JPS5925203B2 - How to connect optical transmission lines - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a connection method for adhesively fixing a plurality of optical transmission lines to the connection portions using an ultraviolet light curing adhesive.

Optical transmission lines used for optical communications include, for example, well-known thin optical fibers.

In order to connect these optical fibers to each other or to a main part of a device, there is a method of adhesively fixing and maintaining the optical fibers using an adhesive. In conventional adhesive bonding methods, the curing of the adhesive was dependent on time and temperature. Therefore, with short curing times, it is difficult to achieve the desired state when it is necessary to set the connection part in the optimum state. Long ones are less workable. The present invention aims to solve such problems, and provides a connection method that can be adhesively fixed at a desired time.The feature of the present invention is that both ends of an optical transmission line, including the connecting portion to be connected, are connected. A light source section and a light receiving section are disposed in the connecting section, and an optically transparent ultraviolet light curing adhesive is interposed in the connecting section, and the optical signal from the light source section is detected in the light receiving section and the connecting section is connected to the optical transmission path. The purpose of the present invention is to set the optically proper and desired connection state, use the light source section as an ultraviolet light source, transmit ultraviolet light to the optical transmission line, and cure the adhesive of the connection section with the ultraviolet light.

In this way, the connection portion of the optical transmission line is fixedly maintained in an optimal optical connection state. The connection of optical transmission lines according to the method of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawing is a schematic configuration diagram for connecting optical transmission lines according to the method of the present invention. An optically transparent adhesive (UV adhesive) 4 that hardens upon receiving ultraviolet light is interposed between the opposing optical fibers 1 and 2. be.

The other end of the optical fiber 1 is connected to a light source 5 that generates light with a predetermined wavelength from the wavelength range of 0.7 to 1.6 μm used for optical communication, for example, and ultraviolet light with a wavelength of 0.3 μm, for example. The other end of the other optical fiber 2 is connected to a received light intensity detector 8. The switching device 7 is configured to optically couple the light source 5 and the optical fiber 1, and the light source 5 emits an optical signal light of a predetermined wavelength, which is incident on the detector 8 through the optical fiber 1, the UV adhesive 4, and the optical fiber 2.

Then, connect the optical fibers 1 and 2 on the table 3 in such a way that the optical coupling state of the optical fibers 1 and 2 is optimal, that is, the indicated intensity of the detector 8 is maximum, and the transmitted light is appropriately attenuated at the joint. In such a case, the optical fibers 1 and 2 are fixed on the table 3 by a means not shown in the drawings, with appropriate fine adjustment to suit the situation, and in this state, the switching device 7 is switched to the ultraviolet light source 6. The ultraviolet light from the light source 6 passes through the optical fiber 1 and cures the UV adhesive 4 at the bonding portion, thereby adhesively fixing the connection portion. Therefore, the relationship between the connection part and the base 3 can be further firmly fixed using another adhesive, and in this case, the connection relationship of the optical fiber can be maintained in a proper state without any abnormality. In cases such as the above, instead of curing the UV adhesive all at once, it is possible to first bring it to a semi-cured state using ultraviolet light, then switch to communication light, check and adjust the optimum conditions, and then cure with ultraviolet light again. You can also connect by repeating this process.

In addition, the same effect can be achieved by appropriately increasing or decreasing the intensity of the ultraviolet light. In addition to the illustrated embodiment, the method of the present invention uses transparent glass, quartz, acrylic resin, etc. for the base 3, and irradiates ultraviolet rays directly from the outside of the connecting portion with an ultraviolet lamp (not shown) to bring the external and nearby connecting portions into proper condition. UV adhesives can also be cured.

In this case, the ultraviolet light can be transmitted through the transparent base or directly irradiated, and the communication signal transmission light can be passed through the optical fiber to set it in an appropriate state. As described above, the method of the present invention places a UV adhesive on the optical connection part of an optical transmission line such as an optical fiber, and irradiates ultraviolet light or connects it by irradiating ultraviolet light while ensuring the optical connection state of the connection part is appropriate. The connection part of the optical transmission line is fixed by checking the condition and curing the adhesive in that condition, which is extremely effective for proper connection.

The method of the present invention connects a pair of opposing ends of optical fibers made of glass material, plastic optical transmission lines, and other optical transmission lines, and branches and connects T-shaped and other optical transmission lines.
It goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to any optical transmission line that constitutes a directional coupling or even a parallel coupling.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The figure shows a schematic configuration diagram for connecting a pair of optical fibers according to the method of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is one optical fiber, 2 is the other optical fiber, 3
4 is a UV adhesive, 5 is a communication signal light source, 6 is an ultraviolet light source, 7 is a switching device, and 8 is a received light intensity detector.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A light source section and a light receiving section are arranged at both ends of the optical transmission line including the connection section to be connected, and an optically transparent ultraviolet light curing adhesive is interposed in the connection section, and the optical transmission line is connected to the light source. The light receiving section detects the optical signal from the connecting section, sets the connecting section to an optically proper and desired connection state, and transmits ultraviolet light to the optical transmission line using the light source section as an ultraviolet light source. A method for connecting optical transmission lines characterized by curing an adhesive.