Arrayed optical fiber connector

Details Arrayed optical fiber connector Arrayed optical fiber connector

1999-02-26

2001-12-11

Healy, Brian (Department: 2874)

Optical waveguides

With disengagable mechanical connector

Optical fiber/optical fiber cable termination structure

C385S082000, C385S052000, C385S063000, C385S065000, C385S115000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06328481

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a arrayed optical fiber connector that is used to fix multiple optical fibers in alignment and to optically connect with an optical waveguide element with multiple input/output ports.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Along with the practical application of optical communication system in recent years, the system with large capacity, multiple functions and high speed has been required. For example, to generate optical signal with higher speed, to demultiplex/multiplex optical wavelengths in a same optical transmission line, and to add a new function such as switching/exchanging of optical transmission line are required.
Of them, especially optical waveguide elements, such as AWG (arrayed waveguide grating) that enables the demultiplexing/multiplexing of optical wavelengths, and a matrix switch that enables the switching of optical transmission line, have been actively developed. The input/output part of these optical waveguide elements are structured such that multiple optical waveguides are arranged at equal intervals, and, to facilitate the optical connection with optical transmission line such as an optical fiber, it employs a arrayed optical fiber connector.
FIG. 1
is a perspective view showing a conventional arrayed optical fiber connector. The arrayed optical fiber connector
10
is structured such that multiple (four, in this example) optical fibers
11
a
,
11
b
,
11
c
and
11
d
, each of which having a core
1
and a clad
2
, are disposed in an alignment assembly
12
.
The alignment assembly
12
is composed of a nearly rectangular-solid-shaped board
13
and a fixing plate
14
that has the same form as the board
13
except having a thickness less than the board
13
.
The board
13
is provided with a rectangular-cross-sectional groove
13
a
that contains the optical fibers in alignment at its bottom. The groove
13
a
has a length that extends through between two sides orthogonal to its bottom, a depth that is nearly equal to the diameter of the optical fibers
11
a
to
11
d
, and a width that is equal to the sum of the diameters of the optical fibers
11
a
to
11
d.
The method of assembling the arrayed optical fiber connector
10
thus composed is explained. First, the tips of the four optical fibers
11
a
to
11
d
are, side by side, inserted into the groove
13
a
provided on the board
13
, and adhesive
15
is filled into the clearance between the groove
13
a
and the optical fibers
11
a
to
11
d
. Then, the fixing plate
14
is disposed on the surface where the groove
13
a
is formed of the board
13
, brought in contact with the optical fibers
11
a
to
11
d.
Then, by heating the board
13
to harden adhesive
15
while pressing the fixing plate
14
, the board
13
, the optical fibers
11
a
to
11
d
and the fixing plate
14
are integrally fixed, thereby obtaining the arrayed optical fiber connector
10
.
The basic performance required to the arrayed optical fiber connector
10
is that the optical fibers
11
a
to
11
d
do not incur the positional deviation when the end face of the arrayed optical fiber connector
10
is polished and after it is connected with an optical waveguide element. If the optical fibers
11
a
to
11
d
incur the positional deviation, there occurs a deterioration in performance such as an increase in connection loss with optical wavelength element that causes a reduction in reliability of optical wavelength element.
However, in the conventional arrayed optical fiber connector
10
, there is a problem that it is difficult to prevent the optical fibers
11
a
to
11
d
from incurring the positional deviation when the end face of the arrayed optical fiber connector
10
is polished and after it is connected with an optical waveguide element.
FIG. 2
is a plan view illustrating the problem of the conventional arrayed optical fiber connector.
As shown, due to the low precision in processing the groove
13
a
, the board
13
used for the arrayed optical fiber connector
10
has been manufactured such that the bottom of the groove
13
a
is declined comparing with the upper surface of the board
13
. In this case, even when, like the above method, the optical fibers
11
a
to
11
d
and the fixing plate
14
are integrally fixed while using the board
13
thus manufactured, the fixing plate
14
does not contact all the optical fibers
11
a
to
11
d
since the bottom of the groove
13
a
is declined. As a result, clearances da, db, dc and dd must occur between the fixing plate
14
and the optical fibers
11
a
to
11
d.
Thus, the fixing force between the fixing plate
14
and the optical fibers
11
a
to
11
d
is reduced, and the optical fibers
11
a
to
11
d
each are likely to incur the positional deviation according to the clearances da, db, dc and dd when the end face of the arrayed optical fiber connector
10
is polished and after it is connected with an optical waveguide element. Because of this, it is difficult to perfectly prevent the positional deviation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a arrayed optical fiber connector that the positional deviation of optical fiber can be easily prevented.
According to the invention, a arrayed optical fiber connector for positioning multiple optical fibers to align the end faces of the optical fibers to multiple optical axes at a given input/output face of light, comprises:
a board that includes a groove in which the multiple optical fibers are disposed in a given alignment state;
a fixing member that is received in the groove and is laid with the multiple optical fibers in a given alignment state; and
a fixing plate that is fixed on the surface, in which the groove is formed, of the board and fixes the multiple optical fibers and the fixing members inside the groove while keeping the given alignment states of the multiple optical fibers and the fixing members.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4109994 (1978-08-01), Chown
patent: 4132461 (1979-01-01), Jacques et al.
patent: 4208094 (1980-06-01), Tomlinson, III et al.
patent: 4490007 (1984-12-01), Murata
patent: 4735479 (1988-04-01), Nicholls
patent: 5566262 (1996-10-01), Yamane et al.
patent: 5812726 (1998-09-01), Jinnai et al.
patent: 5901262 (1999-05-01), Kobayashi et al.
patent: 6027253 (2000-02-01), Ota et al.

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