A method for fabricating a variator fiber FA for spatial coupling

Abstract

This invention relates to a method for fabricating a stepped fiber (FA) for spatial coupling and the FA itself. The method involves placing the exposed cladding end of the fiber in a first V-groove on a substrate, placing a cover plate on the substrate and pressing it firmly, and applying UV adhesive to the stripped end of the fiber and curing it under light to form a semi-finished product. The semi-finished product is then placed on a traveling V-groove, with the exposed cladding end of the fiber precisely positioned in the corresponding second V-groove, and bonded with hydrolyzable UV adhesive. The exposed cladding end of the fiber is then wrapped and fixed with hot-melt wax, ground, and then immersed in 75°C alcohol until the hot-melt wax dissolves and the substrate and traveling V-groove completely separate, yielding the final product. By protecting the exposed cladding core end of the fiber through the traveling V-groove and fixing it to the second V-groove with hot-melt wax, the grinding precision is ensured, greatly improving product yield, effectively reducing the risk of fiber loss and breakage, and requiring less sophisticated equipment, making it suitable for mass production.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of optical communication technology, and in particular to a method for fabricating a fuzzy fiber FA for spatial coupling. Background Technology

[0002] Muted-index fiber refers to an optical fiber whose refractive index changes abruptly from the core to the cladding. It is low-cost, has high intermodal dispersion, and is widely used in short-distance, low-speed communications. Current techniques for fabricating mutated-index fiber facilitators (FAs) involve first grinding the bare fiber and then assembling the ground fiber into the FA, or completely coating and grinding it with paraffin wax. However, these methods have low production efficiency and yield, extremely high fiber breakage and loss rates, and the wax is difficult to remove completely, resulting in high processing costs and significant product limitations. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a method for preparing a FA (fiber optic cable) for spatial coupling, which addresses the shortcomings of the prior art.

[0004] The technical solution of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned technical problems is as follows:

[0005] A method for fabricating a variator fiber (FA) for spatial coupling, characterized by comprising the following steps:

[0006] The coating layer is stripped off one end of the optical fiber to expose the cladding, and the exposed cladding end is placed in the first V-groove on the substrate fixed on the assembly fixture, with the exposed cladding end of the optical fiber extending out of the corresponding first V-groove.

[0007] The cover plate is placed on the substrate and pressed tightly. UV glue is applied to the stripping point of the optical fiber so that the UV glue completely fills the first V groove. Then, light is applied to completely cure the UV glue and form a semi-finished product.

[0008] The semi-finished product is removed from the assembly fixture and placed on the accompanying V-groove, such that the vertical sidewall of the accompanying V-groove is in contact with one end of the substrate, and the end of the optical fiber exposed from the cladding is exactly located in the corresponding accompanying V-groove. The vertical sidewall of the accompanying V-groove is bonded to one end of the substrate with hydrolyzable UV adhesive.

[0009] The exposed end of the optical fiber located in the accompanying V-groove is wrapped and fixed with hot melt wax, and then ground to obtain a finished product containing the accompanying V-groove.

[0010] The finished product is immersed in 75-degree alcohol until the hot melt wax on the finished product is completely dissolved and the substrate is completely separated from the accompanying V-groove to obtain the final finished product.

[0011] The present invention discloses a method for fabricating a stepped optical fiber (FA) for spatial coupling. By setting a detachable accompanying V-groove at the bottom of the substrate, the exposed end of the optical fiber with the cladding core can be protected. The accompanying V-groove is fixed with hot melt wax, which ensures the precision of grinding and greatly improves the product yield. By setting the accompanying V-groove to protect the optical fiber, the risk of fiber loss and breakage is effectively reduced. The method has low equipment requirements and is suitable for mass production.

[0012] Based on the above technical solution, the present invention can be further improved as follows:

[0013] Further: After stripping the coating from one end of the optical fiber to expose the cladding, the following steps are also included:

[0014] The substrate, cover plate, and exposed cladding optical fiber are cleaned and dried respectively;

[0015] The exposed length of the optical fiber in the cladding is 5-15 mm.

[0016] The beneficial effects of the above-mentioned further solution are: by cleaning and drying the substrate, cover plate and exposed cladding optical fiber respectively, it can ensure that the substrate and cover plate are bonded more firmly in the future, and at the same time it is conducive to the UV adhesive bonding to the optical fiber and becoming a whole.

[0017] Further: Before placing the cover plate on the substrate, the following steps are also included:

[0018] The other end of the optical fiber is fixed to the assembly fixture using high-temperature tape.

[0019] The beneficial effect of the above-mentioned further solution is that by fixing the other end of the optical fiber to the assembly fixture with high-temperature tape, it can be avoided that when the other end of the optical fiber moves without constraint, the end of the optical fiber exposed to the cladding will be displaced, affecting the accuracy of the polishing.

[0020] Further steps include the following before UV adhesive is cured by light:

[0021] Remove excess UV adhesive from the first V-groove to prevent overflow.

[0022] The beneficial effect of the above-mentioned further solution is that by removing the excess UV glue from the first V groove, excess glue can be prevented from overflowing, affecting subsequent grinding, and also affecting the appearance of the product.

[0023] Further: Removing the semi-finished product from the assembly fixture also includes the following steps:

[0024] An acrylic adhesive is applied to the other end of the substrate, completely covering the portion corresponding to the optical fiber, and then cured by irradiation with a UV light source.

[0025] The beneficial effect of the above-mentioned further solution is that by using the acrylic adhesive to bond and fix the other end of the substrate to the part corresponding to the optical fiber, the optical fiber can be further fixed, preventing the tail of the optical fiber from causing the whole to shift.

[0026] Further: Before placing the semi-finished product onto the accompanying V-groove, the following steps are also included:

[0027] The semi-finished product is baked at 85°C for a preset time, and the baked product is inspected and cleaned.

[0028] The beneficial effects of the above-mentioned further solution are: by baking the semi-finished product in an environment of 85°C for a preset time, the UV adhesive and acrylic adhesive can be cured more completely, ensuring the strength of the bond. Furthermore, the baked product can be inspected and cleaned to ensure the yield rate and facilitate the aesthetics of the subsequent finished product. Attached Figure Description

[0029] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the process for fabricating a FA (fiber optic cable) for spatial coupling according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 ;

[0030] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the process for fabricating a FA (fiber optic cable) for spatial coupling according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 ;

[0031] Figure 3 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of a variator fiber FA for spatial coupling prepared according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] Figure 4 This is a top view schematic diagram of a mutation fiber FA for spatial coupling prepared according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] The attached diagram lists the components represented by each number as follows:

[0034] 1. Substrate, 2. Cover plate, 3. Optical fiber, 4. Accompanying V-groove. Detailed Implementation

[0035] The principles and features of the present invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The examples given are only for explaining the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0036] like Figures 1 to 4As shown, a method for fabricating a variator fiber (FA) for spatial coupling is characterized by the following steps:

[0037] The coating layer is stripped off one end of the optical fiber 3 to expose the cladding, and the exposed cladding end is placed in the first V groove on the substrate 1 fixed on the assembly fixture, and the exposed cladding end of the optical fiber 3 extends out of the corresponding first V groove.

[0038] The cover plate 2 is placed on the substrate 1 and pressed tightly. UV glue is applied to the stripping opening of the optical fiber 3 so that the UV glue completely fills the first V groove. Then, light is applied to completely cure the UV glue and form a semi-finished product.

[0039] The semi-finished product is removed from the assembly fixture and placed on the accompanying V-groove 4, so that the vertical sidewall of the accompanying V-groove 4 is in contact with one end of the substrate 1, and the end of the optical fiber 3 exposed from the cladding is exactly located in the corresponding accompanying V-groove 4. The vertical sidewall of the accompanying V-groove 4 is bonded to one end of the substrate 1 with hydrolyzable UV adhesive.

[0040] The exposed end of the optical fiber 3 located in the accompanying V-groove 4 is wrapped and fixed with hot melt wax, and then ground to obtain a finished product containing the accompanying V-groove 4.

[0041] The finished product is immersed in 75-degree alcohol until the hot melt wax on the finished product is completely dissolved and the substrate 1 is completely separated from the accompanying V groove 4, thus obtaining the final finished product.

[0042] The method for fabricating a stepped fiber FA for spatial coupling of the present invention involves setting a detachable accompanying V-groove 4 at the bottom of the substrate 1. This protects the end of the fiber 3 that exposes the cladding core. The accompanying V-groove 4 is fixed with hot melt wax, which ensures the precision of grinding and greatly improves the product yield. By setting the accompanying V-groove 4 to protect the fiber 3, the risk of fiber damage and breakage is effectively reduced. The method has low equipment requirements and is suitable for mass production.

[0043] In one or more embodiments of the present invention, after stripping the coating layer from one end of the optical fiber 3 to expose the cladding, the following steps are further included:

[0044] The substrate 1, cover plate 2, and exposed cladding optical fiber 3 are cleaned and dried respectively;

[0045] The exposed length of the optical fiber 3 is 5-15 mm.

[0046] By cleaning and drying the substrate 1, cover plate 2 and the exposed cladding optical fiber 3 respectively, it is possible to ensure a stronger bond when the substrate 1 is bonded to the cover plate 2, and it is also beneficial for the UV adhesive to bond to the optical fiber 3 and become a whole.

[0047] Optionally, in an embodiment of the present invention, the exposed length of the optical fiber 3 is 10 mm.

[0048] Optionally, in one or more embodiments of the present invention, before covering the substrate 1 with the cover plate 2, the following steps are further included:

[0049] The other end of the optical fiber 3 is fixed to the assembly fixture using high-temperature tape.

[0050] By fixing the other end of the optical fiber 3 to the assembly fixture with high-temperature tape, it is possible to prevent the other end of the optical fiber 3 from moving without restraint and causing the exposed end of the optical fiber 3 to become displaced, thus affecting the grinding accuracy.

[0051] Optionally, in one or more embodiments of the present invention, before the UV adhesive is cured by light, the following steps are further included:

[0052] Remove excess UV adhesive from the first V-groove to prevent overflow.

[0053] By removing excess UV adhesive from the first V-groove, excess adhesive can be prevented from overflowing, affecting subsequent grinding and the appearance of the product.

[0054] In one or more embodiments of the present invention, removing the semi-finished product from the assembly fixture further includes the following steps:

[0055] Acrylic adhesive 7 is applied to the other end of the substrate 1, completely covering the corresponding portion of the optical fiber 3, and cured by irradiation with a UV light source.

[0056] By using the acrylic adhesive 7 to bond and fix the other end of the substrate 1 to the portion corresponding to the optical fiber 3, the optical fiber 3 can be further fixed, preventing the tail of the optical fiber 3 from causing the whole to shift.

[0057] Optionally, in one or more embodiments of the present invention, before placing the semi-finished product on the accompanying V-groove 4, the following steps are further included:

[0058] The semi-finished product is baked at 85°C for a preset time, and the baked product is inspected and cleaned. By baking the semi-finished product at 85°C for a preset time, the UV adhesive and acrylic adhesive can be cured more completely, ensuring strong adhesion. Inspecting and cleaning the baked product ensures a high yield rate and also facilitates the aesthetics of the final product.

[0059] In practice, after obtaining the final product, it needs to be cleaned and inspected again before being packaged.

[0060] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for the preparation of a spatially coupled mutant fiber (FA) characterized by: The method comprises the following steps: Stripping the coating of one end of the optical fiber (3) to expose the cladding, and placing the end of the optical fiber (3) exposing the cladding in a first V-shaped groove on the substrate (1) fixed on the assembly fixture, and the end of the optical fiber (3) exposing the cladding extends out of the corresponding first V-shaped groove; Covering the substrate (1) with the cover plate (2) and pressing it tightly, applying UV glue at the stripped end of the optical fiber (3), so that the UV glue completely fills the first V-shaped groove, and irradiating to completely cure the UV glue to form a semi-finished product; Taking the semi-finished product off the assembly fixture and placing it on a following V-shaped groove (4), so that the vertical side wall of the following V-shaped groove (4) is in close contact with one end of the substrate (1), and the end of the optical fiber (3) exposing the cladding is just located in the corresponding following V-shaped groove (4), and the vertical side wall of the following V-shaped groove (4) is bonded to one end of the substrate (1) with hydrolyzable UV glue; Wrapping and fixing the end of the optical fiber (3) exposing the cladding in the following V-shaped groove (4) with hot melt wax, and grinding to obtain a finished product containing the following V-shaped groove (4); Soaking the finished product in 75-degree alcohol until the hot melt wax on the finished product is completely dissolved, and the substrate (1) is completely separated from the following V-shaped groove (4) to obtain a final finished product.

2. The method for manufacturing a mutant optical fiber FA for spatial coupling according to claim 1, characterized in that: After stripping the coating of one end of the optical fiber (3) to expose the cladding, the following steps are further included: Cleaning and drying the substrate (1), the cover plate (2) and the optical fiber (3) exposing the cladding, respectively; The length of the optical fiber (3) exposing the cladding is 5-15mm.

3. The method for manufacturing a mutant optical fiber FA for spatial coupling according to claim 2, characterized in that: Before covering the substrate (1) with the cover plate (2), the following step is further included: Fixing the other end of the optical fiber (3) with the assembly fixture with high-temperature adhesive tape.

4. The method for manufacturing a mutant optical fiber FA for spatial coupling according to claim 3, characterized in that: Before irradiating the UV glue to cure, the following step is further included: Sucking out the excess UV glue in the first V-shaped groove to prevent overflow.

5. The method for manufacturing a mutant optical fiber FA for spatial coupling according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: Taking the semi-finished product off the assembly fixture further includes the following steps: Applying acrylic ester glue (7) at the other end of the substrate (1) and completely covering the corresponding part of the optical fiber (3), and irradiating with a UV light source to cure the acrylic ester glue.

6. The method for manufacturing a mutant optical fiber FA for spatial coupling according to claim 5, characterized in that: Before placing the semi-finished product on the following V-shaped groove (4), the following step is further included: Baking the semi-finished product in an environment of 85°C for a preset time, and inspecting and cleaning the baked product.

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