JPS58102911A - Production of optical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To produce an accurate optical connector with simple working, by protruding an optical fiber through a groove provided at the tip part of an optical fiber holder and forming the tip of the optical fiber into a spherical shape by fusing the tip with discharging or the optical energy. CONSTITUTION:A groove 12b is formed on the end face 12a of an optical fiber holder 12, and an optical fiber 10 is protruded through the center hole 12c. In this case, the protruding height is decided precisely. Then the protruded part is fused with an arc electrode or a laser light (not shown in the figure), and a spherical end 13 is formed by the surface tension. As the fiber 10 is thin, the tip of the fiber 10 is formed into a pure sphere. This sphere 13 is fixed with a gap K by a holding tool (not shown in the figure). The optical signals are diffused slowly at a terminal 10a and turned as shown dotted lines 15 at the part of the sphere 13. These signals are converged at a counter sphere part 13', and therefore the coincidence is tolerant to some extent between the axial cores of optical fibers. This can facilitate an automatic production with simple working, and both quality and reliability are stabilized.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (1) Technical Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an optical fiber connector for optical communication, a so-called optical connector.

(2) Background of the technology In signal transmission systems using optical fibers, the attenuation loss of the optical fiber itself has been significantly improved; Losses depend.

When connecting optical fibers using an optical connector, since the optical fibers have a small diameter of approximately 0.1 mm, it is necessary to precisely align the axes of the opposing optical fibers, and the scattering attenuation of light at the joint surface is required. In order to prevent this, particularly precise machining and finishing of the end face shape and finished surface is essential.

(3) Prior Art and Problems FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a joint part of a conventional multi-connector. Note that the same reference numerals in the figures from FIG. 1 to FIG. 4 indicate the same parts. The optical fiber cable l is fixed in the inner sleeve 2, and the optical fiber lO is fixed in the inner sleeve 2 and fixed in the shaft core hole 8.

The end surface of the inner sleeve 2 is polished into a concave shape together with the tip of the optical fiber IO. On the other hand, since the outer sleeve 3 is provided with a through hole 4 that fits into the inner sleeve 2, the axes of the opposing optical fibers coincide. The inner sleeve is tightened with a bag nut 9 through the flange 5 until the end surfaces 6 of the inner sleeve 2 come into contact.

Since the opposing inner sleeve end surfaces 6 are concave, the end surfaces 10a of the optical fibers 10 themselves are not directly subjected to force, and are fixed while maintaining a small gap between the opposing end surfaces 10a of the optical fibers 10. This gap allows the joint loss to be kept to a minimum and constant.

However, processing this end face requires a large number of man-hours, skill, technology, and equipment.

(4) Object of the Invention The present invention provides a method for manufacturing an optical connector that economically provides a stable shape to the end face of an optical fiber inserted into the optical connector.

(5) Configuration of the invention A concave groove is provided at the tip of the holder that holds the optical fiber,
The above-mentioned object is achieved by an optical connector manufacturing method characterized in that the optical fiber is projected into the groove and the tip of the optical fiber is melted by electric discharge or light energy to form a spherical end.

(6) Embodiment of the Invention FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a main part of a holder in which a spherical end of an optical fiber is formed by the manufacturing method according to the invention. The overall general structure is substantially the same as that of the conventional holder 2. However, the tip part 12a forms a stacked plane, and a rectangular structure 12b is provided perpendicularly in the center part, and an axis hole 12c at the bottom of this groove 12b.
An optical fiber spherical end 13 projects therefrom. This spherical end 1
The tip 13a of the holder 12 is substantially flush with the tip 12a of the holder 12, but does not protrude beyond the surface of the tip 12a.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a holder showing a method of manufacturing an optical fiber spherical end according to the present invention. (a) The figure is before the spherical end of the optical fiber is formed, (b) The figure is before the arc discharge of the optical fiber, (c)
The figure shows the optical fiber after being formed into a spherical end.

(a) In the figure, the optical fiber IO protrudes from the center hole 12c of the holder 12, and this protrusion height 11 is precisely determined. If the optical fiber is given a minute scratch, it will break and a flat stomach opening will appear, so this protrusion H can be easily fabricated.

(b) In the figure, the central axes of the arc electrodes 14a, 14b are kept accurately parallel to the bottom of the groove 12b of the holder 12 at a distance G from above and below the center of the groove 12b of the holder 12, and brought close to the optical fiber IO. After accurately determining the distance between the tips of the arc electrodes 14a and 14b, discharge is caused.

(c) In the figure, the tip of the optical fiber IO is melted due to arc discharge, and the surface tension of the glass acts to create a spherical surface. Since the optical fiber IO itself has a thin diameter of about 0.1 mm, this spherical end 13 can be made to be almost perfectly spherical.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the spherical end of an optical fiber in a mated optical connector according to the present invention. There is a minute gap K between the spherical shape 6II113 and the tip of the other spherical end 13' that faces the spherical shape 6II113.
is configured. This relationship corresponds to the situation where the optical fibers 10 are connected through a lens.The spherical end 13 is a fused and integrated cladding part and core part of the optical fiber 10, and has a homogeneous refractive index. The cladding part and part of the core of the optical fiber IO change continuously, and there is no fault plane. Therefore, the light waves passing through the optical fiber IO are gently diffused at the end 10a of the optical fiber IO. The light is refracted at the surface of the spherical end 13 and enters the opposing spherical end 13'.

In the embodiment of the present invention, an arc discharge device used for connecting fiber optic cables was used. This device is generally used for "splicing" optical fibers (arc discharge welding), and has been used extensively. However, when used in factory production, it is natural to consider the use of laser light.
Vacuum and dust-free conditions are ideal. In addition, in this embodiment, a rectangular groove was provided in the holder, but this groove has the function of protecting the spherical end of the optical fiber, and the rectangular shape is for convenience in processing, and can be used in various cross sections. Exactly the same purpose can be achieved by using grooves, holes, etc.

(7) Effects of the Invention According to the present invention, the end of the optical fiber is spherical, so when an optical fiber connector is connected, the axes of the optical fibers are more tolerant than before. Furthermore, the shaping and polishing process of the optical fiber end of the optical connector can be omitted, and the shaping of the optical fiber end can be completed in a short time by simple electric discharge.

This not only saves man-hours, but also makes it possible to self-manufacture optical connectors, making it possible to supply the market in large quantities and at low prices. Furthermore, since a mechanically homogeneous product can be produced, the quality and reliability are stable, and this effectively contributes to the economic expansion of optical fiber communication systems.

Furthermore, during construction site work, the finishing of the optical fiber end becomes easier, which contributes to the construction period and cost.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a coupling part of a conventional connector, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a schematic main part of a holder in which a spherical end of an optical fiber is formed by the manufacturing method according to the present invention, and Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a connecting part of a conventional connector. Cross-sectional view of the holder showing the manufacturing method for the spherical end of the optical fiber, (a) shows the spherical end of the optical fiber before being formed, (b) shows the optical fiber before arc discharge, and (c) shows the spherical end of the optical fiber being formed. Show the rear. FIG. 4 is a side view of the spherical end of an optical fiber in a mated optical connector according to the present invention. 10 in the figure
12 is an optical fiber, 12 is a holder, 13 is a spherical end, and 14 is an arc electrode. Kansen 2 figure 3 figure C A/Me 2 0 f

Claims (1)

[Claims] A concave groove is provided at the tip of the holder that holds the optical fiber,
A method of manufacturing an optical connector, comprising making the optical fiber protrude into the groove, and melting the tip of the optical fiber using electric discharge or light energy to form a spherical end.