KR100496445B1 - Planar Lightwave Circuit device using of passive optical allignment - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a planar optical waveguide device using passive alignment.

According to the present invention, a substrate having a planar optical waveguide; And an optical fiber guide groove formed in the substrate and extending from an end of the optical waveguide, in which optical fibers are optically aligned and matched with the input end and the output end of the optical waveguide, and including at least one of an input end and an output end of the optical waveguide. One optical fiber guide groove includes a coating fiber guide for guiding a coating portion of the coated optical fiber; And a bare fiber guide extending from the coated fiber guide to an end of the optical waveguide. Further, according to the present invention, a substrate formed with a planar optical waveguide; And an optical fiber guide groove formed in the substrate and extending from an end of the optical waveguide, in which optical fibers are optically aligned and matched with the input end and the output end of the optical waveguide, and including at least one of an input end and an output end of the optical waveguide. One optical fiber guide groove includes a ribbon fiber guide for guiding a ribbon portion of the optical fiber ribbon; And a bare fiber guide extending from the ribbon fiber guide to the end of the optical waveguide.

According to the present invention, since an optical fiber is directly disposed on a substrate on which an optical waveguide circuit is formed, optical axis alignment, packaging, and the like are easy.

Description

Planar Lightwave Circuit Device Using of Passive Optical Allignment

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a planar optical waveguide device, and more particularly, to a planar optical waveguide device in which an optical fiber is directly arranged on a substrate on which a planar lightwave circuit (PLC) is formed to allow manual alignment of an optical axis. .

In general, passive optical devices have more optical input / output terminals than active devices, and optical loss is required as an important performance of the device. Therefore, very precise optical axis alignment with optical fibers coupled to the input / output terminals is required.

In particular, interest in planar optical waveguide devices in which an optical waveguide circuit is formed on a planar substrate for processing branching, switching, and signal multiplexing for optical signals has recently increased. Fiber optic bonding or packaging should be performed.

An arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) or splitter is a representative passive optical device manufactured in the form of a planar optical waveguide. In the related art, an optical fiber array for an input / output end of an optical waveguide is conventionally combined to combine such an optical device with an optical fiber. After active alignment, epoxy was applied to fix and housing in a separate outer case.

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a process of housing and housing an input / output terminal of an optical fiber in a conventional planar optical waveguide device (1 × 4 splitter) for dividing one optical signal into several optical signals.

Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional planar optical waveguide device basically includes a splitter chip 20 in which a planar optical waveguide is formed to split one input light into four light. The 1-channel optical fiber array 15 and the 4-channel optical fiber array 25 are respectively coupled to the input terminal and the output terminal of the splitter chip 20 through an optical axis alignment process. Here, a single optical fiber is disposed in the one-channel optical fiber array 15, and four optical fibers are disposed in the four-channel optical fiber array 25 or an optical fiber ribbon having four core optical fiber cores.

The one-channel optical fiber array 15 and the four-channel optical fiber array 25 are coupled to the input terminal and the output terminal of the splitter chip 20 through active alignment, respectively. That is, the two-sided optical fiber array of the splitter chip 20 while observing the intensity of the light inputted through the one-channel optical fiber array 15 and then output from the four-channel optical fiber array 25 via the splitter chip 20. Alignment of the optical axis is achieved in a manner that actively changes the placement.

On the other hand, after optical axis alignment, a bonding process using epoxy is performed between the splitter chip 20 and both optical fiber arrays to fix the alignment state, and a bonding process is performed by UV treatment.

The conventional planar optical waveguide device manufactured as described above is subjected to a housing treatment by a separate outer case since its junction portion is very weak. That is, when the splitter chip 20 having the optical fiber array bonded to both ends is carefully placed in the lower case 40, an external impact filler (not shown) is filled in the gap, and then the upper portion of the upper case 40 is The case 35 is combined to complete packaging.

However, the conventional planar optical waveguide device constructed as described above is not easy in optical axis alignment and packaging, and the cost of optical components required for packaging, such as an optical fiber array, is higher than that of the splitter chip, and the time required for complicated active alignment and Due to the cost and effort to secure its reliability, there is a limit to lower the manufacturing cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a planar optical waveguide device in which optical axis alignment and packaging are easily performed by directly placing an optical fiber on a substrate on which a planar optical waveguide is formed.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a planar optical waveguide device, including: a substrate on which a planar optical waveguide is formed; And an optical fiber guide groove formed in the substrate and extending from an end of the optical waveguide, in which optical fibers are optically aligned and matched with the input end and the output end of the optical waveguide. One optical fiber guide groove includes a coating fiber guide for guiding a coating portion of the coated optical fiber; And a bare fiber guide extending from the coated fiber guide to an end of the optical waveguide. According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a substrate including a planar optical waveguide; And an optical fiber guide groove formed in the substrate and extending from an end of the optical waveguide, in which optical fibers are optically aligned and matched with the input end and the output end of the optical waveguide. One optical fiber guide groove includes a ribbon fiber guide for guiding a ribbon portion of the optical fiber ribbon; And a bare fiber guide extending from the ribbon fiber guide to the end of the optical waveguide. A planar optical waveguide device is provided. The cross-section of the bare fiber guide is V-shaped, c-shaped, or semi-circular. Or a half hexagon.

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In addition, the present invention may further include a cover substrate coupled to the substrate to fix the optical fiber disposed in the optical fiber guide groove.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Prior to this, terms or words used in the specification and claims should not be construed as having a conventional or dictionary meaning, and the inventors should properly explain the concept of terms in order to best explain their own invention. Based on the principle that can be defined, it should be interpreted as meaning and concept corresponding to the technical idea of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments described in the specification and the drawings shown in the drawings are only the most preferred embodiment of the present invention and do not represent all of the technical idea of the present invention, various modifications that can be replaced at the time of the present application It should be understood that there may be equivalents and variations.

2 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of a planar optical waveguide device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, the planar optical waveguide device according to the present invention has optical waveguides 135 corresponding to predetermined optical circuits formed thereon and optical fiber guide grooves 125 and 130 for arranging optical fibers at both ends thereof. 140) is formed on the substrate 120 is formed. The substrate 120 is preferably made of silicon, silica, or a polymer substrate.

The optical waveguide 135 formed on the substrate 120 has a form in which a clad portion wraps the core portion for guiding light as is known, and the optical circuit pattern may have, for example, a general 1 × 4 splitter form. Various variations are possible.

In the substrate 120, at least one optical fiber guide groove 125, 130, and 140 for disposing the optical fiber is formed at a point corresponding to the optical signal input terminal and the output terminal of the optical waveguide 135, respectively.

3 shows a preferred embodiment of the optical fiber guide grooves 125 and 130 formed on the optical signal input end side of the optical waveguide 135 and the arrangement of the optical fibers.

Referring to FIG. 3, the optical fiber guide grooves 125 and 130 may include a coated fiber guide 125 and a bare fiber guide 130 extending from the coated fiber guide 125 to an input end of the optical waveguide 135. It has a dual structure to include.

 Here, the coated fiber guide 125 has a width corresponding to the outer diameter of the coated optical fiber 100 to guide the coated portion of the coated optical fiber 100. In addition, the bare fiber guide 130 guides the bare fiber 105 extending from the coated optical fiber 100 with the coating portions other than the core 105a and the clad 105b removed. Formed to a corresponding width.

Meanwhile, the optical fiber guide grooves 130 and 140 at the output end side of the optical waveguide 135 may include a ribbon fiber guide 140 for guiding a ribbon portion of the optical fiber ribbon 115 and the optical fiber ribbon as shown in FIG. 4. It has a dual structure consisting of a bare fiber guide 130 extending from the ribbon fiber guide 140 to the output end of the optical waveguide 135 to guide the bare fiber 105 extended at 115. In this case, since the bare fiber guide 130 corresponds one-to-one with the end of the optical waveguide 135, the number of the bare fiber guides 130 is the same as that of the optical fiber core wires mounted on the optical fiber ribbon 115. Although the fiber ribbon 115 having four cores is shown in the figure, the present invention is not limited thereto.

Meanwhile, according to a modification of the present invention, guide grooves for guiding the coated optical fiber may be formed on both the input end side and the output end side of the optical waveguide 135, or guide grooves for guiding the optical fiber ribbon may be formed.

Referring back to FIG. 2, the planar optical waveguide device according to the present invention further includes a cover substrate 110 which is coupled to the upper plane of the substrate 120. The cover substrate 110 functions to more firmly fix the optical fiber disposed in the optical signal input and output terminal. In this case, the optical fiber guide grooves 125, 130, and 140 may be formed on only one of the substrate 120 or the cover substrate 110, and may be formed over both substrates at corresponding positions.

5 illustrates a structure in which the cover substrate 110 is coupled while the optical fiber is disposed on the substrate 120.

Referring to FIG. 5, the bare fiber 105 is disposed to correspond to the end of the optical waveguide 135 in the same straight line, and both the coated fiber guide 125 and the bare fiber are disposed on both sides of the substrate 120 and the cover substrate 110. A guide 130 is formed to guide the optical fiber more stably.

On the other hand, the cross-sectional shape of the bare fiber guide 130 is preferably V-shaped, c-shaped, semi-circular or semi-hexagonal for the rigid guide of the bare fiber 105. Here, the coating fiber guide 130 may also have a shape as described above.

More specifically, FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment in which a V-type bare fiber guide 130 is formed on the substrate 120 to guide the bare fiber 105. In addition, in FIG. 7, V-type bare fiber guides 130 are formed on the substrate 120 and the cover substrate 110 as modified examples of FIG. 6, so that the bare substrates 105 are formed by combining the two substrates. An embodiment is shown which is guided in a surround.

8 illustrates an embodiment in which a c-type bare fiber guide 130 is formed on the substrate 120 and the cover substrate 110 to surround the bare fiber 105 in a rectangular shape.

FIG. 9 illustrates an embodiment in which a semi-hexagonal bare fiber guide 130 is formed on the substrate 120 and the cover substrate 110 to surround the bare fiber 105 in a hexagon, and FIG. 10 illustrates the substrate. An embodiment in which a semi-circular bare fiber guide 130 is formed on the 120 and the cover substrate 110 to surround the bare fiber 105 in a circular shape is illustrated.

The operation of the planar optical waveguide device according to the present invention having the configuration as described above will be described below.

According to the present invention, the optical waveguide 135 is formed on the upper plane of the substrate 120, and the substrate 120 or the cover substrate 110 at a point corresponding to the optical signal input and output terminals of the optical waveguide 135, Alternatively, both substrates are provided with an optical fiber guide groove for disposing an optical fiber.

Preferably, the optical fiber guide groove of the optical signal input end side is formed of a dual structure of the coated fiber guide 125 and the bare fiber guide 130, the optical fiber guide groove of the optical signal output end side and the ribbon fiber guide 140 It consists of a bare fiber guide 130. The optical fiber guide groove is formed such that the central axis thereof exactly matches the optical axis of the optical waveguide 135.

Accordingly, when the coating portion of the coated optical fiber 100 is positioned on the coating fiber guide 125 and at the same time the portion of the bare fiber 105 is disposed on the bare fiber guide 130, the optical waveguide 135 may be aligned with the optical axis alignment. The optical fiber is coupled to the input end side.

In addition, when the ribbon portion of the optical fiber ribbon 115 is positioned on the ribbon fiber guide 140 at the output end side of the optical waveguide 135, and the bare fiber 105 is disposed on the bare fiber guide 130, the optical axis alignment is naturally performed. While this is done, the optical fiber is coupled to the output end side of the optical waveguide 135.

Meanwhile, an epoxy treatment is performed to fix the bonded optical fiber to the substrate 120 more robustly and stably, and the cover substrate 110 is coupled to the upper portion of the substrate 120. At this time, the epoxy is preferably used for adjusting the refractive index so that the refractive index is adjusted so that the bare fiber 105 is combined with the end of the optical waveguide 135 without optical loss and fixed at the same time.

Although the present invention has been described above by means of limited embodiments and drawings, the present invention is not limited thereto and will be described below by the person skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. Of course, various modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the claims.

According to the present invention, since the optical axis alignment between the planar optical waveguide and the optical fiber is manually performed, it is possible to solve the problem of the prior art, which requires a lot of time and cost for optical axis alignment.

In addition, unlike the conventional method, since a separate optical fiber array is not required, manufacturing cost is reduced, and the time and effort required for packaging can be significantly reduced.

In addition, according to the present invention, since the optical axis alignment and bonding is performed at the same time by placing and fixing the optical fiber in the optical fiber guide groove, the work process time is shortened, and compared with the conventional technology, a planar optical waveguide having an impact resistance and a small volume. Since the device is obtained, there is an advantage of easy handling.

The following drawings attached to this specification are illustrative of preferred embodiments of the present invention, and together with the detailed description of the invention to serve to further understand the technical spirit of the present invention, the present invention is a matter described in such drawings It should not be construed as limited to

1 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of a conventional planar optical waveguide device.

Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of a planar optical waveguide device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the optical fiber guide groove formed in the optical waveguide input end.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the optical fiber guide groove formed in the optical waveguide output end.

FIG. 5 is a partial longitudinal cross-sectional view schematically showing a structure fixed by a substrate and a cover substrate in a state where an optical fiber is disposed in an optical fiber guide groove; FIG.

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view showing a structure in which a V-type bare fiber guide is formed on a substrate to guide a bare fiber according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a structure in which a V-type bare fiber guide is formed on a substrate and a cover substrate to guide the bare fiber according to the modification of FIG. 6. FIG.

8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a structure in which a c-type bare fiber guide is formed on a substrate and a cover substrate to guide a bare fiber according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a structure in which a semi-hexagonal bare fiber guide is formed on the substrate and the cover substrate to guide the bare fiber according to an embodiment of the present invention.

10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a structure in which a semi-circular bare fiber guide is formed on a substrate and a cover substrate to guide a bare fiber according to an embodiment of the present invention.

<Description of main reference numerals in the drawings>

100 ... coated fiber 105 ... bare fiber

110.Cover substrate 115 ... Fiber optic ribbon

120 ... Substrate 125 ... Coated Fiber Guide

130 ... Bare Fiber Guide 135 ... Optical Waveguide

140.Ribbon Fiber Guide

Claims (11)

A substrate on which a planar optical waveguide is formed; And And an optical fiber guide groove formed in the substrate and extending from an end of the optical waveguide, in which optical fibers are optically aligned and matched with corresponding input and output ends of the optical waveguide. At least one of the optical fiber guide groove of the input end or output end of the optical waveguide, the coating fiber guide for guiding the coating portion of the coated optical fiber; And a bare fiber guide extending from the coated fiber guide to an end of the optical waveguide. The method of claim 1, And a coated optical fiber disposed in the optical fiber guide groove formed of the coated fiber guide and the bare fiber guide. A substrate on which a planar optical waveguide is formed; And And an optical fiber guide groove formed in the substrate and extending from an end of the optical waveguide, in which optical fibers are optically aligned and matched with corresponding input and output ends of the optical waveguide. At least one of the optical fiber guide groove of the input end or the output end of the optical waveguide, the ribbon fiber guide for guiding the ribbon portion of the optical fiber ribbon; And a bare fiber guide extending from the ribbon fiber guide to an end of the optical waveguide. The method of claim 3, And an optical fiber ribbon disposed in the optical fiber guide groove consisting of the ribbon fiber guide and the bare fiber guide. The method according to claim 1 or 3, Planar optical waveguide device, characterized in that the cross section of the bare fiber guide is V-type, c-type, semi-circular or semi-hexagonal. The method according to claim 1 or 3, And a cover substrate coupled to the substrate to fix the optical fiber disposed in the optical fiber guide groove. A substrate on which a planar optical waveguide is formed; A cover substrate coupled to the substrate to fix an optical fiber connected to the optical waveguide from the outside; And And an optical fiber guide groove extending from each end of the optical waveguide and formed in at least part of the substrate or the cover substrate, in which the optical fibers are optically aligned and matched to correspond to the input and output ends of the optical waveguide. At least one of the optical fiber guide groove of the input end or output end of the optical waveguide, the coating fiber guide for guiding the coating portion of the coated optical fiber; And a bare fiber guide extending from the coated fiber guide to an end of the optical waveguide.  The method of claim 7, wherein And a coated optical fiber disposed in the optical fiber guide groove formed of the coated fiber guide and the bare fiber guide. A substrate on which a planar optical waveguide is formed; A cover substrate coupled to the substrate to fix an optical fiber connected to the optical waveguide from the outside; And And an optical fiber guide groove extending from each end of the optical waveguide and formed in at least part of the substrate or the cover substrate, in which the optical fibers are optically aligned and matched to correspond to the input and output ends of the optical waveguide. At least one of the optical fiber guide groove of the input end or the output end of the optical waveguide, the ribbon fiber guide for guiding the ribbon portion of the optical fiber ribbon; And a bare fiber guide extending from the ribbon fiber guide to an end of the optical waveguide. The method of claim 9, And an optical fiber ribbon disposed in the optical fiber guide groove consisting of the ribbon fiber guide and the bare fiber guide. The method according to claim 7 or 9, Planar optical waveguide device, characterized in that the cross section of the bare fiber guide is V-type, c-type, semi-circular or semi-hexagonal.