JPS63161410A - Assembling jig device for fiber module for optical communication - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the deviation of an optical axis system and to accurately assemble a fiber module by providing plural pressurizing jigs, which press the stem of a cap and the flange part of a fiber support to a reception base, and respective pressuring jig operating mechanisms. CONSTITUTION:Four operation levers 23 are concentrically and radially arranged around a reception base 22 at equal intervals of an angle, and respective detaining arms 24... are operated independently of one another by different operation levers 23 and air cylinders 26. After a flange part 18 of a fiber support 16 is surely fitted to a stem 19, respective air cylinders 26 are operated to fix the flange part 18 by pressurizing. In this pressurized state, YAG laser light is projected to plural positions of the flange part 18 of the fiber support 16 from the vertical direction to fix the flange part 18 to the stem 19 by spot welding. In this case, the stem 19 is finely adjusted in X and Y directions each time when one of points A-H is welded, and fine adjustment is repeated for welding of each point. Thus, the fiber module is assembled with a high prevision finally.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to an assembly of an optical communication fiber module used when assembling and manufacturing an optical communication fiber module using an optical semiconductor element and a fiber. Regarding jig devices.

(Prior art) Conventionally, in optical communication fiber modules using laser diodes and fibers, alignment of the optical axes between the laser diodes and the fibers is extremely important, and the adjustment has been carried out on the order of submicrons. Accuracy is required.

Incidentally, conventionally, the structure of this type of fiber module for optical communication is such that light emitted from a lens 2 of a lens cap 1 containing a laser diode is input into a fiber 3, as shown in FIG. When manufacturing this fiber module for optical communication by assembling, the holder 4 that supports the fiber 3 is placed on the top surface of the lens camp 1, and the optical axis is adjusted by pressing the holder 4 so that there is no gap between them and adjusting the optical axis. It is fixed by welding.

However, in this conventional structure, since the lens cap 1 has a hollow structure, the lens cap 1 shakes during the optical axis adjustment, making it impossible to linearly adjust the optical axis. The rigidity was also low.

Therefore, an optical communication fiber module (unpublished technology) having a structure as shown in FIG. 5 was devised.

That is, a stem 6 for receiving the cover 5 is provided on the lens cap 1 containing the optical semiconductor element, and the tip of the fiber 3 passing through the cover 5 is aligned with the optical axis of the optical semiconductor element and is optically opposed to the optical semiconductor element. A holder (fiber support) 4 for supporting this fiber 3 is attached and fixed to the stem 6.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) By the way, when assembling fiber modules for optical communication, soldering has generally been used in many cases. This will have a negative effect, and the thermal stress will cause things that should be fixed to become misaligned.

Therefore, we decided to use YAG laser welding, which can be joined at a lower temperature than solder.

It is considered to be adopted.

However, when the holder 4 and the stem 6 are brought together and the mating surfaces are fixed by YAG laser welding, there is a gap between the mating surfaces of the holder 4 and the stem 6, which prevents the shrinkage of the materials of both the holder 4 and the stem 6. Due to the difference, the holder 4 is pulled together by the gap, and the optical axis is adjusted once and positioned.
or the stem 6 will be displaced, resulting in a misalignment of the optical axis system. Furthermore, if the parts are assembled with such misalignment, it is possible to melt the solder and try again when soldering, but this is difficult in the case of laser welding.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its object is to provide an optical communication fiber that can be assembled accurately by reducing the deviation of the optical axis system when the optical axis is adjusted and positioned. An object of the present invention is to provide a module assembly jig device.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means and Effects for Solving the Problems) In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a stem in a cap containing an optical semiconductor element, and aligns the optical axis with the optical semiconductor element. In an assembly jig device for an optical communication fiber module, which is used when assembling an optical communication fiber module in which a fiber support for supporting optically opposing fibers is attached and fixed to the stem, the stem of the cap and A cradle for receiving either one of the seven flange parts of the fiber support to be joined to the cradle, and a plurality of mounts for pressing the stem of the cap and the other one of the seven flange parts of the fiber support to be joined to the cradle from the side opposite to the cradle. It is equipped with a pressure jig and a mechanism for operating each pressure jig.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described based on FIGS. 1 to 3. Reference numeral 10 in FIG. 1 indicates a fiber module for optical communication. As shown in FIG. 3, this optical communication fiber module 10 has a cap 11 with a hollow interior.
An optical semiconductor, such as a laser diode 12, is installed inside the cap 11. This cap 11
A lens 13 for condensing the laser light emitted from the laser diode 12 is provided on the earthen wall.

The input end of the fiber 14 is optically opposed to the position where the laser beam is focused by the lens 13. The input end side portion 15 of the fiber 14 is inserted into the small diameter cylindrical portion 17 of the fiber support 16 and fixed by welding using a YAG laser or the like.

That is, the fiber support 16 covers the cap 11, and the flange portion 18 at the periphery of the opening thereof is attached and fixed to the stem 19 of the cap 11 by a method described later. Further, the outside of the fiber support 16 surrounding the cap 11 is surrounded by a cover (not shown), and the peripheral edge of this cover is connected to the stem 19 of the cap 11.
It is attached and fixed by YAG laser welding or the like.

Further, the fiber 14 passes through the upper part of the cover and is led out to the outside, and is fixedly attached to the cover. The fiber 1 located between each fixation to the fiber 14 by the fiber support 16 and the cover
4, a small diameter flexible portion 21 is formed in the middle.

When this optical communication fiber module 10 is assembled, it is supported by an assembly jig device as shown below. That is, a pedestal 22 is provided on which the lower surface of the stem 19 of the cap 11 is placed over the entire circumference.
Four operating levers 23 are arranged concentrically and radially at equal angular intervals around the lever 2 . Each operating lever 23
A presser arm 24 is provided protrudingly from each of the opposing inner ends. Each presser arm 24...haha second
As shown in the figure, the flange portion 18 of the fiber support 16 joined to the stem 19 of the cap 11 is pressed from above with the same pressure.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, each operating lever 23 is pivoted at its intermediate portion to a support arm 25 so as to be movable up and down, and is supported by a so-called independent suspension system.

Furthermore, air cylinders 26 are connected to the outer ends of the support arms 25, respectively. The operating lever 23 is individually rotated by each air cylinder 26.

In other words, each presser arm 24 is individually and independently operated by a different operating lever 23 and air cylinder 26. Note that the tip end portion 27 of each presser arm 24 is sharpened by cutting off the left and right upper surfaces diagonally.

Next, a procedure for assembling the optical communication fiber module 10 using the assembly jig device having this configuration will be explained.

First, place the stem 19 of the cap 11 on the pedestal 22,
The cap 11 is covered with a fiber support 16.

Then, after ensuring that the flange portion 18 of the fiber support 16 is aligned with the stem 19 of the cap 11, each air cylinder 26 is actuated to individually rotate each operating lever 23, and each presser foot is rotated. The tips 27 of the arms 24 are pressed against the flange 18 of the fiber support 16. Then, by applying pressure, the cap 11
The flange portion 18 of the fiber support 16 is fixed to the stem 19 of the fiber support 16 under pressure. The input end side portion 15 of the fiber 14 is vertically inserted into the small diameter cylindrical portion 17 of the fixed fiber support 16 and positioned. In this state, a current is applied to the laser diode 12 to cause the laser diode 12 to emit light. This laser light is focused by a lens 13 and made incident on a fiber 14, and the output from the output end of the fiber 14 is measured with a power meter. and,
The input end side portion 15 of the fiber 14 is moved and adjusted in each of the XYZ directions to select a position where the output power from the output end of the fiber 14 has a maximum value and fix it at this position. moreover,
30 to 40 inches considering the effect of heat due to soldering
Move it upward in the Z direction. Here, solder 30 is injected and the small diameter cylindrical portion 17 is heated using a soldering iron or high frequency to perform soldering.

Thereafter, the driving force of each air cylinder 26 is weakened to reduce the pressing force exerted by each presser arm 24 to zero.

Then, while fixing the fiber support 16, move the stem 19 of the cap 11 in the XY direction to
Search for the position where the output power from the output end of No. 4 has the maximum value. When the output power reaches the maximum value, each presser arm 2
4... is applied, and at this time, the stem 18 of the cap 11 is finely adjusted in the XY directions while applying pressure slowly.

Then, until the mating surfaces of the stem 18 of the cap 11 and the flange portion 18 of the fiber support 16 are firmly mated, and the flange portion 18 of the fiber support 16 is pressed by the presser arm 24 . Make fine adjustments in the X and Y directions without applying pressure. The output power reaches its maximum value when this fine adjustment is completed.

Therefore, while maintaining this pressurized state, a YAG laser beam is irradiated from a direction perpendicular to each of multiple locations on the flange portion 18 of the fiber support 16 against the stem 19 of the cap 11, as shown in FIG. Then, weld it in spots to fix it. In this case, fine adjustment of the stem 19 of the cap 11 in the XY directions is repeated every time each point A-H is welded. In other words, repeated fine adjustments are made while welding one point at a time. Furthermore, in this case, each point A-H
Weld in the order of A, B, C, . . . H so that they are diagonal in order.

Therefore, the small diameter cylindrical portion 17 of the fiber support 16
Since the clearance between the fiber 14 and the input end side portion 15 of the fiber 14 can be increased, the positions of both can be easily adjusted.

Further, the influence of positional displacement due to thermal expansion due to soldering can be significantly reduced by readjusting the fiber support 16 and stem 19 in the X and Y directions.

Furthermore, by pressurizing the mating surface between the flange portion 18 of the fiber support 16 and the stem 19, positional displacement due to the difference in shrinkage in the X and Y directions that occurs during YAG laser welding can be significantly reduced.

In other words, by irradiating the YAG laser beam from the vertical direction and welding, shrinkage during welding is thought to occur only in two directions, but this is pressurized by each presser arm 24, and this pressurizing force This is because I tried to prevent it from happening.

Also, at this time, each presser arm 24 applies the same pressure at the same time, and normally the entire surface of the flange portion 18 of the fiber support 16 follows the surface of the stem 19 of the cap 11, eliminating any gap between the mating surfaces. However, even if a slight positional deviation occurs, the position is corrected each time one point is welded, and the positional deviation is corrected, so the final result is high accuracy. It can be assembled with.

Further, by welding the vicinity of the holding arms 24, it is possible to weld the parts where the flange portion 18 and the stem 19 are firmly aligned.

Furthermore, since the fiber 14 is soldered to the small-diameter cylindrical portion 17 of the fiber support 16, the optical axis will not shift even if a load is applied to the fiber 14. By fixing by welding, it can be fixed almost completely without shifting.

Note that the present invention is applicable not only to light-emitting elements such as the laser diode described above, but also to light-receiving elements and the like. Furthermore, the apparatus and method having the above structure can be applied to other cases in which two objects are fixed by laser welding. Further, in the above embodiment, the stem 19 is supported by the pedestal 22, but the flange portion 18 side may be supported.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, when a cap containing an optical semiconductor element and a fiber support are fixed by YAG laser welding, positional displacement caused by a difference in material shrinkage of the joint portion can be avoided. As a result, both can be fixed almost completely without any displacement.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the main part of the embodiment device, and FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the main part of the embodiment device. FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of a conventional fiber module, and FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of another fiber module. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10... Optical communication fiber module, 11... Cap, 12... Laser diode, 14... Fiber, 16... Fiber support, 18... Flange portion, 19... Stem, 23 ...Operating lever, 24
... Presser arm, 26... Air cylinder. Applicant's agent Patent attorney Takehiko Suzue Figure 1'' No. 4 Loe

Claims (1)

[Claims] A fiber module for optical communication is provided, in which a stem is provided on a cap containing an optical semiconductor element, and a fiber support is attached and fixed to the stem for aligning the optical axis with the optical semiconductor element and supporting a fiber optically facing the optical semiconductor element. In an assembly jig for an optical communication fiber module used during assembly, there is a cradle for receiving either the stem of the cap or the flange of the fiber support to be joined to the stem, and a A fiber module for optical communication, comprising a plurality of pressure jigs for pressing the other of the stem of the cap and the flange of the fiber support joined to the stem, and a mechanism for operating each of the pressure jigs. assembly jig device.