JPH045602A - Optical fiber array and arraying method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain exact position accuracy without requiring working techniques of high accuracy by disposing plural optical fibers in a straight form in tight contact with each other between the low stepped planes of two blocks having the stepped planes and bringing the steps into contact with both ends thereof. CONSTITUTION:Plural pieces of the optical fibers 13 are arrayed and fixed between the blocks 11a and 11b and the steps 12a, 12b are brought into tight contact with both ends of the optical fibers 13 arrayed in the straight form. The disposing spacings of the optical fibers 13 are, therefore, the outside diameters themselves of the optical fibers 13. The linearity of the arrayed optical fibers 13 is determined by the flatness of the steps of the blocks 11a, 11b. The steps are easily formable.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to an optical fiber array and method for arranging a plurality of optical fibers in a straight line in optical communication and optical information processing to enable simultaneous connection to a plurality of optical elements. It is related to.

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, optical fiber arrays have been used to simultaneously connect a plurality of optical elements, and high performance is required for linearity and two-position accuracy in the arrangement of the optical fiber arrays. Conventionally, in order to arrange an optical fiber array, a block having a plurality of guide grooves in which optical fibers are arranged respectively has been used.

Hereinafter, the above-mentioned conventional optical fiber array and its arrangement method will be explained with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a conventional optical fiber array. In FIG. 3, 31a and 31b are blocks;
2a and 32b are guide grooves carved at predetermined intervals;
33 is a plurality of optical fibers arranged in each guide groove.

A plurality of optical fibers 33 are placed on each block 31a having kite grooves 32a at predetermined intervals, and then another block 31b is placed in the kite groove 3 for fixation.
2b can be aligned and fixed in position to form an optical fiber array (e.g., Jay, Lipson et al.; A Six Channel Wavelength Multiplexer and Demultiplexer Four).
Single Mode Systems, IEE Journal Op Lightwave Technology, L, T3. EF 5. P, 1159 (
1985) (J. Lipson et al.: A 5
ix-channel wave length
iplexer and demultiplexer
for single mode systems,
IEEE Journal of Lightave
Technology.

LT-3, No5. P, 1159 (1985))
Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in the above configuration, the block 31a
31b has guide grooves 32a at predetermined intervals.

A highly accurate processing technique is required to form the fibers 32b, and even stricter positional accuracy is required when it is necessary to narrow the spacing between the plurality of fibers 33. Also, in the middle of the arrangement, a plurality of optical fibers 33 and guide grooves 32a,
When stress is generated between the end faces of 32b, there is a problem in that defects such as breakage are likely to occur at that part due to the difference in hardness between the two ends.

In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention reduces the spacing between fiber arrays to the same extent as the outer diameter of the optical fibers arranged therein, and eliminates the need for high-precision machining techniques for the blocks when arranging the fiber arrays. The present invention provides an optical fiber array and a method for arranging the same with high positional accuracy.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the optical fiber array of the present invention comprises a plurality of optical fibers and two for arranging and fixing them.
two blocks each having a plane with a step on one surface, and the plurality of optical fibers are arranged in a straight line in close contact with the plane with a low step of the one block, Above that, the step of the other block is configured to be in close contact with the end of the optical fiber opposite to the end that is in close contact with the one block.

The arrangement method involves arranging multiple optical fibers on the lower plane of one block with a stepped plane.
Another block having a flat surface with an end cap is stacked so that the step of the other block is located on the opposite side of the step of the one block when viewed from the plurality of optical fibers, and One block is moved in the direction of the step of the one block along the lower surface of the step of the one block, and the plurality of optical fibers are brought into close contact between the one block and the other block to form a straight line. The structure is such that they are arranged in a shape.

Preferably, the height of the step of the block is lower than the outer diameter of the optical fibers to be arranged.

Effect of the present invention With the above-described configuration, if the step position of the block is accurate, the optical fibers can be arranged linearly along a plane at intervals uniquely determined by the core diameter of the optical fibers, and the optical fibers are in close contact with each other. Therefore, the structure is such that stress is dispersed.

EXAMPLE Hereinafter, an optical fiber array and its arrangement method according to an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of an optical fiber array in an embodiment of the present invention. In Figure 1, 11a, llb
are blocks, 12a and 12b are blocks ll respectively
Steps a and llb and 13 are a plurality of optical fibers.

The operation of the optical fiber array configured as described above will be explained below.

The plurality of optical fibers 13 are connected to blocks Ila and llb.
The arrangement is fixed between the steps 12a and 12b.
are in close contact with both ends of the optical fibers 13 arranged in a wiring pattern. Therefore, the arrangement interval of the optical fibers 13 corresponds to the outer diameter of the optical fibers. Further, the linearity of the arranged optical fibers 3 is determined by the flatness of the steps of the blocks Ila and Ilb.

The steps can be easily formed in the blocks lla and llb, and with the current processing technology, the height control and plane accuracy of the steps can be controlled to 1 μm or less, and the wiring has good linearity.

FIG. 2 shows a method of arranging the optical fiber array shown in FIG. 25a is a flat surface portion of block lla with a low level difference, and 25b is a flat surface portion of block llb with a low level difference.

The operation of the method for arranging optical fibers configured as described above will be described below.

First, a plurality of optical fibers 14 are placed on the flat part 25a of the block 11 as shown in FIG. 2(a). At this time, the optical fibers 14 do not need to be arranged closely.

Next, as shown in FIG. 2(G), another block llb is placed in the block lla such that the step 12b is located on the opposite side of the step 12a with respect to the optical fiber I4, and the flat part 25b is in contact with the optical fiber 13. layer on top. At this time, the step 12a
Since the height of the optical fibers 12b is lower than the outer diameter of the optical fibers arranged, the optical fibers 14 and the flat parts 25a and 25b are always in contact with each other. and block ll
b in the direction of the step 12a and the flat part 25a and the flat part 25.
b is moved parallel to the optical fiber 13 as shown in FIG. At this point, stop moving and fix it.

As a fixing method, for example, an adhesive having a low viscosity and a long fixing start time is applied to the flat parts 25a and 25b, and the fixing is completed when movement is stopped.

As described above, in this embodiment, a plurality of optical fibers are arranged between two blocks having a stepped plane, and the blocks are moved and fixed closely together, thereby achieving high positional accuracy and linearity in a simple manner. A good optical fiber array can be realized. Furthermore, since the optical fibers made of the same material are in contact with each other, the stress applied to the optical fibers during arrangement is dispersed in the arrangement direction, making it difficult for defects such as breakage to occur.

It is desirable that the height of the step is lower than the outer diameter of the optical fiber.
If the difference is 5 μm or less, adhesion between blocks can be achieved with sufficient strength.

Effects of the Invention As described above, the present invention provides a structure in which a plurality of optical fibers are closely arranged in a straight line on the low level plane of two blocks each having a plane with a level difference, and the optical fibers are arranged in a straight line with each level difference. With the configuration in which both ends are in contact with each other, it is possible to obtain optical fibers arranged in a straight line with high precision at minimum intervals determined by the outer diameter of the optical fibers using blocks that are easy to process. Further, by arranging a plurality of optical fibers arranged on a block in a straight line by moving another prong, it is possible to arrange an optical fiber array in a simple method with good workability.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an optical fiber array according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a procedure for arranging an optical fiber array according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional optical fiber array. It is a diagram. 11 a, I l b...=... 12a
12b...Step, 13...Optical fiber, 25a 25b...Plane portion. Diagram! 3- Child fiber'

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) Consisting of a plurality of optical fibers and two blocks for arranging and fixing the plurality of optical fibers, the two blocks have a flat surface with a step on one surface, and the one
The plurality of optical fibers are arranged in a straight line on a low plane of one block in close contact with a step, and above the optical fibers, the other block is arranged in close contact with the step of the another block,
An optical fiber array characterized in that the linearly arranged optical fibers are in close contact with an end of the one block opposite to the end that is in close contact with the step. (2) The optical fiber array according to claim (1), wherein the height of the step of the block is smaller than the outer diameter of the plurality of optical fibers arranged. (3) A plurality of optical fibers are arranged on the lower plane of one block having a stepped plane, and the other block having a stepped plane is viewed from the plurality of optical fibers. The other block is stacked so that the step of the other block is placed on the opposite side to the step of the one block, and the other block is placed along the lower plane of the step of the one block in the direction of the step of the one block. 2 above
A flat surface is moved while being in contact with the plurality of optical fibers, and the plurality of optical fibers are arranged in a straight line in close contact between the steps of the one block and the other block. How to arrange an optical fiber array. (4) The method for arranging an optical fiber array according to claim 3, wherein the height of the step of the block is lower than the outer diameter of the optical fibers to be arranged.