JPH0462043B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] When fusion splicing single mode optical fibers, core axis alignment is sometimes performed using a microscope, visual inspection, or TV camera. .

The present invention relates to a single mode optical fiber fusion splicer, particularly to a microscope portion.

[Prior Art] In FIG. 3, reference numeral 10 denotes a base, on which a support 12 stands, and a plate-shaped stand 14 is horizontally mounted on the support. Mounted on the table 14 are a V-groove block 16 that can be finely adjusted in the horizontal direction (x direction) and vertical direction (y direction), an optical fiber support device 18, and the like.

A control device 20 (V-groove block 1
6), which are covered with a case 22.

The microscope 26 is mounted on a stand 24 that stands upright on the base 10 and is positioned directly above the V-groove block 16. This microscope 2
The position of 6 is not fixed and needs to be adjusted as follows.

First, when aligning the core in the horizontal direction, the microscope 26 uses the light source 32 as shown in FIG.
(located directly below the optical fiber 30) and located directly above the optical fiber 30.
Further, the microscope 26 must be in a position where it can focus on the core of the optical fiber 30.

Next, when aligning the core in the vertical direction, the microscope 26 uses a light source 3 that passes through the optical fiber 30 in the x direction and is reflected by the mirror 36 in the y direction.
It must be located directly above the 4th light. The microscope 26 must also be in a position where the core of the image 30' of the optical fiber 30 is in focus. Therefore, the position of the microscope 26 must be adjusted several times.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] As can be seen from FIG. 3, in the conventional case, the microscope 26 is attached to a long stand 24 or to the end of an arm 25 extending from the stand. Even a small force acts on the microscope 26 as a large moment. For this reason, if there is contact or vibration after adjustment, the adjustment will immediately go out of order. You will have to readjust.

This invention aims to solve the above problem.

[Means for solving the problem] As shown in FIG. 1, a microscope 74 is mounted under the stand 44 mounted on the support column 42 so as to be able to make fine adjustments in the x and y directions, and an optical fiber is attached. It is characterized by being designed to be observed from below.

[Embodiment] In Fig. 1, reference numeral 40 denotes a base, on which, for example, four pillars 42 are erected, and on which a plate-shaped stand 44 is horizontally attached.

An elongated plate-shaped support member 46 is suspended from the stand 44. A microscope 74 is attached to this support member 46 via a fine adjustment device 47, which will be described below.

That is, the rod 48 is horizontally projected from the support member 46, and the rectangular block-shaped horizontally movable member 5 is attached to the rod 48.
Attach 0 so that it can slide freely. 52 is a spring. A thick plate-shaped pedestal 54 is fixed on the horizontally movable member 50 so that it moves horizontally together with the horizontally movable member 50.

A horizontal fine adjustment screw 57 is fitted into a female screw 56 fixed to the support member 46 so that its tip abuts against the pedestal 54. A motor 58 is fixed to the support member 46. The rotation of the motor 58 is transmitted to the fine adjustment screw 57 via a gear transmission mechanism 60.

A rod 62 is stood upright on a pedestal 54, and a thick plate-shaped vertically movable member 64 is slidably fitted therein. 66 is a spring. A fine adjustment screw 69 is fitted vertically into a female screw 68 fixed to the pedestal 54 so that its upper end abuts against the vertically moving member 64. A motor 70 is fixed to the pedestal 54. motor 70
The rotation of the fine screw 6 is caused by the gear transmission mechanism 72.
9.

A microscope 74 is fixed to the vertically movable member 64.

As described above, when the fine adjustment screw 57 rotates, the microscope 74 moves in the horizontal direction (x direction) via the pedestal 54, the rod 62, and the vertically moving member 64.

Also, when the fine adjustment screw 69 rotates, the vertically moving member 6
4, the microscope 74 moves in the vertical direction (y direction).

In this case, the lens barrel 75 of the microscope 74 is separated into an upper lens barrel 76 and a lower lens barrel 78 (with an objective lens), and the upper lens barrel 76 has an objective lens 7.
7 is connected, and a TV camera 80 is connected to the lower lens barrel 78.
is fixed. However, separating the microscope 74 into upper and lower parts and using the TV camera 80 have no direct relation to the present invention.

82 is a V-groove block, which is equipped with a fine adjustment mechanism (not shown) in the x and y directions. 84 indicates an optical fiber.

86 is a light source, and the light is transmitted through bundle fiber 88
through it and hit the optical fiber 84 from right side. In the past, two light sources were used as shown in FIG. 4, but in this case only one light source is used. However, this also has no direct relation to the present invention.

90 is a mirror, and the arm 92 attached to it so as not to get in the way during spark discharge.
At the same time, it is possible to retreat on the slope of the platform 93 to the position indicated by the imaginary line.

94 is an electrode.

[Function] An example of automatic adjustment using the TV camera 80 will be explained (FIG. 2).

- Horizontal alignment of the core: A portion of the light emitted from the light source 86 and guided to the bundle fiber 88 is reflected by the mirror 90, passes through the optical fiber 84 in the y direction, and enters the microscope 74 (reference 85). . At this time, the light 85 and the optical axis of the microscope 74 must match, but if they do not match, the image of the TV camera 80 is analyzed by the processor 95, the motor 58 of the fine adjustment device 47 is operated, and the microscope 74 is Adjust the position in the x direction.

Further, the position of the microscope 74 in the y direction is adjusted in the same manner as described above so that the microscope 74 is focused on the core of the optical fiber 84.

After doing so, the image of the TV camera 80 is analyzed by the processor 95, and the fine adjustment device 98 is operated to adjust the position of the V-groove block 82 and align the core axes. The method of axis alignment using the TV camera 80 is not directly related to the present invention, so its explanation will be omitted.
34002) etc.).

- Vertical alignment of the core: light source 8 guided by bundle fiber 88
After passing through the optical fiber 84 in the x direction, a portion of the light of 6 is reflected by the mirror 90 in the y direction and enters the microscope 74 (reference 87). Since the position of this light 87 is slightly shifted in the x direction from the above light 85, the position of the microscope 74 in the x direction is adjusted to match it, and the core of the image of the optical fiber 84 is focused. Adjust the position in the y direction as well.

Then align the core.

[Effects of the Invention] (1) The microscope 74 is equipped with a fine adjustment device 4 in the x and y directions on a support member 46 attached and suspended below the stand 44.
The microscope 74 is stable because the stand 44 is supported on a support 42 that stands upright on the base 40.

Furthermore, since the distance from the base 40 is short, the moment of force is smaller than in the conventional case.

Therefore, there is no need to worry about the adjustment being out of order due to vibration.

(2) The microscope 74 is suspended from the stand 44, and the parts below the stand 44 are housed in a case, so there is no contact between people or objects, and no adjustment errors occur as a result.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of its operation, FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the prior art, and FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of its operation. 40... Base, 42... Support, 44... Stand,
46...Support material, 74...Microscope, 80...TV
Camera, 82... V-groove block, 84... Optical fiber, 86... Light source, 88... Bundle fiber, 90... Mirror.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A support stands on a base, and a stand is mounted horizontally on the support.
A V-groove block is attached that allows for fine adjustment in the y-direction, and the state of the optical fiber inserted into the V-groove block and butted against each other is measured using a microscope when the optical fiber is transmitted through the optical fiber in the y direction. In addition to observing the horizontal deviation using the light that passes through the optical fiber in the x direction, the vertical deviation is observed using the light that is reflected in the y direction by the mirror, and based on the observation results. In the optical fiber fusion splicing device in which the V-groove block is finely adjusted, a support member is attached and suspended under the stand, and a microscope is attached to the support member via the fine adjustment device in the x and y directions. 1. A fusion splicing apparatus for optical fibers, characterized in that the optical fibers are installed so that the optical fibers can be observed from below.