Hollow-core optical fiber collimator

Abstract

The utility model provides a hollow-core optical fiber collimator, which comprises a hollow-core optical fiber, a capillary tube, a sleeve and a lens, a tube hole is arranged at the central axis position of the capillary tube, and the hollow-core optical fiber is positioned in the tube hole; the sleeve sleeves the peripheries of the capillary tube and the lens, the capillary tube and the lens are oppositely arranged in the sleeve, and the hollow-core optical fiber is coupled with the lens; wherein the hollow-core optical fiber extends out of one end, facing the lens, of the capillary tube by a preset length; the hollow-core optical fiber extends out of the preset length from one end, facing the lens, of the capillary tube, so that glue between the hollow-core optical fiber and the tube hole cannot spread into the hollow-core optical fiber, and pollution caused by the hollow-core optical fiber is avoided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of optical communication technology, and in particular to a hollow fiber collimator. Background Technology

[0002] Compared to solid-core fiber, hollow-core fiber has no core inside the cladding, allowing optical signals to propagate directly within the cladding. This results in advantages such as ultra-low loss, low latency, low nonlinearity, and near-light-speed propagation. Realizing hollow-core fiber communication transmission and developing optical devices lays the foundation for the construction and development of next-generation ultra-high-capacity and low-latency high-speed optical communication systems.

[0003] When hollow fiber is coupled with a lens as a hollow fiber collimator, the hollow fiber is usually inserted into the hole of a capillary tube and fixed by injecting glue between the hollow fiber and the hole of the capillary tube. During this process, the glue can easily spread to the light outlet of the hollow fiber and enter the interior of the hollow fiber, causing contamination to the hollow fiber.

[0004] Therefore, overcoming the shortcomings of the existing technology is an urgent problem to be solved in this technical field. Utility Model Content

[0005] The problem this invention aims to solve is how to reduce the degree of contamination and interference in hollow fiber optics during the fabrication of hollow fiber collimators.

[0006] In a first aspect, a hollow-core fiber collimator is provided, comprising: a hollow-core fiber 1, a capillary tube 2, a sleeve 3, and a lens 4, wherein:

[0007] The capillary tube 2 has a hole 21 at its central axis position, and the hollow optical fiber 1 is located in the hole 21.

[0008] The sleeve 3 is sleeved around the capillary tube 2 and the lens 4. The capillary tube 2 and the lens 4 are arranged opposite to each other in the sleeve 3, and the hollow optical fiber 1 is coupled to the lens 4.

[0009] The hollow optical fiber 1 extends a predetermined length from one end of the capillary tube 2 toward the lens 4.

[0010] Preferably, the preset length is 0.5mm to 1mm.

[0011] Preferably, the portion of the hollow optical fiber 1 located in the aperture 21 and the portion extending from the capillary 2 toward the lens 4 constitute a first portion 11, and the coating layer of the first portion 11 is removed.

[0012] Preferably, the difference between the diameter of the tube hole 21 and the diameter of the first part 11 is 1µm to 5µm.

[0013] Preferably, the first part 11 and the inner wall of the tube hole 21 are fixed together by adhesive.

[0014] Preferably, the end of the hollow optical fiber 1 facing the lens 4 is cut at a first preset angle.

[0015] Preferably, the first preset angle is 0° to 8°.

[0016] Preferably, a conical hole 22 is provided at the end of the tube hole 21 facing away from the lens 4. The diameter of the conical hole 22 gradually decreases from the end facing away from the lens 4, and the conical hole 22 is connected to the tube hole 21.

[0017] Preferably, the end of the lens 4 facing the capillary 2 is inclined at a second preset angle; the second preset angle is 8° to 11°.

[0018] Preferably, the end of the lens 4 facing the capillary 2 is coated with an anti-reflection film.

[0019] This utility model provides a hollow fiber collimator, comprising: a hollow fiber 1, a capillary tube 2, a sleeve 3, and a lens 4, wherein: a tube hole 21 is provided at the central axis position of the capillary tube 2, and the hollow fiber 1 is located in the tube hole 21; the sleeve 3 is sleeved around the periphery of the capillary tube 2 and the lens 4, the capillary tube 2 and the lens 4 are arranged opposite to each other in the sleeve 3, and the hollow fiber 1 is coupled to the lens 4; wherein the hollow fiber 1 extends from the end of the capillary tube 2 toward the lens 4 by a predetermined length; by extending the hollow fiber 1 from the end of the capillary tube 2 toward the lens 4 by a predetermined length, the glue between the hollow fiber 1 and the tube hole 21 cannot spread into the interior of the hollow fiber 1, thus avoiding contamination of the hollow fiber 1. Attached Figure Description

[0020] 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 only some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0021] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of a hollow fiber collimator provided in an embodiment of this utility model;

[0022] Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of a hollow fiber collimator with the hollow fiber hidden, provided for an embodiment of this utility model;

[0023] Figure 3A schematic diagram of another hollow fiber collimator provided in this embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 4 A cross-sectional view of another hollow fiber collimator provided in an embodiment of this utility model, with the hollow fiber hidden;

[0025] Figure 5 A flowchart illustrating a method for fabricating a hollow fiber collimator according to an embodiment of this utility model;

[0026] The attached figures are numbered as follows:

[0027] Hollow fiber 1; First part 11; Capillary 2; Tube hole 21; Conical hole 22; Sleeve 3; Lens 4. Detailed Implementation

[0028] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this utility model clearer, the present utility model will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the present utility model and are not intended to limit the present utility model.

[0029] In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that the terms "center", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this disclosure 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. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this disclosure.

[0030] In the description of this utility model, 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. Therefore, a feature defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of embodiments of this disclosure, unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more. Furthermore, for example, the description may use the prefix "A" or "B" to describe the same type of nouns as two independent entities. In this case, the features defined with "A" and "B" are used only to distinguish between similar entities and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features.

[0031] In describing some embodiments, the terms "coupled," "coupled," and "connected," and their derivative expressions, may be used. For example, the term "connected" may be used in describing some embodiments to indicate that two or more components have direct physical or electrical contact with each other. Similarly, the term "coupled" may be used in describing some embodiments to indicate that two or more components have direct physical or electrical contact. However, the terms "connected" or "coupled" may also refer to two or more components that do not have direct contact with each other but still cooperate or interact with each other, such as "optical coupling" or "wireless connection." The embodiments disclosed herein are not necessarily limited to the scope of this invention.

[0032] In the description of this utility model, "A and / or B" will be used to represent specific features. The corresponding expressions include the following three combinations: only A, only B, and a combination of A and B.

[0033] As used in this invention, “about,” “approximately,” or “approximately” includes the stated value and the average value within an acceptable range of deviation from the specified value, wherein the acceptable range of deviation is determined by a person skilled in the art taking into account the measurement under discussion and the error associated with the measurement of the specified quantity, i.e., the limitations of the measurement system.

[0034] Unless the context otherwise requires, throughout the specification and claims, the term "comprising" is interpreted as openly inclusive, meaning "including, but not limited to." In the description of the specification, terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "exemplary embodiment," "example," "specific example," or "some examples" are intended to indicate that a particular feature, structure, material, or characteristic associated with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of this disclosure. The illustrative representations of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics mentioned may be included in any suitable manner in any one or more embodiments or examples; that is, although they may be incorporated into embodiments or examples using the above terms for reasons such as order and position, it does not limit them to be incorporated in combination by a single embodiment or example.

[0035] Furthermore, the technical features involved in the various embodiments of this utility model described below can be combined with each other as long as they do not conflict with each other.

[0036] Example 1:

[0037] Hollow-core optical fiber 1 typically includes an outer coating layer and an inner cladding structure. There is no fiber core inside the cladding, and the optical signal is transmitted directly inside the cladding. Since there is no fiber core inside the cladding, the cladding is hollow. After one end of the hollow-core optical fiber 1 is cut to serve as the light outlet, foreign objects can easily enter the cladding from the cut end, causing contamination of the hollow-core optical fiber 1 and affecting the optical signal transmission effect of the hollow-core optical fiber 1.

[0038] To address the aforementioned problems, this embodiment provides a hollow fiber collimator, such as... Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, it includes: a hollow optical fiber 1, a capillary tube 2, a sleeve 3, and a lens 4, wherein: a tube hole 21 is provided at the central axis position of the capillary tube 2, and the hollow optical fiber 1 is located in the tube hole 21; the sleeve 3 is sleeved around the periphery of the capillary tube 2 and the lens 4, the capillary tube 2 and the lens 4 are arranged opposite to each other in the sleeve 3, and the hollow optical fiber 1 is coupled to the lens 4; wherein, the hollow optical fiber 1 extends from the end of the capillary tube 2 toward the lens 4 by a predetermined length.

[0039] In this embodiment, the capillary tube 2 is cylindrical, and the tube hole 21 extends through both ends of the capillary tube 2. The tube hole 21 is used to fix the hollow optical fiber 1. The capillary tube 2 and the sleeve 3 can be fixed together with glue, and the lens 4 and the sleeve 3 can be fixed together with glue. In actual structure fabrication, hollow fiber 1 is typically inserted into the aperture 21 of capillary tube 2, and then glue is injected from the end of aperture 21 facing away from lens 4 to fix hollow fiber 1 to aperture 21. During this process, if the end of hollow fiber 1 facing lens 4 is located inside aperture 21, and too much glue is injected, the glue will extend from the end of aperture 21 facing away from lens 4 to the end facing lens 4, eventually reaching the location where hollow fiber 1 is cut to serve as the light exit point. The glue will then enter the cladding of hollow fiber 1 from the light exit point, contaminating it. Therefore, in this embodiment, the end of hollow fiber 1 facing lens 4 (i.e., the cut end) extends beyond a predetermined length from aperture 21. Figure 1 The symbol d in the middle refers to the hollow fiber 1 that extends out of the tube hole 21 to a preset length. In this case, even if the glue is injected in excess and overflows from the end of the tube hole 21 toward the lens 4, it will not come into contact with the light outlet of the hollow fiber 1, and will not enter the cladding of the hollow fiber 1 to contaminate it.

[0040] Furthermore, since the sleeve 3 is fitted around the lens 4 and the capillary tube 2, and the light outlet of the hollow fiber 1 extends from the end of the capillary tube 2 toward the lens 4, the cut end of the hollow fiber 1 is located between the capillary tube 2 and the lens 4. This position is surrounded by the sleeve 3, forming a sealed space isolated from the outside. Therefore, the structure provided in this embodiment can also isolate the light outlet of the hollow fiber 1 from the outside, preventing the light outlet of the hollow fiber 1 from contacting the outside and being contaminated or interfered with by the outside.

[0041] The preset length is set by those skilled in the art according to the actual situation. In this embodiment, the preset length is 0.5mm to 1mm. The preset length can be 0.5mm, 0.75mm, or 1mm. Other values ​​are not specifically limited here.

[0042] In this embodiment, the capillary 2 can be a single-hole capillary, a double-hole capillary, or a multi-hole capillary, and the material of the capillary 2 can be glass or ceramic. The lens 4 can be a G lens, a C lens, or an aspherical lens.

[0043] Furthermore, since the outer coating of the hollow fiber 1 needs to be removed when it is fixed through the hole 21 of the capillary 2, this embodiment also involves the following design:

[0044] like Figure 3 As shown, the portion of the hollow optical fiber 1 located in the aperture 21 and the portion extending from the capillary 2 toward the lens 4 constitute the first portion 11, and the coating layer of the first portion 11 is removed.

[0045] In this embodiment, the first part 11 is the part of the hollow fiber 1 that is fixedly bonded to the corresponding hole 21, and the part of the hollow fiber 1 that extends from the end of the capillary 2 toward the lens 4, such as... Figure 3 As shown. In this embodiment, the first portion 11 and the inner wall of the tube hole 21 are fixed together with adhesive.

[0046] Furthermore, in order to ensure the stability of the fixation between the hollow fiber 1 and the tube 21, it is necessary to ensure the matching between the size of the first part 11 of the hollow fiber 1 and the size of the tube 21. Therefore, this embodiment also involves the following design:

[0047] The difference between the diameter of the tube hole 21 and the diameter of the first part 11 is 1µm to 5µm.

[0048] In this embodiment, the diameter of the tube hole 21 is slightly larger than the diameter of the first part 11. The difference between the diameter of the tube hole 21 and the diameter of the first part 11 can be 1 μm, 3 μm, or 5 μm. Other values ​​can also be used, and no specific limitation is made here.

[0049] Furthermore, in this embodiment, in order to ensure the coupling efficiency between the hollow fiber 1 and the lens 4, the end of the hollow fiber 1 facing the lens 4 needs to be cut at a corresponding angle. Therefore, this embodiment also involves the following design:

[0050] The end of the hollow optical fiber 1 facing the lens 4 is cut at a first preset angle. The first preset angle can be set by those skilled in the art according to the actual situation. In this embodiment, the first preset angle is 0° to 8°. The first preset angle can be 0°, 4°, or 8°, or other values. No specific limitation is made here.

[0051] Furthermore, during the fabrication of the corresponding structure, since the cross-sectional diameter of the hollow fiber 1 is relatively small, and since the size of the tube aperture 21 of the capillary 2 needs to match the size of the hollow fiber 1, the diameter of the tube aperture 21 is also relatively small. Therefore, inserting the hollow fiber 1 into the tube aperture 21 is relatively difficult. To make the process of inserting the hollow fiber 1 into the tube aperture 21 relatively easy, this embodiment also involves the following design:

[0052] like Figure 4 As shown, a conical hole 22 is provided at the end of the tube hole 21 facing away from the lens 4. The diameter of the conical hole 22 gradually decreases from the end facing away from the lens 4 until the diameter of the conical hole 22 is the same as the diameter of the tube hole 21, and the conical hole 22 is connected to the tube hole 21.

[0053] In this embodiment, the conical hole 22 is connected to the tube hole 21. The end of the conical hole 22 facing away from the lens 4 has the largest diameter. As it extends towards the lens 4, the diameter of the conical hole 22 gradually decreases until it is equal to the diameter of the tube hole 21 and is connected to the tube hole 21. This provides more space for the hollow optical fiber 1 to be inserted, making it easier for the hollow optical fiber 1 to be inserted into the tube hole 21 for bonding and fixing.

[0054] Furthermore, in this embodiment, in order to achieve the coupling requirements between lens 4 and hollow fiber 1, the following design is also involved:

[0055] The end of the lens 4 facing the capillary 2 is inclined at a second preset angle; the second preset angle is 8° to 11°.

[0056] In this embodiment, the second preset angle is set by those skilled in the art. When the lens is a G lens or a C lens, the second preset angle can be 8° to 11°, wherein the second preset angle can be 8°, 9.5°, or 11°, and other values ​​are not specifically limited here.

[0057] Furthermore, in order to reduce the return loss on the surface of the lens 4, this embodiment also involves the following design: an anti-reflection coating is deposited on the end of the lens 4 facing the capillary 2.

[0058] Example 2:

[0059] This embodiment, based on Embodiment 1, provides a method for fabricating a hollow fiber collimator, such as... Figure 5 As shown, it includes:

[0060] In step 101, the hollow fiber 1 is processed by removing a specified length of coating from one end of the hollow fiber 1, and the portion of the hollow fiber 1 with the coating removed is taken as the first part 11.

[0061] The end of the hollow optical fiber 1 with the coating removed is cut at a first preset angle. The first preset angle is set by those skilled in the art based on actual conditions. In this embodiment, the first preset angle is 0° to 8°, specifically 0°, 4°, or 8°. The specified length is set by those skilled in the art based on actual conditions, and the specified length must be greater than the length of the bore 21.

[0062] In step 102, the first part 11 of the processed hollow optical fiber 1 is inserted into the tube hole 21 until one end of the first part 11 of the hollow optical fiber 1 extends out of the tube hole 21 for a predetermined length.

[0063] In this embodiment, the capillary 2 can be a single-pore capillary, a double-pore capillary, or a multi-pore capillary, and the material of the capillary 2 can be glass or ceramic. The preset length can be set by those skilled in the art according to actual conditions. In this embodiment, the preset length is 0.5mm to 1mm, wherein the preset length can be 0.5mm, the preset length can be 0.75mm, or the preset length can be 1mm.

[0064] The difference between the diameter of the tube hole 21 and the diameter of the first part 11 is 1µm to 5µm.

[0065] In this embodiment, the diameter of the tube hole 21 is slightly larger than the diameter of the first part 11. The difference between the diameter of the tube hole 21 and the diameter of the first part 11 can be 1 μm, 3 μm, or 5 μm.

[0066] In step 103, adhesive is injected into the tube hole 21 to fix the hollow optical fiber 1 to the inner wall of the tube hole 21.

[0067] In step 104, the sleeve 3 is fitted onto the periphery of the lens 4, and the lens 4 is fixed to the inner wall of the sleeve 3 by glue or welding.

[0068] In step 105, the sleeve 3 is fitted around the capillary tube 2 with the hollow fiber 1, the position of the capillary tube 2 inside the sleeve 3 is adjusted to couple the hollow fiber 1 with the lens 4, and the outer wall of the capillary tube 2 is fixed to the inner wall of the sleeve 3 by glue or welding.

[0069] In this embodiment, the capillary tube 2 is cylindrical, and the tube hole 21 extends through both ends of the capillary tube 2. The tube hole 21 is used to fix the hollow optical fiber 1. The capillary tube 2 and the sleeve 3 can be fixed together with glue, and the lens 4 and the sleeve 3 can be fixed together with glue. In actual structural fabrication, hollow fiber 1 is typically inserted into the bore 21 of capillary tube 2, and then glue is injected from the end of bore 21 facing away from lens 4 to fix hollow fiber 1 to bore 21. During this process, if the end of hollow fiber 1 facing lens 4 is located inside bore 21, and too much glue is injected, the glue will extend from the end of bore 21 facing away from lens 4 to the end of bore 21 facing lens 4, and then reach the position where hollow fiber 1 is cut to serve as the light outlet. The glue will enter the cladding of hollow fiber 1 from the light outlet position, causing contamination. Therefore, in this embodiment, the end of hollow fiber 1 facing lens 4, which is the cut end, extends beyond a predetermined length of bore 21. In this case, even if too much glue is injected and overflows from the end of bore 21 facing lens 4, it will not contact the light outlet of hollow fiber 1 and will not enter the cladding of hollow fiber 1, thus preventing contamination.

[0070] Furthermore, since the sleeve 3 is fitted around the lens 4 and the capillary tube 2, and the light outlet of the hollow fiber 1 extends from the end of the capillary tube 2 toward the lens 4, the cut end of the hollow fiber 1 is located between the capillary tube 2 and the lens 4. This position is surrounded by the sleeve 3, forming a sealed space isolated from the outside. Therefore, the structure provided in this embodiment can also isolate the light outlet of the hollow fiber 1 from the outside, preventing the light outlet of the hollow fiber 1 from contacting the outside and being contaminated or interfered with by the outside.

[0071] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present utility model and is not intended to limit the present utility model. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present utility model should be included within the protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A hollow fiber collimator, characterized in that, include: Hollow-core optical fiber (1), capillary tube (2), sleeve (3) and lens (4), wherein: The capillary tube (2) has a hole (21) at its central axis position, and the hollow optical fiber (1) is located in the hole (21); The sleeve (3) is sleeved around the capillary tube (2) and the lens (4). The capillary tube (2) and the lens (4) are arranged opposite to each other in the sleeve (3), and the hollow optical fiber (1) is coupled to the lens (4). The hollow optical fiber (1) extends a predetermined length from one end of the capillary (2) toward the lens (4).

2. The hollow fiber collimator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The preset length is 0.5mm to 1mm.

3. The hollow fiber collimator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The portion of the hollow optical fiber (1) located in the bore (21) and the portion extending from the capillary (2) toward the lens (4) constitute the first portion (11), the coating of which is removed.

4. The hollow fiber collimator according to claim 3, characterized in that, The difference between the diameter of the tube hole (21) and the diameter of the first part (11) is 1µm to 5µm.

5. The hollow fiber collimator according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first part (11) and the inner wall of the tube hole (21) are fixed together by glue.

6. The hollow fiber collimator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The end of the hollow optical fiber (1) facing the lens (4) is cut at a first preset angle.

7. The hollow fiber collimator according to claim 6, characterized in that, The first preset angle is 0° to 8°.

8. The hollow fiber collimator according to claim 1, characterized in that, A conical hole (22) is provided at the end of the tube hole (21) facing away from the lens (4). The diameter of the conical hole (22) gradually decreases from the end facing away from the lens (4) until the diameter of the conical hole (22) is the same as the diameter of the tube hole (21), and the conical hole (22) is connected to the tube hole (21).

9. The hollow fiber collimator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The end of the lens (4) facing the capillary (2) is inclined at a second preset angle; the second preset angle is 8° to 11°.

10. The hollow-core fiber collimator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The end of the lens (4) facing the capillary (2) is coated with an anti-reflection film.

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