JPWO2019189680A1 - Fiber optic array - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical fiber array capable of reducing a manufacturing cost except for a step of mirror polishing an end of an optical fiber. An optical fiber array includes m (natural numbers not including m: 0) optical fibers arranged in parallel, an optical fiber alignment component in which m grooves are formed in parallel on a surface, and a cover. And. The optical fibers are arranged in each groove of the optical fiber alignment component and sandwiched by the optical fiber alignment component and the cover. At least one end face of the optical fiber alignment component and the cover is formed at an acute angle with respect to the axial direction of the optical fibers arranged in each groove. Further, the end portion of the optical fiber is projected from the contact portion with the cover and the groove of the optical fiber alignment component in the fiber axial direction, and the protrusion amount of the end portion of the optical fiber is measured by the most protruding portion of the cover or the optical fiber alignment component. Or it shall be below the most protruding surface. [Selection diagram] Fig. 3

Description

The present invention relates to an optical fiber array.

As an optical fiber array used for optical communication or the like, an optical fiber array as in Patent Document 1 is exemplified. In Patent Document 1, the end portions (optical coupling surfaces) of a plurality of optical fibers sandwiched and arranged between the long block portion and the short block portion are formed in the same plane as each end surface of the long block portion and the short block portion. .. Further, as a means for forming the end portion of the optical fiber into the same plane as each end face of the long block portion and the short block portion, for example, mirror polishing processing can be mentioned.

Design Registration No. 1535006

However, the mirror polishing process requires a three-step process called a rough polishing step, an intermediate polishing step which is an intermediate step between rough polishing and finish polishing, and a finish polishing step. Further, a cleaning step is also indispensable between each step. Therefore, the number of processes has increased, leading to an increase in the manufacturing cost of the optical fiber array.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an optical fiber array capable of reducing manufacturing costs except for a mirror polishing step of an optical fiber end portion.

The above problem is solved by the following invention. That is, the optical fiber array of the present invention includes m (natural numbers not including m: 0) optical fibers arranged in parallel with each other and an optical fiber aligned component in which at least m grooves are formed in parallel on the surface. , The optical fiber is arranged in each groove of the optical fiber alignment component, sandwiched by the optical fiber alignment component and the cover, and optical with respect to the axial direction of the optical fiber arranged in each groove. At least one end face of the fiber alignment component and the cover is formed at a sharp angle, and the end portion of the optical fiber protrudes from the contact portion with the cover and the groove of the optical fiber alignment component in the fiber axial direction. The amount of protrusion at the end of the fiber is equal to or less than the most protruding portion or the most protruding surface of the cover or the optical fiber alignment component.

According to the optical fiber array of the present invention, the end of the optical fiber in the fiber axial direction protrudes from the contact portion with the cover and the groove of the optical fiber alignment component, so that the end of the optical fiber is laser cleaved. It becomes possible to apply processing. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the mirror polishing step at the end of the optical fiber, eliminating the need for a polishing jig and reducing the manufacturing cost of the optical fiber array associated with the mirror polishing step.

Further, even if the end portion of the optical fiber protrudes from the optical fiber alignment component and the cover, the protrusion amount is set to be equal to or less than the most protruding portion or the most protruding surface of the cover or the optical fiber alignment component in the present invention. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the contact with the optical component to be optically connected at the time of mounting the optical fiber array and the damage to the end portion of the optical fiber due to the contact.

Further, by using the most protruding surface as a reference surface when mounting the optical fiber array, the mounting accuracy at the time of mounting the optical fiber array can be easily improved, and as described above, due to the contact of the end of the optical fiber. Damage can also be suppressed.

It is a front view which shows typically the optical fiber array which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a right side view of the optical fiber array of FIG. It is a perspective view of the optical fiber array of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the assembly process of the optical fiber array of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the optical fiber array which each component of FIG. 4 is assembled, and is before the laser cleaving process. It is an enlarged view of the circle A part of FIG. It is an enlarged view of the ellipse B part of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which extracted only the optical fiber from the optical fiber array of FIG. It is a front view which shows typically the optical fiber array which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a right side view of the optical fiber array of FIG. It is a perspective view of the optical fiber array of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the assembly process of the optical fiber array of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the optical fiber array which each component of FIG. It is an enlarged view of the circle A part of FIG. It is an enlarged view of the ellipse B part of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which extracted only the optical fiber from the optical fiber array of FIG.

The first feature of this embodiment is the alignment of m optical fibers (natural numbers not including m: 0) arranged in parallel with each other and optical fibers in which at least m grooves are formed in parallel on the surface. With a component and a cover, the optical fibers are arranged in each groove of the optical fiber alignment component, sandwiched by the optical fiber alignment component and the cover, and with respect to the axial direction of the optical fiber arranged in each groove. , At least one end face of the optical fiber alignment component and the cover is formed at a sharp angle, and the end portion of the optical fiber protrudes from the contact portion with the cover and the groove of the optical fiber alignment component in the fiber axial direction. , The amount of protrusion of the end portion of the optical fiber is equal to or less than the most protruding portion or the most protruding surface of the cover or the optical fiber alignment component.

According to this configuration, since the end portion of the optical fiber protrudes from the contact portion with the cover and the groove of the optical fiber alignment component in the fiber axial direction, the end portion of the optical fiber is subjected to laser cleaving. Is possible. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the mirror polishing step at the end of the optical fiber, eliminating the need for a polishing jig and reducing the manufacturing cost of the optical fiber array associated with the mirror polishing step.

Further, even if the end portion of the optical fiber protrudes from the optical fiber alignment component and the cover, the protrusion amount is set to be equal to or less than the most protruding portion or the most protruding surface of the cover or the optical fiber alignment component. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the contact with the optical component to be optically connected at the time of mounting the optical fiber array and the damage to the end portion of the optical fiber due to the contact.

Furthermore, by using the most protruding surface as the reference surface when mounting the optical fiber array, the mounting accuracy when mounting the optical fiber array can be easily improved, and damage due to contact with the end of the optical fiber can be suppressed. It becomes.

In the present invention, at least one end face of the optical fiber alignment component and the cover is arranged in each groove of the optical fiber alignment component within at least one end face of the optical fiber alignment component and the cover. Refers to the end face of the cut optical fiber near the end.

The protrusion amount of the end portion of the optical fiber refers to the protrusion amount in the direction orthogonal to the most protruding portion or the most protruding surface of the cover or the optical fiber alignment component. Further, the amount of protrusion refers to the amount of protrusion from the contact portion between the optical fiber and the cover and the groove of the optical fiber alignment component.

The second feature of the present embodiment is that the longitudinal direction in the forming direction of the most protruding portion or the most protruding surface of the cover or the optical fiber alignment component is m lines of light arranged in the groove of the optical fiber alignment component. It is said to be non-parallel to the line segment connecting the centers of each fiber.

According to this configuration, it is possible to realize an optical fiber array structure in which the end portion of the optical fiber can be cut more easily by laser cleaving. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the mirror polishing step of the end portion of the optical fiber, and it is possible to reduce the manufacturing cost of the optical fiber array.

In the present invention, the line segment connecting the centers of the optical fibers is a virtual line connecting the center points of m optical fibers arranged in each groove of the optical fiber alignment component. Refers to a minute.

The third feature of the present embodiment is that the most protruding portion or the most protruding surface of the cover or the optical fiber alignment component is a stepped portion, and the stepped portion is provided on the left and right sides of the cover, and the stepped portion does not overlap the optical fiber. The thickness at the thickest part of the cover exceeds the thickness at the thickest part of the optical fiber alignment component, and the end of the optical fiber is in the same direction as the surface direction of the stepped portion. It protrudes from the groove of the optical fiber alignment component, and the end face of the cover is formed at a sharp angle with respect to the axial direction of the optical fiber, and the end face at the end of the optical fiber is sharp or sharp with respect to the axial direction. It is said that they are formed at right angles.

According to this configuration, the most protruding portion or the most protruding surface of the cover or the optical fiber aligned part is a stepped portion, and the thickness of the thickest part of the cover exceeds the thickness of the thickest part of the optical fiber aligned part. Since it is set, it is possible to set a large longitudinal direction in the forming direction of the step portion. Therefore, the stepped portion can be formed on a wide surface. Further, the stepped portion is formed symmetrically on both the left and right sides of the cover. As described above, when the optical fiber array is mounted on the optical components to be optically connected, the face-to-face alignment can be performed with high accuracy by the stepped portion.

Further, the end portion of the optical fiber is projected from the groove of the optical fiber alignment component in the same direction as the surface direction of the step portion. Therefore, by using the stepped portion as a reference surface when mounting the optical fiber array, it is possible to suppress contact with the end portion of the optical fiber when the optical fiber array is face-to-face with the optical component with high accuracy.

Further, since the end face of the cover is formed at an acute angle with respect to the axial direction of the optical fiber, it is possible to realize an optical fiber array structure in which the end portion of the optical fiber can be cut more easily by laser cleaving. Therefore, the end face at the end of the optical fiber can be formed by laser cleaving at an acute angle or orthogonal to the axial direction thereof. Further, it is possible to eliminate the mirror polishing step of the end face of the optical fiber, and it is possible to reduce the manufacturing cost of the optical fiber array.

In the present invention, the mode in which the stepped portion does not overlap the optical fiber means that the stepped portion covers the clad diameters of all the end faces of the optical fiber when the optical fiber is viewed from the longitudinal direction in the forming direction of the stepped portion. Refers to a form in which part or all of the parts do not overlap.

The fourth feature of the present embodiment is that the end face of the optical fiber is non-linear, and the end face of the optical fiber is formed in a lens shape.

According to this configuration, since the end face of the optical fiber is formed in a non-linear manner, it is possible to minimize the contact portion between the optical component to be optically connected and the end face of the optical fiber when mounting the optical fiber array. Therefore, damage to the end face of the optical fiber due to contact can be suppressed.

Further, when the end portion of the optical fiber is cut by laser cleaving, it is possible to collectively perform the lens molding of the end portion of the optical fiber at the same time as the cutting step. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the number of steps related to the end of the optical fiber, and it is possible to further reduce the manufacturing cost of the optical fiber array.

In the present invention, the form in which the end face of the optical fiber is non-linear means that the end face of the optical fiber is not flat and the end face is formed in a non-linear shape when the optical fiber is viewed from the side surface. Point to.

Further, the lens shape of the end face of the optical fiber refers to a shape in which light can be optically connected to the core of each optical fiber without separately interposing a lens component.

Hereinafter, the optical fiber array 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the optical fiber array 1 of the present embodiment includes a plurality of optical fibers 2 for multi-core optical propagation, an optical fiber alignment component 3, and a cover 4.

The optical fiber 2 is linear, and is formed of a quartz material by surrounding the core with a clad having a refractive index lower than that of the core. Further, each optical fiber 2 is stripped of the coating 2c by a predetermined dimension.

As the optical fiber 2, a tape-type optical fiber in which a plurality of optical fibers are integrated at a coating 2c portion to form a tape may be used.

The number m of the optical fibers 2 is set to a natural number that does not include 0, and for example, about 8 to 12 optical fibers are given as an example. In FIGS. 1 to 3, eight forms are illustrated. The optical fibers 2 are arranged in parallel with each other so that their core axes are parallel to each other, and the clad portion from which the coating 2c is removed is arranged in the groove 3a of the optical fiber alignment component 3.

As shown in FIG. 4, at least m V-shaped grooves 3a are formed in parallel on the surface of the optical fiber alignment component 3. Further, as a stepped process for mounting the coating 2c of the optical fiber 2, a terrace portion 3c having a flat surface lower than the bottom of each groove 3a is integrated with the optical fiber aligning member 3.

The V-shaped opening angle of the groove 3a is set to be constant in all the grooves 3a. Further, the depths of all the grooves 3a are also set to be constant. Further, the clad diameter of the optical fibers 2 arranged in the groove 3a is also set to be constant.

The material of the optical fiber aligning member 3 is made of a material capable of transmitting ultraviolet (UV) light having a wavelength of 254 nm or 365 nm, and specific examples thereof include optical glass such as quartz and borosilicate glass. The groove 3a may be formed by machining (cutting, polishing, blasting) or the like. Alternatively, single crystal silicon (Si) may be used as the material of the optical fiber alignment member 3, the mask may be coated, and the groove 3a may be formed by anisotropic etching.

As shown in FIG. 4, m optical fibers 2 are arranged in each groove 3a of the optical fiber alignment component 3, and then a cover 4 is installed so as to sandwich the optical fiber 2 from the vertical direction. Each optical fiber 2 is arranged in each groove 3a so as to be pressed from above and below by one groove 3a and one surface of the cover 4 (contact portion 4b with the optical fiber 2). Therefore, each optical fiber 2 is supported at three points by three contact points between each V-shaped groove 3a and each one surface of the cover 4. Further, each optical fiber 2 is fixed by an adhesive in each groove 3a.

The end face 2b of the optical fiber 2 is formed to be linear or non-linear. In the form in which the end surface 2b of the optical fiber 2 is non-linear, the end surface 2b is not a flat surface, and the end surface 2b is formed in a non-linear shape when the optical fiber 2 is viewed from the side as shown in FIG. Refers to the form of

Next, a method of manufacturing the optical fiber array 1 will be described. First, as shown in FIG. 4, each optical fiber 2 is positioned so as to extend from the end surface 3b of the optical fiber aligning component 3, and each optical fiber 2 is arranged in each groove 3a.

Next, each optical fiber 2 and the optical fiber alignment component 3 are held by the cover 4, and all m optical fibers 2 are sandwiched between the cover 4 and the groove 3a and supported at three points as described above.

Further, an ultraviolet (UV) curable adhesive is poured into each groove 3a. Alternatively, the optical fiber 2 may be arranged in each groove 3a after the adhesive is poured into each groove 3a in advance. Next, UV is irradiated from the outside of the optical fiber array 1 to cure the adhesive, and the optical fiber 2 is fixed in the groove 3a. In addition to the optical fiber alignment component 3, the cover 4 is also formed of a UV-transmissive material (for example, the quartz or borosilicate glass) so that UV from the outside propagates to the adhesive in the groove 3a when irradiated with UV. It is more desirable to do.

The reason why the ultraviolet curable adhesive is used for fixing the optical fiber 2 is that the time required for fixing (task time) is only the ultraviolet irradiation time, which is shorter than that of other adhesives such as thermosetting adhesives. This is because the process can be completed. The ultraviolet curable adhesive may be an epoxy-based, acrylic-based, or silicon-based adhesive having a glass transition temperature of about 60 ° C. to 150 ° C.

Next, the optical fiber 2 fixed in the groove 3a is cut at a position protruding 30 μm to 100 μm from the end face 3b of the optical fiber alignment component 3 by laser cleave processing, and the end portion 2a and the end face 2b are cut. Form. By condensing the laser on each optical fiber 2, the end face 2b is formed linearly or non-linearly while cutting the optical fiber 2 (see the transition from FIG. 5 to FIG. 3).

As a laser, a CO ₂ laser (output 10 to 500 W, wavelength 9.2 um to 10.8 um) can be used. The surface roughness Ra of the end face 2b formed by laser cleaving is 0.03 μm to 0.05 μm. When the end face 2b is formed in a non-linear shape, the flatness of the end face 2b is about 10 μm, and the radius of curvature near the core on the surface of the end face 2b is about 1 mm. Further, by forming a curved surface having a radius of curvature of about 0.2 to 2.0 mm in the Y-axis direction and the Z-axis direction on the end face 2b, when cutting the end portion 2a by laser cleaving, the cutting step is performed. At the same time, it is possible to collectively mold the end portion 2b into a lens shape. The lens shape of the end face 2b refers to a shape in which light can be optically connected to the core of each optical fiber 2 without separately interposing a lens component.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, at least one end surface (3b, 4a) of the optical fiber alignment component 3 and the cover 4 is provided with respect to the axial direction F of the optical fibers 2 arranged in each of the grooves 3a. It is formed at a non-orthogonal acute angle. As an example, FIGS. 2 and 6 show a form in which the end surface 4a of the cover 4 is formed at an acute angle θ that is not orthogonal to the axial direction F of the optical fiber 2.

The angle θ can be arbitrarily selected, but as an example, it is set to 82 degrees in the form of FIG. The angle θ can be set to an arbitrary angle as long as the laser focused during the laser cleaving process does not directly irradiate the optical fiber alignment component 3 or the cover 4 and functions as an escape angle for securing the propagation optical path of the laser. It can be set.

At least one end face of the optical fiber alignment component 3 and the cover 4 is arranged in each groove 3a of the optical fiber alignment component 3 in at least one end face of the optical fiber alignment component 3 and the cover 4. Refers to 3b or 4a, which is the end face of the optical fiber 2 cut by the optical fiber 2 near the end 2a.

As shown in FIG. 6, the end portion 2a of the optical fiber 2 projects from the contact portion 4b and the groove 3a with the cover 4 in the fiber axial direction F. Further, the amount of protrusion of the end portion 2a of the optical fiber 2 is set to be equal to or less than the most protruding portion or the most protruding surface of the cover 4 or the optical fiber aligning component 3. The protrusion amount of the end portion 2a of the optical fiber 2 refers to the protrusion amount in a direction orthogonal to the most protruding portion or the most protruding surface of the cover 4 or the optical fiber alignment component 3. In FIG. 6, the most protruding portion or the most protruding surface of the cover 4 refers to the end surface 4a, and the direction orthogonal to the end surface 4a is the direction perpendicular to the end surface 4a. Further, the most protruding portion or the most protruding surface of the optical fiber alignment component 3 is an end surface 3b, and the direction orthogonal to the end surface 3b is the fiber axial direction F.

Further, the amount of protrusion of the end portion 2a of the optical fiber 2 can be arbitrarily set as long as it is equal to or less than the most protruding portion or the most protruding surface of the cover 4 or the optical fiber aligning component 3. Therefore, the protrusion amount of the end portion 2a depends on the most protruding portion or the most protruding surface of the cover 4 or the optical fiber alignment component 3, but in the case of FIG. 6, the lower limit value of the protrusion amount from the end face 3b is 30 μm, which is the upper limit. As an example, about 100 μm can be mentioned.

As an example of the form of the most protruding portion or the most protruding surface of the cover 4 or the optical fiber aligning component 3, the stepped portion 4a is formed as shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 7. Each step portion 4a is formed so as not to overlap the optical fiber 2 and symmetrically to the left and right of the cover. The form in which the step portion 4a does not overlap the optical fiber 2 is from the longitudinal direction in the forming direction of the step portion 4a (the substantially Z-axis direction in FIG. 7, that is, the direction having an angle θ with respect to the fiber axial direction F). When the optical fiber 2 is viewed, it refers to a form in which a part or the whole of the step portion 4a does not overlap over the clad diameters of the end faces 2b (see FIGS. 1, 3 and 8) of all the optical fibers 2. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, each step portion 4a is formed symmetrically in the left-right direction in a direction parallel to the arrangement direction (Y-axis direction) of the plurality of optical fibers 2. Since the recessed portion 4a and the recessed portion between the left and right stepped portions 4a are surfaces in the same direction (planes in the Y-axis direction and substantially the Z-axis direction) as shown in FIG. It is set to 4a.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the longitudinal direction (approximately the Z-axis direction in FIG. 7) in the forming direction of the step portion 4a connects the centers of the m optical fibers 2 arranged in the groove 3a. It is formed non-parallel to the line segment 5. In the form of FIG. 7, since the line segment 5 extends in the Y-axis direction, the line segment 5 and the longitudinal direction are orthogonal to each other. The line segment 5 refers to a virtual line segment connecting the center points of m optical fibers 2 arranged in each groove 3a of the optical fiber alignment component 3.

As described above, the recess between the left and right step portions 4a can be used as the laser relief portion (propagation portion) during the laser cleaving process.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the thickness T4 at the thickest part of the cover 4 exceeds the thickness T3 at the thickest part of the optical fiber alignment component 3. Moreover, the optical fiber 2 protrudes from the groove 3a in the same direction as the surface direction of the step portion 4a (the substantially Z-axis direction in FIGS. 6 and 7). The end face 2b of the protruding optical fiber is formed linearly or non-linearly by the laser cleaving process. The end face 2b of the end portion 2a is formed at an acute angle or orthogonal to the axial direction F of the fiber. FIG. 8 illustrates a form in which the end face 2b is formed at an acute angle with respect to the axial direction F of the fiber.

When the end portion 2a of the optical fiber 2 is formed into a lens shape, the protrusion amount of the end portion 2a of the optical fiber 2 described above is about several mm.

According to the above optical fiber array 1, since the end portion 2a is projected from the contact portion 4b and the groove 3a in the fiber axial direction F, the end portion 2a is subjected to laser cleaving. This makes it possible to eliminate the mirror polishing process of the end 2a. Therefore, the polishing jig becomes unnecessary, and the manufacturing cost of the optical fiber array 1 associated with the mirror polishing step can be reduced.

Further, even if the end portion 2a protrudes from the optical fiber alignment component 3 and the cover 4, the amount of protrusion thereof is set to be equal to or less than the most protruding portion or the most protruding surface of the cover 4 or the optical fiber alignment component 3. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the contact with the optical component to be optically connected at the time of mounting the optical fiber array 1 and the damage of the end portion 2a due to the contact.

Further, by using the most protruding surface (step portion 4a) as the reference surface when mounting the optical fiber array 1, the mounting accuracy at the time of mounting the optical fiber array 1 can be easily improved, and the end portion 2a can be mounted. Damage due to contact can also be suppressed.

Further, the longitudinal direction (approximately Z-axis direction in FIG. 7) in the forming direction of the most protruding portion or the most protruding surface of the cover 4 or the optical fiber aligning component 3 is not parallel to the line segment 5. Therefore, a portion other than the most protruding portion or the most protruding surface (in the present embodiment, a recess between the left and right step portions 4a) can be used as a laser relief portion (propagation portion) during laser cleaving. Therefore, the structure of the optical fiber array 1 in which the end portion 2a can be cut more easily by laser cleaving can be realized. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the mirror polishing step of the end portion 2a of the optical fiber 2, and it is possible to reduce the manufacturing cost of the optical fiber array 1.

Further, the most protruding portion or the most protruding surface of the cover 4 or the optical fiber aligning component 3 is set as a step portion 4a, and the thickness T4 is set to exceed the thickness T3. Therefore, the longitudinal direction (substantially Z-axis direction in FIG. 7) in the forming direction of the step portion 4a can be set large, and the step portion 4a can be formed on a wide surface. Further, the step portion 4a is formed symmetrically on both the left and right sides of the cover 4. As described above, when the optical fiber array 1 is mounted on the optical components to be optically connected, the surface alignment can be performed with high accuracy by the step portion 4a.

Further, the end portion 2a is projected from the groove 3a in the same direction as the surface direction of the step portion 4a (the substantially Z-axis direction in FIGS. 6 and 7). Therefore, by using the step portion 4a as the reference surface when the optical fiber array 1 is mounted, it is possible to suppress the contact of the end portion 2a when the optical fiber array 1 is face-to-face with the optical component with high accuracy. ..

Further, by forming the angle θ of the end surface 4a (step portion 4a) at an acute angle with respect to the axial direction of the optical fiber 2 (fiber axial direction F), the end portion 2a can be cut more easily by laser cleaving. Things will be possible. Therefore, the end face 2b can be formed by laser cleaving at an acute angle or orthogonal to the axial direction (fiber axial direction F). Further, it is possible to eliminate the mirror polishing step of the end surface 2a, and it is possible to reduce the manufacturing cost of the optical fiber array 1.

Further, by forming the end surface 2b of the optical fiber 2 in a non-linear manner, it is possible to minimize the contact portion between the optical component to be optically connected and the end surface 2b of the optical fiber 2 when the optical fiber array 1 is mounted. Therefore, damage to the end face 2b of the optical fiber 2 due to contact can be suppressed.

Further, when the end portion 2a is cut by the laser cleaving process, the lens molding of the end portion 2a can be performed at the same time as the cutting step. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the number of steps related to the end portion 2a, and it is possible to further reduce the manufacturing cost of the optical fiber array 1.

The left and right stepped portions 4a may be divided into a plurality of two or more surfaces in addition to the form formed from one surface as in the present embodiment.

Hereinafter, the optical fiber array 6 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 16. The same parts as those in the first embodiment are assigned the same numbers, and duplicate explanations are omitted or simplified.

The difference between the second embodiment and the first embodiment is that, first, the thickness between the surface and the bottom surface where the terrace portion 3c is not formed in the optical fiber aligning component 7 and the groove 7a is formed. T7 is the thickness at the thickest part of the optical fiber alignment component 7. Further, the thickness T4 at the thickest part of the cover 4 exceeds the thickness T7. The groove 7a is V-shaped like the groove 3a.

As a second difference, the portion of the optical fiber 2 other than the optical fiber arranged in the groove 7a is bent into an arc shape to the extent that propagation loss does not occur, as shown in FIGS. 9 to 11 and 16. It is a point that is being done. The bending process of the optical fiber 2 can be performed by thermal processing by arc discharge. In order to avoid combustion of the coating (corresponding to the coating 2c) due to the thermal processing, the optical fiber array 6 has a longer optical fiber length (bare fiber length) from which the coating is removed than the optical fiber array 1. It is desirable to do. Further, by arranging the linear optical fibers 2 in the groove 7a and then bending the optical fibers 2 by thermal processing, the m optical fibers 2 are bent in a uniform curved shape, and the curved shape after the arrangement is all. It is preferable because it is uniformly arranged over the optical fiber.

In the case of the optical fiber array 6, the bare fiber length is relatively long, and the optical fiber 2 is bent so that the optical fiber 2 is formed in an arc shape so as to gradually separate from the optical fiber alignment component 7. There is. Therefore, the terrace portion 3c is not always necessary for the optical fiber alignment component 7, but can be formed arbitrarily. Further, by bending the optical fiber 2, the depth in the fiber axial direction F can be suppressed and the size can be reduced.

In the optical fiber array 6, from FIG. 14, the direction orthogonal to the end surface 4a of the cover 4 is the X-axis direction. Further, the longitudinal direction in the forming direction of the step portion 4a is the Z-axis direction in FIG. Further, the recessed portion 4a and the recessed portion between the left and right stepped portions 4a are surfaces in the same direction (planes in the Y-axis direction and the Z-axis direction) as shown in FIG. In the m optical fibers 2, the portion separated from the groove 7a may be covered with a single coating (not shown).

Further, in the optical fiber alignment component 7, the end face of the optical fiber 2 arranged in each groove 7a near the end 2a is the end face indicated by the lead-out number 7b. Further, the most protruding portion or the most protruding surface of the optical fiber alignment component 7 is an end surface 7b, and the direction orthogonal to the end surface 7b is the fiber axial direction F.

The above optical fiber array 6 has the same effect as the optical fiber array 1.

1, 6 optical fiber array 2 optical fiber
2a end of optical fiber
2b Optical fiber end face
2c Covered 3,7 Fiber Optic Alignment Parts
3a, 7a groove
End face of 3b, 7b fiber optic alignment component
3c terrace
T3, T7 Thickness of the thickest part of optical fiber alignment parts 4 Cover
4a Cover end face or step
4b Cover contact area with optical fiber
Thickness of the thickest part of the T4 cover 5 Line segment connecting the centers of the optical fibers arranged in the groove F Axial direction of the optical fiber arranged in each groove of the optical fiber alignment component θ Optical fiber axis The angle of the end face 4a of the cover with respect to the direction F

Claims (4)

It is provided with m optical fibers (natural numbers not including m: 0) arranged in parallel with each other, an optical fiber alignment component in which at least m grooves are formed in parallel on a surface, and a cover.
Fiber optics are arranged in each groove of the fiber optic alignment component and sandwiched between the fiber optic alignment component and the cover.
At least one end face of the optical fiber alignment component and the cover is formed at an acute angle with respect to the axial direction of the optical fibers arranged in each groove.
The end of the optical fiber protrudes from the contact portion with the cover and the groove of the optical fiber alignment component in the fiber axial direction.
An optical fiber array in which the amount of protrusion at the end of the optical fiber is equal to or less than the most protruding portion or the most protruding surface of the cover or the optical fiber alignment component. A claim that the longitudinal direction in the forming direction of the most protruding portion or the most protruding surface is non-parallel to the line segment connecting the centers of the m optical fibers arranged in the groove. Item 2. The optical fiber array according to item 1. The most protruding portion or the most protruding surface is a stepped portion, and stepped portions are provided on the left and right sides of the cover.
The stepped portion is formed symmetrically to the left and right so as not to overlap the optical fiber.
The thickness at the thickest part of the cover exceeds the thickness at the thickest part of the optical fiber alignment component.
The end of the optical fiber protrudes from the groove of the optical fiber alignment component in the same direction as the surface direction of the step portion.
The end face of the cover is formed at an acute angle with respect to the axial direction of the optical fiber, and the cover is formed at an acute angle.
The optical fiber array according to claim 2, wherein the end face at the end of the optical fiber is formed at an acute angle or orthogonal to the axial direction thereof. The optical fiber array according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the end face of the optical fiber is non-linear and the end face of the optical fiber is formed in a lens shape.

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