High-reliability polarization maintaining optical fiber array

Abstract

The utility model relates to the technical field of polarization maintaining optical fibers, and provides a high-reliability polarization maintaining optical fiber array which comprises a first limiting plate, a cover plate and a plurality of first cambered surface parts, the cover plate and the first limiting plate are detachably arranged, the first limiting plate is provided with a first limiting surface, and a pressure applying surface is formed on the surface, facing the first limiting surface, of the cover plate. One end or two ends of the pressure applying surface in the optical fiber direction are respectively inclined towards the direction deviating from the first limiting surface to form a first cambered surface part, the optical fiber direction is parallel to the axial direction of the polarization maintaining optical fiber, and the length of the pressure applying surface in the optical fiber direction is smaller than that of the first limiting surface in the optical fiber direction. By arranging the first cambered surface part, the contact part of the edge of the cover plate and the polarization maintaining optical fiber is a cambered surface, so that the contact area of the edge of the cover plate and the polarization maintaining optical fiber is increased, the phenomenon of local stress concentration of the polarization maintaining optical fiber is reduced, the probability that the polarization maintaining optical fiber is damaged by the cover plate in debugging is reduced, and the reliability is higher.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of polarization-maintaining fiber technology, and in particular to a high-reliability polarization-maintaining fiber array. Background Technology

[0002] A polarization-maintaining fiber array is a special type of fiber optic assembly composed of multiple polarization-maintaining fibers arranged according to certain rules. Each fiber can maintain the polarization state of the polarized light. This type of array has important applications in fiber optic communication, fiber optic sensing, and precision optical instruments. It can achieve stable transmission and precise control of the polarization mode of optical signals. Compared with ordinary optical fibers, it has many advantages and is often used in devices such as interferometers and lasers.

[0003] In most commercially available polarization-maintaining fiber arrays, the polarization-maintaining fibers are rotated and adjusted before the cover plate is glued in place. For example, patent CN208569092U discloses a panda-type polarization-maintaining fiber array, which includes a glass array substrate, a glass cover plate, and a predetermined number of panda-type polarization-maintaining fibers. During assembly, the glass cover plate is placed on a step, covering the bare fiber end of each panda-type polarization-maintaining fiber and fixed to the glass array substrate with UV-curing adhesive. In actual assembly, the polarization-maintaining fibers need to be rotated for adjustment. However, during adjustment, the polarization-maintaining fibers are almost impossible to keep perfectly straight. Therefore, during rotation, the fibers may bend and come into contact with the edge of the cover plate. The edge of the cover plate is relatively sharp, which can easily lead to localized stress concentration in the polarization-maintaining fibers and even mechanical damage, posing a high reliability risk. Utility Model Content

[0004] In view of the shortcomings of the prior art, the purpose of this application is to provide a high-reliability polarization-maintaining fiber array, which aims to solve the disadvantage that the sharp edges of the existing cover plate are easy to damage the polarization-maintaining fiber.

[0005] The technical solution adopted by this application to solve the technical problem is as follows: a high-reliability polarization-maintaining fiber array, comprising: a first limiting plate, the first limiting plate having a first limiting surface, the first limiting surface being provided with a plurality of mutually parallel first limiting slots, the first limiting slots being used to clamp the polarization-maintaining fiber;

[0006] A cover plate is detachably disposed from the first limiting plate. A pressure surface is formed on the surface of the cover plate facing the first limiting surface. A limiting area is formed between the pressure surface and a plurality of the first limiting grooves. A polarization-maintaining optical fiber is disposed within the limiting area.

[0007] A plurality of first arcuate surfaces, wherein one or both ends of the pressure surface in the optical fiber direction are inclined in a direction away from the first limiting surface to form the first arcuate surface, and the optical fiber direction is a direction parallel to the axis of the polarization-maintaining fiber;

[0008] Wherein, the length of the pressure-applying surface in the direction of the optical fiber is less than the length of the first limiting surface in the direction of the optical fiber.

[0009] Furthermore, the first limiting plate also includes: a first connecting surface;

[0010] The high-reliability polarization-maintaining fiber array further includes a second limiting plate, which includes a second limiting surface. The second limiting surface is provided with a plurality of parallel second limiting slots, and the plurality of second limiting slots are coaxially arranged with a plurality of first limiting slots. The first connecting surface and the plurality of second limiting slots respectively form the limiting area, and the second limiting plate is detachably connected to the first limiting plate.

[0011] Furthermore, the end of the first connecting surface that is away from the first limiting surface is inclined in the direction away from the second limiting surface to form a second arc-shaped surface;

[0012] Wherein, the length of the first connecting surface in the optical fiber direction is less than the length of the second limiting surface in the optical fiber direction.

[0013] Furthermore, the high-reliability polarization-maintaining fiber array also includes: a plurality of buffer blocks, the plurality of buffer blocks respectively covering and disposed on a plurality of first arcuate surfaces and second arcuate surfaces, the plurality of buffer blocks disposed on the first arcuate surfaces not protruding from the pressure surface, and the plurality of buffer blocks disposed on the second arcuate surfaces not protruding from the first connection surface;

[0014] The hardness of several of the buffer blocks is less than that of the cover plate and the first limiting plate.

[0015] Furthermore, the shape of the plurality of buffer blocks is arc-shaped, and the centripetal direction of the plurality of buffer blocks is the same as the centripetal direction of the corresponding first arc-shaped surface or second arc-shaped surface.

[0016] Furthermore, several polarization-maintaining fibers are non-interference-fitted with the corresponding first limiting slots, and several polarization-maintaining fibers are interference-fitted with the corresponding second limiting slots.

[0017] Furthermore, the high-reliability polarization-maintaining fiber array also includes a dispensing section, which is disposed between the first connecting surface and the second limiting surface.

[0018] Furthermore, the first limiting groove is an arc-shaped groove.

[0019] Furthermore, the axial direction of the first arcuate surface is perpendicular to the direction of the optical fiber, and the axial direction of the first arcuate surface is parallel to the first limiting surface.

[0020] Compared with the prior art, this utility model, by setting a first arc-shaped surface, makes the part of the cover plate that contacts the polarization-maintaining fiber an arc surface, which increases the contact area between the edge of the cover plate and the polarization-maintaining fiber, reduces the phenomenon of local stress concentration in the polarization-maintaining fiber, and reduces the probability of the cover plate damaging the polarization-maintaining fiber during debugging, thus having higher reliability. Attached Figure Description

[0021] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0022] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the high-reliability polarization-maintaining fiber array provided in this embodiment;

[0023] Figure 2 This is the embodiment. Figure 1 A magnified schematic diagram of the structure at point A;

[0024] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a high-reliability polarization-maintaining fiber array provided in another embodiment;

[0025] Figure 4 This is another embodiment. Figure 3 Cross-sectional view;

[0026] Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional view of a high-reliability polarization-maintaining fiber array provided in another embodiment.

[0027] In the diagram: 100, first limiting plate; 110, first limiting surface; 111, first limiting groove; 120, first connecting surface; 121, second arc-shaped surface; 200, cover plate; 210, pressure surface; 211, first arc-shaped surface; 300, second limiting plate; 310, second limiting surface; 311, second limiting groove; 400, buffer block; 500, fiber direction; 600, polarization-maintaining fiber. Detailed Implementation

[0028] The embodiments of this application are described in detail below. Examples of these embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain this application, and should not be construed as limiting this application.

[0029] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicating orientation or positional relationships based on the orientation or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, are used only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation on this application. Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this application, unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more.

[0030] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0031] Furthermore, the technical features involved in the different embodiments of the present invention described above can be combined with each other as long as they do not conflict with each other.

[0032] This utility model provides, for example Figures 1 to 5 The diagram shows a high-reliability polarization-maintaining fiber 600 array, designed to address the shortcomings of existing cover plates 200 with sharp edges that easily damage the polarization-maintaining fiber 600.

[0033] This high-reliability polarization-maintaining fiber 600 array mainly includes: a first limiting plate 100, a cover plate 200, and several first arc-shaped sections 211.

[0034] The first limiting plate 100 has a first limiting surface 110, on which a plurality of parallel first limiting grooves 111 are provided. The first limiting grooves 111 are used to hold the polarization-maintaining fiber 600. The cover plate 200 is detachably connected to the first limiting plate 100. The surface of the cover plate 200 facing the first limiting surface 110 forms a pressure surface 210. A limiting area is formed between the pressure surface 210 and the plurality of first limiting grooves 111, and the polarization-maintaining fiber 600 is disposed within the limiting area.

[0035] Specifically, the first limiting surface 110 is a plane, and the first limiting groove 111 is a V-shaped or arc-shaped through groove. Several polarization-maintaining optical fibers 600 are placed one by one into the several first limiting grooves 111. The pressure surface 210 limits the polarization-maintaining optical fibers 600 within their respective first limiting grooves 111, thus fixing the polarization-maintaining optical fibers 600 between the first limiting plate 100 and the cover plate 200. The cover plate 200 is bonded to the first limiting plate 100 with adhesive. During actual assembly, the position of the polarization-maintaining optical fibers 600 needs to be adjusted before the first limiting plate 100 and the cover plate 200 can be bonded together with adhesive. Therefore, pressure needs to be applied to the cover plate 200 to restrict the polarization-maintaining optical fibers 600 from being located within their respective first limiting grooves 111. At this time, the polarization-maintaining optical fibers 600 are rotated for adjustment. Since the polarization-maintaining fiber 600 cannot be guaranteed to be straight at all times during the commissioning process, the polarization-maintaining fiber 600 will bend and come into contact with the edge of the cover plate 200 during rotation. The edge of the existing cover plate 200 is relatively sharp, which can easily lead to local stress concentration in the polarization-maintaining fiber 600, or even mechanical damage to the polarization-maintaining fiber 600, posing a high reliability risk.

[0036] One or both ends of the pressure surface 210 in the optical fiber direction 500 are inclined in a direction away from the first limiting surface 110 to form a first arcuate surface 211. The optical fiber direction 500 is a direction parallel to the axis of the polarization-maintaining optical fiber 600. The length of the pressure surface 210 in the optical fiber direction 500 is less than the length of the first limiting surface 110 in the optical fiber direction 500.

[0037] Specifically, such as Figures 2 to 3 As shown, after assembly, the first limiting plate 100, the cover plate 200, and the polarization-maintaining fiber 600 are flush at one end in the fiber direction 500. The length of the pressure surface 210 in the fiber direction 500 is less than the length of the first limiting surface 110 in the fiber direction 500. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure that the part of the cover plate 200 that contacts the polarization-maintaining fiber 600 at the other end is not sharp to reduce stress concentration. The pressure surface 210 contacts the polarization-maintaining fiber 600 through the first arc-shaped part 211, which increases the contact area between the cover plate 200 and the polarization-maintaining fiber 600, reduces the local stress concentration of the polarization-maintaining fiber 600, and reduces the probability of the cover plate 200 damaging the polarization-maintaining fiber 600 during debugging, thus having high reliability.

[0038] In the assembly of commonly used polarization-maintaining fiber 600 arrays, it is generally necessary to rotate and adjust the polarization-maintaining fiber 600 before adhesively fixing the cover plate 200. For example, patent CN208569092U discloses a panda-type polarization-maintaining fiber 600 array, which includes a glass array substrate, a glass cover plate 200, and a predetermined number of panda-type polarization-maintaining fibers 600. During assembly, the glass cover plate 200 is placed on a step, covering the bare fiber end of each panda-type polarization-maintaining fiber 600 and fixing it to the glass array substrate with UV-curable adhesive. In actual assembly, the polarization-maintaining fiber 600 needs to be rotated for adjustment. However, it is almost impossible for the polarization-maintaining fiber 600 to be in a straight state at all times during adjustment. Therefore, during rotation, the polarization-maintaining fiber 600 will bend and come into contact with the edge of the cover plate 200. The edge of the cover plate 200 is relatively sharp, which can easily lead to local stress concentration in the polarization-maintaining fiber 600, and even cause mechanical damage to the polarization-maintaining fiber 600, posing a high reliability risk.

[0039] By setting a first arc-shaped surface 211, this utility model makes the part where the edge of the cover plate 200 contacts the polarization-maintaining fiber 600 an arc surface, which increases the contact area between the edge of the cover plate 200 and the polarization-maintaining fiber 600, reduces the phenomenon of local stress concentration in the polarization-maintaining fiber 600, and reduces the probability of the cover plate 200 damaging the polarization-maintaining fiber 600 during debugging, thus having high reliability.

[0040] In some embodiments, such as Figures 1 to 5 As shown, the first limiting plate 100 further includes: a first connecting surface 120;

[0041] The high-reliability polarization-maintaining fiber 600 array also includes a second limiting plate 300, which includes a second limiting surface 310. The second limiting surface 310 is provided with a plurality of parallel second limiting grooves 311, and the plurality of second limiting grooves 311 are coaxially arranged with a plurality of first limiting grooves 111. A limiting area is formed between the first connecting surface 120 and the plurality of second limiting grooves 311, and the second limiting plate 300 is detachably connected to the first limiting plate 100. The polarization-maintaining fiber 600 is disposed within the limiting area.

[0042] Preferably, by non-interference fitting of several polarization-maintaining fibers 600 with the corresponding first limiting slots 111, the friction between the polarization-maintaining fibers 600 and the first limiting slots 111 is reduced, making it easier for the polarization-maintaining fibers 600 to rotate on the first limiting slots 111 during the debugging process. Meanwhile, by interference fitting of several polarization-maintaining fibers 600 with the corresponding second limiting slots 311, the second limiting plate 300 is fixed to the first limiting plate 100 after debugging to ensure a stable connection with the polarization-maintaining fibers 600.

[0043] In some embodiments, such as Figures 3 to 5As shown, the first connecting surface 120 is inclined at one end away from the first limiting surface 110 in a direction away from the second limiting surface 310 to form a second arcuate surface 121;

[0044] The length of the first connecting surface 120 in the optical fiber direction 500 is less than the length of the second limiting surface 310 in the optical fiber direction 500.

[0045] Specifically, the axis of the second arcuate surface 121 is perpendicular to the fiber direction 500, and the axis of the second arcuate surface 121 is parallel to the second limiting surface 310, which makes the stress on the polarization-maintaining fiber 600 more dispersed, reducing the probability of the cover plate 200 damaging the polarization-maintaining fiber 600 during debugging, and has higher reliability.

[0046] In some embodiments, such as Figure 5 As shown, the high-reliability polarization-maintaining fiber 600 array also includes: a plurality of buffer blocks 400, which are respectively covered and disposed on a plurality of first arcuate surfaces 211 and second arcuate surfaces 121. The plurality of buffer blocks 400 disposed on the first arcuate surfaces 211 do not protrude from the pressure surface 210, and the plurality of buffer blocks 400 disposed on the second arcuate surfaces 121 do not protrude from the first connection surface 120.

[0047] Among them, the hardness of several buffer blocks 400 is less than the hardness of cover plate 200 and the hardness of first limiting plate 100.

[0048] The buffer block 400 increases the contact area between the cover plate 200 and the polarization-maintaining fiber 600, reduces the local stress concentration of the polarization-maintaining fiber 600, and lowers the probability of the cover plate 200 damaging the polarization-maintaining fiber 600 during debugging, thus achieving higher reliability.

[0049] In some embodiments, such as Figure 5 As shown, the shape of several buffer blocks 400 is arc-shaped, and the centripetal direction of several buffer blocks 400 is the same as the centripetal direction of the corresponding first arc surface 211 or second arc surface 121.

[0050] In some embodiments, such as Figures 1 to 3 As shown, several polarization-maintaining optical fibers 600 are non-interference-fitted with the corresponding first limiting slot 111, and several polarization-maintaining optical fibers 600 are interference-fitted with the corresponding second limiting slot 311.

[0051] Preferably, by non-interference fitting of several polarization-maintaining fibers 600 with the corresponding first limiting slots 111, the friction between the polarization-maintaining fibers 600 and the first limiting slots 111 is reduced, making it easier for the polarization-maintaining fibers 600 to rotate on the first limiting slots 111 during the debugging process. Meanwhile, by interference fitting of several polarization-maintaining fibers 600 with the corresponding second limiting slots 311, the second limiting plate 300 is fixed to the first limiting plate 100 after debugging to ensure a stable connection with the polarization-maintaining fibers 600.

[0052] In some embodiments, the high-reliability polarization-maintaining fiber 600 array further includes a dispensing section disposed between the first connecting surface 120 and the second limiting surface 310.

[0053] In some embodiments, the first limiting groove 111 is an arc-shaped groove.

[0054] In some embodiments, such as Figures 1 to 5 As shown, the axis of the first arcuate portion 211 is perpendicular to the fiber direction 500, and the axis of the first arcuate portion 211 is parallel to the first limiting surface 110. This makes the stress on the polarization-maintaining fiber 600 more dispersed, reducing the probability of the cover plate 200 damaging the polarization-maintaining fiber 600 during debugging, and thus has higher reliability.

[0055] In summary, a high-reliability polarization-maintaining fiber array is provided, comprising a first limiting plate, a cover plate, and several first arc-shaped surfaces. The cover plate and the first limiting plate are detachably disposed. The first limiting plate has a first limiting surface, and the surface of the cover plate facing the first limiting surface forms a pressure surface. One or both ends of the pressure surface in the fiber direction are inclined in a direction away from the first limiting surface to form first arc-shaped surfaces. The fiber direction is parallel to the axial direction of the polarization-maintaining fiber, and the length of the pressure surface in the fiber direction is less than the length of the first limiting surface in the fiber direction. By setting the first arc-shaped surfaces, this invention increases the contact area between the edge of the cover plate and the polarization-maintaining fiber, reduces local stress concentration in the polarization-maintaining fiber, and lowers the probability of the cover plate damaging the polarization-maintaining fiber during debugging, thus exhibiting high reliability.

[0056] Obviously, the above embodiments are merely illustrative examples for clear explanation and are not intended to limit the implementation. Those skilled in the art will recognize that other variations or modifications can be made based on the above description. It is neither necessary nor possible to exhaustively list all possible implementations here. However, obvious variations or modifications derived therefrom are still within the protection scope of this invention.

Claims

1. A high-reliability polarization-maintaining fiber array, characterized in that, include: A first limiting plate has a first limiting surface, and a plurality of parallel first limiting grooves are provided on the first limiting surface. The first limiting grooves are used to hold the polarization-maintaining optical fiber. A cover plate is detachably disposed from the first limiting plate. A pressure surface is formed on the surface of the cover plate facing the first limiting surface. A limiting area is formed between the pressure surface and a plurality of the first limiting grooves. A polarization-maintaining optical fiber is disposed within the limiting area. A plurality of first arcuate surfaces, wherein one or both ends of the pressure surface in the optical fiber direction are inclined in a direction away from the first limiting surface to form the first arcuate surface, and the optical fiber direction is a direction parallel to the axis of the polarization-maintaining fiber; Wherein, the length of the pressure-applying surface in the direction of the optical fiber is less than the length of the first limiting surface in the direction of the optical fiber.

2. The high-reliability polarization-maintaining fiber array according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first limiting plate further includes: a first connecting surface; The high-reliability polarization-maintaining fiber array further includes a second limiting plate, which includes a second limiting surface. The second limiting surface is provided with a plurality of parallel second limiting slots, and the plurality of second limiting slots are coaxially arranged with a plurality of first limiting slots. The first connecting surface and the plurality of second limiting slots respectively form the limiting area, and the second limiting plate is detachably connected to the first limiting plate.

3. The high-reliability polarization-maintaining fiber array according to claim 2, characterized in that, The end of the first connecting surface that is away from the first limiting surface is inclined in the direction away from the second limiting surface to form a second arc-shaped surface; Wherein, the length of the first connecting surface in the optical fiber direction is less than the length of the second limiting surface in the optical fiber direction.

4. The high-reliability polarization-maintaining fiber array according to claim 3, characterized in that, The high-reliability polarization-maintaining fiber array further includes: a plurality of buffer blocks, wherein the plurality of buffer blocks are respectively covered and disposed on a plurality of first arcuate surfaces and second arcuate surfaces, wherein the plurality of buffer blocks disposed on the first arcuate surfaces do not protrude from the pressure surface, and the plurality of buffer blocks disposed on the second arcuate surfaces do not protrude from the first connection surface; The hardness of several of the buffer blocks is less than that of the cover plate and the first limiting plate.

5. The high-reliability polarization-maintaining fiber array according to claim 4, characterized in that, The shape of the buffer blocks is arc-shaped, and the centripetal direction of the buffer blocks is the same as the centripetal direction of the corresponding first arc-shaped surface or second arc-shaped surface.

6. The high-reliability polarization-maintaining fiber array according to claim 2, characterized in that, Several polarization-maintaining fibers are non-interference-fitted with the corresponding first limiting slot, and several polarization-maintaining fibers are interference-fitted with the corresponding second limiting slot.

7. The high-reliability polarization-maintaining fiber array according to claim 2, characterized in that, The high-reliability polarization-maintaining fiber array further includes a dispensing section, which is disposed between the first connecting surface and the second limiting surface.

8. The high-reliability polarization-maintaining fiber array according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first limiting groove is an arc-shaped groove.

9. The high-reliability polarization-maintaining fiber array according to claim 1, characterized in that, The axial direction of the first arcuate surface is perpendicular to the direction of the optical fiber, and the axial direction of the first arcuate surface is parallel to the first limiting surface.

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