KR102162642B1 - Optical transmission optical fiber with lens and method for manufacturing the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a lens-integrated optical transmission optical fiber and a manufacturing method thereof, which improves light distribution uniformity and is easy to manufacture by installing a lens integrally in a holder for fixing an optical fiber that transmits external light or by arranging the ends of the optical fiber to be twisted together It aims to provide. To this end, the present invention provides an optical fiber for transmitting incident light; And a cured portion cured in a lens shape at an end of the optical fiber. Accordingly, the present invention is advantageous in that the optical distribution uniformity can be improved by integrally installing a lens in a holder for fixing an optical fiber that transmits external light or by disposing the ends of the optical fiber to be twisted together, and simplifying the manufacturing process. There is this.

Description

Lens-integrated optical transmission optical fiber and its manufacturing method {OPTICAL TRANSMISSION OPTICAL FIBER WITH LENS AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME}

The present invention relates to a lens-integrated optical transmission optical fiber, and more particularly, by installing a lens integrally in a holder for fixing an optical fiber that transmits external light, or by disposing the ends of the optical fiber to be twisted together, the uniformity of light distribution is improved. It relates to a lens-integrated optical transmission optical fiber that is easy to manufacture, and a manufacturing method thereof.

Fiber optic lenses are used in the field of optical communication to increase light coupling efficiency in free space and to make small optical coupling modules when light coupling between a light source and an optical fiber, an optical element and an optical fiber, or an optical fiber and an optical fiber. It is also widely used in bio fields such as systems and light capture.

In particular, the endoscope is provided with a light source from the outside because it is difficult to emit light itself. An optical fiber for transmitting external light and a light guide lens for uniformly irradiating the surface to be observed by emitting light output from the optical fiber are used.

1 is a perspective view showing a head portion of an endoscope apparatus according to the prior art, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a structure of a head portion of an endoscope apparatus according to the prior art.

1 and 2, the head unit 10 includes an optical fiber 11 for transmitting external light, a holder 11a for fixing the optical fiber 11, and output from the optical fiber 11 Optical fiber lens 11b or light guide lens to emit light to be irradiated, water jet nozzle 12, camera 13 with lens, air/water nozzle 14, inspection for biopsy, etc. It consists of a channel 15.

However, the shooting angle of the camera 13 for shooting can be 90° or more, but the distribution angle of the light provided together is not provided as much as the shooting angle of the camera, so sufficient illumination around the camera is provided when lighting using optical fibers is provided. There is a problem that cannot be provided, and a separate optical fiber lens or a light guide lens must be provided to form an arbitrary light distribution angle.

The general method of manufacturing an optical fiber lens is a method of forming a lens shape by processing the longitudinal end of the optical fiber with a laser or forming a wedge or hemispherical shape through etching, and a cylindrical green between optical elements (GRIN: Gradient-Index). There is a method of connecting a bulk type element such as a lens or a commercially available ball lens.

However, the method of manufacturing an optical fiber lens by processing the end face of an optical fiber is that the working distance is very short because the lens function is exerted only in the area corresponding to the core diameter of the optical fiber (for example, 6㎛ ~ 9㎛). There are drawbacks.

In addition, the optical fiber lens for the optical guide is difficult to process due to its small size, is expensive, and requires a separate manufacturing process for coupling with the optical fiber.

Korean Patent Application Publication No. 10-2009-0086878 (Name of invention: Fresnel lens-integrated optical fiber and its manufacturing method)

In order to solve this problem, the present invention is an integrated lens to improve light distribution uniformity and easy manufacture by installing a lens integrally in a holder for fixing an optical fiber that transmits external light or by arranging the ends of the optical fiber twisted together. An object of the present invention is to provide an optical transmission optical fiber and a method for manufacturing the same.

In order to achieve the above object, a lens-integrated optical transmission optical fiber according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a bundle of optical fibers for transmitting incident light; A holder for receiving and fixing the optical fiber bundle; And a curing unit that is cured in the holder to fix the ends of the optical fiber bundles, wherein the ends of the optical fiber bundles are twisted to face in arbitrary directions so that light output from the ends of the optical fiber bundles is distributed and output in various directions. To do.

In addition, the embodiment according to the present invention is characterized in that it further comprises a diffuser in which light output from an end of the twisted optical fiber bundle forms an arbitrary light diffusion pattern.

In addition, an embodiment according to the present invention is characterized in that the exit surface of the hardening portion is formed in a shape of a � neck lens consisting of a spherical or aspherical surface.

In addition, a method of manufacturing a lens-integrated optical transmission optical fiber according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: i) twisting the ends of the optical fiber bundles for transmitting incident light to face in an arbitrary direction; ii) Injecting a liquid curing part into the holder, and twisting toward the arbitrary direction so that the light output from the end of the optical fiber bundle is distributed in various directions. Inserting a bundle of optical fibers into the holder; And iii) curing the liquid-state cured portion to become a solid state.

In addition, the embodiment according to the present invention is characterized in that it further comprises forming a concave lens composed of a spherical or aspherical surface on the exit surface of the curing unit so that light output from the end of the optical fiber bundle is dispersed in step iii). .

In addition, the embodiment according to the present invention is characterized in that it further comprises: iv) when the cured portion is cured, coupling a diffuser that forms an arbitrary light diffusion pattern to one side of the holder.

The present invention has the advantage of improving light distribution uniformity by integrally installing a lens in a holder for fixing an optical fiber that transmits external light or by disposing the ends of the optical fiber to be twisted together.

In addition, the present invention has the advantage of simplifying the manufacturing process by integrally installing a lens in a holder for fixing the optical fiber.

1 is a perspective view showing a head of an endoscope device according to the prior art.
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the head of the endoscope apparatus according to the prior art.
3 is a side view showing a lens-integrated optical transmission optical fiber according to the present invention.
4 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a lens-integrated optical transmission optical fiber according to the present invention.
5 is a flow chart showing the manufacturing process of the optical transmission optical fiber with an integrated lens according to FIG. 3.
6 is an exemplary view showing a lens manufacturing process of the optical transmission optical fiber with integrated lens according to FIG. 5.
7 is a graph showing the light distribution of light output from an optical transmission optical fiber without a lens.
8 is a graph showing the light distribution of light output from the optical transmission optical fiber comprising a lens having a radius of 300 μm in the optical transmission optical fiber having an integrated lens according to the present invention.
9 is a graph showing the light distribution of light output from the optical transmission optical fiber comprising a lens having a radius of 500 μm in the optical transmission optical fiber having an integrated lens according to the present invention.
10 is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of a lens-integrated optical transmission optical fiber according to the present invention.
11 is a flow chart showing a manufacturing process of the optical transmission optical fiber with an integrated lens according to FIG. 10;

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a lens-integrated optical transmission optical fiber and a method of manufacturing the same according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(Example 1)

3 is a side view showing a lens-integrated optical transmission optical fiber according to the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a lens-integrated optical transmission optical fiber according to the present invention.

3 and 4, a lens-integrated optical transmission optical fiber 100 according to the present invention includes an optical fiber 110, a holder 120, a curing unit 130, and a diffuser 140.

The optical fiber 110 is a configuration for transmitting incident light emitted through a light source or transmitted through various optical devices, and includes a single mode fiber, a multi mode fiber, and a photonic crystal fiber. Alternatively, a hollow optical fiber or the like may be used, and preferably consists of an optical fiber bundle in which the optical fibers 110 of the unit unit are bundled together.

The holder 120 is configured to accommodate and fix the ends of the optical fiber bundles in which the optical fibers 110 are bundled, and are made of a tube-shaped member having a hollow inside, and are made of a synthetic resin material or a metal material such as Sus. Done.

That is, by inserting and fixing the ends of the bundles of optical fibers bundled into the inside of the holder 120, the optical fiber bundles can maintain a certain shape.

The curing unit 130 is a configuration cured in a lens shape at the end of the optical fiber 110, and bundles of the optical fiber 110 inserted into the holder 120 are inside the holder 120 and the holder 120 ) Is made of an adhesive so that the optical fibers 110 inserted into each other are adhered and fixed.

In addition, the curing unit 130 is made of an adhesive made of a transparent material so that the light output from the optical fiber 110 is transmitted, and is preferably made of an adhesive such as epoxy or silicone.

In addition, the curing unit 130 forms a lens shape at the end of the curing unit, so that the light output from the optical fiber 110 forms an arbitrary light distribution angle and is output.

That is, the curing unit 130 has a function as an adhesive for bonding and fixing the bundle of the optical fiber 110 to the holder 120, and has a spherical or aspherical exit surface 131 at the end of the curing unit 130. The concave lens having a concave lens can be formed to function as a lens for forming a light distribution angle so that light having a tendency to go straight is formed and dispersed in an arbitrary light distribution.

The diffuser 140 is installed at the output terminal of the holder 120, and the light output through the curing unit 130 forms an arbitrary light diffusion pattern and is output, and either a light diffusion plate or a light diffusion film It consists of one.

Next, a manufacturing process of a lens-integrated optical transmission optical fiber according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6.

First, a step (S100) of fixing the ball lens 150 on the surface of which the release agent is applied is in close contact with one side of the holder 120 is performed.

The step S100 is a pretreatment process for manufacturing a concave lens-shaped lens on the exit surface 131 of the curing unit 130, and a ball lens 150 having an arbitrary curvature is installed on one side of the holder 120.

In addition, in the step S100, silicone resin, polyvinyl alcohol, paraffin, waxes, and Teflon disperse are performed so that the ball lens 150 can be easily removed from the exit surface 131 after the exit surface 131 is formed. A release agent, such as, is applied to the surface of the ball lens 150 and installed.

After performing the step S100, injecting the liquid curing unit 130 to the other side of the holder 120, and inserting and combining an optical fiber bundle composed of a bundle of optical fibers 110 in the holder 120 ( S110) is performed.

After performing the step S110, a step (S120) of curing the injected curing unit 130 to become a solid state is performed.

The curing in step S120 is heated for a preset curing temperature and time so that rapid curing can be achieved.

In addition, when the curing unit 130 is cured in response to ultraviolet rays, the curing unit in a liquid state inserted into the holder 120 in the step S120 by irradiating light of an ultraviolet wavelength for a predetermined period of time to be cured ( 130) is in close contact with the surface of the ball lens 150 through a curing process so that the concave lens-shaped exit surface 131 can be formed.

When the curing process of step S120 is completed, by performing the step (S130) of separating the ball lens 150 from the holder 120, the curing unit 130 is formed of the optical fiber 110 from the inside of the holder 120. An optical fiber bundle consisting of bundles is bonded to the holder 120 to be fixed, and a concave lens having a spherical or aspherical exit surface 131 is formed at the end of the curing unit 130, so that the light having a tendency to go straight is randomly distributed. It is possible to function as a lens for forming a light distribution angle so as to form and disperse.

In addition, by performing an additional step (S140) of installing a diffuser 140 on one side of the holder 120 from which the ball lens 150 is separated, light output through the curing unit 130 is randomly diffused. Form a pattern and print.

7 is a graph showing the light distribution of light output from the optical transmission optical fiber without a lens, and FIG. 8 is a graph showing the light distribution of light output from the optical transmission optical fiber comprising a lens having a radius of 300 μm in the integrated lens optical transmission optical fiber according to the present invention. Fig. 9 is a graph showing the light distribution of light output from the optical transmission optical fiber comprising a lens having a radius of 500 μm in the optical transmission optical fiber having an integrated lens according to the present invention.

That is, as shown in FIG. 7, it can be seen that the optical fiber made without the configuration of the lens has optical output only at the optical fiber core, and as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the exit surface of the curing unit 130 ( It can be seen that the optical fiber having a lens having a radius of 300 µm and 500 µm at 131) is output by dispersing the light source to the periphery.

Therefore, the optical efficiency can be improved by integrally installing a lens on the holder for fixing the optical fiber that transmits external light to form light distribution to the periphery, and the manufacturing process is simplified by installing the lens integrally on the holder for fixing the optical fiber. You can make it.

(Example 2)

10 is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the lens-integrated optical transmission optical fiber according to the present invention, and FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a manufacturing process of the lens-integrated optical transmission optical fiber according to FIG. 10.

10 and 11, the lens-integrated optical transmission optical fiber 100' according to the second embodiment includes an optical fiber 110, a holder 120, a curing unit 130, and a diffuser 140. Is composed.

First, repetitive descriptions of the same components are omitted, and the same reference numerals are used for the same components.

The lens-integrated optical transmission optical fiber 100' according to the second embodiment differs from the lens-integrated optical transmission optical fiber 100 according to the first embodiment in that the optical fiber bundles are arranged so as to twist the ends of the optical fiber 110'. .

That is, the ends of the optical fiber bundles in which the optical fibers 110 ′ of the unit unit are bundled into a bundle are twisted and fixed, and the bundle of the twisted optical fibers 110 ′ is inserted into the holder 120 and then through the curing unit 130. By fixing, it allows light to be scattered in various directions.

In addition, by configuring a concave lens-shaped exit surface at the end of the curing unit 130 for fixing the twisted optical fiber 110 ′, it can be configured to further increase the scattered light, and installed at the output end of the holder 120 Thus, the diffuser 140 may be additionally configured so that the light output through the curing unit 130 forms and outputs an arbitrary light diffusion pattern.

The following describes the manufacturing process of the optical transmission optical fiber with integrated lens according to the second embodiment.

First, an optical fiber bundle composed of a bundle of optical fibers 110 ′ is fixed (S200) using an adhesive or a clamping device, and the ends of the fixed optical fiber bundle are twisted and twisted (S210).

After performing the step S210, injecting the liquid curing unit 130 into the other side of the holder 120, and inserting and combining the optical fiber bundle with the optical fiber 110' twisted into the holder 120 ( S220) is performed.

After performing the step S220, a step (S230) of curing the injected curing unit 130 to become a solid state is performed.

After performing the step S230, the end of the curing unit 130 may be finely processed through a polishing process (S240), and when the curing unit 130 is cured, one side of the holder 120 A step (S250) of combining the diffuser 140 forming an arbitrary light diffusion pattern may be performed.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the twisted optical fiber 110 ′ is cured so that the uniformity of light distribution can be improved without a lens, but the present invention is not limited thereto and is concave at the end of the curing unit 130 to further increase the scattered light. It is also possible to perform a post-processing step of configuring the lens-shaped exit surface.

Therefore, the optical distribution uniformity can be improved by integrally installing a lens in the holder for fixing the optical fiber that transmits external light to form the light distribution to the periphery, and the manufacturing process by installing the lens integrally in the holder for fixing the optical fiber. Can be simplified.

As described above, the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments of the present invention, but those skilled in the art can variously modify and change the present invention within the scope not departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention described in the following claims. You will understand that you can do it.

In addition, reference numerals in the claims of the present invention are provided for clarity and convenience of description, and are not limited thereto. In the process of describing the embodiments, the thickness of the lines shown in the drawings, the size of components, etc. May be exaggerated for clarity and convenience of description.

In addition, the above-described terms are terms defined in consideration of functions in the present invention and may vary according to the intention or custom of users and operators, so interpretation of these terms should be made based on the contents throughout the present specification. .

In addition, even if not explicitly shown or described, a person having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention pertains can make various modifications including the technical idea according to the present invention from the description of the present invention. It is obvious, and this still belongs to the scope of the present invention.

In addition, the above embodiments described with reference to the accompanying drawings are described for the purpose of describing the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

10: head
11: optical fiber
11a: holder
11b: fiber optic lens
12: water jet nozzle
13: camera
14: air/water nozzle
15: inspection channel
100, 100': optical fiber with integrated lens
110, 110': optical fiber
120: holder
130: hardened part
131: exit surface
140: diffuser
150: ball lens

Claims (6)

A bundle of optical fibers for transmitting incident light;
A holder for receiving and fixing the optical fiber bundle; And
It is cured in the holder and includes a cured portion fixing the ends of the optical fiber bundle,
The ends of the optical fiber bundle are twisted by twisting each other,
Lens-integrated optical transmission optical fiber, characterized in that the distal ends of the twisted optical fiber bundle are arranged to face in various directions so that light output from the ends of the optical fiber bundle is distributed and output in various directions. The method of claim 1,
A lens-integrated optical transmission optical fiber, further comprising a diffuser in which light output from an end of the twisted optical fiber bundle forms a random light diffusion pattern. The method according to claim 1 or 2,
The hardening unit is a lens-integrated optical transmission optical fiber, characterized in that the exit surface is made of a concave lens shape consisting of a spherical or aspherical surface. i) twisting and twisting ends of the optical fiber bundles through which incident light is transmitted, and disposing the ends of the twisted optical fiber bundles to face in various directions;
ii) Injecting a liquid curing part into the holder, and twisting the light in various directions so that the light output from the end of the optical fiber bundle is distributed in various directions. Inserting a bundle of optical fibers into the holder; And
iii) A method of manufacturing a lens-integrated optical transmission optical fiber comprising the step of curing the liquid cured portion to become a solid state. The method of claim 4,
The step iii) further comprises forming a concave lens composed of a spherical or aspherical surface on the exit surface of the curing unit so that light output from the end of the optical fiber bundle is dispersed. The method of claim 5,
iv) when the cured portion is cured, the method of manufacturing a lens-integrated optical transmission optical fiber, further comprising: coupling a diffuser that forms an arbitrary light diffusion pattern to one side of the holder.

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