JPS6153609A - Optical device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent a position shift of an optical lens system coupling part caused by an external load operated on a Kepler, and to release a stress accumulated in the lens system coupling part by making the optical lens system coupling part and a Kepler fixing part independent from each other. CONSTITUTION:An optical lens system coupling to an optical fiber 6 of optical input/output parts 3-5, namely, the structure of a ferrule 8, a lens 9 and a sleeve 10 is the same as a usual one. On the other hand, a Kepler 13 is inserted between the second ferrule 17 which has been separated from the ferrule 8 of the optical lens system coupling part and stuck to the optical fiber 6, and a sleeve 14, and fixed by an adhesive agent. That is to say, the optical lens soupling part and the kepler fixing part are independent from each other. Also, the lens system coupling part and the Kepler fixing part are fixed separately to a substrate 1 by supporting members 15, 16. Accordingly, even if a load works on the Kepler from the outside, it does not work directly on the optical lens system coupling part. Also, a stress accumulated in the optical lens coupling part is released easily to a free part of the optical fiber 6 between said part and the Kepler fixing part, and the environment resistance is improved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an optical device used in an optical communication system and the like, and particularly relates to +1.1 construction of optical device components and its mounting structure.

In optical communication systems, various optical devices such as optical branchers, optical couplers, optical demultiplexers, optical multiplexers, optical switches, and optical attenuators are used. Such optical devices generally include optical functional components that perform functions such as branching, coupling, demultiplexing, multiplexing, switching, and attenuation of light, and optical input/output components for inputting and outputting light to and from the optical functional components, on a substrate. It is configured by being installed in.

[Conventional technology]

As optical input/output components in the above-mentioned optical devices, so-called Bingtil type components, in which an optical lens system is coupled to one end of an optical fiber and an optical connector is coupled to the other end, are commonly used. In this case, the optical fiber is usually reinforced with Keplerian to protect it from various loads acting on it.

An example of a conventional optical device using such a pig-tilt type optical input/output component is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. This optical device is an optical demultiplexer, and FIG. 3 is a plan view schematically showing its overall configuration, and FIG. 4 is an elevational sectional view of its main parts. In these figures, reference numeral 1 indicates a metal substrate;
A filter 2 having an optical demultiplexing function, an optical input component 3, and an optical output component 4.5 are mounted on this board. still,
A two-dot chain line 21 indicates a protective cover. The filter 2 is well known in itself, so detailed illustrations and explanations will be omitted, but non-reflective films are pasted on both sides of the prism, and one side allows light with a certain wavelength λ1 to pass through, but other wavelengths pass through. A dielectric multilayer film is pasted on the opposite side, which reflects light of wavelength λ2, and a dielectric multilayer film is pasted on the opposite side, which allows light of a certain wavelength λ2 to pass through but reflects light of other wavelengths.

In the illustrated example, when light including light with wavelengths λ1 and λ2 enters from the optical input component 3, the light with the wavelength λ1 is output from the optical output component 4 due to the demultiplexing function of the filter 2, and the light with the wavelength λ2 is The light is emitted from the output component 5 and demultiplexed.

All of the above optical input/output parts 3.4.5 have the same structure, and as shown in FIG. It is inserted into the hole of the metal ferrule 8, filled with adhesive, and fixed. And this (7) 7 s )Lt-)Lt
8 (7) Ahead. Engineering 9, tip 4 hemispheres, other '7m
A lens 9 having a flat surface is connected via a metal sleeve 10. Further, an optical connector 11 (see FIG. 3) for optical input/output is coupled to the other end of the optical fiber 6. Furthermore, the optical fiber 6 is coated with N12 such as vinyl and reinforced with Kepler (reinforcing fiber) 13. The Kepler 13 has its tip partially exposed, and is inserted between the inner surface of the metal sleeve 14 attached to the outside of the vinyl coating 12 and the outer surface of the ferrule 8, and is fixed by being filled with adhesive. This protects the optical fiber 6 from damage due to external forces or thermal loads acting on it.
It will be done. The optical input/output components 3, 4.5 are each fixedly supported on the substrate 1 by adhesive via metal support members 15, 16 at the optical lens system coupling portion and the Keplerian coupling portion, respectively. Furthermore, since it is necessary to accurately position the optical axes of the optical lens system coupling parts of the optical input/output components 3 and 4.5, the supporting member 15 is made into a model to facilitate positioning when fixing to the substrate 1. I made it possible for you to do it.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

In the above-mentioned prior art, the optical lens system coupling portion and the Keplerian fixing portion of the optical input/output component are connected to each other, and the following problems arise.

That is, the Kepler 13 is adhesively fixed to the ferrule 8, and therefore, when a load is applied to the Kepler 13, the load acts on the optical lens joint through the ferrule 8, causing a positional shift (optical axis) of the optical lens joint. misalignment, movement in the optical axis direction, etc.). Another problem is that stress accumulated in the optical lens coupling portion due to environmental changes, particularly temperature changes, is difficult to release.

Furthermore, in the above conventional example, the ferrule 8 of the optical input/output component,
Sleeve 8 and sleeve 14 are both made of metal,
Then, they are mounted on a common metal substrate 1 via support members 15 and 16, which are also made of metal.

However, in recent years, especially the coupling parts of the optical lens system coupling part,
That is, the ferrule 8 and the sleeve 10 are often made of a material that is substantially the same as the fiber wire 6 and the lens 9, such as a ceramic material, in order to improve the precision of component dimensions and positioning. In this case, if the optical functional components and the optical input/output components are all mounted on a common metal substrate, there is a problem in that the resistance to external loads, especially vibrations, street vibrations, and temperature cycles is weak.

[Means for solving problems]

The present invention provides an optical functional component as described above, and a pig-tilt type optical input/output component for light input/output to the optical functional component, which is formed by coupling an optical lens system to one end of an optical fiber and reinforcing the optical fiber with Kepler. In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, in an optical device including a light functional component and a substrate on which a light input/output component is mounted, an optical lens system coupling portion to an optical fiber and an optical fiber in the light input/output component are provided. The Keplerian fixing parts are independent from each other, and the output component is individually fixed to the substrate by the Keplerian fixing part and the optical lens system coupling part.

According to this structure, since the optical lens system coupling part and the Keplerian fixing part of the light input/output component are mutually independent, the load acting on the Keplerian is not transmitted to the optical lens system coupling part.
Misalignment of the optical lens system coupling portion can be prevented.

Furthermore, in the above optical device, in order to solve the above problem, the present invention provides that the optical lens system coupling portion to the optical fiber and the Keplerian fixing portion to the optical fiber in the optical input/output component are independent of each other. The coupling member for coupling the optical lens system to the optical fiber is made of a material substantially similar to that of the optical fiber or the lens, and the optical lens system coupling portion of the optical functional component and the optical input/output component is made of glass or the like. fixed to a common substrate made of material equivalent to
The cough substrate is mounted on a metal support plate via a buffer layer made of a flexible material, and the Keplerian fixing portion of the optical input/output component is fixed to the metal support plate.

According to this configuration, the optical device functional part including the optical functional part and the optical lens system coupling part of the optical input/output part is mounted in a so-called floating state with respect to the support plate, so that it is free from external loads and temperature cycles. High resistance to 1 is obtained.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention, and shows the configuration of essential parts when the present invention is applied to the optical demultiplexer shown in FIG. 3 in comparison with FIG. 4. In FIG. 1, parts that are the same as or similar to those shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 are designated by equivalent numbers.

In FIG. 1, the structure of the optical lens system coupling portion of the optical input/output components 3, 4.5 to the optical fiber 6, that is, the ferrule 8, lens 9, and sleeve 10 is the same as that in FIG. On the other hand, the Kepler 13 is inserted between the sleeve 14 and a second ferrule 17 attached to the optical fiber 6 at a distance from the ferrule 8 of the optical lens system coupling part, and is fixed by filling with adhesive. . That is, the optical lens system coupling part and the Keplerian fixing part are not connected to each other as shown in FIG. 4, but are independent from each other. The optical lens system coupling section and the Keplerian fixing section are individually fixedly supported on the substrate 1 by support members 15 and 16, respectively.

Therefore, even if a load is applied to the Kepler 13 from the outside, this load does not directly act on the optical lens system coupling part, and the positional shift of the optical lens system coupling part is prevented. Also,
The stress accumulated in the optical lens system coupling part is easily released to the free part of the optical fiber 6 between it and the Keplerian fixed part, improving environmental resistance.

Next, FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, and is a cross-sectional elevational view showing the overall structure of an optical demultiplexer having basically the same function as that described above. Optical input/output component 3 in this embodiment. 4. 5 (only 4°5 shown) has a component configuration as shown in FIG.
OA is not a metal but a fiber wire 7 (see Figure 1)
Alternatively, it is made of a material that is the same or almost the same as the lens 9, such as ceramics. The filter 2 and the optical lens system coupling portion of the light output component 3.4.5 are mounted not on a metal substrate but on a common substrate IA made of glass or an equivalent material. In this case, the support member 15A of the optical lens system coupling portion is also made of glass or an equivalent material. The substrate IA is then fixed to a metal support plate 20 via a buffer layer 18 made of a flexible material, for example a silicone adhesive. This support plate forms the bottom box of the casing of the optical device, and reference numeral 21A indicates a cover. On the other hand, the Keplerian fixing part of the optical input/output component, that is, the sleeve 14, is fitted into a notch formed in the side wall of the support plate (bottom box of the housing) 20 and fixed with a suitable fixture (not shown). Ru.

According to this structure, the functional parts of the optical device, that is, the optical lens system coupling parts of the filter 2 and the optical input/output parts 3, 4.5, are supported in a so-called floating state with respect to the housing (support plate) 20 and the Keplerian fixing part. As a result, it is not directly affected by external loads such as vibrations and shocks, or by temperature cycles, and has excellent environmental resistance. In this structure, the connecting parts of the Keplerian joint, that is, the ferrule 17 and the sleeve 14, may be made of metal or ceramic.

Furthermore, in both the first and second embodiments described above, the lens 9 of the optical input/output component has a hemispherical shape at one end and a flat surface at the other end; however, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, It may also be a combination of a spherical lens and a converging cylindrical lens (Selfox lens).

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, according to the present invention, by making the optical lens system coupling part and the Keplerian fixing part of the light input/output component independent from each other, the optical lens system It is possible to prevent displacement of the joint and release stress accumulated in the optical lens system joint.

In addition to the mutual independence of the optical lens system coupling part of the optical input/output component and the Keplerian fixed part, the optical device functional part including the optical functional component and the optical lens system coupling part of the optical input/output component can be placed in a floating state. By installing this, it is possible to achieve high environmental resistance.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an elevational sectional view of a main part of a first embodiment of an optical demultiplexer according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is an elevational sectional view of the overall configuration of a second embodiment of the optical demultiplexer according to the present invention. FIGS. 3 and 4 are a plan view and an elevational cross-sectional view of a main part of a conventional optical demultiplexer, respectively. 1. LA- board, 2- filter, 3.4.
5-Optical input/output components, 6-Optical fiber, 7-- Fiber wire 1, 8.8A... Ferrule, 9- Lens,
10. IOA・-Sleeve, , 11-・
Optical connector, 12... Cover, 13... Kepler, 14... Sleeve, 15.15A, 16...
- support member, 17... - ferrule, 18 - buffer layer,
20--Support plate (bottom box of housing), 21.21A--Cover. Figure 3

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An optical functional component, and a pigtail type optical input/output component for optical input/output to the optical functional component, which is formed by coupling an optical lens system to one end of an optical fiber and reinforcing the optical fiber with Kepler. and a substrate on which the optical functional component and the optical input/output component are mounted, wherein the optical lens system coupling portion to the optical fiber and the Keplerian fixing portion to the optical fiber in the optical input/output component are independent from each other. An optical device characterized in that the optical input/output component is individually fixed to the substrate at the Keplerian fixing part and the optical lens system coupling part. 2. An optical functional component, a pigtail type optical input/output component for optical input/output to the optical functional component, which is formed by coupling an optical lens system to one end of an optical fiber and reinforcing the optical fiber with Kepler, and the optical functional component. and a board on which an optical input/output component is mounted, the optical lens system coupling part to the optical fiber and the Keplerian fixing part to the optical fiber in the optical input/output component are mutually independent, and the optical The coupling member for coupling the optical lens system to the fiber is made of a material substantially equivalent to the optical fiber or the lens, and the optical lens system coupling portion of the optical functional component and the optical input/output component is made of glass or a material equivalent thereto. The optical input/output components are fixed to a common substrate, and the substrate is mounted on a metal support plate via a buffer layer made of a flexible material, and the Keplerian fixing part of the optical input/output component is fixed to the metal support plate. optical device.