A method for packaging a combiner that can withstand extreme temperatures and a fiber combiner

Abstract

The application belongs to the technical field of fiber combiner, and discloses a limit temperature bearing combiner packaging method and a fiber combiner. The limit temperature bearing combiner packaging method is designed from the packaging material and mode of the fiber bundle, a sealing glue with a similar elastic modulus to the packaging component and the fiber of the fiber bundle is used to connect and fix different devices from different positions. The effective fixation of the fiber bundle in the packaging component can be realized by an appropriate amount of glue, and a packaging structure with the same stress change as the packaging component and the fiber bundle can be formed. Thus, the stress cannot cause the deformation of the main fiber bundle of the combiner, or cause the quartz groove to break due to the uneven stress, and the reliability of the combiner is effectively enhanced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of optical fiber combiner technology, specifically relating to a combiner packaging method and an optical fiber combiner that can withstand extreme temperatures. Background Technology

[0002] Fiber optic combiners are one of the core components of fiber lasers, primarily used for pump coupling. A fiber optic combiner can efficiently couple the energy of multiple lasers into a single fiber for transmission. Their power output typically ranges from tens of watts to hundreds of watts, or even kilowatts. This high power operation makes heat dissipation a critical issue for fiber optic combiners.

[0003] In an existing type of bundle combiner, such as Figure 1 As shown, it includes two concave quartz components, one serving as an mounting groove for the fiber optic bundle and the other as a cover plate. The two are encapsulated by interlocking with each other, and the outer shell consists of a concave metal groove and a metal cover plate for sealing.

[0004] However, this technical solution has the following problems:

[0005] 1. Under high and low temperatures, the stress release of the adhesive used to fix the fiber bundle inside the quartz groove has a significant direct impact on the device.

[0006] 2. High processing precision is required; otherwise, the quartz encapsulation cover will not fit properly between the quartz mounting slot and the metal encapsulation slot.

[0007] 3. The structure is relatively complex and the manufacturing cost is high. Summary of the Invention

[0008] In view of this, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a bundler packaging method and an optical fiber bundler that can withstand extreme temperatures, so as to solve the problem that the stress release of glue in the packaging of existing bundlers at high and low temperatures has a large direct force on the device, which makes the optical fiber bundle prone to deformation or even breakage, thus affecting the reliability of the bundler.

[0009] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0010] On the one hand, a bundler packaging method capable of withstanding extreme temperatures is provided, comprising the following steps:

[0011] Apply the first sealant to the bare fiber segments of the fiber bundle to fix the relative positions of the fibers before coupling.

[0012] An encapsulation component made of the same material as the optical fiber bundle is placed inside the bundle combiner housing, and the encapsulation component is fixed in the bundle combiner housing by a second sealant.

[0013] The fiber bundle is placed into the encapsulation slot of the encapsulation component inside the bundle combiner, and the input and output stripping points of the fiber bundle are fixed in the encapsulation slot by the third sealant, which covers the input and output stripping points.

[0014] The two ends of the fiber bundle are fixed with a fourth sealant, and the fourth sealant covers the coating layer at both ends of the fiber bundle in the encapsulation groove.

[0015] The first cover plate, which is made of the same material as the packaging component, covers the packaging groove. The first cover plate is fixed to the packaging component by the fifth sealant and seals the bundle combiner.

[0016] The elastic modulus of the second, third, fourth, and fifth sealants is close to or equal to the elastic modulus of the encapsulated component.

[0017] In a possible implementation, the step of applying a first sealant to the bare fiber section of the fiber bundle outside the fire-exposed area after it has been fired by a tapering machine, in order to fix the relative position between the fibers before coupling, includes the following methods:

[0018] The first sealant is applied in a suspended manner to the optical fiber bundle that has been fired by the tapering machine and then cured. The sealant is applied to the bare fiber section outside the fire zone of the optical fiber bundle to fix the relative position between the optical fibers before coupling.

[0019] In a possible implementation, the step of placing a packaging component made of the same material as the optical fiber bundle inside the combiner housing, and fixing the packaging component in the combiner housing with a second sealant, includes the following methods:

[0020] Apply the second sealant to the inner bottom of the bundle combiner housing;

[0021] Insert the encapsulation component made of the same material as the optical fiber bundle, and press lightly to make the second sealant evenly fill the gap between the encapsulation component and the bundle combiner housing;

[0022] Curing is performed using ultraviolet light.

[0023] In a possible implementation, the first cover plate, made of the same material as the encapsulation component, covers the encapsulation groove. The first cover plate is fixed to the encapsulation component by a fifth sealant and seals the bundler, including the following methods:

[0024] The first cover plate, which is made of the same material as the encapsulation component, is used to seal the encapsulation groove. The contact gaps between the two sides of the first cover plate and the encapsulation component are filled and cured with the fifth sealant.

[0025] The bundle combiner is secured to the housing by a second cover plate that matches the bundle combiner housing to close the bundle combiner.

[0026] Use soft adhesive to seal the fiber optic ports at both ends of the combiner.

[0027] In possible implementations, the second sealant is a high-refractive-index adhesive, the fourth sealant is a high-refractive-index adhesive, and the fifth sealant is a high-refractive-index adhesive.

[0028] In one possible implementation, the housing of the bundle combiner is provided with a pressure balancing hole, which communicates with the internal space of the housing where the encapsulation component is located.

[0029] In one possible implementation, the encapsulation groove surface of the encapsulation member is a smoothly transitioned U-shape.

[0030] In one possible implementation, the encapsulation component is made of quartz.

[0031] On the other hand, an optical fiber combiner is also provided, including a housing, an encapsulation component, a first cover plate, and an optical fiber bundle. The encapsulation component is disposed inside the housing. The encapsulation component is fixed in the housing by a second sealant filling the gap between the housing and the encapsulation component. The materials of the encapsulation component and the first cover plate are the same as the optical fiber materials of the optical fiber bundle. The optical fiber bundle is disposed in the encapsulation groove of the encapsulation component. The optical fibers of the optical fiber bundle before coupling are fixed together by the first sealant. The input end stripping point and the output end stripping point of the optical fiber bundle are both fixed in the encapsulation groove by a third sealant. The third sealant covers the input end stripping point and the output end stripping point. The two ends of the optical fiber bundle are fixed in the encapsulation groove by a fourth sealant, and the fourth sealant covers the coating layer at both ends of the optical fiber bundle in the encapsulation groove. The first cover plate is fixed to the encapsulation component by a fifth sealant to seal the encapsulation groove.

[0032] The elastic modulus of the second, third, fourth, and fifth sealants is close to or equal to the elastic modulus of the encapsulated component.

[0033] In one possible implementation, the housing of the bundle combiner is provided with a pressure balancing hole, which communicates with the internal space of the housing where the encapsulation component is located;

[0034] And / or, the encapsulation groove surface of the encapsulation component is a smoothly transitioned U-shape;

[0035] And / or, the encapsulation component is made of quartz, and each fiber in the fiber bundle is a quartz fiber;

[0036] And / or, the outer shell of the bundle combiner is provided with openings at both ends that communicate with the encapsulation groove;

[0037] And / or, the first sealant is located on a bare fiber segment outside the fire zone.

[0038] In possible implementations, the second sealant is a high-refractive-index adhesive, the fourth sealant is a high-refractive-index adhesive, and the fifth sealant is a high-refractive-index adhesive.

[0039] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0040] The present invention relates to a bundle combiner packaging method and an optical fiber bundle combiner capable of withstanding extreme temperatures. The design focuses on the packaging materials and methods for the optical fiber bundle. By using a sealant with an elastic modulus close to that of the packaging component and the optical fiber bundle, different devices are connected and fixed at different positions. This not only achieves effective fixation of the optical fiber bundle within the packaging component with an appropriate amount of sealant, but also forms a packaging structure with stress variations similar to those of the packaging component and the optical fiber bundle. This avoids stress causing deformation of the main optical fiber bundle of the bundle combiner, or causing uneven stress on the quartz groove leading to breakage, thereby effectively enhancing the reliability of the bundle combiner. Attached Figure Description

[0041] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of an existing fiber optic combiner.

[0042] Figure 2 An exploded view of an optical fiber combiner;

[0043] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the packaging structure of an optical fiber combiner.

[0044] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the bottom hole of the housing of an optical fiber combiner;

[0045] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram showing the dispensing positions of the first and third adhesives in an optical fiber combiner.

[0046] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram showing the dispensing positions of the fourth adhesive to fix the coating layers of the input and output optical fibers in an optical fiber combiner.

[0047] Figure 7 A schematic diagram showing the application location of the soft adhesive in a fiber optic combiner;

[0048] Figure 8 A flowchart illustrating a bundler packaging method capable of withstanding extreme temperatures;

[0049] Figure 9 A schematic diagram of the temperature test location of the combiner, which is a test example of a combiner packaging method that can withstand extreme temperatures.

[0050] Figure 10 The image shows a test diagram of the combiner efficiency for a test example of a combiner packaging method that can withstand extreme temperatures.

[0051] In the diagram: 01-Fifth sealant; 02-Second sealant; 03-First sealant; 1-Second cover plate; 2-First cover plate; 3-Encapsulation component; 4-Comb collector housing; 5-First hole; 6-Second hole; 7-Air pressure balance hole; 8-Suspension fixing point; 9-Input end peeling adhesive fixing point; 10-Output end peeling adhesive fixing point; 11-First end fixing point; 12-Second end fixing point; 13-First port; 14-Second port. Detailed Implementation

[0052] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the technical solution of the present invention, the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments.

[0053] Defects or damage to fiber combiners manifest as reduced efficiency, overheating, and burnout. The primary causes of these problems are changes in fiber parameters, deformation, and breakage, which are mainly influenced by the encapsulation materials and methods. Encapsulating the fiber bundle inside the combiner inevitably involves direct contact between the material and the fiber bundle. The material's properties and location directly affect the force it exerts on the fiber bundle, thus influencing its deformation and breakage. Temperature and humidity parameters are particularly important; various materials expand or contract significantly with changes in temperature and humidity, which increases the force exerted by the encapsulation on the fiber bundle, affecting the combiner's reliability.

[0054] The larger the fixing / contact area between the packaging material and the fiber bundle, the more stable the fiber bundle will be. However, once the material changes, a larger contact area means a greater variable, which will have a greater adverse impact on the device.

[0055] To solve the above problem, please refer to Figure 2-8 As shown, an embodiment of this application provides a bundler packaging method capable of withstanding extreme temperatures, comprising the following steps:

[0056] Step S100: Apply the first sealant 03 to the bare fiber segments of the fiber bundle to fix the relative positions of the fibers before coupling.

[0057] In this step, the first sealant 03 is applied to fix the optical fibers of the fiber bundle before coupling, which can fix the relative position of each optical fiber and is conducive to stable encapsulation.

[0058] Step S200: Place the encapsulation component 3, which is made of the same material as the optical fiber bundle, inside the bundle combiner housing 4. The encapsulation component 3 is fixed in the bundle combiner housing 4 by the second sealant 02.

[0059] In this step, the encapsulation component 3 is made of the same material as the optical fiber of the fiber bundle, which can facilitate the generation of the same stress change as the optical fiber of the fiber bundle. The encapsulation component 3 is fixed in the bundle combiner housing 4 by a second sealant 02 with a similar elastic modulus. When the encapsulation component 3 generates stress change, it can undergo the same stress change. This can not only avoid the situation where the deformation of the encapsulation component 3 increases due to the large strain difference between it and the second sealant 02, but also better fix the encapsulation component 3.

[0060] Step S300: Place the fiber bundle into the encapsulation slot of the encapsulation component 3 inside the bundle combiner, and fix the input end stripping point and the output end stripping point of the fiber bundle in the encapsulation slot respectively with the third sealant, and cover the input end stripping point and the output end stripping point with the third sealant.

[0061] In this step, both the input and output stripping points of the fiber bundle are fixed within the encapsulation groove using a third sealant. This provides initial fixation of the fiber bundle and protects these points. The third sealant uses an adhesive with an elastic modulus close to that of the encapsulation component 3, ensuring equal stress changes at high and low temperatures and preventing excessive strain differences that could lead to excessive fiber bundle deformation. Filling the encapsulation groove completely covers the input and output stripping points, which are the points where the coating layer meets the bare fiber segment. Figure 5 As shown, the third sealant is applied to the adhesive fixation point 9 at the input end and the adhesive fixation point 10 at the output end for fixation.

[0062] Step S400: Fix both ends of the fiber bundle with the fourth sealant, and the fourth sealant covers the coating layer at both ends of the fiber bundle in the encapsulation groove.

[0063] In this step, the two ends of the fiber bundle are fixed with a fourth sealant and covered with a coating layer. This allows the fourth sealant, whose elastic modulus is close to that of the encapsulation component 3, to undergo the same stress change under both high and low temperatures, thus better protecting the fiber bundle. Furthermore, after the fourth sealant is applied, the fiber bundle is essentially fixed within the encapsulation component 3. Figure 6 As shown, the fourth sealant is applied to the first end fixing point 11 and the second end fixing point 12 respectively.

[0064] Step S500: The first cover plate 2, which is made of the same material as the packaging component 3, is used to cover the packaging groove. The first cover plate 2 is fixed to the packaging component 3 by the fifth sealant 01 and seals the bundle assembly.

[0065] In this step, the encapsulation groove is sealed with a first cover plate 2 made of the same material as the encapsulation component 3. With the fifth sealant 01 having an elastic modulus close to that of the encapsulation component 3, the encapsulation component 3 and the first cover plate 2 can form a strain-uniform structure through the fifth sealant 01, thereby further improving the protection of the optical fiber bundle. Finally, by encapsulating the bundle combiner, the external environment can be prevented from further affecting the internal adhesive.

[0066] Among them, the elastic modulus of the second sealant 02, the third sealant, the fourth sealant, and the fifth sealant 01 are close to or equal to the elastic modulus of the encapsulation component 3. By sealing from different positions, these sealants can ensure that the encapsulation component 3, the first cover plate 2, and the fiber bundle form a unified whole with equal stress changes through the corresponding sealants, without deforming the main body of the fiber bundle of the combiner or causing the encapsulation component 3 to crack due to uneven stress. This effectively enhances the reliability of the combiner. It also effectively encapsulates and seals the fiber bundle, improving the reliability and stability of the combiner under high and low temperature conditions. Therefore, by designing the fiber bundle encapsulation materials and methods, and selecting sealants with elastic modulus close to that of the encapsulation component 3 to fix different main positions of the fiber bundle at different locations, the contradiction between the steady state of the fiber bundle and the stress changes caused by temperature changes can be balanced, thereby improving the reliability of the combiner.

[0067] It is understandable that a refractive index higher than 1.6 is generally considered a high refractive index, while a refractive index lower than 1.6 is considered a low refractive index. In the specific implementation process, a sealant with the corresponding refractive index can be selected according to actual needs or circumstances. The preferred sealant is a UV adhesive.

[0068] Through the above technical solution, the design of the fiber bundle encapsulation material and method is carried out. A sealant with an elastic modulus close to that of the encapsulation component 3 and the fiber bundle is used to connect and fix different devices from different positions. This can not only achieve effective fixation of the fiber bundle in the encapsulation component 3 with an appropriate amount of sealant, but also form an encapsulation structure with the same stress change as the encapsulation component 3 and the fiber bundle. This can avoid the stress from deforming the main body fiber bundle of the combiner, or causing the encapsulation component 3 to break due to uneven stress, thereby effectively enhancing the reliability of the combiner.

[0069] In one embodiment, step S100: applying the first sealant 03 to the bare fiber segments of the fiber bundle to fix the relative positions between the fibers before coupling, includes the following method:

[0070] Step S110: Apply the first sealant 03 in a suspended manner to the optical fiber bundle that has been fired by the tapering machine and let it cure. The application position is the bare fiber segment outside the fire zone of the optical fiber bundle, so as to fix the relative position between the optical fibers before the optical fiber bundle is coupled.

[0071] In this step, adhesive is applied to the bare (cladding) ends of the three optical fibers in the fiber bundle. The adhesive is applied to the cladding in a suspended manner, without contacting the encapsulation component 3. It is only used to fix the relative position of the three optical fibers and is applied outside the fire-affected area of ​​the fiber bundle. Since the fibers are more prone to breakage after being subjected to fire, even slight changes in adhesive stress can cause damage. Therefore, this step avoids the weak points of the fibers, reducing the impact of stress variables. After the first sealant 03 is applied, it is cured using a UV lamp; as... Figure 5 As shown, the first sealant 03 is applied to the suspended fixing point 8 of the fiber bundle to fix the relative position between the fibers.

[0072] Specifically, the refractive index of the first sealant 03 is lower than that of the optical fiber cladding.

[0073] Further, step S200: placing the encapsulation component 3, whose material is the same as that of the optical fiber bundle, inside the combiner housing 4, and fixing the encapsulation component 3 in the combiner housing 4 with the second sealant 02, includes the following methods:

[0074] Step S210: Apply the second sealant 02 to the inner bottom of the bundle combiner housing 4;

[0075] Step S220: Place the encapsulation component 3, which is made of the same material as the optical fiber bundle, and press it slightly so that the second sealant 02 evenly fills the gap between the encapsulation component 3 and the bundle combiner shell 4.

[0076] Step S230: Curing with UV lamp.

[0077] In this way, the second sealant 02 is applied to the inner bottom of the bundle combiner housing 4, which facilitates the bonding and fixing of the outer side of the encapsulation component 3 to the bundle combiner housing 4 through the second sealant 02. Under the action of pressing, the second sealant 02 can be evenly filled between the encapsulation component 3 and the bundle combiner housing 4, filling the gap between them, which plays a role in fixing and full gap sealing, making the encapsulation more reliable. At the same time, it can also form a more integrated equal strain system with the encapsulation component 3, which is made of the same material as the optical fiber bundle, and has a stronger protective effect on the optical fiber bundle and the encapsulation component 3.

[0078] To further achieve uniform strain across the entire package and improve its sealing performance, step S500 involves sealing the packaging groove with a first cover plate 2 made of the same material as the packaging component 3. The first cover plate 2 is fixed to the packaging component 3 using a fifth sealant 01, and the bundler is sealed using the following methods:

[0079] Step S510: The first cover plate 2, which is made of the same material as the encapsulation component 3, is used to seal the encapsulation groove. The contact gaps between the two sides of the first cover plate 2 and the encapsulation component 3 are filled and cured with the fifth sealant 01.

[0080] Step S520: The bundler is sealed by fixing the second cover plate 1, which matches the bundler housing 4, onto the housing.

[0081] Step S530: Seal the fiber optic ports at both ends of the combiner with soft adhesive.

[0082] In this way, by sealing the encapsulation groove with the first cover plate 2, which is made of the same material as the encapsulation component 3, the materials of the first cover plate 2 and the encapsulation component 3 can be unified. With the fifth adhesive of similar elastic modulus, they can be bonded to form an encapsulation structure with equal stress variation. This can further reduce the impact on the fiber bundle and the encapsulation component 3, effectively preventing deformation and breakage of both. The first cover plate 2, the encapsulation component 3, and the fifth adhesive can also encapsulate more effectively and reliably. The combiner housing 4 is also equipped with a matching second cover plate 1. The second cover plate 1 can seal the combiner housing 4. The second cover plate 1 is fixed to the housing with screws to seal the entire quartz device. At the same time, the fiber ports at both ends of the combiner housing 4 are sealed with soft adhesive. This can prevent the external environment from further affecting the internal sealant, thereby isolating the sealant in contact with the fiber bundle and reducing the risk of sealant deterioration due to temperature changes. Specifically, the fiber optic port is either a straight port or a through port, and it is divided into a first port 13 and a second port 14 at one end. Soft glue is distributed and filled in the two ports. The bottom of the bundle combiner housing 4 has a first hole 5 and a second hole 6. The first hole 5 is used to fix the second cover plate 1 by screws, and the second hole 6 is used to fix the bundle combiner as a whole.

[0083] In the embodiments of this application, the second sealant 02 is a high refractive index adhesive, the fourth sealant is a high refractive index adhesive, and the fifth sealant 01 is a high refractive index adhesive.

[0084] The second sealant 02, the fourth sealant, and the fifth sealant 01, all made of high refractive index adhesive, can effectively encapsulate and fix the corresponding devices, and also provide good heat dissipation. Together with the metal bundler housing 4 and the second cover plate 1, they can facilitate the outward conduction of heat and improve the overall heat dissipation effect.

[0085] Specifically, the first sealant 03 and the third sealant use low refractive index adhesives.

[0086] In order to improve the adaptability of the adhesive inside the bundle combiner under high and low temperature conditions, the outer shell of the bundle combiner is provided with a pressure balancing hole 7, which is connected to the inner space of the outer shell where the encapsulation component 3 is located.

[0087] In this way, the air pressure balance hole 7 can prevent air bubbles and gaps from being generated when the encapsulation component 3 is bonded to the inner bottom surface of the bundler housing 4 with glue. At the same time, it can better guide the tensile and contractile forces of the glue caused by temperature changes, so as not to exert excessive force on the encapsulation component 3 and damage the device.

[0088] Meanwhile, the surface of the encapsulation groove of the encapsulation component 3 can also be a smoothly transitioning U-shape. By adopting a smoothly transitioning U-shaped groove surface, the stress generated by temperature changes in the adhesive stored inside can be dispersed to the entire sidewall of the encapsulation groove, thereby enhancing the load-bearing capacity of the encapsulation component 3.

[0089] Specifically, the encapsulation component 3 is made of quartz. Optical fibers are mainly made of quartz fiber, fluorine-doped fiber, infrared fiber, composite fiber, chloride fluoride fiber, and plastic-clad fiber. In this embodiment, quartz fiber is preferred, and correspondingly, the encapsulation component 3 is also made of quartz, thus allowing it to withstand stress changes similar to the optical fiber.

[0090] For the above-described bundler packaging method that can withstand extreme temperatures, please refer to... Figure 2-7 As shown, this application embodiment also provides an optical fiber combiner packaged by this method, including a housing, a packaging component 3, a first cover plate 2, and an optical fiber bundle. The packaging component 3 is disposed inside the housing. The packaging component 3 is fixed in the housing by a second sealant 02 filling the gap between the housing and the packaging component 3. The materials of the packaging component 3 and the first cover plate 2 are the same as the optical fiber material of the optical fiber bundle. The optical fiber bundle is disposed in the packaging groove of the packaging component 3. The optical fibers of the optical fiber bundle before coupling are fixed together by the first sealant 03, which is located outside the fire-affected area. The bare fiber segment, the input and output stripping points of the fiber bundle are both fixed in the encapsulation groove by a third sealant, the third sealant covers the input and output stripping points, the two ends of the fiber bundle are fixed in the encapsulation groove by a fourth sealant, and the fourth sealant covers the coating layer at both ends of the fiber bundle in the encapsulation groove, the first cover plate 2 is fixed to the encapsulation component 3 by a fifth sealant 01 to seal the encapsulation groove; wherein, the elastic modulus of the second sealant 02, the third sealant, the fourth sealant and the fifth sealant 01 is close to or equal to the elastic modulus of the encapsulation component 3.

[0091] The housing of the bundle combiner is provided with a pressure balancing hole 7, which is connected to the internal space of the outer shell where the encapsulation component 3 is located.

[0092] The encapsulation groove surface of the encapsulation component 3 is a U-shaped groove with a smooth transition.

[0093] The encapsulation component 3 is made of quartz, and each optical fiber in the optical fiber bundle is a quartz optical fiber.

[0094] The outer shell of the bundle combiner is provided with openings at both ends that communicate with the encapsulation groove;

[0095] The first sealant 03 is located on the bare fiber segment outside the fire zone.

[0096] The fiber optic combiner with the above structure has the following technical advantages:

[0097] 1. The combination of the encapsulation component 3 and the first cover plate 2 is simple, thin, lightweight, and requires low processing precision. The width of the encapsulation component 3 and the first cover plate 2 need to be slightly smaller than the internal width of the bundle combiner housing 4, and the gaps can be fixed by filling with glue.

[0098] 2. A fixing adhesive with an elastic modulus close to that of quartz is used to fill the bottom, interior, and first cover plate 2 of the encapsulation component 3, respectively fixing the encapsulation component 3 to the bundle combiner shell 4, the encapsulation component 3 to the fiber bundle, and the encapsulation component 3 to the first cover plate 2. The uniformity of the adhesive in these three places allows the adhesive to change in the same way as the encapsulation component 3 and the quartz fiber under high or low temperatures, without deforming the main body of the bundle combiner, the fiber bundle, or causing the encapsulation component 3 to break due to uneven stress. This effectively enhances the reliability of the bundle combiner. By using high and low fold adhesives to fix different main positions of the fiber bundle, the weak points of the fiber bundle are avoided, balancing the contradiction between the steady state and stress variables of the fiber bundle, while also providing good heat dissipation.

[0099] 3. Specifically, for the key positions of the fiber bundle in the combiner—the relative positions between the fibers and the bare fiber segments—good fixation and minimal stress are required. Therefore, a small amount of low-refractive-index adhesive is used to fix these critical positions, avoiding vulnerable areas of the fiber bundle. Furthermore, to ensure overall fiber stability, a suitable amount of high-refractive-index adhesive is filled into the less important coated fibers. This effectively stabilizes the fiber bundle within the encapsulation component 3 and effectively dissipates heat from the fibers. Simultaneously, using the same encapsulation component 3 as the quartz material as the fiber bundle as the initial encapsulation ensures that the fiber bundle encapsulation material changes in the same way as the fiber bundle itself at any operating temperature. Its U-shaped structure also provides high stress dispersion for the adhesive fixing the fiber bundle internally. The metal shell encapsulation protects and dissipates heat from the quartz encapsulation and can also be designed with screw holes for fixing the combiner device to any product. Finally, soft adhesive is used to isolate the high and low-refractive-index adhesives in contact with the fiber bundle, reducing the risk of degradation due to temperature changes.

[0100] 4. The bundle combiner using the above-mentioned packaging method or packaging structure can withstand the extreme storage of 24h×22 at -40℃, 24h×22 at 85℃ and 85%HR, and 24h×5 under high and low temperature cycling from -40℃ to 85℃. After the extreme storage, the quartz device of the bundle combiner does not break, and the fiber bundle does not have obvious bending or breakage. The pump efficiency fluctuation of the bundle combiner is ≤3%, which meets the extreme test requirements of passive optical fiber devices.

[0101] Test case

[0102] Comparative testing. After the combiner was manufactured according to the method described in this application, it was stored normally on the production line, followed by visual inspection and optical testing. Data was recorded, and qualified combiner products were numbered. They were then subjected to extreme temperature storage under three conditions: high temperature and high humidity, low temperature, and high and low temperature shock. After the extreme temperature storage was completed, the samples were removed and subjected to the same tests. The data fluctuations before and after storage were compared to determine the temperature resistance and long-term reliability of the combiner packaging method described in this application.

[0103] The specific tests are as follows:

[0104] 1. Appearance inspection

[0105] Open the second cover and observe under a microscope through the first cover made of transparent quartz material whether the encapsulated components are broken, whether the colloid is broken or detached, and whether the fiber bundle is broken or bent.

[0106] 2. Optical Testing

[0107] The main parameters for the optical performance of a beam combiner are its temperature and pump efficiency. Higher temperatures (closer to the ignition point of the colloid or fiber coating, 100°C and above) generally result in lower reliability. Temperature parameters are located as follows... Figure 9 As shown, for the complete device after the combiner is fabricated, its main temperature parameters are: the temperature at the input multi-fiber point, the temperature of the combiner's metal casing, and the temperature of the output single fiber; the pump efficiency test is as follows: Figure 10 As shown, under the same pump source and optical path, the pump efficiency of the beam combiner can be obtained by comparing the output power before and after it is connected to the beam combiner.

[0108] Test results:

[0109] The following test data were all recorded 2 minutes after the beam combiner was connected to the optical path and emitted light at 100% speed. In order to better compare the performance changes of the beam combiner after being stored at extreme temperatures, the beam combiner was not water-cooled during the test.

[0110] 1. Temperature shock limit test, comparison of test data before and after the bundle combiner, see Table 1. Temperature storage range: -40℃~85℃; storage time: 24h×5.

[0111] Table 1

[0112]

[0113] 2. High temperature and high humidity limit test, comparison of test data before and after the bundle combiner, see Table 2. Temperature and humidity storage: 85℃ 85%RH; storage time: 24h×22.

[0114] Table 2

[0115]

[0116]

[0117] The above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention. It should be noted that the above preferred embodiments should not be considered as limitations on the present invention, and the scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the scope defined in the claims. For those skilled in the art, several improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, and these improvements and modifications should also be considered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A bundler packaging method capable of withstanding extreme temperatures, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: Apply the first sealant to the bare fiber segments of the fiber bundle to fix the relative positions of the fibers before coupling. An encapsulation component made of the same material as the optical fiber bundle is placed inside the bundle combiner housing, and the encapsulation component is fixed in the bundle combiner housing by a second sealant. The fiber bundle is placed into the encapsulation slot of the encapsulation component inside the bundle combiner, and the input and output stripping points of the fiber bundle are fixed in the encapsulation slot by the third sealant, which covers the input and output stripping points. The two ends of the fiber bundle are fixed with a fourth sealant, and the fourth sealant covers the coating layer at both ends of the fiber bundle in the encapsulation groove. The first cover plate, which is made of the same material as the packaging component, covers the packaging groove. The first cover plate is fixed to the packaging component by the fifth sealant and seals the bundle combiner. The elastic modulus of the second, third, fourth, and fifth sealants is close to or equal to that of the encapsulation component, so that the encapsulation component, the first cover plate, and the optical fiber bundle form a whole with the same stress change through the corresponding sealants.

2. The bundler packaging method capable of withstanding extreme temperatures as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The step involves applying a first sealant to the bare fiber segments of the fiber bundle to fix the relative positions of the fibers before coupling, including the following methods: The first sealant is applied in a suspended manner to the optical fiber bundle that has been fired by the tapering machine and then cured. The sealant is applied to the bare fiber section outside the fire zone of the optical fiber bundle to fix the relative position between the optical fibers before coupling.

3. The bundler packaging method capable of withstanding extreme temperatures as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The steps involve placing an encapsulation component made of the same material as the optical fiber bundle inside the combiner housing, and fixing the encapsulation component in the combiner housing with a second sealant, including the following methods: Apply the second sealant to the inner bottom of the bundle combiner housing; Insert the encapsulation component made of the same material as the optical fiber bundle, and press lightly to make the second sealant evenly fill the gap between the encapsulation component and the bundle combiner housing; Curing is performed using ultraviolet light.

4. The bundler packaging method capable of withstanding extreme temperatures as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The steps include sealing the encapsulation groove with a first cover plate made of the same material as the encapsulation component, fixing the first cover plate to the encapsulation component with a fifth sealant, and sealing the bundler, including the following methods: The first cover plate, which is made of the same material as the encapsulation component, is used to seal the encapsulation groove. The contact gaps between the two sides of the first cover plate and the encapsulation component are filled and cured with the fifth sealant. The bundle combiner is secured to the housing by a second cover plate that matches the bundle combiner housing to close the bundle combiner. Use soft adhesive to seal the fiber optic ports at both ends of the combiner.

5. The bundler packaging method capable of withstanding extreme temperatures as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The second sealant is a high refractive index adhesive, the fourth sealant is a high refractive index adhesive, and the fifth sealant is a high refractive index adhesive. The refractive indices of the second sealant and the fifth sealant are higher than 1.

6.

6. A bundler packaging method capable of withstanding extreme temperatures as described in any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The housing of the bundle combiner is provided with a pressure balancing hole, which is connected to the internal space of the housing where the encapsulation component is located.

7. A bundler packaging method capable of withstanding extreme temperatures as described in any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The encapsulation groove surface of the encapsulation component is a smoothly transitioned U-shape; and / or, the material of the encapsulation component is quartz.

8. An optical fiber combiner, characterized in that, The device includes a housing, an encapsulation component, a first cover plate, and an optical fiber bundle. The encapsulation component is disposed inside the housing and is fixed in the housing by a second sealant filling the gap between the housing and the encapsulation component. The encapsulation component and the first cover plate are made of the same material as the optical fibers of the optical fiber bundle. The optical fiber bundle is disposed in the encapsulation groove of the encapsulation component. The optical fibers of the optical fiber bundle before coupling are fixed together by the first sealant, which is located on the bare fiber section outside the fire zone. The input and output stripping points of the optical fiber bundle are fixed in the encapsulation groove by a third sealant, which covers the input and output stripping points. The two ends of the optical fiber bundle are fixed in the encapsulation groove by a fourth sealant, which covers the coating layer at both ends of the optical fiber bundle in the encapsulation groove. The first cover plate is fixed to the encapsulation component by a fifth sealant to seal the encapsulation groove. The elastic modulus of the second, third, fourth, and fifth sealants is close to or equal to that of the encapsulation component, so that the encapsulation component, the first cover plate, and the optical fiber bundle form a whole with the same stress change through the corresponding sealants.

9. The fiber optic combiner as described in claim 8, characterized in that, The housing of the bundle combiner is provided with a pressure balancing hole, which is connected to the internal space of the outer shell where the encapsulation component is located; and / or, the encapsulation groove surface of the encapsulation component is a smoothly transitioned U-shape. And / or, the encapsulation component is made of quartz, and each fiber in the fiber bundle is a quartz fiber; And / or, the outer shell of the bundle combiner is provided with openings at both ends that communicate with the encapsulation groove.

10. The fiber optic combiner as described in claim 8, characterized in that, The second sealant is a high refractive index adhesive, the fourth sealant is a high refractive index adhesive, and the fifth sealant is a high refractive index adhesive. The refractive indices of the second sealant and the fifth sealant are higher than 1.6.

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