JPS6321609A - Optical branching and coupling element for optical fiber - Google Patents

Optical branching and coupling element for optical fiber

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Publication number
JPS6321609A
JPS6321609A JP61165642A JP16564286A JPS6321609A JP S6321609 A JPS6321609 A JP S6321609A JP 61165642 A JP61165642 A JP 61165642A JP 16564286 A JP16564286 A JP 16564286A JP S6321609 A JPS6321609 A JP S6321609A
Authority
JP
Japan
Prior art keywords
optical
layer
coupling element
branching
light
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
JP61165642A
Other languages
Japanese (ja)
Other versions
JPH0555841B2 (en
Inventor
Eiji Toba
鳥羽 栄治
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Terumo Corp
Original Assignee
Terumo Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Terumo Corp filed Critical Terumo Corp
Priority to JP61165642A priority Critical patent/JPS6321609A/en
Publication of JPS6321609A publication Critical patent/JPS6321609A/en
Publication of JPH0555841B2 publication Critical patent/JPH0555841B2/ja
Granted legal-status Critical Current

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  • Optical Couplings Of Light Guides (AREA)
  • Optical Integrated Circuits (AREA)

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce insertion loss and to obtain uniform branching characteristics by composing an optical branching and coupling element of a branch-shaped internal layer which extends in the axial directions of pleural optical fibers and an external layer covering it, and decreasing the refractive index from the internal layer successively. CONSTITUTION:This element consists of the internal layer 13 which connects the optical fibers 10-12, an intermediate layer 14 formed at its outer periphery, an external layer 15 formed at the outer peripheries of the fibers 10-12, and matching layers 16-18 provided between the fibers 10-12 and layer 13. The refractive index of the layer 14 is between the refractive indexes of the layers 13 and 15. In this constitution, even if there is interface mismatching between the layers 13 and 14 and light is transmitted through the light 14, the light is reflected totally by the interface between the layers 14 and 15, so the light is propagated in the layer 13 again. Thus, the light loss is reduced. Further, the layers 16-18 are provided to reduce the coupling loss between the optical fibers and optical branching and coupling element and then reduce the light loss. Consequently, the uniformity of light output between output ports becomes superior.

Description

【発明の詳細な説明】 ■1発明の背景 (1)技術分野 本発明は、光ファイバ用光分岐・結合素子に関する。さ
らに詳しくは、光分岐又は光結合素子として使用される
光ファイバ用光分岐・結合素子に関する。
Detailed Description of the Invention (1) Background of the Invention (1) Technical Field The present invention relates to an optical branching/coupling element for optical fibers. More specifically, the present invention relates to an optical branching/coupling element for optical fibers used as an optical branching or coupling element.

(2)先行技術およびその問題点 プラスチック製の光ファイバ用光分岐・結合素子として
、UV硬化アクリル樹脂を用いた2層クラッド構成の光
ファイバ用光導波路が報告されている(第2回オプティ
ックスとエレクトロニクス有機材料に関するシンポジウ
ム 1985゜5/1〜2)。
(2) Prior art and its problems An optical waveguide for optical fibers with a two-layer cladding structure using UV-cured acrylic resin has been reported as an optical branching/coupling element for optical fibers made of plastic (2nd Optics and Symposium on Organic Materials for Electronics 1985゜5/1-2).

この光ファイバ用先導波路は、屈折率の異なるUV硬化
アクリル樹脂を用いコアとクラッドを成形したものであ
るが、まだ挿入損失が大きく又出力間の分岐特性に均一
性を欠いているため、実用的な光分岐・結合素子として
満足できるものとはいえなかった。
This optical fiber guiding waveguide has a core and cladding made of UV-cured acrylic resin with different refractive indexes, but it still has a large insertion loss and lacks uniformity in branching characteristics between outputs, making it difficult to put into practical use. This could not be said to be a satisfactory optical branching/coupling element.

+1 、発明の目的 本発明の目的は、上記先行技術の問題点を解決して、実
用的な光分岐・結合素子として使用できる、挿入損失が
小さく出力間の分岐特性に均一性のある光ファイバ用光
分岐・・結合素子を提供することにある。
+1. Purpose of the Invention The purpose of the present invention is to solve the problems of the prior art described above and to provide an optical fiber with low insertion loss and uniform branching characteristics between outputs, which can be used as a practical optical branching/coupling device. The purpose of the present invention is to provide an optical branching/coupling element for use.

更に、本発明の目的は、製造が簡単で安価な光ファイバ
用光分岐・結合素子を提供することにある。
A further object of the present invention is to provide an optical branching/coupling element for optical fibers that is easy to manufacture and inexpensive.

III 、発明の構成 前記目的を達成するために、本発明の光ファイバ用光分
岐・結合素子は、複数の光ファイバの軸方向に伸びた枝
状の内層と、該内層を被包する中間層と、該中間層を被
包する外層との少なくとも3つの層から構成され、内層
から外層に向って屈折率が順に小さくなっている。
III. Structure of the Invention In order to achieve the above object, the optical branching/coupling element for optical fibers of the present invention comprises a branch-shaped inner layer extending in the axial direction of a plurality of optical fibers, and an intermediate layer enclosing the inner layer. and an outer layer enclosing the intermediate layer, and the refractive index decreases in order from the inner layer to the outer layer.

本発明の好ましい態様において、光分岐・結合素子を構
成する中間層は、内層と外層との整合層となるマツチン
グオイルである。
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the intermediate layer constituting the optical branching/coupling element is a matching oil that serves as a matching layer between the inner layer and the outer layer.

本発明の好ましい態様において、光分岐・結合素子を構
成する中間層の厚さは、1μmから20μmの間である
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the thickness of the intermediate layer constituting the optical branching/coupling element is between 1 μm and 20 μm.

IV 、発明の詳細な説明 第1図は本発明にかかわる一実施例の光ファイバ用光分
岐・結合素子の構成図である。第2図および第3図は、
各々第1図のAA’ およびBB’の縦断面を示したも
のである。光ファイバ10から出射した光を光ファイバ
11.12に分岐する分岐素子であり、光ファイバ11
.12から出射した光を光ファイバ10に結合する結合
素子でもある。光ファイバ10,11.12の間を接続
する内層13、内層13の外周に形成された中間層14
、中間層14および光ファイバ10,11゜12の外周
に形成された外層15、さらに光ファイバ10.it、
12と内層13の間に設けられた整合層16,17.1
8から構成されている。
IV. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an optical branching/coupling element for an optical fiber according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figures 2 and 3 are
1A and 1B, respectively, showing longitudinal sections taken along lines AA' and BB' in FIG. It is a branching element that branches the light emitted from the optical fiber 10 into the optical fibers 11 and 12.
.. It is also a coupling element that couples the light emitted from the optical fiber 12 to the optical fiber 10. An inner layer 13 connecting between the optical fibers 10, 11.12, and an intermediate layer 14 formed on the outer periphery of the inner layer 13.
, the intermediate layer 14 and the outer layer 15 formed around the outer periphery of the optical fibers 10, 11, 12, and the optical fiber 10. it,
Matching layer 16, 17.1 provided between 12 and inner layer 13
It consists of 8.

中間層14の屈折率は内層13の屈折率及び外層15の
屈折率の間の屈折率を有している。
The refractive index of the intermediate layer 14 is between the refractive index of the inner layer 13 and the refractive index of the outer layer 15.

従来の場合は、前述の中間層がなく全体が2層構成とな
っていた。第4図は、従来の光分岐・結合素子の光の伝
搬の状態を示した図である。光分岐・結合素子の端面の
中心に入射角θ0で光が入射するとき、この光が光分岐
・結合素子の中を伝搬するのは、コア19とクラッド2
0との間の界面で全反射しながら進行する場合であり、
全反射の条件はCO8θ’>n3/nlで与えられる。
In the conventional case, the above-mentioned intermediate layer was not provided, and the entire structure had a two-layer structure. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the state of light propagation in a conventional optical branching/coupling element. When light enters the center of the end face of the optical branching/coupling element at an incident angle θ0, this light propagates through the optical branching/coupling element through the core 19 and the cladding 2.
This is a case in which the process progresses while undergoing total reflection at the interface between 0 and 0.
The condition for total reflection is given by CO8θ'>n3/nl.

いまコア19およびクラッド2oの間に、第4図に示す
様な界面不整が生じたとすると、光はクラッド20を透
過し、光分岐・結合素子外に漏れてしまい、光損失を生
じることになる。
If an interface irregularity as shown in FIG. 4 occurs between the core 19 and the cladding 2o, the light will pass through the cladding 20 and leak out of the optical branching/coupling element, resulting in optical loss. .

一方、本実施例の場合、第5刃に示す様に光分岐・結合
素子が3層構成となっており、内層13と中間層14の
間に界面不整を生じ光が中間層14を透過しても、中間
層14と外層15の界面で全反射させることができ光は
再び内層13内を伝搬する。従って本実施例の場合、光
の漏れが少なくなり光損失を小さくすることができる。
On the other hand, in the case of this embodiment, the optical branching/coupling element has a three-layer structure as shown in the fifth blade, and an irregular interface occurs between the inner layer 13 and the intermediate layer 14, so that light does not pass through the intermediate layer 14. However, the light can be totally reflected at the interface between the intermediate layer 14 and the outer layer 15 and propagate within the inner layer 13 again. Therefore, in the case of this embodiment, the leakage of light is reduced and optical loss can be reduced.

また、さらに光ファイバio、11.12と内層13の
間に整合層を設けることにより光ファイバと光分岐・結
合素子の結合損失を少なくすることができ、光損失の低
減につながっている。
Furthermore, by providing a matching layer between the optical fibers io, 11, 12 and the inner layer 13, the coupling loss between the optical fiber and the optical branching/coupling element can be reduced, leading to a reduction in optical loss.

光分岐・結合素子の製造法としては、光ファイバ外径と
ほぼ等しい線幅で、光の全反射角度より小さい分岐角度
のY字形パターンを転写フィルム面に作成し、これをネ
ガフィルムに転写する。ネガフィルムとフォトレジスト
を密着させて紫外線露光後に洗浄し、短形断面のY字形
凸パターン(マスク型)を作製する。マスク型を使用し
て真空注型法によりシリコンゴムでY字形口バタンを作
成する。シリコンゴムで作製したY字形凹パターンの各
々の溝内に、端面を研磨した光ファイバを挿入する。な
お光ファイバの端面にはマツチングオイルを装荷してお
く。このマツチングオイルは屈折率整合液として用いら
れるものであり、シリコンオイルが好ましい。溝内に内
層用として高屈折率のUV硬化アクリル樹脂を所定量注
型し硬化させる。次にこの全表面に中間層用として、内
層用の高屈折率のUV硬化アクリル樹脂と外層用の低屈
折率のUV硬化アクリル樹脂の間の屈折率を持ったマツ
チングオイルを、均一な被膜を形成するように塗布する
。さらに外層用として低屈折率のUV硬化アクリル樹脂
を全面に注入し硬化させる。硬化後シリコンゴム型から
取りはずし、反対側も同様な方法でマツチングオイルの
塗布、外層の成形をおこなう。尚、両面を同時に行って
もよい。
The method for manufacturing the optical branching/coupling element is to create a Y-shaped pattern on the transfer film surface with a line width approximately equal to the outer diameter of the optical fiber and a branching angle smaller than the total reflection angle of light, and then transfer this onto a negative film. . A negative film and a photoresist are brought into close contact with each other and washed after exposure to ultraviolet rays to produce a Y-shaped convex pattern (mask type) with a rectangular cross section. A Y-shaped mouth button is made of silicone rubber by vacuum casting using a mask mold. An optical fiber with a polished end face is inserted into each groove of a Y-shaped concave pattern made of silicone rubber. Note that matching oil is loaded on the end face of the optical fiber. This matching oil is used as a refractive index matching liquid, and is preferably silicone oil. A predetermined amount of a high refractive index UV-curable acrylic resin for the inner layer is poured into the groove and cured. Next, a matching oil with a refractive index between the high refractive index UV-cured acrylic resin for the inner layer and the low-refractive index UV-cured acrylic resin for the outer layer is applied to the entire surface to form a uniform coating. Apply to form a . Furthermore, for the outer layer, a low refractive index UV-curable acrylic resin is injected into the entire surface and cured. After curing, remove from the silicone rubber mold, apply matting oil to the other side in the same way, and mold the outer layer. Incidentally, both sides may be treated at the same time.

中間層の厚さは1μ〜20μ、望ましくは7μ程度が良
い。外層の厚さ、形状は特に制限はない。中間層の均一
な被膜の方法としては、マツチングオイルの塗布後C1
硬化後の内層のUV硬化アクリル樹脂を垂直に立てるこ
とで達成される。
The thickness of the intermediate layer is preferably 1 to 20 microns, preferably about 7 microns. There are no particular restrictions on the thickness or shape of the outer layer. As a method for forming a uniform coating on the intermediate layer, apply C1 after applying matting oil.
This is achieved by standing the inner layer of UV-cured acrylic resin vertically after curing.

使用されたマツチングオイルは、屈折率整合液として用
いるものであり、シリコンオイルが好ましい。本実施例
で使用されたマツチングオイルは、0F−35A〜39
C(信越化学工業(株)製)である。
The matching oil used is used as a refractive index matching liquid, and is preferably silicone oil. The matching oil used in this example was 0F-35A to 39
C (manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.).

実施例 光ファイバ・・・φ1.Ommのプラスチック光ファイ
バ 内層 ・・・nl =1.556のUV硬化アクリル樹
脂 中間層・・・n2=1.458のマツチングオイル外層
 ・・・n3=1.449のUV硬化アクリル樹脂 を用い、分岐角ψ=17”、内層の幅1mmの短形断面
形状とした2分岐・結合素子を製作し、挿入損失Ls、
2出力ボ一ド間の均一性ηを従来品と比較した。
Example optical fiber...φ1. Omm plastic optical fiber inner layer...UV-cured acrylic resin intermediate layer with nl = 1.556...Matching oil outer layer with n2 = 1.458...UV-cured acrylic resin with n3 = 1.449, A two-branch/coupling element with a rectangular cross-section with a branch angle ψ=17" and an inner layer width of 1 mm was fabricated, and the insertion loss Ls,
The uniformity η between the two output boards was compared with that of a conventional product.

Ls=−10Qogxo  (P2+P3/Pl)y)
   =−IOflogto  (P3/P2)と足回
する。
Ls=-10Qogxo (P2+P3/Pl)y)
=-IOflogto (P3/P2) and turn around.

ここで Plは入力ボートの光パワー、P2゜P3は分
岐による出力ボートの光パワーを示す。
Here, Pl represents the optical power of the input port, and P2 and P3 represent the optical power of the output port due to branching.

751表に従来品と本実施例による3層構成からなる2
分枝光分岐・結合素子の比較を示す。
Table 751 shows the conventional product and the 3-layer structure according to this example.
A comparison of branching optical branching/coupling elements is shown.

第1表 (以下余白) 第1表に示す様に光分岐・結合素子を3層構成とするこ
とにより挿入損失が少なく、出力ボート間の出力の均一
性に浸れた光分岐・結合素子が製造可能であることがわ
かる。
Table 1 (blank below) As shown in Table 1, the optical branching/coupling element has a three-layer structure, which results in low insertion loss and uniform output between output ports. It turns out that it is possible.

尚、本実施例では3層の場合について説明したが、製造
の簡単さや値段の点が問題になるが、更に多層で構成さ
れてもよい。又、使用材料は、本発明の技術思想を達成
するものであれば、本例に限らない。
In this embodiment, a case of three layers has been described, but it may be configured with more layers, although ease of manufacture and cost are issues. Furthermore, the materials used are not limited to those shown in this example, as long as they achieve the technical idea of the present invention.

■9発明の具体的効果 前記のように、光分岐・結合素子を少なくとも3つの層
の構成とすることにより、従来の光分岐・結合素子より
挿入損失と分岐損失(出力ボート間の光出力の均一性)
が非常に少ない光ファイバ用光分岐・結合素子の実現に
成功した。
■9 Specific Effects of the Invention As mentioned above, by configuring the optical branching/coupling element to have at least three layers, the insertion loss and branching loss (light output between output ports) are lower than the conventional optical branching/coupling element. uniformity)
We have succeeded in realizing an optical branching/coupling element for optical fibers with very little loss.

本発明に係る光ファイバ用光分岐・結合素子は、ローカ
ル・エリア・ネットワーク(LAN)においてデータバ
スからの光信号モニタ、光計測用の光信号分岐・結合回
路素子あるいは光集積回路における光分岐回路素子とし
ても利用可能である。
The optical branching/coupling element for optical fibers according to the present invention is an optical signal branching/coupling circuit element for optical signal monitoring from a data bus in a local area network (LAN), an optical signal branching/coupling circuit element for optical measurement, or an optical branching circuit in an optical integrated circuit. It can also be used as an element.

更に、本発明の光ファイバ用光分岐・結合素子は製造が
簡単で、安価である。
Furthermore, the optical branching/coupling element for optical fibers of the present invention is easy to manufacture and inexpensive.

【図面の簡単な説明】[Brief explanation of drawings]

第1図は本発明に係る光ファイバ用光分岐・結合素子の
構成図、 第2図は第1図のAA“断面図、 第3図は第1図のBB’断面図、 第4図は従来の光ファイバ用光分岐・結合素子の光伝搬
説明図、 第5図は本発明に係る光ファイバ用光分岐・結合素子の
光伝m説明図である。 図中、10.11.12・・・ 光ファイバ、13・・
・光分岐・結合素子の内層、14・・・光分岐・結合素
子の中間層、15・・・光分岐・結合素子の外層、16
・・・光分岐・結合素子と光ファイバ1゜の整合層、1
7・・・光分岐・結合素子と光ファイバ11の整合層、
18・・・光分岐・結合素子と光ファイバ12の整合層
である。
Fig. 1 is a block diagram of an optical branching/coupling element for optical fibers according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along line AA in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a sectional view BB' in Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of light propagation in the conventional optical branching/coupling element for optical fibers. FIG.・・Optical fiber, 13・・
- Inner layer of optical branching/coupling element, 14... Intermediate layer of optical branching/coupling element, 15... Outer layer of optical branching/coupling element, 16
... Optical branching/coupling element and optical fiber 1° matching layer, 1
7... Optical branching/coupling element and matching layer of optical fiber 11,
18: A matching layer between the optical branching/coupling element and the optical fiber 12.

Claims (3)

【特許請求の範囲】[Claims] (1)複数の光ファイバ間に介在させて、光分岐および
光結合素子として使用される光ファイバ用光分岐・結合
素子において、前記複数の光ファイバの軸方向に伸びた
枝状の内層と、該内層を被包する中間層と、該中間層を
被包する外層との少なくとも3つの層から構成され、内
層から外層に向つて屈折率が順に小さくなつていること
を特徴とする光ファイバ用光分岐・結合素子。
(1) An optical branching/coupling element for optical fibers that is interposed between a plurality of optical fibers and used as an optical branching/coupling element, including a branch-shaped inner layer extending in the axial direction of the plurality of optical fibers; An optical fiber comprising at least three layers: an intermediate layer enclosing the inner layer and an outer layer enclosing the intermediate layer, the refractive index of which decreases in order from the inner layer to the outer layer. Optical branching/coupling element.
(2)光分岐・結合素子を構成する中間層は、内層と外
層との整合層となるマッチングオイルであることを特徴
とする特許請求の範囲第1項記載の光ファイバ用光分岐
・結合素子。
(2) The optical branching/coupling element for an optical fiber according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate layer constituting the optical branching/coupling element is a matching oil serving as a matching layer between the inner layer and the outer layer. .
(3)光分岐・結合素子を構成する中間層の厚さは、1
μmから20μmの間であることを特徴とする特許請求
の範囲第1項記載の光ファイバ用光分岐・結合素子。
(3) The thickness of the intermediate layer constituting the optical branching/coupling element is 1
The optical branching/coupling element for optical fiber according to claim 1, characterized in that the diameter is between .mu.m and 20 .mu.m.
JP61165642A 1986-07-16 1986-07-16 Optical branching and coupling element for optical fiber Granted JPS6321609A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP61165642A JPS6321609A (en) 1986-07-16 1986-07-16 Optical branching and coupling element for optical fiber

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP61165642A JPS6321609A (en) 1986-07-16 1986-07-16 Optical branching and coupling element for optical fiber

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
JPS6321609A true JPS6321609A (en) 1988-01-29
JPH0555841B2 JPH0555841B2 (en) 1993-08-18

Family

ID=15816240

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
JP61165642A Granted JPS6321609A (en) 1986-07-16 1986-07-16 Optical branching and coupling element for optical fiber

Country Status (1)

Country Link
JP (1) JPS6321609A (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH03161335A (en) * 1989-11-21 1991-07-11 Sekisui Chem Co Ltd Preparation of lightweight composite material

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS56126809A (en) * 1980-03-10 1981-10-05 Nippon Telegr & Teleph Corp <Ntt> Light branching circuit
JPS60156021A (en) * 1984-01-25 1985-08-16 Matsushita Electric Works Ltd Optical branching device

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS56126809A (en) * 1980-03-10 1981-10-05 Nippon Telegr & Teleph Corp <Ntt> Light branching circuit
JPS60156021A (en) * 1984-01-25 1985-08-16 Matsushita Electric Works Ltd Optical branching device

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH03161335A (en) * 1989-11-21 1991-07-11 Sekisui Chem Co Ltd Preparation of lightweight composite material

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPH0555841B2 (en) 1993-08-18

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