JPH1184164A - Optical fiber array and its production - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To adhere and fix the coating part of an optical fiber to the supporting part of a substrate so as to decrease the loss fluctuation of a temp. characteristic. SOLUTION: A UV curing resin 5 is applied from the V-grooves 7 of the V-groove array part 1A of the substrate 1 to the supporting part 1B of the substrate 1. The coating removing parts 2A of the optical fibers 2 are housed into the V-grooves 7 of the V-groove array part 1A of the substrate 1 coated with the UV curing resin 5. The coating removing parts 2B of the optical fibers 2 are supported on the supporting part 1B of the substrate 1. The coating removing parts 2A of the optical fibers 2 are covered with a cap 3 on the V-groove array part 1A and are fixed into the V-grooves 7. At this time, the UV curing resin 5 flowing over from the V-groove array part 1A creeps along the coating removing parts 2A, thereby eventually covering the coating removing parts 2C of the optical fibers partly exposed from the V-groove array part 1A. The UV curing resin 5 is cured by irradiating with UV rays in this state. The optical fibers 2 are thus fixed onto the substrate 1 from the V-grooves 7 across the supporting part 1B.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical fiber array and a method for manufacturing the same, and more particularly, to an optical fiber array with less loss fluctuation in temperature characteristics of an optical fiber and a method for manufacturing the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally known optical fiber arrays include:
As shown in FIG. 4, the coating removal portion 2A of the optical fiber 2 is accommodated on the V-groove array portion 1A of the substrate 1, and the coating portion 2B of the optical fiber 2 is supported on the substrate supporting portion 1B. Cover removal section 2
A lid 3 is placed and fixed on the V-groove array portion 1A containing A,
The space between the V-groove array section 1A and the lid 3 is filled with an ultraviolet curable resin 5 and irradiated with ultraviolet light to remove the coating 2 of the optical fiber 2.
A is adhesively fixed. The covering portion 2B of the optical fiber 2 is provided with a supporting portion 1B for supporting the covering portion 2B of the substrate 1 in order to restrict the optical fiber 2 from freely moving on the supporting portion 1B side of the substrate 1.
The above is fixed using the adhesive 4.

The adhesive 4 for fixing the covering portion 2B of the optical fiber 2 absorbs the stress generated in the optical fiber 2,
A material softer than the ultraviolet curable resin 5 is used.
For example, the adhesive curing is completed in a short time (1-2 minutes), the viscosity is high (1500 CP or more), and the saturated moisture absorption rate is 0.5
% Must be low. This is because the optical fiber 2 partially exposed from the V-groove array portion 1A to the substrate support portion 1B side.
The reason is that the adhesive 4 hardly flows into the coating removal portion 2C, and the effect of the stress generated by moisture absorption on the optical fiber 2 is small. By using such an adhesive 4, it is possible to prevent a stress from being applied to the end of the substrate of the optical fiber 2 and disconnection.

[0004]

The adhesive 4 as described above.
Is applied to the coating portion 2B of the optical fiber 2, the adhesive 4 may flow to the coating removal portion 2C of the optical fiber 2 which is partially exposed from the V-groove array portion 1A. When the adhesive 4 flows and reaches the uncoated portion 2 </ b> C without coating, the loss of the optical fiber 2 increases due to thermal contraction due to the temperature characteristics of the adhesive 4. Therefore, it is necessary to apply the adhesive 4 with great care so that the adhesive 4 does not touch the coating removal portion 2C of the optical fiber 2. However, there is a problem that such a method is troublesome and costly. Further, since a part of the coating removal portion 2C of the optical fiber 2 is exposed from the V-groove array portion 1A, there is a problem that the optical fiber cannot be protected.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an optical fiber array which solves the above-mentioned problems of the prior art and has a small fluctuation in temperature characteristics and can protect an optical fiber. It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for manufacturing an optical fiber array that can fix optical fibers at low cost without labor.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, an optical fiber array according to the present invention comprises an optical fiber having a coating portion and an end portion of which is stripped, and an optical fiber stripping portion of the optical fiber. A substrate having a groove array portion having a plurality of grooves housed in a shape, and a supporting portion for supporting the coating portion of the optical fiber, and an upper surface of the groove array portion having a coating removal portion of the optical fiber housed in the groove. A cover that is fixed to the groove by covering the groove, and a coating removal portion of the optical fiber is adhered in the groove, and the gap between the groove array portion and the lid is adhered, and the support portion is moved from the groove array portion. Covers the entire circumference of the coating removal part of the optical fiber part of which is exposed on the side,
Further, an ultraviolet curable resin is provided for bonding between the covering portion of the optical fiber and the supporting portion.

In the above invention, the ultraviolet curable resin has an elastic modulus of not less than 10 ⁴ kg / cm ² , and -50 to 80.
It is preferable that the Young's modulus is 10 ⁶ N / cm ² or less in the range of ° C. Further, a coating portion of the optical fiber may be further adhered to an end of the supporting portion of the substrate with an adhesive softer than the ultraviolet curable resin.

Further, the method of manufacturing an optical fiber array according to the present invention comprises a groove array section having a plurality of grooves for accommodating an optical fiber coating removal section in an array, and a support section for supporting the optical fiber coating section. In a method of manufacturing an optical fiber array for fixing the optical fiber to a substrate having, the ultraviolet curable resin is continuously extended from an end of the groove of the substrate to a support portion of the substrate along a groove from a groove end of the substrate using a dispenser having at least one nozzle. Coating, the coating removal portion of the optical fiber is accommodated in the groove of the substrate, the coating portion of the optical fiber is supported by the support portion of the substrate, and the upper surface of the groove array portion is covered with a lid and formed in the groove. The sheath removal portion of the accommodated optical fiber is fixed to the groove, and an excess amount of the ultraviolet curable resin overflows from the groove to partially expose the optical fiber to the support portion side. The entire periphery of the coating removal portion of the fiber is covered with an ultraviolet curing resin, the ultraviolet curing resin is cured by irradiating ultraviolet rays, and the coating removal portion of the optical fiber is adhered in the groove, and the groove array portion is provided. And the lid are adhered to each other, and the cover of the coating removal portion of the optical fiber exposed from the groove array portion to the support portion side is fixed, and further, between the coating portion of the optical fiber and the support portion. Is to adhere.

In the manufacturing method of the invention, the ultraviolet light
The cured resin has an elastic modulus of 10^Fourkg / cm ^TwoThat is, −5
Young's modulus is 10 within the range of 0 to 80 ° C.⁶N / cm^TwoBelow
Preferably, there is.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

The optical fiber array is, as shown in FIG.
Plural V-grooves 7 formed on V-groove array portion 1A of substrate 1
The coating removing portion 2A of the optical fiber 2 is accommodated in an array, and the supporting portion 1 of the substrate 1 on the extension of the V-groove array portion 1A.
The coating 2B of the optical fiber 2 is supported on B. V groove 7
Is not limited to this, and may be a U-groove or the like.

The height of the supporting portion 1B of the substrate 1 is such that the optical axis is bent when the optical fiber 2 is placed on the substrate 1 due to the difference in outer diameter between the coating portion 2B and the coating removing portion 2A of the optical fiber 2. In this case, the height is lower than the height of the V-groove array portion 1A so that there is no step.

The coating removal portion 2A of the optical fiber accommodated in the V groove 7 of the substrate 1 is fixed to the V groove 7 by covering the upper surface of the V groove array portion 1A with the lid 3.

The coating removal portion 2A of the optical fiber 2 is bonded to the V-groove with an ultraviolet curing resin 5. V groove array part 1
A and the lid 3 are also bonded by the ultraviolet curing resin 5. Further, the entire circumference of the coating removal portion 2C of the optical fiber 2 that is partially exposed from the V-groove array portion 1A to the support portion 1B side of the substrate 1 is covered with the ultraviolet curing resin 5. Further, the ultraviolet curable resin 5 adheres between the covering portion 2B of the optical fiber 2 and the supporting portion 1B of the substrate 1. The ultraviolet curing resin 5 that adheres or covers each part is continuously provided without being divided.

The optical fiber array configured as described above is manufactured through the steps shown in FIG. Here, the configuration for two optical fibers will be extracted and described for convenience.
10-100 from the surface of the V groove array portion 1A on the V groove 7
The nozzle of the dispenser 6 as a resin supply means is positioned at a position separated by μm. The number of dispensers 6
A plurality of V-grooves 7 may be provided, or a single dispenser may be used to trace each V-groove 7.

After positioning the nozzle of the dispenser 6,
The ultraviolet curable resin 5 is discharged toward the V groove 7. Next, the dispenser 6 is moved in the V-
The substrate 1 is relatively moved halfway on the support portion 1B of the substrate 1 on the upper side and the extension thereof. As a result, the ultraviolet curable resin 5
Is the supporting portion 1B of the substrate 1 on the V groove 7 and on the extension thereof.
Applied on top. At this time, the V-shaped groove 7 has an ultraviolet-curing resin 5
Somewhat larger.

Next, the coating removing portion 2A of the optical fiber 2 is accommodated in the V groove 7 of the substrate 1, and the coating 2B of the optical fiber 2 is supported on the supporting portion 1B of the substrate 1. Since the coating removing portion 2A usually removes the coating with a longer margin than the V-groove array portion 1A, a part of the coating removing portion 2A of the optical fiber 2 from the V-groove array portion 1A to the support portion 1B side. 2C protrudes.

The upper surface of the V-groove array portion 1A is covered with a lid 3 that is transparent to ultraviolet rays, and the cover 3 is pressed against the upper surface of the V-groove array portion 1A to remove the coating of the optical fiber 2 housed in the V-groove 7. 2A is fixed to the V groove 7. Since the amount of the ultraviolet curable resin 5 is applied to the V groove 7 to some extent, when the lid 3 is pressed, the excess ultraviolet curable resin 5 in the V groove 7
It overflows from the groove 7 and travels from the upper part to the lower part of the coating removing part 2C of the optical fiber 2 which is transmitted through the coating removing part 2A of the optical fiber 2 and partially exposed from the V-groove array part 1A. Cover the circumference.

When ultraviolet rays are irradiated from above in a state where the ultraviolet curing resin 5 is present above the coating removing portion 2A of the optical fiber 2, the ultraviolet curing resin 5 is cured and the coating of the optical fiber 2 in the V groove 7 is performed. The removal portion 2A is bonded in the V groove 7. V
The gap between the groove array portion 1A and the lid 3 is also adhered. Further, the ultraviolet curable resin 5 covering the entire circumference of the coating removal portion 2C of the optical fiber 2, which is partially exposed from the V-groove array portion 1A toward the support portion 1B, is also solidified. Further, the coating portion 2 of the optical fiber 2
B and the support portion 1B are bonded.

The end face of the optical fiber array manufactured as described above is polished when bonding to the waveguide element. At this time, if the UV-curable resin 5 is too soft, it will be cleaved during polishing. Therefore, it is desirable that the elasticity of the UV-curable resin 5 be 10 ⁴ kg / cm ² or more. Also,
In order to keep the stress on the optical fiber low, the UV curable resin 5 has a Young's modulus of 10 ⁶ N within the range of -50 to 80 ° C.
/ Cm ² or less.

FIG. 2 shows two V-shaped grooves 7 for convenience of explanation.
However, actually, an array structure in which two or more V grooves are arranged is used.

Next, another embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

In this embodiment, the structure of the optical fiber array and the manufacturing process thereof are the same as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 except that an adhesive 8 is newly used. That is, a part of the coating removal portion 2C of the optical fiber 2 is
The covering portion 2B of the optical fiber 2 is adhered and fixed to the supporting portion 1B of the substrate 1 by the ultraviolet curing resin 5 which is covered with the ultraviolet curing resin 5 overflowing from above and applied to the supporting portion 1B of the substrate 1. Further, at the end opposite to the V-groove array portion 1A on the support portion 1B of the substrate 1, in order to restrict the optical fiber 2 from freely moving, the ultraviolet curing resin 5 is further used with a soft adhesive 8 using a soft adhesive. Reinforcing bonding of the coating 2B of the optical fiber 2 is performed. The adhesive 8 is the same as the adhesive 4 used conventionally.

In this case, even if the adhesive 8 flows and comes into contact with a part of the coating removal portion 2C of the optical fiber 2, the coating removal portion 2C of the optical fiber 2 is already
Is covered, the influence of the heat shrinkage of the adhesive 8 does not directly affect the optical fiber 2, and the loss fluctuation of the optical fiber 2 does not increase. Even if the adhesive 8 is applied to the optical fiber 2 on any part of the support portion 1B of the substrate 1, it does not directly touch the coating removal portion 2C, so that the workability of applying the adhesive is good and the cost is high. do not become.

[0025]

According to the optical fiber array of the present invention, since the ultraviolet ray curable resin is bonded and fixed from the coating removal portion of the optical fiber to the coating portion of the optical fiber, the loss fluctuation of the temperature characteristic due to the heat shrinkage of the adhesive or the like. Can be reduced. Further, since the entire circumference of the coating removal portion of the optical fiber partially exposed from the groove array portion is covered with the ultraviolet curable resin, the optical fiber can be effectively protected.

Further, in the method of manufacturing an optical fiber array according to the present invention, when the upper surface of the groove array portion is pressed with a lid, excess ultraviolet curable resin overflows from the groove of the substrate, and a part of the resin hardens toward the support portion side of the substrate. Since the exposed coating removal portion of the optical fiber is covered with the ultraviolet curing resin, the exposed portion of the optical fiber can be protected by a one-touch operation of pressing the lid. Further, since the exposed portion of the optical fiber is protected by the ultraviolet curable resin, the adhesive directly touches the exposed portion of the optical fiber even when the adhesive is applied to the end portion to restrict the movement of the optical fiber 2. Therefore, the optical fiber can be fixed without much labor and at low cost.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a structure of an optical fiber array according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of one process for obtaining the configuration shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view showing the structure of an optical fiber array according to another embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing the structure of a conventional optical fiber array.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Substrate 1A V-groove array part of substrate 1B Substrate support part 2 Optical fiber 2A Optical fiber coating removal part 2B Optical fiber coating part 2C Exposed optical fiber coating removal part 3 Cover 5 Ultraviolet curing resin 7 V groove 8 adhesive

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An optical fiber having a coating portion and an end portion of which is stripped, a groove array portion having a plurality of grooves for receiving the coating stripping portion of the optical fiber in an array, and an extension of the groove array portion. A substrate having a support portion for supporting the coating portion of the optical fiber thereon, a lid for fixing the coating removal portion of the optical fiber housed in the groove to the groove by covering an upper surface of the groove array portion, and Along with bonding the cover removing portion of the optical fiber to the groove, bonding the lid to the groove array portion, and removing the cover portion of the optical fiber partially exposed from the groove array portion to the support portion side. An optical fiber array comprising: an ultraviolet curable resin covering the entire circumference and further bonding a coating portion of the optical fiber to the support portion. 2. The ultraviolet curable resin has an elastic modulus of 10 ⁴ kg.
/ Cm ² or more and a Young's modulus of 10 ⁶ N / cm ² or less within a range of -50 to 80 ° C.
An optical fiber array according to any of the preceding claims. 3. The optical fiber according to claim 1, wherein the coating portion of the optical fiber is further reinforcingly bonded to an end of the supporting portion of the substrate with an adhesive softer than the ultraviolet curable resin. array. 4. A substrate having a groove array portion having a plurality of grooves for accommodating an optical fiber coating removal portion in an array, and a support portion supporting the optical fiber coating portion on an extension of the groove array portion. In the method for manufacturing an optical fiber array for fixing the optical fiber, the ultraviolet curable resin is continuously applied from an end of the groove of the substrate to a supporting portion of the substrate along the groove by using a resin supply unit having at least one nozzle. The optical fiber coating is removed and accommodated in the groove of the substrate, and the optical fiber coating is supported by the support of the substrate, and the upper surface of the groove array is pressed with a lid and accommodated in the groove. The removed portion of the optical fiber is fixed to the groove, and the excess portion of the ultraviolet curable resin overflows from the groove, and the portion of the coated portion of the optical fiber is exposed to the support portion side. The entire circumference is covered with an ultraviolet curable resin, the ultraviolet curable resin is cured by irradiating ultraviolet rays, and the coating removal portion of the optical fiber is adhered to the groove, and the lid is adhered to the groove array portion. Fixing the ultraviolet curable resin covering the coating removal portion of the optical fiber exposed to the support portion side from the groove array portion, and further bonding the coating portion of the optical fiber to the support portion. A method of manufacturing an optical fiber array. 5. The ultraviolet curable resin has an elastic modulus of 10 ⁴ kg.
/ Cm ² or more, and a Young's modulus of 10 ⁶ N / cm ² or less within a range of -50 to 80 ° C.
3. The method of manufacturing an optical fiber array according to 1.