JPH03218132A - Assembly method for fiber module for optical communication - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to an assembly method for coupling an optical fiber and a fiber support of a fiber module for optical communication.

(Prior Art) FIGS. 3 and 4 show the prior art of the present invention (Japanese Patent Application Sho B3-
46796), this fiber module for optical communication includes a stem 2 provided with an optical semiconductor element 1 such as a laser diode, and a stem 2 that is optically opposed to the optical semiconductor element 1. a cap 4 provided on the stem 2 to cover the optical semiconductor element 1, and an end ferrule 6 (metal cap tube) provided at the input side end of the optical fiber 5; The cap 4 is positioned such that the input end 5a of the fiber 5 is optically opposed to the condenser lens 3.
The fiber support 7 is welded and fixed to the upper surface of the fiber support 7.

In the optical communication fiber module having the above structure, first, the optical fiber 7 and the fiber support 7 are coupled in the Z-axis direction, and then the optical semiconductor element r-t and the optical fiber 5 are coupled to each other in the Z-axis direction. After adjusting the position in the X and Y axis directions for aligning the axes and monitoring the state of the tip alignment using a laser beam output monitor, the flange portion 7b of the fiber support 7 is sequentially spotted on the upper surface of the cap 4 with a laser beam. It is manufactured by an assembly method of welding 8, and the first step of this assembly method is to assemble the optical fiber 5 and the fiber support 7.
The coupling (fixation in the Z-axis direction) is performed by filling a contacting agent 9 between the end ferrule 6 of the optical fiber 5 and the holder portion 7a of the fiber support 7.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, when the front fiber 5 and the fiber support 7 are connected in the Z-axis direction using adhesive 9,
Since the adhesive 9 takes a long time to harden, there is a problem in that the assembly efficiency is lowered, and furthermore, the adhesive assembly using the adhesive 9 has a problem in that it lacks reliability in terms of long-term durability.

In order to solve this problem, it is possible to apply a soldering fixing technique as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 62-40067 in place of the adhesive 9. The applied soldering is performed by interposing solder between the holder part 7a and the fiber end ferrule 6 and heating the holder part 7a with a soldering iron or the like.
Heating to about 180° C. is required to melt the solder and join.

However, the aforementioned end ferrule 6 of the tip fiber 5 is
It has a thick or relatively thick cylindrical shape as shown in Figure 4, and is heated entirely by heat conduction during soldering (it cannot be heated locally), so the temperature required for soldering is low. For example, there are problems in that it takes a long time to heat up to 180° C., and that the optical fiber 5 expands thermally while heating the ferrule 6 to the temperature required for soldering, resulting in fiber damage such as disconnection.

This invention was made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to make the connection between the destination fiber and the fiber support and the connection between the fiber support and the attachment partner (for example, a cap) all metal connections, so that the connection can last for a long period of time. An object of the present invention is to provide a method for assembling a fiber module for optical communications that can ensure the durability and reliability of the optical fiber module and also prevent problems such as damage to the optical fiber when connecting the optical fiber to a fiber support. It is.

[Structure of the invention]

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an optical fiber of a fiber module for optical communication in which a laser beam emitted from an optical semiconductor element is incident on an optical fiber through a condensing lens. When bonding fiber supports,
The end ferrule provided at the input side end of the optical fiber is
The ferrule body is formed in the shape of a cylindrical body with a flange, and includes a ferrule body that is inserted into the holder part of the fiber support, and a flange part that integrally projects outward from the outer periphery of the ferrule body on the fiber extension side. The flange of this fiber end ferrule is inserted into a recess formed in the holder opening of the fiber support and fixed to the holder by soldering.

(Function) According to the above-mentioned module assembly method, the coupling between the optical fiber and the fiber support and the coupling between the fiber support and the mounting partner are all made of metal, and long-term durability and reliability can be ensured.

In particular, when connecting an optical fiber to a fiber support by soldering, by using a cylindrical ferrule with a flange, which is the welded part or flange, it is possible to quickly localize the ferrule flange, which increases the temperature of the fiber. Damage such as wire breakage due to heating can be prevented. That is, the ferrule is a cylindrical body with a flange, which has a ferrule body inserted into a holder part of a fiber support, and a flange integrally protruding outward from the outer periphery of the ferrule body on the fiber extension side. The ferrule is shaped so that the flange is quickly locally heated by heat conduction during soldering, so it takes longer to heat up to the temperature required for soldering, e.g. 180°C, than with conventional cylindrical ferrules. It becomes shorter, and it becomes difficult for heat to be transmitted toward the center of the ferrule. This eliminates high-temperature human heat to the optical fiber (glass fiber) located at the center of the ferrule, and it is possible to reliably prevent the problem of fiber breakage such as thermal expansion and breakage of the fiber as in the past.

(Example) An example of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. The optical communication fiber module assembled in this example includes a stem 2 provided with an optical semiconductor element 1 such as a laser diode, a stem 2 provided with an optical semiconductor element 1 such as a laser diode, and a stem 2 provided with an optical semiconductor element 1 such as a laser diode. A holder into which a cap 4 having a condensing lens 3 facing each other and provided on the stem 2 to cover the optical semiconductor element 1 and an end ferrule 6 provided at the input side end of the optical fiber 5 are inserted. Part 7
a and a flange portion 7b that slides on the cap 4, and is positioned so as to optically face the input end 5a of the fiber 5 or the condensing lens 3, and is welded and fixed to the upper surface of the cap 4. It consists of 17.

The end ferrule 6 of the optical fiber 5 applied to the present invention includes a ferrule main body 6a inserted into the holder portion 7a of the fiber support 7, and an outer peripheral portion of the ferrule main body 6a on the fiber extension side. It is formed of a locally heated flanged cylinder having a flange 6b integrally projecting toward the fiber support 7, and the flange 6b is formed in a concave portion 7c formed in the holder opening of the fiber support 7 as shown in FIG. It is designed to be inserted loosely like this.

Next, a method for assembling the optical communication fiber module with the above configuration will be explained. First, the optical fiber 5 is chucked on a table (not shown) that can be adjusted in the Z-axis direction, and the stem 2 with the cap 4 is adjusted in the XY directions. It is fixed to a two-axis table (not shown) that can be used, and set in the state shown in FIG.

Then, a current is applied to the optical semiconductor element 1 of the stem 2 to cause it to emit light, and the laser light is made to enter the input end 5a of the optical fiber 5 through the condenser lens 3, and the output from the output end of the optical fiber 5 is transmitted to the fiber. Photo sensor installed at the other end (
(not shown). Then, without moving the input end side portion of the fiber 5 in each of the XYZ directions, the position is adjusted so that the output from the output end of the fiber 5 is maximized,
Fix it at the position where maximum output is produced. In this case, the fixing is done by attaching a wire half fEIo to the outer periphery of the flange 6b of the fiber end ferrule 6.
A is wound as shown in Fig. 2, and the outer circumferential portion of the holder portion 7a facing the wire solder 10a is heated and soldered with solder (this half [l attachment portion is marked with reference numeral 10). (shown).

In this case a1, the ferrule 6 includes a ferrule main body 6a inserted into the holder part 7a of the fiber support 7, and a flange part 6b integrally provided outward on the outer circumference of the ferrule main body 6a on the fiber extension side. It is formed into a cylindrical shape with a flange, and the flange part 6b is shaped to be quickly locally heated by heat conduction during half-El soldering, so that it can be heated to the temperature required for soldering, for example, 180°C. The time is as short as possible compared to conventional cylindrical ferrules, and heat is less likely to be transmitted toward the center of the ferrule. Therefore, the optical fiber 5 (glass fiber) located at the center of the ferrule
There is no high-temperature human heat applied to the fiber 5, and it is possible to reliably prevent the problem of fiber breakage such as the fiber 5 thermally expanding and breaking as in the prior art.

After the soldering is completed as described above, the movement in the X and Y directions is adjusted again to fix the fiber support 7 and the cap 4 at a position where the output of the laser beam is maximized.

In this case, fixation is performed by spot welding using a laser beam, and while monitoring the output of the laser beam, the flange portion 7b of the fiber support 7 is sequentially spot welded 8 to the upper surface of the cap 4 using a laser beam. Do it in a method.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the method for assembling a fiber module for optical communication of the present invention, the coupling between the optical fiber and the fiber support and the coupling between the fiber support and the mounting partner are all made of metal, thereby achieving long-term durability. Reliability can be ensured.

In particular, when the tip fiber and the fiber support are soldered together, by using a cylindrical ferrule with a flange whose welded part is the flange, it is possible to quickly localize the ferrule flange, thereby heating the fiber at a high temperature. It is possible to prevent damage such as wire breakage due to That is, the ferrule is a cylindrical body with a flange, which has a ferrule body inserted into a holder part of a fiber support, and a flange integrally protruding outward from the outer periphery of the ferrule body on the fiber extension side. The ferrule is shaped so that the flange is quickly locally heated by heat conduction during soldering, so it takes longer to heat up to the temperature required for soldering, e.g. 180°C, than with conventional cylindrical ferrules. becomes shorter,
Also, it becomes difficult for heat to be transmitted toward the center of the ferrule. Therefore, high-temperature human heat is not applied to the optical fiber (glass fiber) located at the center of the ferrule, and it is possible to reliably prevent the problem of fiber breakage such as thermal expansion and breakage of the fiber as in the past.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a configuration diagram of an optical communication fiber module to be assembled according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the end ferrule portion of an optical fiber module to be assembled into the same fiber module, and Fig. 3 is a diagram according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a fiber end ferrule portion assembled into the fiber module. 1... Optical semiconductor element (laser diode) 2... Stem, 3... Condensing lens, 4... Can knob, 5...
... Optical fiber, 6... Ferrule, 6a... Ferrule body, 6b... Flange, 7... Fine support, 7a... Holder part, 7b... Flange part, 7C
... Concave portion, 8... Laser welding portion, 10... Soldering portion, 10a... Wire soldering.

Claims (1)

[Claims] An assembly method for coupling an optical fiber and a fiber support of a fiber module for optical communication in which laser light emitted from an optical semiconductor element enters the optical fiber through a condensing lens, and the fiber support is provided at the input end of the optical fiber. The end ferrule is a flanged tube that has a ferrule body that is inserted into a holder part of a fiber support, and a flange that integrally projects outward from the outer periphery of the ferrule body on the fiber extension side. For optical communication, the fiber end ferrule is formed into a body shape, and the flange of the fiber end ferrule is inserted into a recess formed in a holder opening of a fiber support and fixed to the holder by soldering. How to assemble fiber modules.