Optical fiber beam combiner applied to satellite-borne optical amplifier and packaging method of optical fiber beam combiner

Abstract

The invention discloses an optical fiber beam combiner applied to a satellite-borne optical amplifier and a packaging method of the optical fiber beam combiner, and belongs to the technical field of optical fiber lasers. An optical fiber beam combiner applied to a satellite-borne optical amplifier comprises a metal base and a metal cover plate, the metal base and the metal cover plate are connected and fixed through bolts and nuts, an optical fiber containing groove is formed in the metal base, two fixing grooves are formed in the metal base and located at the two ends of the optical fiber containing groove respectively, and a through hole groove is formed in the metal cover plate. The through hole groove penetrates through the metal cover plate and is located above the optical fiber placing groove. The through hole groove is formed in the metal cover plate and used for injecting the optical glue into the optical fiber containing groove, a channel can be provided for discharging bubbles in the optical glue in the follow-up treatment process, and the situation that the bubbles in the glue possibly cause scattering and loss of light, and consequently the performance of the optical fiber beam combiner is affected is avoided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of optical fiber lasers, and more specifically to an optical fiber combiner used in satellite-borne optical amplifiers and a packaging method thereof. Background Art

[0002] Fiber combiners for intersatellite communication play an important role in the intersatellite space optical communication system. The indicators of the fiber combiner determine the power indicators of the fiber amplifier for intersatellite space communication, and indirectly determine the intersatellite communication distance. When the fiber combiner is in use, the fused tapered fiber bundle needs to be fixed on the quartz substrate by glue at both ends, and then the quartz substrate is fixed in the metal packaging shell. This solution has a low screening pass rate under vacuum conditions and is not suitable for mass production of intersatellite communication applications.

[0003] After searching, the patent document with the existing announcement number CN107402421A provides a packaging device and a packaging method for a high-load-carrying power optical fiber melting point. The scheme is based on a refractive index glue with a refractive index ratio. Through the change of the refractive index, the waveguide structure of the optical fiber is destroyed or a new optical waveguide structure is formed. A large amount of laser light caused by melting point welding loss, scattering and mode field mismatch is guided by the optical refractive glue and scattered into the air or on the optical fiber melting point groove, and then the heat is quickly conducted to the cold plate through the groove, so that ultra-high power laser light passes through the optical fiber melting point.

[0004] During the packaging process, bubbles in the glue will act as centers of light scattering, increasing light loss. The higher the bubble content, the greater the light scattering and loss, which will reduce the output power and efficiency of the fiber laser. Bubbles in the glue may cause light scattering and loss, affecting the performance of the fiber combiner. When used in a vacuum, necessary measures need to be taken to remove bubbles in the glue. The solution provided by the above patent cannot solve such problems, affecting the performance and life of the fiber combiner in a vacuum environment. In view of this, we propose a fiber combiner and a packaging method for satellite-borne optical amplifiers. Summary of the invention

[0005] 1. Technical issues to be solved

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide a fiber combiner for satellite-borne optical amplifier and a packaging method thereof, so as to solve the problems raised in the above-mentioned background technology.

[0007] 2. Technical solution

[0008] The present invention is achieved through the following technical solutions:

[0009] A fiber optic combiner for satellite-borne optical amplification and a packaging method thereof, comprising a metal base and a metal cover plate, wherein the metal base is provided with a fiber placement groove, the metal base is provided with two fixing grooves, the two fixing grooves are respectively located at the two ends of the fiber placement groove, and the metal cover plate is provided with a through hole groove, the through hole groove penetrates the metal cover plate, and the through hole groove is located above the fiber placement groove.

[0010] As an optional solution to the technical solution of the present application document, the optical fiber placement groove is arranged in a U shape, and the inner walls on both sides of the optical fiber placement groove protrude upward from the upper surface of the metal base.

[0011] As an optional solution to the technical solution of the present application document, two card slots are provided on the metal cover plate, and the two card slots are located on both sides of the through hole slot, and the inner walls on both sides of the optical fiber placement slot are plugged into and matched with the card slots.

[0012] As an optional solution of the technical solution of the present application document, the opening depth of the fixing groove is greater than the opening depth of the optical fiber placement groove, and a plurality of support blocks are fixedly arranged in the fixing groove, and the support blocks are arranged in a U shape.

[0013] As an optional solution to the technical solution of this application document, the metal base and the metal cover are connected and fixed by bolts and nuts.

[0014] A method for packaging an optical fiber combiner for a satellite-borne optical amplifier comprises the following steps:

[0015] S1, placing the fused tapered optical fiber in the optical fiber placement groove, and making the fusion point of the optical fiber located in the middle of the optical fiber placement groove;

[0016] S2. Inject the first glue into the fixing groove so that the first glue covers the optical fiber and is flush with the upper surface of the metal base, and fix the two ends of the optical fiber;

[0017] S4, fix the metal cover plate on the upper part of the metal base;

[0018] S5. Inject the second glue into the optical fiber placement groove through the through-hole groove so that the surface of the second glue is flush with the upper surface of the metal cover plate;

[0019] S6, moving the metal base, the metal cover plate and the optical fiber into a vacuum tank for vacuum treatment;

[0020] S7, heat the vacuum tank to a set temperature and leave it to stand for a set time.

[0021] As an optional solution of the technical solution of this application document, S2 includes the following sub-steps:

[0022] S201, injecting UV glue into the fixing groove so that the UV glue covers the optical fiber and is flush with the upper surface of the metal base;

[0023] S202, using an ultraviolet lamp to irradiate the UV glue in the fixing groove to solidify the UV glue, thereby fixing the optical fiber end in the fixing groove.

[0024] As an optional solution of the technical solution of the present application document, in S5, the second glue is optical glue, and the refractive index of the optical glue matches the refractive index of the cladding of the optical fiber.

[0025] As an optional solution of the technical solution of this application document, in S6, the pressure of the vacuum tank is set to 6.65*10 -3 Pa.

[0026] As an optional solution of the technical solution of the present application document, S7 specifically includes: after the pressure of the vacuum tank is stabilized for 1 hour, heating the vacuum tank to 65° C. and leaving it to stand for 12 hours.

[0027] 3. Beneficial effects

[0028] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0029] 1. The present application provides a through hole groove on the metal cover plate for injecting optical glue into the optical fiber placement groove, and can provide a channel for the discharge of bubbles in the optical glue in the subsequent processing process, thereby preventing bubbles in the glue from causing scattering and loss of light and affecting the performance of the fiber combiner.

[0030] 2. The present application makes the inner walls on both sides of the optical fiber placement groove protrude upwards, which can cooperate with the card slot to play the role of positioning the metal cover plate, and at the same time can prevent the optical glue from overflowing from between the metal base and the metal cover plate.

[0031] 3. This application solves the problem of the fiber optic combiner's dependence on the working air pressure by placing the assembled fiber optic combiner into a vacuum tank and allowing it to stand at room temperature and high temperature to fully expel the bubbles in the optical glue. The fiber optic combiner can work normally under vacuum, standard atmospheric pressure and high pressure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a fiber optic combiner used in satellite-borne optical amplifiers;

[0033] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a fiber optic combiner used in satellite-borne optical amplifiers;

[0034] Figure 3 The present invention is a schematic diagram of a metal base of an optical fiber combiner and a packaging method thereof applied to a satellite-borne optical amplifier;

[0035] In the figure: 1. metal base; 101. optical fiber placement slot; 102. fixing slot; 103. support block; 2. metal cover plate; 201. through hole slot; 202. card slot. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] The technical solution of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0037] Embodiment 1:

[0038] See also Figure 1 The present invention provides an optical fiber combiner for satellite-borne optical amplification, comprising a metal base 1 and a metal cover plate 2, wherein the metal base 1 and the metal cover plate 2 are connected and fixed by bolts and nuts, a fiber placement groove 101 is provided on the metal base 1, two fixing grooves 102 are provided on the metal base 1, and the two fixing grooves 102 are respectively located at the two ends of the fiber placement groove 101, a through hole groove 201 is provided on the metal cover plate 2, and the through hole groove 201 passes through the metal cover plate 2, and the through hole groove 201 is located above the fiber placement groove 101.

[0039] The user can seal the optical fiber by first placing the optical fiber in the optical fiber placement groove 101, then fixing the optical fiber through the fixing groove 102, closing the metal cover 2, and finally injecting optical glue into the optical fiber placement groove 101 through the through hole groove 201 on the metal cover 2; the bubbles in the optical glue in the optical fiber placement groove 101 can be discharged to the outside through the optical fiber placement groove 101 on the metal cover 2 in the subsequent processing process.

[0040] like Figure 2 As shown, the optical fiber placement groove 101 is arranged in a U shape, and the inner walls on both sides of the optical fiber placement groove 101 protrude upward from the upper surface of the metal base 1. The metal cover plate 2 is provided with two card slots 202, and the two card slots 202 are located on both sides of the through hole groove 201. The inner walls on both sides of the optical fiber placement groove 101 are plugged into the card slots 202, as shown in FIG. Figure 3 shown.

[0041] The optical fiber placement groove 101 protruding upward on both sides of the inner wall can be inserted into the card slot 202, so as to position the metal cover plate 2. At the same time, the inner walls protruding upward on both sides of the optical fiber placement groove 101 can prevent the optical glue from overflowing from the gap between the metal base 1 and the metal cover plate 2.

[0042] Moreover, the opening depth of the fixing groove 102 is greater than the opening depth of the optical fiber placement groove 101 , and a plurality of support blocks 103 are fixedly provided in the fixing groove 102 , and the support blocks 103 are arranged in a U shape. When glue is injected into the fixing groove 102 , the support blocks 103 can prevent the glue from flowing into the optical fiber placement groove 101 .

[0043] Embodiment 2:

[0044] The present invention provides a method for packaging an optical fiber combiner for a satellite-borne optical amplifier, using an optical fiber combiner for a satellite-borne optical amplifier described in Example 1, comprising the following steps:

[0045] S1, placing the fused tapered optical fiber in the optical fiber placement groove 101, and making the fusion point of the optical fiber located in the middle of the optical fiber placement groove 101;

[0046] S2, injecting the first glue into the fixing groove 102, so that the first glue covers the optical fiber and is flush with the upper surface of the metal base 1, and fixing the two ends of the optical fiber;

[0047] S4, fixing the metal cover plate 2 on the upper part of the metal base 1;

[0048] S5, injecting the second glue into the optical fiber placement groove 101 through the through hole groove 201, so that the surface of the second glue is flush with the upper surface of the metal cover plate 2;

[0049] S6, moving the metal base 1, the metal cover plate 2 and the optical fiber into a vacuum tank for vacuum treatment;

[0050] S7, heat the vacuum tank to a set temperature and leave it to stand for a set time.

[0051] In the present method, by using glue as a sealing medium and utilizing vacuum treatment and heating treatment, the bubbles in the glue can be discharged outward through the through hole groove 201, thereby preventing the bubbles in the glue from causing scattering and loss of light, affecting the performance of the fiber optic combiner, and reducing the service life of the fiber optic combiner in a vacuum environment.

[0052] The first glue is preferably a UV glue with high viscosity to prevent the UV glue from flowing into the optical fiber placement groove 101. When the first glue is UV glue, S2 includes the following sub-steps:

[0053] S201, injecting UV glue into the fixing groove 102, so that the UV glue covers the optical fiber and is flush with the upper surface of the metal base 1;

[0054] S202 , using an ultraviolet lamp to irradiate the UV glue in the fixing groove 102 to solidify the UV glue, thereby fixing the optical fiber end in the fixing groove 102 .

[0055] Before the UV glue is cured, the state of the optical fiber in the optical fiber placement groove 101 can be adjusted at any time to eliminate the interference to the state of the optical fiber when the UV glue is injected.

[0056] In S5, the second glue is optical glue, and the refractive index of the optical glue matches the refractive index of the optical fiber cladding. Filling with optical glue has both the function of refractive index matching and the effect of heat conduction, which can effectively increase the performance of the optical fiber combiner.

[0057] As a preferred embodiment of the present application, in S6, the pressure of the vacuum tank can be set to 6.65*10 -3 Pa; at this time, S7 specifically includes: after the pressure of the vacuum tank is stable for 1 hour, the vacuum tank is heated to 65°C and left to stand for 12 hours. By standing in vacuum state at room temperature and vacuum high temperature state, bubbles in the optical glue can be effectively eliminated, and the dependence of the optical fiber combiner on the working air pressure is solved, and it can work normally under vacuum, standard atmospheric pressure and high pressure.

Claims

1. An optical fiber combiner for satellite-borne optical amplification, characterized in that: The invention comprises a metal base (1) and a metal cover plate (2), wherein the metal base (1) is provided with an optical fiber placement groove (101), the metal base (1) is provided with two fixing grooves (102), the two fixing grooves (102) are respectively located at two ends of the optical fiber placement groove (101), and the metal cover plate (2) is provided with a through hole groove (201), the through hole groove (201) passes through the metal cover plate (2), and the through hole groove (201) is located above the optical fiber placement groove (101).

2. The optical fiber combiner for satellite-borne optical amplification according to claim 1, characterized in that: The optical fiber placement groove (101) is arranged in a U shape, and the inner walls on both sides of the optical fiber placement groove (101) protrude upwards from the upper surface of the metal base (1).

3. The optical fiber combiner for satellite-borne optical amplification according to claim 2, characterized in that: The metal cover plate (2) is provided with two card slots (202), the two card slots (202) are located on both sides of the through hole slot (201), and the inner walls on both sides of the optical fiber placement slot (101) are plugged into and matched with the card slots (202).

4. The optical fiber combiner for satellite-borne optical amplification according to claim 1, characterized in that: The opening depth of the fixing groove (102) is greater than the opening depth of the optical fiber placement groove (101), and a plurality of support blocks (103) are fixedly arranged in the fixing groove (102), and the support blocks (103) are arranged in a U shape.

5. The optical fiber combiner for satellite-borne optical amplification according to claim 1, characterized in that: The metal base (1) and the metal cover plate (2) are connected and fixed by bolts and nuts.

6. A method for packaging an optical fiber combiner for onboard optical amplifier, using an optical fiber combiner for onboard optical amplifier as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The following steps are involved: S1, placing the optical fiber after fusion taper in the optical fiber placement groove (101), and making the fusion point of the optical fiber be located in the middle of the optical fiber placement groove (101); S2, injecting a first glue into the fixing groove (102) so that the first glue covers the optical fiber and is flush with the upper surface of the metal base (1), thereby fixing both ends of the optical fiber; S4, fixing the metal cover plate (2) on the upper part of the metal base (1); S5, injecting the second glue into the optical fiber placement groove (101) through the through hole groove (201), so that the surface of the second glue is flush with the upper surface of the metal cover plate (2); S6, moving the metal base (1), the metal cover plate (2) and the optical fiber into a vacuum tank for vacuum treatment; S7, heat the vacuum tank to a set temperature and leave it to stand for a set time.

7. The method for packaging a fiber combiner for onboard optical amplifier according to claim 6, characterized in that: The S2 comprises the following sub-steps: S201, injecting UV glue into the fixing groove (102) so that the UV glue covers the optical fiber and is flush with the upper surface of the metal base (1); S202, using an ultraviolet lamp to irradiate the UV glue in the fixing groove (102), so that the UV glue is cured, and the optical fiber end is fixed in the fixing groove (102).

8. The method for packaging a fiber combiner for onboard optical amplifier according to claim 6, characterized in that: In S5, the second glue is optical glue, and the refractive index of the optical glue matches the refractive index of the cladding of the optical fiber.

9. The method for packaging an optical fiber combiner for onboard optical amplifier according to claim 6, characterized in that: In S6, the pressure of the vacuum tank is set to 6.65*10 -3 Pa.

10. The method for packaging an optical fiber combiner for onboard optical amplifier according to claim 6, characterized in that: The step S7 specifically includes: after the pressure of the vacuum tank is stabilized for 1 hour, heating the vacuum tank to 65° C. and leaving it to stand for 12 hours.

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