JPS6285838A - Measuring instrument for optical fiber characteristic - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To efficiently measure characteristics by installing plural carriers where an optical fiber to be measured is set at an installation station. CONSTITUTION:A bobbin 20 is mounted on a carrier 25 at a set station A together with both end parts 1 of the optical fiber to be measured. This carrier 25 is movable on rails from the station A to measurement stations B-E, but there is a gap part between the rails 21 of the station A and the rails 23 of the station B. A base 19 which extends thin and long at right angles of the prologation direction of the rails is provided at the gap parts between the rails so that it moves forth and back on the rails in the extension direction of the base. Plural carriers are installed on the installation station Z on the base 19 to carry on measuring operation up to the final carrier of the station Z without any delay.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (a) Technical field to which the invention pertains The present invention relates to an automatic measuring device for various transmission characteristics of a source fiber. - Taking the measurement of a multimode fiber as an example, items to be measured include loss, band, structure, etc., and the present invention can measure loss, band, etc. between the light incident on one end of the optical fiber and the light emitted from the other end. This invention relates to an automatic measuring device for measurement items that require measuring the relationship between light and light.

(1) Conventional technology and its problems The measurement items necessary for evaluating optical fibers include the outer diameter of the fiber, the geometric structure such as the core diameter and its non-circularity, the fiber parameters such as the refractive index distribution, and the optical There are transmission characteristics represented by loss, transmission band, etc. Among these, special optical loss and transmission band are important when designing a transmission line.

Regarding optical loss, we use the transmission method, which directly measures the attenuation of light propagating in the optical fiber under test, the backscattering method, which measures the attenuation of Rayleigh backscattered light generated in the fiber, and the transmission band. Typically, measurements are made in the frequency domain or in the time domain.

Figure 7 shows the patent application filed by the applicant in 1980-280.
1 shows a schematic diagram of an automatic characteristic device for optical fiber transmission characteristics proposed in 777. At this device pressure, the optical fibers to be measured 10 to 10d have both ends 1 to 1d connected to the carriers 11 to 1.
1d via the optical fiber holders 7 to 7d to be measured at the setting station A, and then sent on a rail (not shown) in the direction of the arrow 12 to the measuring station B,
C.

Moved to D and E. At each measurement station, a pair of moving tables 13a, 13a' to 13d, 1
Fiber holder 8a+8 placed on 3d'
a'~8d.

8d', photodetectors 3a-3d and light sources 23-2, respectively.
measurement side optical fibers 6a+6a' to 6d connected to d,
6d' is set. In such a measuring device, an optical fiber to be measured placed on a carrier is sequentially sent to stations AMB-)C-+D→E, and the carrier is moved so that the optical fiber to be measured and the optical fiber on the measuring instrument side are coaxially aligned. By positioning 11 to 11d, the light source, the measuring optical fiber, the optical fiber to be measured, the measuring device optical fiber, and the photodetector are connected in series, thereby measuring the characteristics of the optical fiber to be measured. be able to. Although the details are described in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application No. 59-280777, the connection and alignment of the optical fiber to be measured and the optical fiber on the measuring side will be briefly explained. First, set station A
The amount of protrusion of the tip of the optical fiber end 1 to be measured from the reference position of the carrier 11 is 1. (not shown) is optically detected. Next, at each measurement station, the moving table 13a + 1
3a' to 13d * Using the sensor (not shown) provided at 13d', the measuring instrument side optical fibers 6a, 6a' to 6
The distance t2 (not shown) between the tips of d and 6d' and the reference position on the carriers 11a to 11d is determined. 1. , 22
After determining t2 and tl, the movable tables 13a, 13a' to 13d, 13d' are automatically moved in the direction of arrow 15 so that the difference between t2 and tl becomes the interval required for measurement. Next, regarding the axis alignment of the optical fiber to be measured and the measuring instrument side optical fiber, the measuring instrument side fiber holder 8at8a' to 8
d and 8d' are respectively connected to the measuring instrument side optical fiber 6a,
Adjustments are made by moving in a direction perpendicular to the axes 6 a' to 6 d and 6 d', that is, in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which light enters and exits. This K is fiber holder 8a + 8a'~8
d.

8d' may be gradually changed in position in two directions within a plane perpendicular to the axis of the original fiber, and the optical power may be monitored to automatically determine the peak of the optical power.

When measuring the characteristics of an optical fiber using such a device, the carriers 11 to 11d are simultaneously sent to each station by so-called pitch feeding. Therefore, the optical fiber characteristic measurement work will be most efficient if the time required for the work (positioning and measurement) at each station is equal. Therefore, efforts are made to equalize the time required for each measurement station. Since the time required for positioning and connecting the optical fibers does not differ greatly between measurement stations due to automation, it is effective to equalize the time required for measurement. For example, it is necessary to devise the number of measurement items for each measurement station, or to devise a measurement processing method or device. More specifically, for measurement items that would require a long calculation processing time with a normal device, a measurement device with a faster calculation processing speed may be used, even if it is costly.In this way, each measurement The time required for work at a station can be approximately constant.

However, it is difficult to make the time required for the work at the set station constant for each fiber under test.

This is because humans must perform precision work manually.

That is, removing the coating from the fiber end in order to stably set the fiber end on the fiber holder 7, cutting the glass part (core and cladding) to obtain a clean and smooth end surface enough for measurement, and cutting the fiber end into a carrier. It is necessary to set the fiber end on the fiber holder 7 on the fiber holder 7 with an accuracy on the order of several μm. All of these tasks require skill, and variations in time are unavoidable. Particularly when cutting glass parts, it is difficult to obtain a sufficiently smooth end surface for measurement, and it is often necessary to cut the glass portion many times before obtaining a good end surface.

(／→ Purpose of the Invention The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional circumstances,
Regardless of variations in the time required for work at the set station, carriers with optical fibers to be measured are sent to each measurement station at regular intervals according to the time required for work at each measurement station, thereby increasing efficiency. The purpose is to measure the characteristics of the optical fiber under test.

B) Structure of the Invention The present invention includes a set station in which both ends of an optical fiber to be measured are placed on a carrier approximately parallel to each other, and an optical fiber to be measured placed on the carrier that is moved from the set station along a moving path. In order to measure the characteristics of the fiber, the optical measurement system is equipped with a plurality of measurement stations whose positions can be adjusted so that the entrance and exit ports of the optical measurement system are arranged substantially parallel to each other and are arranged coaxially with both ends of the optical fiber to be measured. In the original fiber characteristic measuring device, the moving path that guides the carrier from the set station to the measurement station has a gap between the set station controller and the measurement station, and the optical fiber to be measured is set in the gap. The present invention is characterized in that a detention station is provided with a plurality of movable connection paths capable of temporarily retaining a plurality of the carriers and sequentially sending them out to the measurement station.

(e) Effect of the invention According to the above configuration, the object to be measured at the set station
, 7 It, 7 Aibar carriers are placed in the detention station provided between the set station and the measurement station, so even if the time required for work at the set station varies, the placement station color ff1
ll The carrier can be continuously fed to a fixed station at fixed time intervals that correspond to the time required for work at the measuring station.

(F) Embodiments of the Invention Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. 1 to 5 show an embodiment related to the carrier moving part of the optical fiber characteristic measuring apparatus including the indwelling station.
The carrier 25 is attached to the bobbin 20 together with the optical fiber ends 1.
are also placed directly. Such a configuration can be implemented when the bobbin is small. If the bobbin is relatively large and it is difficult to place it directly on the carrier, the carrier 25 may be used as shown in the schematic front view of the carrier in FIG.
Alternatively, the bobbin support bracket 26 may be erected to support the bobbin 20' above the carrier. The carrier 25 can move on the rail 21 in the direction from the set station A to the measuring station BE, but a gap exists between the rail 21 of the set station and the rail 25 of the measuring station.

In the gap portion 9 of the rail, a base 19 extending long and thin in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the rail is provided so as to be able to reciprocate on a rail (not shown) along the extending direction of the base. On this base 19, a plurality of sets, in this embodiment, four sets of connection rails 22 to 22'' are connected to the set station A and the set station F.
llt1 are arranged parallel to each other at a predetermined interval so as to extend in the same direction, that is, parallel to the fixed rails 21, 23 of fixed stations B to E, respectively, and the base 19
By moving the rails 21, 23, any set of connecting rails can be aligned in line with the fixedly arranged rails 21,23.

Each set of connecting rails on base 19 has a length approximately equal to the gap between rails 21 and 26. Therefore, by aligning any connecting rail on base 19 with rail 21.23, a nearly connected series of rails will be formed leading to set station A and measurement stage B-E. . As shown in FIG. 1, the base 19 is initially placed in such a position that the rail 22 at one end is aligned with the rails 21 and 23 on the set station and measurement station sides, respectively. The carrier 25 on which the optical fiber 10 to be measured is mounted at the set station A moves from the position shown in FIG. 1 on the rail 21 to the rail 22 on the base 19 and enters the holding station Z (FIG. 2). Next, the base 19 is moved in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the rail, that is, in the right direction in FIG. 2 (FIG. 6). Therefore, each of the connecting rails on the base 19 is also moved rightward at the same time, and as shown in FIG. It will receive the next carrier 25' from. This operation results in a plurality of carriers, e.g. (Figure 4).Next, with a plurality of carriers being placed in detention station Z, delivery of the carriers to measurement station B from placement stay 7 Z is started.
When sending the carrier from measurement station B to measurement station B, the base 19 is moved as necessary so that one of the connection rails 22 to 22'' on which the carrier is placed is located at a position where it connects to the rail 25 of the measurement station. (Figure 4)
. Next, the carrier placed on the connection rail on the base 19 connected to the rail 26 is sent out from the detention station Z to the measurement station B. Thereafter, in the same manner, the carrier on the holding station, that is, the base 19, is sent out at predetermined time intervals depending on the time required for work at each measurement station, and at each measurement station B to E, the optical fibers on the measuring side and the measured side are sequentially connected. After positioning and connection, various characteristics of the optical fiber to be measured are measured. In other words, each time a new carrier is sent out from detention station Z, the carriers that were previously sent out to measurement stations B-E are sequentially moved step by step from measurement station B toward E. (During the measurement process, each carrier is arranged as shown in Figure 5. Measuring station B
Measurement of the characteristics of the optical fiber under test at -E is performed in the same manner as described in the prior art. During this time, the carrier is also continued to be sent from the set station A to the detention station Z in parallel. That is, the base 19 is connected to the rail 21 so that any one of the plurality of connection rails 22 to 227 on the base 19 on which no carrier is placed is connected to the rail 21.
The carrier is moved from station A to detention station Z by moving the carrier as necessary.

According to the above embodiment, if the time required for work at set station A becomes longer than the time required for work at each measurement station B-E, the number of carriers on indwelling station Z decreases, but the number of carriers at the indwelling station decreases. Measuring work at the measuring station continues without delay until the amount is exhausted. Conversely, if the time required for work at each of the 11111 fixed stations BE becomes longer than the time required at the set station A, the number of carriers on the indwelling station 2 increases. In any case, according to this embodiment, the work of setting the optical fiber to be measured onto the carrier at the setting station A can be carried out while protecting the worker's 4-space. Without this indwelling station, set station A and each measurement 2 f-A~. ,,:. 11a 7゜yu. Eh, yo □ business. However, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of wasted time. Even if detention station Z is a carrier and becomes 0, or the carrier of the detention station becomes 0, at least the efficiency will not be worse than if no detention station was installed. The number of carriers that can be housed can be arbitrarily determined regardless of this embodiment.

(g) Effects of the Invention As described above, according to the present invention, the carrier on which the optical fiber to be measured is set at the seventh station can be Several carriers are placed in a holding station installed between the set station and the measurement station, so even if the time required for the work at the set station varies, the carriers can be sent from the holding station to the measurement station at the measurement station. It can be performed continuously at fixed time intervals according to the required time for the work. In this way, it is possible to efficiently measure the characteristics of the optical fiber.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 to 5 are schematic plan views of an embodiment of the carrier moving portion of the optical fiber characteristic measuring device according to the present invention including a detention station, and FIG. 6 is a schematic front view of a modified example of the carrier supporting a large bobbin. , FIG. 7 is an overall schematic plan view of a conventional optical fiber characteristic measuring device. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Both ends of optical fiber to be measured, 10... Optical fiber to be measured, il, 25... Carrier, 21
．． 23... Travel route, 22... Connecting travel route, A-.
...Set station, B-E...Measurement station, Z...Detention station. Patent rice cake Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. (5 others) Figure 3

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) Measurement of characteristics of a set station where both ends of the optical fiber to be measured are set on a carrier approximately parallel to each other, and an optical fiber to be measured placed on the carrier that is moved from the set station along a moving path. The optical fiber characteristic measurement system is equipped with a plurality of measurement stations whose positions can be adjusted so that the optical measurement system entrance and exit ports, each arranged approximately in parallel, are aligned coaxially with the tips of both ends of the optical fiber to be measured. In the apparatus, the moving path for guiding the carriers from the set station to the measurement station has a gap between the set station and the measurement station, and the plurality of carriers have optical fibers to be measured set in the gap. 1. An optical fiber characteristic measuring device, comprising: a detention station having a plurality of movable connection paths for temporarily storing fibers and sequentially sending them to the measurement station. (2) The detention station includes a base portion that can reciprocate in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the movement path, and the base portion has a plurality of base portions arranged on the upper surface thereof, each parallel to the movement path and at a predetermined interval from each other. a set of connecting movement paths, each of the connection movement paths having a length approximately equal to the gap between the movement paths;
Furthermore, by the movement of the base portion, any one of the plurality of sets of connecting travel paths is aligned with the travel paths on the set station side and the measurement station side, so that a substantially continuous path from the set station to the measurement station is formed. The optical fiber characteristic measuring device according to claim 1, characterized in that a series of moving paths is formed. (3) The optical fiber characteristic measuring device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the carrier carries a bobbin of the optical fiber to be measured as well as both ends of the optical fiber to be measured.