JPH0677085B2 - Optical fiber array alignment method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Outline] A method of aligning an optical fiber array on a substrate having a plurality of V-grooves, the method comprising: The body material is coated, and a magnet is provided on the back surface of the substrate (the surface on the opposite side where the V groove is formed) to perform alignment or polarization plane adjustment.

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to a method for aligning an optical fiber array for parallel transmission of optical signals and for optical coupling with an optical component, and in particular, coating all or part of the outer circumference of an optical fiber element with a magnetic material to apply magnetic force. The present invention relates to a method of aligning an optical fiber array that is aligned.

In recent years, with the remarkable progress of optical fibers including polarization-maintaining fiber, it has been widely used for optical signal transmission, optical coupling with light emitting and receiving elements arranged in an array, or optical coupling with a planar optical waveguide. Came to be. In particular, when a polarization-maintaining fiber is used, the propagating polarization direction is preserved, which is essential for optical systems and optical components that use the polarization direction in a restricted manner.

[Conventional technology]

A conventional method of aligning an optical fiber array is to form a plurality of optical fiber wires on a substrate made of silicon or the like at a predetermined interval, and use a jig or the like for the optical fiber wires in the V grooves. Were aligned and adhered with an adhesive or the like.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a conventional method for aligning polarization plane preserving fibers. FIG. 4 (a) is a perspective view of a main part for adjusting the polarization plane,
(B) is a front view of a fixing procedure.

FIG. 4 (a) shows that a plurality of (two in the drawing) V-grooves 31 are formed in a substrate 3 made of silicon or the like, and the polarization-preserving fiber 5 is fitted into the V-grooves 31 and its anisotropic axis is taken. In the case where the polarization plane preserving fiber 5 is aligned in parallel with the surface of the substrate 3, adjustment is carried out for all the polarization plane preserving fibers 5 individually while observing the cross section of the polarization plane preserving fiber 5 with a microscope. As described above, the adhesive 8 is filled and bonded in the gap between the substrate 3 and the holding plate 7 while the polarization preserving fiber 5 is held by the holding plate 7 made of glass or the like.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

In the conventional alignment method of the optical fiber array described above, the efficiency of alignment work and adjustment work of the anisotropy axis of the polarization plane is poor in any case of the optical fiber element wire and the polarization-maintaining fiber.
Moreover, there is a problem in that the alignment accuracy is difficult and the reliability is poor.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention coats all or part of the outer circumference of an optical fiber with a magnetic material so that alignment and anisotropy axis can be easily adjusted by using attractive force of a magnet. An optical fiber array alignment method is provided.

That is, as shown in FIG. 1, all or part of the outer circumference of the optical fiber 1 or the optical fiber element wire 11 is coated with a ferromagnetic material 2, and a plurality of V grooves 31 for aligning the optical fiber element wire 11. The problem can be solved by providing the magnet 4 on the back surface of the substrate 3 on which is formed, and using the attractive force of the magnetic force to align and adjust the anisotropy axis.

[Action]

The alignment method of the optical fiber array is such that the entire outer circumference of the optical fiber strand or a part of the outer circumference of the polarization-maintaining fiber (parallel direction or orthogonal direction of anisotropy axis) is coated with a magnetic material to form a substrate. Since the magnets are arranged in the V groove and arranged on the back surface of the substrate, the alignment can be performed accurately.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 is a perspective view for explaining an embodiment of the present invention.
The same parts as those in the figure are designated by the same reference numerals.

In the figure, the coating of the end portion of the optical fiber 1 is peeled off by a predetermined length, and the exposed optical fiber element wire 11 is coated with a ferromagnetic material 2 made of iron, Kovar, etc. A plurality of (4 in the drawing) V-grooves 31 are formed on the substrate 3 made of V. In the state where the optical fiber strands 11 coated on the respective V-grooves 31 are arranged,
If the magnet 4 is placed on the back surface of the substrate 3 in which the groove 31 is formed, the optical fiber strand 11 is moved to the V of the substrate 3 by the attractive force due to the magnetic flux between the magnet 4 and the ferromagnetic material 2 of the optical fiber strand 11. Groove 31
Align accurately. In this aligned state, it may be fixed with an adhesive or the like.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for adjusting and aligning the anisotropy axis of a polarization-maintaining fiber. FIG. 2 (a) is a front view in which a part of the outer periphery is coated with a ferromagnetic material, and (b) is a V groove of the substrate. In the perspective view aligned in FIG. 1, the same parts as those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals.

FIG. 2 (a) shows a ferromagnetic material made of iron, Kovar, or the like on the outer periphery of the polarization-maintaining fiber 5 in the range of θ ₁ to θ ₂ with respect to the anisotropic axis (polarization plane) X of the polarization-maintaining fiber 5. Body material 2
Coating. Then, as shown in FIG. 2 (b), a plurality (two in the drawing) are formed on the substrate 3 made of silicon or the like.
In the state where the magnet 4 is placed on the back surface of the substrate 3 in which the V groove 31 is formed, by arranging the polarization preserving fibers 5 coated with the ferromagnetic material 2 on a part of the outer periphery in each V groove 31,
Ferromagnetic material 2 formed on the outer periphery of polarization-maintaining fiber 5
Then, the ferromagnetic material 2 is attracted downward by the attractive force of the magnetic flux between the magnet 4 and the anisotropic axes. In this aligned state, it may be fixed with an adhesive or the like.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing another embodiment for aligning and adjusting the anisotropy axis of the polarization-maintaining fiber, and the same parts as those in FIG. 2 are designated by the same reference numerals.

In the figure, the second part is shown on a part of the outer circumference of the polarization-maintaining fiber 5.
A polarization preserving fiber 5 coated with a ferromagnetic material 2 similar to that described in FIG. 3A is formed on a substrate 3 made of silicon or the like to form a plurality of V grooves 31 (one line in the drawing). The polarization maintaining fiber 5 is placed on 31. Then, when the rod-shaped magnet 6 is brought into close contact with the back surface of the substrate 3, a magnetic flux 9 is formed between the rod-shaped magnet 6 and the ferromagnetic material 2 attached to the outer periphery of the polarization-maintaining fiber 5, and its attractive force is generated. As a result, the polarization-maintaining fiber 5 rotates in the direction of arrow A, so that the polarization plane can be precisely adjusted by moving the rod-shaped magnet 6 in the directions of arrows B and C by a fine movement table or the like (not shown). Therefore, it is necessary to adjust the plurality of polarization-maintaining fibers 5 one by one by adhering them after the adjustment is completed.

Although the substrate 3 has been described as being made of silicon, the substrate 3 is not limited to silicon and may be made of metal such as stainless steel. Further, the positions θ ₁ and θ ₂ for coating the ferromagnetic material of the polarization maintaining fiber 5 may be provided at arbitrary angles with the anisotropic axis depending on the purpose.

〔The invention's effect〕

As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, the alignment of the optical fiber strands and the polarization plane adjustment of the polarization plane preserving fiber can be performed precisely and easily, the reliability is improved, and it is extremely effective in improving the work efficiency. .

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view for explaining an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a view for adjusting and aligning the anisotropy axis of a polarization-maintaining fiber. FIG. FIG. 3B is a front view showing a magnetic material coated with a V material, FIG. 3B is a perspective view aligned with the V groove of the substrate, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a view for explaining a conventional method of aligning polarization plane preserving fibers, and FIG. 4 (a) is a perspective view of a main part for adjusting the polarization plane.
(B) is a front view of a fixing procedure. In the figure, 1 is an optical fiber, 2 is a ferromagnetic material, 3 is a substrate, 4 is a magnet, 5 is a polarization-maintaining fiber, 6 is a rod-shaped magnet, 7 is a holding plate, 8 is an adhesive, 9 is a magnetic flux, Reference numeral 11 indicates an optical fiber wire, and 31 indicates a V groove.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Masami Goto, 1015 Kamiodanaka, Nakahara-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture, Fujitsu Limited (72) Inventor, Yoichi Oikawa, 1015, Kamikodanaka, Nakahara-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture, Fujitsu Limited ( 72) Inventor Tetsuo Horimatsu 1015 Kamiodanaka, Nakahara-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture, Fujitsu Limited (72) Inventor Chiaki Osawa, 1015, Kamikodanaka, Nakahara-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture, Fujitsu Limited

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An optical fiber (1) coated with a ferromagnetic material (2) is arranged in a V groove (31), and a magnet (4) is formed from the back surface of a substrate (3) in which the V groove (31) is formed. The optical fiber array is aligned by attracting the ferromagnetic material (2) to align the optical fibers (1). 2. The optical fiber is a polarization maintaining fiber (5). Claim (1).
A method for aligning an optical fiber array according to item. 3. The polarization-preserving fiber (5), wherein the magnet is a rod-shaped magnet (6), and the rod-shaped magnet (6) is moved.
The method for aligning an optical fiber array according to claim (2), characterized in that the polarization planes are aligned.