the same names as those of the conventional example and the proposal example, and the overlapping description will be omitted.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective configuration of a multi-core optical connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows a cross section taken along line AA of FIG. In these figures,
A plurality of arrangement guide grooves 22 are arranged in parallel in the width direction on a flat substrate 21 which is an optical fiber arrangement tool. Although the flat plate substrate 21 may be formed of an opaque member, in this embodiment, it is formed of a glass known as Pyrex trademark or a transparent glass substrate of synthetic quartz or the like. For example, by machining
A plurality of array guide grooves 22 are formed to extend in the longitudinal direction of the flat substrate 21 at a pitch interval of, for example, 127 μm, which is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the bare optical fiber 4 (4a, 4b) from which the coating has been removed.

The groove shape of the array guide groove 22 is preferably formed in a V-shape or a U-shape, for example, as shown in FIG. The alignment guide grooves 22 are formed on the upper surface 24 of the flat board 21.
In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4A, the groove forming slopes at both outer ends of the array guide grooves 22 are formed in the central region of the flat plate substrate 21 which is lower than the lower surface. 12 is extended so as to reach the upper surface 24 of the flat board 21. As shown in FIG. 1, a filter insertion groove 17 for inserting a filter is formed in a region where these arrangement guide grooves 22 are formed in a direction crossing the arrangement guide grooves 22.

At the rear end side of the flat substrate 21, a first optical fiber tape 6a composed of a plurality of first optical fibers arranged in a strip shape, for example, having 16 cores, and a second optical fiber having 16 cores, A second bare optical fiber 4a, in which a second optical fiber tape 6b formed by arranging fibers in a strip shape is superposed, and a coating on the distal end side of the first optical fiber tape 6a is removed. Similarly, the second bare optical fiber 4b from which the coating on the distal end side of the second optical fiber tape 6b has been removed is converted one by one as shown in FIG. The upper ends of the first and second bare optical fibers 4a and 4b are
Substantially coincides with the upper surface 24.

In a state where the bare optical fibers 4a and 4b are arranged and housed, a plate-like pressing member 23 is disposed at the tip end of the flat board 21 from above the arranged bare optical fibers 4a and 4b. The upper surface 24 of the substrate 21 and the upper ends of the first and second bare optical fibers 4a and 4b are covered almost without a gap by the pressing member 23, and are pressed by the pressing member 23 so that the distal ends of the bare optical fibers 4a and 4b are separated. It is clamped and fixed in the array guide groove 22.

A rectangular plate-like filter 16 is inserted into the filter insertion groove 17, and the second optical fiber tape 6
A filter 16 is inserted into each second bare optical fiber 4b on the b side. The filter 16 is fixed in the filter insertion groove 17 with, for example, a thermosetting adhesive, and the flat board 21 and the pressing member 23 are also fixed by using a thermosetting adhesive or the like. The pressing member 23 can be formed of an opaque member. In this embodiment, like the flat substrate 21, it is formed using a transparent member such as a glass plate.

Next, a brief description will be given of a method of manufacturing the multi-core optical connector according to the present embodiment. First, the second optical fiber tape 6b exposing the bare optical fiber 4b by removing the coating on the front end side is supplied from the rear end side of the flat board 21, and the bare optical fiber 4b is arranged in the array guide groove on the flat board 21. The filter insertion grooves 17 are inserted and accommodated in every other one in 22, and the portion where the filter insertion groove 17 is provided is temporarily fixed using an adhesive or the like. In this embodiment, the filter insertion groove 17 is designed so as to be provided in the formation area of the arrangement guide groove 22 avoiding the place where the pressing member 23 is arranged (in FIG. 1, substantially at the middle position in the longitudinal direction of the arrangement guide groove 22). Have been.

Next, at a position where the second bare optical fiber 4b is temporarily fixed, a filter insertion groove 17 is formed in a direction crossing each second bare optical fiber 4b.
The filter 16 having a rectangular plate shape is inserted into the filter 17, and the filter 16 and the flat board 21 are fixed in the filter insertion groove 17 with a thermosetting adhesive or the like. By attaching the filter 16, the filter 16 is inserted into each of the second bare optical fibers 4b of the second optical fiber tape 6b.

Next, the first optical fiber tape 6a from which the coating on the distal end side has been removed is supplied over the second optical fiber tape 6b and supplied to the first optical fiber tape 6a. The optical fiber 4a is passed through the upper side of the filter 16 into the adjacent array guide groove 22 in which the second bare optical fiber 4b is accommodated in front of the filter 16 (an empty space where the second bare optical fiber 4b is not accommodated). Inside the alignment guide groove)
Housed in As a result, the first bare optical fibers 4a and the second bare optical fibers 4b are alternately arranged side by side in the arrangement guide grooves 22 on the front side of the flat board 21 and housed.

Next, a pressing member 23 is pressed against the distal end of the flat substrate 21 from above the bare optical fibers 4a and 4b,
21 and the holding member 23 are fixed with a thermosetting adhesive or the like. Thereby, the plurality of first bare optical fibers 4a arranged
And the second optical fiber 4b are clamped and fixed in the array guide groove 22. Next, if necessary, an adhesive is applied to the upper side of the bare optical fibers 4a, 4b exposed on the flat board 21, and the bare optical fibers 4a, 4b are embedded in the adhesive to protect against external force. . Finally, the connection end face 5 on the tip end side of the flat board 21 is polished together with the pressing member 23 and the end faces of the bare optical fibers 4a and 4b, and the intended multi-core optical connector is manufactured.

According to the multi-core optical connector of this embodiment,
The bare optical fiber 4 is inserted into an array guide groove 22 formed with a pitch interval substantially matching the outer diameter of the bare optical fiber 4a, 4b.
a and 4b are accommodated, so that the size of the multi-core optical connector can be remarkably reduced as compared with the conventional example as in the case of the multi-core optical connector previously proposed by the applicant, and the arrangement guide grooves are provided. Since the first bare optical fiber 4a and the second bare optical fiber 4b are alternately arranged and accommodated in 22, the light passing through the first bare optical fiber 4a and having, for example, the wavelength λ ₁ and the second For example, light having a wavelength of λ ₂ passing through the bare optical fiber 4b is alternately converted into an array and made incident on an optical waveguide or the like connected to the multi-core optical connector, or a wavelength λ supplied from the optical waveguide or the like.
Extraction of light ₁ and lambda ₂ in alternating sequence, the light first wavelength lambda ₁
And the light of wavelength λ ₂ can be collectively taken out by the second optical fiber tape, and the same effects as those of the multi-core optical connector previously proposed by the applicant can be obtained. .

Further, since the multi-fiber optical connector of the present embodiment is configured such that the optical fibers are accommodated in the array guide grooves 22 formed and arranged on the flat board 21, each of the array guide grooves 22 is provided.
Since the states of the bare optical fibers 4a and 4b housed therein can be seen at a glance from the outside, the first
It is extremely easy to correctly accommodate the bare optical fiber 4a and the second bare optical fiber 4b without error, so that the work of assembling the multi-core optical connector can be remarkably improved and the assembly cost can be reduced. Optical fiber 4a,
Since the arrangement error of 4b can be eliminated, the reliability of the multi-core optical connector can be improved. In particular, in this embodiment, since the flat substrate 21 and the holding member 23 are both formed of transparent members, the arrangement of the bare optical fibers 4a and 4b is changed on the rear side of the flat substrate 21 (the surface on which the array guide grooves 22 are formed). Can be observed from the opposite side), and the arrangement state of the bare optical fibers 4a and 4b held by the holding member 23 can be observed from the outside.
4b can be completely removed.

Further, in this embodiment, since the filter 16 is provided on the flat substrate 21, the waveguide of the optical waveguide component is different from the conventional case where the filter is provided on the waveguide substrate on the optical waveguide component side. Since the unit price of the flat board 21 of the multi-core optical connector is much lower than that of the board, the total cost of the connector product that integrates the multi-core optical connector and the optical waveguide component is reduced for the same yield. The effect that it can be obtained is obtained. In this regard, in the present embodiment, a rectangular plate-shaped filter having a simpler structure is used without using a comb-shaped filter as shown in FIG. Since the filter is used, the manufacturing process of the filter itself can be facilitated, so that the yield of the filter manufacturing can be increased and the cost can be further reduced.

Further, in this embodiment, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, the alignment guide grooves 26 formed in the flat board 21 are formed.
Are extended so as to reach the upper surface 24 of the flat substrate 21, and the upper surface 24 of the flat substrate 21 and the upper ends of the first and second bare optical fibers 4a, 4b are held by a pressing member 23. 4B, the upper surface 24 of the flat substrate 21 and the pressing member 23 are covered, for example, as shown in FIG.
Unlike the case where a gap is formed between
Almost no adhesive exists between the upper surface 24 of the pressing member 21 and the bottom surface of the pressing member 23. Therefore, the upper surface 24 of the flat board 21 and the holding member
As in the case where a gap is formed between the light emitting element 23 and the adhesive applied to the gap, for example, due to heat shrinkage of the adhesive due to the curing of the adhesive or the temperature change, etc. The fibers 4a, 4b are not pulled outward, and all the first and second bare optical fibers 4a, 4b are securely housed and arranged in the corresponding arrangement guide grooves 22, and the first and second bare optical fibers 4a, 4b are arranged. The arrangement accuracy of the bare optical fibers 4a and 4b in the arrangement guide grooves 22 is improved. Therefore, the production yield of the multi-core optical connector is increased, and the cost can be further reduced.

Further, in this embodiment, the flat substrate 21
The holding member 23 and the holding member 23 are both formed of a transparent member. However, if at least one of the holding members 23 is formed of a transparent member, when the multi-core optical connector of the present embodiment is connected to the optical component on the connection partner side, the connection is made. Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation can be performed on the end face 5 side, and highly reliable UV connection using a UV adhesive or the like can be performed. Further, in particular, if the holding member 23 is made of a transparent member, it is possible to irradiate ultraviolet rays.
Of the bare optical fibers 4a and 4
It is also easy to check the final arrangement state of b.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a multi-core optical connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the first bare light in which the coating on the distal end side of the first optical fiber tape 6a and the second optical fiber tape 6b arranged in an overlapped manner is removed. The arrangement is changed so that the fibers 4a and the second bare optical fibers 4b are alternately arranged, and the arrangement guide grooves 22 of the flat substrate 21 are formed.
The first and second bare optical fibers 4a, 4b on the leading end side of the array are pressed by a pressing member 23 to form an array guide groove 22.
In the present embodiment, a plurality of (2) fiber tape sets 7 of the first optical fiber tape 6a and the second optical fiber tape 6b arranged in a superposed manner are arranged in the optical fiber arrangement direction. Pairs) are juxtaposed. FIG.
As shown in FIG.
Of (7a, 7b), the first and second optical fiber tapes 6a, 6b of the fiber tape set 7a on the near side in the figure have the side surface 27 adjacent to the other fiber tape set 7b cut off.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, a fiber pressing surface 26 is provided on the rear end 25 of the pressing member 23.
On the side, roundness (A in the figure) is formed to ease the contact with the optical fiber. In this embodiment, the filter insertion groove 17 and the filter 16 provided in the first embodiment are not provided. However, in the present embodiment, the filter insertion groove 17 and the filter 16 are provided similarly to the above embodiment. Filter 16
May be provided to form a multi-core optical connector.

The present embodiment is configured as described above. Next, a method of manufacturing the multi-core optical connector of the present embodiment will be described. First, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, first and second optical fiber tapes 6a and 6b
Either side (in the figure, the optical fiber tape 6
The optical fibers (the first bare optical fibers 4a in the figure) from which the coating of a) has been removed are arranged in every other one of the plurality of arrangement guide grooves 22 of the flat board 21.

Next, as shown in FIG. 7C, in this state, the bare optical fiber 4a is pressed by the pressing member 23, and thereafter, as shown in FIGS. The optical fiber (the second bare optical fiber 4b) from which the coating of the optical fiber tape (the optical fiber tape 6b in the figure) on the other side of the first and second optical fiber tapes 6a and 6b is removed.
Is inserted from below the bare optical fiber 4a held by the holding member 23, and the bare optical fiber 4b is inserted into a gap formed by the holding member 23 and the array guide grooves 22 left every other. As a result, the first bare optical fibers 4a and the second bare optical fibers 4b are alternately arranged side by side and accommodated in the array guide grooves 22 on the front side of the flat board 21. It will be in the state pressed by.

When the bare optical fibers 4b of the second optical fiber tape 6b are arranged in the alignment guide grooves 22, the bare optical fibers 4b are pressed from below the bare optical fibers 4a with the holding members 23 as described above. Instead of inserting into the gap formed by the arrangement guide grooves 22, for example, FIG.
As shown in (2), the second bare optical fiber 4b is inserted from above the first bare optical fiber 4a, and inserted into the gap formed by the holding member 23 and the array guide grooves 22 which are left every other. You may.

Next, the flat board 21 and the holding member 23 are fixed with a thermosetting adhesive or the like. In supplying this adhesive, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS.
An adhesive is supplied to the connection end faces of the first and second bare optical fibers 4a and 4b. Specifically, as shown in these figures, an adhesive is applied to the first and second bare optical fibers 4a and 4b protruding from the distal ends of the flat board 21 and the pressing member 23. Then, the adhesive enters the entire gap between the first and second bare optical fibers 4a, 4b and the arrangement guide grooves 22 and the pressing member 23 by the capillary phenomenon. The first bare optical fibers 4a and the second bare optical fibers 4b arranged in the gap are permanently fixed in the alignment guide grooves 22.

Then, as in the first embodiment, if necessary, the bare optical fiber 4
a, 4b is coated with an adhesive, and finally,
Is polished together with the pressing member 23 and the end surfaces of the bare optical fibers 4a and 4b to manufacture the desired multi-core optical connector.

In the present embodiment, when the filter insertion groove 17 and the filter 16 are provided in the flat board 21 as in the first embodiment, the filter is formed in the same manner as in the first embodiment. The insertion groove 17 is formed in the flat board 21, and the filter 16 is inserted into the filter insertion groove 17.

According to the present embodiment, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained, and the holding member can be provided.
By forming roundness on the fiber pressing surface 26 side of the rear end side 25 of 23 to ease the contact with the optical fiber, for example, as shown in FIG. 21B, no rounding is formed on the fiber pressing surface 26 side. The holding member 23 is made of bare optical fiber 4
Since it is possible to reliably prevent an excessive force from being directly applied to the bare optical fiber 4a at the position corresponding to the a, and to disconnect the bare optical fiber 4a, the yield of the production of the multi-core optical connector can be further improved. it can.

Further, in this embodiment, the fiber tape sets 7a and 7b of the first optical fiber tape 6a and the second optical fiber tape 6b which are superposed are arranged side by side in the optical fiber arrangement direction. However, the first and second optical fiber tapes 6a and 6b of the fiber tape set 7a are
Since the side surface 27 adjacent to the other fiber tape set 7b is cut, the first and second optical fiber tapes 6a and 6b are cut.
Of the bare optical fibers 4a, 4b at the outer ends of the optical fiber tapes 6a, 6b without greatly bending the bare optical fibers 4a, 4b in the corresponding arrangement guide grooves 22. Can be accurately arranged. Further, the optical fiber tape sets 7a and 7b can be arranged in high density on the multi-core optical connector.

Further, as in this embodiment, a flat substrate
When the 21 array guide grooves 22 are formed at a pitch interval substantially equal to the outer diameter of the bare optical fiber 4, the first guide light of the first optical fiber tape 6a is reduced because the depth of the array guide grooves 22 becomes small. As shown in FIG. 22, the operation of converting the fiber 4a and the second bare optical fiber 4b of the second optical fiber tape 6b one by one and alternately accommodating them in the corresponding arrangement guide grooves 22 is as follows. Although the workability is not so good, according to the method of manufacturing the multi-core optical connector of the present embodiment, after the first bare optical fibers 4a are first arranged alternately in the arrangement guide grooves 22, In addition, since the second bare optical fibers 4b are inserted into the array guide grooves 22 which are left every other, the arrangement workability of the bare optical fibers 4a and 4b can be improved.

In particular, according to the method of manufacturing the multi-core optical connector of the present embodiment, the first
The bare optical fiber 4a is pressed by the holding member 23, and in this state, the second bare optical fiber 4b is connected to the first bare optical fiber 4a.
a first bare optical fiber initially arranged in the array guide groove 22 to be inserted from the upper side or the lower side of the array guide groove 22 and to be inserted into the gap between the holding member 23 and the array guide groove 22 remaining every other. 4
a does not come off from the alignment guide groove 22, and the insertion of the second bare optical fiber 4b is further facilitated. Therefore, the production yield of the multi-core optical connector can be further improved.

Further, when an adhesive used for permanently fixing the flat substrate 21, the first and second bare fibers 4 a and 4 b and the pressing member 23 is supplied from the rear end side 25 of the pressing member 23, The agent is connected to the flat substrate 21 and the first and second substrates by capillary action.
Enters the gap between the bare optical fibers 4a and 4b and the holding member 23, but the adhesive does not reach the connection end face 5 side of the multi-core optical connector, or even if bubbles reach the connection end face There is. In this case, the detachment of the adhesive and the bubbles on the connection end face 5 cause bubbles to enter the interface when the multi-core optical connector is connected to another optical component, resulting in an increase in connection loss. . In addition, the bubble portion and the portion from which the adhesive is removed expands due to a change in heat, etc.
The load on the connection end faces of the bare optical fibers 4a and 4b becomes large, which adversely affects the connection end faces of the first and second bare optical fibers 4a and 4b.

On the other hand, in this embodiment, the adhesive is supplied from the connection end face 5 side of the multi-core optical connector, and the adhesive is supplied from the connection end face side of the first and second bare optical fibers 4a and 4b by the capillary action. In order to enter the gap between the first and second bare optical fibers 4a and 4b, the flat plate substrate 21 and the pressing member 23, at least the first and second bare optical fibers 4a and 4b have the first and second bare optical fibers 4a and 4b. The adhesive and the bubbles that have entered the gap between the array guide grooves 22 of the second bare optical fibers 4a and 4b and the flat plate substrate 21 and the pressing member 23 do not come off, and no bubbles are generated. Can be avoided.
Therefore, in the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent an increase in connection loss of the multi-core optical connector with other optical components, and to obtain a multi-core optical connector capable of performing optical connection with low connection loss, Thus, a multi-core optical connector having a low long-term reliability and high reliability can be obtained.

FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of a multi-core optical connector according to a third embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is substantially the same as the second embodiment, and the present embodiment is different from the second embodiment in that the holding member 23 includes two holding member pieces 33a, 33b
Are formed side by side in the optical fiber arrangement direction. In this embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the filter insertion groove 17 and the filter 16
May be provided.

The present embodiment is configured as described above. This embodiment is also manufactured by the same manufacturing method as in the second embodiment, and has the same effects as the second embodiment. Can be.

Also, as in this embodiment, the first and second
When the number of bare optical fibers 4a and 4b is 32 in total, for example, the length of A in the figure is about 6 mm and the length of B in the figure is about 5 mm.
mm, the length of C in the figure is about 10 mm. The flat substrate 21, the first and second bare optical fibers 4a and 4b, and the pressing member 23 are fixed by an adhesive. However, the adhesive and the pressing member 23 are thermally contracted by a change in temperature, and the pressing is performed as described above. When the width A of the member 23 is increased, the pressing member 23 may be cracked due to the difference in the magnitude of the thermal contraction. However, in this embodiment, the holding member 23 is divided into two holding member pieces 33a, 33a.
b, the distortion due to the difference in the heat shrinkage can easily escape, and it is possible to prevent cracking of the holding member 23, thereby improving the production yield and long-term reliability of the production of the multi-core optical connector. it can.

Even if the arrangement of the bare optical fibers 4a and 4b should be re-arranged, if the holding member 23 is divided into the holding member pieces 33a and 33b as in the present embodiment, the bare light will be lost. It is easy to rearrange the arrangement of the fibers 4a and 4b.

FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of a multi-core optical connector according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The present embodiment is configured substantially in the same manner as the second embodiment, and the present embodiment is different from the second embodiment in that the first and second optical fiber tapes 6a, 6a, 6b
Are branched on the terminal side 28 of the input / output end. As described above, the first and second optical fiber tapes 6 are used.
Reference numerals a and 6b denote optical fiber tapes in each of which eight first and second bare optical fibers 4a and 4b are juxtaposed. In the present embodiment, these first and second optical fiber tapes are used. 6a, 6b are branched into four cores at the terminal side 28 of the input / output end. In this embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the filter insertion groove 17 is formed in the flat substrate 21.
And a filter 16 are provided.

The present embodiment is configured as described above. This embodiment is also manufactured by the substantially same manufacturing method as the second embodiment, and can provide the same effects.

In this embodiment, the first and second optical fiber tapes 6a and 6b, each having eight optical fibers arranged side by side, are used in the same manner as in the second and third embodiments. A multi-core optical connector can be easily manufactured, and the terminal side 28 of the input / output end of the first and second optical fiber tapes 6a and 6b.
For example, if the terminal side 28 is connected to a light incident terminal, different signal inputs can be performed for each four optical fibers, and a total of eight types of signal inputs can be performed.

That is, as in the present embodiment, a multi-core optical connector is manufactured by using the first and second optical fiber tapes 6a and 6b in which a large number of optical fibers are juxtaposed. 1. Terminal side of second optical fiber tape 6a, 6b
If 28 is branched according to the required number of input / output terminals, it is easy to manufacture, and it is possible to perform light incidence and emission in accordance with the required number of input terminals. It can be a multi-core optical connector.

FIG. 13 is a plan view (a) and a side view (b) of a fifth embodiment of a multicore optical connector according to the present invention. The feature of this embodiment is that an optical fiber tape 6 in which a plurality of optical fibers are arranged side by side in a strip shape.
(Four optical fiber tapes 6 in the figure) are each divided into two, the one divided optical fiber tape is formed as a first optical fiber tape 6a, and the other optical fiber tape is formed as a second optical fiber tape. The first optical fiber tape 6a has an optical fiber arranged in parallel with the first optical fiber tape 6a, and the second optical fiber tape 6b has an optical fiber arranged in parallel with the second optical fiber tape 6b. That is, the second optical fiber is formed.

Then, the first optical fiber tape 6a is disposed on top of the second optical fiber tape 6b so as to be superimposed thereon, and the first bare light from which the coating on the tip side of the first optical fiber tape 6a has been removed is provided. The fiber 4a and the second bare optical fiber 4b from which the coating on the distal end side of the second optical fiber tape 6b has been removed are the same as the first and second bare optical fibers 4a and 4b in the above embodiments. The arrangement is changed one by one and accommodated in the corresponding arrangement guide grooves 22 alternately.
The present embodiment is configured as described above, and in this embodiment as well, the filter insertion groove 17 and the filter 16 can be provided in the flat board 21 as in the first embodiment.

The present embodiment is configured as described above. When manufacturing the multi-core optical connector of the present embodiment, the optical fiber tape 6 in which eight optical fibers are juxtaposed in a strip shape is used. The optical fiber tape is divided into two parts at the distal end side, and the optical fiber tape on one side is used as a first optical fiber tape 6a, the optical fiber tape on the other side is used as a second optical fiber tape 6b, and the second optical fiber tape 6b is used. After the first optical fiber tape 6a is overlaid on the upper side, a multi-core optical connector is manufactured by the same manufacturing method as in the first to fourth embodiments.

This embodiment can also provide substantially the same effects as those of the first to fourth embodiments.

Further, for example, as shown in FIGS.
An optical waveguide component 30 formed with a 1 × n star coupler such as a 1 × 8 star coupler 31 is used for optical communication.
In such an optical component, for example, a 1 × 8 star coupler
Light incident from the input end 1a of the 31 and emitted from each of the output ends 1a1 to 1a8 is taken out by one optical fiber tape 6, incident from the incident end 1b of the 1 × 8 star coupler 31, and emitted from the output ends 1b1 to 1b8. In some cases, it is required that the extracted light be extracted by another optical fiber tape 6. In FIGS. 14 and 15, the first and second optical fiber tapes 6a and 6a of the multi-core optical connector connected to the optical waveguide component 30 are shown in order to make the traveling direction of light easy to understand.
Although the optical fibers 6b are shown side by side, the first and second optical fiber tapes 6a and 6b are actually superposed.

However, as shown in FIG. 15, for example, the first and second bare optical fibers 4a and 4b are obtained by removing the coating on the tip side of the eight-core first and second optical fiber tapes 6a and 6b.
When a multi-core optical connector, which is arranged in an alternating manner and connected to the output end side of the optical waveguide component 30, is connected to a 1 × 8 star coupler
The light emitted from the emission end 1a1 of the 31 enters the first optical fiber tape 6a, is extracted from the first optical fiber tape 6a, and the light emitted from the emission end 1a2 of the 1 × 8 star coupler 31 is the second light. The second incident on the optical fiber tape 6b
The light incident from the incident end 1a of the 1.times.8 star coupler 31 enters the two optical fiber tapes 6a and 6b and is extracted, as in the case where the light is extracted from the optical fiber tape 6b. In such a case, it is impossible to satisfy the above-mentioned requirement that light incident on one star coupler be extracted from one optical fiber tape 6.

In FIG. 15, a 1 × 8 star coupler
The light incident from the input end 1b of the optical fiber 31 and emitted from the output ends 1b1 to 1b8 is also the first and second optical fiber tapes 6a and 6b.
Therefore, light incident from the incident end 1a and light incident from the incident end 1b of the 1 × 8 star coupler 31 are mixed on the first optical fiber tape 6a. In the second optical fiber tape 6b, light incident from the incident end 1a of the 1 × 8 star coupler 31 and light incident from the incident end 1b are mixed.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 14, if the eight-core optical fiber tape 6 is divided into two to form the first and second optical fiber tapes 6a and 6b, as shown in FIG.
The light incident from the incident end 1a of the × 8 star coupler 31 exits from the output ends 1a1 to 1a8 and enters the first and second optical fiber tapes 6a and 6b, respectively. Since the tapes 6 a and 6 b are originally one optical fiber tape 6, all light incident from the incident end 1 a of the 1 × 8 star coupler 31 is incident on one optical fiber tape 6 and extracted. Similarly, 1
All the light incident from the incident end 1b of the × 8 star coupler 31 is incident on another optical fiber tape 6 and
And light can be prevented from being mixed as described above.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, but can adopt various embodiments. For example, in the first embodiment, the filter 16 is inserted into each of the second bare optical fibers 4b on the side of the second optical fiber tape 6b, but the first bare optical fiber on the side of the first optical fiber tape 6a is inserted. The filter 16 may also be inserted into the filter 4a, and such an insertion structure of the filter 16 can be applied to the second to fifth embodiments. In this case, in a state where the first bare optical fibers 4a and the second bare optical fibers 4b are alternately arranged in the arrangement guide grooves 22 of the flat board 21, the filter insertion grooves 17 are provided.
And the filter 16 may be inserted into the filter insertion groove 17.

The shape of the filter 16 is not limited to a rectangular plate, but may be a filter provided with comb teeth as shown in FIG. 23B. The shape of the filter 16 is not particularly limited.

Further, in the first embodiment, the filter insertion groove 17 is provided and the filter 16 is inserted and mounted. However, the filter insertion groove 17 and the filter 16 are omitted, and there are many types in which no filter is built in. It may be a heart optical connector.

Further, when manufacturing a multi-core optical connector, a multi-core optical connector can be manufactured by a method as shown in FIG. 16, for example. That is, when the coating of the first and second optical fiber tapes 6a, 6b is peeled, the coating of the optical fiber tape (first optical fiber tape 6a in the figure) on at least one side of the optical fiber tapes 6a, 6b is performed. Without removing a part of the coating, the coating is slid to the distal end side of the optical fiber (first bare optical fiber 4a) as shown in FIG. First
At the end of the bare optical fiber 4a, and then
As shown in FIG. 2B, the root side of the first bare optical fiber 4a is arranged in every other array guide groove 22 of the flat board 21.

Then, in this state, the distal end side of the first bare optical fiber 4a is temporarily pressed by the temporary pressing member 29, and then,
As shown in (c) of the figure, the second optical fiber tape 6
b is arranged from the upper side of the first optical fiber tape 6a, and the second bare optical fibers 4b are arranged in the remaining arrangement guide grooves 22 every other. As shown in FIG. The distal end side of the second bare optical fiber 4b is also temporarily fixed by the temporary holding member 29.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 9E, the first and second bare optical fibers 4a, 4a,
The pressing member 23 is placed on the front end of the flat board 21 from above the 4b, and the front ends of the first and second bare optical fibers 4a and 4b are clamped and fixed between the pressing member 23 and the flat board 21. Then, in this state, for example, the first and second bare optical fibers 4a and 4b protruding toward the distal ends of the flat plate substrate 21 and the holding member 23, respectively.
An adhesive is applied to the side, and a multi-core optical connector is manufactured in the same manner as in the second embodiment.

As described above, the first and second optical fiber tapes 6a and 6b are slid toward the optical fiber tip without removing at least a part of the coating of the optical fiber tape on one side. When this coating is left on the optical fiber tip side as a residual coating 14, the bare optical fibers 4a and 4b of the optical fiber tapes 6a and 6b with the coating left are
Since the distal end side is prevented from being radially opened and separated by the residual coating 14, the arrangement of the first and second bare optical fibers 4a and 4b in the arrangement guide groove 22 can be facilitated.

In particular, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, when preparing a plurality of optical fiber tapes (first optical fiber tapes 6a in the figure) partially covering the coating and arranging them side by side in the optical fiber arrangement direction, adjacent Residual coating of matching optical fiber tape 6a
By arranging the first bare optical fibers 4a in the alignment guide grooves 22 of the flat substrate 21 after displacing the positions of the 14 optical fibers in the longitudinal direction, it is possible to prevent the residual coatings 14 from colliding with each other. Furthermore, the arrangement of the first bare optical fibers 4a in the arrangement guide grooves 22 can be further facilitated.

FIG. 18 shows an example of a method of peeling the coating of the first and second optical fiber tapes 6a and 6b. As shown in FIG. After the coating on the distal end side of the optical fiber tape 6a is removed, as shown in (b) of the figure, a part of the distal end side of the remaining coating is peeled off and the distal end of the first bare optical fiber 4a is removed. By sliding to the side, the residual coating 14 can be formed. The first optical fiber tape 6 having the residual coating 14
When a is superimposed on the second optical fiber tape 6b from which the coating on the distal end side is completely removed as shown in FIG. 3C, a state shown in FIG.

Further, in the second to fifth embodiments,
By forming a roundness on the fiber holding surface 26 on the rear end side 25 of the holding member 23 so as to ease the contact with the optical fiber, the rear end of the holding member 23 is formed on the first bare optical fiber 4a as shown in FIG. The portion where the side contacts (B in the figure) is prevented from breaking, but instead of forming the holding member 23 round,
As shown in FIG. 19, the flat board 21
The tapered surface 19 is formed in the direction of reducing the thickness of the first bare optical fiber 4a, whereby the rate at which the first bare optical fiber 4a bends upward and the rate at which the second bare optical fiber 4b bends downward are substantially equalized. Disconnection of one bare optical fiber 4a can also be prevented. It should be noted that such a tapered surface can be formed by glass molding when a flat substrate is formed of, for example, glass or synthetic quartz. Further, as described above, the flat substrate 21
And the fiber pressing surface 26 on the rear end side 25 of the pressing member 23 as in the second to fifth embodiments.
The multi-core optical connector can also be formed by forming a rounded shape.

Further, when manufacturing a multi-core optical connector, for example, a multi-core optical connector can be manufactured by a method as shown in FIG. That is, as shown in (a) of the figure, the coating on the middle part of the first and second optical fiber tapes 6a and 6b is removed, and thereafter, as shown in (b) of the figure, After removing the coating, the exposed first and second bare optical fibers 4a and 4b are alternately arranged to be arranged alternately and arranged alternately in the arrangement guide grooves 22 of the flat board 21. A holding member 23 is provided above the second bare optical fibers 4a and 4b. Then, the first,
The array guide grooves 22 are held by holding the second bare optical fibers 4a and 4b.
Then, as shown in (c) of the figure, the fixed portions of the holding member 23 and the flat board 21 are divided in a direction intersecting with the optical fiber arrangement direction (in the figure, a direction orthogonal to the optical fiber arrangement direction). By cutting, two multi-core optical connectors are manufactured at a time.

When a multi-core optical connector is manufactured by such a method, two multi-core optical connectors can be manufactured at a time, so that a multi-core optical connector can be manufactured very efficiently. The manufacturing cost of the multi-core optical connector can be reduced.

Further, in the third embodiment, the pressing member 23 is formed by arranging the two pressing member pieces 33a and 33b in parallel in the optical fiber arrangement direction. In the case where it is formed by three, three or more pressing member pieces can be formed side by side in the optical fiber arrangement direction.

Further, in the fourth embodiment, the first,
Terminal side of input / output end of second optical fiber tape 6a, 6b
Although the multi-fiber optical connector is formed by branching the multi-fiber optical connector into two or more, the terminal side 28 of the input / output end of the first and second optical fiber tapes 6a and 6b is branched into three or more. It can also be formed.

Further, in the second to fourth embodiments,
Of the fiber tape sets 7a and 7b, only the first and second optical fiber tapes 6a and 6b of the fiber tape set 7a,
The side surface 27 adjacent to the fiber tape set 7b was cut,
Adjacent side surfaces 27 of the first and second optical fiber tapes 6a and 6b of the fiber tape set 7b may be cut, and the first and second optical fiber tapes 7a and 7b of the respective fiber tape sets 7a and 7b may be cut.
In the optical fiber tapes 6a and 6b, the side surfaces 27 that are not adjacent to other fiber tape sets may also be cut.

Further, when a plurality of fiber tape sets 7 are juxtaposed to form a multi-core optical connector as in the second to fourth embodiments, the number of juxtaposed fiber tape sets 7 is three or more. It may be.

Further, in the second to fifth embodiments,
When manufacturing the multi-core optical connector, the adhesive is supplied to the connection end face side of the optical fiber, but the adhesive is not always supplied to the connection end face side of the optical fiber. However, by supplying the adhesive to the connection end face side of the optical fiber, it is possible to prevent the adhesive or air bubbles from entering at least the connection end face side of the optical fiber, and to prevent the adhesive from being removed or the adverse effects caused by the air bubbles. For this reason, it is preferable to manufacture the multi-core optical connector by supplying an adhesive from the connection end face side of the optical fiber.

Further, in each of the above embodiments, the upper surface 24 of the flat substrate 21 and the first and second bare optical fibers 4
Although the upper ends of the substrates a and 4b are almost completely covered by the pressing member 23, for example, as shown in FIG. A gap may be formed. However, if a gap is formed between the flat board 21 and the holding member 23 as described above,
As described above, the adhesive entering the gap causes an increase in connection loss with the other optical components of the multi-core optical connector and a problem due to a load applied to the first and second bare optical fibers 4a and 4b. As in the embodiment, the upper surface 24 of the flat board 21 is
The groove forming slopes 12 at both outer ends of the array guide grooves 22 are extended to the upper surface 24 of the flat substrate 21 so that the upper and lower ends of the first and second bare optical fibers 4a and 4b are covered by the pressing member 23 with almost no gap. It is desirable to extend to reach.

In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, 16 optical fiber tapes 6a and 6b are used. In the second to fifth embodiments, the optical fiber tapes 6a and 6b are used. In the fifth embodiment, eight optical fiber tapes 6 are used. In each of the optical fiber tapes 6, 6a and 6b, the number of optical fibers is four.
What is necessary is just to set it appropriately, such as 8 cores, 16 cores, and 32 cores.

Further, in the multi-core optical connector of each of the above embodiments, the connection end surface (tip surface) 5 is connected to each bare optical fiber 4.
2a and 4b are perpendicular to each other, but as shown by the broken line in FIG.
8 °). in this way,
By forming the connection end face 5 on the oblique end face, when the multi-core optical connector is connected to the optical component of the connection partner, light propagating from the multi-core optical connector to the connection partner, and vice versa,
Light propagating from the optical component on the other end of the connection to the multi-core optical connector is applied to the bare optical fiber 4 of the multi-core optical connector at the connection end face.
It is possible to prevent the light components a and 4b from being reflected and traveling backward, or from being reflected by the optical path of the optical component on the connection partner side and traveling backward.
In this way, by preventing light from going backward, it is possible to suppress adverse effects on optical communication.

[0110]

According to the present invention, the arrangement pitch of the arrangement guide grooves formed on the flat substrate as the optical fiber arrangement tool is substantially equal to the outer diameter of each optical fiber from which the coating is removed. As a result, the width of the arrangement region of the optical fibers can be made very small as compared with the conventional multi-core optical connector. Therefore, even if the number of arranged optical fibers (the number of cores) increases, a small-sized multi-core optical connector can be formed.

Further, the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber tape, the coatings of which are removed from the first optical fiber tape and the second optical fiber tape of which the coating is removed, are superposed.
Are arranged alternately so that the light incident from the first optical fiber and the light incident from the second optical fiber are alternately juxtaposed on the distal end (connection side). (End face side). Therefore, for example, if the multi-core optical connector of the present invention is connected to a waveguide element having a plurality of optical waveguides arranged side by side, light from the first optical fiber enters the odd-numbered optical waveguides, The light from the first optical fiber and the light from the second optical fiber are alternately arranged in the arrangement order of the optical waveguides of the waveguide element, for example, the light from the second optical fiber is incident on the second optical waveguide. Can be incident.

Further, different lights (for example, lights having different wavelengths and light power levels) are alternately emitted from the respective optical waveguides of the waveguide element in the arrangement order of the optical waveguides. If an optical connector is connected, different lights alternately emitted from the respective optical waveguides of the waveguide element are separately incident on the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber for each common type of light, and It is possible to separately extract the same type of light from the first optical fiber tape and the second optical fiber tape in a group.

For this reason, for example, different lights are alternately made incident on a plurality of light paths (optical waveguides or the like) in the arrangement order of the light paths, or different lights emitted from the plurality of light paths are alternately output to the same light. Can be grouped so as to form one group and collectively taken out from the first and second optical fiber tapes, and an optical communication system having excellent functions can be constructed.

Further, according to the present invention, the first optical fibers and the second optical fibers are arranged and accommodated in the arrangement guide grooves arranged and formed on the flat substrate. The state of the optical fiber can be observed from the outside. As a result, the operation of housing the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber in the array guide grooves becomes extremely easy, and the work efficiency of assembling the multi-core optical connector can be significantly improved. The product cost of the multi-core optical connector can be greatly reduced.

Further, since the arrangement state of the optical fibers accommodated in the arrangement guide grooves can be seen at a glance, if an error occurs in the arrangement of the optical fibers, it can be corrected immediately. A mistake (error) in alternate arrangement with the two optical fibers can be eliminated, and the reliability of the multicore optical connector of the present invention can be sufficiently improved. In particular, when the flat substrate and the pressing member are formed of a transparent member, particularly when at least the pressing member is made transparent, the arrangement state of the optical fibers can be seen from the back side of the flat substrate, and furthermore, the pressing member can be used. Since the arrangement state of the pressed optical fibers can also be known from the outside, the elimination of the optical fiber arrangement errors can be more reliably performed, and the reliability of the multi-core optical connector can be further improved.

Further, in the second invention of the multi-core optical connector, a filter is inserted into at least one of the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber housed and arranged in the arrangement guide grooves on the flat board. Considering the production yield compared to the case where this filter is provided on the optical waveguide of the optical waveguide component, providing the filter on the multi-core optical connector side can significantly reduce the manufacturing cost, and the optical waveguide component side As compared with the case where a filter is provided, an excellent effect that the total cost of a connector product formed by integrally connecting a multi-core optical connector and an optical waveguide component can be greatly reduced can be obtained.

Further, in the third invention of the multi-fiber optical connector, a rounding for reducing the contact with the optical fiber is formed on the fiber holding surface side on the rear end side of the holding member.
Since it is possible to prevent excessive force from being directly applied to the optical fiber from the holding member, it is possible to prevent the optical fiber from being broken and broken due to excessive force, thereby improving the production yield of the multi-core optical connector. As a result, the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

Further, in the fourth invention of the multi-core optical connector in which the pressing member is formed by arranging two or more pressing member pieces in the optical fiber arrangement direction, the pressing member is arranged in the multi-core optical connector. Even if the number of optical fiber cores increases and the area of the holding member becomes large, it is possible to prevent the holding member from cracking due to thermal shrinkage of the holding member due to a temperature change. The manufacturing yield of the connector can be improved, and the long-term reliability of the multi-core optical connector can be improved.

Further, in the flat substrate of the optical fiber array device, an optical fiber array guide groove is formed in a central region of the flat substrate lower than the upper surface of the flat substrate, and grooves at both outer ends of the array guide groove are formed. The slope formed is extended so as to reach the upper surface of the flat substrate, and the upper surface of the flat substrate substantially coincides with the upper ends of the first and second optical fibers arranged in the alignment guide grooves. In the fifth invention of the multi-fiber optical connector in which the upper end of the second optical fiber is covered almost without gap by the pressing member, for example, the optical fiber arrangement tool, the first and second optical fibers, the pressing member, When the first and second optical fibers are fixed in the arrangement guide grooves of the optical fiber arrangement tool by supplying an adhesive between them, the adhesive enters between the upper surface of the flat substrate of the optical fiber arrangement tool and the holding member. Without the alignment guide groove and the first and second Only so that the adhesive stick to the gap between the optical fiber and the pressing member.

Therefore, in the fifth invention, unlike the case where a gap is formed between the upper surface of the flat board and the bottom surface of the pressing member, the adhesive entering the gap forms the outer ends of the arrangement guide grooves at both ends. It is possible to prevent the arranged optical fibers from being pulled outward due to the heat shrinkage of the adhesive due to the curing of the adhesive or the temperature change, thereby improving the production yield of multi-core optical connectors and ensuring long-term reliability. It is possible to provide a multi-core optical connector with high performance.

Further, according to the sixth invention of the multi-fiber optical connector, a tapered surface is formed on the rear end side of the flat board of the optical fiber arrangement tool in a direction to reduce the thickness of the flat board. 1. The upper bend from the optical fiber arrangement tool of the uncoated optical fiber at the upper end of the second optical fiber tape toward the front end of the optical fiber tape coating, and the lower optical fiber tape. Since it is possible to equalize the downward bending of the uncoated optical fiber from the optical fiber arrangement tool toward the optical fiber tape coating tip side, the same as in the third invention of the multicore optical connector, It is possible to prevent the optical fiber from being disconnected by applying an excessive force to the optical fiber from the member. for that reason,
The manufacturing yield of the multi-core optical connector can be improved, and the manufacturing cost of the multi-core optical connector can be reduced.

Further, a plurality of fiber tape sets of the first optical fiber tape and the second optical fiber tape which are arranged so as to be superposed are arranged in parallel in the optical fiber arrangement direction.
In the seventh invention of the multi-core optical connector in which at least one side surface adjacent to another fiber tape set is cut, the first and second optical fiber tapes of the plurality of fiber tape sets are arranged in parallel. It is possible to prevent the covering portions on the side surfaces adjacent to the other fiber tape sets that are provided from interfering with each other, so that the optical fiber tape sets can be arranged side by side at a high density, and When arranging the optical fibers of the fiber tape in the optical fiber arrangement tool, the optical fibers on the outer end side of the tape can be arranged in the arrangement guide grooves of the optical fiber arrangement tool without significantly bending. Therefore, the multi-core optical connector can be reduced in size, the production yield can be improved, and the manufacturing cost of the multi-core optical connector can be reduced.

Further, according to the eighth invention of the multi-core optical connector in which the first and second optical fiber tapes are branched on the terminal side of the output end, for example, the first and second optical fibers having a large number of cores are provided. By manufacturing a multi-core optical connector using the optical fiber tape of No. 2 and branching the terminal side corresponding to the needs of the input / output end (corresponding to the required number of terminals),
Since a multi-core optical connector corresponding to the number of terminals at the signal input / output end can be manufactured very efficiently, an excellent multi-core optical connector corresponding to the number of terminals at the input / output end and having a low manufacturing cost. It can be a connector.

Further, an optical fiber tape formed by arranging a plurality of optical fibers in a strip shape is divided into two, and the one divided optical fiber tape is formed as a first optical fiber tape, and the other optical fiber tape is formed as a first optical fiber tape. The optical fiber tape is formed as a second optical fiber tape, and the optical fiber arranged in parallel with the first optical fiber tape is formed as a first optical fiber and arranged in parallel with the second optical fiber tape. According to the ninth aspect of the multi-core optical connector, when the multi-core optical connector is connected to, for example, a 1 × n star coupler or the like, an optical fiber tape having, for example, n optical fibers arranged side by side is used. Divided into 1st and 2nd
The first optical fiber and the second optical fiber are juxtaposed and arranged alternately in the first optical fiber tape. When connected to n terminals on the output end side of the 1 × n star coupler, the multi-core optical connector of the present invention is very small as compared with a conventional multi-core optical connector having n optical fibers juxtaposed. , Each light beam that has entered the 1 × n star coupler and branched can be extracted from one optical fiber tape.

Further, according to the method for manufacturing a multi-core optical connector according to any one of the above constitutions, the coating on the intermediate portions of the first and second optical fiber tapes is removed, and then the coating is removed. The arrangement of the removed first and second optical fibers is changed so as to be alternately arranged, and the first and second optical fibers are alternately arranged in the arrangement guide grooves of the optical fiber arrangement tool. Thereafter, a holding member is provided above these optical fibers. After each optical fiber is pressed by a holding member and clamped and fixed in the array guide groove, the holding member and the fixed portion of the optical fiber arraying tool are divided and cut in a direction intersecting with the optical fiber arraying direction to obtain two multi-core optical fibers. In the first invention of the method for manufacturing a multi-core optical connector in which the connectors are manufactured at one time, since two multi-core optical connectors can be manufactured at a time, the multi-core optical connector can be manufactured very efficiently. Connector It is possible to the granulation, it is possible to reduce the manufacturing cost of the multi-fiber optical connector.

Further, in the method for manufacturing a multi-core optical connector according to any one of the above configurations, the coating of the optical fiber tape on one of the first and second optical fiber tapes is removed. Temporarily fixed the optical fibers that were arranged in every other one of the plurality of guide grooves of the optical fiber arrangement tool,
Thereafter, the manufacture of a multi-core optical connector in which the optical fibers of the other of the first and second optical fiber tapes, the coating of which has been removed, is arranged in every other arrangement guide groove. A second invention of a method and a method of manufacturing a multi-core optical connector according to any one of the above configurations,
The optical fiber with the coating of the optical fiber tape on one side of the first and second optical fiber tapes removed is arranged in every other arrangement guide groove of the optical fiber arrangement tool. The fiber is held down by the holding member, and thereafter the optical fiber whose coating on the other side of the first and second optical fiber tapes is removed is above or below the optical fiber held down by the holding member. According to a third invention of a method for manufacturing a multi-core optical connector to be inserted into a gap formed by a holding member and every other array guide groove left from the side, the first and second optical fibers The arrangement in the arrangement guide grooves can be made very easy, and the optical fibers that are arranged every other first in the arrangement guide grooves can be prevented from coming off the arrangement guide grooves. Therefore, the multi-core optical connector can be manufactured very easily, the yield of manufacturing the multi-core optical connector can be improved, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

Further, when the coating of the first and second optical fiber tapes is peeled, the coating is slid toward the front end of the optical fiber without removing a part of the coating of the optical fiber tape on at least one side of the optical fiber tape. Leave this coating on the optical fiber tip side as a residual coating while moving it,
According to a fourth invention of a method for manufacturing a multi-core optical connector in which the base side of the optical fiber from which the coating has been removed thereafter is arranged in an optical fiber arrangement tool, the coating on the tip side of the first and second optical fiber tapes is provided. Since the removed optical fiber can be prevented from spreading radially by the residual coating, it is possible to easily arrange the optical fiber on the optical fiber arrangement tool, and it is possible to efficiently manufacture the multi-core optical connector. It can be carried out.

Further, a plurality of optical fiber tapes with a part of the coating left are prepared and arranged side by side in the optical fiber arranging direction. In the fifth invention of the method for manufacturing a multi-core optical connector in which fibers are arranged in an optical fiber arraying tool, when a multi-core optical connector is manufactured by preparing a plurality of optical fiber tapes with a coating left partially, Since it is possible to prevent the remaining coatings of the matching optical fiber tapes from colliding with each other, it is possible to easily arrange the optical fibers on the optical fiber arrangement tool, and to easily manufacture the multi-core optical connector. Can be.

[0129] Further, in the method for manufacturing a multi-core optical connector according to any one of the above constitutions, the optical fiber arranged in the arrangement guide groove of the optical fiber arrangement tool is pressed by a pressing member, and then the optical fiber is connected to the optical fiber. According to the sixth aspect of the multi-core optical connector for supplying an adhesive to the connection end face side and fixing the optical fiber in the alignment guide groove, at least at the connection end face side of the optical fiber, the arrangement guide of the optical fiber arrangement tool is provided. Since it is possible to prevent the adhesive and bubbles from entering between the groove, the optical fiber, and the holding member, the connection of the multi-fiber optical connector to other optical components due to the adhesive or bubbles can be prevented. It is possible to prevent an increase in loss, or to prevent a load on the optical fiber due to expansion due to thermal change of bubbles or the like. Therefore, an excellent multi-core optical connector that can be connected to other optical components with low connection loss and has high long-term reliability can be manufactured.

Further, in the method for manufacturing a multi-core optical connector according to any one of the above constitutions, an optical fiber tape comprising a plurality of optical fibers arranged in a strip shape is divided into two and divided into two. In the seventh invention of the method for manufacturing a multi-core optical connector in which one optical fiber tape is a first optical fiber tape and the other optical fiber tape is a second optical fiber tape, A multi-fiber optical connector having the effects of the invention can be easily manufactured.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of a multicore optical connector according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a front configuration diagram of the multi-core optical connector of the embodiment.

4 is an enlarged view (a) in a chain line frame A of FIG.
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a comparison with a part (b) of a front view of the multi-core optical connector in which a gap is formed between the bottom surface of 23 and the upper surface 24 of the flat board 21.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of the multi-core optical connector according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a holding member used in the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory plan view showing the configuration of fiber tape sets 7 arranged side by side with almost no gap in the second embodiment, with a gap provided therebetween.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing an example of a method of manufacturing the multi-core optical connector according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing another example of the method of manufacturing the multi-core optical connector of the second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view (a) and a side view (b) showing an adhesive supply process in the production of the multi-core optical connector of the second embodiment.
FIG.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a multi-core optical connector according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a multi-core optical connector according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a configuration diagram showing a fifth embodiment of a multicore optical connector according to the present invention by a plan view (a) and a side view (b).

FIG. 14 shows a multi-core optical connector according to the fifth embodiment, which is 1 ×
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a state where the optical waveguide component 30 including the 8-star coupler 31 is connected to the emission end side.

FIG. 15 shows a multi-core light formed by alternately converting the first and second bare optical fibers 4a and 4b of the first and second optical fiber tapes 6a and 6b in which eight optical fibers are arranged side by side. The connector is an optical waveguide component 30 having a 1 × 8 star coupler 31.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory view schematically showing a state of connection to the emission end side of FIG.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory view showing another embodiment of a method for manufacturing a multi-core optical connector according to the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of a multi-core optical connector according to the present invention.
It is explanatory drawing which shows the method of sliding to the optical fiber front end side, leaving the coating | cover of two 1st optical fiber tapes 6a partly, and juxtaposing the optical fiber tape 6a of this state.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory view showing a method of sliding the optical fiber tape 6a to the distal end side of the optical fiber while leaving a part of the coating of the first optical fiber tape 6a, and superimposing the coating on the second optical fiber tape 6b from which the coating is removed.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory view showing a flat board 21 used in another embodiment of the multicore optical connector according to the present invention.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory view showing still another embodiment of the method for manufacturing a multi-core optical connector according to the present invention.

FIG. 21 is an explanatory side view showing a portion where disconnection is likely to occur in the bare optical fibers 4a arranged on the flat board 21 in the multi-core optical connector.

FIG. 22 shows the state of overlap between the first optical fiber tape 6a and the second optical fiber 6b and the first bare optical fiber 4a and the second bare optical fiber 4a on the first optical fiber tape side on the distal end side where the coating is removed. It is explanatory drawing which shows the arrangement | positioning conversion state with the 2nd bare optical fiber 4b of the optical fiber tape side.

FIG. 23 illustrates a second example of the optical waveguide component formed on the waveguide substrate.
It is explanatory drawing which shows the arrangement | sequence formation pattern of the waveguide with a 2x optical coupler type filter, and the shape of the filter.

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of a multi-core optical connector proposed by the applicant in a patent application.

FIG. 25 is a detailed explanatory view of a ferrule 2 constituting the multicore optical connector of FIG. 24;

FIG. 26 is a sectional structural view of a generally known optical fiber core.

FIG. 27 is an explanatory perspective view of a conventional multi-core optical connector.

[Explanation of symbols]

 4a 1st bare optical fiber 4b 2nd bare optical fiber 6a 1st optical fiber tape 6b 2nd optical fiber tape 7, 7a, 7b Fiber tape set 14 Residual coating 16 Filter 21 Flat board 22 Arrangement guide groove 23 Holding Element

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Etsuzo Sato 2-6-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Inside Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Toshihiko Ota 2-6-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Manki Watanabe 2-6-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Nobuo Tomita 3--19 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo No. 2 Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation

Claims (16)

[Claims] 1. A first optical fiber tape comprising a plurality of first optical fibers arranged in a strip and a second optical fiber tape comprising a plurality of second optical fibers arranged in a band. The first optical fiber and the second optical fiber, which are disposed in an overlapped manner, and the coating on the distal end side of each of these optical fiber tapes is removed.
The multi-fiber optical connector is arranged so that the optical fibers and the optical fibers are alternately arranged, and is arranged in an optical fiber arrangement tool, wherein the optical fiber arrangement tool removes a coating of each of the optical fibers on a flat board. A plurality of array guide grooves formed at an array pitch substantially equal to the outer diameter of the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber having the coating removed from the array guide grooves. A multi-fiber optical connector, characterized in that a holding member is provided above the optical fiber on the side of the arrangement front end, and each optical fiber is pressed and fixed by the holding member in the arrangement guide groove. 2. A filter is provided in a region where an arrangement guide groove is formed, and the filter is inserted into at least one of a first optical fiber and a second optical fiber arranged in the arrangement guide groove. The multi-core optical connector according to claim 1. 3. The multi-fiber optical connector according to claim 1, wherein a rounded portion is formed on a rear end side of the holding member on a fiber holding surface side to ease contact with the optical fiber. 4. The multi-core light according to claim 1, wherein the pressing member is formed by arranging two or more pressing member pieces in parallel in the optical fiber arrangement direction. connector. 5. The flat substrate of the optical fiber array device has an optical fiber array guide groove formed in a central region of the flat substrate lower than the upper surface of the flat substrate, and grooves at both outer ends of the array guide groove. The slope formed is extended so as to reach the upper surface of the flat substrate, and the upper surface of the flat substrate substantially coincides with the upper ends of the first and second optical fibers arranged in the alignment guide grooves. The multi-fiber optical connector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the upper end of the second optical fiber is covered by the pressing member with almost no gap. 6. The optical fiber array device according to claim 1, wherein a tapered surface is formed at a rear end side of the flat substrate in a direction to reduce the thickness of the flat substrate. The multi-core optical connector according to one. 7. A plurality of fiber tape sets each including a first optical fiber tape and a second optical fiber tape which are superposed and arranged in the optical fiber arrangement direction. The multi-core optical connector according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein at least one side of the first and second optical fiber tapes adjacent to another fiber tape set is cut. . 8. The multi-core optical fiber according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second optical fiber tapes is branched at a terminal side of an input / output end. connector. 9. An optical fiber tape in which a plurality of optical fibers are arranged side by side in a strip shape is divided into two, and one of the two divided optical fiber tapes is formed as a first optical fiber tape, and the other is divided into two. The optical fiber tape is formed as a second optical fiber tape, and the optical fiber arranged in parallel with the first optical fiber tape is formed as a first optical fiber and arranged in parallel with the second optical fiber tape. 9. The multi-fiber optical connector according to claim 1, wherein the optical fiber is a second optical fiber. 10. The method for manufacturing a multi-core optical connector according to claim 1, wherein a coating is removed from intermediate portions of the first and second optical fiber tapes.
Thereafter, the first and second optical fibers from which the coating has been removed are converted to be arranged alternately, and are alternately arranged in the arrangement guide grooves of the optical fiber arrangement tool. After a holding member is provided and each optical fiber is pressed by the holding member and clamped and fixed in the array guide groove,
The holding part and the fixed part of the optical fiber arraying tool are divided and cut in a direction intersecting with the optical fiber arraying direction.
A method for manufacturing a multi-core optical connector, comprising manufacturing one multi-core optical connector at a time. 11. The method of manufacturing a multi-core optical connector according to claim 1, wherein the optical fiber is on one of the first and second optical fiber tapes. The optical fibers from which the tape coating has been removed are temporarily fixed in a state where they are arranged alternately in a plurality of guide grooves of the optical fiber arrangement tool, and then the other side of the first and second optical fiber tapes is fixed. A method of manufacturing a multi-fiber optical connector, comprising arranging the optical fibers from which the coating of the optical fiber tape has been removed in every other arrangement guide groove. 12. The method for manufacturing a multi-core optical connector according to claim 1, wherein the optical fiber is on one of the first and second optical fiber tapes. In a state where the optical fibers from which the coating of the tape has been removed are arranged alternately in a plurality of arrangement guide grooves of the optical fiber arrangement tool, the optical fibers are held down by a holding member, and thereafter the first and second optical fibers are placed. The optical fiber, on which the coating of the optical fiber tape on the other side of the tape has been removed, is formed by the pressing members from above or below the optical fibers pressed by the pressing members and the array guide grooves left every other one. A method for manufacturing a multi-core optical connector, comprising: 13. When the coating of the first and second optical fiber tapes is stripped, the coating is slid to the distal end of the optical fiber without removing a part of the coating of the optical fiber tape on at least one side of the optical fiber tape. Claim 11 or Claim characterized in that the coating is left as a residual coating in the state of being moved on the optical fiber tip side, and then the root side of the optical fiber from which the coating has been removed is arranged in an optical fiber arrangement tool. Item 12
A method for manufacturing the multi-core optical connector described in the above. 14. After preparing a plurality of optical fiber tapes partially covering the coating and arranging them side by side in the optical fiber arranging direction and displacing the position of the residual coating of the adjacent optical fiber tapes in the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber, the light 14. The method for manufacturing a multi-core optical connector according to claim 13, wherein the fibers are arranged in an optical fiber arrangement tool. 15. The method for manufacturing a multi-core optical connector according to claim 1, wherein the optical fibers arranged in the arrangement guide grooves of the optical fiber arrangement tool are held down by a holding member. A method of manufacturing a multi-core optical connector, comprising: supplying an adhesive to a connection end face side of the optical fiber to fix the optical fiber in the array guide groove. 16. The method of manufacturing a multi-core optical connector according to claim 1, wherein an optical fiber tape comprising a plurality of optical fibers arranged in a strip is divided into two. The optical fiber tape on one side divided into two
The optical fiber tape of the other side
A method for manufacturing a multi-core optical connector, comprising: