Multi-plane multiplexer

Abstract

The utility model relates to a multi-plane multiplexer. Comprising an optical fiber array, an integrated phase reflection assembly, a coupling collimator and an emergent optical fiber, the integrated phase reflection assembly comprises a glass block, a first metal reflection film arranged on one side of the glass block, and a phase plate directly etched on the other side of the glass block. A plurality of phase structures with different phases are etched on the phase plate; one end of the emergent optical fiber is connected with the coupling collimator; incident light enters the glass block through the optical fiber array, then is reflected by the phase structure and the first metal reflecting film for multiple times, then is emitted out of the glass block, and is coupled by the coupling collimator to enter the emergent optical fiber. According to the utility model, the reflector and the phase plate are integrated on the same glass block, so that reassembly is not needed, and relative displacement of the reflector and the phase plate is avoided; besides, the working surface and the light path of the phase structure are arranged in the glass block, so that direct contact with the air environment is avoided, the influence of the environment on the device is avoided, and the stabilizer of the device is further improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of multiplexers, and more specifically, to a multi-plane multiplexer. Background Art

[0002] Multi-plane multiplexers are mainly divided into transmissive and reflective types. Among them, the structure of the transmissive multi-plane multiplexer is mainly to etch multiple phase structures on a substrate, which is a quartz substrate, and there is only one phase surface on each substrate. The principle is that a beam of light passes through a phase surface, and the light penetrates to the next phase surface. When the light beam passes through all the phase surfaces, the required mode is output, and the light passes through the structure of the last substrate and is coupled into the optical fiber through a collimator. Since each substrate of the transmissive multiplexer is independent, when adjusting in the experiment after the phase structure is etched, multiple substrates need to be controlled simultaneously. If the angle, relative distance, or relative position is not arranged as set, the entire device will not work properly, so the assembly is difficult. Moreover, because each substrate exists independently and is exposed to the air, it is greatly affected by the environment. In a humid environment, water vapor may accumulate on the surface of the phase structure due to humidity, affecting the overall performance; fine impurities in the air adhering to the substrate surface will also greatly affect the transmittance and are not easy to remove.

[0003] The structure of the reflective multi-plane multiplexer is mainly to etch the required structure on a substrate. A beam of light is incident on the first phase structure of the phase plate through an optical fiber array, then reflected to a reflector, and then reflected to the second phase structure. After multiple reflections, the light exits from the last phase structure and is coupled into the optical fiber through a collimator. The existing reflective multiplexer is troublesome to assemble. The reflective phase plate requires an optical fiber array, a phase plate, a reflector, and a coupling collimator, and all four need to be aligned. The phase structures on the phase plate are individual phase structures. During processing, the required phase structures are processed to relatively horizontal positions. If the phase plate is not placed horizontally during adjustment, the entire device will not work properly. Summary of the Utility Model

[0004] The utility model aims to overcome the defect of difficult assembly of multiplexers in the above-mentioned prior art, and provides a multi-plane multiplexer, which reduces the error caused by assembly to a certain extent and improves the stability of the device.

[0005] To solve the above technical problems, the technical solution adopted by the utility model is:

[0006] A multi-plane multiplexer includes an optical fiber array, an integrated phase reflection component, a coupling collimator, and an output optical fiber; the integrated phase reflection component includes a glass block, a first metal reflection film disposed on one side of the glass block, and a phase plate directly etched on the other side of the glass block; multiple phase structures with different phases are etched on the phase plate; one end of the output optical fiber is connected to the coupling collimator; after the incident light enters the glass block through the optical fiber array, it is reflected multiple times by the phase structure and the first metal reflection film and then exits the glass block, and is coupled into the output optical fiber through the coupling collimator.

[0007] According to the above technical solution, for a multi-plane multiplexer provided by the present utility model, the first metal reflection film serves as a reflector, and multiple phase structures with different phases are etched on the phase plate. The reflector and the phase plate are integrated on the glass block. During use, there is no need to assemble the phase plate and the reflector again, avoiding errors caused by assembly and affecting performance; moreover, the relative displacement between the phase plate and the reflector has been locked during production and will not change during use, further improving the stability of the device. In addition, since the reflector and the phase plate are respectively located on opposite sides of the glass block, the working surface of the phase plate and the optical path are both within the glass block, avoiding direct contact with the air environment and effectively avoiding the influence of the environment on the true air of the device, further improving the stability performance of the device.

[0008] In some embodiments, the first metal reflection film is directly plated on the surface of the glass block. The first metal reflection film is directly plated on the surface of the glass block, and the structure is more stable.

[0009] In some embodiments, a second metal thin film is plated on the outer surface of the phase plate. Plating a metal thin film on the surface of the phase structure can, on the one hand, improve the reflectivity, and on the other hand, protect the phase structure from the influence of the environment.

[0010] In some embodiments, the first metal reflection film and the second metal thin film include a gold thin film or a silver thin film. Gold and silver have high reflectivity. Using gold and silver as reflection films can improve the overall performance of the device.

[0011] In some embodiments, the glass block is of a rectangular structure, and the first metal reflection film and the phase plate are respectively located on two opposite sides of the glass block. The glass block is of a rectangular structure, and light is reflected back and forth between the first metal reflection film and the phase plate until it exits the glass block; during use, the sizes of the phase plate and the first metal reflection film are both set according to requirements; the number of phase structures designed on the phase plate and the phases of the phase structures are both designed according to usage requirements.

[0012] In some embodiments, it further includes a base, and the optical fiber array, the integrated phase reflection component, the coupling collimator, and the output optical fiber are all disposed on the base. The optical fiber array, the integrated reflection component, the coupling collimator, and the output optical fiber are all mounted on the base, and all the devices are assembled together for easy use.

[0013] In some embodiments, a first fixing rod and a second fixing rod are provided on the base. One end of the optical fiber array is fixed to the first fixing rod; the coupling collimator is fixed to the second fixing rod. The first fixing rod and the second fixing rod are provided on the base for fixing the optical fiber array and the coupling collimator.

[0014] In some embodiments, it further includes a positioning row clip for fixing and positioning the optical fiber array; the positioning row clip is fixed to the base, and the other end of the optical fiber array is detachably mounted on the positioning row clip. The positioning row clip is provided for fixing and positioning the optical fiber array.

[0015] In some embodiments, the positioning row clip includes a housing and limiting clips arranged side by side and at intervals on the housing. The limiting clips arranged at intervals and side by side are used to fix each optical fiber of the optical fiber array, making the wire arrangement of the optical fiber array neater and more convenient for use.

[0016] In some embodiments, the glass block is quartz glass; the base is a quartz base; the glass block, the first fixing rod, and the second fixing rod are all fixedly installed on the base.

[0017] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects are as follows: For a multi-plane multiplexer provided by the present invention, the mirror and the phase plate are integrated on the same glass block, eliminating the need for re-assembly and avoiding relative displacement between the mirror and the phase plate; in addition, the working surface and the optical path of the phase structure of the present invention are both inside the glass block, avoiding direct contact with the air environment and the influence of the environment on the device, and further improving the stability of the device. Description of the Drawings

[0018] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention from the first perspective.

[0019] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention from the second perspective, where the arrow indicates the optical path direction.

[0020] Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of the integrated phase reflection component of the present invention.

[0021] Reference numerals: 1, optical fiber array; 2, integrated phase reflection component; 21, glass block; 22, first metal reflection film; 23, phase plate; 3, coupling collimator; 4, outgoing optical fiber; 5, base; 6, first fixing rod; 7, second fixing rod; 8, positioning row clip. Detailed implementation mode

[0022] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than all the embodiments. The present invention will be described below in conjunction with specific implementation modes in one of the embodiments. Among them, the accompanying drawings are only for illustrative purposes, showing only schematic diagrams, rather than physical diagrams, and should not be construed as a limitation to the present invention; in order to better illustrate the embodiments of the present invention, some components in the accompanying drawings will be omitted, enlarged or reduced, and do not represent the size of the actual product; for those skilled in the art, it is understandable that some well-known structures and their descriptions in the accompanying drawings may be omitted.

[0023] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that if there are terms such as "upper", "lower", "left", "right", etc. indicating the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, it is only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, the terms describing the positional relationship in the accompanying drawings are only for illustrative purposes and should not be construed as a limitation to the present invention. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms can be understood according to specific circumstances. In addition, if there is a description involving "first", "second", etc. in the embodiments of the present invention, the description of "first", "second", etc. is only for descriptive purposes and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly indicating the quantity of the technical features indicated. Thus, the features defined with "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of the features. In addition, the meaning of "and / or" appearing throughout the text is that it includes three parallel solutions. Taking "A and / or B" as an example, it includes solution A, or solution B, or a solution that satisfies both A and B at the same time.

[0024] Embodiment 1:

[0025] As Figures 1 to 3As shown in the figure, this embodiment provides a multi-plane multiplexer, which includes an optical fiber array 1, an integrated phase reflection component 2, a coupling collimator 3, and an output optical fiber 4. The integrated phase reflection component 2 includes a glass block 21, a first metal reflection film 22 disposed on one side of the glass block 21, and a phase plate 23 directly etched on the other side of the glass block 21. Multiple phase structures with different phases are etched on the phase plate 23. One end of the output optical fiber 4 is connected to the coupling collimator 3. After the incident light is incident into the glass block 21 through the optical fiber array 1, it is reflected multiple times by the phase structure and the first metal reflection film 22 and then exits the glass block 21, and is coupled into the output optical fiber 4 through the coupling collimator 3.

[0026] According to the above technical solution, for a multi-plane multiplexer provided in this embodiment, the first metal reflection film 22 serves as a reflector, and multiple phase structures with different phases are etched on the phase plate 23. The reflector and the phase plate 23 are integrated on the glass block 21. During use, there is no need to assemble the phase plate 23 and the reflector anymore, avoiding errors caused by assembly and affecting the performance. Moreover, the relative displacement between the phase plate 23 and the reflector has been locked during production and will not change during use, further improving the stability of the device. In addition, since the reflector and the phase plate 23 are respectively located on opposite sides of the glass block 21, the working surface of the phase plate 23 and the optical path are both within the glass block 21, avoiding direct contact with the air environment and effectively avoiding the influence of the environment on the true air of the device, further improving the stability performance of the device.

[0027] In this embodiment, the first metal reflection film 22 is directly plated on the surface of the glass block 21. The first metal reflection film 22 is directly plated on the surface of the glass block 21, and the structure is more stable. A second metal thin film is plated on the outer surface of the phase plate. A metal thin film is plated on the surface of the phase structure. On the one hand, it can improve the reflectivity, and on the other hand, it can protect the phase structure and avoid the influence of the environment on the phase structure. The first metal reflection film and the second metal thin film include a gold thin film or a silver thin film. Gold and silver have high reflectivity. Using gold and silver as the reflection film can improve the overall performance of the device.

[0028] As Figure 1 and Figure 3 shown, the glass block 21 is a rectangular structure, and the first metal reflection film 22 and the phase plate 23 are respectively located on two opposite sides of the glass block 21. The glass block 21 is a rectangular structure, and light is reflected back and forth between the first metal reflection film 22 and the phase plate 23 until it exits the glass block 21. During use, the sizes of the phase plate 23 and the first metal reflection film 22 are both set according to requirements. The number of phase structures designed on the phase plate 23 and the phases of the phase structures are both designed according to the usage requirements.

[0029] As Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, it further includes a base 5, and the optical fiber array 1, the integrated phase reflection component 2, the coupling collimator 3, and the output optical fiber 4 are all disposed on the base 5. The optical fiber array 1, the integrated reflection component, the coupling collimator 3, and the output optical fiber 4 are all mounted on the base 5, and all the devices are assembled together for easy use.

[0030] In this embodiment, the glass block 21 is made of fused quartz; the base 5 is a quartz base; and the glass block 21 is fixedly mounted on the base 5.

[0031] In the manufacturing process, the size of the multiplexer is designed according to actual needs. First, determine the width of the phase plate 23, the width of the mirror, and the distance between the mirror and the phase plate 23, so as to determine the size of the required rectangle and the size of the glass block 21. After determining the size of the glass block 21, first etch the required phase structure on one side of the phase plate 23 of the glass block 21, then deposit gold on the etched surface to improve the reflectivity, and then also deposit gold on one side of the mirror to improve the reflectivity.

[0032] For existing planar multiplexers, whether transmissive or reflective, each component is independently separated and needs to be assembled. Due to the strict requirements of the multiplexer for the optical path, the assembly accuracy requirement is high, and it is very easy for the device performance to decline due to assembly; while for the multi-plane multiplexer provided by the present invention, the mirror and the phase plate 23 are integrated on the same glass block 21, eliminating the need for re-assembly, avoiding relative displacement between the mirror and the phase plate 23, and improving the performance of the device.

[0033] In addition, whether it is a reflective multiplexer or a transmissive multiplexer, its phase structure is exposed to the air, so it is greatly affected by the environment during operation. The present invention designs the working surface of the phase structure and the optical path in the glass block 21, thus avoiding direct contact with the air environment, avoiding the influence of the environment on the overall device, and further improving the stability of the device.

[0034] Embodiment 2:

[0035] The other structures of this embodiment are the same as those of Embodiment 1. The difference is that in this embodiment, it further includes a positioning row clip 8 for fixing and positioning the optical fiber array 1; the positioning row clip 8 is fixed on the base 5, and the other end of the optical fiber array 1 is detachably mounted on the positioning row clip 8. The positioning row clip 8 is provided for fixing and positioning the optical fiber array 1.

[0036] The positioning row clip 8 includes a housing and limiting clips arranged side by side and at intervals on the housing. The limiting clips arranged at intervals and side by side are used to fix each optical fiber of the optical fiber array 1, making the wire arrangement of the optical fiber array 1 neater and more convenient for use.

[0037] Embodiment 3:

[0038] The other structures of this embodiment are the same as those of Embodiment 1. The difference is that, in this embodiment, as Figure 1 and Figure 2 shown, a first fixing rod 6 and a second fixing rod 7 are provided on the base 5. One end of the fiber optic array 1 is fixed to the first fixing rod 6; the coupling collimator 3 is fixed to the second fixing rod 7. The first fixing rod 6 and the second fixing rod 7 are arranged on the base 5 to fix the fiber optic array 1 and the coupling collimator 3. Both the first fixing rod 6 and the second fixing rod 7 are fixedly installed on the base 5.

[0039] In this embodiment, the fiber optic array 1 and the collimating coupler are fixed by the first fixing rod 6 and the second fixing rod 7. All components are integrally fixed on the base 5, avoiding relative displacement of each component during use, and further improving the overall performance of the device.

[0040] In the description of this specification, the description with reference to the terms "one embodiment", "some embodiments", "example", "specific example", or "some examples", etc. means that the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described in connection with the embodiment or example are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, the schematic representations of the above terms are not necessarily directed to the same embodiment or example. Moreover, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any one or more embodiments or examples in a suitable manner. In addition, without contradiction, those skilled in the art can combine and combine the different embodiments or examples described in this specification and the features of different embodiments or examples.

[0041] Obviously, the above embodiments of the present invention are merely examples for clearly illustrating the present invention, rather than limitations on the implementation manners of the present invention. For those of ordinary skill in the art, other different forms of changes or modifications can be made based on the above description. It is not necessary and impossible to enumerate all implementation manners here. Any modifications, equivalent replacements, and improvements made within the spirit and principle of the present invention shall be included in the protection scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A multi-plane multiplexer, characterized in that, It includes an optical fiber array (1), an integrated phase reflection component (2), a coupling collimator (3), and an output optical fiber (4); the integrated phase reflection component (2) includes a glass block (21), a first metal reflection film (22) disposed on one side of the glass block (21), and a phase plate (23) directly etched on the other side of the glass block (21); a plurality of phase structures with different phases are etched on the phase plate (23); one end of the output optical fiber (4) is connected to the coupling collimator (3); after the incident light enters the glass block (21) through the optical fiber array (1), it is reflected multiple times by the phase structure and the first metal reflection film (22), then exits the glass block (21), and is coupled into the output optical fiber (4) through the coupling collimator (3).

2. The multi-plane multiplexer according to claim 1, wherein The first metal reflection film (22) is directly plated on the surface of the glass block (21).

3. The multi-plane multiplexer according to claim 1, wherein A second metal thin film is plated on the outer surface of the phase plate (23).

4. The multi-plane multiplexer according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first metal reflection film (22) and the second metal thin film include a gold thin film or a silver thin film.

5. The multi-plane multiplexer according to claim 3, characterized in that, The glass block (21) has a rectangular structure, and the first metal reflection film (22) and the phase plate (23) are respectively located on two opposite sides of the glass block (21).

6. The multi-plane multiplexer according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, It further includes a base (5), and the optical fiber array (1), the integrated phase reflection component (2), the coupling collimator (3), and the output optical fiber (4) are all disposed on the base (5).

7. The multi-plane multiplexer according to claim 6, characterized in that, A first fixing rod (6) and a second fixing rod (7) are provided on the base (5), and one end of the optical fiber array (1) is fixed on the first fixing rod (6); the coupling collimator (3) is fixed on the second fixing rod (7).

8. The multi-plane multiplexer according to claim 7, characterized in that, It further includes a positioning row clip (8) for fixing and positioning the optical fiber array (1); the positioning row clip (8) is fixed on the base (5), and the other end of the optical fiber array (1) is detachably installed on the positioning row clip (8).

9. The multi-plane multiplexer according to claim 8, wherein, The positioning row clip (8) includes a housing and limiting clips arranged side by side and spaced apart on the housing.

10. The multi-plane multiplexer according to claim 7, wherein, The glass block (21) is quartz glass; the base (5) is a quartz base; the glass block (21), the first fixing rod (6), and the second fixing rod (7) are all fixedly installed on the base (5).

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