JPH1010352A - Fiber array and manufacturing method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a high-density fiber array in which an interval between grooves in which fiber strands are arranged is smaller than a diameter of a fiber coating, and a method of manufacturing the same. SOLUTION: Among grooves 12aa formed on one pedestal 12a, a fiber element arranged and fixed in a groove 12a in which fiber strands 11a to 11d are not arranged and fixed, and in a groove 12bb formed in the other pedestal 12b. By fitting the exposed portions of the lines 11e to 11h, the adjacent grooves 12 on the pedestals 12a and 12b are fitted.
Since the fiber strands 11a to 11h are arranged on the aa and 12bb, respectively, the grooves 12 on which the fiber strands 11a to 11h are arranged are arranged.
The distance p2 between aa and 12bb is smaller than the diameter d3 of the fiber coatings 14a to 14h, and the diameter d4 of the fiber strands 11e to 11h.
It is possible to realize provision of a fiber array 10 having a higher density and a manufacturing method thereof.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a fiber array and a method for manufacturing the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the development of optical communication technology, various optical components have been required. Optical components are mainly classified into bulk type, fiber type, and waveguide type. Among these optical components, waveguide-type optical components require an optical fiber connection technology for optical input to the waveguide and optical output from the waveguide. In particular, there are components having a large optical output and components in which a plurality of optical circuits are formed on one waveguide component. Therefore, multiple fiber arrays for input and output are required for optical fiber connection.

A fiber array has a plurality of fibers fixed to one base having a plurality of grooves. FIG. 9 shows a conventional example of a fiber array. 9A is a plan view, FIG. 9B is a front view, and FIG. 9C is a side view.
FIG. 10 is a view showing the structure of an optical fiber used in the fiber array shown in FIG.

The fiber array 1 is composed of fibers 2, a pedestal 3 for aligning the fibers 2, and a block 4 for fixing the distal end of the fibers 2, that is, the fiber strands 2a to 2d.

The pedestal 3 is composed of a fiber strand arrangement part 3b having a groove 3a for disposing the fiber strands 2a to 2d, and a fiber coating fixing part 3c for disposing and fixing the fiber coatings 6a to 6d. A height t is provided between the fiber strand arrangement portion 3b of the pedestal 3 and the fiber coating arrangement fixed portion 3c.
One step 7 is formed. This step 7 is shown in FIGS.
2 absorbs a step 8 having a height t2 between the fiber strand 2a and the fiber coating 6a.

The fiber strands 2a to 2d are respectively arranged in the grooves 3a of the fiber strand placement part 3b, the fiber strands 2a to 2d are sandwiched between the block 4 and the fiber strand placement part 3b, and the adhesive 9a is used. Fixed. Fiber coating 6a ~
The fiber array 1 is formed by fixing 6d to the fiber coating fixing portion 3c with the adhesive 9b.

[0007]

However, in the case of the above-described conventional fiber array 1, the interval p1 between the grooves 3a of the fiber strand arrangement portion 3b is not the size of the diameter d1 of the fiber strand 2a, but the fiber coating. Since the diameter of the fiber 6a depends on the size of the diameter d2, even if a fiber having a small diameter of the fiber strand 2a is used, the interval p1 of the groove 3a cannot be made smaller than the diameter d1 of the fiber coating 6a, and a high-density fiber array is manufactured. However, there is a problem that the size of the fiber array and the size of the waveguide to be connected to the fiber array are increased with the multi-core fiber array.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a high-density fiber array and a method for manufacturing the same, which can solve the above-mentioned problems and can make the interval between grooves in which the fiber strands are arranged smaller than the diameter of the fiber coating. It is in.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, a fiber array according to the present invention has two pedestals having a plurality of grooves formed thereon, and the pedestals are formed such that the surfaces on which the grooves are formed are connected to each other. In a fiber array arranged so as to face each other and having a plurality of fiber prime tips sandwiched between two pedestals and aligned in respective grooves of the pedestals, two pedestals are provided. Are formed at a predetermined angle θ with respect to the joint surfaces of the pedestals, and the grooves of the other pedestal opposite to the grooves where the fiber strands of one pedestal are arranged are provided with fibers. Fiber strands are arranged and fixed in every other groove on each pedestal so that strands are not arranged, and a plurality of fiber strands are aligned in a straight line on the end face of the fiber strand. It is.

[0010] In addition to the above configuration, in the fiber array of the present invention, the interval between the grooves is preferably equal to or greater than the diameter of the fiber strand and smaller than the diameter of the fiber coating.

In addition to the above configuration, the base of the fiber array according to the present invention comprises a fiber wire arrangement fixing portion having a groove for fixing the fiber wire and a fiber having a flat surface for fixing the fiber coating. Consisting of a coating fixing part,
It is preferable that a step between the fiber strand arrangement fixing portion and the fiber coating fixing portion has a step larger than the diameter of the fiber coating.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the method of manufacturing a fiber array of the present invention, two pedestals having the same number of grooves as the number of fibers to be arrayed are prepared, and each pedestal is provided with a groove on each of the pedestals. Every other fiber strand is arranged and fixed from the same direction, the fiber strands arranged and fixed on each pedestal face each other, and the other pedestal is placed in the groove where the fiber strand is not arranged on one pedestal. It is preferable to bond and fix such that the fiber strands are arranged.

According to the above configuration, of the grooves formed on one of the pedestals, the exposed portion of the fiber strand disposed and fixed in the groove of the other pedestal is fitted into the groove where the fiber strand is not fixed. As a result, the fiber strands are arranged in the grooves adjacent to each other on the pedestal, so that the interval between the grooves in which the fiber strands are arranged is narrower than the diameter of the fiber coating, and the high-density fiber is wider than the diameter of the fiber strands. And a method of manufacturing the same.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is an external view showing an embodiment of a fiber array according to the present invention. FIG. 1 (a) is a plan view and FIG.
1B is a front view, and FIG. 1C is a side view.

The fiber array 10 includes a fiber 11 and
It is composed of pedestals 12a and 12b for fixing the fiber 11. The pedestal 12a is composed of fiber strands 11a to 11h.
And a fiber coating fixing portion 13a having a flat surface for fixing the fiber coatings 14a to 14h.

Similarly, the pedestal 12b is connected to the fiber strand 11
a fiber strand arrangement fixing portion 13b having a groove 12bb for disposing and fixing a to 11h, and fiber coatings 14a to 14
Fiber-coated fixing portion 13 having a flat surface for fixing h
d. The fiber 11 is composed of fiber strands 11a to 11h and fiber coatings 14a to 14h.

The fiber strand arrangement fixing portions 13a, 13b and the fiber coating fixing portions 13c, 13d formed on the pedestals 12a, 12b are fixed to the bottom surfaces (or the joint surfaces 12c) of the respective pedestals 12a, 12b. It is inclined by the angle θ. The inclination angle θ causes an angle bending loss in the connection between the fiber array 10 and the waveguide element (not shown).

Here, in the case where a fiber array is manufactured using a normal single mode fiber as shown in FIG. 10, by setting the angle θ to 1.2 ° or less from FIG. 2, the angle bending loss becomes 0.5 dB or less. You can see that For this reason, the angle θ is preferably set to 1.2 ° or less. Also,
A fiber coating 14a is provided between the fiber strand arrangement fixing portion 13a (13b) and the fiber coating fixing portion 13c (13d).
Steps 15a, 15 having a height t3 of at least 14h and a diameter d3 or more
b, the fiber strand arrangement fixing portions 13a, 1
It is preferable that the length L of 3b be d3 / 2 / tan (θ) or more.

Fiber coating fixing portion 13c of pedestal 12a
Further, fiber coatings 14a to 14d are bonded and fixed with an adhesive 16a. Fiber coating fixing portion 13 of pedestal 12b
Fiber coatings 14e to 14h are bonded and fixed to d by an adhesive 16b. Fiber strands 11a to 1b are attached to fiber strand arrangement fixing portions 13a and 13b of pedestals 12a and 12b.
1h is adhesively fixed with an adhesive 16c.

The fiber strands 11a to 11h are
The fibers a and 12b are aligned and arranged in a straight line by the grooves 12aa and 12bb of the fiber strand arrangement fixing portions 13a and 13b.

With such a structure, the groove 12
The distance p2 between aa and 12bb is smaller than the diameter d3 of the fiber coating 14a, and the diameter d of the fiber strands 11a to 11h.
A high-density fiber array 10 wider than 4 is constructed.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the angle breakage loss of a normal single mode fiber. The horizontal axis shows the angle, and the vertical axis shows the angle breakage loss.

FIGS. 3 to 8 are process diagrams showing one embodiment of the method for manufacturing a fiber array according to the present invention.

First, the bottom surface 20a of the substrate (for example, Si substrate) 20 is inclined by an angle θ with respect to the table 21 (FIG. 3).
(A), FIG. 3 (b)).

The table 21 is held while the substrate 20 is tilted at an angle θ.
12aa for arranging and fixing the fiber strands 11a to 11h by cutting in a direction parallel to the upper surface of
Is formed as a fiber strand arrangement fixing portion 13a (FIG. 4).
(A), FIG. 4 (b)).

While the substrate 20 is tilted at the angle θ, the table 21
Groove 1 in a direction parallel to the upper surface of
3 by cutting the fiber coatings 14a-1
A step 15a to be a fiber coating fixing portion 13c as a flat surface for fixing 4d is formed (FIGS. 5A and 5B).

After the step 15a is formed, the inclined substrate 20 is returned to the table 21, and dicing is performed at the positions indicated by broken lines 22 to 26 to thereby fix the fiber strand arrangement fixing section 13a and the fiber coating fixing section 13c. Pedestal 1 having
2a are formed (FIGS. 6A and 6B).

Fiber strand arrangement fixing portion 13 of pedestal 12a
a, the fiber strands 11a to 11d are arranged every other
The fiber coatings 14a to 14d are
c, respectively, with an adhesive 16a.

Similarly, every other one of the fiber wires 11e to 11h is arranged in the fiber wire arrangement and fixing portion 13b of the pedestal 12b, and the fiber coatings 14e to 14h are bonded and fixed to the fiber coating fixing portion 13d with the adhesive 16b. (FIG. 7
(A), FIG. 7 (b)).

The fiber strands 11a to 11d and fiber coatings 14a to 14d bonded and fixed to the pedestal 12a, and the fiber strands 11e to 11h bonded and fixed to the pedestal 12b
And the fiber coatings 14e to 14h are opposed to each other and overlapped such that the fiber strands 11e to 11h on the other pedestal 12b are arranged in the grooves 12aa where the fiber strands 11a to 11d on one pedestal 12a are not arranged. Together
The pedestals 12a and 12b and the fiber strands 11a to 11h are collectively adhered and fixed by the adhesive 16c (FIG. 8).
(A), FIG. 8 (b)).

With this configuration, the interval P2 between the grooves 12aa and 12bb in which the fiber strands 11a to 11h are arranged is smaller than the diameter d3 of the fiber coatings 14a to 14h, and the diameter d4 of the fiber strands 11a to 11h. A wider and higher density fiber array 10 is obtained.

The fiber array of the present invention is constructed by first arranging and fixing the optical fibers of the optical fiber on the groove.
There is an advantage that the fiber array can be easily manufactured.

In the fiber array according to the present invention, the fiber is fixed linearly in the groove having a V-shaped cross section.
The occurrence of bending and broken lines can be prevented. Further, a fiber array can be manufactured without a plurality of fiber strands being pressed against each other and without damaging adjacent fiber strands.

Further, the fiber array according to the present invention comprises:
By producing a fiber array using the same core diameter manufactured in the same lot, axial displacement (position displacement occurring at the center of the core of the fiber strand) is less likely to occur. Further, since the fiber is not attached or detached, there is an advantage that once the optical fiber is connected to the optical waveguide, its characteristics are guaranteed. Furthermore, since the number of parts in the fiber array is small,
A fiber array can be obtained at low cost.

In the present embodiment, the case where the number of grooves formed on one pedestal is four has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it is sufficient that the number is larger than the number of fiber strands.

[0037]

In summary, according to the present invention, the following excellent effects are exhibited.

After two strands having the same number of grooves as the number of fibers to be arrayed are arranged and fixed in the same direction from the same direction on every other groove, the fibers are arranged and fixed on the respective pedestals. Since the strands faced each other and were fixed by bonding so that the fiber strand on one pedestal was arranged in the groove where the fiber strand on the other pedestal was not arranged, the gap between the grooves where the fiber strands were arranged Can be provided with a high-density fiber array narrower than the diameter of the fiber coating and wider than the diameter of the fiber strand, and a method for manufacturing the same.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view showing an embodiment of a fiber array according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating angle breakage loss of a normal single mode fiber.

FIG. 3 is a process chart showing one embodiment of a method for manufacturing a fiber array according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a process chart showing one embodiment of the method for producing a fiber array of the present invention, wherein (a) is a plan view,
(B) is a side sectional view of (a).

FIG. 5 is a process chart showing one embodiment of a method for manufacturing a fiber array according to the present invention, wherein (a) is a plan view,
(B) is a side sectional view of (a).

FIG. 6 is a process diagram showing one embodiment of a method for manufacturing a fiber array according to the present invention, wherein (a) is a plan view,
(B) is a side sectional view of (a).

FIG. 7 is a process chart showing one embodiment of a method for manufacturing a fiber array according to the present invention, wherein (a) is a plan view,
(B) is a side sectional view of (a).

FIG. 8 is a process chart showing one embodiment of the method for producing a fiber array of the present invention, wherein (a) is a plan view,
(B) is a side sectional view of (a).

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a conventional example of a fiber array.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a structure of an optical fiber used in the fiber array shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Fiber array 11a-11h Fiber strand 12a, 12b Pedestal 12aa 12bb Groove 14a-14h Fiber coating

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Yoshinobu Kurosawa 5-1-1, Hidaka-cho, Hitachi-shi, Ibaraki Hitachi Cable, Ltd. Opto-System Laboratory (72) Inventor Noriaki Takeya Hidaka-cho, Hitachi-shi, Ibaraki 5-1-1, Hitachi Cable, Ltd. Optro System Laboratory

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A pedestal having two grooves formed therein, the pedestals being arranged such that the surfaces on which the grooves are formed face each other, and the tip of a plurality of fiber prime numbers. In a fiber array in which a portion is sandwiched between the two pedestals and aligned in the respective grooves of the pedestals, the respective grooves of the two pedestals are respectively positioned with respect to the joint surface of the pedestals. One groove is formed on each pedestal so that the fiber element is not arranged in the groove of the other pedestal that is formed to be inclined by the predetermined angle θ and faces the groove in which the fiber element of one pedestal is arranged. A fiber array, wherein fiber strands are arranged and fixed every other line, and a plurality of fiber strands are aligned in a straight line on the end face of the fiber strand. 2. The fiber array according to claim 1, wherein the distance between the grooves is equal to or greater than the diameter of the fiber strand and smaller than the diameter of the fiber coating. 3. The pedestal comprises: a fiber element wire arrangement fixing section having a groove for fixing the fiber element wire; and a fiber coating fixing section having a flat surface for fixing the fiber coating. 2. The fiber array according to claim 1, wherein the fiber array has a step that is equal to or larger than the diameter of the fiber coating between the fiber strand arrangement fixing portion and the fiber coating fixing portion. 4. Two pedestals having the same number of grooves as the number of fibers to be arrayed are prepared, and fiber strands are arranged on both pedestals in every other groove from the same direction and fixed. Attached and fixed such that the fiber strands arranged and fixed on the pedestal face each other, and the fiber strands on one pedestal are arranged in grooves where the fiber strands on the other pedestal are not arranged. Of manufacturing a fiber array.