Optical fiber alignment device

Abstract

The invention discloses an optical fiber alignment device, and belongs to the field of optical fiber communication. According to the device, accurate alignment of optical fibers can be realized, the processing difficulty of parts is reduced, and meanwhile, the rigidity and the stability can be improved; according to the optical fiber alignment device, the base, the first micro-motion plate, the second micro-motion plate, the third micro-motion plate, the fourth micro-motion plate, the first optical fiber support and the second optical fiber support are connected into a whole in an injection molding mode, the machining difficulty of complex parts is reduced, the manufacturing cost is saved, and meanwhile the weight of the optical fiber alignment device is reduced; in addition, after the ceramic V-groove is used as an integral part to be installed on the first optical fiber support and the second optical fiber support, the middle connecting part is knocked to be removed, and the optical fiber alignment precision is improved. The micro-motion plate is composed of four parallel spring steel sheets, the micro-motion plate is driven to move obliquely upwards or obliquely downwards by 45 degrees through the up-and-down movement mode of the screw rod, and the rigidity and stability of the optical fiber alignment device are greatly improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention belongs to the field of optical fiber communication, and in particular relates to an optical fiber alignment device. Background Art

[0002] In optical fiber communication technology, the size of the splicing loss is the key to the quality of optical fiber splicing. Improving the accuracy and stability of optical fiber core alignment is the main way to reduce splicing loss and improve splicing quality.

[0003] The fiber fusion splicer is a device used to connect the ends of two optical fibers. Before fiber fusion splicing, the two prepared optical fibers need to be placed in the upper surface groove of the ceramic V-groove bonded to the optical fiber holder. When adjusting the position of the optical fiber, the position of the optical fiber holder in three-dimensional space needs to be adjusted so that the ends of the two optical fibers are aligned with each other in the same axial direction.

[0004] In the prior art, the most commonly used fiber optic alignment device utilizes a driving device to drive a push rod to support a micro-motion plate composed of a "flexible hinge" to achieve fiber optic alignment. Although the fiber position can be adjusted, it has the following disadvantages: 1) This structure has high requirements on the processing accuracy of individual micro-motion plate parts and is difficult to process; 2) The micro-motion plate composed of a "flexible hinge" is expensive and has a complex manufacturing process, which places high demands on manufacturing, use and maintenance. Summary of the invention

[0005] In view of the above technical problems existing in the prior art, the present invention proposes an optical fiber alignment device, which has a reasonable design, overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art, and has good effects.

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0007] A fiber optic alignment device comprises a base, a first fine-motion plate, a second fine-motion plate, a third fine-motion plate, a fourth fine-motion plate, a first fiber optic bracket, a second fiber optic bracket and a ceramic V-groove; wherein the base, the first fine-motion plate, the second fine-motion plate, the third fine-motion plate, the fourth fine-motion plate, the first fiber optic bracket and the second fiber optic bracket are connected into one piece by injection molding; and the ceramic V-groove is bonded to the first fiber optic bracket and the second fiber optic bracket by dispensing glue.

[0008] Preferably, the first fine-motion plate, the second fine-motion plate, the third fine-motion plate and the fourth fine-motion plate include four parallel spring steel sheets; the parallel spring steel sheets are at an angle of 45° to the horizontal line, and can achieve a small displacement in a 45° direction obliquely upward or obliquely downward.

[0009] Preferably, the first fine-motion plate, the second fine-motion plate, the third fine-motion plate and the fourth fine-motion plate are metal parts, and the base, the first optical fiber bracket and the second optical fiber bracket are plastic parts.

[0010] Preferably, gaskets, steel balls and screws are installed inside the first optical fiber bracket and the second optical fiber bracket. The steel balls in the screws move up and down to support the gaskets, thereby enabling the first micro-motion plate, the second micro-motion plate, the third micro-motion plate and the fourth micro-motion plate to move obliquely upward or downward at 45°.

[0011] Preferably, a screw sleeve and a nut are installed inside the first optical fiber bracket and the second optical fiber bracket; the screw sleeve is fastened by the nut, and the gasket is clamped in the groove of the optical fiber bracket through the threaded pair of the screw, the screw sleeve and the nut, and the steel ball is clamped in the groove of the screw.

[0012] Preferably, the maximum movement stroke of the first fine-motion plate, the second fine-motion plate, the third fine-motion plate and the fourth fine-motion plate is adjusted by parameters including the thickness t of the fine-motion plate, the length L and the width D of the swing arm.

[0013] Preferably, the up and down movement of the screw rod can be achieved by a motor driving a gear pair, or by a motor driving a pulley pair.

[0014] Beneficial technical effects brought by the present invention:

[0015] The device of the present invention can realize accurate alignment of optical fibers, reduce the difficulty of processing parts, and also improve rigidity and stability; through injection molding, the base, the first micro-motion plate, the second micro-motion plate, the third micro-motion plate, the fourth micro-motion plate, the first optical fiber bracket and the second optical fiber bracket are connected as one, which reduces the difficulty of processing complex parts, saves manufacturing costs, and reduces the weight of the optical fiber alignment device; in addition, after the ceramic V-groove is installed on the first optical fiber bracket and the second optical fiber bracket as an integral part, the middle connecting part is knocked off, which improves the accuracy of optical fiber alignment; the micro-motion plate is composed of four parallel spring steel sheets, and the micro-motion plate is driven by the up and down movement of the screw to realize 45° movement in an oblique upward or downward direction, which greatly improves the rigidity and stability of the optical fiber alignment device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Figure 1 It is a structural schematic diagram of the optical fiber alignment device of the present invention;

[0017] Figure 2 It is a schematic structural diagram of the micro-movement plate of the optical fiber alignment device of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of the structure inside the micro-movement plate of the optical fiber alignment device of the present invention.

[0019] Among them, 1-first micro-motion plate; 2-second micro-motion plate; 3-third micro-motion plate; 4-fourth micro-motion plate; 5-first optical fiber bracket; 6-second optical fiber bracket; 7-ceramic V-groove; 8-base; 9-gasket; 10-steel ball; 11-screw; 12-screw sleeve; 13-nut. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] The present invention is further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments:

[0021] An embodiment of the present invention provides a fiber optic alignment device, such as Figure 1 As shown, it includes a first fine-motion plate 1, a second fine-motion plate 2, a third fine-motion plate 3, a fourth fine-motion plate 4, a first optical fiber bracket 5, a second optical fiber bracket 6, a ceramic V-groove 7 and a base 8.

[0022] like Figure 1 As shown, the base 8, the first micro-motion plate 1, the second micro-motion plate 2, the third micro-motion plate 3, the fourth micro-motion plate 4, the first optical fiber bracket 5, and the second optical fiber bracket 6 are connected as a whole by injection molding. This not only ensures the accuracy of optical fiber alignment, but also reduces the difficulty of processing complex parts and saves manufacturing costs.

[0023] The structures of the first fine-motion plate 1, the second fine-motion plate 2, the third fine-motion plate 3, and the fourth fine-motion plate 4 are as follows: Figure 2 shown.

[0024] The first fine motion plate 1, the second fine motion plate 2, the third fine motion plate 3 and the fourth fine motion plate 4 are composed of four parallel spring steel sheets, which have the advantages of high elasticity, small size, no mechanical friction, no gap, high motion sensitivity and good rigidity. The parallel spring steel sheets are at an angle of 45° to the horizontal, and can achieve a small displacement in a 45° direction upward or downward.

[0025] The first fine-motion plate 1 , the second fine-motion plate 2 , the third fine-motion plate 3 , and the fourth fine-motion plate 4 adjust the maximum movement stroke by parameters including the thickness t of the fine-motion plate, the length L of the swing arm, and the width D.

[0026] The first optical fiber bracket 5 is connected to the first fine-motion plate 1 and the second fine-motion plate 2 as a whole through injection molding, and the second optical fiber bracket 6 is connected to the third fine-motion plate 3 and the fourth fine-motion plate 4 as a whole through injection molding.

[0027] The ceramic V-groove 7 is integrally formed and consists of the multi-fiber guide parts on both sides and the middle connecting sheet. After being glued to the first fiber bracket 5 and the second fiber bracket 6, it is gently tapped to remove the middle connecting sheet. Because the ceramic V-groove 7 is a part, the accuracy of fiber alignment is further improved.

[0028] like Figure 3As shown, a gasket 9, a steel ball 10 and a screw 11 are installed inside the first optical fiber bracket 5 and the second optical fiber bracket 6, and the screw sleeve 12 is fastened by a nut 13, so that the steel ball 10 in the screw 11 moves up and down to support the gasket 9, thereby realizing the first micro-motion plate 1, the second micro-motion plate 2, the third micro-motion plate 3 and the fourth micro-motion plate 4 to move obliquely upward or downward at 45°.

[0029] The up and down movement of the screw rod 11 can be achieved by a motor driving a gear pair, or by a motor driving a pulley pair.

[0030] Of course, the above description is not a limitation of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the above examples. Changes, modifications, additions or substitutions made by technicians in this technical field within the essential scope of the present invention should also fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An optical fiber alignment device, characterized in that: It includes a base, a first fine-motion plate, a second fine-motion plate, a third fine-motion plate, a fourth fine-motion plate, a first optical fiber bracket, a second optical fiber bracket and a ceramic V-groove; wherein the base, the first fine-motion plate, the second fine-motion plate, the third fine-motion plate, the fourth fine-motion plate, the first optical fiber bracket and the second optical fiber bracket are connected into one by injection molding; the ceramic V-groove is bonded to the first optical fiber bracket and the second optical fiber bracket by dispensing glue.

2. The optical fiber alignment device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first fine-motion plate, the second fine-motion plate, the third fine-motion plate and the fourth fine-motion plate include four parallel spring steel sheets; the parallel spring steel sheets are at an angle of 45° to the horizontal line, and can achieve a small displacement in a 45° direction obliquely upward or obliquely downward.

3. The optical fiber alignment device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first fine-motion plate, the second fine-motion plate, the third fine-motion plate and the fourth fine-motion plate are metal parts, and the base, the first optical fiber bracket and the second optical fiber bracket are plastic parts.

4. The optical fiber alignment device according to claim 1, characterized in that: Gaskets, steel balls and screws are installed inside the first optical fiber bracket and the second optical fiber bracket. The steel balls in the screws move up and down to support the gaskets, so that the first, second, third and fourth micro-motion plates can move obliquely upward or downward at 45°.

5. The optical fiber alignment device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The first optical fiber bracket and the second optical fiber bracket are also internally installed with a screw sleeve and a nut; the screw sleeve is fastened by the nut, and the gasket is clamped in the groove of the optical fiber bracket through the thread pair of the screw rod, the screw sleeve and the nut, and the steel ball is clamped in the groove of the screw rod.

6. The optical fiber alignment device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first fine-motion plate, the second fine-motion plate, the third fine-motion plate, and the fourth fine-motion plate adjust the maximum movement stroke through parameters including the thickness t of the fine-motion plate, the length L of the swing arm, and the width D.

7. The optical fiber alignment device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The up and down movement of the screw can be achieved by a motor driving a gear pair, or by a motor driving a pulley pair.

Images