JP2550916B2 - Optical module assembly equipment - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device for assembling an optical module composed of an LD unit and an optical fiber.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIG.
An optical fiber (including a ferrule at an end) 3 is joined to a D unit 1 via a support 2. Semiconductor laser built in the LD unit 1 (hereinafter referred to as LD)
The light from is condensed by the lens and is incident on the optical fiber 3.

To assemble the optical module, the LD unit 1 is supplied with power to cause the LD to emit light, and the XYZθ axes of the LD unit 1 and the ferrule of the optical fiber 3 are adjusted so that the amount of light transmitted through the optical fiber 3 is maximized. , And the optical fiber 3 and the LD unit 1 are welded and fixed by a YAG laser through the support 2. Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 8, an operator uses an LD unit 1 as a first aligning stage 11 having an XYθ stage, and an optical fiber 3 and a support 2 as a second aligning stage having a Z-axis stage. 12, the other end of the optical fiber 3 and the optical sensor 13 are connected, and the first alignment stage 11 and the second alignment stage 12 are moved by an operation switch or the like to align the optical axes. To do. After the centering is completed, the LD unit 1 and the support 2, and the support 2 and the optical fiber 3 are welded while the optical module is assembled and fixed while the support 2 is pressed against the LD unit 1 by a manual or automatic pressure mechanism. .

An example of such a conventional optical module assembling apparatus is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 04-311906.

[0005]

The optical fiber used in the optical module has a large variation in length of about ± 5 cm, and has a gripping force and a tension of 10 to the optical fiber wire itself.
It is difficult to handle because it is limited to about 0 g and the bending radius is several tens of mm or more.

[0006] In the conventional optical module assembling apparatus, an operator is required to set the LD unit, which is a component, to the apparatus and the support and the optical fiber, and to perform an assembling operation. Therefore, complete automation and labor saving cannot be performed. However, there was a problem that productivity was poor.

[0007]

An optical module assembling apparatus according to the present invention is an L module in which a plurality of LD units are aligned and housed.
D tray (5) and LD taken out from the LD tray
A first aligning stage (107) for gripping and moving the unit along a plane perpendicular to the optical axis, and gripping the optical fiber with one end loosely fitted in the through hole of the support and the other end of the optical fiber. A fiber tray (6) for holding a jig (64) and a support in which the plurality of optical fibers are aligned and stored, and an end of the optical fiber taken out from the fiber tray and the jig and the support. A second aligning stage (117) for moving one end of the optical fiber in the direction of the optical axis, and one end of the optical fiber which conveys the first and second aligning stages to the aligning position and holds them. A stage transfer mechanism (108, 118) for making the optical axes of the LD unit substantially coincide with each other, and the second aligning slide on the LD unit transported to the aligning position by the first aligning stage. The support which is conveyed to the aligning position by the carriage and is released from the grip of the second aligning stage, and the optical axes of the LD unit and the one end of the optical fiber are aligned by the first and second aligning stages. A pressure stage (120) that is pressed onto the LD unit later, and a fixing means (122) that fixes one ends of the optical fibers to each other via the support while the support is pressed against the LD unit by the pressure stage. Is equipped with.

The optical module assembling apparatus of the present invention incorporates an LD tray buffer (101) capable of accommodating a plurality of LD trays (5) in which a plurality of LD units are aligned, and one LD tray from the LD tray buffer. From the LD tray transported to the LD transport position, a means (102) for transporting to the LD transport position, a first alignment stage (107) having a mechanism for moving the LD unit in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis, and the LD tray transported to the LD transport position. Means (103, 1) for taking out the LD units one by one and transferring the LD units to the first alignment stage
04), means (108) for transporting the first aligning stage to the aligning position, and gripping one end of the optical fiber in a state where it is loosely fitted in the through hole of the support and incorporating the other end of the optical fiber. A fiber tray changer (111) capable of holding a plurality of fiber trays (6) for holding a jig (64) and a support and aligning and storing a plurality of optical fibers, one end of the optical fiber and the jig and the support. A second aligning stage (117) having a mechanism for gripping and moving the optical fiber in the optical axis direction, and a fiber and a support taken out one by one from the fiber tray taken from the fiber tray changer and the second aligning stage. Means to deliver to the heart stage (112, 11
3, 115), and means (118) for transporting the first and second aligning stages to the aligning position and making the optical axes of the LD unit and one end of the optical fiber held by them substantially coincide with each other.
And means (105) for energizing the terminals of the LD unit held by the first alignment stage, and optically measuring the transmitted light output of the optical fiber by being optically connected to the other end of the optical fiber. An optical power meter head (119) for
The support, which is conveyed to the centering position by the first centering stage and is released from the grip of the second centering stage, is provided between one end of the optical fiber and the LD unit by the first and second centering stages. A pressure stage (120) for pressing on the LD unit after aligning the optical axis, and one end of the optical fiber is laser-welded to the LD unit via the support while the support is pressed by the pressure stage on the LD unit. Laser heads (122) fixed to each other by
It has and.

[0009]

The present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of an optical module assembling apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of this embodiment, and FIG. 3 is an optical axis of this embodiment. It is a figure of the main part which adjusts. FIG. 4 is a detailed view of an optical fiber take-out portion of the present embodiment, FIG. 5 is a detailed view of an optical fiber delivery portion of the present embodiment, and FIG. 6 is a detailed view of a connection portion of an optical power meter head of the present embodiment. is there.

An LD tray 5 containing a plurality of LD units 1 aligned and stored is set on an LD tray buffer 101. The LD tray buffer 101 is equipped with a belt conveyor, and conveys the set LD trays 5 one by one to an LD tray conveyance stage 102 in the assembling apparatus. The LD tray transfer stage 102 receives the LD tray 5 on a stage that moves by screw feeding or the like, and the LD unit take-out position which is a predetermined position for taking out the LD unit 1 from the LD tray 5 (the LD tray transfer stage 102 in FIG. Transport it to the lower part).

Information on the LD unit take-out position includes L
An LD transfer robot 103 that runs in a direction perpendicular to the transfer direction of the D tray transfer stage 102 is provided. An LD hand 104 having a parallel chuck or a suction head for opening and closing parallel claws for handling the LD unit 1 is provided in the traveling section of the LD transport robot 103. By operating the LD tray transfer stage 102, the LD transfer robot 103, and the LD hand 104, L
The LD units 1 aligned on the D tray 5 are sequentially taken out.

The LD unit 1 taken out from the LD tray 5 is conveyed to a predetermined position by the LD transfer robot 103 while being held by the LD hand 104, and is aligned below the predetermined position. It is handed over to 107 (first alignment stage). Alignment stage 107
Has an LD chuck 106 that holds the LD unit 1, and this LD chuck 106 can be moved in the XYθ axis directions in order to adjust the optical axes of the LD unit 1 and the optical fiber 3. Further, the aligning stage 107 is provided with a power feeding unit 105 having a contact probe for feeding power to the LD unit 1. Aligning stage 1
07 is placed on the moving stage of the LD transfer stage 108 and is transferred to the centering position (the position showing the centering stage 107 in FIG. 1).

LD hand 104 and LD transfer robot 10
3. All LD by LD tray transfer stage 102
The LD tray 5 from which the unit 1 is taken out is pushed out by the LD tray discharge handler 109 arranged in front of the LD tray transfer stage 102, and is stored in the empty tray buffer 110 arranged outside the apparatus.

On the other hand, on the fiber tray 6, the operator sets the optical fiber 3 and the support 2 in which the receptacle built-in jig 64 (see FIG. 4) is installed. As shown in FIG. 4, the fiber tray 6 is a plate 6 provided on the upper and lower surfaces.
1, 62 are connected by a plurality of columns 63. The ferrule at one end of the fiber 3 has its tip loosely fitted in the hole of the support 2, and the receptacle provided at the other end of the fiber 3 is incorporated in the jig 64. The jig 64 incorporating the receptacle is attached to the groove 65 (opened toward the left side in FIG. 4) provided on the upper plate 61, and the ferrule and the support 2 are fixed on the lower plate 62 to the fixed member 66. It is attached to the provided groove 67 (opened toward the left side in FIG. 4). In order to accommodate the long fiber 3 in the fiber tray 6, the middle portion of the fiber 3 is bent into a loop and two points are fixed to the jig 64 by leaf spring-like elastic members. By using this fiber tray 6, the optical fiber 3
It is possible to fix the receptacles and jigs on both ends, the ferrule and the support 2 regardless of variations in the length of the.

The fiber tray changer 111 can set a plurality of fiber trays 6, and pushes the designated fiber tray 6 to a tray loading port (portion into the fiber tray transport robot 112) to transport the fiber tray 6 into the apparatus. The fiber tray 6 loaded into the apparatus is transported to a predetermined position and positioned by a fiber tray transport robot 112 installed below the tray. A fiber transfer robot 113 is arranged in front of the positioned fiber tray 6, and the state shown in FIG. 4 is obtained.

A jig 6 in which a receptacle for the optical fiber 3 is incorporated is mounted on the traveling portion of the fiber transfer robot 113.
4. Three parallel chucks 130, 13 for handling the ferrule of the optical fiber 3 and the support 2, respectively
1, 132 and the fiber tray 6 to take out the jig 64, the optical fiber 3, and the support 2 as they are set in the fiber tray 6, or to house the optical module in the fiber tray 6 in a completed state. Parallel chucks 130, 131, 132 in the vertical direction and the front-back direction.
Fiber hand 1 having an actuator for operating
14 are arranged. The fiber hand 114 is
A fiber supply hand 115 for supplying components such as the optical fiber 3 to a fiber focus stage 117 described later.
And a module housing hand 116 for housing the assembled optical module in the fiber tray 6.

From the state of FIG. 4, the fiber supply hand 115
However, the parallel chuck 13
0, 131, 132 are inserted into the fiber tray 6, and then the parallel chucks 130, 131, 132 hold the jig 64, the ferrule of the optical fiber 3 and the support 2, and the vertical actuators move these optical fibers and the like. The optical fiber 3 is taken out from the fiber tray 6 by lifting and returning to the original position in the order of the actuator in the front-back direction and the actuator in the vertical direction. After that, the fiber supply hand 115 is transferred to a predetermined position by the fiber transfer robot 113.

In front of the optical fiber 3 and the support 2 conveyed to a predetermined position by the fiber supply hand 115, three chucks 133, 134, 135 for holding the optical fiber 3, the ferrule of the fiber 3 and the support 2 are provided.
(See FIG. 5) and these chucks 133, 134, 135
Is arranged to move the ferrule of the fiber 3 up and down to adjust the focus direction, and the fiber focus stage 117 (second aligning stage) having a Z-axis stage is arranged. The chuck 1 that holds the support 2
For only 35, the fiber focus stage 11
There is also provided an actuator for moving the upper part 7 in the front-back direction.

Further, the fiber focus stage 117
A fiber transport stage 118 that transports the fiber focus stage 117 to the centering position is disposed below. The fiber focus stage 117 advances from the standby position to the centering position side by the fiber transport stage 118, and stops at the fiber delivery position with the fiber supply hand 115. This is the state shown in FIG. In this state, the jig 64, the ferrule of the fiber 3 and the support 2 are held by the three chucks 133, 134 and 135 of the fiber focus stage 117. After that, the three chucks 130, 131, 13 on the side of the fiber supply hand 115 are
By releasing 2, the delivery of the optical fiber 3 and the support 2 is completed.

The fiber focus stage 117, the optical fiber 3 and the support 2 supplied thereto are transported to the centering position by the fiber transport stage 118. The support 2 is now held on the LD chuck 106 of the aligning stage 107 and placed on the LD unit 1 which has been transported to the aligning position by the LD transport stage 108. An optical power meter head 119 for measuring the amount of transmitted light of the semiconductor laser of the optical fiber 3 is arranged above the alignment position, and the optical power meter head 119 is arranged as shown in FIG.
The optical power meter head 119 is connected to the other end of the optical fiber 3 by pushing down and fitting it into the jig 64 with the receptacle of the optical fiber 3. At the joining portion with the LD unit 1, the chuck 135 holding the support 2
Open, place the support 2 on the upper surface of the LD unit 1,
The chuck holding the support 2 moves backward by an actuator that moves in the front-back direction. This completes the setting of components such as the optical fiber 3 and the LD unit 1 as shown in FIG.

Power feeding unit 105 of aligning stage 107
The contact probe is pushed up and connected to a terminal provided on the lower surface of the LD unit 1, a specified current is passed through the LD unit 1 to cause the LD unit 1 to emit light, and the light passes through the optical fiber 3 and the optical power meter head 119. The XYθ stage of the aligning stage 107 and the Z axis of the fiber focus stage 117 are moved so that the maximum amount is entered into. In order to allow the maximum amount of light to enter the optical power meter head 119, for example, a hill climbing method is used for alignment.

After the centering is completed, the pressure pawl 121 of the pressure stage 120 advances as shown in FIG.
The tip of the is set on the upper surface of the support 2, and the pressure claw 121
The support 2 is pressure-held on the LD unit 1 by lowering. Further, the ferrule of the optical fiber 3 and the support 2, and the support 2 and the LD unit 1 are spot-laser welded by vertically moving a plurality of laser heads 122 radially arranged around the support 2 at the centering position and the LD unit 1. Fix and assemble the optical module 4.

After the assembly is completed, the pressure claw 121 and the LD chuck 106 are opened, and the optical power meter head 119 is raised so that the finished product can be taken out. While the ferrule of the optical fiber 3 of the completed optical module 4 is held by the chuck 134 and the jig 64 is held by the chuck 133, the fiber transfer stage 118 is lowered backward, and the optical fiber is supplied to the module storage hand 116 of the fiber transfer robot 113. Contrary to the time, the module storage hand 116 chucks the jig 64 and the ferrule of the optical fiber 3 at two locations on the chuck 1.
After the optical module 4 is gripped by 30, 131 and the completed optical module 4 is gripped, the fiber focus stage 117 releases the two chucks to transfer the optical module 4. After receiving the optical module 4, the fiber storage robot 113 conveys the module storage hand 116 to the position where the optical fiber 3 is taken out from the fiber tray 6, and the actuator in the vertical direction of the module storage hand 116 raises the entire hand. , The front and rear actuators move the entire hand forward to the fiber tray 6 side, and the vertical actuators lower the hands to open the chucks 130 and 131 that are gripped, and place the optical module 4 at a predetermined position in the fiber tray 6. Store.

By separately providing the fiber supply hand 115 and the module storage hand 116, the next optical fiber is preliminarily taken in advance at the time of alignment, and the completed optical module is stored to perform multitasking operation. be able to.

[0026]

As described above, according to the optical module assembling apparatus of the present invention, the LD unit and the optical fiber, which are difficult to handle, are aligned and supplied to the tray, so that the LD unit with the terminal and the receptacle at the end are provided. The provided optical fibers and supports can be sequentially taken out, and parts can be delivered, set, optical axis adjusted, welded and assembled, and the completed module can be automatically and consistently provided. You can also personalize.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the embodiment shown in FIG.

3 is an end portion of an optical fiber according to the embodiment shown in FIG.
FIG. 6A is an enlarged view of a main part for performing optical axis adjustment with the D unit, and FIG. 6A is a front view and a sectional view showing a state in which the support 2 is pressed against the LD unit by the pressure claw 121 after the optical axis adjustment. 8B is a side view when the aligning stage 107 and the fiber focus stage 117 are conveyed to the aligning position.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a fiber hand 114 and a fiber tray transfer robot 112 for taking out and housing the optical fiber of the embodiment shown in FIG.

5 is a side view of a fiber hand 114 and a fiber focus stage 117 which are optical fiber delivery parts of the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is an optical power meter head 11 of the embodiment shown in FIG.
It is a front view showing 9.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing an example of an optical module assembled by the assembly apparatus of the present invention and the conventional assembly apparatus.

FIG. 8 is a side view showing a conventional optical module assembling apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 LD unit 2 Support 3 Optical fiber 4 Optical module 5 LD tray 6 Fiber tray 11 Alignment stage 12 Alignment stage 13 Light adjustment sensor 64 Jig 101 LD tray buffer 102 LD tray transfer stage 103 LD transfer robot 104 LD hand 105 Power supply Unit 107 Alignment stage 108 LD transfer stage 111 Fiber tray changer 112 Fiber tray transfer robot 113 Fiber transfer robot 114 Fiber hand 115 Fiber supply hand 116 Module storage hand 117 Fiber focus stage 118 Fiber transfer stage 119 Optical power meter head 120 Pressure stage 122 laser head

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A plurality of semiconductor laser units (hereinafter LD
LD tray (5) in which the units (referred to as units) are arranged and housed, and a first aligning stage (107) for gripping and moving the LD unit taken out from the LD tray along a plane perpendicular to the optical axis. A fiber for holding one end of the optical fiber in a state where it is loosely fitted in the through hole of the support, and holding a jig (64) incorporating the other end of the optical fiber and the support to align and store a plurality of optical fibers. A tray (6), a second alignment stage (117) for holding one end of the optical fiber taken out from the fiber tray, the jig and the support to move one end of the optical fiber in the direction of the optical axis, Stage transport mechanism (108, 118) for transporting the first and second alignment stages to the alignment position and substantially aligning the optical axes of the LD unit and one end of the optical fiber held by them. A support that has been transported to the alignment position by the second alignment stage and has been released from the grip of the second alignment stage on the LD unit that has been transported to the alignment position by the first alignment stage A pressure stage (120) for pressing one end of the optical fiber with the optical axis of the LD unit by the first and second aligning stages and then pressing the LD unit on the LD unit; An optical module assembling apparatus, comprising: immobilizing means (122) for fixing one ends of the optical fibers to each other via a support under pressure. 2. An LD tray buffer (1) capable of accommodating a plurality of LD trays (5) in which a plurality of LD units are aligned.
01), and means (102) for taking one LD tray from the LD tray buffer and carrying it to the LD transport position.
A first aligning stage (107) having a mechanism for receiving the LD unit and moving the LD unit in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis; and taking out the LD units one by one from the LD tray transported to the LD transport position. Means (103, 104) for delivering to the first aligning stage, means (108) for conveying the first aligning stage to the aligning position, and one end of the optical fiber loosely fitted in the through hole of the support. Fiber tray changer (111) capable of holding a plurality of fiber trays (6) for holding a jig (64) incorporating the other end of the optical fiber and a support for holding a plurality of optical fibers in an aligned state while holding the optical fiber in the state And a second aligning stage (11) having a mechanism for moving one end of the optical fiber and the jig and the support to move the optical fiber in the optical axis direction.
7), means (112, 113, 115) for delivering the fibers and supports taken out one by one from the fiber tray taken in from the fiber tray changer to the second aligning stage, and the first and second Means (118) for transporting the aligning stage to the aligning position so that one end of the optical fiber held by these aligns the optical axis of the LD unit and the LD unit held by the first aligning stage. Means for energizing terminals (1
05), an optical power meter head (119) that is optically connected to the other end of the optical fiber to measure the transmitted light output of the optical fiber, and is transported to the centering position by the first centering stage. The support released from the grip of the second alignment stage is pressed onto the LD unit after aligning the optical axis of one end of the optical fiber with the LD unit by the first and second alignment stages. Stage (1
20) and a laser head (122) for fixing one end of the optical fiber to the LD unit by laser welding through the support while the support is pressed against the LD unit by the pressing stage. Assembling device for optical module.