JPH11295534A - Manufacture of end face ground optical fiber - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an end face ground optical fiber manufacturing method for aligning fiber end faces and grinding them at an optional angle. SOLUTION: This manufacturing method is composed of a first process for removing the coating of a fiber and obtaining a fiber from which the coating is removed, a second process for forming a fiber alignment block 12 where optical fibers are aligned and fixed by using a material or a component for aligning and fixing the fibers from which the coating is removed, a third process for grinding the end face of the fiber alignment block 12 and a forth process for removing the material or the component for aligning and fixing the fibers. Thus, the end faces of multi-fiber optical fibers are aligned, end face ground optical fibers provided with a ground end face at the optional angle to a fiber longitudinal direction are manufactured and the excellent connection of low connection loss is realized by performing connection by using the optical fibers manufactured by the method.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an optical fiber component, and more particularly to a method for manufacturing an end-faced optical fiber.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a method of connecting optical fibers, a method of cutting an end face of an optical fiber using an optical fiber cutting machine and connecting with a splicer has been widely used. In the conventional method of cutting an optical fiber using an optical fiber cutting machine, the coated optical fiber is aligned, the surface is scratched with a diamond cutter in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the fiber, and an instantaneous force is applied to the fiber. The method of breaking was taken. In this optical fiber cutting method, when a multi-core fiber is cut, it is difficult to align the cut surface within a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the fiber. Further, the cut surface is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the fiber, and it is impossible to cut the fiber at a certain angle with respect to the longitudinal direction.

[0003]

Therefore, when trying to connect multi-core fibers collectively by using a splicer, the fibers that protrude the most from the vertical surface in the longitudinal direction of the fiber are abutted first, and the short fibers face each other. There is a problem that a gap is formed in the place where the connection has occurred, which leads to an increase in connection loss. Further, there is a problem that reflection loss occurs because the end face is a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems and provides a method of manufacturing an end-face polished optical fiber in which fiber end faces are aligned and polished at an arbitrary angle.

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing an end-polished optical fiber, comprising: a first step of removing a fiber coating to obtain a stripped fiber core; and aligning the stripped fiber core. A second step of preparing a fiber alignment block in which optical fibers are aligned and fixed using a material or a component for fixing, a third step of polishing an end face of the fiber alignment block, and aligning and fixing the fiber core wire And a fourth step of removing the material or component.

In this specification, the material for fixing the fiber is a removable adhesive or the like, and the component is a fiber fixing jig.

Further, as a structure of a block for fixing the fiber, in the method of manufacturing an end-polished optical fiber according to the present invention, as a part for aligning and fixing the fiber core, a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the fiber is parallel. Using a component formed by aligning holes having holes, aligning and fixing the fiber core wires in the holes to produce a fiber alignment block, polishing the end face of the block, and then extracting the fiber from the block. The present invention relates to a method for producing an end-polished optical fiber.

Further, in the method for manufacturing an end-polished optical fiber according to the present invention, a V-groove component having a V-groove formed in parallel is used as a component for aligning and fixing the fiber core.
Aligning the fiber core on the groove, placing a lid on the aligned optical fiber upper surface, manufacturing a fiber alignment block,
The present invention relates to a method for producing an end-face polished optical fiber, characterized in that after polishing the end face, the lid is removed and the fiber is taken out.

Further, in the method for manufacturing an end-polished optical fiber of the present invention, a V-groove component having a V-groove formed in parallel is used as a component for aligning and fixing the fiber core, and the fiber is aligned on the V-groove. A lid is placed on the upper surface of the aligned optical fibers, and the V-groove component, the fiber core, and the lid are fixed using an adhesive whose adhesive strength is reduced by heating or an adhesive whose adhesive strength is reduced by light irradiation. The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an end-face polished optical fiber, which comprises manufacturing a fiber alignment block, polishing the end face thereof, and removing the adhesive from the block by heating, light irradiation or a combination of both. Here, the adhesive whose adhesive strength is reduced by heating may be a hot-melt adhesive such as polyolefin, polyamide, polyurethane, polyester, or polyvinyl alcohol, as long as it uses a substance that is melted by heating. Desirable are those that easily peel off from the fiber or those that are dissolved by common solvents such as water and alcohol. As the adhesive whose adhesive strength is reduced by light irradiation, for example, a negative resist such as a photodegradable polymer can be used.

Further, in the method for manufacturing an end-polished optical fiber of the present invention, a V-groove component having a V-groove formed in parallel is used as a component for aligning and fixing the fiber core, and the fiber is aligned on the V-groove. A lid is placed on the upper surface of the aligned optical fiber, and the V-groove component, the fiber core, and the lid are fixed using an adhesive soluble in a solvent to produce a fiber alignment block, and the end face of the block is manufactured. The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an end-face polished optical fiber, which comprises, after polishing, decomposing the block using a solvent for the adhesive and removing the adhesive. Here, the solvent is generally water or an organic solvent.

FIGS. 1A to 1D are views showing the basic steps of the following embodiment. First, as a step 1 shown in FIG. 1A, a fiber coating is removed, and a multi-core fiber 11 cut by end face cleave by a normal fiber cutting device is manufactured. Next, as a step 2 shown in FIG. 1B, the fiber core stripped and stripped with the fiber alignment component or material is aligned and fixed to manufacture the fiber alignment block 12. In Step 3 shown in FIG. 1C, the end face of the fiber alignment block 12 is polished to an arbitrary angle by using the end face polishing device 13. In FIG. 1d, the fiber core fixing portion 14 is removed in step 4 to complete the end-polished optical fiber component 15.

[0012]

Embodiment 1 In this embodiment, a fiber alignment block (see FIG. 2B) is used in which a fiber core is aligned on a V-groove of a V-groove component having a V-groove formed in parallel, and a lid is provided on an upper surface of an optical fiber. A method for manufacturing an end-face polished optical fiber using a wax that has a heat-softening property and is soluble in an organic solvent as a material for fixing the fiber will be described.

In this embodiment, as described with reference to FIG.
First, as a step 1, the fiber coating is removed, and the fiber is cut by an end face cleave by an ordinary fiber cutting device. In step 2, the core of the multi-core fiber 23 is arranged in the V-groove portion of the V-groove component 21 having the V-groove formed in parallel as shown in FIG.
It is fixed using the lid 22. At this time, wax 25 is used to fix the lid 22 and the multi-core fiber 23. As the wax 25, a wax having a property of melting at 80 degrees and decomposing when immersed in ethanol at room temperature was used. V
The groove component 21, the multi-core fiber 23, and the lid 22 were heated to melt the wax, and then cooled to solidify and fix the wax to form a fiber alignment block 24. In step 3 (FIG. 1c), the end face of the fiber alignment block is polished at an arbitrary angle using the end face polishing device 13, and in step 4 (FIG.
b, see FIG. 2b), after heating the fiber alignment block 24 to separate the lid 22, the V-groove part 21, and the multi-core fiber 23, immerse the fiber core portion of the multi-core fiber 23 in ethanol and perform ultrasonic cleaning. Then, the wax remaining on the fiber core portion is removed to complete the end-polished fiber part.

[0014]

Embodiment 2 In this embodiment, a method of manufacturing an end-face polished optical fiber using a resin molded product as a V-groove component will be described.

In the present embodiment, the V shown in FIGS.
A resin molded product was used for the groove component 21 and the lid 22. Since the resin molded product can be obtained at a low price by mass production, a fiber array component can be used as a consumable product, which is effective in reducing the manufacturing cost when manufacturing an end-face polished fiber component. In this embodiment, an epoxy resin containing a glass filler was used as a material of the resin molded part. Since this resin has high accuracy and does not melt by heating, it can be used for fixing a block using a heat-melted wax. In addition, since it contains a glass filler, the polished surface can be polished uniformly when polished with high hardness, so that there is an advantage that the fiber end face can be polished accurately and uniformly.

In step 2, the V-groove component 21, the multi-core fiber 2
3. A wax 25 was used to fix the lid 22. As the wax 25, a wax having a property of melting at 80 degrees and decomposing when immersed in ethanol at room temperature was used. V
The groove component 21, the multi-core fiber 23, and the lid 22 were heated to melt the wax, and then cooled to solidify and fix the wax to form a fiber alignment block 24. In step 3, the end face of the fiber alignment block is
Polishing to an arbitrary angle using (see FIG. 1 c), heating the fiber alignment block 24 to separate the lid 22, the V-groove component 21, and the multi-core fiber 23 in Step 4, and then setting the fiber core of the multi-core fiber 23 The wire portion is immersed in ethanol and subjected to ultrasonic cleaning to remove the wax remaining on the fiber core portion, thereby completing an end-polished fiber part.

It was confirmed that the end-face polished fiber component manufactured in this manner had a high degree of smoothness of the polished end face, and that the polished faces were aligned on the same plane over all eight fibers, and that a good polished end face was obtained. Was done.

Here, similar results were obtained when the lid was bonded using a polyvinyl alcohol-based hot melt adhesive.

[0019]

Embodiment 3 In this embodiment, a method for manufacturing an end-face polished optical fiber in which the end face of an optical fiber is polished at a plane having an angle with respect to a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber will be described with reference to FIG.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3A, first, as step 1, the coating of the fiber is removed, and the fiber is cut by an end face cleave by a usual fiber cutting device to produce an eight-core tape fiber 31. As shown in FIG. 3B, in step 2, the fibers were aligned and fixed using the fiber alignment block 32. Next, as shown in FIG. 3c, in step 3, the end face of the fiber alignment block 32 is arranged at an angle of 8 degrees with respect to the polishing surface of the end face polishing device 33, and the end face is polished. As shown in FIG. 3D, as a step 4, the fiber alignment block 32 is removed, and the end face obliquely polished 8-core tape fiber 3 is formed.
4 was produced. As shown in an enlarged manner in FIG. 3e, the end portion 35 of the eight-core tape fiber 34 is polished at an angle to the longitudinal direction of the fiber.

The end-face polished optical fiber manufactured in this manner had a high degree of smoothness of the polished end face, and the polished faces were aligned on the same plane over all eight fibers, so that a good polished end face was obtained. Also, the angle of the polished surface with respect to the longitudinal direction of the fiber is ± 0.01 degrees with respect to the set value of 8 degrees, which is an extremely good angle accuracy. The end face obliquely polished optical fiber was connected to a PLC part polished at an angle of 8 degrees, and the reflection loss was examined. As a result, a connection with a very small return loss of -70 dB or more and low return loss was realized, and the connection characteristics of the end face polished optical fiber manufactured by this method were realized. Was found to be extremely good.

[0022]

[Embodiment 4] In this embodiment, a method of manufacturing an end-polished optical fiber in which the optical fiber fixing part or material is removed, and then the end face of the optical fiber is immersed in hydrofluoric acid to melt the periphery of the end face and chamfering is performed. I do.

After manufacturing an optical fiber part with obliquely polished end faces by the manufacturing method described in Example 3, as step 5, the fiber core portion is immersed in a 1% hydrofluoric acid solution to dissolve and remove the peripheral portion of the fiber end face. In Step 6, the fiber core portion is immersed in running water to remove hydrofluoric acid, thereby completing the chamfering process.

Since the end-face polished optical fiber component manufactured in this manner has a chamfered end face, the fiber end face may come into contact with a connected component, a jig, or the like during the fiber connection operation, causing chipping or cracking. As a result, an extremely reliable end-face polished optical fiber component could be manufactured.

[0025]

Embodiment 5 In this embodiment, as a component for aligning and fixing the fiber core, a fiber having a hole having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the fiber is aligned in parallel, and the fiber core is inserted into the hole. A method for manufacturing an end-face polished optical fiber using the aligned and fixed fiber alignment block will be described with reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B. FIGS. 4a and 4b show an example in which an end-polished optical fiber component is manufactured using a component 41 having a hole having a diameter of 126 microns formed in parallel as a component for aligning and fixing the fiber core.

In this embodiment, first, as step 1, the fiber coating is removed, and the fiber is cut by end face cleave by a usual fiber cutting device to produce an 8-core tape fiber 42 (FIG. 4A). In step 2, a multi-core fiber (8-core tape fiber) 42 is arranged and fixed in the hole of the component 41 in which a hole having a diameter of 126 microns is formed in parallel (FIG. 4B).
At this time, an ethylene vinyl alcohol-based hot melt adhesive 43 is used to fix the multi-core fiber 42. The hot melt adhesive 43 has a characteristic of melting at 80 degrees and swelling when immersed in ethanol at normal temperature. The component 41 and the multi-core fiber 42 were heated to melt the adhesive, then solidified and fixed by cooling to form a fiber alignment block 44. In step 3, the end face of the fiber alignment block is polished to an arbitrary angle using an end face polishing device,
In step 4, after heating the fiber alignment block 44 to separate the multi-core fiber 42, the fiber core portion of the multi-core fiber 42 is immersed in ethanol, ultrasonically cleaned, and adhered to the fiber core portion. The adhesive that has been removed is removed to complete the end-polished fiber component. In addition, 45 is a fiber core.

[0027]

As described above, by using the method for producing an end-face polished optical fiber according to the present invention, the end faces of the multi-core optical fiber are aligned and the polished end face is formed at an arbitrary angle with respect to the longitudinal direction of the fiber. Can be manufactured by using the optical fiber manufactured using the present method, and a good connection with low connection loss can be realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1a is a view showing a step 1 of a basic manufacturing process of the present invention.

FIG. 1b is a view showing a step 2 of the basic manufacturing process of the present invention.

FIG. 1c is a view showing a step 3 of a basic manufacturing process of the present invention.

FIG. 1d is a view showing a step 4 of the basic manufacturing process of the present invention.

FIG. 2a is an exploded view of the fiber alignment block used in the embodiment.

FIG. 2B is a perspective view and a partially enlarged view of the fiber alignment block used in the embodiment.

FIG. 3a is a view showing a step 1 of another basic manufacturing step of the present invention.

FIG. 3b is a view showing a step 2 of another basic manufacturing process of the present invention.

FIG. 3c is a view showing a step 3 of another basic manufacturing step of the present invention.

FIG. 3d is a view showing a step 4 of another basic manufacturing process of the present invention.

FIG. 3e is a perspective view of the tip of the obliquely polished 8-core tape fiber manufactured in the above step.

FIG. 4A is a view showing a step 1 in the fifth embodiment;

FIG. 4B is a diagram showing step 2 in Example 5, and a partially enlarged view.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11, 23, 42 Multi-core fiber 12, 24, 32 Fiber alignment block 13, 33 End-face polishing device 14 Fiber core fixing part 15 End-face polished optical fiber part 21 V-groove part 22 Lid 25 Wax 31 8-core tape fiber 34 End face oblique Polished 8-core tape fiber 35 Tip 41 Component with a 126 micron diameter hole formed in parallel 43 Hot melt adhesive 44 Fiber alignment block 45 Fiber core

Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Shunichi Higashino Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation 3-19-2 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Japan (72) Inventor Michiyuki Amano 3-192-2 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Japan Telegraph and Telephone Corporation

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A first step of removing a coating of a fiber to obtain an uncoated fiber core, and aligning and fixing the fiber core using a material or a component for aligning and fixing the stripped fiber core. A second step of fabricating the fiber alignment block, a third step of polishing an end face of the fiber alignment block, and a fourth step of removing a material or a part for aligning and fixing the fiber core. A method for producing an end-polished optical fiber. 2. In the second step, as the component for aligning and fixing the fiber core, a component formed by aligning holes having a diameter slightly larger than the fiber diameter in parallel is used. A method for manufacturing an end-face polished optical fiber according to claim 1. 3. A V-shape in which a V-groove is formed in parallel as a component for aligning and fixing fiber cores in the second step.
Using the groove component, align the fiber core wires on the V-groove, install a lid on the aligned optical fiber upper surface, manufacture a fiber alignment block, polish the end face thereof, and then remove the lid. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the fiber is taken out. 4. The method according to claim 2, wherein in the second step, a V-shaped groove is formed in parallel as a component for aligning and fixing the fiber core.
Using a groove component, align the fiber core wires on the V-groove, install a lid on the aligned optical fiber upper surface, and apply an adhesive whose adhesive strength is reduced by heating or an adhesive whose adhesive strength is reduced by light irradiation. A fiber alignment block is manufactured by fixing the V-groove component, the fiber core wire and the lid using the same, and after polishing the end surface thereof, the block is disassembled by heating or light irradiation or a combination of both to remove the adhesive. The method for producing an end-polished optical fiber according to claim 1, wherein 5. In the second step, a V-shaped groove is formed in parallel as a part for aligning and fixing the fiber ribbon.
Using the groove component, align the fiber core wires on the V-groove, place a lid on the aligned optical fiber upper surface, and use a solvent-soluble adhesive to connect the V-groove component, the fiber core wire, and the lid. 2. The optical fiber according to claim 1, wherein the fiber alignment block is manufactured by fixing the fiber, the end face of the fiber alignment block is polished, and then the block is disassembled using a solvent of the adhesive to remove the adhesive. Manufacturing method. 6. A V-shaped groove formed in parallel as a component for aligning and fixing fiber cores in the second step.
A fiber core is aligned on a V-groove using a groove component, and a lid is placed on an upper surface of the aligned optical fiber, and a V-groove component and a fiber core are formed by using a wax having a thermal softening property and being soluble in an organic solvent. A fiber alignment block is manufactured by fixing the fiber and the lid, and after polishing the end face thereof, the V-groove block, the lid and the wax are removed by heating or washing in a solvent or a combination of both. 2. The method for producing an end-face polished optical fiber according to 1. 7. The method for producing an end-face polished optical fiber according to claim 3, wherein a resin molded product is used as the V-groove component. 8. An optical fiber according to claim 1, wherein the end face is polished by a plane having an angle with respect to a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber.
8. The method for producing an end-polished optical fiber according to any one of items 1 to 7. 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein after removing the optical fiber fixing part or material, the end face of the optical fiber is immersed in hydrofluoric acid to melt a peripheral portion of the end face to perform chamfering. Of producing an end-face polished optical fiber.