JPS5833524B2 - Compound optical fiber wire - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a multi-core optical fiber containing a plurality of optical fibers in one communication optical fiber.

One type of communication optical fiber is a so-called multi-core optical fiber, which is characterized by high density and multiple fibers.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a typical example of this multi-fiber optical fiber, in which a is a three-fiber optical fiber in a planar arrangement, b is a six-fiber optical fiber in a planar arrangement, C is a three-fiber optical fiber in a three-dimensional arrangement, and d is a three-fiber optical fiber in a three-dimensional arrangement. It is a 7-heart optical fiber.

Further, 1 is a core, and 2 is a cladding.

Similar to conventional single-core optical fibers, this multi-core optical fiber has a core in the center of the optical fiber through which signal light propagates, and a cladding layer is arranged concentrically around the core. , and the adjacent optical fiber has cladding 2
They are made into an integral structure by being fused together.

Compound optical fibers are extremely useful in realizing high-density, multi-core cables, and have the advantage that optical fibers can be connected relatively easily due to their shape.

Generally, in order to prevent surface scratches on optical fibers, a primary coating made of plastic such as silicone resin is applied in concentric circles to form optical fibers, but the conventional method used for single-core optical fibers is When a multi-core optical fiber is formed with a coating structure, the primary coating adheres to the grooves that are continuous in the axial direction.
Complete removal of the second coating is extremely difficult.

The present invention is characterized in that after applying a mold release agent to the surface of the multi-core optical fiber, a primary coating is applied or the multi-core optical fiber is housed in a thin-walled tube or a thin-walled tube with slits. The purpose is to easily and completely remove the coating when connecting multi-core optical fibers.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a structural example of a compound optical fiber according to the present invention, FIG. 2a shows a three-core optical fiber in a planar arrangement, and FIG. Show the line.

3 is a three-core optical fiber in a planar arrangement, 4 is a release agent, 5 is a primary coating, and 6 is a three-core optical fiber in a three-dimensional arrangement.

In the structure example shown in FIG.
A mold release agent 4 is applied to the surface of the mold release agent 4, and a primary coating 5 is applied around it.

In addition, in the structure example shown in FIG.
Next coating 5 is applied.

In order to interconnect multi-core optical fibers having such a structure, it is necessary to remove the primary coating to expose the glass surface. After making a cut in the circumferential direction and peeling off the primary coating 5, the mold release agent 4 may be wiped off with a solvent.

An example of the material for the mold release agent 4 is tetrachlorethylene, and an example of the material for the primary coating 5 is silicone resin.

It is clear that the wire structure shown in FIG. 2 can be applied not only to three-core optical fibers but also to multi-core optical fibers.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another structural example of a compound optical fiber according to the present invention, FIG. 3a shows a planar arrangement of three-core optical fiber, and FIG. A bare fiber wire is shown.

3 is a planar array three-core optical fiber, 6 is a three-dimensional array three-core optical fiber, and 7 is a thin-walled tube.

In the structure example shown in FIG. 3a or FIG.
The optical fiber 3 (or three-core optical fiber 6 in a three-dimensional arrangement) is housed in a thin-walled tube 7, and the three-core optical fiber 3 (or three-core optical fiber 6 in a three-dimensional arrangement) and the thin-walled tube 7 are connected to each other. It has a structure that does not fit completely.

When attempting to interconnect multi-core optical fibers having such a structure, it is necessary to expose the glass surface of the planar array three-core optical fiber 3 (or three-dimensional array three-core optical fiber 6). In this case, the thin-walled tube 7 may be peeled off by making a cut in the axial or circumferential direction of the thin-walled tube 7.

In this case, since the planar array three-core optical fiber 3 (or three-dimensional array three-core optical fiber 6) and the thin-walled tube 7 are not in complete contact, the planar array three-core optical fiber 3 (or three-dimensional array three-core optical fiber 6) 6) The thin-walled tube 7 can be easily removed without damaging the tube.

Note that as the material for the thin-walled tube 7, metals such as iron, copper, and aluminum, or plastics such as polyethylene, nylon, and polyvinyl chloride may be used.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another structural example of a compound optical fiber according to the present invention, FIG. 4a shows a three-core optical fiber in a planar arrangement, and FIG. An optical fiber wire is shown.

3 is a planar array three-core optical fiber, 6 is a three-dimensional array three-core optical fiber, 8 is a thin-walled glass tube, and 9 is a plastic coating.

When interconnecting multi-core optical fibers having such a structure, it is necessary to expose the glass surface of the planarly arranged three-core optical fiber 3 (or three-dimensionally arranged three-core optical fiber 6).
To do this, after removing the plastic coating 9 with a solvent or the like, a small scratch is made in one place on the thin-walled glass tube 8, the thin-walled glass tube 8 is cut by stress rupture, and the thin-walled glass tube 8 and the plastic coating 9 are removed. do it.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another structural example of a compound optical fiber according to the present invention, FIG. 5a shows a planar array three-core optical fiber, and FIG. A bare fiber wire is shown.

3 is a three-core optical fiber arranged in a plane, 6 is a three-core optical fiber arranged three-dimensionally, and 10 is a thin-walled tube with a slit.

In the structure example shown in FIG.
Alternatively, the three-fiber optical fiber 6) in a three-dimensional arrangement is housed in the thin-walled slit tube 10, and the three-fiber optical fiber 3 in a three-dimensional arrangement (or the three-fiber optical fiber 6 in three-dimensional arrangement) and the thin-walled slit tube 10 are completely connected to each other. The structure is such that it is not in close contact with the

When attempting to interconnect multi-core optical fibers having such a structure, it is necessary to expose the glass surface of the planar array three-core optical fiber 3 (or three-dimensional array three-core optical fiber 6). The slitted thin-walled tube 10 may be opened along the slit and cut at a desired location.

The material of the slitted thin-walled tube 10 may be iron, copper,
Metal such as aluminum or plastic such as polyethylene, nylon, or polyvinyl chloride may be used.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another structural example of a compound optical fiber according to the present invention, FIG. 6a shows a planar array three-core optical fiber, and FIG. A bare fiber wire is shown.

3 is a planar array three-core optical fiber, 6 is a three-dimensional array three-core optical fiber, and 11 is a primary coating.

In the structure example shown in FIG.
Alternatively, it has a structure in which a primary coating 11 made of plastic is applied around a three-dimensionally arranged three-core optical fiber 6), and is formed in the axial direction of the three-dimensionally arranged three-core optical fiber 3 (or three-dimensionally arranged three-core optical fiber 6). The primary coating 11 does not adhere to the uniform grooves, and the triangular grooves are filled with air or other gas.

With this structure, when trying to connect the planar array three-core optical fibers 3 (or three-dimensional array three-core optical fibers 6) to each other, the planar array three-core optical fibers 3 (or three-dimensional array three-core optical fibers 6) are connected to each other. It is possible to completely remove the primary coating 11 without it remaining in the groove of the fiber 6).

Note that the primary coating 11 may be made of plastic such as silicone resin, polyethylene, or nylon.

As explained above, the compound optical fiber wire of the present invention is
Since the surface of the multi-core optical fiber is coated with a mold release agent, or the multi-core optical fiber is housed in a thin-walled tube, a coating material is applied to the grooves that exist in the axial direction of the multi-core optical fiber. This has the advantage that the coating can be removed without any residue remaining.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a representative example of a multi-core optical fiber, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a structural example of a multi-core optical fiber according to the present invention, and FIG.
The figure is a perspective view of another structural example of the compound optical fiber strand according to the present invention, and FIGS. 4 to 6 are perspective views of other structural examples of the compound optical fiber strand according to the present invention. 1...Core, 2...Clad, 3...
... Planar array 3-core optical fiber 4... Release agent, 514.10. Primary coating, 6... Three-dimensional array 3-core optical fiber, 7... Thin wall tube, 8...
・Thin-walled glass tube, 9...Plastic coating, 1
0...Thin-walled tube with slits, 11...
Primary coating.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. It has a shape in which a plurality of optical fibers are closely bundled in parallel, and the mutual contact portions of the adjacent optical fibers are fused to a shaft to integrate the plurality of optical fibers. It has a double-core optical fiber with a uniform groove formed in the axial direction on its outer periphery, or a shape in which at least one dummy glass fiber and multiple optical fibers are closely bundled in parallel. and the contact portions of the adjacent fibers are fused along the axis to integrate the plurality of fibers,
A compound optical fiber wire is characterized in that a release agent is applied to the surface of a compound optical fiber having uniform grooves formed in the axial direction on its outer periphery, and a plastic coating is applied around the surface of the compound optical fiber. 2. It has a shape in which a plurality of optical fibers are closely bundled in parallel, and the contact portions of the adjacent optical fibers are fused along the axis to integrate the plurality of optical fibers, It has a compound optical fiber with a uniform groove formed in the axial direction on its outer periphery, or a shape in which at least one dummy glass fiber and multiple optical fibers are closely bundled in parallel, and the adjacent The contact parts of the fibers are fused along the axis to integrate the plurality of fibers, and the surface of the multi-core optical fiber has a groove formed uniformly in the axial direction on the outer periphery. A structure in which a compound optical fiber coated with a release agent and covered with plastic is housed in a thin metal tube, a thin plastic tube, or a thin glass tube, the thin metal tube, the thin plastic tube, or A compound optical fiber wire characterized in that the thin-walled glass tube and the compound optical fiber are not in complete contact with each other. 3. It has a shape in which a plurality of optical fibers are closely bundled in parallel, and the contact portions of the adjacent optical fibers are fused along the axis to integrate the plurality of optical fibers, It has a compound optical fiber with a uniform groove formed in the axial direction on its outer periphery, or a shape in which at least one dummy glass fiber and a plurality of optical fibers are closely bundled in parallel, The contact parts of the adjacent fibers are fused along the axis to integrate the plurality of fibers, and the outer circumference of the multi-core optical fiber has a uniform groove in the axial direction. A thin-walled metal tube or a thin-walled plastic tube having a structure in which a multi-core optical fiber whose surface is coated with a release agent and a plastic coating is applied around the fiber is housed in a thin-walled metal tube or a thin-walled plastic tube having a continuous slit in the axial direction. Alternatively, a multi-core optical fiber wire characterized in that the thin-walled plastic tube and the multi-core optical fiber are not in complete contact with each other.