阅读说明：本技术 光纤构件和光纤保持件 (Optical fiber member and optical fiber holder ) 是由 原裕贵 新海正博 菊川隆 佐佐木正美 福崎亮平 中原基博 宫哲雄 田地修司 有岛功一 于 2018-02-20 设计创作，主要内容包括：本公开涉及光纤构件和光纤保持件。第一公开是一种包括两个保持构件(23、24)的光纤构件(2),所述两个保持构件(23、24)以在一端配置光纤(26)的端面(26A)、在另一端上光纤(26)的具有包覆层(26B)的弯曲部(26D)弯曲并延伸的方式保持光纤(26),保持构件(23、24)包括按压平面部(23C、24C),所述按压平面部(23C、24C)以在一端配置光纤的端面(26A)的方式夹持除去了包覆层(26B)的光纤(26)的端部(26C),按压平面部(23C、24C)的至少任意一方具有固定光纤的端部(26C)的位置的对齐槽(23F、24F),保持构件(23)在沿延伸方向(D1)与弯曲部(26D)相邻的位置具有曲面(23E),两个保持构件(23、24)的热膨胀系数相同。(The present disclosure relates to an optical fiber member and an optical fiber holder. The first disclosure is an optical fiber member (2) including two holding members (23, 24), the two holding members (23, 24) holding an optical fiber (26) so that an end surface (26A) of the optical fiber (26) is disposed at one end and a bent portion (26D) of the optical fiber (26) having a clad layer (26B) is bent and extended at the other end, the holding members (23, 24) including pressing flat portions (23C, 24C), the pressing flat portions (23C, 24C) holding an end portion (26C) of the optical fiber (26) from which the clad layer (26B) is removed so that the end surface (26A) of the optical fiber is disposed at one end, at least either one of the pressing flat portions (23C, 24C) having an alignment groove (23F, 24F) for fixing a position of the end portion (26C) of the optical fiber, the holding member (23) having a curved surface (23E) at a position adjacent to the bent portion (26D) in an extending direction (D1), the two holding members (23, 24) have the same thermal expansion coefficient.)

1. An optical fiber member comprising two holding members for holding an optical fiber so that an end face of the optical fiber is disposed at one end and a predetermined portion of the optical fiber having a cladding layer is bent and extended at the other end,

the optical fiber member is characterized in that,

the two holding members include pressing flat portions that sandwich the end portion of the optical fiber from which the cladding layer has been removed so that the end surface of the optical fiber is disposed at the one end of the optical fiber member,

at least one of the pressing plane portions of the two holding members has an alignment groove for fixing the position of the end portion of the optical fiber,

a first holding member of the two holding members, which is located in an extending direction of the optical fiber, has a curved surface that is curved with a predetermined radius of curvature in the extending direction of the optical fiber at a position adjacent to the prescribed portion in the extending direction.

2. The fiber optic component of claim 1,

the two holding members further have a stopper flat surface portion which is a flat surface parallel to the pressing flat surface portion and has a step difference from the pressing flat surface portion corresponding to a thickness of a cladding layer of the optical fiber,

an end portion of the cladding layer of the optical fiber is accommodated between the stopper flat portions of the two holding members.

3. The fiber optic component of claim 2,

the end faces of the optical fibers are arranged at one ends of the pressing plane portions of the two holding members,

the one ends of the pressing plane portions of the two holding members are joined to an optical circuit.

4. The optical fiber member according to claim 3, wherein at least a part of the stopper flat portion provided in a second holding member different from the first holding member of the two holding members is arranged farther from the optical circuit than the optical fiber arranged on the curved surface of the first holding member.

5. The fiber optic component of any of claims 1-4, wherein the two retaining members are the same material or have the same coefficient of thermal expansion.

6. An optical fiber holder, comprising:

a first holding member configured to dispose an end portion of an optical fiber at one end, the optical fiber extending on the other end; and

a second holding member that holds the optical fiber together with the first holding member,

the first holding member and the second holding member have an optical fiber holding portion that holds a bare wire of the optical fiber at the one end,

the other end of the first holding member has a bent portion bent at a predetermined radius of curvature in an extending direction of the optical fiber,

a recess is provided in at least one of a first plane surface of the first holding member connected to the bent portion and a second plane surface of the second holding member facing the first plane surface and sandwiching the optical fiber.

7. The optical fiber holder according to claim 6, wherein the recess is provided at a portion of the optical fiber where a clad is arranged.

8. The optical fiber holder according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the optical fiber holding portion clamps the bare wire of the optical fiber by a third plane provided in the first holding member and a groove provided in the second holding member.

9. The fiber holder of claim 8, wherein the third plane is substantially parallel to the first plane.

10. The fiber holder of any of claims 6-8, wherein the second plane is substantially parallel to the first plane.

11. The optical fiber holder according to any one of claims 6 to 10,

a spacer that fixes the optical fiber is further provided at the other end of the first holding member,

the optical fiber is fixed between the bent portion and the spacer.

Technical Field

A first disclosure relates to an optical fiber member connecting an optical fiber to an optical circuit.

The second disclosure relates to an optical fiber holder that holds an optical fiber.

Background

(background of the second publication)

In the field of optical communication, Si — P is smaller, lower in cost, and lower in power consumption than ever before, and is expected to play an active role in the field of data communication (Datacom). This is because the optical waveguide can be miniaturized by using Si, and an optical/electronic circuit can be further miniaturized because it can be laminated on the same substrate.

One of the methods of connecting a silicon waveguide to an optical fiber is surface coupling (grating coupling). The surface coupling is formed in a lattice shape on the waveguide surface, and light is guided upward by the interference of light and incident on an optical fiber connected to the waveguide surface. Or to inject light from the optical fiber into the waveguide.

As an advantage of surface coupling, since the spot diameter is about 9 μm, a normal optical fiber connection can be used.

(background of the first publication)

With the miniaturization of optical communication devices, optical fibers connected to optical circuits are bent and routed in a package structure. Therefore, a technique has been proposed for preventing an optical fiber connected to an optical circuit from being bent to a radius of curvature or more that causes deterioration of polarization maintaining characteristics (see, for example, patent document 1). Patent document 1 arranges a support surface on the outer side of the bent portion of the optical fiber, and fixes the indicating surface and the optical fiber with an adhesive.

On the other hand, an optical connector for optically coupling an optical circuit substrate and an optical fiber guided in parallel has been proposed (for example, see patent document 2). In the optical connector of patent document 2, the periphery of the curved surface is covered with a holding member so as to be circulated as an optical connector.

Patent document 1 requires a member constituting a support surface in addition to a member for positioning an optical fiber. In addition to the member for positioning the optical fiber, patent document 2 requires a member for covering the periphery of the curved surface. Therefore, patent documents 1 and 2 have a problem that a member for bending the optical fiber is additionally required.

Disclosure of Invention

(first disclosure means for solving problems)

In order to achieve the above object, a first disclosed optical fiber member includes two holding members that hold an optical fiber such that an end surface of the optical fiber is disposed at one end and a predetermined portion of the optical fiber having a cladding layer is bent and extended at the other end, the two holding members include pressing flat portions that sandwich the end portion of the optical fiber from which the cladding layer has been removed so that the end surface of the optical fiber is disposed at the one end of the optical fiber member, at least one of the pressing plane portions of the two holding members has an alignment groove for fixing the position of the end portion of the optical fiber, a first holding member of the two holding members, which is located in an extending direction of the optical fiber, has a curved surface that is curved with a predetermined radius of curvature in the extending direction of the optical fiber at a position adjacent to the prescribed portion in the extending direction.

(second disclosure means for solving the problems)

A second disclosed optical fiber holder includes: a first holding member configured to dispose an end portion of an optical fiber at one end, the optical fiber extending on the other end; and a second holding member that holds the optical fiber together with the first holding member, wherein the first holding member and the second holding member have an optical fiber holding portion that holds a bare wire of the optical fiber at the one end, the other end of the first holding member has a curved portion that is curved at a predetermined radius of curvature along an extending direction of the optical fiber, and a recess is provided in at least one of a first plane provided in the first holding member that connects the optical fiber holding portion and the curved portion and a second plane provided in the second holding member that holds the optical fiber and faces the first plane.

(effects of the first publication)

The first disclosure can provide an optical fiber member that can be connected to an optical circuit by bending an optical fiber with a small number of components.

(effects of the second publication)

According to the second disclosure, the bending radius can be controlled without increasing the size of the member for fixing the optical fiber.

Drawings

(brief description of the drawings of the first publication)

Fig. 1-1 shows a first connection example of an optical fiber member according to a first embodiment of the first disclosure.

Fig. 1-2 are perspective views showing an example of the first holding member and the second holding member.

Fig. 1 to 3 are a plan view, a side view, and a sectional view a-a' showing an example of the second holding member.

Fig. 1 to 4 are a plan view, a side view, and a sectional view a-a' showing a first example of the first holding member.

Fig. 1 to 5 are a plan view, a side view and a sectional view a-a' showing a second example of the first holding member.

Fig. 1 to 6 are a plan view, a side view and a sectional view a-a' showing a third example of the first holding member.

Fig. 1 to 7 show a second connection example of the optical fiber member according to the first embodiment of the first disclosure.

Fig. 1 to 8 show examples of connection of optical fiber members according to a second embodiment of the first disclosure.

(brief description of the drawings of the second publication)

Fig. 2-1 shows an example of connection of the optical fiber holder to the optical circuit according to the first embodiment of the second disclosure.

Fig. 2-2 are a side view and a cross-sectional view showing a first mode example of the optical fiber holder according to the first embodiment of the second disclosure.

Fig. 2 to 3 are a side view and a sectional view showing a second mode example of the optical fiber holder according to the first embodiment of the second disclosure.

Fig. 2 to 4 are a side view and a sectional view showing a third mode example of the optical fiber holder according to the first embodiment of the second disclosure.

Fig. 2 to 5 show an example of the optical fiber holder according to the first embodiment of the second publication in which the pressing surface is curved.

Fig. 2 to 6 show a first mode example of the optical fiber holder according to the second embodiment of the second disclosure.

Fig. 2 to 7 show a second embodiment of the optical fiber holder according to the second embodiment of the second disclosure.

Fig. 2 to 8 show a third embodiment of the optical fiber holder according to the second embodiment of the second disclosure.

Fig. 2 to 9 show an example of connection of the optical fiber holder to the optical circuit according to the third embodiment of the second disclosure.

Fig. 2 to 10 are a side view and a sectional view showing a first mode example of an optical fiber holder according to a third embodiment of the second disclosure.

Fig. 2 to 11 are a side view and a sectional view showing a second mode example of the optical fiber holder according to the third embodiment of the second disclosure.

Fig. 2 to 12 show a first connection example of the optical fiber holder to the optical circuit according to the fourth embodiment of the second disclosure.

Fig. 2 to 13 show a second connection example of the optical fiber holder to the optical circuit according to the fourth embodiment of the second disclosure.

Detailed Description

Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. In addition, the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments shown below. These embodiments are merely illustrative, and the present disclosure can be implemented in various modifications and improvements based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art. In each of the first and second publications described in the specification and the drawings, the same reference numerals denote the same components in each publication.

(first embodiment of the first publication)

Fig. 1-1 shows an example of connection of the optical fiber member of the present embodiment to an optical circuit. The optical fiber member 2 of the present embodiment is a member that connects the end face 26A of the optical fiber 26 to the optical circuit 3. The optical Circuit 3 is, for example, a Planar Lightwave Circuit (PLC) including an optical waveguide. The optical fiber member 2 includes an optical fiber 26 and holding members 23, 24. In the present embodiment, the holding member 23 disposed in the extending direction D1 of the optical fiber 26 functions as a first holding member, and the holding member 24 functions as a second holding member.

The optical fiber 26 is bent and extended at the bent portion 26D. The bent portion 26D is disposed at a predetermined portion protected by the cladding 26B of the optical fiber 26. The holding member 23 is disposed in the extending direction D1 of the optical fiber 26. For example, as shown in fig. 1-1, when the end face 26A of the optical fiber 26 is connected to the upper surface 3A of the optical circuit 3, the extending direction D1 of the optical fiber 26 is a direction along the upper surface 3A of the optical circuit 3. When the end face 26A of the optical fiber 26 is connected to the end face 3B of the optical circuit, the extending direction D1 of the optical fiber 26 is a direction substantially perpendicular to the upper surface 3A of the optical circuit 3.

An end surface 23A disposed at one end of the holding member 23 is joined to the upper surface 3A of the optical circuit 3. The bonding is preferably performed using a light-curable resin such as an ultraviolet-curable resin. Preferably, the end surface 23A of the holding member 23 and the end surface 24A of the holding member 24 are arranged on the same plane, and the end surface 24A of the holding member 24 is joined to the upper surface 3A of the optical circuit 3. Since the bonding area with the upper surface 3A of the optical circuit 3 becomes large, the bonding strength can be enhanced. The holding member 24 may be end-ground together with the optical fiber 26 and the holding member 23.

The angle α formed by the optical axis on the end face 26A of the optical fiber 26 and the end face 23A of the holding member 23 is preferably not 90 °, whereby attenuation due to reflection on the end face 26A can be prevented, and the angle α is preferably an angle matching the light incident/outgoing direction from the optical circuit 3.

The thermal expansion coefficient of the holding member 24 is preferably the same as that of the holding member 23 in terms of temperature characteristics and long-term reliability. For example, the thermal expansion coefficient of the holding members 23, 24 is 2 to 300X 10^-7Any value of/° c. The material of the holding member 24 is preferably the same as that of the holding member 23. For example, the holding members 23, 24 are each made of borosilicate glass. Thus, by equalizing the displacements of the holding members 23 and 24 caused by the ambient temperature, the peeling of the adhesive 4 caused by the ambient temperature can be prevented.

The holding members 23, 24 are preferably bonded using a photocurable adhesive. In this case, the adhesive 4 is a photocurable resin, and the holding members 23 and 24 are made of transparent glass such as borosilicate glass or quartz glass.

It is preferable that the holding members 23 and 24 and the optical circuit 3 have the same thermal expansion coefficient. For example, silicon or quartz glass is generally used as the substrate of the optical circuit 3. Therefore, the thermal expansion coefficient of the holding members 23, 24 is preferably the same as that of silicon or quartz glass at an assumed ambient temperature. The coefficient of thermal expansion of silicon is 30X 10^-7The thermal expansion coefficient of the silica glass is about 5X 10 DEG C^-7Around/° c. As a material having a thermal expansion coefficient close to that of silicon, for example, a material having a thermal expansion coefficient of 32.5X 10 is cited^-7Borosilicate glass at/° c. As the quartz glass, those having a thermal expansion coefficient of 5.1X 10 are exemplified^-7A synthetic quartz glass of/° c.

The holding member 23 has a curved surface 23E at a position adjacent to the bent portion 26D in the extending direction D1. The curved surface 23E is curved with a predetermined radius of curvature along the extending direction D1 of the optical fiber 26. The predetermined radius of curvature is a radius of curvature that prevents the optical fiber 26 from being excessively bent and broken when the optical fiber 26 is stretched. For example, if the allowable bending radius of the optical fiber 26 is 30mm, the predetermined bending radius of the curved surface 23E is 30mm or more. The bent portion 26D of the optical fiber 26 is preferably fixed to the curved surface 23E by the adhesive 4.

The holding member 23 has a pressing flat surface portion 23C, and the holding member 24 has a pressing flat surface portion 24C. The pressing flat portions 23C and 24C sandwich the end portion 26C from which the covering layer 26B is removed. This can fix the end face 26A of the optical fiber 26 to the end faces 23A, 24A of the holding members 23, 24.

The holding member 23 has a stopper flat portion 23D between the pressing flat portion 23C and the curved surface 23E. The holding member 24 has a stopper flat portion 24D. The stopper flat portions 23D and 24D receive the end portions of the coating layer 26B. The bare fibers extending from the pressing plane portions 23C, 24C in the end portion 26C of the optical fiber 26 are accommodated between the stopper plane portions 23D, 24D. This can protect the bare fiber at the end 26C of the optical fiber 26.

Fig. 1 to 2, 1 to 3, and 1 to 4 show an example of the holding members 23 and 24. Fig. 1-2 show perspective views of the holding members 23, 24, fig. 1-3 show three views of the holding member 24, and fig. 1-4 show three views of the holding member 23. The pressing plane portion 24C is provided with an alignment groove 24F for aligning the optical fiber 26. The pressing plane portion 23C presses the optical fiber 26 disposed in the alignment groove 24F. Thereby, the pressing plane portions 23C, 24C fix the end face 26A of the optical fiber 26 at a predetermined position at the open end of the holding members 23, 24.

The pressing plane portion 23C and the stopper plane portion 23D are parallel planes having a level difference 23G. The pressing flat surface portion 24C and the stopper flat surface portion 24D are parallel planes having a level difference 24G. The height differences 23G and 24G have a height corresponding to the thickness of the clad layer 26B. Thus, the holding members 23 and 24 can hold the optical fiber 26 from the end face 26A to the bent portion 26D without bending. As shown in fig. 1-1, the adhesive 4 is filled between the stopper flat portions 23D, 24D. The curved surface 23E and the bent portion 26D are preferably fixed by an adhesive 4.

At least one of the stopper flat portions 23D and 24D preferably has an adhesive reservoir. For example, as shown in fig. 1 to 5, the stopper flat surface portion 23D is provided with groove portions 23H and 23I. The groove portion 23H is disposed between the pressing plane portion 23C and the stopper plane portion 23D. The groove portion 23I is disposed between the stopper flat portion 23D and the bent portion 26D. The shape of the adhesive reservoir is arbitrary.

The shape of the holding member 23 can be adjusted by the thickness T₂₃The glass plate of (2) is polished to form the glass plate. The shape of the holding member 24 can also be adjusted by the thickness T in the same manner as the holding member 23₂₄The glass plate of (2) is polished to form the glass plate.

As described above, since the holding member 23 has the curved surface 23E, even when the optical fiber 26 is connected to the optical circuit 3 in a state in which the optical fiber 26 is bent, the disconnection of the optical fiber 26 can be prevented. Further, since the holding members 23 and 24 and the optical fiber 26 are provided, the number of components is very small. Therefore, the optical fiber member 2 is easily attached to the optical circuit 3. Therefore, even when the optical fiber member 2 of the first disclosure is connected to the optical circuit 3 in a state where the optical fiber 26 is bent, the optical fiber 26 can be prevented from being broken and can be easily attached to the optical circuit 3.

In addition, in the present embodiment, an example in which the holding member 24 has the alignment groove 24F is described, but the first disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, as shown in fig. 1 to 6, an alignment groove 23F for fixing the end portion 26C of the optical fiber 26 may be formed in the pressing plane portion 23C of the holding member 23. In this case, the alignment groove 24F may not be formed on the second holding member 24.

In the present embodiment, the optical fiber member 2 holds the plurality of optical fibers 26, but the first disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, separate alignment grooves 23F, 24F may be provided on the holding agent 23 or 24 to hold the individual optical fibers 26. The optical fibers 26 arranged in the holding member 23 are not limited to one row, and may be two or more rows.

As shown in fig. 1 to 7, the holding member 24 may not have the stopper flat portions 24D. In this case, the cladding layer 26B of the optical fiber 26 is fixed by the adhesive 4 instead of the stopper flat portion 24D.

(second embodiment of the first publication)

Fig. 1 to 8 show examples of connection of the optical fiber member of the present embodiment to an optical circuit. In the present embodiment, at least a part of the stopper flat portion 24D is located farther from the optical circuit 3 than the optical fiber 26 disposed on the curved surface 23E of the holding member 23. More specifically, H₃₂₄H is the height of the holding member 24 from the upper surface 3A of the optical circuit 3₃₂₃T is the height of the holding member 23 from the upper surface 3A of the optical circuit 3₂₆As is the thickness of the optical fiber 26. In this case, in the present embodiment, H₃₂₄>(H₃₂₃+T₂₆) This is true.

By adopting the structure of fig. 1 to 8, the second holding member 24 can be provided with a function of protecting the optical fiber 26. For example, the optical fiber 26 can be protected from drops or contact from above.

(first embodiment of the second publication)

Fig. 2-1 shows an example of the optical fiber holder according to the present embodiment. The fiber holder of the present embodiment includes two holding members 23, 24 that clamp an optical fiber 26, and a spacer 21. The holding member 23 is disposed in the direction D1 in which the optical fiber 26 extends, and functions as a first holding member. The holding member 24 functions as a second holding member.

In the second publication, the end face 26A of the optical fiber 26 is disposed so as to be sandwiched between the end face 23A as one end of the holding member 23 and the end face 24A as one end of the holding member 24, and the optical fiber 26 is bent and extended at the end face 23B as the other end of the holding member 23. For example, as shown in fig. 2-1, when the end face 26A of the optical fiber 26 is connected to the upper surface 3A of the optical circuit 3, the direction D1 of the optical fiber 26 is a direction along the upper surface 3A of the optical circuit 3. Here, the direction D1 may be exemplified as a direction parallel to the upper surface 3A as an example, but the second disclosure is not limited thereto, and may be any direction other than a direction perpendicular to the upper surface 3A. The optical circuit 3 is, for example, a photonic optical circuit (hereinafter referred to as an optical circuit) including an optical waveguide or an optical coupler.

The end surface 23A of the holding member 23 is joined to the upper surface 3A of the optical circuit 3. The bonding is preferably performed using a light-curable resin such as an ultraviolet-curable resin. The end surface 23A of the holding member 23 is preferably disposed on the same plane as the end surface 24A as one end of the holding member 24 and joined to the upper surface 3A of the optical circuit 3. Since the bonding area with the upper surface 3A of the optical circuit 3 becomes large, the bonding strength can be enhanced. The holding member 24 may be end-ground together with the optical fiber 26 and the holding member 23 fixing the optical fiber 26.

The angle α formed by the optical axis on the end face 26A of the optical fiber 26 and the end face 23A of the holding member 23 is preferably not 90 °, whereby attenuation due to reflection on the end face 26A can be prevented, and the angle α is preferably an angle matching the light incident/outgoing direction from the optical circuit 3.

The holding members 23 and 24 are holding members using V-grooves, and V-grooves are formed in at least one of the holding members 23 and 24. For example, the V groove may be formed only in the holding member 23 as shown in fig. 2 to 2, the V groove may be formed only in the holding member 24 as shown in fig. 2 to 3, or the V grooves may be formed in both sides of the holding members 23, 24 as shown in fig. 2 to 4. The portion of the optical fiber 26 sandwiched by the V-grooves of the holding members 23, 24 is a bare wire 26C from which the coating layer 26B is removed. When the holding member 23 is formed with the V-groove, the V-groove may be formed only in the portion holding the bare wire 26C, but the V-groove may be formed in the bent portion 23E.

The number of optical fibers held by the holding members 23, 24 may be any number. For example, one may be used as shown in fig. 2-2(a), 2-3(a) and 2-4(a), or four may be used as shown in fig. 2-2(b), 2-3(b) and 2-4 (b). When the number of optical fibers held by the holding members 23 and 24 is plural, the optical fiber holder according to the second publication can constitute an optical fiber array.

The holding member 23 has a bent portion 23E, and the bent portion 23E is bent at a predetermined radius of curvature in the direction D1 of the optical fiber 26. The predetermined radius of curvature is a value that can prevent the optical fiber 26 from being bent excessively and broken, and is a value that can be drawn in a direction along the upper surface 3A of the optical circuit 3. The optical fiber 26 is preferably fixed to the bent portion 23E with an adhesive.

The spacer 21 has the following functions: the optical fiber 26 is pressed against the bent portion 23E so that the optical fiber 26 is bent along the bent portion 23E. This allows the optical fiber 26 to be extended in the direction D1 with the end face 26A of the optical fiber 26 fixed to the optical circuit 3.

The spacer 21 is a columnar or cylindrical structural member, and the cross-sectional shape of the columnar or cylindrical structure is arbitrary. For example, it may have a square cross section as shown in FIGS. 2-1 to 2-4, or may have a circular cross section. At least a part of the pressing surface 21D that contacts the optical fiber 26 is preferably disposed along the curved portion 23E, and is preferably curved in accordance with a radius of curvature of the curved portion 23E, as shown in fig. 2 to 5, for example.

The raw materials of the holding members 23, 24 and the spacer 21 are arbitrary, and for example, metal other than glass and resin may be used. In the case where the holding members 23, 24 and the spacer 21 are metal, the optical fiber 26 can be fixed between the holding member 23 and the spacer 21 using a thermosetting resin. In the case where the holding members 23, 24 and the spacer 21 are glass or resin transparent to UV, the optical fiber 26 can be fixed between the holding member 23 and the spacer 21 using UV curable resin. Thus, the UV-transparent holding members 23 and 24 and the spacer 21 can be fixed by the UV-curable resin, thereby simplifying the manufacturing.

As described above, in the present embodiment, by pressing the optical fiber 26 against the bent portion 23E using the spacer 21, the bending of the optical fiber can be controlled with the radius of curvature of the bent portion 23E. Here, in the present embodiment, the holding member 23 has the bent portion 23E, whereby the spacer 21 is provided in the gap created between the holding member 23 and the holding member 24. Therefore, the present embodiment can control the bend radius of the optical fiber 26 without increasing the size of the member holding members 23, 24 and the spacer 21 that fix the optical fiber 26.

(second embodiment of the second publication)

Fig. 2 to 6 show an example of the optical fiber holder according to the present embodiment. The load of the bending stress of the optical fiber 26 pushes up the spacer 21 in the direction in which the optical fiber 26 is separated from the holding member 23, and there is a possibility that the spacer 21 is peeled off. Therefore, in the optical fiber holder of the present embodiment, the spacer 21 and the holding member 24 are fixed by the flat surface 21C and the side surface 24C so that the spacer 21 is not pushed up.

In the present embodimentHeight H from upper surface 3A to end surface 24E of optical circuit 3₂₄Preferably above the height H from the upper surface 3A of the optical circuit 3 to the optical fiber 26₂₆So that the spacer 21 and the holding member 24 can be bonded by the adhesive. Although fig. 2 to 6 show an example in which the cross-sectional shape of the spacer 21 is a wedge shape, the cross-sectional shape of the spacer 21 may be any shape in the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment.

The fixation of the spacer 21 and the holding member 24 is preferably a firm fixation, and the holding member 24 and the spacer 21 are preferably in surface contact. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the flat surface 21C abutting the holding member 24 is provided on the spacer 21, and the side surface 24C of the holding member 24 on the holding member 23 side is a flat surface. This can increase the contact area between the holding members 23 and 24 and the spacer 21 by the planar-to-planar engagement. This embodiment can prevent the spacer 21 from peeling off due to the stress load of bending the optical fiber 26.

Here, in the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 2 to 7, the pressing surface 21D of the spacer 21 is preferably curved in accordance with the radius of curvature of the curved portion 23E.

Further, as shown in fig. 2 to 8, the face 21E of the spacer 21 is preferably fixed to the end face 24E of the holding member 24. This increases the bonding area between the holding member 24 and the spacer 21, and thus the optical fiber 26 can be more effectively pressed against the bent portion 23E. Further, the position fixing of the holding members 23, 24 and the spacer 21 at the time of manufacture can be simplified. Further, the holding member 24 and the spacer 21 may be integrally formed.

In addition, the spacer 21 preferably has a sufficient length to extend the optical fiber 26 in the direction D1. For example, as shown in FIGS. 2-7 and 2-8, the distance D may be determined by referencing the end face 26A of the optical fiber 26₂₁And a distance D₂₃A comparison is made to determine. Wherein, the distance D₂₁Is a distance in the direction D1 from the position of the end face 26A of the optical fiber 26 in the holding member 23 to the end of the spacer 21 in the direction D1. Distance D₂₃Is the distance in the direction D1 from the position of the end face 26A of the optical fiber 26 in the holding member 23 to the end of the holding member 23 in the direction D1. For example, the spacer 21 hasThe length of the pressing surface 21D in contact with the optical fiber 26 is longer than the length of the bent portion 23E of the holding member 23 in contact with the optical fiber 23.

Further, as shown in fig. 2 to 8, in the case of planar-engaging the end face 24E of the holding member 24 and the spacer 21 with each other, the height H from the upper surface 3A of the optical circuit 3 to the end face 24E₂₄Regardless of the description of the second embodiment, the height H from the upper surface 3A of the optical circuit 3 to the optical fiber 26 can be determined₂₆To the same extent, the height H from the upper surface 3A of the optical circuit 3 to the optical fiber 26 may be larger than₂₆Low.

(third embodiment of the second publication)

Fig. 2 to 9 show an example of the optical fiber holder according to the present embodiment. The fiber holder of the present embodiment includes two holding members 23, 24 that clamp an optical fiber 26. In the optical fiber holder of the present embodiment, the end face 26A of the optical fiber 26 is connected to the upper surface 3A of the optical circuit 3 by the holding members 23 and 24. The holding member 23 is disposed in the direction D1 in which the optical fiber 26 extends, and functions as a first holding member. The holding member 24 functions as a second holding member. The other end 23B of the holding member 23 has a curved portion 23E, and the curved portion 23E is curved with a predetermined radius of curvature in the direction D1.

The optical fiber 26 and the holding members 23, 24 are fixed by an adhesive. In this fixing, if the adhesive flows into the bent portion 23E, the shape of the bent portion 23E changes, the adhesive adheres to the optical fiber 26 bent at the bent portion 23E, and the optical fiber 26 may be broken. Therefore, in order to prevent the adhesive from flowing into the bent portion 23E, the holding member 24 has a recess 31, and the adhesive for fixing the optical fiber 26 flows into the recess 31. In the present embodiment, the example in which the concave portion 31 is provided only on the holding member 24 is shown as an example, but the second disclosure is not limited thereto, and the same effect can be obtained even if the concave portion 31 is provided on the holding member 23, and the concave portion may be provided on both the holding members 23 and 24.

Fig. 2 to 10 and fig. 2 to 11 show a first example and a second example of the detailed structure of the optical fiber holder according to the present embodiment. The holding member 23 has a flat surface 23C functioning as a third flat surface, and the holding member 24 has a groove 33 for holding the bare fiber 26C of the optical fiber 26. The bare wire 26C of the optical fiber 26 is held by the flat surface 23C and the groove 33. The portion of the bare fiber 26C holding the optical fiber 26 is used as the fiber holding portion 27.

In the present embodiment, the example in which the groove 33 is provided in the holding member 24 is shown, but the groove 33 may be formed in at least one of the holding members 23 and 24 as in the first and second embodiments. That is, the optical fiber holding section 27 may be configured as shown in any one of fig. 2 to 2, 2 to 3, and 2 to 4 in the first embodiment.

The holding member 23 has a flat surface 23D functioning as a first flat surface, and the holding member 24 has a flat surface 24D functioning as a second flat surface. The plane 23D is a plane connected to the curved surface 23E. The plane 24D is a plane that holds the optical fiber 26 and is opposite to the plane 23D. Thus, the flat surface 23D and the flat surface 24D are disposed on the end surface 24E side of the optical fiber holding portion 27.

The recess 31 is provided on at least one of the flat surfaces 23D and 24D. This prevents the adhesive from flowing into the bent portion 23E. The flat surface 23D is preferably parallel to the flat surface 23C so that the bare fiber 26C of the optical fiber 26 and the end 26E of the cladding 26B of the optical fiber are kept linear, and the flat surface 23D is preferably parallel to the flat surface 24D.

The recess 31 may have any shape that allows the adhesive for holding the optical fiber 26 to flow therein. Such as the slot shapes shown in fig. 2-9 and 2-10 (c). Width W of concave portion 31₃₁As shown in fig. 2 to 11(c), the holding member 24 may have a stepped shape reaching the end surface 24E.

In the second publication, the optical fiber 26 is bent at the bent portion 23E. At this time, if the bare wire 26C of the optical fiber 26 is bent at the bent portion 23E, the bare wire 26C of the optical fiber 26 may not be able to withstand the bending stress and break. Therefore, it is preferable that the end portion 26E of the cladding 26B of the optical fiber 26 is sandwiched by the flat surface 23D and the flat surface 24D so that the bending stress in the bent portion 23E is not applied to the bare wire 26C of the optical fiber 26.

The bare fiber 26C of the optical fiber 26 tends to be easily broken. Therefore, the end 26E of the cladding 26B of the optical fiber 26 is preferably fixed to the flat surface 23D and the flat surface 24D with an adhesive. Therefore, it is preferable that the recess 31 is disposed closer to the end surface 24E of the holding member 24 than the end portion 26E of the cladding 26B of the optical fiber 26, that is, the recess 31 is provided in a portion where the cladding of the optical fiber is disposed. Accordingly, the entire bare fiber 26C of the optical fiber 26 is fixed by the adhesive, and the cladding 26B of the optical fiber 26 is also fixed by the adhesive, so that the bare fiber 26C of the optical fiber 26 can be prevented from being broken.

The fiber holding portion 27 holds the bare fiber 26C of the optical fiber 26, and the flat surfaces 23D and 24D hold the cladding 26B of the optical fiber 26. Therefore, it is preferable that a step corresponding to the thickness of the cladding layer 26B of the optical fiber 26 is provided between the optical fiber holding portion 27 and the flat surface 23D. For example, plane 23C and plane 23D are parallel, and the distance between these planes is substantially equal to the thickness of cladding layer 26B of optical fiber 26. Thus, the optical fiber holding portion 27 can clamp the end portion 26E of the cladding 26B of the optical fiber 26 without applying bending stress to the bare fiber 26C of the optical fiber 26. Such a level difference corresponding to the thickness of the cladding layer 26B of the optical fiber 26 is not limited to be provided in the holding member 23, and may be provided in the holding member 24, or may be provided in both the holding members 23 and 24.

As described above, since the optical fiber holder of the present embodiment has the bent portion 23E, the bending radius can be controlled without increasing the size of the member for fixing the optical fiber 26. Further, since the optical fiber holder of the present embodiment has the concave portion 31, the adhesive can be prevented from flowing into the bent portion 23E. In the optical fiber holder of the present embodiment, the bare wire 26C of the optical fiber 26 is sandwiched by the optical fiber holding portion 27, and the end portion 26E of the cladding 26B of the optical fiber 26 is disposed in the vicinity of the optical fiber holding portion 27, so that the bending stress on the bare wire 26C of the optical fiber 26 can be prevented.

(fourth embodiment of the second publication)

The optical fiber holder of the present embodiment further includes the spacer 21 described in the first and second embodiments in addition to the optical fiber holder described in the third embodiment. Fig. 2 to 12 show an application example of the third embodiment of the optical fiber holder shown in fig. 2 to 10, and fig. 2 to 13 show an application example of the third embodiment of the optical fiber holder shown in fig. 2 to 11.

In the present embodiment, the end 26E of the cladding 26B of the optical fiber 26 is sandwiched between the flat surface 23D and the flat surface 24D, and the flat surface 24D is provided with the recess 31.

The holding members 23, 24 and the spacer 21 sandwich the optical fiber 26 and are fixed by an adhesive. Since the second disclosure has the concave portion 31, the adhesive of the optical fiber holding portion 27 can be prevented from flowing into the bent portion 23E, and thus the spacer 21 can be bonded with the optical fiber 26 disposed at an appropriate position.

In the case where the recess 31 has a stepped shape as shown in fig. 2 to 11, the dimension H from the end portion on the end surface 24A side of the recess 31 to the end surface 24E shown in fig. 2 to 13₃₁Dimension H of the projection which can be matched with the spacer 21₂₁The same, but the ratio H can also be used₂₁Large size. This allows a space for the adhesive to flow in to be provided between the end portion of the recess 31 on the end surface 24A side and the spacer 21.

Industrial applicability

The present disclosure can be applied to the information communication industry.

Description of the reference numerals

(first publication of reference description)

2: optical fiber member

23. 24: holding member

23A, 24A: end face

23C, 24C: pressing plane part

23D, 24D: stop plane part

23E: curved surface

23F, 24F: alignment groove

23G, 24G: difference of height

23H, 23I: trough part

26: optical fiber

26A: end face

26B: coating layer

26C: end part

26D: bending part

3: optical circuit

3A: upper surface of

3B: end face

4: adhesive agent

(second publication of reference description)

21: spacer member

23. 24: holding member

26: optical fiber

3: optical circuit

27: optical fiber holding part

31: concave part

33: trough