JPH0815547A - Optical fiber terminal rotation stage - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a stage for rotating an optical fiber terminal which is capable precisely determining an angle and has high performance and high reliability. CONSTITUTION:This stage for rotating the optical fiber terminal is formed by providing a cylindrical member holding part 42 with a cylindrical recess 46, fitting a cylindrical perforated member 40 into this cylindrical recess 46 and fitting a cylindrical member 47 into this perforated member 40. Further, this cylindrical member holding part 42 is internally provided with a gas passage 48 so that the gas is sucked or discharged toward the cylindrical member 47 through the perforated member 40.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a stage for rotating an optical fiber terminal having a cylindrical member used for an optical fiber communication system, an optical fiber sensor, optical measurement and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In various devices and systems using optical fibers, how to connect the optical fibers has become a problem. This problem will be described with reference to FIGS.
First, an example of connection between polarization-maintaining optical fibers will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

FIG. 4 shows a case where two optical fibers 1 and 2 are connected, and as shown in the sectional view of each of the optical fibers 1 and 2 shown in FIG. 5, these are made of a cylindrical body made of quartz. , Cores 3 and 4 (having a refractive index n increased by diffusing a dopant) each having a diameter of about 10 μm, which are located on the central axis, are provided, and the optical fiber 1 is line-symmetrical to the core 3. As described above, the cylindrical stress imparting portions 5 and 6 (regions having different thermal expansion coefficients compared to quartz) are provided, and similarly, the stress imparting portion 7 of the optical fiber 2 is line-symmetrical with the core 4. , 8 are provided, whereby the optical fiber 1 has polarization planes 9a and 9b, respectively, on the core 3 that is perpendicular or parallel to the plane connecting the central axes of the stress applying sections 5 and 6, respectively. Fiber 2 has
The polarization planes 10a, 10a, 10a,
b is possible. These polarization planes 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
Is a component of the polarization direction of light which is a communication means, and when the two optical fibers 1 and 2 are bonded and connected to each other, the polarization planes 9a and 10a (or 9b and 1) of the respective polarization planes are connected.
0b) must be prepared.

As another example, as shown in FIG. 6, when the polarization-maintaining optical fiber 11 as described above is adhered and connected to the optical waveguide device 12 utilizing only a specific polarization direction component, The polarization plane 13 of the optical fiber 11 must be aligned with the polarization direction component (not shown) of the optical waveguide device 12.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 7, a cylindrical member 16 in which two optical fibers 14 and 15 are arranged in parallel and a cylindrical member 19 in which optical fibers 17 and 18 are similarly arranged are provided at both ends thereof. While joining the parts, the optical fiber 14,
15 cores (not shown) are angled so that they are aligned with their corresponding optical fibers 17, 18 cores (not shown), and are switched on or not. It is necessary to smoothly and surely determine the angles of both the cylindrical members 16 and 19 at the time of switching as well as when switching off.

When connecting a cylindrical member 21 in which a plurality of optical fibers 20 are arranged in parallel as shown in FIG. 8 and an optical waveguide device 23 in which a plurality of optical waveguides 22 are arranged by adhesion. Similarly, it is necessary to determine the angle smoothly and surely.

As described above, regarding the connection of the optical fibers, the optical axis shift and the rotation angle shift should be prevented.
It was necessary to rotate the optical fiber.

Next, a conventional optical fiber terminal rotating stage used for connecting optical fibers will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. FIG. 9 is a plan view of the optical fiber terminal rotating stage 24, and FIG. 10 is a right side view thereof.

The optical fiber terminal rotating stage 24 is provided with an optical fiber holding portion 26 for holding and rotating the optical fiber on the substrate 25, and a cylindrical member holding portion 27 for holding the end of the optical fiber. Further, the optical fiber holding portion 26 is provided with a metal rotating portion 28. Since the outer periphery of the optical fiber 29 (φ0.125) is usually covered with a resin such as nylon,
The resin-coated optical fiber 29a (φ0.9) penetrates through the central portion of the rotating portion 28 and is further held by the optical fiber holding portion 26, and its end is fixed and held on the cylindrical member holding portion 27. It is composed.

The optical fiber holding section 26 has a structure in which the resin-coated optical fiber 29a penetrating the central portion of the metallic rotating section 28 is closed by two openable metal fittings 31. Further, with respect to the cylindrical member holding portion 27, a U groove 32 is formed on the upper end surface thereof, and a cylindrical member 33 made of a metal or ceramic called an optical fiber connector ferrule is attached on the U groove 32. Three
A resin-coated optical fiber 29a is inserted in the optical fiber 3. A bare optical fiber 29 not coated with the resin is provided near the end of the resin-coated optical fiber 29a, and the optical fiber 29 is used for joining. This cylindrical member holder 27
A gas passage 34 that communicates with the U groove 32 is formed in the inside of the chamber, and a vacuum can be drawn by the gas passage 34, whereby the cylindrical member 33 is held.

According to the optical fiber terminal rotating stage 24 having the above structure, the resin-coated optical fiber 29a is closed by the two openable metal fittings 31, and the end of the optical fiber 29 is brought close to the ends of other optical fibers. , Or the polarization-maintaining optical fiber 11, the switching optical fiber, and the optical waveguide device 23, and the metal rotating part 28.
Is rotated appropriately to angle the resin-coated optical fiber 29a as required, and then the resin-coated optical fiber 29a is bonded with an adhesive or the like.

The optical fiber terminal rotating stage 24 described above.
Is used for connecting optical fibers,
As another conventional example, there is a concentricity inspection device 35 for inspecting the concentricity of an optical fiber as shown in FIG. In the figure, the resin-coated optical fiber 29a as described above is inserted into a cylindrical member 36 which is a ferrule for an optical fiber connector, and this is arranged on a substrate 37 provided with a V groove so as to fit in the V groove. Further, a rubber roller 38 is placed on the cylindrical member 36, and the cylindrical member 36 is also rotated by the rotation and pressing of the rubber roller 38, whereby the concentricity of the optical fiber connector is inspected.

[0013]

However, in the optical fiber terminal rotating stage 24, since the cylindrical member 33 is held by vacuuming the gas passage 34, the cylindrical member 33 is held by the vacuuming. Member 3
3, an excessive suction force is applied to the cylindrical member 33.
When the resin-coated optical fiber 29a is strongly held, the cylindrical member 33 may not rotate sufficiently, and the base of the cylindrical member 33 where the optical fiber is inserted and fixed may be twisted and damaged. there were. On the contrary, the cylindrical member 3
If the force holding 3 is too small, the resin coated optical fiber 2
9a and the cylindrical member 33 are displaced from each other on the same axis, and the cylindrical member 3 is rotated during rotation.
There was also the problem that the 3 would rise.

Further, in the concentricity inspection device 35, the rubber roller 38 itself is easily elastically deformed, which causes a problem that the angle cannot be precisely determined due to the slip between the V groove and the cylindrical member 36. Further, since the material of the cylindrical member 36 is generally metal such as stainless steel or ceramics, the V groove is worn by the friction between the V groove and the cylindrical member 36, and similarly, there is a problem that the angle cannot be precisely determined.

[0015]

According to the present invention, there is provided a cylindrical member holding portion for holding a cylindrical member having an optical fiber terminal inserted therethrough,
In an optical fiber terminal rotating stage having an optical fiber rotating unit for rotating the optical fiber, a cylindrical through hole or a recess is provided in the cylindrical member holding unit, and the through hole or the recess has a ring shape made of metal or ceramic. Alternatively, a cylindrical porous member is fitted, the cylindrical member is fitted inside the porous member, and a gas passage communicating with a cylindrical through hole or a recess is provided in the cylindrical member holding portion to form a porous member. It is characterized in that the air is taken in or exhausted toward the cylindrical member via.

[0016]

In the above structure, the cylindrical member holding portion is provided with a cylindrical through hole or a hollow, and a ring-shaped or cylindrical porous member made of metal or ceramic is fitted into the through hole or the hollow, and the porous member A cylindrical member is fitted inside the flexible member, and a gas passage communicating with the cylindrical through hole or the recess is provided in the cylindrical member holding portion so that the gas is taken in or exhausted toward the cylindrical member through the porous member. Since the innumerable holes of the porous member apply an intake force or an exhaust force to almost the entire outer circumference of the cylindrical member, the partial stress is not applied to the cylindrical member and it is not damaged. In addition, the coaxial deviation between the optical fiber and the cylindrical member does not occur, the cylindrical member does not float up during rotation, and there is no wear of itself. Result, the smooth sliding of the cylindrical member, it is precise angle setting.

[0017]

EXAMPLE A tip of an optical fiber whose end face is polished is inserted through and fixed to a cylindrical member, such as a ferrule for an optical fiber connector, in which the coaxiality of the outer diameter and the inner diameter is processed with high accuracy, and the optical fiber terminal An optical fiber terminal rotating stage for rotating a lens will be described as an example with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the optical fiber terminal rotation stage 39, FIG. 2 is a right side view thereof, and FIG. 3 is a cylindrical shape made of porous ceramic such as alumina or porous metal. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a porous member 40.

This optical fiber terminal rotating stage 39
Is provided with an optical fiber holding portion 41 for holding and rotating the optical fiber on the substrate 40, and a cylindrical member holding portion 42 for holding the end of the optical fiber, and further the optical fiber holding portion 4
1 is provided with a metal rotating part 43.

In this example, the optical fiber 44 (φ0.
A resin-coated optical fiber 44a (φ0.9) formed by coating 125) with a resin such as nylon penetrates through the central portion of the rotating portion 43 and is further held by the optical fiber holding portion 41. It reaches the inside of the cylindrical member holding portion 42. Further, the optical fiber holding portion 41 has a resin-coated optical fiber 44a that penetrates the central portion of the metallic rotating portion 43.
The structure is such that the two are closed by two openable metal fittings 45.

A cylindrical recess 46 is formed on the upper end surface of the cylindrical member holding portion 42, and a cylindrical porous member 40 is fitted into the cylindrical recess 46, and the porous member 40 is further covered. A cylindrical member 47 made of a metal or ceramic, which is a ferrule for an optical fiber connector, is fitted inside (for example, the difference between the inner diameter of the porous member 40 and the outer diameter of the cylindrical member 47 is made substantially the same, or 4 μm or less). The resin coated optical fiber 44a is inserted into the cylindrical member 47. A bare optical fiber 44 which is not coated with the resin is provided near the end of the resin-coated optical fiber 44a, and the optical fiber 44 is used for joining. Inside the cylindrical member holding portion 42, a gas passage 48 communicating with the cylindrical recess 46 is provided. The cylindrical porous member 40 has a cut 40a formed along the central axis thereof.

Thus, according to the optical fiber terminal rotating stage 39 having the above-described structure, since the porous member 40 has innumerable holes, air is pumped through the gas passage 48 into the cylindrical recess 46 by a pump or the like (not shown). When the air is taken in or exhausted, the intake force or the exhaust force is applied almost uniformly over the outer peripheral direction of the cylindrical member 47 through the innumerable holes. Then, the end of the optical fiber 44 is brought close to the ends of other optical fibers, or the polarization-maintaining optical fiber, the switching optical fiber, and the optical waveguide device, and the metal rotating part 43 is appropriately rotated. Then, the resin-coated optical fiber 44a is angled as required,
After that, bonding is performed using an adhesive or the like.

According to experiments conducted by the inventors of the present invention, when the suction force is adopted as described above, the adhesive used for joining the optical fibers tends to be sucked.
We have found that it is better to use the discharge power if such problems become significant. However, if there is no such problem, it does not matter if the intake force is adopted.

Further, according to experiments repeatedly conducted by the present inventors, it is preferable to use porous ceramics such as alumina or zirconia as the material of the porous member 40 because of its excellent wear resistance. Even if it is repeatedly used for a long period of time, it hardly deteriorates, and it can be processed with high accuracy. As a result, the positioning accuracy does not deteriorate due to its wear and it has excellent long-term reliability.

Specifically, the porous member 40 was made of the following alumina porous body and used. Al ₂ O ₃ component: 99% Average pore diameter: 0.4 μm Bulk specific gravity: 1.9 Apparent specific gravity: 3.0 Water absorption rate: 20% Porosity: 38% The present invention is limited to the above-mentioned examples. Not something
Various modifications and improvements may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0026]

As described above, in the optical fiber terminal rotation stage of the present invention, the cylindrical member holding portion is provided with the cylindrical through hole or the recess, and the ring-shaped or cylindrical porous member is fitted therein, and A cylindrical member is fitted inside the porous member, and a gas passage is provided in the cylindrical member holding portion so that deaeration or exhaust is performed toward the cylindrical member through the porous member. Due to the innumerable holes of the porous member, an intake force or an exhaust force is applied to almost the entire outer periphery of the cylindrical member, thereby preventing breakage and preventing the coaxial displacement between the optical fiber and the cylindrical member. The cylindrical member does not float when rotating,
In addition, there was no wear of itself, and as a result, a smooth sliding of the cylindrical member enabled precise angle determination, and a high-performance and highly-reliable optical fiber terminal rotating stage could be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a stage for rotating an optical fiber terminal according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a right side view of the optical fiber terminal rotation stage of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a porous member used in an example.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a connection between polarization-maintaining optical fibers.

5 is a cross-sectional view of each polarization-maintaining optical fiber in the connection example of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a connection between a polarization plane optical fiber and an optical waveguide.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing switching with an optical fiber.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a connection between an optical fiber array and an optical waveguide.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a conventional optical fiber terminal rotation stage.

FIG. 10 is a right side view of a conventional optical fiber terminal rotation stage.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a concentricity inspection device for inspecting the concentricity of an optical fiber.

[Explanation of symbols]

 39 Optical Fiber Terminal Rotating Stage 40 Porous Member 41 Optical Fiber Holding Section 42 Cylindrical Member Holding Section 43 Metal Rotating Section 44 Optical Fiber 46 Cylindrical Dimple 47 Cylindrical Member 48 Gas Passage

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An optical fiber terminal rotating stage comprising a cylindrical member holding portion for holding a cylindrical member having an optical fiber terminal inserted therein, and an optical fiber rotating portion for rotating the optical fiber. A cylindrical through hole or a recess is provided in, a ring-shaped or cylindrical porous member made of metal or ceramic is fitted into the through hole or the recess, and the cylindrical member is fitted inside the porous member, A stage for rotating an optical fiber terminal, characterized in that a gas passage communicating with a cylindrical through hole or a recess is provided in the cylindrical member holding portion so that air is taken in or exhausted toward the cylindrical member via a porous member.