Optical fiber beam combiner based on double-glue-layer buffering

Abstract

The utility model relates to an optical fiber beam combiner based on double-glue-layer buffering, and relates to the technical field of beam combiners, the optical fiber beam combiner based on double-glue-layer buffering comprises a beam combining main body, an input optical fiber, an output optical fiber, a first glue body and a second glue body, one end of the input optical fiber is arranged in the beam combining main body and can input signal light and pump light; one end of the output optical fiber is arranged in the beam combining main body and is connected with the input optical fiber; the first colloid is arranged on the outer surfaces of the input optical fiber and the output optical fiber and is positioned outside the beam combining main body; the second colloid seals the end of the beam combining body and covers part of the first colloid, and the length of the first colloid is larger than that of the second colloid. The problem that an optical fiber coating layer is easy to crack due to the fact that an existing optical fiber is easy to bend during use is solved.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The application relates to the technical field of beam combiners, in particular to a fiber beam combiner based on double-gel-layer buffering. BACKGROUND

[0002] As a key optical communication device, the fiber beam combiner is widely used in the fields of fiber lasers, fiber amplifiers and the like. The main function of the fiber beam combiner is to combine multiple input optical signals into one output signal, thereby improving the efficiency and stability of the system.

[0003] Some conventional beam combiner packaging structures only focus on heat dissipation, such as adding a heat sink and opening a heat dissipation hole to solve the heating problem of the coupling position of the beam combiner. Although the heat at the coupling position of the combined optical fiber can be dissipated to a certain extent to prevent the coupling position from being damaged by high temperature, there is no effective measure to cope with the stress generated when the optical fiber is bent. When the optical fiber is bent during use, the stress is concentrated at the connection part of the optical fiber and the device, which can easily cause the optical fiber coating to crack. This not only affects the stability of signal transmission, but also shortens the service life of the fiber beam combiner. In high-power laser transmission and other scenes with high stability requirements, this problem is particularly prominent. CONTENT OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The application provides a fiber beam combiner based on double-gel-layer buffering to solve the problem that the current optical fiber is easy to bend and cause the optical fiber coating to crack.

[0005] A fiber beam combiner based on double-gel-layer buffering, comprising:

[0006] a beam combiner body, which is hollow inside;

[0007] an input optical fiber, one end of which is arranged inside the beam combiner body and can input signal light and pump light, and the other end of which extends out of the beam combiner body;

[0008] an output optical fiber, one end of which is arranged inside the beam combiner body and is connected with the input optical fiber, and the other end of which extends out of the beam combiner body;

[0009] a first gel, which is arranged on the outer surfaces of the input optical fiber and the output optical fiber and is located outside the beam combiner body;

[0010] a second gel, which seals the end of the beam combiner body and covers part of the first gel, and the length of the first gel is greater than the length of the second gel.

[0011] By adopting the technical scheme, the first glue has good buffering performance, can effectively absorb the stress generated by the optical fiber under bending, stretching and other conditions, provides preliminary protection for the optical fiber, and reduces the damage to the optical fiber caused by external force. The second glue is more solid than the first glue, and the protective shell formed by the second glue further enhances the fixing effect on the optical fiber, and cooperates with the first glue to form a double-layer protection mechanism, buffers the stress together, improves the reliability and stability of the optical fiber combiner, and prolongs the service life. The second glue also ensures the sealing of the entire packaging structure, prevents the influence of external environmental factors (such as moisture, dust, etc.) on the internal optical fiber and optical performance, and ensures the normal work of the optical fiber combiner. The length of the first glue is greater than the length of the second glue, which can prevent the second glue from flowing directly on the surface of the optical fiber, avoid affecting the optical performance of the optical fiber, such as increasing the optical loss, ensure the cleanliness of the surface of the optical fiber, and maintain the normal optical transmission performance of the optical fiber.

[0012] In one of the embodiments, the first glue is silica gel, and the second glue is UV glue.

[0013] By adopting the technical scheme, the first glue is silica gel, which has good flexibility and elasticity, can effectively buffer stress, and has good high and low temperature resistance, and can maintain stable performance in a wide temperature range. The second glue is UV glue, which can quickly form a solid protective shell through ultraviolet curing, has good sealing performance and fixing effect, and cooperates with the silica gel to improve the overall performance of the optical fiber combiner.

[0014] In one of the embodiments, the length of the first glue is 1 to 2 mm, and the thickness of the first glue is 50 to 150 um.

[0015] By adopting the technical scheme, the appropriate length and thickness can ensure that the first glue plays the best role in absorbing the stress of the optical fiber, neither can effectively buffer the stress due to insufficient length and thickness, nor can affect the compactness and other performance of the packaging structure due to excessive length or thickness.

[0016] In one of the embodiments, the length of the second glue is 0.5 to 1 mm.

[0017] By adopting the technical scheme, the UV glue is effectively prevented from flowing directly on the surface of the optical fiber. At the same time, the reasonable length setting makes the UV glue and the silica gel play their respective roles in the packaging structure, cooperate with each other, and optimize the performance of the packaging structure, ensuring the reliability of the entire optical fiber combiner.

[0018] In one of the embodiments, the input fiber includes a first fiber and a second fiber, the first fiber is arranged on one side of the beam combiner body and capable of inputting signal light, the second fiber is capable of inputting pump light, the output fiber includes a third fiber, the third fiber is arranged on the side of the beam combiner body away from the first fiber, and the third fiber is capable of outputting signal light.

[0019] By adopting the technical scheme, the optical signal transmission path of the fiber combiner is clear, the basic function of outputting signal light after combining signal light and pump light is realized, and the demand for optical signal processing in a fiber laser system and the like is met.

[0020] In one of the embodiments, the second fiber is arranged on the same side of the beam combiner body as the first fiber, or the second fiber is arranged on the same side of the beam combiner body as the third fiber.

[0021] By adopting the technical scheme, the flexible arrangement mode provides multiple choices for inputting pump light. According to different application demands and system layouts, a more suitable pump light input mode can be selected, and the applicability and flexibility of the fiber combiner are improved. Reasonably selecting the position of the second fiber helps to optimize the coupling efficiency of the pump light and the signal light in the beam combiner body, thereby improving the performance of the entire fiber combiner, such as improving the optical amplification efficiency.

[0022] In one of the embodiments, the output fiber further includes a fourth fiber, the fourth fiber is arranged on the same side of the beam combiner body as the second fiber, and the fourth fiber is capable of outputting signal light.

[0023] By adopting the technical scheme, the effects of beam combining and light splitting are realized. The output power of the signal light can be monitored through the fourth fiber, which is very important for real-time understanding of the working state of the fiber combiner and adjusting system parameters, and the monitorability and controllability of the system are improved.

[0024] In one of the embodiments, the first fiber, the second fiber, the third fiber and the fourth fiber are fusion spliced, and a high-temperature-resistant low-refraction glue is arranged at the connection position.

[0025] By adopting the technical scheme, the connection mode can realize low-loss and high-coupling-efficiency connection between the fibers, and ensure efficient transmission of optical signals between the fibers. The high-temperature-resistant low-refraction glue arranged at the connection position further enhances the stability of the connection, and prevents loosening or performance degradation of the connection position in a high-temperature environment.

[0026] In one of the embodiments, the fiber combiner based on the double-gel-layer buffer further includes a protective layer, the protective layer is coated on the surface of the second gel.

[0027] By adopting the above technical solution, the protective layer can be selected from materials with excellent moisture-proof, electromagnetic interference-proof and pressure change-resistant properties, such as a polytetrafluoroethylene coating. This further enhances the protection performance of the fiber combiner, prevents the influence of external environmental factors on the internal optical fibers and the packaging structure, and improves the durability and stability of the product.

[0028] In one of the embodiments, the combiner body comprises a glass tube and a substrate, the glass tube is hollow inside, and the substrate is arranged in the glass tube, and the input optical fiber and the output optical fiber are both fixed to the substrate.

[0029] By adopting the above technical solution, this structural design provides a stable mounting and fixing platform for the optical fiber, ensures the accurate position of the optical fiber in the combiner body, reduces the possibility of light loss and performance degradation caused by the shaking or displacement of the optical fiber, and improves the stability of the entire packaging structure.

[0030] In summary, the present application at least includes the following beneficial effects:

[0031] 1. The first gel has good buffering performance, can effectively absorb the stress generated by the optical fiber under bending, stretching and other conditions, provides preliminary protection for the optical fiber, and reduces the damage to the optical fiber caused by external force. The second gel is more solid than the first gel, and the protective shell formed by the second gel further enhances the fixing effect on the optical fiber, and cooperates with the first gel to form a double-layer protection mechanism, buffers the stress together, improves the reliability and stability of the fiber combiner, and prolongs the service life. The second gel also ensures the sealing of the entire packaging structure, prevents the influence of external environmental factors (such as moisture and dust) on the internal optical fiber and optical performance, and ensures the normal operation of the fiber combiner. The length of the first gel is greater than the length of the second gel, which can prevent the second gel from flowing directly on the surface of the optical fiber, avoid affecting the optical performance of the optical fiber (such as increasing light loss), ensure the cleanliness of the surface of the optical fiber, and maintain the normal optical transmission performance of the optical fiber.

[0032] 2. This flexible setting mode provides multiple choices for the input of pump light. According to different application requirements and system layout, a more suitable pump light input mode can be selected, which improves the applicability and flexibility of the fiber combiner. Reasonably selecting the position of the second optical fiber helps to optimize the coupling efficiency of the pump light and the signal light in the combiner body, thereby improving the performance of the entire fiber combiner, such as improving the light amplification efficiency.

[0033] 3. The protective layer can be selected from materials with excellent moisture-proof, electromagnetic interference-proof and pressure change-resistant properties, such as a polytetrafluoroethylene coating. This further enhances the protection performance of the fiber combiner, prevents the influence of external environmental factors on the internal optical fibers and the packaging structure, and improves the durability and stability of the product. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0034] Fig. 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a fiber combiner based on double adhesive layer buffering provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0035] Fig. 2 is a structural schematic diagram of a fiber combiner based on double adhesive layer buffering provided by a second embodiment of the present application.

[0036] Reference signs: 1, fiber combiner based on double adhesive layer buffering; 11, combiner main body; 111, glass tube; 112, substrate; 12, input optical fiber; 121, first optical fiber; 122, second optical fiber; 13, output optical fiber; 131, third optical fiber; 132, fourth optical fiber; 14, first adhesive; 15, second adhesive; 16, high-temperature-resistant low-refraction adhesive; 17, high-temperature-resistant high-refraction adhesive. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] The following will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings Figs. 1-2 The fiber combiner based on double adhesive layer buffering provided by the present application will be described in further detail.

[0038] Embodiment 1

[0039] Please refer to Figs. 1-2 The fiber combiner based on double adhesive layer buffering 1 provided by the embodiment of the present application includes a combiner main body 11, an input optical fiber 12, an output optical fiber 13, a first adhesive 14, and a second adhesive 15.

[0040] As shown in Fig. 1 , one end of the input optical fiber 12 is arranged inside the combiner main body 11 and can input signal light and pump light, and the other end extends out of the combiner main body 11; one end of the output optical fiber 13 is arranged inside the combiner main body 11 and is connected with the input optical fiber 12, and the other end extends out of the combiner main body 11. Specifically, the combiner main body 11 includes a glass tube 111 and a substrate 112. The glass tube 111 is hollow inside to facilitate the input optical fiber 12 and the output optical fiber 13 to extend in, and the material thereof can be borosilicate glass that can withstand extreme temperature changes without deformation. The substrate 112 is arranged inside the glass tube 111 and is usually made of ceramic material, which has good mechanical strength and thermal stability, and can also be made of glass and other materials, all of which can fix the input optical fiber 12 and the output optical fiber 13.

[0041] The input optical fiber 12 can include a first optical fiber 121 and a second optical fiber 122 for inputting signal light and pump light respectively; the output optical fiber 13 can include a third optical fiber 131, which is arranged on the side of the beam combination main body 11 away from the first optical fiber 121 and can output signal light. Specifically, the first optical fiber 121 and the third optical fiber 131 are arranged on different sides of the glass tube 111, and the second optical fiber 122 can be arranged in two, which can be arranged on the same side as the first optical fiber 121 or on the same side as the third optical fiber 131. This design can flexibly adjust the layout of the optical fiber according to actual needs, and improve the applicability of the optical fiber combiner. In this embodiment, the first optical fiber 121 and the second optical fiber 122 are arranged on the same side of the glass tube 111, and the third optical fiber 131 is arranged on the other side of the glass tube 111. The first optical fiber 121, the second optical fiber 122 and the third optical fiber 131 are connected together by fusion taper, and the connection is fixed on the substrate 112 by using high-temperature-resistant low-refraction glue 16. The high-temperature-resistant low-refraction glue 16 can maintain good bonding performance in a high-temperature environment, and has a relatively low refractive index, which can reduce the loss of optical signals. The three optical fibers are fixed to the substrate 112 by high-temperature-resistant high-refraction glue 17. The first optical fiber 121 uses high-temperature-resistant double-clad or triple-clad optical fiber to transfer the energy of pump light to signal light, so as to realize the amplification of signal light. The second optical fiber 122 uses high-temperature-resistant multi-mode optical fiber to transmit more pump light signals. The third optical fiber 131 uses high-temperature-resistant single-mode optical fiber to realize efficient transmission of signal light.

[0042] The first glue 14 is arranged on the outer surface of the input optical fiber 12 and the output optical fiber 13 and outside the glass tube 111, and the second glue 15 seals the two ends of the glass tube 111 and covers part of the first glue 14, and the length of the second glue 15 is less than that of the first glue 14, so as to prevent the second glue 15 from flowing directly to the surface of the optical fiber. Specifically, the first glue 14 wraps the outer surface of the input optical fiber 12 and the output optical fiber 13 and can abut against the high-temperature and high-refraction glue 17, and the first glue 14 needs to have good buffering performance and can provide preliminary stress buffering for the optical fiber, especially when the optical fiber is bent or stretched, the external stress can be absorbed to avoid that the optical fiber directly bears excessive mechanical pressure. In the embodiment, the first glue 14 can be silicone glue, the length of which can be 1-2 mm, the thickness of which can be 50-150 um, the curing time of which is 1-3 minutes, and the working temperature range of which is -60°C to +200°C. Before the silicone glue is applied, isopropyl alcohol with a concentration greater than 99.9% is used to clean dirt, oil and the like on the surface of the optical fiber to ensure that the surface of the optical fiber is clean. Moreover, the thickness of the silicone glue can be adjusted according to actual needs, for example, thicker silicone glue (such as 150 um) is selected in a high-stress environment, and thinner silicone glue (such as 50 um) is selected in a low-stress environment. The main function of the second glue 15 is to form a strong protective shell and further enhance the fixing effect on the optical fiber, while working cooperatively with the first glue 14 to buffer stress. In the embodiment, the second glue 15 can be UV glue, the length of which is 0.5-1 mm, the UV glue forms a semicircular glue package, and the outer diameter size is the diameter of the glass tube 111, which is convenient for sealing the glass tube 111. The working temperature range of the UV glue is -40°C to +125°C, and the curing time is 40-60 seconds, and the wavelength of the curing light source for rapidly curing the UV glue is 365 nm ultraviolet light source, and the curing power is greater than 1500 mW / cm2. When the optical fiber is impacted or vibrated, the UV glue can limit the displacement of the optical fiber, and the silicone glue can absorb the remaining stress, thereby achieving the effect of double protection. In addition, after the glue application is completed, the packaging structure needs to be placed in a UV curing box for secondary curing, and the power of the UV curing box is greater than 60W-120W / cm2; the curing time of the UV curing box is 10-20 minutes.

[0043] The implementation principle of the embodiment is that the combination of the first glue 14 and the second glue 15 realizes double protection of the optical fiber. The first glue 14 can absorb external stress to avoid damage to the optical fiber due to mechanical pressure, and the second glue 15 can further enhance the fixing effect of the optical fiber by forming a strong protective shell to prevent the optical fiber from loosening or displacing. The double-glue-layer buffering structure not only improves the tensile and bending resistance of the optical fiber combiner, but also enhances the reliability of the optical fiber combiner in a high-temperature environment, thereby significantly improving the long-term stability of the system.

[0044] Embodiment 2

[0045] AsFig. 2 As shown, the difference between this embodiment and the above embodiment is that the output optical fiber 13 also includes a fourth optical fiber 132. In this case, only one second optical fiber 122 is provided, and the fourth optical fiber 132 is located on the same side of the glass tube 111 as the second optical fiber 122. The second optical fiber 122 and the fourth optical fiber 132 can be on the same side as the first optical fiber 121 or the third optical fiber 131. The fourth optical fiber 132 can also output signal light and connect to other ports for monitoring the output power of the signal light. The fourth optical fiber 132 is a high-temperature resistant single-mode optical fiber. In this embodiment, the first optical fiber 121 is located on one side of the glass tube 111, and the second optical fiber 122, the third optical fiber 131, and the fourth optical fiber 132 are located on the other side of the glass tube 111. The fourth optical fiber 132 is connected to the other three optical fibers via fused taper connections. High-temperature resistant, low-refractive-index adhesive 16 is used at the connection point to ensure the stability and reliability of the connection. All four optical fibers are fixed to the substrate 112 with high-temperature and high-refractive-index adhesive 17. After receiving the pump light from the second optical fiber 122, the first optical fiber 121 can amplify the signal light and output it through the third optical fiber 131 and the fourth optical fiber 132.

[0046] Additionally, a protective layer can be coated on the outer surface of the second colloid 15. This protective layer can be made of materials with excellent moisture resistance, electromagnetic interference protection, and resistance to pressure changes, such as a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) coating. The coating thickness is 10-30 μm, effectively resisting the influence of external environmental factors. For example, in high humidity environments, the protective layer can prevent moisture penetration, protecting the internal structure from damage; in environments with strong electromagnetic interference, the protective layer can provide good shielding, ensuring signal transmission stability.

[0047] The implementation principle of this embodiment is as follows: by adding a fourth optical fiber 132 for monitoring the output power of the signal light, the dual functions of beam combining and beam splitting are achieved. This optical fiber can not only output signal light, but also be used to monitor the output power of the signal light in real time, thus providing more comprehensive functional support for the system. At the same time, by rationally arranging the input optical fiber 12 and the output optical fiber 13, it can adapt to different application scenarios, further improving the flexibility and practicality of the fiber optic beam combiner.

[0048] The above are all preferred embodiments of this application, and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, all equivalent changes made in accordance with the structure, shape and principle of this application should be covered within the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

1. A fiber optic combiner based on a double-layer adhesive buffer, characterized in that, include: The main body of the bundle (11) is hollow inside; An input optical fiber (12) has one end located inside the bundle combining body (11) and capable of inputting signal light and pump light, and the other end extends out of the bundle combining body (11); The output optical fiber (13) has one end located inside the bundle-combining body (11) and connected to the input optical fiber (12), and the other end extends out of the bundle-combining body (11); The first colloid (14) is disposed on the outer surface of the input optical fiber (12) and the output optical fiber (13) and located outside the bundle-combining body (11); The second colloid (15) seals the end of the bundle body (11) and covers part of the first colloid (14), the length of the first colloid (14) being greater than the length of the second colloid (15).

2. The fiber combiner based on a double-layer adhesive buffer according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first colloid (14) is silicone, and the second colloid (15) is UV adhesive.

3. The fiber combiner based on a double-layer adhesive buffer according to claim 2, characterized in that, The length of the first colloid (14) is 1 to 2 mm, and the thickness of the first colloid (14) is 50 to 150 μm.

4. The fiber combiner based on a double-layer adhesive buffer according to claim 2, characterized in that, The length of the second colloid (15) is 0.5 to 1 mm.

5. The fiber combiner based on a double-layer adhesive buffer according to claim 1, characterized in that, The input optical fiber (12) includes a first optical fiber (121) and a second optical fiber (122). The first optical fiber (121) is located on one side of the bundle combining body (11) and can input signal light. The second optical fiber (122) can input pump light. The output optical fiber (13) includes a third optical fiber (131). The third optical fiber (131) is located on the side of the bundle combining body (11) away from the first optical fiber (121) and can output signal light.

6. The fiber optic combiner based on a double-layer adhesive buffer according to claim 5, characterized in that, Two second optical fibers (122) are provided; the second optical fiber (122) and the first optical fiber (121) are located on the same side of the bundle-combining body (11), or the second optical fiber (122) and the third optical fiber (131) are located on the same side of the bundle-combining body (11).

7. The fiber combiner based on a double-layer adhesive buffer according to claim 5, characterized in that, The output optical fiber (13) also includes a fourth optical fiber (132), which is located on the same side of the bundle-combining body (11) as the second optical fiber (122). The fourth optical fiber (132) is capable of outputting signal light.

8. The fiber combiner based on a double-layer adhesive buffer according to claim 7, characterized in that, The first optical fiber (121), the second optical fiber (122), the third optical fiber (131) and the fourth optical fiber (132) are fused and tapered together, and the connection is provided with high temperature resistant and low bending adhesive (16).

9. The fiber combiner based on a double-layer adhesive buffer according to claim 1, characterized in that, The fiber combiner (1) based on double-layer buffer also includes a protective layer coated on the surface of the second colloid (15).

10. The fiber combiner based on a double-layer adhesive buffer according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bundle-combining body (11) includes a glass tube (111) and a substrate (112). The glass tube (111) is hollow inside, and the substrate (112) is disposed inside the glass tube (111). The input optical fiber (12) and the output optical fiber (13) are both fixed to the substrate (112).

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