An optical fiber beam combiner manufacturing device and an optical fiber beam combiner manufacturing method

Abstract

This application is applicable to the field of optical waveguide coupling technology, and provides an optical fiber combiner manufacturing device and method. The optical fiber combiner manufacturing device includes a first platform and a second platform arranged opposite to each other, a first fixture connected to the first platform, a second fixture connected to the second platform, and a sleeve arranged along a first direction. The first platform and the second platform can move relative to each other in the first direction, and the first fixture and the second fixture jointly hold the sleeve. The sleeve includes a bottom tube provided with a first optical fiber groove, and a cover tube attached to one side of the bottom tube provided with the first optical fiber groove, and the first optical fiber groove extends along the first direction. After the bare fiber part after removing the cladding and etching is straightened along the first direction, it is placed into the first optical fiber groove and the cover tube is covered at the notch of the first optical fiber groove, so that the optical fiber can be threaded through the tube, which is efficient and easy to operate; it is convenient to control the bare fiber parts of multiple input optical fibers to be placed and arranged in a preset order, convenient to clean the sleeve, improve the beam quality of the optical fiber combiner and reduce the loss.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the technical field of optical waveguide coupling, and particularly to an optical fiber combiner manufacturing device and an optical fiber combiner manufacturing method. Background Art

[0002] Optical fiber combiners have a wide range of applications. For example, an optical fiber combiner is an important component of an optical fiber laser. An optical fiber laser refers to a laser that uses rare-earth doped element glass fiber as the gain medium. Its basic principle is that through the optical fiber combiner, the pump light with a high power density is coupled into the gain fiber. Under the action of the pump light, the gain fiber has an extremely high power density, enabling the energy levels of the gain medium to have "population inversion distribution". When a positive feedback loop is appropriately added, a laser oscillation can be formed. Optical fiber combiners can be classified into two categories according to their functions: pump combiners and power combiners. For different types of optical fiber combiners, there are different beam combining methods, and correspondingly, different usage methods. As the name implies, a pump combiner is used to combine multiple pump lights to obtain a higher single-fiber pump power. A power combiner synthesizes the energies of multiple medium-power single-mode lasers to form a high-power laser output.

[0003] In the traditional solution, the optical fiber combiner is manufactured by the sleeve method, that is, after arranging multiple optical fibers, they are all inserted into a quartz glass tube together, and then the optical fiber combiner is manufactured by fusing and tapering it with a hydrogen-oxygen flame, an electric arc, or a laser. During the process of manufacturing an optical fiber combiner by the sleeve method, in order to ensure the quality of the output beam of the optical fiber combiner and the energy transmission efficiency, extremely complex and difficult processes are required, resulting in a high manufacturing difficulty and a low yield rate of the optical fiber combiner. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this application is to provide an optical fiber combiner manufacturing device, aiming to solve the technical problems of high manufacturing difficulty and low yield rate of the traditional sleeve method for manufacturing optical fiber combiners.

[0005] This application is implemented as follows. An optical fiber combiner manufacturing device includes a first platform and a second platform arranged opposite to each other, a first clamp connected to the first platform, a second clamp connected to the second platform, and a sleeve. The sleeve extends along a first direction, the first platform and the second platform can move relative to each other in the first direction, and the first clamp and the second clamp jointly clamp the sleeve. The sleeve includes a bottom tube provided with a first optical fiber groove and a cover tube that fits the side of the bottom tube provided with the first optical fiber groove, and the first optical fiber groove extends along the first direction.

[0006] In an embodiment of this application, the cover tube is provided with a second optical fiber groove opposite to the first optical fiber groove, and the cross-sections of the first optical fiber groove and the second optical fiber groove are both semi-circular.

[0007] In one embodiment of the present application, the sleeve includes a silicon tube layer and a fluorine-doped quartz layer disposed on the outer sidewall of the silicon tube layer.

[0008] In one embodiment of the present application, the first clamp includes a first base, a first cover plate disposed on the first base, and a first soft pad disposed opposite to the sleeve; the first soft pad is connected to the first cover plate, and / or the first soft pad is connected to the first base; the first base and the first cover plate jointly clamp the sleeve.

[0009] In one embodiment of the present application, the first soft pad is connected to the first cover plate, and a first sleeve groove is provided on the side of the first base opposite to the first cover plate, and the sleeve is embedded in the first sleeve groove; or, the first soft pad is connected to the first base, and a first sleeve groove is provided on the side of the first cover plate opposite to the first base, and the sleeve is embedded in the first sleeve groove.

[0010] In one embodiment of the present application, the first soft pad is connected to the first cover plate, the first base includes a first base body having a first adapter groove, and a first adapter disposed in the first adapter groove, the first adapter is disposed opposite to the first soft pad, and a first sleeve groove is provided on the side of the first adapter opposite to the soft pad, and the sleeve is embedded in the first sleeve groove.

[0011] In one embodiment of the present application, the optical fiber combiner manufacturing apparatus further includes a third clamp connected to the first platform and a fourth clamp connected to the second platform; the third clamp is disposed on the side of the first clamp away from the second clamp, and the fourth clamp is disposed on the side of the second clamp away from the first clamp; both the third clamp and the fourth clamp are provided with optical fiber channels disposed along the first direction.

[0012] In one embodiment of the present application, the third clamp includes a third base provided with a first fiber fixing groove, a third cover plate disposed on the third base, and a first fiber fixing device disposed in the first fiber fixing groove, and the first fiber fixing device is provided with an optical fiber channel.

[0013] Another object of the present application is to provide an optical fiber combiner manufacturing method applicable to the optical fiber combiner manufacturing apparatus as described above, which is characterized by including the following steps:

[0014] Preparation step: Strip a part of the cladding of the input optical fiber to form a bare fiber part, and etch the bare fiber part;

[0015] Installation steps: Straighten the bare fiber portion along the first direction and place it into the first optical fiber groove, cover the cover tube at the notch of the first optical fiber groove, and clamp the sleeve with the first clamp and the second clamp.

[0016] Heat treatment steps: Heat the sleeve between the first clamp and the second clamp, drive the first platform and the second platform to move away from each other to stretch the sleeve until the minimum diameter of the sleeve is equal to the diameter of the output optical fiber; Cut off the sleeve and fuse the sleeve with the output optical fiber.

[0017] In an embodiment of the present application, after the preparation step and before the installation step, there is also a soaking step: Soak the bare fiber portion with a toughening agent; After the installation step and before the heat treatment step, there is also a gluing step: Coat the toughening glue on the bare fiber portion extending out of the sleeve.

[0018] Implementing the optical fiber combiner manufacturing device provided by any embodiment of the present application has at least the following beneficial effects:

[0019] The optical fiber combiner manufacturing device provided by each embodiment of the present application divides the sleeve into a bottom tube with a first optical fiber groove and a cover tube covering the first optical fiber groove. In this way, after the bare fiber portion after stripping the cladding and etching is straightened along the first direction, it is only necessary to place it into the first optical fiber groove and cover the cover tube at the notch of the first optical fiber groove, then the etched bare fiber portion can pass through the sleeve. The tube-passing process is efficient and easy to operate; Moreover, it is convenient to control the bare fiber portions of multiple input optical fibers to be placed and arranged in a preset order, thereby improving the beam quality and reducing the loss of light energy in the combiner; At the same time, by cleaning the bottom tube and the cover tube respectively before placing the bare fiber portion into the first optical fiber groove, the inside of the sleeve can be cleaned, which is beneficial to further improving the beam quality of the optical fiber combiner and reducing the loss. Description of the Drawings

[0020] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application, the following will briefly introduce the drawings required to be used in the embodiments. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present application. For those of ordinary skill in the art, without creative efforts, other drawings can also be obtained according to these drawings.

[0021] Figure 1 is a schematic structural diagram of an optical fiber combiner manufacturing device provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0022] Figure 2 is Figure 1 a partial enlarged schematic diagram of part A in

[0023] Figure 3It is a schematic flow chart of a method for manufacturing an optical fiber combiner provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0024] Figure 4 It is a schematic flow chart of a method for manufacturing an optical fiber combiner provided by another embodiment of the present application.

[0025] The label details related to the above-mentioned drawings are as follows:

[0026] 11 - First platform; 12 - Second platform; 21 - First fixture; 211 - First base; 2111 - First base body; 2112 - First adapter; 212 - First cover plate; 213 - First soft pad; 214 - First sleeve groove; 22 - Second fixture; 221 - Second base; 2211 - Second base body; 2212 - Second adapter; 222 - Second cover plate; 223 - Second soft pad; 224 - Second sleeve groove; 23 - Third fixture; 231 - Third base; 232 - Third cover plate; 233 - First optical fiber fixing device; 2331 - First lotus root-shaped part; 2332 - First optical fiber fixing table part; 24 - Fourth fixture; 241 - Fourth base; 242 - Fourth cover plate; 243 - Second optical fiber fixing device; 2431 - Second lotus root-shaped part; 2432 - Second optical fiber fixing table part; 25 - Optical fiber channel; 3 - Sleeve; 31 - Bottom tube; 311 - First optical fiber groove; 32 - Cover tube; 321 - Second optical fiber groove; 4 - Input optical fiber; 41 - Bare fiber part. Detailed implementation manners

[0027] In order to make the objectives, technical solutions and advantages of the present application more clear and understandable, the present application will be further described in detail below with reference to the drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the present application and are not used to limit the present application.

[0028] It should be noted that when a component is referred to as "fixed to" or "disposed on" another component, it can be directly or indirectly located on the other component. When a component is referred to as "connected to" another component, it can be directly or indirectly connected to the other component. The orientations or positions indicated by the terms "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "front", "rear", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", etc. are based on the orientations or positions shown in the drawings, and are only for the convenience of description and cannot be construed as a limitation to the technical solution of the present application. The terms "first" and "second" are only used for the purpose of convenient description and cannot be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the quantity of technical features. The meaning of "a plurality" is two or more, unless otherwise specifically defined.

[0029] In order to illustrate the technical solutions described in the present application, the following will be described in detail with reference to specific drawings and embodiments.

[0030] Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 In an embodiment of the present application, a device for manufacturing an optical fiber combiner is provided, which includes a first platform 11 and a second platform 12 arranged oppositely, a first fixture 21 connected to the first platform 11, a second fixture 22 connected to the second platform 12, and a sleeve 3; the sleeve 3 extends in a first direction, the first platform 11 and the second platform 12 can move relative to each other in the first direction, and the first fixture 21 and the second fixture 22 jointly clamp the sleeve 3; the sleeve 3 includes a bottom tube 31 provided with a first optical fiber groove 311, and a cover tube 32 attached to one side of the bottom tube 31 provided with the first optical fiber groove 311, and the first optical fiber groove 311 extends in the first direction.

[0031] In each embodiment of the present application, the extension direction of the sleeve 3 is taken as the first direction, that is, the axial direction of the sleeve 3 is the first direction. However, it should be understood that such a limitation is only for the convenience of describing the positional relationship and specific structure of the sleeve 3, the first platform 11, the second platform 12, the first fixture 21, the second fixture 22, etc., and should not be construed as a limitation on the protection scope of the present application.

[0032] Specifically, the device for manufacturing an optical fiber combiner provided in this embodiment works as follows:

[0033] The device for manufacturing an optical fiber combiner provided in this embodiment can be used for the taper fusion splicing of two or more input optical fibers 4. Specifically, first, a part of the cladding of the input optical fiber 4 needs to be stripped to form a bare fiber part 41, and the bare fiber part 41 is corroded; the bare fiber part 41 is straightened along the first direction and placed into the first optical fiber groove 311, the cover tube 32 is covered at the notch of the first optical fiber groove 311, and the sleeve 3 is clamped by the first fixture 21 and the second fixture 22; then, the sleeve 3 between the first fixture 21 and the second fixture 22 is heated, and the first platform 11 and the second platform 12 are driven to move away from each other to stretch the sleeve 3 until the minimum diameter of the sleeve 3 is equal to the diameter of the output optical fiber; finally, the sleeve 3 is cut off and the sleeve 3 is fusion spliced with the output optical fiber, and thus the manufacturing of the optical fiber combiner can be completed.

[0034] Implementing the device for manufacturing an optical fiber combiner provided in this embodiment has at least the following beneficial technical effects:

[0035] The fiber optic combiner manufacturing device provided in this embodiment divides the sleeve 3 into a bottom tube 31 with a first optical fiber groove 311 and a cover tube 32 covering the first optical fiber groove 311. In this way, after the cladding of the bare fiber part 41 is stripped and etched, it only needs to be straightened along the first direction, placed into the first optical fiber groove 311, and the cover tube 32 is covered at the notch of the first optical fiber groove 311, then the etched bare fiber part 41 can pass through the sleeve 3. The tube threading process is efficient and easy to operate. Moreover, it is convenient to control the bare fiber parts 41 of multiple input optical fibers 4 to be placed and arranged in a preset order, thereby improving the beam quality and reducing the loss of light energy in the combiner. At the same time, before placing the bare fiber part 41 into the first optical fiber groove 311, the bottom tube 31 and the cover tube 32 are respectively cleaned, so as to clean the inside of the sleeve 3, which is beneficial to further improve the beam quality of the fiber optic combiner and reduce the loss.

[0036] Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 , in an embodiment of the present application, the cover tube 32 is provided with a second optical fiber groove 321 opposite to the first optical fiber groove 311, and the cross-sections of the first optical fiber groove 311 and the second optical fiber groove 321 are both semi-circular.

[0037] The cross-sections of the first optical fiber groove 311 and the second optical fiber groove 321 are both set as semi-circular. In this way, during the installation process of the sleeve 3, the positions and functions of the cover tube 32 and the bottom tube 31 can be interchanged, which is beneficial to further simplify the manufacturing process of the fiber optic combiner. Moreover, the two semi-circles can be spliced into a sleeve 3 with a circular pipeline, which can minimize the gap between the bare fiber part 41 filled in the sleeve 3 and the sleeve 3, so as to improve the beam quality of the fiber optic combiner and reduce the light energy loss in the fiber optic combiner.

[0038] In an embodiment of the present application, the sleeve 3 includes a silicon tube layer and a fluorine-doped quartz layer attached to the outer side wall of the silicon tube layer.

[0039] In this embodiment, the sleeve 3 is divided into a silicon tube layer and a fluorine-doped quartz layer from the inside to the outside. The refractive index of the silicon tube layer is greater than that of the bare fiber part 41, and the refractive index of the fluorine-doped quartz layer is greater than that of the silicon tube layer. Such a setting can make the fiber optic combiner formed by tapering have a step-type refractive index distribution, which can effectively prevent the laser inside the fiber optic combiner from emitting from the side wall of the fiber optic combiner, thereby improving the beam quality of the fiber optic combiner and reducing the light energy loss at the fiber optic combiner.

[0040] Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2, in an embodiment of the present application, the first clamp 21 includes a first base 211, a first cover plate 212 disposed in conformity with the first base 211, and a first soft pad 213 disposed opposite to the sleeve 3; the first soft pad 213 is connected to the first cover plate 212, or the first soft pad 213 is connected to the first base 211, or the number of the first soft pads 213 is two, and the two first soft pads 213 are respectively connected to the first cover plate 212 and the first base 211; the first base 211 and the first cover plate 212 jointly clamp the sleeve 3; the second clamp 22 includes a second base 221, a second cover plate 222 disposed in conformity with the second base 221, and a second soft pad 223 disposed opposite to the sleeve 3; the second soft pad 223 is connected to the second cover plate 222, and / or the second soft pad 223 is connected to the second base 221; the second base 221 and the second cover plate 222 jointly clamp the sleeve 3.

[0041] Providing the first soft pad 213 between the first cover plate 212 and the first base 211, and providing the second soft pad 223 between the second cover plate 222 and the second base 221 can prevent the brittle sleeve 3 from being crushed, enabling the first base 211 and the first cover plate 212 to apply sufficient pressure to the sleeve 3, and enabling the second base 221 and the second cover plate 222 to apply sufficient pressure to the sleeve 3; meanwhile, it can increase the friction coefficient between the sleeve 3 and the first clamp 21, and increase the friction coefficient between the sleeve 3 and the second clamp 22.

[0042] Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 , as a specific solution of this embodiment, the first cover plate 212 is hinged to the first base 211, and the first clamp 21 further includes a first fastener, and the first fastener can fasten and install the first cover plate 212 on the first base 211, so that the first base 211 and the first cover plate 212 can jointly clamp the sleeve 3; the second cover plate 222 is hinged to the second base 221, and the second clamp 22 further includes a second fastener, and the second fastener can fasten and install the second cover plate 222 on the second base 221, so that the second base 221 and the second cover plate 222 can jointly clamp the sleeve 3.

[0043] Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2, in an embodiment of the present application, the first soft pad 213 is connected to the first cover plate 212. On the side of the first base 211 opposite to the first cover plate 212, a first sleeve groove 214 is provided, and the sleeve 3 is embedded in the first sleeve groove 214; the second soft pad 223 is connected to the second cover plate 222. On the side of the second base 221 opposite to the second cover plate 222, a second sleeve groove 224 is provided, and the sleeve 3 is embedded in the second sleeve groove 224. Alternatively, the first soft pad 213 is connected to the first base 211. On the side of the first cover plate 212 opposite to the first base 211, a first sleeve groove 214 is provided, and the sleeve 3 is embedded in the first sleeve groove 214; the second soft pad 223 is connected to the second base 221. On the side of the second cover plate 222 opposite to the second base 221, a second sleeve groove 224 is provided, and the sleeve 3 is embedded in the second sleeve groove 224.

[0044] Specifically, both the first sleeve groove 214 and the second sleeve groove 224 extend along the first direction. The first sleeve groove 214 and the second sleeve groove 224 can play a role in initially positioning the sleeve 3, thereby further simplifying the manufacturing process of the optical fiber combiner.

[0045] As a specific solution of this embodiment, both the first sleeve groove 214 and the second sleeve groove 224 are V-shaped grooves to optimize the force-bearing mode of the sleeve 3 in the first sleeve groove 214 and the second sleeve groove 224 and prevent the sleeve 3 from being crushed.

[0046] Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 , in an embodiment of the present application, the first soft pad 213 is connected to the first cover plate 212. The first base 211 includes a first base body 2111 having a first adapter 2112 groove, and a first adapter 2112 disposed in the first adapter 2112 groove. The first adapter 2112 is disposed opposite to the first soft pad 213, and on the side of the first adapter 2112 opposite to the soft pad, a first sleeve groove 214 is provided, and the sleeve 3 is embedded in the first sleeve groove 214; the second soft pad 223 is connected to the second cover plate 222. The second base 221 includes a second base body 2211 having a second adapter 2212 groove, and a second adapter 2212 disposed in the second adapter 2212 groove. The second adapter 2212 is disposed opposite to the second soft pad 223, and on the side of the second adapter 2212 opposite to the soft pad, a second sleeve groove 224 is provided, and the sleeve 3 is embedded in the second sleeve groove 224.

[0047] The advantage of doing this is that if optical fiber combiners of different specifications need to be processed and sleeves 3 with different outer diameters are required, only the first adapter 2112 with a suitable first sleeve groove 214 and the second adapter 2212 with a suitable second sleeve groove 224 need to be replaced, so that the optical fiber combiner manufacturing device can be used for manufacturing optical fiber combiners of different specifications.

[0048] As a specific solution of this embodiment, both the first sleeve groove 214 and the second sleeve groove 224 are V-shaped grooves to optimize the force application mode of the sleeve 3 in the first sleeve groove 214 and the second sleeve groove 224, and prevent the sleeve 3 from being crushed.

[0049] Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 In an embodiment of the present application, the optical fiber beam combiner manufacturing device further includes a third fixture 23 connected to the first platform 11 and a fourth fixture 24 connected to the second platform 12; the third fixture 23 is arranged on the side of the first fixture 21 away from the second fixture 22, and the fourth fixture 24 is arranged on the side of the second fixture 22 away from the first fixture 21; both the third fixture 23 and the fourth fixture 24 are provided with optical fiber channels 25 arranged in the first direction.

[0050] Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 In this embodiment, the number of the optical fiber channels 25 is multiple, and the number and positions of the optical fiber channels 25 opened in the third fixture 23 correspond to those of the optical fiber channels 25 opened in the fourth fixture 24; one end of the same input optical fiber 4 is inserted into one of the optical fiber channels 25 opened in the third fixture 23, and the other end of the input optical fiber 4 is inserted into the optical fiber channel 25 corresponding to the above optical fiber channel 25 in the fourth fixture 24. The advantage of this is that the two ends of the input optical fiber 4 can be respectively inserted into the corresponding optical fiber channels 25 of the third fixture 23 and the fourth fixture 24 first, then each input optical fiber 4 can be straightened, and finally the input optical fiber 4 can be placed into the first optical fiber groove 311, so that multiple input optical fibers 4 can be conveniently placed in the sleeve 3 at the preset positions.

[0051] Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 As a specific solution of this embodiment, the third fixture 23 includes a third base 231 provided with a first optical fiber fixing groove, a third cover plate 232 attached to the third base 231, and a first optical fiber fixer 233 arranged in the first optical fiber fixing groove, and the first optical fiber fixer 233 is provided with an optical fiber channel 25; the fourth fixture 24 includes a fourth base 241 provided with a second optical fiber fixing groove, a fourth cover plate 242 attached to the fourth base 241, and a second optical fiber fixer 243 arranged in the second optical fiber fixing groove, and the second optical fiber fixer 243 is provided with an optical fiber channel 25.

[0052] As a specific solution of this embodiment, the first optical fiber fixing device 233 includes a first lotus root-shaped portion 2331 and a first optical fiber fixing table portion 2332 connected to one side of the first lotus root-shaped portion 2331 away from the first base 21; the second optical fiber fixing device 243 includes a second lotus root-shaped portion 2431 and a second optical fiber fixing table portion 2432 connected to one side of the second lotus root-shaped portion 2431 away from the second base 22. The optical fiber channel 25 is formed in the first lotus root-shaped portion 2331 and the second lotus root-shaped portion 2431. The input optical fiber 4 can pass through the optical fiber channels 25 of the first lotus root-shaped portion 2331 and the second lotus root-shaped portion 2431 and is bonded to the first optical fiber fixing table portion 2332 and the second optical fiber fixing table portion 2432, so as to realize the fixation of the input optical fiber 4 by the first optical fiber fixing device 233 and the second optical fiber fixing device 243, ensuring that there is sufficient pulling force to taper the bare fiber portion 41 of the input optical fiber 4.

[0053] Another object of the present application is to provide a method for manufacturing an optical fiber combiner applicable to the optical fiber combiner manufacturing device as above, which is characterized by including the following steps:

[0054] S1: Preparation step: Strip a part of the cladding of the input optical fiber 4 to form a bare fiber portion 41, and corrode the bare fiber portion 41;

[0055] S2: Installation step: Straighten the bare fiber portion 41 along the first direction and place it into the first optical fiber groove 311, cover the cover tube 32 at the notch of the first optical fiber groove 311, and clamp the sleeve 3 with the first clamp 21 and the second clamp 22;

[0056] S3: Heat treatment step: Heat the sleeve 3 between the first clamp 21 and the second clamp 22, drive the first platform 11 and the second platform 12 to move away from each other to stretch the sleeve 3 until the minimum diameter of the sleeve 3 is equal to the diameter of the output optical fiber; cut off the sleeve 3 and fuse the sleeve 3 with the output optical fiber.

[0057] Implementing the method for manufacturing an optical fiber combiner provided in this embodiment has at least the following beneficial technical effects:

[0058] The fiber optic combiner manufacturing device provided in this embodiment divides the sleeve 3 into a bottom tube 31 with a first optical fiber groove 311 and a cover tube 32 covering the first optical fiber groove 311. In this way, after stripping the cladding and etching the bare fiber part 41, it only needs to be straightened along the first direction and then placed into the first optical fiber groove 311, and the cover tube 32 is covered at the notch of the first optical fiber groove 311, then the etched bare fiber part 41 can pass through the sleeve 3. The tube-passing process is efficient and easy to operate. Moreover, it is convenient to control the bare fiber parts 41 of multiple input optical fibers 4 to be placed and arranged in a preset order, thereby improving the beam quality and reducing the loss of light energy in the combiner. At the same time, by cleaning the bottom tube 31 and the cover tube 32 respectively before placing the bare fiber part 41 into the first optical fiber groove 311, the inside of the sleeve 3 can be cleaned, which is beneficial to further improving the beam quality of the fiber optic combiner and reducing the loss.

[0059] In an embodiment of the present application, after the preparation step and before the installation step, there is also a soaking step: soaking the bare fiber part 41 with a toughening agent; after the installation step and before the heat treatment step, there is also a glue coating step: coating the toughening glue on the bare fiber part 41 extending out of the sleeve 3.

[0060] Specifically, the fiber optic combiner manufacturing method provided in this embodiment includes the following steps:

[0061] S1: Preparation step: Strip part of the cladding of the input optical fiber 4 to form a bare fiber part 41, and etch the bare fiber part 41;

[0062] S11: Soaking step: Soak the bare fiber part 41 with a toughening agent;

[0063] S2: Installation step: Straighten the bare fiber part 41 along the first direction and place it into the first optical fiber groove 311, cover the cover tube 32 at the notch of the first optical fiber groove 311, and clamp the sleeve 3 with the first fixture 21 and the second fixture 22;

[0064] S21: Glue coating step: Coat the toughening glue on the bare fiber part 41 extending out of the sleeve 3;

[0065] S3: Heat treatment step: Heat the sleeve 3 between the first fixture 21 and the second fixture 22, drive the first platform 11 and the second platform 12 to move away from each other to stretch the sleeve 3 until the minimum diameter of the sleeve 3 is equal to the diameter of the output optical fiber; cut off the sleeve 3 and fuse the sleeve 3 with the output optical fiber.

[0066] After the cladding of the input optical fiber 4 is stripped and corroded, the mechanical stress of the device inevitably decreases. The bare fiber part 41 is brittle and easy to break. By soaking the bare fiber part 41 with a toughening agent after corroding the bare fiber part 41, and applying glue to the bare fiber part 41 extending outside the sleeve 3 after the installation step and before the heat treatment step, the toughness of the input optical fiber 4 can be effectively improved, avoiding breakage of the input optical fiber 4 during the manufacturing process of the fiber combiner, thereby improving the yield rate of the fiber combiner.

[0067] The above are only optional embodiments of the present application and are not intended to limit the present application. Any modifications, equivalent replacements, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principle of the present application shall be included in the protection scope of the present application.

Claims

1. An optical fiber combiner manufacturing device, characterized in that, It includes a first platform and a second platform which are oppositely arranged, a first fixture connected to the first platform, a second fixture connected to the second platform, and a sleeve; the sleeve extends along a first direction, the first platform and the second platform can move relative to each other in the first direction, and the first fixture and the second fixture jointly clamp the sleeve; the sleeve includes a bottom tube provided with a first optical fiber groove, and a cover tube attached to one side of the bottom tube provided with the first optical fiber groove, and the first optical fiber groove extends along the first direction; The optical fiber combiner manufacturing device further includes a third fixture connected to the first platform and a fourth fixture connected to the second platform; the third fixture is arranged on a side of the first fixture away from the second fixture, and the fourth fixture is arranged on a side of the second fixture away from the first fixture; both the third fixture and the fourth fixture are provided with optical fiber channels arranged along the first direction; The third fixture includes a third base provided with a first fiber fixing groove, a third cover plate attached to the third base, and a first fiber fixer arranged in the first fiber fixing groove, and the first fiber fixer is provided with an optical fiber channel; the fourth fixture includes a fourth base provided with a second fiber fixing groove, a fourth cover plate attached to the fourth base, and a second fiber fixer arranged in the second fiber fixing groove, and the second fiber fixer is provided with an optical fiber channel; The first fiber fixer includes a first lotus root-shaped part and a first fiber fixing table part connected to a side of the first lotus root-shaped part away from the first base; the second fiber fixer includes a second lotus root-shaped part and a second fiber fixing table part connected to a side of the second lotus root-shaped part away from the second base, the optical fiber channel is opened in the first lotus root-shaped part and the second lotus root-shaped part, and the input optical fiber passes through the optical fiber channels of the first lotus root-shaped part and the second lotus root-shaped part and is bonded to the first fiber fixing table part and the second fiber fixing table part.

2. The optical fiber beam combiner manufacturing device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cover tube is provided with a second optical fiber groove opposite to the first optical fiber groove, and the cross-sections of both the first optical fiber groove and the second optical fiber groove are semi-circular.

3. The fiber optic combiner manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein The sleeve includes a silicon tube layer and a fluorine-doped quartz layer attached to the outer side wall of the silicon tube layer.

4. The optical fiber beam combiner manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that The first fixture includes a first base, a first cover plate attached to the first base, and a first soft pad oppositely arranged with the sleeve; the first soft pad is connected to the first cover plate, and / or, the first soft pad is connected to the first base; the first base and the first cover plate jointly clamp the sleeve.

5. The optical fiber combiner manufacturing device according to claim 4, characterized in that The first soft pad is connected to the first cover plate, and a first sleeve groove is arranged on a side of the first base opposite to the first cover plate, and the sleeve is embedded in the first sleeve groove; or, the first soft pad is connected to the first base, and a first sleeve groove is arranged on a side of the first cover plate opposite to the first base, and the sleeve is embedded in the first sleeve groove.

6. The optical fiber combiner manufacturing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein, The first soft pad is connected to the first cover plate. The first base includes a first base body having a first adapter slot and a first adapter disposed in the first adapter slot. The first adapter is disposed opposite to the first soft pad, and a first sleeve slot is formed on a side of the first adapter opposite to the soft pad. The sleeve is inserted into the first sleeve slot.

7. A method for manufacturing an optical fiber combiner applicable to an optical fiber combiner manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, comprising the following steps: Preparation step: stripping a part of the cladding of the input optical fiber to form a bare fiber portion, and corroding the bare fiber portion; Installation step: first inserting two ends of the input optical fiber into corresponding optical fiber channels of the third clamp and the fourth clamp respectively, then straightening each input optical fiber, straightening the bare fiber portion along the first direction and placing it into the first optical fiber slot, covering the cover tube on the notch of the first optical fiber slot, and clamping the sleeve with the first clamp and the second clamp; Heat treatment step: heating the sleeve between the first clamp and the second clamp, driving the first platform and the second platform to move away from each other to stretch the sleeve until the minimum diameter of the sleeve is equal to the diameter of the output optical fiber; cutting off the sleeve and fusing the sleeve with the output optical fiber.

8. The method for manufacturing an optical fiber coupler according to claim 7, characterized in that, After the preparation step and before the installation step, there is also a soaking step: soaking the bare fiber portion with a toughening agent; after the installation step and before the heat treatment step, there is also a gluing step: coating a toughening glue on the bare fiber portion extending out of the sleeve.

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