EP1116061A1 - Piece enfichable pour connexion optique enfichable et procede de fabrication d'une telle piece - Google Patents

Piece enfichable pour connexion optique enfichable et procede de fabrication d'une telle piece

Info

Publication number
EP1116061A1
EP1116061A1 EP99948805A EP99948805A EP1116061A1 EP 1116061 A1 EP1116061 A1 EP 1116061A1 EP 99948805 A EP99948805 A EP 99948805A EP 99948805 A EP99948805 A EP 99948805A EP 1116061 A1 EP1116061 A1 EP 1116061A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
plug part
plug
optical component
adjustment
optical
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP99948805A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Hans Kragl
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Harting Elecktro Optische Bauteile GmbH and Co KG
Original Assignee
Harting Elecktro Optische Bauteile GmbH and Co KG
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from DE1998143164 external-priority patent/DE19843164C2/de
Application filed by Harting Elecktro Optische Bauteile GmbH and Co KG filed Critical Harting Elecktro Optische Bauteile GmbH and Co KG
Publication of EP1116061A1 publication Critical patent/EP1116061A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/02—Optical fibres with cladding with or without a coating
    • G02B6/02033—Core or cladding made from organic material, e.g. polymeric material
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29D—PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE
    • B29D11/00—Producing optical elements, e.g. lenses or prisms
    • B29D11/00663—Production of light guides
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/26—Optical coupling means
    • G02B6/28—Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals
    • G02B6/2804—Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals forming multipart couplers without wavelength selective elements, e.g. "T" couplers, star couplers
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/26—Optical coupling means
    • G02B6/28—Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals
    • G02B6/2804—Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals forming multipart couplers without wavelength selective elements, e.g. "T" couplers, star couplers
    • G02B6/2808—Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals forming multipart couplers without wavelength selective elements, e.g. "T" couplers, star couplers using a mixing element which evenly distributes an input signal over a number of outputs
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/26—Optical coupling means
    • G02B6/28—Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals
    • G02B6/2804—Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals forming multipart couplers without wavelength selective elements, e.g. "T" couplers, star couplers
    • G02B6/2852—Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals forming multipart couplers without wavelength selective elements, e.g. "T" couplers, star couplers using tapping light guides arranged sidewardly, e.g. in a non-parallel relationship with respect to the bus light guides (light extraction or launching through cladding, with or without surface discontinuities, bent structures)
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/26—Optical coupling means
    • G02B6/30—Optical coupling means for use between fibre and thin-film device
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/26—Optical coupling means
    • G02B6/30—Optical coupling means for use between fibre and thin-film device
    • G02B6/305—Optical coupling means for use between fibre and thin-film device and having an integrated mode-size expanding section, e.g. tapered waveguide
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
    • G02B6/38—Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
    • G02B6/3807—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
    • G02B6/3833—Details of mounting fibres in ferrules; Assembly methods; Manufacture
    • G02B6/3865—Details of mounting fibres in ferrules; Assembly methods; Manufacture fabricated by using moulding techniques
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
    • G02B6/38—Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
    • G02B6/3807—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
    • G02B6/3873—Connectors using guide surfaces for aligning ferrule ends, e.g. tubes, sleeves, V-grooves, rods, pins, balls
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
    • G02B6/38—Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
    • G02B6/3807—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
    • G02B6/3873—Connectors using guide surfaces for aligning ferrule ends, e.g. tubes, sleeves, V-grooves, rods, pins, balls
    • G02B6/3885—Multicore or multichannel optical connectors, i.e. one single ferrule containing more than one fibre, e.g. ribbon type
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
    • G02B6/38—Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
    • G02B6/3807—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
    • G02B6/3873—Connectors using guide surfaces for aligning ferrule ends, e.g. tubes, sleeves, V-grooves, rods, pins, balls
    • G02B6/3886—Magnetic means to align ferrule ends
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F9/00—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements
    • G09F9/30—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements in which the desired character or characters are formed by combining individual elements
    • G09F9/302—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements in which the desired character or characters are formed by combining individual elements characterised by the form or geometrical disposition of the individual elements
    • G09F9/3023—Segmented electronic displays
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/241—Light guide terminations
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
    • G02B6/38—Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
    • G02B6/3807—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
    • G02B6/381—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs of the ferrule type, e.g. fibre ends embedded in ferrules, connecting a pair of fibres
    • G02B6/3818—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs of the ferrule type, e.g. fibre ends embedded in ferrules, connecting a pair of fibres of a low-reflection-loss type
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
    • G02B6/38—Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
    • G02B6/3807—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
    • G02B6/3833—Details of mounting fibres in ferrules; Assembly methods; Manufacture
    • G02B6/3834—Means for centering or aligning the light guide within the ferrule
    • G02B6/3838—Means for centering or aligning the light guide within the ferrule using grooves for light guides
    • G02B6/3839—Means for centering or aligning the light guide within the ferrule using grooves for light guides for a plurality of light guides

Definitions

  • Plug part for an optical plug connection and method for its production
  • the invention relates to a plug part for coupling at least one first optical component accommodated in the plug part to a second optical component and to a method for producing such a plug part.
  • the plug part serves to connect optical components, for example optical fibers, to another optical component, for example a waveguide or a further optical fiber.
  • optical components for example optical fibers
  • another optical component for example a waveguide or a further optical fiber.
  • electrical connectors a high degree of precision with regard to the positioning and the angular orientation of the components to be coupled relative to one another is required for connector parts which connect optical components to one another if the
  • one of the optical components to be coupled is an optical fiber
  • the condition of the end face of the optical fiber ending in the plug part is a critical size. If this surface is too rough, additional scattering results in it even with otherwise perfect alignment in terms of position and angle, which Increase coupling attenuation from the optical fiber to the other optical component.
  • Ferules of the plug part and the complementary socket part are adjusted to each other via a very precise guide mechanism.
  • a plug part is very complex to manufacture, and the plug connection to be formed is also very complex.
  • the so-called MT connector is a more affordable plug-in connection for optical fiber arrays. It consists of a plastic carrier, in the body of which precise holes for receiving the optical fibers are incorporated. The optical fibers are inserted into these holes, glued there and then polished on the front. The connector part is guided to a complementary socket part by means of two guide pins on the side.
  • the manufacturing costs of this plug-in connection are also comparatively high, since the plastic body carrying the optical fibers is very expensive.
  • the connector itself can be achieved relatively easily. Regardless of this, it is also necessary with this type of plug connection to polish the end faces of the optical fibers.
  • plug connections which use anisotropically etched silicon carriers as guide elements and pressure springs produced by silicon surface mechanics for fiber fixing.
  • Such approaches are hardly manageable outside of laboratory conditions.
  • the connection is usually not released, it is more of a problem
  • a centering arrangement for positioning microstructured bodies is known from DE 196 44 758 AI.
  • the body is provided with guide flanks which can engage in a corresponding recess in a counterpart. In this way, the precise alignment of one body with respect to the counterpart is ensured.
  • the described arrangement does not solve the problem of how the optical components, for example optical fibers, accommodated in the body provided with the guide flanks can be positioned precisely.
  • the object of the present invention is to provide a plug part for forming a plug connection, which is both inexpensive to manufacture and also enables precise coupling of optical components to one another.
  • a connector part of the type mentioned that it consists of a casting material in which the optical component is embedded so that it lies at least partially on an outer surface of the connector part, and microstructured designs for lateral positioning and axial adjustment of the
  • Plug part are formed, the configurations for lateral positioning being arranged in areas of the plug part that are not used for embedding the first optical component.
  • This plug part is therefore based on the basic idea, the material from which the plug part is made, both for holding the optical part
  • optical component as well as to achieve positioning and adjustment designs. This enables the optical component to be poured into the plug part and the desired positioning and adjustment designs to be molded in a single step. The fact that the optical component at least partially on one
  • the outer surface of the plug part is the result of the optical component being cast into the plug part. At the points where it is held by a corresponding mold part during the pouring process, the optical component is freely accessible after the casting material has hardened. Furthermore, it is provided that the designs for the lateral positioning of the plug part are arranged in areas that are not used for embedding the first optical component. The positioning configurations are thus arranged in regions of the plug part that are distant from the light exit surface of the optical component. This enables easier cleaning of the positioning designs and the complementary designs on the receiving part serving to receive the plug part. This is because the second optical component to be coupled to this component is located in the vicinity of the light exit surface of the optical component arranged in the plug part
  • Soiling can arise, for example adhesives, if it is an optical fiber glued into the receiving part.
  • the casting material is optically transparent and at least partially covers the light exit area of the first optical component. This is particularly advantageous if the first optical component is an optical fiber, since the casting material fills any unevenness in the end face of the optical fiber, so that otherwise scattering can be avoided there.
  • the cast material has a refractive index which is matched to the refractive index of the core of the optical fiber.
  • the end face of the optical fiber extends obliquely to the longitudinal axis of the optical fiber.
  • An optical fiber designed in this way can also be poured into the plug part in a simple manner.
  • the obliquely arranged end face means that light reflected at the exit point is not directed back into the optical fiber, but rather is emitted obliquely.
  • thermoplastic deformation of the polymer optical fiber can damage the low-index sheath material of the optical fiber. It is therefore preferably provided that the cast material has a refractive index which is less than or equal to the refractive index of the cladding of the optical fiber. In this way, the casting material of the connector part acts as a replacement material at the damaged areas of the jacket of the polymer optical fiber.
  • the connector part for lateral positioning is provided with at least two positioning surfaces running parallel to the direction of light emission from the first component.
  • Such surfaces can be molded particularly easily when casting the plug part and serve to reliably position the plug part.
  • the positioning surfaces can be formed, for example, by the outer edges of the plug-in part. These can be particularly precise Can be obtained by molding a microstructured tool in one step with the casting of the plug-in part without the need for finishing steps.
  • the positioning surfaces can also run in the manner of insertion bevels at an angle to the direction in which the plug part is inserted when coupling with the second optical component. This facilitates the insertion of the plug part, which is a great advantage due to the very small dimensions of the plug part.
  • a complementary receiving part can additionally be provided, which is provided with two obliquely arranged contact surfaces against which the positioning surfaces of the plug part rest.
  • the lateral positioning of the plug part takes place in cooperation with the obliquely arranged contact surfaces virtually automatically upon insertion, without additional positioning measures being necessary, since the contact surfaces together with the positioning surfaces act as insertion bevels.
  • the receiving part is provided with two guide pins according to the MT standard, so that the first optical component is connected to an MT via the receiving part -Socket can be connected.
  • the receiving part thus acts like an adapter.
  • the plug part is used to connect several optical components and accordingly has larger dimensions, it may be advantageous that the plug part with at least one
  • Support surface is provided and that in addition a receiving part is provided, on which the support surface rests.
  • the support surface then serves as a mechanical stop, which prevents excessive deflection of the plug part, which would lead to a deteriorated coupling of the two optical components.
  • the receiving part is provided with at least one support projection on which the support surface rests.
  • This Design preferably provides support between adjacent optical components, for example between the individual optical fibers of a fiber array.
  • Direction of the light exit from the first optical component is arranged behind the area of the light exit and abuts the receiving part. With this design, no additional support projections on the receiving part are required; the support surface can rest on the area of the receiving part on which the second optical component to be connected is also arranged.
  • the plug part for axial adjustment is provided with at least one adjustment surface which extends transversely to the direction of the light exit from the first component.
  • This adjustment surface is molded separately from the positioning designs provided for the lateral positioning of the plug part.
  • the adjustment surfaces can either be formed by precisely structured outer edges of the plug part or by the surfaces of additional adjustment designs.
  • the adjustment surface is preferably formed on an adjustment web, and in addition a receiving part is provided which is provided with an adjustment groove for receiving the adjustment web. The adjustment surfaces are then located across the direction of the
  • the adjustment web ends flush with an outside of the plug part and has a rectangular cross section.
  • the adjustment web can then, together with the outer surface, which also forms the end face for an optical fiber accommodated in the plug part, be obtained very precisely and precisely by molding the corresponding wall of the tool.
  • the adjustment web is arranged approximately in the middle of the plug part and has a triangular cross section.
  • This design supports the insertion of the adjustment design into the adjustment groove in the manner of the insertion bevels known from the positioning designs.
  • the receiving part has two adjustment grooves which are complementary to the adjustment web, so that a further plug part can be inserted which is provided with the second optical component. If both the first and the second optical component are optical fibers, a connection of two optical fibers that is very easy to form is created in this way.
  • At least one permanent magnet is embedded in the casting material. If, in addition, a receiving part is provided that is at least partially ferromagnetic, the plug part is attracted to the receiving part by the permanent magnet. This enables a permanent and vibration-proof attachment of the connector part to the
  • a second connector which is also provided with a permanent magnet
  • the two connector parts are pulled towards one another if the magnets are appropriately polarized. In this way, the two light exit surfaces of the optical components to be coupled are held in a fixedly defined position relative to one another without the need for tensioning devices which hold the two connector parts against one another in contact.
  • FIG. 1 shows a cross section along the plane I-I of Figure 3 through an inventive connector part with associated receiving part before the two parts are connected to each other;
  • FIG. 2 shows the plug part and the receiving part of Figure 1 in the interconnected state
  • FIG. 3 shows a side view of the plug part and the receiving part from FIG. 2;
  • FIG. 4 shows a variant of the plug part of Figures 1 to 3 with associated receiving part in a view corresponding to Figure 2;
  • FIG. 5 is a side view of two connector parts according to a further embodiment with an associated receiving part in the assembled state;
  • FIG. 7 is a side view of a variant of the connector parts shown in Figure 5 with associated receiving part;
  • FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view of a further development of the connector parts shown in Figure 7 with associated receiving part;
  • Figure 9 is a side view of the connector parts and the receiving part of Figure 8.
  • FIG. 10 shows a cross section along the plane X-X of Figure 11 by an inventive connector part with associated receiving part according to another embodiment of the invention
  • FIG. 11 shows a top view of the plug part and the receiving part from FIG. 10;
  • FIG. 12 is a top view of a socket part complementary to the receiving part of FIG. 11;
  • FIG. 15 shows a schematic side view of a plug part according to the invention with an associated receiving part according to a further embodiment
  • FIG. 16 shows a combination of the plug part shown in FIG. 15 with the receiving part and the socket part according to the embodiment of FIGS. 10 to 12;
  • FIG. 17 shows a schematic representation of the scattering losses which occur when the end face is rough
  • FIG. 18 shows, in a schematic illustration, reduced control losses, as can be achieved with a plug part according to the present invention
  • FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a molded part that can be used to manufacture a connector according to the invention.
  • Plug part 10 shown with associated receiving part 50.
  • the plug part 10 serves to connect first optical components 12, which are accommodated in the plug part 10, to second optical components 52, which are arranged on the receptacle part 50.
  • the invention is described below for optical fibers which form the first optical components 12.
  • Either waveguides or also optical fibers are described as second optical components 52.
  • basically other optical components can be connected by means of the described connector, for example laser diodes or similar components, in which a very precise alignment of a light exit surface relative to another optical component is important in order to achieve a low coupling loss.
  • the plug part 10 consists of a casting material in which the optical fibers 12 are embedded.
  • the outer surface of the optical fibers, apart from the end face of the optical fibers, is accessible from the outer surface of the plug part along two line-shaped areas which extend parallel to the longitudinal axis of the corresponding optical fiber. This results from the fact that the optical fibers are poured into the plug part in the same operation in which the plug part itself is manufactured.
  • designs for lateral positioning of the connector part 10 are also molded, which here as
  • Positioning surfaces 14 are configured. The positioning surfaces are arranged obliquely to the direction represented by the arrow P, in which the plug part 10 is connected to the receiving part 50. The method for producing the plug part will be discussed later with reference to FIGS. 19 and 20.
  • the plug part is provided with an adjustment web 16 which extends transversely to the direction of light emission from the end faces of the optical fibers 12.
  • the adjustment web 16 has a rectangular cross section and has an adjustment surface 18 or 20 on its sides aligned in the axial direction.
  • the receiving part 50 can be made of almost any material. In the embodiment shown here, it consists of an optically transparent material and contains a second optical one
  • Component a waveguide 52, which is formed from a suitable material, which is arranged in a trench of the receiving part 50.
  • the receiving part 50 is provided with two contact surfaces 54, which are designed here as the outer surfaces of projections 56, and with an adjustment groove 57 (see FIG. 3).
  • Both the plug part 10 and the receiving part 50 can be produced by molding tools that were obtained by means of the galvanic copying technique. Such molding is known from the field of integrated optical components. When molding the tools, for example, the positioning surfaces 14, the adjustment surfaces 18, 20, the contact surfaces 54 and the adjustment groove 57 can be produced as micro-structured designs with the desired precision.
  • the receiving part 50 which in this embodiment is an integrated optical waveguide substrate, can also be achieved by molding from a suitable tool. In this step, in particular the contact surface 54 and the adjustment groove 57 are molded as microstructured designs.
  • several trenches are molded, which are then filled in a further processing step with a material with suitable optical properties. After this material has hardened, the waveguides 52 are formed in the trenches.
  • the optical waveguides 12 are coupled to the waveguides 52 in that the plug part 10 is placed on the receiving part in the direction indicated by the arrow P, that is to say perpendicular to the direction of the light exit from the end faces of the optical fibers 12.
  • the plug part 10 inserted into the receiving part 50 is held in the position shown by a suitable (not shown) clamping means.
  • An important aspect of the plug part according to the invention is that the positioning of the plug part 10 relative to the receiving part 50 takes place in areas that lie laterally outside the areas where the coupling between the optical fibers 12 and the waveguides 52 takes place.
  • the area of the waveguides 52 there is an increased risk of contamination, for example due to material residues, due to the production of the waveguides on the receiving part 50.
  • these areas are very difficult to clean due to the sensitivity of the waveguide 52. It is therefore advantageous if the plug part 10 and the receiving part 50 touch each other at the end faces in the area of the coupling points between the first and second optical components, but do not sit on one another. This is ensured by the free space between the projections 56 of the receiving part 50. Possibly in this
  • Contamination present in the area then has no effect on the precise arrangement of the first and the second optical components relative to one another.
  • the side of the plug part 10 facing the waveguides 52 is provided with a support surface 22 which rests on the upper side of the receiving part 50. Deflection of the plug part 10 is thus prevented.
  • FIG. 1 A development of the receiving part 50 is shown in FIG.
  • two support projections 58 are provided, which rest on support surfaces 22 of the plug part 10 between the material projections with a triangular cross section, in the area of which the optical fibers 12 are embedded. In the area around the embedded
  • Optical fibers 12 around this embodiment also provide that the corresponding areas of the plug part 10 are freely arranged in corresponding recesses in the receiving part 50; there is contact only on the end faces and not in the material areas in which the optical fibers are embedded.
  • FIGS. 5 and 6 show a further embodiment of the invention which is used to couple optical fibers to one another.
  • two mutually identical plug parts 10, 10 ' are used, in each of which three optical fibers 12 and 52 are embedded.
  • the receiving part 50 is designed here as a guide rail with the projections 56, the contact surfaces 54 of which serve for the lateral positioning of the plug parts 10.
  • the precise microstructured outer edges of the plug parts 10, 10 ' serve as adjustment surfaces 18, 20.
  • the plug parts are inserted into the receiving part 50.
  • the positioning and adjustment surfaces ensure that precise alignment of the two connector parts to each other so that the end faces of the optical fibers are optimally opposite each other.
  • the connector parts 10, 10 ' are held on the receiving part 50 by a suitable (not shown) clamping device. If the plug part 10 'is firmly connected to the receptacle 50, for example glued, there is a type of socket into which the first plug part 10 can be inserted. Then only two parts have to be connected to each other in the concrete application and no longer three parts.
  • FIG. 7 shows a variant of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.
  • adjustment webs 16 with a triangular cross section are used here, which engage in complementary adjustment grooves in the receiving part 50.
  • the sides of the adjustment webs form additional adjustment surfaces 18, 20 which are the
  • FIGS. 8 and 9 show a further development of the embodiment in FIGS. 5 and 6.
  • Small permanent magnets 70 are embedded in the casting material of the plug parts 10, 10 '.
  • the polarization is selected so that the permanent magnets 70 of the connector parts 10, 10 'attract them to one another. Due to the polarization, any parts are always attracted to each other; there is no differentiation between plug and socket.
  • the receiving part 50 is made of a ferromagnetic material, for example nickel.
  • the permanent magnets 70 arranged on the underside of the plug parts 10, 10 ′ therefore also attract the plug parts to the receiving part 50.
  • a detachable, but extremely vibration-proof connection between the optical fibers 12, 52 of the two plug parts 10, 10 ' is thus achieved without a further tensioning device.
  • FIGS. 10 to 12 show how an MT connector can be achieved by means of the connector 10 known from the previous figures.
  • An MT plug is characterized by two guide pins 80 which can be inserted into complementary bores 82 of an MT socket 84.
  • the guide pins 80 together with the bore 82 then serve for the precise alignment of the optical components to be coupled together.
  • the guide pins are attached to the side of the receiving part 50 so that it acts as an adapter.
  • the plug part 10 is inserted into the receiving part 50 and fixed there.
  • the receiving part 50 can then be attached to the MT socket together with the plug part 10 attached to it.
  • the optical fibers 52 accommodated in the MT socket are then coupled to the optical fibers 12 embedded in the plug part 10.
  • FIG. 13 shows a variant of the receiving part 50 to achieve an MT connector.
  • the positioning surfaces 14 of the plug part 10 are not arranged on the inside, as in the previous embodiment, but on the outside. This embodiment results in a somewhat more compact design.
  • FIG. 1 A further variant of the receiving part 50 is shown in FIG.
  • the outer edges of the plug part 10 are formed directly as positioning surfaces 14. These lie on the walls designed as adjustment surfaces 54 of a trough-shaped
  • FIG. 15 shows a plug part 10 inserted into the receptacle 50, which is provided with an optical fiber 12, the end face of which is cut off obliquely to the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber.
  • Example laser diodes with high linearity for the transmission of broadband analog signals The requirements for freedom of reflection are very high, especially in single mode transmission.
  • the manufacture of such a connector part is carried out in a manner similar to the manufacture of the connector parts described above.
  • the suitably cut optical fiber is placed in a tool, taking into account the orientation of the sloping face.
  • the inclined end face lies against the likewise inclined wall of the tool due to a correct axial arrangement of the optical fiber.
  • the casting material is applied, in which the optical fiber is embedded.
  • the casting material is cured so that the plug part 10 is formed.
  • the waveguide 52 in the receiving part 50 must also be formed obliquely in order to achieve a good coupling. This can be done by means of suitable methods which are generally known from microstructure technology, for example by using a microstructured StripOff lid.
  • Optical fibers can also be coupled to one another with similar connector parts. It only has to be taken into account that the end faces of the optical fibers of the one connector part have to be aligned opposite to the oblique ones
  • a micro-structured StripOff lid can be put on, which positions the fibers appropriately.
  • an MT connector can also be achieved with the connector parts according to the invention in which the optical fibers have oblique end faces.
  • a plug part 10, as is known from FIG. 15, is inserted into the receiving part 50, which acts here as an adapter.
  • the MT bushing 84 is, apart from the holes 82 formed instead of the guide pins 80, with the
  • FIG. 19 shows a mold part 100 which can be used to produce a plug part according to the invention.
  • the casting part 100 consists of nickel and is produced by molding an appropriately structured silicon master part. The appropriate steps to manufacture the nickel part, in particular
  • the molded part 100 is provided with a plurality of receptacles 102, which are designed here as guide grooves with a V-shaped cross section. Furthermore, the molded part 100 has positioning surfaces 104 which serve to achieve the positioning configurations 14 of the plug part 10 to be produced.
  • FIG. 20 shows optical fibers 12 which are inserted into the receptacles 102. In this way, an automatic, precise alignment of the optical fibers 12 is achieved. After the optical fibers 12 are inserted into the mold part 100, a cast material 106 is introduced which fills the mold part 100 and thereby the
  • Figure 20 are indicated with the reference numeral 108, free on the surface of the plug part.
  • the manufacturing method itself offers the essential advantage over the known method that the positioning and adjustment design of the plug part are obtained in the same operation as the positioning of the cast optical component, for example the corresponding optical fiber.
  • the optical components cast into the plug part are aligned with the same precision relative to the adjustment and positioning designs as are arranged relative to one another in the casting part.
  • the molded part is obtained by molding a silicon master part that can be processed with extremely high precision, the same high precision also results in the finished plug part. This represents a significant advantage over other methods in which the finished plug part must then be provided with an optical component.
  • the method according to the invention results in a great cost advantage since the optical components to be poured into the plug part

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Ophthalmology & Optometry (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Coupling Of Light Guides (AREA)
  • Optical Couplings Of Light Guides (AREA)
  • Spinning Methods And Devices For Manufacturing Artificial Fibers (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne une pièce enfichable pour relier au moins un premier composant optique (12) logé dans ladite pièce enfichable (10) à un deuxième composant optique (52). Selon l'invention, la pièce enfichable (10) est constituée d'une matière moulée dans laquelle est encastré le composant optique (12) de sorte qu'il se trouve au moins en partie sur une surface extérieure de la pièce enfichable. Des microstructures (14, 16, 18, 20) sont prévues pour le positionnement latéral et l'ajustement axial de la pièce enfichable, lesdites microstructures de positionnement latéral (14) étant situées dans des zones de la pièce enfichable (10) qui ne servent pas à l'encastrement du premier composant optique (12). Selon un mode de réalisation préférée, le premier composant optique est une fibre optique.
EP99948805A 1998-09-21 1999-09-21 Piece enfichable pour connexion optique enfichable et procede de fabrication d'une telle piece Withdrawn EP1116061A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE19843164 1998-09-21
DE1998143164 DE19843164C2 (de) 1998-09-21 1998-09-21 Steckerteil für eine optische Steckverbindung
PCT/EP1999/006969 WO2000017689A1 (fr) 1998-09-21 1999-09-21 Piece enfichable pour connexion optique enfichable et procede de fabrication d'une telle piece

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1116061A1 true EP1116061A1 (fr) 2001-07-18

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EP99948805A Withdrawn EP1116061A1 (fr) 1998-09-21 1999-09-21 Piece enfichable pour connexion optique enfichable et procede de fabrication d'une telle piece
EP99947392A Withdrawn EP1123521A2 (fr) 1998-09-21 1999-09-21 Fibre optique avec section circulaire et section non-circulaire

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP99947392A Withdrawn EP1123521A2 (fr) 1998-09-21 1999-09-21 Fibre optique avec section circulaire et section non-circulaire

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Country Link
US (1) US6473555B1 (fr)
EP (2) EP1116061A1 (fr)
JP (2) JP3436743B2 (fr)
CA (2) CA2344809A1 (fr)
DE (1) DE19861139C2 (fr)
WO (2) WO2000017689A1 (fr)

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA2344809A1 (fr) 2000-03-30
WO2000017689A1 (fr) 2000-03-30
JP2002525669A (ja) 2002-08-13
EP1123521A2 (fr) 2001-08-16
JP3436743B2 (ja) 2003-08-18
US6473555B1 (en) 2002-10-29
WO2000017678A3 (fr) 2000-11-16
CA2344067A1 (fr) 2000-03-30
DE19861139A1 (de) 2000-05-18
DE19861139C2 (de) 2001-03-08
JP2002525675A (ja) 2002-08-13
WO2000017678A2 (fr) 2000-03-30

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