WO2008037195A1

WO2008037195A1 - A multi-fiber port platform and the manufacture method thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2008037195A1
Application number: PCT/CN2007/070370
Authority: WO
Inventors: Zhaoyang Tong; Daqing Zhang
Original assignee: Opel Technologies Inc.
Priority date: 2006-09-29
Filing date: 2007-07-27
Publication date: 2008-04-03
Also published as: CN100422775C; CN1936635A

Abstract

A multi-fiber port platform includes an inserting core (3) and a fiber bundle (2) comprising a plurality of fibers (1), wherein a gap between the plurality of fibers (1) is in the magnitude of submicron. The manufacture method thereof includes: removing the covering layer of the plurality of fibers; fitting a heat shrinkable tube (5) onto the fibers (1) after cleaning them; applying optical thermosetting glue to the overlapping part of the heat shrinkable tube (5) and the fibers (1); then heating the heat shrinkable tube (5) until the gap between the fibers is in the magnitude of submicron; removing the heat shrinkable tube (5) after cooling it to form a multi-fiber pigtail. The optical thermosetting glue can be instead by UV glue. The difference is that the UV glue is applied to the gap after heating and a UV curing lamp is used to cure the UV glue. The pigtail of the fiber bundle is polished or cut to form a multi-fiber port platform.

Description

Multi-fiber port platform and manufacturing method thereof

The present invention relates to a fiber optic port, and more particularly to a multi-fiber port platform and method of fabricating the same. Background technique

For new applications and requirements, especially with the advent of the fiber-to-the-home, building, roadside, and desktop (FTTX) era, new multi-fiber system equipment is clearly moving toward lower levels, while maintaining good reliability. The cost of technology and the smaller size direction require that the multi-fiber ports that make up the new system equipment should be designed with good reliability, low cost and small size.

The prior art methods of constructing multi-fiber ports and the multi-fiber ports constructed by this method are generally three. The first is to construct a multi-fiber port by arranging each fiber in a high-precision glass capillary. The fiber port constructed by the solution can provide a limited number of ports, and generally only provides a port of three fibers, when applied to four In the case of optical fibers or more, the existing precision machining apparatus cannot meet the practical requirements because it does not meet the processing precision required for the capillary hole. The second solution is to construct a multi-fiber port by using high-precision processed glass, silicon V-groove or polymer square ferrule. Since each fiber is arranged in a V-groove or a polymer square ferrule, the arrangement is Linear alignment structures are used in many systems that require the use of micro-optical components such as lenses because their inherent fiber alignment features result in higher transmission losses and are not suitable for use in most multi-fiber systems requiring micro-optical components. The third method is to construct a multi-fiber port by mechanical impact assembly. The solution impacts the metal members surrounding the plurality of optical fibers by mechanical components, thereby forming a multi-fiber port by tightly assembling the multi-fiber assembly of the metal members. Fibers with multiple fiber ports are subject to large stresses due to their tendency to be squeezed or subject to temperature changes, resulting in low reliability of multi-fiber systems.

In addition, multi-fiber ports constructed in accordance with known techniques that provide only a limited number of fibers are subject to more limited application and higher cost. It is therefore desirable to provide a multi-fiber port that is highly reliable, small in size, has an unlimited number of fibers, and has a wider range of applications, and a method of fabricating the same. Summary of the invention

The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a multi-fiber port platform with low stress, high reliability, small volume, low manufacturing cost, unlimited number of optical fibers, and a wide application range, and a manufacturing method thereof.

In order to solve the technical problem, the present invention provides a multi-fiber port platform, which is characterized in that it comprises: a ferrule and a fiber bundle comprising a plurality of fibers, wherein a plurality of fibers have a gap between each other of a submicron Level, and the bundle of fibers is housed in the ferrule.

The invention also discloses a method for manufacturing the multi-fiber port platform according to the following steps: firstly removing the coating layer of the plurality of optical fibers, cleaning the optical fiber, placing the heat shrinkable sleeve on the optical fiber, and the optical thermosetting adhesive Applying to the area where the heat shrinkable sleeve overlaps with the plurality of fibers therein; then heating the heat shrinkable sleeve until the heat shrinkable sleeve compresses the gap between the plurality of fibers to a submicron level, so that the plurality of fibers are formed a geometrical fiber bundle; after cooling the heated heat shrinkable sleeve, removing the heat shrinkable sleeve on the bundle, and cleaning the bundle and placing it in the ferrule, using the optical thermoset for the bundle Or the position of the ultraviolet glue in the ferrule is fixed, thereby constructing a multi-fiber pigtail; finally, the fiber bundle pigtail is polished or cut, thereby constructing the multi-fiber port platform provided by the invention.

The above optical thermosetting glue can be replaced by an ultraviolet glue, and accordingly, the curing of the ultraviolet glue is cured by an ultraviolet curing lamp. At the same time, the cross section of the multi-fiber port platform can be coated as needed to form the film system required for the application.

The plurality of optical fibers may be four or more optical fibers close to each other, or a plurality of optical fibers surrounding the optical fiber material, and the central replacement optical fiber material may be a glass rod, a glass wire, a silicon rod, a silicon wire, a ceramic rod or a ceramic. Silk and so on. The cross section of the ferrule may be annular and composed of glass or silicon.

During the step, the optical path of one or several optical fibers is adjusted in advance to make a multi-fiber connector; the multi-fiber port platform and the C lens or the gradient index lens are optically adjusted, and glue is used. Curing, can be made into a multi-fiber collimator; directly adjust the transmitted optical path with a multi-fiber collimator and a filter, and package them together to make a multi-fiber filter; directly adjust the multi-fiber collimator and the isolator core The optical path is transmitted and packaged together to form a multi-fiber isolators; the multi-fiber collimator and the filter are used to adjust the reflected light path and the transmitted light path, and packaged together to form a multi-fiber wavelength division multiplexer; The collimator and the beam splitter adjust the reflected light path and the transmitted light path, and are packaged together to form a multi-fiber splitter/combiner; the multi-fiber platform collimator is combined with the electronically controlled optical guiding component, and the relevant optical path is adjusted. Encapsulation, can be made into multi-fiber optical switch; combined with electronically controlled attenuation components with multi-fiber collimator, and adjust the relevant optical path, The package can be made into a multi-fiber variable attenuator.

When the heat shrink sleeve is heated, the distance between adjacent fibers can be reduced to a sub-micron level, and the structure of the bundle bundled by the heat shrink sleeve is maintained by the adhesive agent, and the deformation of the fiber is negligible, so that the fiber The bundle contains an optical fiber that is less stressed, so the multi-fiber port platform that can be fabricated according to the method provided by the present invention is highly reliable and small in size; since the heat shrink sleeve can accommodate any number of fibers, the method provided in accordance with the present invention A multi-fiber port platform with unlimited number of fibers can be manufactured, which is simple in manufacturing process and low in cost; multi-fiber port platform can be applied to a variety of fiber optic devices and modules, and its application range Widening. BRIEF abstract

Specific features and properties of the present invention are further exemplified by the following examples and the accompanying drawings.

1 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a multi-fiber port platform provided in accordance with the present invention;

2(a) is a schematic illustration of a first embodiment of a cross-section of a multi-fiber port platform provided in accordance with the present invention; 2(b) is a schematic illustration of a second embodiment of a cross-section of a multi-fiber port platform provided in accordance with the present invention; 2(c) is a schematic illustration of a third embodiment of a cross-section of a multi-fiber port platform provided in accordance with the present invention; 2(d) is a schematic illustration of a fourth embodiment of a cross-section of a multi-fiber port platform provided in accordance with the present invention; Figure 3 (a) is a schematic view of a plurality of optical fibers in a free state before heating according to the method of the present invention; Figure 3 (b) is a schematic cross-sectional view of the plurality of optical fibers in Figure 3 (a);

Figure 4 (a) is a schematic view of a plurality of optical fibers after heating according to the method of the present invention;

Figure 4 (b) is a schematic cross-sectional view of the plurality of optical fibers in Figure 4 (a);

Figure 5 is a schematic illustration of a fiber bundle after removal of a heat-shrinkable tube in accordance with the method of the present invention;

6 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a multi-fiber connector including the multi-fiber port platform provided by the present invention;

7 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a multi-fiber collimator including the multi-fiber port platform provided by the present invention;

Figure 8 (a) is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a multi-fiber filter including the multi-fiber port platform provided by the present invention;

Figure 8 (b) is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of the multi-fiber filter of Figure 8 (a);

Figure 9 (a) is a schematic illustration of an embodiment of a multi-fiber isolator comprising the multi-fiber port platform provided by the present invention;

Figure 9 (b) is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of the multi-fiber isolator in Figure 9 (a);

Figure 10 (a) is a schematic diagram of a first embodiment of a multi-fiber wavelength division multiplexer including the multi-fiber port platform provided by the present invention;

Figure 10 (b) is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of the multi-fiber wavelength division multiplexer in Figure 10 (a);

10(c) is a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of a multi-fiber wavelength division multiplexer including the multi-fiber port platform provided by the present invention;

Figure 10 (d) is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of the multi-fiber wavelength division multiplexer in Figure 10 (c);

11(a) is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a multi-fiber splitter/combiner including the multi-fiber port platform provided by the present invention; Figure 11 (b) is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of the multi-fiber splitter/combiner of Figure 11 (a);

Figure 11 (C) is a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of a multi-fiber splitter/combiner including the multi-fiber port platform provided by the present invention;

Figure 11 (d) is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of the multi-fiber splitter/combiner in Figure 11 (; c);

12(a) is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a multi-fiber optical switch including the multi-fiber port platform provided by the present invention;

Figure 12 (b) is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of the multi-fiber optical switch in Figure 12 (a);

Figure 13 (a) is a schematic illustration of an embodiment of a multi-fiber variable attenuator including the multi-fiber port platform provided by the present invention;

Figure 13 (b) is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of the multi-fiber variable attenuator in Figure 13 (a). BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

1 illustrates a multi-fiber port platform provided by the present invention, comprising a plurality of optical fibers 1 including a coating layer, a fiber bundle 2 including a plurality of optical fibers from which a coating layer is removed at one end of a plurality of optical fibers 1, and a ferrule 3, the optical fiber bundle 2 The gap between the plurality of fibers in the sub-micron range is small, the gap between the bodies of the bundle 2 is occupied by optical thermosetting glue or ultraviolet glue, the entire bundle 2 is accommodated in the ferrule 3, and optical heat can be applied It is fixed in the ferrule 3 by a solid glue or an ultraviolet glue.

The bundle 2 can have a variety of cross-sectional shapes. In Fig. 2(a), the fiber bundle 2 is composed of 18 optical fibers 100 surrounding the central optical fiber 100'; in Fig. 2(b), the optical fiber bundle 2 is composed of 12 optical fibers 100 surrounding the center instead of the optical fiber material 4, and the center replaces the optical fiber. Material 4 may be a glass rod, a glass rod, a silicon rod, a silicon wire, a ceramic rod or a ceramic wire; in Fig. 2(c), the bundle 2 comprises 12 fibers 100 surrounding the center instead of the fiber material 4, and a fiber at the center instead of the fiber Center fiber 100' in the center hole of material 4.

The fiber bundle 2 in Figs. 2(b) and 2(d) is similar in structure, but the fiber bundle 2 in the latter is composed of 72 fibers 100; similarly, in Fig. 2(c) and Fig. 2(e) The fiber bundle 2 in the structure is similar in structure, but the fiber bundle 2 in the latter is composed of 73 fibers.

Here, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the purpose of showing different numbers of fibers in Figures 2(a) through 2(e) is not to exhaustively all possible numbers of fibers, but rather to illustrate The number of fibers in the multi-fiber port platform provided by the invention is not limited, and may be, for example, 4 or more.

The ferrule 3 may be made of a material such as ceramic, glass or silicon, and its cross-sectional shape may be an annular shape or a square shape, and the inner diameter of one end is matched with the structure of the optical fiber bundle 2, and the inner diameter of the other end is Multiple fibers 1 match.

The present invention also provides a method of manufacturing the above multi-fiber port platform, the method comprising four steps Step. Step 1 is to pre-process a plurality of optical fibers, step 2 is to heat-process a plurality of pre-processed optical fibers, and in step 3, assemble a bundle of fibers generated by heat treatment to form a fiber bundle pigtail, and step 4 includes The fiber bundle pigtail is polished or laser cut. In the following description, a further detailed description of the preferred embodiment including the four steps will be further described.

The gap between the plurality of fibers including the coating layer is large, so that the existing fiber bundle has a large cross-sectional area. 3(a) and 3(b), in step 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of optical fibers 1 are first removed in advance to a desired length as needed, and the optical fiber 100 obtained thereafter is cleaned. Processing; placing the optical fiber 100 into the heat shrinkable sleeve 5, a certain amount of optical thermosetting glue 6 is applied to the region where the heat shrinkable sleeve 5 overlaps with the plurality of optical fibers 100, and between the plurality of optical fibers 100 at this time The gap is on the order of tens of microns.

Next, the heat treatment of the second step is started. First, the heat shrinkable sleeve 5 is heated, and the gap between the plurality of optical fibers 100 becomes smaller due to shrinkage of the heat shrinkable sleeve 5. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the optical fiber itself has a high precision size between adjacent optical fibers. The gap can be compressed to the submicron level. As shown in FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b), the plurality of optical fibers 100 in the heat shrinkable sleeve 5 form a submicron-sized compact fiber bundle 2 required for shrinkage of the heat shrinkable sleeve 5 after being heated. Further, since the optical thermosetting glue is applied in and around the region where the heat shrinkable sleeve 5 and the plurality of optical fibers 100 overlap, the optical fiber bundle 2 can maintain its compact structure under the curing action of the optical thermosetting adhesive. When the compact structure of the bundle 2 is formed and can be maintained, the heating of the heat shrinkable sleeve 5 is stopped. In this step, an ultraviolet glue can be used instead of the optical thermoset, except that the optical thermosetting glue is not used in the process, and the heat shrinkable sleeve is tightly shrunk together when heated, and then applied. The UV glue cures the UV glue between the gaps of the bundle using a UV curing lamp between the gaps of the bundle, and the rest of the process is the same. After the heat shrinkable sleeve 5 and the plurality of optical fibers 100 therein are cooled, the bundle 2 of the compact structure formed by the plurality of optical fibers 100 can maintain the original structure under the action of optical thermosetting glue or ultraviolet glue, even if The residual fiber is generated by the plurality of fibers 100 during the cooling process, but such residual stress is much smaller than the residual stress experienced by the inside of the bundle of fibers constructed according to the prior art.

In the third step, the heat shrinkable sleeve 5 on the bundle 2 is first removed, and the bundle 2 is cleaned, and the bundle 2 after removing the heat shrinkable sleeve 5 is as shown in FIG. The fiber bundle 2 is placed in a ceramic ferrule 3 composed of, for example, glass or silicon material, and the bundle 2 having a compact structure is fixed at the position of the ceramic ferrule 3 by optical thermosetting glue or ultraviolet glue, thereby forming a fiber bundle tail. Fiber.

In the fourth step, the end of the fiber bundle pigtail formed in the third step is polished or laser cut, thereby forming a multi-fiber port platform as shown in FIG. 1; and may be polished or The end face of the laser-cut multi-fiber port platform is subjected to optical coating treatment.

Although only the fiber bundle 2 having a cross-sectional structure similar to that shown in Fig. 2(a) is shown in the above embodiment, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art in accordance with the teachings of the present invention in accordance with the present invention. Method can The bundle 2 having a cross-sectional structure similar to that shown in Fig. 2(b) or 2(C) is easily manufactured, and the number of fibers is not limited.

In addition, in the third step, the optical path adjustment may be performed on a certain fiber or a plurality of optical fibers, and the multi-fiber port platform processed by the method in the fourth step may be made into a multi-fiber connector, as shown in FIG. The multi-fiber connector includes a multi-fiber port platform 201', a positioning key (not shown), a spring (not shown), a housing 203, a tailstock (not shown), a tail sleeve 201, etc., and the outer structure shape is also It can be FC, SC or ST type, or FC-like, SC-like or ST-like type of fiber optic connectors specified by the fiber industry standard.

The multi-fiber collimator can be fabricated by using the above-mentioned multi-fiber port platform with a C lens or a graded index lens such as a G lens for optical path adjustment and curing with glue, as shown in Figures 7(a) and 7(b). The multi-fiber collimator includes the multi-fiber port platform 201', the tail sleeve 201, the C lens 301', the sleeve 302, and the like provided by the present invention, and the connection between the components may be glued.

The multi-fiber filter can be directly adjusted by using the multi-fiber collimator and the filter, and packaged together to form a multi-fiber filter. As shown in FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b), the multi-fiber filter includes, for example, The multi-fiber collimator 210, the filter 211, the sleeve 212, and the like shown in Fig. 7 may be glued together.

The multi-fiber collimator and the isolator core are directly adjusted by the above-mentioned multi-fiber collimator and packaged together to form a multi-fiber isolator. As shown in Figures 9(a) to 9(b), the multi-fiber isolator includes The multi-fiber collimator 210, the isolator core 221, the sleeve 212, and the like shown in Fig. 7, the connections between the components may be glued.

The multi-fiber wavelength division multiplexer can be fabricated by adjusting the reflected light path and the transmitted light path by using the multi-fiber collimator and the filter, and the multi-fiber wavelength division multiplexer can be fabricated as shown in FIGS. 10(a) to 10(d). The wavelength division multiplexer includes a multi-fiber collimator 210, a filter 231, a sleeve 212, and the like as shown in Fig. 7, and the connections between the components may be glued.

The multi-fiber collimator and the beam splitter are used to adjust the reflected light path and the transmitted light path, and are packaged together to form a multi-fiber splitter/combiner, as shown in FIGS. 11(a) to 11(d). The fiber optic shunt/combiner includes a multi-fiber collimator 210, a beam splitter 241, and a sleeve 212 as shown in FIG. 7, and the connections between the components may be glued.

The multi-fiber optical switch can be made by combining the above-mentioned multi-fiber collimator with the electronically controlled reflector and adjusting the relevant optical path for packaging. As shown in Figures 12(a) and 12(d), the multi-fiber optical switch includes As shown in Fig. 7, the multi-fiber collimator 210, the drive circuit module 251, the optical guide assembly 252, the sensing device 253, the sleeve 212, and the like, the connections between the components may be glued.

The multi-fiber variable attenuator can be fabricated by combining the above-mentioned multi-fiber collimator with the electronically controlled attenuating element and adjusting the relevant optical path for packaging, as shown in Figures 13(a) and 13(d). The variable attenuator includes a multi-fiber collimator 210, an attenuation element 261, a driving circuit 262, a sleeve 212, and the like as shown in FIG. The connection between them can be glued.

For those skilled in the art, after obtaining the teachings of the present invention, the above-mentioned adjustment optical path and package can be realized without creative labor, and the above-mentioned adjustment optical path and package can be realized in various variants. However, these variations are all achieved in accordance with the spirit of the present invention. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects illustrative illustrative The scope of the invention is therefore indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be included.

Claims

Rights request

A multi-fiber port platform, comprising: a ferrule and a bundle of fibers comprising a plurality of fibers, the gap between the plurality of fibers being submicron, and the bundle of fibers being received in the plug In the core.

2. The multi-fiber port platform of claim 1 wherein: an optical thermoset or UV glue occupies a void between the plurality of fibers and is cured therein, the fiber bundle being optically thermoset or The ultraviolet ray is fixed in the ferrule, the number of the plurality of optical fibers is four or more, and the plurality of optical fibers are a plurality of optical fibers surrounding a central optical fiber or a central replacement optical fiber material, and the center replacing the optical fiber material is A glass rod, a glass filament, a silicon rod, a silicon filament, a ceramic rod or a ceramic filament, the ferrule being a glass, ceramic or silicon material having a circular or square cross section.

3. A method of manufacturing a multi-fiber port platform according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: first removing a coating layer of the plurality of optical fibers, and cleaning the plurality of optical fibers from which the coating layer is removed, and heat shrinking the sleeve a tube is disposed on the plurality of optical fibers that have been cleaned, and an optical thermosetting glue is applied to an area where the heat shrinkable sleeve overlaps the plurality of optical fibers therein;

Heating the heat shrink tubing until the heat shrink tubing compresses the gap between the plurality of fibers to a submicron level such that the plurality of fibers form a fiber bundle having a geometric structure;

Cooling the heat shrinkable sleeve, then removing the heat shrinkable sleeve on the bundle of fibers, and subjecting the bundle of fibers to a cleaning process, placing the bundle into the ferrule, bonding the bundle of fibers to the a position in the ferrule, thereby constructing a multi-fiber pigtail;

Finally, the fiber bundle pigtail is polished or cut to construct the multi-fiber port platform.

4. The method of manufacturing a multi-fiber port platform according to claim 3, wherein: the number of the plurality of optical fibers is four or more, and the plurality of optical fibers surround a central optical fiber or a central replacement optical fiber material. Arranged, the center replacement fiber material is a glass rod, a glass wire, a silicon rod, a silicon wire, a ceramic rod or a ceramic wire.

5. A multi-fiber port platform according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it constitutes a multi-fiber connector.

6. A multi-fiber port platform according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it is combined with a C lens or a graded refractive index lens to form a multi-fiber collimator.

7. A multi-fiber port platform according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it is combined with a C lens or a graded index lens, a filter to form a multi-fiber filter.

8. A multi-fiber port platform according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it is combined with a C lens or a graded refractive index lens, an isolator core to form a multi-fiber isolator.

9. The multi-fiber port platform of claim 1 or 2, wherein: it is combined with a C lens or a gradation refractive index lens and a filter to form a fiber platform wavelength division multiplexer.

10. The multi-fiber port platform according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it is combined with a C lens or a gradation refractive index lens and a beam splitter to form a multi-fiber splitter/coupler.

11. The multi-fiber port platform according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: it is combined with a C lens or a gradation refractive index lens, a high reflection diaphragm, and a driving circuit to constitute a multi-fiber optical switch.

12. A multi-fiber port platform according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it is combined with a C lens or a gradation refractive index lens, an attenuation element, a drive circuit to form a multi-fiber variable optical attenuator.

13. The method of manufacturing a multi-fiber port platform according to claim 3, wherein: said optical thermosetting glue is replaced by an ultraviolet glue, and said heat shrinkable sleeve is heated until said heat shrinkable sleeve is said After the gap between the plurality of fibers is compressed to a submicron level, the ultraviolet glue is applied to the gap between the plurality of fibers, and the ultraviolet glue located in the gap is cured using an ultraviolet curing lamp.

14. The method of fabricating a multi-fiber port platform of claim 3 or claim 13 further comprising: plating the end faces of the multi-fiber port platform.