JPH0536764B2 - - Google Patents

Description

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

(Prior art) Conventionally, in fiber modules for optical communication using laser diodes and fibers, alignment of the optical axes of the laser diodes and fibers is extremely important, and the adjustment requires submicron order. accuracy is required. By the way, the structure of this type of fiber module for optical communication is as shown in FIG.
The structure is such that it is incident on the

By the way, when assembling and manufacturing this fiber module for optical communication, the steps shown in FIGS.
As shown in the figure, with the fiber C supported by the fiber support D, the stem E provided on the lens cap A and the flange F of the fiber support D are in sliding contact with each other, and the lens cap swings in the direction of arrow K. Both were point welded using a YAG laser beam while applying pressure using four pressurizing arms G that were freely provided. The pressure applied by the pressure arm G... is as follows:
This is done to minimize the gap between the stem E and the flange F. Further, point welding is performed in the vicinity of the pressure arms G for each point. The welding order at this time is diagonally from point P1 to point P8. Moreover, since positional deviation occurs for each welding point, it is necessary to perform optical axis adjustment every time one point is completed, which is a factor in reducing assembly efficiency.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art. An object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for assembling a fiber module for use.

[Structure of the invention]

(Means and effects for solving the problem) The assembly method of the present invention is such that point welding of fiber modules is performed sequentially along the direction of rotation of the flange portion, thereby reliably correcting positional deviations of μm or less. It has been made possible to do so.

The assembly device of the present invention improves assembly accuracy by providing a pressurizing means that applies pressure at a plurality of approximately equally distributed positions along the sliding contact surface between the stem and the flange portion from a direction in which no component force is generated. This is how it was done.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an optical communication fiber module 10 assembled in this embodiment. This optical communication fiber module 10 has a cap 11 which is hollow inside, and an optical semiconductor such as a laser diode 12 is installed inside the cap 11. A lens 13 is provided on the upper wall of the cap 11 for condensing the laser light emitted from the laser diode 12. The incident end of the fiber 14 is optically opposed to the position where the laser beam is focused by the lens 13. The input end side portion 15 of the fiber 14 is inserted into the small diameter cylindrical portion 17 of the fiber support 16,
It is fixed by welding using YAG laser etc. In other words, the fiber support 16 covers the cap 11 and the flange portion 18 at the periphery of its opening.
is attached and fixed to the stem 19 of the cap 11 by a method described later. Also, cap 1
The outside of the fiber support 16 surrounding the fiber support 1 is surrounded by a cover (not shown), and the peripheral edge of this cover is in contact with the stem 19 of the cap 11.
It is attached and fixed by YAG laser welding, etc.
Further, the fiber 14 passes through the upper part of the cover and is led out to the outside, and is fixedly attached to the cover. A flexible portion 21 having a small diameter is formed in the middle of the fiber 14 located between the fixing portions of the fiber 14 to the fiber support 16 and the cover.

Next, the assembly apparatus 50 for the optical communication fiber module 10 having the above configuration will be described.

This assembly device 50 includes a stem 1 of a cap 11.
a holding portion 51 for placing the lower surface of the device 9 over the entire circumference;
The four pressurizing parts 52 are equally spaced around the holding part 51, and the flange part 18 and stem of the fiber module 10 provided above the holding part 51 and held by the holding part 51. For example, 19
It consists of a laser welding section 53 that is laser welded using YAG laser light (see Fig. 2). The holding part 51 has a cylindrical pedestal 54, and the upper end of the pedestal 54 has a recess 54a.
is provided, and the main body of the stem 19 is loosely inserted into this recess 54a. This pedestal 54 is fixed to an XY table (not shown). on the other hand,
The pressurizing part 52... is a pressurizing lever 5 that pressurizes the stem 19 and the flange part 18 together with the pedestal 54 at one end.
5..., an air cylinder 56... which is an elevating mechanism that independently raises and lowers these pressurizing levers 55... in the direction of arrow 45, and supports the other end of the pressurizing lever 55... and guides it in the elevating direction. Guide mechanism 57...
It is made up of. And the pressure lever 55...
are tongue-shaped contact pieces 58... and these contact pieces 58.
It consists of a rod-shaped support body 60 that supports... In addition, an air cylinder 56 which is a lifting mechanism...
The piston rods 61 are engaged from above at the midpoints of the supports 60, and these piston rods 6
1... and a main body 62 for driving it up and down. On the other hand, the guide mechanism 57... is the pressure lever 55...
A cross roller guide 63 connected to the other end...
and these cross roller guides 63... as indicated by arrow 4.
It consists of guide columns 64 that guide in five directions. Further, the laser welding section 53 is connected to a YAG laser device (not shown) and a laser beam 65 emitted from the YAG laser device to a plurality of points (P1)'...(P8)' of the flange section 18 at predetermined locations. It consists of an optical system (not shown) that sequentially irradiates light.

Next, a method for assembling the optical communication fiber module 10 of this embodiment using the assembly apparatus having the above configuration will be described.

First, the stem 19 of the cap 11 is placed on the cradle 22.
The fiber support 16 is placed on the cap 11. And stem 1 of cap 11
9 to the flange portion 1 of the fiber support 16
8 are securely aligned, each air cylinder 56 is operated to lower it in the direction of arrow 45, and the tip of each pressure lever 55 is pressed against the flange portion 18 of the fiber support 16. Then, by applying pressure, the flange portion 18 of the fiber support 16 is fixed to the stem 19 of the cap 11 under pressure. The entrance end side portion 15 of the fiber 14 is vertically inserted into the small diameter cylindrical portion 17 of the fixed fiber support 16 and positioned. In this state, a current is applied to the laser diode 12 to cause the laser diode 12 to emit light. This laser light is focused by a lens 13 and made incident on a fiber 14, and the output from the output end of the fiber 14 is measured with a power meter. Then, the input end side portion 15 of the fiber 14 is
Adjust the movement in each of the X, Y, and Z directions to select the position where the output power from the output end of the fiber 14 has the maximum value, and fix it at this position. Furthermore, considering the influence of heat from soldering, move it upward in the Z direction by 30 to 40 μm. Here, solder 30 is injected and the small diameter cylindrical portion 17 is heated using a soldering iron or high frequency to perform soldering. After this, each air cylinder 56
The driving force of... is weakened to make the pressing force exerted by each pressure lever 55 zero. And fiber support 16
While fixing the stem 19 of cap 11,
search for the position where the output power from the output end of the fiber 14 is at its maximum value. When the output power reaches the maximum value position, each pressurizing lever 55...
At this time, apply pressure slowly to the stem 18 of the cap 11 in XY direction.
Make fine adjustments in the direction. The stem 18 of the cap 11 and the flange portion 18 of the fiber support 16
The mating surfaces of the fiber support 16 are firmly aligned, and the flange portion 18 of the fiber support 16 is aligned with the pressure lever 5.
5. Make fine adjustments in the XY directions while applying pressure until it reaches a pressure that does not cause deformation. However,
When this fine adjustment is completed, the output power reaches its maximum value. Therefore, while maintaining this pressurized state, the stem 1 of the cap 11 is moved as shown in FIG.
9 to the flange portion 1 of the fiber support 16
A YAG laser beam 65 is irradiated to each of a plurality of locations close to the pressure lever 55 on the pressure lever 8 from the perpendicular direction, and the spots are welded and fixed at equal intervals.
In this case, each time we weld one point (P1)'...(P8)',
Fine adjustment of the direction is repeated by moving the XY table to which the pedestal 54 is fixed. In other words, repeated fine adjustments are made while welding one point at a time. Furthermore, in this case, each point (P1)′...
The welding order of (P8)' is set in the circumferential direction as indicated by the welding arrow 46.

As described above, the assembly device for the optical communication fiber module 10 of this embodiment uses the pressure lever 5 provided so as to be able to move up and down in the direction of the arrow 45, that is, in the up and down direction.
5... Since the flange portion 18 and the stem 19 are pressurized, it is possible to significantly reduce positional deviation due to the shrinkage difference in the XY directions that occurs during YAG laser welding. In particular, the pressure lever 55...
Since the pressure is applied in a direction perpendicular to the sliding surface between the flange portion 18 and the stem 19, no component force is generated in the direction along the sliding surface when applying pressure. Positioning with 19
Fixation can be performed reliably and with high precision.

Furthermore, the method for assembling the fiber module 10 for optical communication in this embodiment is to perform point welding at equal intervals in the direction of arrow 46, that is, in the circumferential direction, and to correct misalignment at each point. Therefore, the final assembly can be performed with high precision. In particular, since welding is performed in the circumferential direction, it becomes easy to move in the rotational direction around the welding point, making it possible to reliably correct misalignment.

Although the assembly apparatus of the above embodiment uses an air cylinder as the elevating mechanism, the present invention is not limited to this, and other mechanisms such as a hydraulic cylinder or a cam mechanism may be used. Furthermore, the pressure lever 55...
Instead, pressure may be applied in the direction of arrow 45 with the tip of an upright abutment rod.

Further, in the assembly method of the above embodiment, there are eight welding points, but this number may be increased or decreased as appropriate. In addition, the welding point is the pressure lever 55...
The location does not have to be close to.

〔Effect of the invention〕

The fiber module assembly device for optical communication of the present invention applies pressure from a direction in which component force along the sliding surface between the flange and stem does not act, so assembly can be performed reliably and with high precision. It can be done with

In addition, in the method of assembling a fiber module for optical communication of the present invention, point welding is performed sequentially along the direction of rotation of the flange portion, so that
The following positional deviation correction becomes easy, contributing to improvement in final assembly accuracy.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an optical fiber module for optical communication which is an object of assembly of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an optical fiber module assembly apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. FIGS. 4 to 6 are explanatory views of a method of assembling an optical fiber module according to an embodiment of the present invention, and are explanatory views of the prior art. 10... Fiber module for optical communication, 11...
... Cap, 12 ... Laser diode (optical semiconductor element), 14 ... Fiber, 16 ... Fiber support, 18 ... Flange section, 19 ... Stem, 51 ... Holding section (holding means), 52 ... Processing Pressure part (pressure means), 53... Laser welding part (welding means), 58... Contact piece (pressure piece).

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A cap provided with an optical semiconductor element, a disc-shaped stem supporting the cap, and a fiber support surrounding the cap and having a flange portion coaxially slidingly contacted with the stem. In this method of assembling a fiber module for optical communication having a fiber supported by the fiber support and facing the optical semiconductor element, the sliding contact surfaces of the flange portion and the stem are arranged at a plurality of substantially equally spaced positions. a holding step in which each member is pressurized and held in a direction perpendicular to each other; a joining step in which the flange portion and the stem are sequentially spot-welded along the circumferential direction using a laser beam after being held in this holding step; A method for assembling a fiber module for optical communication, comprising a positional deviation correction step of correcting a relative positional deviation of the flange portion with respect to the stem for each spot weld. 2. A cap provided with an optical semiconductor element, a disk-shaped stem supporting this cap, a fiber support surrounding the cap and having a flange portion coaxially slidingly contacted with this stem, and a fiber support supported by this fiber support. In an assembly device for an optical communication fiber module having a fiber facing the optical semiconductor element, a holding means for holding the flange portion and the stem in sliding contact with each other in a position adjustable manner; Pressure pieces are arranged in parallel, and by driving the pressure pieces separately, the stem and the flange portion held by the holding means are pressurized in a direction perpendicular to their sliding surfaces. 1. An assembly device for a fiber module for optical communication, comprising a pressure means and a welding means for laser welding the stem and the flange pressurized by the pressure means in a spot shape.