US20120155804A1 - Optical component and methods of manufacturing - Google Patents
Optical component and methods of manufacturing Download PDFInfo
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- US20120155804A1 US20120155804A1 US13/402,703 US201213402703A US2012155804A1 US 20120155804 A1 US20120155804 A1 US 20120155804A1 US 201213402703 A US201213402703 A US 201213402703A US 2012155804 A1 US2012155804 A1 US 2012155804A1
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- microlens
- optical member
- transparent substrate
- optical
- adhesive
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- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/26—Optical coupling means
- G02B6/35—Optical coupling means having switching means
- G02B6/3564—Mechanical details of the actuation mechanism associated with the moving element or mounting mechanism details
- G02B6/3582—Housing means or package or arranging details of the switching elements, e.g. for thermal isolation
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- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/26—Optical coupling means
- G02B6/28—Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals
- G02B6/293—Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals with wavelength selective means
- G02B6/29304—Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals with wavelength selective means operating by diffraction, e.g. grating
- G02B6/29305—Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals with wavelength selective means operating by diffraction, e.g. grating as bulk element, i.e. free space arrangement external to a light guide
- G02B6/2931—Diffractive element operating in reflection
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- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/26—Optical coupling means
- G02B6/28—Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals
- G02B6/293—Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals with wavelength selective means
- G02B6/29304—Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals with wavelength selective means operating by diffraction, e.g. grating
- G02B6/29305—Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals with wavelength selective means operating by diffraction, e.g. grating as bulk element, i.e. free space arrangement external to a light guide
- G02B6/29313—Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals with wavelength selective means operating by diffraction, e.g. grating as bulk element, i.e. free space arrangement external to a light guide characterised by means for controlling the position or direction of light incident to or leaving the diffractive element, e.g. for varying the wavelength response
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- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/26—Optical coupling means
- G02B6/32—Optical coupling means having lens focusing means positioned between opposed fibre ends
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- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/26—Optical coupling means
- G02B6/35—Optical coupling means having switching means
- G02B6/351—Optical coupling means having switching means involving stationary waveguides with moving interposed optical elements
- G02B6/3512—Optical coupling means having switching means involving stationary waveguides with moving interposed optical elements the optical element being reflective, e.g. mirror
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- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/26—Optical coupling means
- G02B6/35—Optical coupling means having switching means
- G02B6/354—Switching arrangements, i.e. number of input/output ports and interconnection types
- G02B6/356—Switching arrangements, i.e. number of input/output ports and interconnection types in an optical cross-connect device, e.g. routing and switching aspects of interconnecting different paths propagating different wavelengths to (re)configure the various input and output links
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- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
- G02B6/3628—Mechanical coupling means for mounting fibres to supporting carriers
- G02B6/3632—Mechanical coupling means for mounting fibres to supporting carriers characterised by the cross-sectional shape of the mechanical coupling means
- G02B6/3636—Mechanical coupling means for mounting fibres to supporting carriers characterised by the cross-sectional shape of the mechanical coupling means the mechanical coupling means being grooves
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- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
- G02B6/3628—Mechanical coupling means for mounting fibres to supporting carriers
- G02B6/3632—Mechanical coupling means for mounting fibres to supporting carriers characterised by the cross-sectional shape of the mechanical coupling means
- G02B6/3644—Mechanical coupling means for mounting fibres to supporting carriers characterised by the cross-sectional shape of the mechanical coupling means the coupling means being through-holes or wall apertures
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- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
- G02B6/3628—Mechanical coupling means for mounting fibres to supporting carriers
- G02B6/3648—Supporting carriers of a microbench type, i.e. with micromachined additional mechanical structures
- G02B6/3652—Supporting carriers of a microbench type, i.e. with micromachined additional mechanical structures the additional structures being prepositioning mounting areas, allowing only movement in one dimension, e.g. grooves, trenches or vias in the microbench surface, i.e. self aligning supporting carriers
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- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T156/00—Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture
- Y10T156/10—Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
Definitions
- the embodiments discussed herein are related to an optical component having an adhesive structure in which a first optical member and a second optical member are adhered to each other, a fiber collimator array and a wavelength selective switch including the fiber collimator having the adhesive structure.
- the wavelength selective switch is an optical device capable of selectively inputting or outputting arbitrary wavelengths, and a fiber collimator array is used as input/output ports thereof.
- a fiber collimator array includes, for example: a fiber array in which a plurality of optical fibers is arrayed to correspond to the input and output ports; and a microlens array in which respective microlenses are arrayed on positions corresponding to the respective optical fibers.
- each microlens is precisely aligned with each optical fiber to thereby configure the fiber collimator array.
- an optical fiber array block making up the fiber array and a silica microlens mounting base (to be simply referred to as a mounting base, hereunder) making up the microlens array are integrated with each other, and optimum positions on the mounting base are searched, so that respective microlenses are adhered to the optimum positions on the mounting base.
- each microlens is significantly small, the adhesive intensity thereof is low by being simply adhered to the mounting base, and therefore, there is a possibility that a resistance to vibration or a resistance to impact cannot be sufficiently ensured. Further, each microlens may be required to be subjected to extremely minute position adjustment, and therefore, it is also necessary to adopt a configuration in which such position adjustment can be easily performed, that is, a configuration in which each microlens is easily moved on the mounting base.
- optical components each having an adhesive structure in which a relatively small optical member (first optical member) is adhered to another optical member (second optical member).
- the present invention provides a fiber collimator array as one aspect thereof.
- the fiber collimator array includes: a fiber array in which a plurality of optical fibers is arrayed; and a microlens array in which microlenses are arrayed on a transparent substrate in positions corresponding to the plurality of optical fibers, wherein each microlens and the transparent substrate are oppositely arranged so that a plurality of projections formed on a bottom face (adhesive surface) of each microlens intersects with a plurality of projections formed on a surface (adhesive surface) of the transparent substrate, and each microlens and the transparent substrate are adhered to each other by an adhesive.
- the present invention provides a wavelength selective switch as a further aspect thereof.
- the wavelength selective switch has: (a) a fiber collimator array including: a fiber array in which a plurality of optical fibers containing an optical fiber corresponding to an input port and optical fibers corresponding to output ports is arrayed; and a microlens array in which microlenses are arrayed on a transparent substrate in positions corresponding to the plurality of optical fibers, and the fiber collimator array collimating a wavelength division multiplexed optical signal input to the optical fiber corresponding to the input port by the microlens corresponding to this optical fiber, to output the collimated wavelength division multiplexed optical signal; (b) a spectral element for spectrally separating the wavelength division multiplexed optical signal output from the fiber collimator array according to wavelengths; (c) a condenser element for condensing the optical signals of respective wavelengths spectrally separated by the spectral element on different positions; and (d) a mirror array including
- each microlens and the transparent substrate are oppositely arranged so that a plurality of projections formed on a bottom face of each microlens intersects with a plurality of projections formed on a surface of the transparent substrate, and each microlens and the transparent substrate are adhered to each other by an adhesive.
- the present invention provides an optical component as a furthermore aspect thereof.
- the optical component has an adhesive structure in which a first optical member and a second optical member are adhered to each other, wherein the first optical member and the second optical member are oppositely arranged so that a plurality of projections formed on the first optical member intersects with a plurality of projections formed on the second optical member, and the first optical member and the second optical member are adhered to each other by an adhesive.
- the present invention provides a method of manufacturing a fiber collimator array as a still further aspect thereof.
- the fiber collimator array includes: a fiber array in which a plurality of optical fibers is arrayed; and a microlens array in which microlenses are arrayed on a transparent substrate in positions corresponding to the plurality of optical fibers.
- the method of manufacturing the fiber collimator array includes: forming a plurality of projections on a bottom face of each microlens and on a surface of the transparent substrate; oppositely arranging the bottom face of each microlens and the surface of the transparent substrate so that the plurality of projections formed on the bottom face of each microlens intersects with the plurality of projections formed on the surface of the transparent substrate; adjusting a position of each microlens on the transparent substrate to arrange each microlens on an optical axis of each optical fiber; and adhering each microlens to the transparent substrate by an adhesive in a state where each microlens is arranged on the optical axis of each optical fiber.
- the present invention provides a method of manufacturing an optical component having an adhesive structure in which a first optical member and a second optical member are adhered to each other, as an even still further aspect thereof.
- the method of manufacturing the optical component includes: forming a plurality of projections on the first optical member and on the second optical member; oppositely arranging the first optical member and the second optical member so that the plurality of projections formed on the first optical member intersects with the plurality of projections formed on the second optical member; adjusting a position of the first optical member on the second optical member; and adhering the first optical member to the second optical member by an adhesive in a state where the position of the first optical member is adjusted on the second optical member.
- FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overview configuration of a fiber collimator array according to one embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B are diagrams exemplarily illustrating methods of improving the adhesive intensity of microlens
- FIG. 3A to FIG. 3C are diagrams illustrating a first embodiment of an adhesive structure between each microlens and a transparent substrate in the present embodiment
- FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a modified example of the first embodiment
- FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a further modified example of the first embodiment
- FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B are diagrams illustrating a second embodiment of the adhesive structure between each microlens and the transparent substrate in the present embodiment
- FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a modified example of the second embodiment
- FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a further modified example of the second embodiment
- FIG. 9A to FIG. 9D are diagrams typically illustrating arrangements (combinations) of a plurality of projections formed on each microlens and on the transparent substrate, in an adhesive portion;
- FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the case where adhesive surfaces of the microlens and the transparent substrate are both inclined;
- FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a wavelength selective switch to which the fiber collimator array according to the present embodiment is applied.
- FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining a relation between an array pitch of microlenses and a swing angle of a MEMS mirror in the wavelength selective switch.
- FIG. 1 illustrates an overview configuration of a fiber collimator array according to one embodiment of the present invention.
- a fiber collimator array 1 includes: a fiber array 2 in which a plurality of optical fibers 21 (4 optical fibers in the figure) is arrayed; and a microlens array 3 in which a plurality of microlenses 31 is arrayed.
- the fiber array 2 has a structure in which the plurality of optical fibers 21 is arrayed to be retained by a retainer block 22 at an end portion thereof.
- the microlens array 3 has a structure in which a bottom face of each microlens 31 is adhered by the adhesive to a position corresponding to each optical fiber 21 on a surface of a glass block (transparent planar substrate, to be referred to as transparent substrate, hereunder) 32 formed of a glass material (silica) for example.
- a rear face of the transparent substrate 32 (an opposite face of the surface to which each microlens 31 is adhered) is integrated with the retainer block 22 so as to be in tightly contact with end faces of the optical fibers 21 .
- Each microlens 31 is subjected to precise positioning (optical axis adjustment) to each optical fiber 21 , and thereafter, is adhered to the transparent substrate 22 .
- the transparent substrate 22 is fixedly integrated with the retainer block 32 , and thereafter, an optimum position for each microlens 31 is searched while moving each microlens 31 on the transparent substrate 32 , so that each microlens 31 is adhered to the transparent substrate 32 at the optimum position.
- the optimum position means a position at which an optical axis of each microlens 31 is coincident with an optical axis of the corresponding optical fiber 21 .
- the transparent substrate 32 may be fixed to the retainer block 22 by means of a fixing member (not illustrated in the figure), or an adhesive portion may disposed on a region (not illustrated in the figure) of the retainer block 22 and the transparent substrate 32 , to adhere the transparent substrate 32 and the retainer block 22 in the adhesive portion.
- the adhesive having substantially same refractive index as each microlens 31 for example, the ultraviolet curing adhesive is used.
- the adhesive may be previously applied on the bottom face (being an adhesive surface) of each microlens 31 or the surface (being an adhesive surface) of the transparent substrate 32 , to search the optimum position of each microlens 31 on the transparent substrate 32 , or the optimum position of each microlens 31 may be searched on the transparent substrate 31 to supply the adhesive.
- each microlens 31 is adhered to the transparent substrate 32 (the adhesive is cured) in a state of being arranged on the optimum position.
- a plurality of projections is formed on the bottom face (adhesive surface) of each microlens 31 and on the surface (adhesive surface) of the transparent substrate 32 , and the bottom face of each microlens 31 and the surface of the transparent substrate 32 are oppositely arranged so that the projections of each microlens 31 intersect with the projections of the transparent substrate 32 , and each microlens and the transparent substrate are adhered to each other by the adhesive.
- the height of top portion of the plurality of projections formed on the bottom face of each microlens 31 is all the same, and the height of top portion of the plurality of projections formed on the surface of the transparent substrate 32 is all the same.
- “projections” contains elongated portions protruding from adjacent regions or adjacent portions, and portions equivalent to respective serrations (teeth) for when the section is formed in a serrated shape or the like, as well as “ribs” formed on a plane or a configuration equivalent thereto correspond to the elongated portions.
- the elongated portion contains a linear elongated portion, a curved elongated portion and a combination of the linear elongated portion and the curved elongated portion.
- each microlens 31 and the transparent substrate 32 are in contact with each other directly or via a small amount of the adhesive at the mutual top portions of the projections.
- the adhesive portion the contact area between each microlens 31 and the transparent substrate 32 is significantly reduced, and at the same time, the adhesive area between each microlens 31 and the transparent substrate 32 is increased.
- the fiber collimator array 1 is specifically manufactured as follows. Namely, the plurality of projections is formed on the bottom face of each microlens 31 and on the surface of the transparent substrate 32 , and the bottom face of each microlens 31 and the surface of the transparent substrate 32 are oppositely arranged so that the plurality of projections formed on the bottom face of each microlens 31 intersect with the plurality of projections formed on the surface of the transparent substrate 32 . Subsequently, the position adjustment of each microlens 31 is performed on the transparent substrate 32 , to thereby arrange each microlens 31 on the optical axis of the corresponding optical fiber 21 , and thereafter, each microlens 31 and the transparent substrate 32 are adhered to each other by the adhesive.
- FIG. 3A to FIG. 3C illustrate a first embodiment of the adhesive structure between each microlens 31 and the transparent substrate 32 .
- FIG. 3A illustrates each microlens 31
- FIG. 3B illustrates the transparent substrate 32
- FIG. 3C illustrates a state where each microlens 31 is adhered to the transparent substrate 32 .
- the sections of the bottom face (adhesive surface) of each microlens 31 and of the surface (adhesive surface) of the transparent substrate 32 are formed in the serrated shapes (triangular wave shapes).
- each microlens 31 and on the surface of the transparent substrate 32 can be formed by machining, anisotropic etching or the like.
- the serrated portion on the microlens 31 side and the serrated portion on the transparent substrate 32 side need not to be formed in all the same shapes.
- tip ends of portions equivalent to the respective serrations (teeth) of the serrated portion are sharpened in the figure, these tip ends may be flattened or curved (formed in rounded shapes) by chamfering or the like.
- the portions equivalent to the respective serrations (teeth) of the serrated portion correspond to “projections”, and tip end portions of the respective serrations (illustrated by Y in the figure) correspond to “top portions of the projections”.
- the sections of the bottom face of each microlens 31 and of the surface of the transparent substrate 32 are formed in the serrated shapes, to be oppositely arranged so that the serrated portion formed on the bottom face of each microlens 31 are not engaged with the serrated portion formed on the surface of the transparent substrate 32 , that is, so that the serrated portion of each microlens 31 intersect with the serrated portion of the transparent substrate 32 .
- the bottom face of each microlens 31 and the surface of the transparent substrate 32 are oppositely arranged so that the serrated portions thereof are approximately orthogonal to each other.
- each microlens 31 is performed on the transparent substrate 32 , and thereafter, each microlens 31 is adhered to the transparent substrate 32 by the adhesive.
- the adhesive may be previously applied on the bottom face of each microlens 31 and/or on the surface of the transparent substrate 32 , to be cured at a time point when the position adjustment is finished, or after performing the position adjustment, the adhesive may be supplied between each microlens 31 and the transparent substrate 32 to be cured.
- each microlens 31 and the surface of the transparent substrate 32 are in intermittently contact with each other directly or via the small amount of the adhesive at the tip end portions (Y) of the serrations (teeth) of the respective serrated portions thereof, that is, at the top portions of the projections (X).
- each microlens 31 and the transparent substrate 32 are in point contact with each other at a plurality of points, whereas in the case where the tip ends of the respective serrations (teeth) are flattened, each microlens 31 and the transparent substrate 32 are in face-to-face contact with each other by relatively small areas at a plurality of sites.
- the contact area between each microlens 31 and the transparent substrate 32 is significantly reduced, and at the same time, the adhesive area between each microlens 31 and the transparent substrate 32 is increased, compared with the case where the bottom face of each microlens 31 and the surface of the transparent substrate 32 are formed in the same plane.
- the adhesive intensity of each microlens 31 can be ensured while easily performing the position adjustment (for example, optical axis adjustment) thereof on the transparent substrate 32 .
- FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 illustrate modified examples of the first embodiment.
- the sections of the bottom face of each microlens 31 and of the surface of the transparent substrate 32 are formed in sinusoidal wave shapes, and in FIG. 5 , the sections thereof are formed in continuous semicircular (circular arc) shapes. These shapes can be formed by machining, anisotropy etching or the like.
- each microlens 31 and the transparent substrate 32 are oppositely arranged so that the projections of each microlens 31 and the projections of the transparent substrate 32 intersect with each other (preferably, are approximately orthogonal to each other), to thereby be adhered to each other by the adhesive.
- the section on the microlens 31 side and the section on the transparent substrate 32 need not to be formed in all the same shapes.
- FIG. 6 illustrates a second embodiment of the adhesive structure between each microlens 31 and the transparent substrate 32 .
- FIG. 6A illustrates each microlens 31 and FIG. 6B illustrates the transparent substrate 32 .
- a plurality of ribs each having a triangular cross section is formed at a constant pitch on the bottom face (adhesive surface) of each microlens 31 and on the surface (adhesive surface) of the transparent substrate 32 .
- These ribs can also be formed by machining, anisotropic etching or the like. Further, top portions of the ribs may be formed in curved faces (rounded faces) by chamfering or the like, and the ribs of each microlens 31 and the ribs of the transparent substrate 32 need not to be formed in all the same shapes.
- each microlens 31 and the transparent substrate 32 are oppositely arranged so that ribs 35 formed on the bottom face of each microlens 31 and ribs 36 formed on the surface of the transparent substrate 32 intersect with each other (preferably, are approximately orthogonal to each other), to be adhered to each other by the adhesive.
- each microlens 31 and the transparent substrate are in point contact with each other at top portions of the ribs 35 and of the ribs 36 , so that the contact area between each microlens 31 and the transparent substrate 32 is significantly reduced, and at the same time, the adhesive area between each microlens 31 and the transparent substrate 32 is increased.
- the adhesive intensity of each microlens 31 can be ensured, and at the same time, the position adjustment thereof can be easily ensured.
- ribs 35 and the ribs 36 each having the triangular cross section there may used ribs each having a trapezoidal cross section as illustrated in FIG. 7 or ribs each having a semi-circular cross section as illustrated in FIG. 8 .
- FIG. 7 In the case such ribs are used, effects similar to those in the second embodiment can be obtained.
- Each microlens 31 and the transparent substrate 32 may be oppositely arranged so that the projections formed on the bottom face of each microlens 31 and the projections formed on the surface of the transparent substrate 32 intersect with each other, to be adhered to each other, and accordingly, the adhesive structure between each microlens 31 and the transparent substrate 32 is not limited to the first embodiment, the second embodiment or the modified examples of the embodiments. Namely, there may be made various arrangements (combinations) of the plurality of projections formed on the bottom face of each microlens 31 and the plurality of projections formed on the surface of the transparent substrate 32 in the adhesive portion. Some of the various arrangements (combinations) will be exemplarily shown in the followings.
- FIG. 9A to FIG. 9D typically illustrate the arrangements (combinations) of the plurality of projections formed on the bottom face of each microlens 31 and the plurality of projections formed on the surface of the transparent substrate 32 in the adhesive portion between each microlens 31 and the transparent substrate 32 .
- lines or circles appearing on the bottom face of each microlens and on the surface of the transparent substrate indicate the top portions of the respective projections (tip ends of the ribs or serrated edge portions of the serrated sections), and FIG. 9A corresponds to the first embodiment ( FIG. 3 ).
- FIG. 9B illustrates a combination example for when the plurality of obliquely and linearly extending projections is formed at a constant pitch on the surface of the transparent substrate 32 .
- FIG. 9C illustrates a combination example for when the plurality of projections extending in radial from a predetermined position (starting point) of a circumferential portion is formed on the bottom face of each microlens 31 and on the surface of the transparent substrate 32 .
- starting point a position of a circumferential portion
- FIG. 9D illustrates a combination example for when the plurality of projections in concentric circles is formed on the bottom face of each microlens 31 whereas the plurality of linear projections is formed at a constant pitch on the surface of the transparent substrate 32 .
- the adhesive retention capacity on the bottom face of each microlens 31 can be improved.
- each microlens 31 and the transparent substrate 32 By using the above described adhesive structure between each microlens 31 and the transparent substrate 32 , it is possible to easily perform the position adjustment of each microlens 31 on the transparent substrate 32 , and also, it is possible to ensure the adhesive intensity thereof without the necessity of extending the outer diameter of each microlens 31 to thereby improve a resistance to vibration of the fiber collimator array and a resistance to impact thereof. Incidentally, as illustrated in FIG. 10 , even in the case where the adhesive surfaces of each microlens 31 and of the transparent substrate 32 are inclined, the present invention can surely be applied.
- FIG. 11 illustrates one example of wavelength selective switch.
- a wavelength selective switch 100 has: a fiber collimator array 110 ; a spectral element 120 ; a condenser element 130 ; and a mirror array 140 .
- the fiber collimator array 110 includes a fiber array 110 A in which a plurality of optical fibers is arrayed and a microlens array 110 B in which a plurality of microlenses is arrayed.
- the fiber array 110 A has a structure in which an optical fiber (a single optical fiber in the FIG. 111 IN corresponding to an input port and optical fibers 111 OUT (# 1 ) to 111 OUT (#N) (five optical fibers in the figure) corresponding to output ports are arrayed in one direction, to be retained by a retainer block 112 at end portions thereof.
- the microlens array 110 B has a structure in which respective microlenses 113 are adhered to positions corresponding to the respective optical fibers 111 on a transparent substrate 114 .
- a wavelength division multiplexed optical signal input from the input port travels through the transparent substrate 114 while being spread, and is collimated by the corresponding microlens 113 to be converted into a parallel light to thereby be output.
- the spectral element 120 is a diffraction grating for example, and (spectrally) separates the wavelength division multiplexed optical signal output from the fiber collimator array 110 to different angle directions for respective wavelengths.
- the condenser element 130 is a condenser lens for example, and condenses optical signals of respective wavelengths (respective wavelength channels) (spectrally) separated by the spectral element 120 on different positions.
- the mirror array 140 includes a plurality of mirrors (# 1 to #N) disposed on condensing positions of the optical signals of respective wavelengths.
- Each mirror is a MEMS mirror manufactured using a MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) technology.
- the respective optical signals (respective wavelength channels) reached the mirror array 140 are reflected by the corresponding MEMS mirrors to be turned to predetermined directions.
- each MEMS mirror is supported by a pair of torsion bars for example, to be swung around the torsion bars, and is controlled by a control section (not shown in the figure) at an angle (swinging position) corresponding to a position of the output port set as the output determination of each optical signal.
- the optical signal (wavelength channel) reflected by each MEMS mirror of the mirror array 140 passes through the condenser element 130 , the spectral element 120 and the fiber collimator array 110 in this order, to be output from the desired output port.
- the fiber collimator array 110 is required to ensure the adhesive intensity of each microlens 113 to the transparent substrate 114 , and to ensure the ease in position adjustment of each microlens 113 on the transparent substrate 114 .
- the array pitch of each microlens 113 and a swing angle of each MEMS mirror are in an approximately proportional relation. Therefore, due to the restriction of the swing angle of each MEMS mirror or the like, the array pitch of each microlens 113 cannot be so extended, and therefore, it is hard to ensure the adhesive intensity by a reinforcing member (refer to FIG. 2B ).
- each adhesive structure between each microlens and the transparent substrate as described in FIG. 1 to FIG. 9 ensures the adhesive intensity of each microlens to the transparent substrate without the necessity of extending the outer diameter of each microlens, and in addition, ensures the ease in position adjustment of each microlens on the transparent substrate, and accordingly, is suitable for the wavelength selective switch described above.
- each adhesive structure between each microlens and the transparent substrate as described in FIG. 1 to FIG. 9 is adopted.
- the wavelength selective switch 100 in the present embodiment it is possible to easily perform the optical axis adjustment between each optical fiber 112 and each microlens 113 , and also, to ensure the adhesive intensity of each microlens 113 .
- an increase in insertion loss of the wavelength selective switch 100 is suppressed, and the resistance to vibration and the resistance to impact are improved in the entire wavelength selective switch 100 .
- each microlens is a first optical member
- the transparent substrate is a second optical member
- the fiber collimator array or the microlens array is an optical component having an adhesive structure in which the first optical member and the second optical member are adhered to each other.
- optical component it is possible to easily perform the position adjustment of the first optical member on the second optical member, and also, to improve the adhesive intensity between the first optical member and the second optical member.
Abstract
An optical component including microlenses and a transparent substrate oppositely arranged so that a plurality of projections formed on a bottom face of each microlens intersects with a plurality of projections formed on a surface of the transparent substrate, and each microlens and the transparent substrate are adhered to each other by the adhesive, and related methods of manufacturing.
Description
- This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §120 of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/662,716, entitled FIBER COLLIMATOR ARRAY filed Apr. 29, 2010, now allowed, which also claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/314,677, entitled OPTICAL COMPONENT, FIBER COLLIMATOR ARRAY AND WAVELENGTH SELECTIVE SWITCH filed Dec. 15, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,734,128, issued Jun. 8, 2010, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties in this application. This application is based upon the claims of the benefit of priority of the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-103773, filed on Apr. 11, 2008, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
- The embodiments discussed herein are related to an optical component having an adhesive structure in which a first optical member and a second optical member are adhered to each other, a fiber collimator array and a wavelength selective switch including the fiber collimator having the adhesive structure.
- In recent years, with the speeding-up of optical signals in a trunk system, it has been needed to process optical signals at ultrahigh-speeds also in an optical switching function, such as, an optical cross-connecting device or the like. Further, the switching scale has also been significantly large due to an increase of wavelength division multiplexing numbers in a wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) transmission technology.
- Under such backgrounds, as one of relatively large scale optical switches, the development of a wavelength selective switch (WSS) has been progressed. The wavelength selective switch is an optical device capable of selectively inputting or outputting arbitrary wavelengths, and a fiber collimator array is used as input/output ports thereof. Such a fiber collimator array includes, for example: a fiber array in which a plurality of optical fibers is arrayed to correspond to the input and output ports; and a microlens array in which respective microlenses are arrayed on positions corresponding to the respective optical fibers.
- Here, if an optical axis of each optical fiber and an optical axis of each microlens are deviated from each other, an insertion loss of the wavelength selective switch is increased. Therefore, there has been known a configuration in which each microlens is precisely aligned with each optical fiber to thereby configure the fiber collimator array. In a technology disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2007-328177, an optical fiber array block making up the fiber array and a silica microlens mounting base (to be simply referred to as a mounting base, hereunder) making up the microlens array are integrated with each other, and optimum positions on the mounting base are searched, so that respective microlenses are adhered to the optimum positions on the mounting base.
- However, since each microlens is significantly small, the adhesive intensity thereof is low by being simply adhered to the mounting base, and therefore, there is a possibility that a resistance to vibration or a resistance to impact cannot be sufficiently ensured. Further, each microlens may be required to be subjected to extremely minute position adjustment, and therefore, it is also necessary to adopt a configuration in which such position adjustment can be easily performed, that is, a configuration in which each microlens is easily moved on the mounting base.
- The above described problems are common to optical components each having an adhesive structure in which a relatively small optical member (first optical member) is adhered to another optical member (second optical member).
- The present invention provides a fiber collimator array as one aspect thereof. The fiber collimator array includes: a fiber array in which a plurality of optical fibers is arrayed; and a microlens array in which microlenses are arrayed on a transparent substrate in positions corresponding to the plurality of optical fibers, wherein each microlens and the transparent substrate are oppositely arranged so that a plurality of projections formed on a bottom face (adhesive surface) of each microlens intersects with a plurality of projections formed on a surface (adhesive surface) of the transparent substrate, and each microlens and the transparent substrate are adhered to each other by an adhesive.
- The present invention provides a wavelength selective switch as a further aspect thereof. The wavelength selective switch has: (a) a fiber collimator array including: a fiber array in which a plurality of optical fibers containing an optical fiber corresponding to an input port and optical fibers corresponding to output ports is arrayed; and a microlens array in which microlenses are arrayed on a transparent substrate in positions corresponding to the plurality of optical fibers, and the fiber collimator array collimating a wavelength division multiplexed optical signal input to the optical fiber corresponding to the input port by the microlens corresponding to this optical fiber, to output the collimated wavelength division multiplexed optical signal; (b) a spectral element for spectrally separating the wavelength division multiplexed optical signal output from the fiber collimator array according to wavelengths; (c) a condenser element for condensing the optical signals of respective wavelengths spectrally separated by the spectral element on different positions; and (d) a mirror array including a plurality of mirrors arranged on the condensing positions of the optical signals of respective wavelengths, and the mirror array outputting the optical signal reflected by each mirror from any one of the optical fibers corresponding to the output ports via the condenser element, the spectral element and the fiber collimator array. Then, in the fiber collimator array, each microlens and the transparent substrate are oppositely arranged so that a plurality of projections formed on a bottom face of each microlens intersects with a plurality of projections formed on a surface of the transparent substrate, and each microlens and the transparent substrate are adhered to each other by an adhesive.
- The present invention provides an optical component as a furthermore aspect thereof. The optical component has an adhesive structure in which a first optical member and a second optical member are adhered to each other, wherein the first optical member and the second optical member are oppositely arranged so that a plurality of projections formed on the first optical member intersects with a plurality of projections formed on the second optical member, and the first optical member and the second optical member are adhered to each other by an adhesive.
- The present invention provides a method of manufacturing a fiber collimator array as a still further aspect thereof. The fiber collimator array includes: a fiber array in which a plurality of optical fibers is arrayed; and a microlens array in which microlenses are arrayed on a transparent substrate in positions corresponding to the plurality of optical fibers. Then, the method of manufacturing the fiber collimator array includes: forming a plurality of projections on a bottom face of each microlens and on a surface of the transparent substrate; oppositely arranging the bottom face of each microlens and the surface of the transparent substrate so that the plurality of projections formed on the bottom face of each microlens intersects with the plurality of projections formed on the surface of the transparent substrate; adjusting a position of each microlens on the transparent substrate to arrange each microlens on an optical axis of each optical fiber; and adhering each microlens to the transparent substrate by an adhesive in a state where each microlens is arranged on the optical axis of each optical fiber.
- The present invention provides a method of manufacturing an optical component having an adhesive structure in which a first optical member and a second optical member are adhered to each other, as an even still further aspect thereof. The method of manufacturing the optical component includes: forming a plurality of projections on the first optical member and on the second optical member; oppositely arranging the first optical member and the second optical member so that the plurality of projections formed on the first optical member intersects with the plurality of projections formed on the second optical member; adjusting a position of the first optical member on the second optical member; and adhering the first optical member to the second optical member by an adhesive in a state where the position of the first optical member is adjusted on the second optical member.
- Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.
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FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overview configuration of a fiber collimator array according to one embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 2A andFIG. 2B are diagrams exemplarily illustrating methods of improving the adhesive intensity of microlens; -
FIG. 3A toFIG. 3C are diagrams illustrating a first embodiment of an adhesive structure between each microlens and a transparent substrate in the present embodiment; -
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a modified example of the first embodiment; -
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a further modified example of the first embodiment; -
FIG. 6A andFIG. 6B are diagrams illustrating a second embodiment of the adhesive structure between each microlens and the transparent substrate in the present embodiment; -
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a modified example of the second embodiment; -
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a further modified example of the second embodiment; -
FIG. 9A toFIG. 9D are diagrams typically illustrating arrangements (combinations) of a plurality of projections formed on each microlens and on the transparent substrate, in an adhesive portion; -
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the case where adhesive surfaces of the microlens and the transparent substrate are both inclined; -
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a wavelength selective switch to which the fiber collimator array according to the present embodiment is applied; and -
FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining a relation between an array pitch of microlenses and a swing angle of a MEMS mirror in the wavelength selective switch. - Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to drawings.
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FIG. 1 illustrates an overview configuration of a fiber collimator array according to one embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated inFIG. 1 , afiber collimator array 1 includes: afiber array 2 in which a plurality of optical fibers 21 (4 optical fibers in the figure) is arrayed; and amicrolens array 3 in which a plurality ofmicrolenses 31 is arrayed. Thefiber array 2 has a structure in which the plurality ofoptical fibers 21 is arrayed to be retained by aretainer block 22 at an end portion thereof. Themicrolens array 3 has a structure in which a bottom face of eachmicrolens 31 is adhered by the adhesive to a position corresponding to eachoptical fiber 21 on a surface of a glass block (transparent planar substrate, to be referred to as transparent substrate, hereunder) 32 formed of a glass material (silica) for example. A rear face of the transparent substrate 32 (an opposite face of the surface to which eachmicrolens 31 is adhered) is integrated with theretainer block 22 so as to be in tightly contact with end faces of theoptical fibers 21. Eachmicrolens 31 is subjected to precise positioning (optical axis adjustment) to eachoptical fiber 21, and thereafter, is adhered to thetransparent substrate 22. Namely, thetransparent substrate 22 is fixedly integrated with theretainer block 32, and thereafter, an optimum position for eachmicrolens 31 is searched while moving eachmicrolens 31 on thetransparent substrate 32, so that each microlens 31 is adhered to thetransparent substrate 32 at the optimum position. Incidentally, the optimum position means a position at which an optical axis of eachmicrolens 31 is coincident with an optical axis of the correspondingoptical fiber 21. - Here, for fixing the
transparent substrate 32 to theretainer block 22, since the end face of eachoptical fiber 21 may be in tightly contact with the rear face of thetransparent substrate 32, any method may be used. For example, thetransparent substrate 32 may be fixed to theretainer block 22 by means of a fixing member (not illustrated in the figure), or an adhesive portion may disposed on a region (not illustrated in the figure) of theretainer block 22 and thetransparent substrate 32, to adhere thetransparent substrate 32 and theretainer block 22 in the adhesive portion. - Further, for adhering each microlens 31 to the
transparent substrate 32, the adhesive having substantially same refractive index as each microlens 31 (for example, the ultraviolet curing adhesive) is used. - Further, in adhering each microlens 31 to the
transparent substrate 32, the adhesive may be previously applied on the bottom face (being an adhesive surface) of each microlens 31 or the surface (being an adhesive surface) of thetransparent substrate 32, to search the optimum position of each microlens 31 on thetransparent substrate 32, or the optimum position of each microlens 31 may be searched on thetransparent substrate 31 to supply the adhesive. In either of the cases, each microlens 31 is adhered to the transparent substrate 32 (the adhesive is cured) in a state of being arranged on the optimum position. - In the case where the
fiber collimator array 1 is configured as in the above manner, as already described, the adhesive intensity of eachmicrolens 31 and the ease in position adjustment thereof need to be ensured together. - As methods of improving the adhesive intensity, there are considered a method of forming sections of the bottom face of each
microlens 31 and of the surface of thetransparent substrate 32 in serrated shapes to engage the serrated sections with each other as illustrated inFIG. 2A , a method of additionally disposing a reinforcing member to each microlens 31 to increase an adhesive area to thetransparent substrate 32 as illustrated inFIG. 2B , and the like. - However, in the method of engaging the serrated sections with each other (
FIG. 2A ), although the adhesive area can be increased, it becomes hard to freely move each microlens 31 on thetransparent substrate 32 for performing the position adjustment or the like. On the other hand, in the method of additionally disposing the reinforcing member (FIG. 2B ), since a contact area (a frictional resistance) to thetransparent substrate 32 is increased as well as the adhesive area, it becomes hard to finely adjust the position of each microlens 31 on thetransparent substrate 32. Further, in the case where each microlens 31 is to be arrayed at a narrow pitch, the reinforcing member cannot be applied since each reinforcing member interferes with each other. - Therefore, in the present embodiment, a plurality of projections is formed on the bottom face (adhesive surface) of each
microlens 31 and on the surface (adhesive surface) of thetransparent substrate 32, and the bottom face of eachmicrolens 31 and the surface of thetransparent substrate 32 are oppositely arranged so that the projections of each microlens 31 intersect with the projections of thetransparent substrate 32, and each microlens and the transparent substrate are adhered to each other by the adhesive. - Here, the height of top portion of the plurality of projections formed on the bottom face of each
microlens 31 is all the same, and the height of top portion of the plurality of projections formed on the surface of thetransparent substrate 32 is all the same. Further, “projections” contains elongated portions protruding from adjacent regions or adjacent portions, and portions equivalent to respective serrations (teeth) for when the section is formed in a serrated shape or the like, as well as “ribs” formed on a plane or a configuration equivalent thereto correspond to the elongated portions. Further, the elongated portion contains a linear elongated portion, a curved elongated portion and a combination of the linear elongated portion and the curved elongated portion. - Thus, when the plurality of projections formed on the bottom face of each
microlens 31 and the plurality of projections formed on the surface of thetransparent substrate 32 are arranged to intersect with each other, to thereby be adhered to each other, eachmicrolens 31 and thetransparent substrate 32 are in contact with each other directly or via a small amount of the adhesive at the mutual top portions of the projections. Namely, in the adhesive portion, the contact area between each microlens 31 and thetransparent substrate 32 is significantly reduced, and at the same time, the adhesive area between each microlens 31 and thetransparent substrate 32 is increased. As a result, without the necessity of extending an outer diameter of eachmicrolens 31, the adhesive intensity of eachmicrolens 31 is ensured, and in addition, the position adjustment thereof can be performed easily. - In the present embodiment, the
fiber collimator array 1 is specifically manufactured as follows. Namely, the plurality of projections is formed on the bottom face of eachmicrolens 31 and on the surface of thetransparent substrate 32, and the bottom face of eachmicrolens 31 and the surface of thetransparent substrate 32 are oppositely arranged so that the plurality of projections formed on the bottom face of each microlens 31 intersect with the plurality of projections formed on the surface of thetransparent substrate 32. Subsequently, the position adjustment of eachmicrolens 31 is performed on thetransparent substrate 32, to thereby arrange each microlens 31 on the optical axis of the correspondingoptical fiber 21, and thereafter, eachmicrolens 31 and thetransparent substrate 32 are adhered to each other by the adhesive. - Hereunder, there will be described specific examples of adhesive structure between each microlens 31 and the
transparent substrate 32. -
FIG. 3A toFIG. 3C illustrate a first embodiment of the adhesive structure between each microlens 31 and thetransparent substrate 32.FIG. 3A illustrates eachmicrolens 31,FIG. 3B illustrates thetransparent substrate 32, andFIG. 3C illustrates a state where each microlens 31 is adhered to thetransparent substrate 32. In this embodiment, the sections of the bottom face (adhesive surface) of eachmicrolens 31 and of the surface (adhesive surface) of thetransparent substrate 32 are formed in the serrated shapes (triangular wave shapes). - The serrated portions on the bottom face of each
microlens 31 and on the surface of thetransparent substrate 32 can be formed by machining, anisotropic etching or the like. Here, the serrated portion on themicrolens 31 side and the serrated portion on thetransparent substrate 32 side need not to be formed in all the same shapes. Further, although tip ends of portions equivalent to the respective serrations (teeth) of the serrated portion are sharpened in the figure, these tip ends may be flattened or curved (formed in rounded shapes) by chamfering or the like. In the first embodiment, the portions equivalent to the respective serrations (teeth) of the serrated portion (illustrated by X in the figure) correspond to “projections”, and tip end portions of the respective serrations (illustrated by Y in the figure) correspond to “top portions of the projections”. - In the first embodiment, as illustrated in
FIG. 3A andFIG. 3B , the sections of the bottom face of eachmicrolens 31 and of the surface of thetransparent substrate 32 are formed in the serrated shapes, to be oppositely arranged so that the serrated portion formed on the bottom face of each microlens 31 are not engaged with the serrated portion formed on the surface of thetransparent substrate 32, that is, so that the serrated portion of each microlens 31 intersect with the serrated portion of thetransparent substrate 32. Preferably, as illustrated inFIG. 3C , the bottom face of eachmicrolens 31 and the surface of thetransparent substrate 32 are oppositely arranged so that the serrated portions thereof are approximately orthogonal to each other. - Then, the position adjustment of each
microlens 31 is performed on thetransparent substrate 32, and thereafter, each microlens 31 is adhered to thetransparent substrate 32 by the adhesive. At this time, as already described, before performing the position adjustment, the adhesive may be previously applied on the bottom face of eachmicrolens 31 and/or on the surface of thetransparent substrate 32, to be cured at a time point when the position adjustment is finished, or after performing the position adjustment, the adhesive may be supplied between each microlens 31 and thetransparent substrate 32 to be cured. - As a result, the bottom face of each
microlens 31 and the surface of thetransparent substrate 32 are in intermittently contact with each other directly or via the small amount of the adhesive at the tip end portions (Y) of the serrations (teeth) of the respective serrated portions thereof, that is, at the top portions of the projections (X). Here, especially in the case where the tip ends of the respective serrations (teeth) are sharpened or curved (rounded shapes), eachmicrolens 31 and thetransparent substrate 32 are in point contact with each other at a plurality of points, whereas in the case where the tip ends of the respective serrations (teeth) are flattened, eachmicrolens 31 and thetransparent substrate 32 are in face-to-face contact with each other by relatively small areas at a plurality of sites. In either cases, the contact area between each microlens 31 and thetransparent substrate 32 is significantly reduced, and at the same time, the adhesive area between each microlens 31 and thetransparent substrate 32 is increased, compared with the case where the bottom face of eachmicrolens 31 and the surface of thetransparent substrate 32 are formed in the same plane. As a result, the adhesive intensity of each microlens 31 can be ensured while easily performing the position adjustment (for example, optical axis adjustment) thereof on thetransparent substrate 32. -
FIG. 4 andFIG. 5 illustrate modified examples of the first embodiment. Briefly describing, inFIG. 4 , the sections of the bottom face of eachmicrolens 31 and of the surface of thetransparent substrate 32 are formed in sinusoidal wave shapes, and inFIG. 5 , the sections thereof are formed in continuous semicircular (circular arc) shapes. These shapes can be formed by machining, anisotropy etching or the like. Then, similarly to the first embodiment, eachmicrolens 31 and thetransparent substrate 32 are oppositely arranged so that the projections of eachmicrolens 31 and the projections of thetransparent substrate 32 intersect with each other (preferably, are approximately orthogonal to each other), to thereby be adhered to each other by the adhesive. Also in these cases, the section on themicrolens 31 side and the section on thetransparent substrate 32 need not to be formed in all the same shapes. -
FIG. 6 illustrates a second embodiment of the adhesive structure between each microlens 31 and thetransparent substrate 32.FIG. 6A illustrates eachmicrolens 31 andFIG. 6B illustrates thetransparent substrate 32. In the second embodiment, a plurality of ribs each having a triangular cross section is formed at a constant pitch on the bottom face (adhesive surface) of eachmicrolens 31 and on the surface (adhesive surface) of thetransparent substrate 32. These ribs can also be formed by machining, anisotropic etching or the like. Further, top portions of the ribs may be formed in curved faces (rounded faces) by chamfering or the like, and the ribs of eachmicrolens 31 and the ribs of thetransparent substrate 32 need not to be formed in all the same shapes. - Then, each
microlens 31 and thetransparent substrate 32 are oppositely arranged so thatribs 35 formed on the bottom face of eachmicrolens 31 andribs 36 formed on the surface of thetransparent substrate 32 intersect with each other (preferably, are approximately orthogonal to each other), to be adhered to each other by the adhesive. Thus, eachmicrolens 31 and the transparent substrate are in point contact with each other at top portions of theribs 35 and of theribs 36, so that the contact area between each microlens 31 and thetransparent substrate 32 is significantly reduced, and at the same time, the adhesive area between each microlens 31 and thetransparent substrate 32 is increased. As a result, similarly to the first embodiment, the adhesive intensity of each microlens 31 can be ensured, and at the same time, the position adjustment thereof can be easily ensured. - Incidentally, as a modified example of the second embodiment, in place of the
ribs 35 and theribs 36 each having the triangular cross section, there may used ribs each having a trapezoidal cross section as illustrated inFIG. 7 or ribs each having a semi-circular cross section as illustrated inFIG. 8 . In the case such ribs are used, effects similar to those in the second embodiment can be obtained. - Each
microlens 31 and thetransparent substrate 32 may be oppositely arranged so that the projections formed on the bottom face of eachmicrolens 31 and the projections formed on the surface of thetransparent substrate 32 intersect with each other, to be adhered to each other, and accordingly, the adhesive structure between each microlens 31 and thetransparent substrate 32 is not limited to the first embodiment, the second embodiment or the modified examples of the embodiments. Namely, there may be made various arrangements (combinations) of the plurality of projections formed on the bottom face of eachmicrolens 31 and the plurality of projections formed on the surface of thetransparent substrate 32 in the adhesive portion. Some of the various arrangements (combinations) will be exemplarily shown in the followings. -
FIG. 9A toFIG. 9D typically illustrate the arrangements (combinations) of the plurality of projections formed on the bottom face of eachmicrolens 31 and the plurality of projections formed on the surface of thetransparent substrate 32 in the adhesive portion between each microlens 31 and thetransparent substrate 32. InFIG. 9 , lines or circles appearing on the bottom face of each microlens and on the surface of the transparent substrate indicate the top portions of the respective projections (tip ends of the ribs or serrated edge portions of the serrated sections), andFIG. 9A corresponds to the first embodiment (FIG. 3 ). -
FIG. 9B illustrates a combination example for when the plurality of obliquely and linearly extending projections is formed at a constant pitch on the surface of thetransparent substrate 32. -
FIG. 9C illustrates a combination example for when the plurality of projections extending in radial from a predetermined position (starting point) of a circumferential portion is formed on the bottom face of eachmicrolens 31 and on the surface of thetransparent substrate 32. In this case, even after the position of eachmicrolens 31 is adjusted, by supplying the adhesive from the starting point on themicrolens 31 side or/and from the starting point on thetransparent substrate 32 side, the adhesive can be efficiently spread between the bottom face of eachmicrolens 31 and the surface of thetransparent substrate 32. -
FIG. 9D illustrates a combination example for when the plurality of projections in concentric circles is formed on the bottom face of each microlens 31 whereas the plurality of linear projections is formed at a constant pitch on the surface of thetransparent substrate 32. In this case, the adhesive retention capacity on the bottom face of each microlens 31 can be improved. - By using the above described adhesive structure between each microlens 31 and the
transparent substrate 32, it is possible to easily perform the position adjustment of each microlens 31 on thetransparent substrate 32, and also, it is possible to ensure the adhesive intensity thereof without the necessity of extending the outer diameter of each microlens 31 to thereby improve a resistance to vibration of the fiber collimator array and a resistance to impact thereof. Incidentally, as illustrated inFIG. 10 , even in the case where the adhesive surfaces of eachmicrolens 31 and of thetransparent substrate 32 are inclined, the present invention can surely be applied. - According to such a fiber collimator array and such a method of manufacturing the fiber collimator array, it is possible to easily perform the position adjustment (for example, the optical axis adjustment to the optical fiber) of each microlens, and also, it is possible to ensure the adhesive intensity thereof without the necessity of extending the outer diameter of each microlens to thereby improve the resistance to vibration and the resistance to impact.
- Next, there will be described the application of the fiber collimator array having the above described adhesive structure between each microlens and the transparent substrate to a wavelength selective switch (WSS).
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FIG. 11 illustrates one example of wavelength selective switch. As illustrated inFIG. 11 , a wavelengthselective switch 100 has: afiber collimator array 110; aspectral element 120; acondenser element 130; and amirror array 140. - The
fiber collimator array 110 includes afiber array 110A in which a plurality of optical fibers is arrayed and amicrolens array 110B in which a plurality of microlenses is arrayed. Thefiber array 110A has a structure in which an optical fiber (a single optical fiber in theFIG. 111 IN corresponding to an input port and optical fibers 111 OUT(#1) to 111 OUT(#N) (five optical fibers in the figure) corresponding to output ports are arrayed in one direction, to be retained by aretainer block 112 at end portions thereof. Themicrolens array 110B has a structure in whichrespective microlenses 113 are adhered to positions corresponding to the respectiveoptical fibers 111 on atransparent substrate 114. In thefiber collimator array 110, a wavelength division multiplexed optical signal input from the input port (the optical fiber 111 IN) travels through thetransparent substrate 114 while being spread, and is collimated by the correspondingmicrolens 113 to be converted into a parallel light to thereby be output. - The
spectral element 120 is a diffraction grating for example, and (spectrally) separates the wavelength division multiplexed optical signal output from thefiber collimator array 110 to different angle directions for respective wavelengths. - The
condenser element 130 is a condenser lens for example, and condenses optical signals of respective wavelengths (respective wavelength channels) (spectrally) separated by thespectral element 120 on different positions. - The
mirror array 140 includes a plurality of mirrors (#1 to #N) disposed on condensing positions of the optical signals of respective wavelengths. Each mirror is a MEMS mirror manufactured using a MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) technology. The respective optical signals (respective wavelength channels) reached themirror array 140 are reflected by the corresponding MEMS mirrors to be turned to predetermined directions. Here, each MEMS mirror is supported by a pair of torsion bars for example, to be swung around the torsion bars, and is controlled by a control section (not shown in the figure) at an angle (swinging position) corresponding to a position of the output port set as the output determination of each optical signal. Thus, the optical signal (wavelength channel) reflected by each MEMS mirror of themirror array 140 passes through thecondenser element 130, thespectral element 120 and thefiber collimator array 110 in this order, to be output from the desired output port. - In the wavelength selective switch of such a configuration, the
fiber collimator array 110 is required to ensure the adhesive intensity of eachmicrolens 113 to thetransparent substrate 114, and to ensure the ease in position adjustment of eachmicrolens 113 on thetransparent substrate 114. Further, as illustrated inFIG. 12 , the array pitch of eachmicrolens 113 and a swing angle of each MEMS mirror are in an approximately proportional relation. Therefore, due to the restriction of the swing angle of each MEMS mirror or the like, the array pitch of eachmicrolens 113 cannot be so extended, and therefore, it is hard to ensure the adhesive intensity by a reinforcing member (refer toFIG. 2B ). - In this point, each adhesive structure between each microlens and the transparent substrate as described in
FIG. 1 toFIG. 9 ensures the adhesive intensity of each microlens to the transparent substrate without the necessity of extending the outer diameter of each microlens, and in addition, ensures the ease in position adjustment of each microlens on the transparent substrate, and accordingly, is suitable for the wavelength selective switch described above. - Therefore, in the
fiber collimator array 110 of the wavelengthselective switch 100 according to the present embodiment, each adhesive structure between each microlens and the transparent substrate as described inFIG. 1 toFIG. 9 is adopted. - According to the wavelength
selective switch 100 in the present embodiment, it is possible to easily perform the optical axis adjustment between eachoptical fiber 112 and eachmicrolens 113, and also, to ensure the adhesive intensity of eachmicrolens 113. Thus, an increase in insertion loss of the wavelengthselective switch 100 is suppressed, and the resistance to vibration and the resistance to impact are improved in the entire wavelengthselective switch 100. - In the above descriptions, there has been described the fiber collimator array and the wavelength selective switch comprising the fiber collimator array. However, as already described, the present invention can be applied to an optical component configured such that a relatively small member (element) is adhered to another member (element) while being subjected to the position adjustment. In such a case, it may be considered that each microlens is a first optical member, the transparent substrate is a second optical member, and the fiber collimator array or the microlens array is an optical component having an adhesive structure in which the first optical member and the second optical member are adhered to each other.
- According to such an optical component, it is possible to easily perform the position adjustment of the first optical member on the second optical member, and also, to improve the adhesive intensity between the first optical member and the second optical member.
- All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the principles of the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventor for furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions, nor does the organization of such examples in the specification relate to a showing of the superiority and inferiority of the invention. Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it should be understood that the various changes, substitutions, and alterations could be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Claims (7)
1. An optical component having an adhesive structure in which a first optical member and a second optical member are adhered to each other,
wherein the first optical member and the second optical member are oppositely arranged so that a plurality of projections formed on the first optical member intersects with a plurality of projections formed on the second optical member, and the first optical member and the second optical member are adhered to each other by an adhesive.
2. An optical component according to claim 1 ,
wherein, in an adhesive portion, the first optical member and the second optical member are in intermittently contact with each other directly or via the adhesive at top portions of the plurality of projections formed on the first optical member and top portions of the plurality of projections formed on the second optical member.
3. An optical component according to claim 2 ,
wherein the top portions of the plurality of projections formed on the first optical member and the top portions of the plurality of projections formed on the second optical member are in point contact with each other.
4. An optical component according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first optical member and the second optical member each has a serrated portion of which section is formed in a serrated shape, and
the first optical member and the second optical member are oppositely arranged so that the serrated portion of the first optical member and the serrated portion of the second optical member are not engaged with each other, and the first optical member and the second optical member are adhered to each other by the adhesive.
5. An optical component according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first optical member is subjected to position adjustment on the second optical member before being adhered to the second optical member.
6. A method of manufacturing a fiber collimator array including a fiber array in which a plurality of optical fibers is arrayed and a microlens array in which microlenses are arrayed on a transparent substrate in positions corresponding to the plurality of optical fibers, the method comprising:
forming a plurality of projections on a bottom face of each microlens and on a surface of the transparent substrate;
oppositely arranging the bottom face of each microlens and the surface of the transparent substrate so that the plurality of projections formed on the bottom face of each microlens intersects with the plurality of projections formed on the surface of the transparent substrate; and
adjusting a position of each microlens on the transparent substrate to arrange each microlens on an optical axis of each optical fiber, to adhere each microlens to the transparent substrate by an adhesive.
7. A method of manufacturing an optical component having an adhesive structure in which a first optical member and a second optical member are adhered to each other, the method comprising:
forming a plurality of projections on the first optical member and on the second optical member;
oppositely arranging the first optical member and the second optical member so that the plurality of projections formed on the first optical member intersects with the plurality of projections formed on the second optical member; and
adjusting a position of the first optical member on the second optical member to adhere the first optical member to the second optical member by an adhesive.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US13/402,703 US20120155804A1 (en) | 2008-04-11 | 2012-02-22 | Optical component and methods of manufacturing |
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JP2008103773A JP4915385B2 (en) | 2008-04-11 | 2008-04-11 | Fiber collimator array, wavelength selective switch, optical component, and fiber collimator array manufacturing method |
JP2008-103773 | 2008-04-11 | ||
US12/662,716 US8150221B2 (en) | 2008-04-11 | 2010-04-29 | Fiber collimator array |
US13/402,703 US20120155804A1 (en) | 2008-04-11 | 2012-02-22 | Optical component and methods of manufacturing |
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US12/662,716 Division US8150221B2 (en) | 2008-04-11 | 2010-04-29 | Fiber collimator array |
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US12/314,677 Active US7734128B2 (en) | 2008-04-11 | 2008-12-15 | Optical component, fiber collimator array and wavelength selective switch |
US12/662,716 Active 2029-01-10 US8150221B2 (en) | 2008-04-11 | 2010-04-29 | Fiber collimator array |
US13/402,703 Abandoned US20120155804A1 (en) | 2008-04-11 | 2012-02-22 | Optical component and methods of manufacturing |
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US12/314,677 Active US7734128B2 (en) | 2008-04-11 | 2008-12-15 | Optical component, fiber collimator array and wavelength selective switch |
US12/662,716 Active 2029-01-10 US8150221B2 (en) | 2008-04-11 | 2010-04-29 | Fiber collimator array |
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Families Citing this family (8)
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JP4915385B2 (en) * | 2008-04-11 | 2012-04-11 | 富士通株式会社 | Fiber collimator array, wavelength selective switch, optical component, and fiber collimator array manufacturing method |
JP2011197633A (en) * | 2010-02-23 | 2011-10-06 | Furukawa Electric Co Ltd:The | Optical waveguide collimator and optical switch device |
WO2012046464A1 (en) * | 2010-10-06 | 2012-04-12 | 古河電気工業株式会社 | Optical waveguide collimator and optical switch device |
EP2622268A4 (en) * | 2010-09-27 | 2018-01-10 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Ultra-high efficiency color mixing and color separation |
US9921408B2 (en) | 2016-02-26 | 2018-03-20 | Qualcomm Incorporated | Collimating light emitted by a fiber via an array of lenslets on a curved surface |
US9726824B1 (en) * | 2016-09-15 | 2017-08-08 | Google Inc. | Optical circuit switch collimator |
CN108459375A (en) * | 2018-01-23 | 2018-08-28 | 武汉维莱特光电技术有限公司 | A kind of wavelength-selective switches |
CN111947779A (en) * | 2020-07-28 | 2020-11-17 | 武汉光迅科技股份有限公司 | Optical signal detection system |
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Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US8150221B2 (en) | 2012-04-03 |
JP4915385B2 (en) | 2012-04-11 |
US20100215316A1 (en) | 2010-08-26 |
US20090257708A1 (en) | 2009-10-15 |
US7734128B2 (en) | 2010-06-08 |
JP2009258162A (en) | 2009-11-05 |
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