Optical fiber connection component and method of manufacturing the optical fiber connection component

Abstract

A method for manufacturing an optical fiber connection component according to the present invention comprises: a step for preparing an optical fiber (2) having a glass fiber (20) and a resin coated part (21) covering the glass fiber; a step for mounting the optical fiber on a first optical fiber holding member (3) to protrude outward from the first optical fiber holding member; a rotational alignment step for adjusting the orientation around the central axis of the optical fiber; a step for bonding the glass fiber (20) to the first optical fiber holding member (3) using a first adhesive; a step for mounting the glass fiber (20) on a second optical fiber holding member (6) so that the glass fiber (20) protruding outward from the first optical fiber holding member (3) is arranged in a first direction; a step for bonding the glass fiber (20) to the second optical fiber holding member (6) using a second adhesive; and a step for polishing an end surface (22) of the glass fiber and an end surface (72) of the second optical fiber holding member so that the end surface (22) of the glass fiber is flush with the end surface (72) of the second optical fiber holding member.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an optical fiber connection component and a method for manufacturing the optical fiber connection component. This application claims priority to Japanese Application No. 2020-045286, filed on March 16, 2020, and incorporates by reference all of the contents of said Japanese application. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a manufacturing method for an optical connector equipped with a multicore fiber. According to the manufacturing method disclosed in Patent Document 1, after the multicore fiber is placed in a V-groove provided in a connector ferrule, the orientation around the central axis of the multicore fiber is adjusted (i.e., the multicore fiber is rotationally aligned). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2015-125172 Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] A method for manufacturing an optical fiber connection component according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes the steps of: preparing one or more optical fibers, the one or more optical fibers having a glass fiber having a core and a cladding covering the core, the glass fiber having a structure that is not axially symmetrical with respect to the central axis in a cross section perpendicular to the central axis of the glass fiber, and a resin coating covering the glass fiber, the end of the glass fiber being exposed from the resin coating; a first mounting step of mounting the one or more optical fibers on a first optical fiber holding member such that the one or more glass fibers exposed from the resin coating are arranged in a first direction and protrude to the outside from the first optical fiber holding member; and a second mounting step of mounting the one or more optical fibers on a first optical fiber holding member such that the one or more glass fibers exposed from the resin coating are arranged in a first direction and protrude to the outside from the first optical fiber holding member. the first adhesive step of adhering one or more glass fibers to a first optical fiber holding member using a first adhesive; a second mounting step of mounting the one or more glass fibers on a second optical fiber holding member so that the one or more glass fibers protruding outward from the first optical fiber holding member are arranged in the first direction; a second adhesive step of adhering the one or more glass fibers to the second optical fiber holding member using a second adhesive; and a step of polishing the end face of the one or more glass fibers and the end face of the second optical fiber holding member so that the end face of the one or more glass fibers is flush with the end face of the second optical fiber holding member.

[0005] An optical fiber connecting component according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a glass fiber having a core and a cladding covering the core, the glass fiber having a structure asymmetric with respect to the central axis in a cross section perpendicular to the central axis of the glass fiber; a resin coating covering the glass fiber, one or more optical fibers having ends of the glass fibers exposed from the resin coating; a first optical fiber holding member that holds the one or more glass fibers such that the one or more glass fibers exposed from the resin coating are arranged in a first direction and protrude from the first optical fiber holding member to the outside; and a second optical fiber holding member that holds the one or more glass fibers such that the one or more glass fibers protruding from the first optical fiber holding member are arranged in the first direction. An end face of the second optical fiber holding member is flush with an end face of the one or more glass fibers. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0006] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an optical fiber connecting component according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 2] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a glass fiber included in an optical fiber connecting component of the present disclosure. [Diagram 3] 4 is a flowchart for explaining a method for manufacturing an optical fiber connecting component according to the present disclosure. [Figure 4] 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a plurality of optical fibers are mounted on a first substrate in a first mounting step in a manufacturing method for an optical fiber connecting component according to the present disclosure. FIG. [Diagram 5] 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VV shown in FIG. 4. [Figure 6] 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which each glass fiber is held by a first optical fiber holding member in a first mounting step in a manufacturing method for an optical fiber connecting component according to the present disclosure. FIG. [Figure 7A] 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIIA-VIIA in FIG. 6, illustrating a state in which each glass fiber is bonded to a first substrate and a first lid portion by a first adhesive. [Figure 7B]7B is a cross-sectional view of the glass fiber, the first substrate, and the first lid portion cut along the line VIIB-VIIB shown in FIG. 7A. [Figure 8] 11 is a perspective view showing a state in which each glass fiber protruding from a first optical fiber holding member is mounted on a second substrate in a second mounting step in a manufacturing method of an optical fiber connecting component according to the present disclosure. FIG. [Figure 9] 11 is a perspective view showing a state in which each glass fiber is held by a second optical fiber holding member in a second bonding step in the manufacturing method of the optical fiber connecting component according to the present disclosure. FIG. [Figure 10] 3 is a cross-sectional view of a glass fiber, a second substrate, and a second cover in the optical fiber connecting component according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. [Figure 11] 8A to 8C are diagrams for explaining a manufacturing method of an optical fiber connecting component according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 12] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing an optical fiber connecting component according to a second embodiment. [Figure 13A] 13A and 13B are diagrams showing a first optical fiber holding member according to a modified example. [Figure 13B] 13A and 13B are diagrams showing a second optical fiber holding member according to a modified example. [Figure 14] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a glass fiber of a polarization-maintaining fiber. [Figure 15] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an intermittently bonded fiber ribbon. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0007] [Problem that this disclosure aims to solve] In a manufacturing method of an optical connector equipped with a multicore fiber, after the multicore fiber is rotationally aligned, the multicore fiber and the connector ferrule are fixed with an adhesive. Then, an end face of the multicore fiber protruding from the connector ferrule is polished so that the end face of the multicore fiber and the end face of the connector ferrule are flush with each other.

[0008] However, the position of the core of the multi-core fiber often varies along the longitudinal direction of the multi-core fiber. In this case, the position of the core on the end face of the multi-core fiber after the polishing process of the multi-core fiber may vary from the position of the core on the end face of the multi-core fiber observed in the rotation alignment process depending on the amount of polishing of the end face of the multi-core fiber. For this reason, the position of the core on the end face of the multi-core fiber in the manufactured optical connector may deviate from the desired position adjusted in the rotation alignment process, and there is a risk that the coupling loss between the optical connector and an external optical component such as an optical waveguide circuit may increase. Thus, there is room for improving the optical characteristics of the optical connector equipped with the multi-core fiber.

[0009] First, the contents of the embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described. (1) A method for manufacturing a glass fiber having a core and a cladding covering the core, the glass fiber having a structure that is not axially symmetrical with respect to the central axis in a cross section perpendicular to the central axis of the glass fiber, and a resin coating covering the glass fiber, the glass fiber having an end exposed from the resin coating, a first mounting step of mounting the optical fiber on a first optical fiber holding member such that the glass fiber exposed from the resin coating is arranged in a first direction and protrudes outward from the first optical fiber holding member, a rotational alignment step of adjusting an orientation of the optical fiber around the central axis, and a first bonding step. a first bonding step of bonding one or more glass fibers to a first optical fiber holding member using an adhesive; a second mounting step of mounting the one or more glass fibers on a second optical fiber holding member so that the one or more glass fibers protruding outward from the first optical fiber holding member are arranged in a first direction; a second bonding step of bonding the one or more glass fibers to the second optical fiber holding member using a second adhesive; and a step of polishing an end face of the one or more glass fibers and an end face of the second optical fiber holding member so that the end face of the one or more glass fibers is flush with the end face of the second optical fiber holding member.

[0010] According to the above manufacturing method, it is possible to reduce the amount of polishing of the end face of each glass fiber. Therefore, even if the position of the core of the glass fiber varies along the longitudinal direction of the glass fiber, the position of the core on the end face of the glass fiber at the time when polishing of the end face of the glass fiber is completed does not vary significantly from the position of the core on the end face of the glass fiber observed immediately after the rotation alignment process of the optical fiber. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the coupling loss between the optical fiber connection component and an external optical component (e.g., an optical waveguide circuit) increases.

[0011] (2) A manufacturing method of an optical fiber connecting component according to item (1), further comprising a holding member bonding step of bonding the first optical fiber holding member and the second optical fiber holding member to each other.

[0012] According to the above manufacturing method, since the first optical fiber holding member and the second optical fiber holding member are fixed to each other, the strength of the optical fiber connecting component can be increased.

[0013] (3) The first optical fiber holding member comprises a first substrate having one or more first grooves each holding a corresponding one of the one or more glass fibers, and a first lid portion facing the first substrate via the one or more glass fibers, and the second optical fiber holding member comprises a second substrate having one or more second grooves each holding a corresponding one of the one or more glass fibers, and a second lid portion facing the second substrate via the one or more glass fibers, and the first mounting step includes mounting the one or more optical fibers on the first substrate such that each of the one or more glass fibers exposed from the resin coating is held in a corresponding one of the one or more first grooves and protrudes outward from the first substrate, and the first bonding step includes bonding the one or more glass fibers to the first substrate such that the one or more glass fibers are held in the corresponding one of the one or more first grooves. a first mounting step including providing a first adhesive in one or more first groove portions so that the one or more glass fibers are bonded to the substrate and the first lid portion; a second mounting step including mounting one or more glass fibers on the second substrate such that each of the one or more glass fibers protruding outward from the first substrate is held in a corresponding one of the one or more second groove portions; a second bonding step including providing a second adhesive in one or more second groove portions so that the one or more glass fibers are bonded to the second substrate and the second lid portion; and a polishing step including polishing an end face of the one or more glass fibers, an end face of the second substrate, and an end face of the second lid portion so that the end faces of the one or more glass fibers are flush with the end face of the second substrate and the end face of the second lid portion.

[0014] According to the above manufacturing method, the optical fibers can be easily mounted on the first optical fiber holding member, and can be arranged with high precision on the first optical fiber holding member.

[0015] (4) A method for manufacturing an optical fiber connection component described in item (3), wherein a second lid portion faces the first substrate and the second substrate, and in a second bonding process, a second adhesive is provided between the first substrate and the second lid portion so that the second substrate is fixed to the first substrate via the second lid portion.

[0016] According to the above manufacturing method, the first substrate and the second substrate can be indirectly fixed to each other without the step of directly bonding the first substrate and the second substrate with an adhesive.

[0017] (5) The first optical fiber holding members each hold one or more glass fibers. The corresponding one of a first hole capillary having one or more first holes for holding one of the one or more glass fibers, and a second optical fiber holding member having a second hole capillary having one or more second holes for holding a corresponding one of the one or more glass fibers.

[0018] According to the above manufacturing method, the number of parts can be reduced, and the number of assembly steps can be reduced.

[0019] (6) The method for producing an optical fiber connection component according to any one of (1) to (5), wherein the one or more optical fibers are a plurality of optical fibers included in an intermittently bonded fiber ribbon.

[0020] the above Manufacturing method According to this, by mounting a portion of the intermittently bonded fiber ribbon where the optical fibers are not integrated on the first optical fiber holding member, the process of separating the optical fibers can be omitted.

[0021] (7) A method for manufacturing an optical fiber connection component according to any one of (1) to (5), wherein the one or more optical fibers are a plurality of single-core optical fibers that are not bonded to each other.

[0022] the above Manufacturing method According to this, the step of separating the optical fibers can be omitted.

[0023] (8) The method for manufacturing an optical fiber connection component according to any one of (1) to (7), wherein each of the one or more optical fibers is a multi-core fiber having a plurality of cores.

[0024] According to the above manufacturing method, it is possible to manufacture an optical fiber connecting component capable of connecting one or a plurality of multi-core fibers with low loss.

[0025] (9) The method for manufacturing an optical fiber connection component according to any one of (1) to (7), wherein each of the one or more optical fibers is a polarization maintaining fiber.

[0026] According to the above manufacturing method, it is possible to manufacture an optical fiber connecting component capable of connecting one or a plurality of polarization maintaining fibers with low crosstalk.

[0027] (10) An optical fiber connection component comprising: a glass fiber having a core and a cladding covering the core, the glass fiber having a structure that is not axially symmetric with respect to a central axis in a cross section perpendicular to the central axis of the glass fiber; and a resin coating covering the glass fiber, one or more optical fibers having ends of the glass fibers exposed from the resin coating; a first optical fiber holding member that holds the one or more glass fibers such that the one or more glass fibers exposed from the resin coating are arranged in a first direction; and a second optical fiber holding member that holds the one or more glass fibers such that the one or more glass fibers protruding from the first optical fiber holding member are arranged in the first direction, wherein an end face of the second optical fiber holding member is flush with an end face of the one or more glass fibers.

[0028] According to the above configuration, one or more glass fibers protruding from the first optical fiber holding member are held by the second optical fiber holding member, so that it is possible to reduce the amount of polishing of the end face of each glass fiber protruding to the outside from the first optical fiber holding member. This makes it possible to prevent a situation in which the position of the core on the end face of the glass fiber of the manufactured optical fiber connecting component deviates from the desired position adjusted in the rotation alignment process, and therefore makes it possible to prevent a situation in which the coupling loss between the optical fiber connecting component and an external optical component (for example, an optical waveguide circuit) increases. In this way, it is possible to improve the optical characteristics of the optical fiber connecting component.

[0029] (11) The optical fiber connecting component according to item (10), wherein the first optical fiber holding member is fixed to the second optical fiber holding member via an adhesive.

[0030] According to the above configuration, since the first optical fiber holding member is fixed to the second optical fiber holding member via the adhesive, the strength of the optical fiber connecting component can be increased.

[0031] (12) The optical fiber connecting component according to item (10) or (11), wherein the first optical fiber holding member comprises a first substrate having one or more first groove portions each holding a corresponding one of the one or more glass fibers, and a first lid portion facing the first substrate via the one or more glass fibers, and the second optical fiber holding member comprises a second substrate having one or more second groove portions each holding a corresponding one of the one or more glass fibers, and a second lid portion facing the second substrate via the one or more glass fibers.

[0032] According to the above configuration, the first substrate and the first lid portion can hold the glass fibers exposed from the resin coating portion so as to be aligned in the first direction, and the second substrate and the second lid portion can hold the glass fibers protruding from the first substrate so as to be aligned in the first direction.

[0033] (13) The optical fiber connection component according to item (12), wherein the one or more optical fibers are a plurality of optical fibers, the one or more first grooves are a plurality of first grooves arranged parallel to each other and each holding a corresponding one of a plurality of glass fibers exposed at an end of each of the plurality of optical fibers, and the one or more second grooves are a plurality of second grooves arranged parallel to each other and each holding a corresponding one of the plurality of glass fibers.

[0034] According to the above configuration, the plurality of first grooves allows the plurality of optical fibers to be arranged in the first direction, and the plurality of second grooves allows the plurality of optical fibers to be arranged in the first direction.

[0035] (14) The optical fiber connection component according to item (12) or (13), wherein a second lid portion faces the first substrate and the second substrate, and the second substrate is fixed to the first substrate via the second lid portion.

[0036] According to the above configuration, since the second substrate is fixed to the first substrate via the second adhesive and the second lid, the strength of the optical fiber connecting component can be increased.

[0037] (15) An optical fiber connection component according to item (10) or (11), wherein the first optical fiber holding member comprises a first hole capillary having one or more first hole portions each holding a corresponding one of the one or more glass fibers, and the second optical fiber holding member comprises a second hole capillary having one or more second hole portions each holding a corresponding one of the one or more glass fibers.

[0038] According to the above configuration, the first hole capillary can hold the glass fibers exposed from the resin coating portion so as to be aligned in a first direction, and the second hole capillary can hold the glass fibers protruding from the first hole capillary so as to be aligned in the first direction.

[0039] (16) An optical fiber connection component according to item (15), wherein the one or more optical fibers are a plurality of optical fibers, the one or more first hole portions are a plurality of first hole portions arranged parallel to each other and each holding a corresponding one of a plurality of glass fibers exposed at an end of each of the plurality of optical fibers, and the one or more second hole portions are a plurality of second hole portions arranged parallel to each other and each holding a corresponding one of the plurality of glass fibers.

[0040] According to the above configuration, the plurality of first holes allows the plurality of optical fibers to be arranged in the first direction, and the plurality of second holes allows the plurality of optical fibers to be arranged in the first direction.

[0041] [Effects of the present disclosure] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a manufacturing method for an optical fiber connection component that can improve the optical characteristics of the optical fiber connection component, and it is also possible to provide an optical fiber connection component with improved optical characteristics.

[0042] [Description of the embodiments of the present disclosure] Hereinafter, the embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. For convenience of explanation, the dimensions of each member shown in each drawing may differ from the actual dimensions of each member. In the description of the embodiment, for ease of understanding, the Z axis along the central axis of the optical fiber held by the optical fiber holding member, the X axis perpendicular to the Z axis and along the arrangement of the multiple optical fibers, and the Y axis perpendicular to the Z axis and the X axis will be mentioned. In addition, in this embodiment, the optical fiber connecting part 1 functions as an optical fiber array including multiple optical fibers 2. When the optical fiber of the optical fiber connecting part 1 is optically connected to another optical fiber, the optical fiber connecting part 1 functions as an optical connector.

[0043] (First embodiment) 1 is a perspective view showing an optical fiber connecting part 1 according to the first embodiment. The optical fiber connecting part 1 includes a plurality of optical fibers 2 (12 optical fibers 2 in the first embodiment) arranged in the X-axis direction (first direction), a first optical fiber holding member 3 that holds the plurality of optical fibers 2, and a second optical fiber holding member 6 that holds the glass fibers 20 of the plurality of optical fibers 2.

[0044] The optical fibers 2 are arranged in the X-axis direction while being separated from each other. As shown in Fig. 2, each optical fiber 2 has a structure that is not axially symmetrical with respect to a central axis (not shown) extending in the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber 2 in a cross section perpendicular to the central axis. For this reason, rotational alignment is required for each optical fiber 2. In the first embodiment, each optical fiber 2 is a multi-core fiber having a plurality of cores 24. Each optical fiber 2 has a glass fiber 20 and a resin coating portion 21 that covers the glass fiber 20.

[0045] The glass fiber 20 has a plurality of cores 24 through which signal light propagates, a marker 25, and a cladding 23 that covers the plurality of cores 24 and the markers 25. The refractive index of each core 24 is greater than the refractive index of the cladding 23. The refractive index of the markers 25 is different from the refractive index of the cladding 23. The markers 25 are used in the rotational alignment process of the optical fiber 2, which will be described later.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 1, in each optical fiber 2, an end of the glass fiber 20 is exposed from the resin coating portion 21. The first optical fiber holding member 3 holds the multiple glass fibers 20 such that the multiple glass fibers 20 exposed from the resin coating portion 21 are arranged in the X-axis direction. The first optical fiber holding member 3 has a first substrate 4 and a first lid portion 5 facing the first substrate 4 via the multiple glass fibers 20. The first substrate 4 has a holding region 43 that holds the resin coating portion 21 and a holding region 44 that holds each glass fiber 20 exposed from the resin coating portion. The holding region 44 is provided with multiple first groove portions 46 (see FIG. 4) with a V-shaped cross section, each of which holds one of the corresponding glass fibers 20.

[0047] The second optical fiber holding member 6 holds the multiple glass fibers 20 such that the multiple glass fibers 20 protruding from the first optical fiber holding member 3 in the Z-axis direction are arranged in the X-axis direction. The second optical fiber holding member 6 has a second substrate 7 and a second lid portion 8 facing the second substrate 7 via the multiple glass fibers 20. The second substrate 7 is provided with multiple second groove portions 76 (see FIG. 8) with a V-shaped cross section, each of which holds a corresponding one of the glass fibers 20.

[0048] The second optical fiber holding member 6 is fixed to the first optical fiber holding member 3 via an adhesive. In particular, the second substrate 7 is fixed to the first substrate 4 via an adhesive, and the second lid portion 8 is fixed to the first lid portion 5 via an adhesive. In addition, the end face of the second optical fiber holding member 6 is flush with the end face 22 of each glass fiber 20. In particular, the end face 72 of the second substrate 7 and the end face 82 of the second lid portion 8 are flush with the end face 22 of each glass fiber 20.

[0049] 3 is a flow chart for explaining a manufacturing method of the optical fiber splicing component 1 according to the present disclosure. In a preparation step S1, a plurality of optical fibers 2 are prepared in which the ends of the glass fibers 20 are exposed from the resin coating portion 21. In the first embodiment, the plurality of optical fibers 2 are not bonded to each other, so there is no need to provide a separate step of separating each optical fiber 2. Furthermore, the ends of each glass fiber 20 can be exposed from the resin coating portion 21 by using a predetermined tool.

[0050] Next, in a first mounting step S2, the multiple optical fibers 2 are mounted on the first optical fiber holding member 3. As shown in Fig. 4, each optical fiber 2 is mounted on the first substrate 4 so that the glass fibers 20 exposed from the resin coating portion 21 are arranged in the X-axis direction and protrude from the first substrate 4 to the outside in the Z-axis direction. In addition, the resin coating portion 21 is held in the holding region 43 of the first substrate 4, and each of the multiple glass fibers 20 exposed from the resin coating portion 21 is held in a corresponding one of the multiple first groove portions 46 in the holding region 44 of the first substrate 4 (see Fig. 5).

[0051] Next, in a rotational alignment step S3, the orientation (rotational position) around the central axis of each optical fiber 2 is adjusted (i.e., rotational alignment of each optical fiber 2 is performed). For example, the surface of each glass fiber 20 protruding from the first optical fiber holding member 3 may be imaged by a camera (not shown). Thereafter, a rotational alignment device (not shown) may automatically adjust the rotational position of each glass fiber 20 based on the captured image showing the surface of the glass fiber 20 acquired by the camera. In this regard, the rotational position of the glass fiber 20 may be adjusted so that the rotational position of the marker 25 (see FIG. 2) of the glass fiber 20 coincides with a predetermined rotational position. In this way, through the rotational alignment step of the optical fiber 2, the rotational positions of the multiple cores 24 are adjusted to desired rotational positions.

[0052] Next, in the first bonding step S4, an ultraviolet curing resin (a first adhesive 10 A plurality of glass fibers 20 are bonded to the first optical fiber holding member 3 using a bonding agent (an example of the bonding agent). Specifically, after the rotational alignment of the optical fiber 2 is performed in the rotational alignment step S3, the first lid portion 5 is placed on the holding area 44 of the first substrate 4 via each glass fiber 20 (see FIG. 6). Next, in a state in which each glass fiber 20 is fixed by the first lid portion 5 and the first groove portion 46 of the first substrate 4, an ultraviolet curing resin is introduced into the first groove portion 46 and the gap between the first substrate 4 and the first lid portion 5 (see FIGS. 7A and 7B). The ultraviolet curing resin may be poured into the gap between the first lid portion 5 and the first substrate 4 from the holding area 43 side. Thereafter, the ultraviolet curing resin is irradiated with ultraviolet light to cure the ultraviolet curing resin. In this manner, each glass fiber 20 is bonded to the first substrate 4 and the first lid portion 5 by the ultraviolet curing resin.

[0053] Next, in a second mounting step S5, the glass fibers 20 protruding from the first optical fiber holding member 3 in the Z-axis direction are mounted on the second optical fiber holding member 6. As shown in FIG. 8, each optical fiber 2 is mounted on the second substrate 7 so that the glass fibers 20 protruding from the first optical fiber holding member 3 are arranged in the X-axis direction. In particular, each of the glass fibers 20 is held in a corresponding one of the second grooves 76 in the second substrate 7. In this state, the tip of each glass fiber 20 protrudes slightly from the end face 72 of the second substrate 7 in the Z-axis direction. In this step, the second substrate 7 is bonded to the first substrate 4 via an adhesive.

[0054] Next, in the second adhesion step S6, an ultraviolet curing resin (a second adhesive 12 A plurality of glass fibers 20 are bonded to the second optical fiber holding member 6 using a bonding agent (an example of the bonding agent). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9, the second lid portion 8 is disposed on the second substrate 7 via each glass fiber 20. Next, in a state in which each glass fiber 20 is fixed by the second lid portion 8 and the second groove portion 76 of the second substrate 7, an ultraviolet curing resin is introduced into the second groove portion 76 and the gap between the second substrate 7 and the second lid portion 8. The ultraviolet curing resin may be poured into the gap between the second lid portion 8 and the second substrate 7 from the side of the end face 22 of each glass fiber 20. Thereafter, the ultraviolet curing resin is irradiated with ultraviolet light to cure the ultraviolet curing resin. In this manner, each glass fiber 20 is bonded to the second substrate 7 and the second lid portion 8 by the ultraviolet curing resin. In addition, in this process, the second lid portion 8 is bonded to the first lid portion 5 via an adhesive.

[0055] Next, in the polishing step S7, the end faces 22 of the glass fibers 20 and the end face of the second optical fiber holding member 6 are polished. Specifically, the end faces 22 of each glass fiber 20, the end face 72 of the second substrate 7, and the end face 82 of the second lid 8 are polished so that the end faces 22 of each glass fiber 20, the end face 72 of the second substrate 7, and the end face 82 of the second lid 8 are flush with each other. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, when the protruding amount of the glass fiber 20 protruding from the end face 72 of the second substrate 7 and the end face 82 of the second lid 8 in the Z-axis direction is D2 (mm), the polishing amount of the glass fiber 20 is equal to or larger than D2. In this way, the optical fiber connecting part 1 shown in FIG. 1 is manufactured through the polishing step S7.

[0056] 6 , the protruding amount D2 of each glass fiber 20 protruding from the second optical fiber holding member 6 is shorter than the protruding amount D1 (mm) of each glass fiber 20 protruding from the first optical fiber holding member 3, so that the first embodiment makes it possible to reduce the amount of polishing of the end face 22 of each glass fiber 20 through the polishing process. In this way, even if the position of the core 24 of the glass fiber 20 varies along the longitudinal direction of the glass fiber 20, the rotational position of the core 24 on the end face 22 of the glass fiber 20 at the time when polishing of the end face 22 of the glass fiber 20 is completed does not vary significantly from the rotational position of the core 24 on the end face 22 of the glass fiber 20 observed during the rotational alignment of the optical fiber 2.

[0057] Therefore, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the rotational position of the core 24 on the end face 22 of the glass fiber 20 of the optical fiber connecting part 1 manufactured through the polishing process of the glass fiber 20 deviates from the desired position adjusted in the rotation alignment process. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the coupling loss between the optical fiber connecting part 1 and an external optical part (an optical waveguide circuit or another optical fiber) increases. In this way, the optical characteristics of the optical fiber connecting part 1 can be improved through the manufacturing method of the optical fiber connecting part 1 according to the first embodiment. Furthermore, according to the first embodiment, the first optical fiber holding member 3 and the second optical fiber holding member 6 are fixed to each other via an adhesive, so that the strength of the optical fiber connecting part 1 can be ensured.

[0058] In the first embodiment, the glass fibers 20 are bonded to the first optical fiber holding member 3 using an ultraviolet curing resin as an example of an adhesive, and the glass fibers 20 are bonded to the second optical fiber holding member 6 using an ultraviolet curing resin as an example of an adhesive, but the first embodiment should not be limited to this. For example, a thermosetting resin may be used instead of the ultraviolet curing resin as another example of an adhesive. In the first embodiment, the optical fiber connecting part 1 includes 12 optical fibers 2, but the number of optical fibers 2 mounted on the optical fiber connecting part 1 is not particularly limited. For example, the number of optical fibers 2 mounted on the optical fiber connecting part 1 may be one.

[0059] Second embodiment Next, an optical fiber connecting part 1A according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure and a manufacturing method thereof will be described below with reference to Fig. 3, Fig. 11, and Fig. 12. Fig. 11 is a diagram for explaining a manufacturing method of the optical fiber connecting part 1A according to the second embodiment. Fig. 12 is a perspective view showing the optical fiber connecting part 1A.

[0060] As shown in Fig. 12, the optical fiber connecting part 1A according to the second embodiment differs from the optical fiber connecting part 1 according to the first embodiment in that the outer sizes of the first lid part 5A and the second lid part 8A are different. In the following description, the differences between the optical fiber connecting part 1 according to the first embodiment and the optical fiber connecting part 1A according to the second embodiment will be mainly described. Note that in the second embodiment, the components having the same reference numbers as those described in the first embodiment will not be described repeatedly.

[0061] As shown in FIG. 12, the optical fiber connecting part 1A includes a plurality of optical fibers 2, a first optical fiber holding member 3A, and a second optical fiber holding member 6A. The first optical fiber holding member 3A includes a first substrate 4 and a first lid portion 5A facing the first substrate 4 through each glass fiber 20. In the second embodiment, the outer size of the first lid portion 5A in the Z-axis direction is smaller than the outer size of the first lid portion 5 of the first embodiment in the Z-axis direction. The second optical fiber holding member 6A includes a second substrate 7 and a second lid portion 8A facing the first substrate 4 and the second substrate 7 through each glass fiber 20. In the second embodiment, the outer size of the second lid portion 8A in the Z-axis direction is larger than the outer size of the second lid portion 8 of the first embodiment in the Z-axis direction.

[0062] A part of the second lid portion 8A is bonded to each glass fiber 20 and the first substrate 4 by ultraviolet curing resin, and another part of the second lid portion 8A is bonded to each glass fiber 20 and the second substrate 7 by ultraviolet curing resin. In this way, in the optical fiber connecting part 1A according to the second embodiment, the second substrate 7 is fixed to the first substrate 4 via the second lid portion 8A, so that the strength of the optical fiber connecting part 1A can be increased.

[0063] Next, a manufacturing method of the optical fiber connecting part 1A will be described below with reference to FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 3, after the preparation step S1 to the rotation alignment step S3 are performed, each glass fiber 20 is bonded to the first optical fiber holding member 3A using ultraviolet curing resin (first bonding step S4). More specifically, the first lid portion 5A is placed on the holding area 44 of the first substrate 4 via each glass fiber 20 (see FIG. 11). Next, in a state in which each glass fiber 20 is fixed by the first lid portion 5A and the first groove portion 46 of the first substrate 4, the ultraviolet curing resin is introduced into the first groove portion 46 and the gap between the first substrate 4 and the first lid portion 5A. After that, the ultraviolet curing resin is irradiated with ultraviolet light to cure the ultraviolet curing resin. In this way, each glass fiber 20 is bonded to the first substrate 4 and the first lid portion 5A by the ultraviolet curing resin.

[0064] Next, in a second mounting step S5, the glass fibers 20 protruding from the first optical fiber holding member 3A in the Z-axis direction are mounted on the second optical fiber holding member 6A. After that, in a second bonding step S6, the glass fibers 20 are bonded to the second optical fiber holding member 6A using an ultraviolet curing resin. As shown in FIG. 12, a part of the second lid portion 8A is mounted on the first substrate 4 via each glass fiber 20, and the remaining part of the second lid portion 8A is mounted on the second substrate 7 via each glass fiber 20. Next, with each glass fiber 20 fixed by the second lid portion 8A and the second substrate 7, an ultraviolet curing resin is introduced into the gap between the second substrate 7 and the second lid portion 8A and the gap between the first substrate 4 and the second lid portion 8A.

[0065] The ultraviolet curing resin may be poured into the gap between the second lid portion 8A and the second substrate 7 and the gap between the second lid portion 8A and the first substrate 4 from the side of the end surface 22 of each glass fiber 20. The ultraviolet curing resin is then cured by irradiating it with ultraviolet light. In this manner, each glass fiber 20 is bonded to the second substrate 7, the second lid portion 8A, and the first substrate 4, respectively, by the ultraviolet curing resin.

[0066] Thereafter, in a polishing step S7, the end face 22 of each glass fiber 20 and the end face of the second optical fiber holding member 6A are polished. At this point, the end face 22 of each glass fiber 20, the end face 72 of the second substrate 7, and the end face 82A of the second lid portion 8A are polished so that the end face 22 of each glass fiber 20, the end face 72 of the second substrate 7, and the end face 82A of the second lid portion 8A are flush with each other.

[0067] Thus, in the manufacturing method of the optical fiber connecting component 1A of the second embodiment, the second substrate 7 is fixed to the first substrate 4 via the second cover portion 8A, so that the first optical fiber holding member 3A and the second optical fiber holding member 6A can be indirectly fixed to each other without a process of directly bonding the first optical fiber holding member 3A and the second optical fiber holding member 6A.

[0068] (Modifications of the first optical fiber holding member and the second optical fiber holding member) Fig. 13A is a diagram showing a first optical fiber holding member 3B according to a modified example, and Fig. 13B is a diagram showing a second optical fiber holding member 6B according to a modified example.

[0069] Instead of the first optical fiber holding member 3 according to the first embodiment, a first optical fiber holding member 3B may be used in the optical fiber connecting component 1. The first optical fiber holding member 3B is a first hole capillary having a plurality of first holes 3b arranged in the X-axis direction. Each of the plurality of glass fibers 20 is inserted into a corresponding one of the plurality of first holes 3b. In this manner, each of the plurality of first holes 3b holds a corresponding one of the plurality of glass fibers 20.

[0070] Also, instead of the second optical fiber holding member 6 according to the first embodiment, a second optical fiber holding member 6B may be used in the optical fiber connecting component 1. The second optical fiber holding member 6B is a second hole capillary having a plurality of second holes 6b arranged in the X-axis direction. Each of the plurality of glass fibers 20 protruding from the first optical fiber holding member 3B in the Z-axis direction is inserted into a corresponding one of the plurality of second holes 6b. In this way, each of the plurality of second holes 6b holds a corresponding one of the plurality of glass fibers 20 protruding from the first optical fiber holding member 3B.

[0071] Next, a manufacturing method of the optical fiber connecting part 1 in the case where the first optical fiber holding member 3B and the second optical fiber holding member 6B are applied to the optical fiber connecting part 1 will be briefly described below with reference to FIG.

[0072] In the first mounting step S2, each glass fiber 20 is inserted into a corresponding one of the plurality of first holes 3b, so that each optical fiber 2 is mounted on the first optical fiber holding member 3B. Next, after rotational alignment of each optical fiber 2 is performed, each glass fiber 20 is bonded to the first optical fiber holding member 3B with an ultraviolet curing resin (first bonding step S4).

[0073] In a second mounting step S5, each glass fiber 20 protruding from the first optical fiber holding member 3B is inserted into a corresponding one of the second holes 6b, so that each glass fiber 20 is mounted on the second optical fiber holding member 6B. Next, in a second bonding step S6, after each glass fiber 20 is bonded to the second optical fiber holding member 6B with an ultraviolet curing resin, the end face of the second optical fiber holding member 6B and the end face 22 of each glass fiber 20 are polished.

[0074] In this modified example, the amount of polishing of each glass fiber 20 can be reduced, so that the rotational position of the core of the optical fiber connecting part 1 manufactured through the polishing process of the glass fiber 20 can be adjusted to the desired rotational position adjusted in the rotation alignment process. fromIt is possible to prevent the situation where the optical fiber connecting part 1 is misaligned. In this way, it is possible to provide a manufacturing method of the optical fiber connecting part 1 that can improve the optical characteristics of the optical fiber connecting part 1.

[0075] Although the embodiments have been described above, it goes without saying that the technical scope of the present invention should not be interpreted as being limited by the description of the embodiments. The embodiments are merely examples, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications of the embodiments are possible within the scope of the invention described in the claims. Thus, the technical scope of the present invention should be determined based on the scope of the invention described in the claims and its equivalents.

[0076] In the present disclosure, the optical fiber is a multi-core fiber having a plurality of cores, but the optical fiber is not limited to a multi-core fiber. In this respect, the structure of the optical fiber is not particularly limited as long as the glass fiber of the optical fiber has a structure that is not axially symmetrical with respect to its central axis. For example, as shown in FIG. 14, instead of the optical fiber 2, a polarization-maintaining fiber 2A may be applied to the optical fiber connecting component 1. In this respect, the polarization-maintaining fiber 2A has a glass fiber 20A and a resin coating portion (not shown) that covers the glass fiber 20A. The glass fiber 20A may have a pair of stress-applying portions 26A, a core 24A that is disposed between the pair of stress-applying portions 26A and through which the signal light propagates, a pair of stress-applying portions 26A, and a cladding 23A that covers the core 24A. When the polarization-maintaining fiber 2A is applied to the optical fiber connecting component instead of the optical fiber 2, an optical fiber connecting component that can connect the polarization-maintaining fiber with low crosstalk can be provided.

[0077] In addition, in the present disclosure, the optical fibers are single-core optical fibers that are not bonded to each other, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, as shown in FIG. 15, instead of the optical fiber 2, a plurality of optical fibers 2B included in an intermittently bonded fiber ribbon 120 may be applied to the optical fiber splicing component 1. In the intermittently bonded fiber ribbon 120, non-bonded regions 122, which are regions where adjacent optical fibers 2B are not bonded, are intermittently provided along the Z-axis direction. By applying each optical fiber 2B included in the intermittently bonded fiber ribbon 120 to the optical fiber splicing component 1, each optical fiber 2B can be easily separated before mounting each optical fiber 2B on the first optical fiber holding member.

[0078] The intermittently bonded fiber ribbon may be an intermittently bonded fiber ribbon in which completely separated regions where the optical fibers are completely separated from each other and bonded regions where the optical fibers are bonded to each other are alternately provided in the Z-axis direction (longitudinal direction). In this case, it is not necessary to separately provide a process of separating each optical fiber before the process of mounting each optical fiber on the first optical fiber holding member.

[0079] In the description of the present disclosure, the first optical fiber holding member and the second optical fiber holding member are not particularly limited in structure as long as they can hold the optical fiber. For example, the first optical fiber holding member and the second optical fiber holding member may be a cylindrical ferrule or an MT ferrule. [Explanation of symbols]

[0080] 1, 1A: Optical fiber connection parts 2, 2A, 2B: Optical fiber 3, 3A, 3B: First optical fiber holding member 3b: 1st hole 4: First board 5,5A: 1st lid part 6, 6A, 6B: Second optical fiber holding member 6b: 2nd hole 7: Second board 8,8A:Second lid part 10: First adhesive 12: Second adhesive 20, 20A: Glass fiber 21: Resin-coated part 22: End face 23, 23A: Clad 24, 24A: Core 25: Marker 26A: Stress applying section 43,44:Holding area 46: First groove 76: Second groove 120: Intermittently bonded fiber ribbon 122: Non-adhesive area

Claims

1. preparing one or more optical fibers, the optical fibers having a core and a cladding covering the core, the glass fiber having a structure that is not axially symmetrical with respect to a central axis in a cross section perpendicular to the central axis of the glass fiber, and a resin coating covering the glass fiber, the end of the glass fiber being exposed from the resin coating; a first mounting step of mounting the one or more optical fibers on the first optical fiber holding member such that the one or more glass fibers exposed from the resin coating are arranged in a first direction and protrude outward from the first optical fiber holding member; a rotational alignment step of adjusting an orientation of the one or more optical fibers about a central axis; a first bonding step of bonding the one or more glass fibers to the first optical fiber holding member using a first adhesive; a second mounting step of mounting the one or more glass fibers on a second optical fiber holding member such that the one or more glass fibers protruding outward from the first optical fiber holding member are arranged in the first direction; a second bonding step of bonding the one or more glass fibers to the second optical fiber holding member using a second adhesive; polishing the end faces of the one or more glass fibers and the end face of the second optical fiber holding member so that the end faces of the one or more glass fibers are flush with the end face of the second optical fiber holding member; The first optical fiber holding member is a first substrate having one or more first grooves each for holding a corresponding one of said one or more glass fibers; a first lid portion facing the first substrate via the one or more glass fibers; Equipped with The second optical fiber holding member is a second substrate having one or more second grooves each for holding a corresponding one of said one or more glass fibers; a second lid portion facing the second substrate via the one or more glass fibers; Equipped with The first mounting step includes: mounting the one or more optical fibers on the first substrate such that each of the one or more glass fibers exposed from the resin coating is held in a corresponding one of the one or more first grooves and protrudes outward from the first substrate; The first bonding step includes: providing the first adhesive in the one or more first grooves such that the one or more glass fibers are bonded to the first substrate and the first lid; The second mounting step includes: mounting the one or more glass fibers on the second substrate such that each of the one or more glass fibers protruding outward from the first substrate is held in a corresponding one of the one or more second grooves; The second bonding step includes: providing the second adhesive in the one or more second grooves such that the one or more glass fibers are bonded to the second substrate and the second lid; The polishing step includes: polishing an end face of the one or more glass fibers, an end face of the second substrate, and an end face of the second lid portion so that the end faces of the one or more glass fibers are flush with the end faces of the second substrate and the second lid portion; the second cover portion faces the first substrate and the second substrate, In the second bonding step, A method for manufacturing an optical fiber connecting component, wherein the second adhesive is provided between the first substrate and the second lid portion so that the second substrate is fixed to the first substrate via the second lid portion.

2. 2. The method for manufacturing an optical fiber connecting component according to claim 1, further comprising a holding member bonding step of bonding said first optical fiber holding member and said second optical fiber holding member to each other.

3. 3. The method for manufacturing an optical fiber splice component according to claim 1, wherein the one or more optical fibers are a plurality of optical fibers included in an intermittently bonded fiber ribbon.

4. 4. The method for manufacturing an optical fiber connecting component according to claim 1, wherein the one or more optical fibers are a plurality of single-core optical fibers that are not bonded to each other.

5. 5. The method for manufacturing an optical fiber connecting component according to claim 1, wherein each of the one or more optical fibers is a multi-core fiber having a plurality of cores.

6. 5. The method for manufacturing an optical fiber connecting component according to claim 1, wherein each of the one or more optical fibers is a polarization maintaining fiber.

7. one or more optical fibers each having a glass fiber having a core and a cladding covering the core, the glass fiber having a structure asymmetrical with respect to a central axis in a cross section perpendicular to the central axis of the glass fiber, and a resin coating covering the glass fiber, an end of the glass fiber being exposed from the resin coating; a first optical fiber holding member that holds the one or more glass fibers exposed from the resin coating so that the one or more glass fibers are arranged in a first direction; a second optical fiber holding member that holds the one or more glass fibers so that the one or more glass fibers protruding from the first optical fiber holding member are arranged in the first direction, an end face of the second optical fiber holding member is flush with an end face of the one or more glass fibers; The first optical fiber holding member is a first substrate having one or more first grooves each for holding a corresponding one of said one or more glass fibers; a first lid portion facing the first substrate via the one or more glass fibers; Equipped with The second optical fiber holding member is a second substrate having one or more second grooves each for holding a corresponding one of said one or more glass fibers; a second lid portion facing the second substrate via the one or more glass fibers; Equipped with the second cover portion faces the first substrate and the second substrate, The second substrate is fixed to the first substrate via the second lid portion.

8. 8. The optical fiber connecting component according to claim 7, wherein the first optical fiber holding member is fixed to the second optical fiber holding member via an adhesive.

9. the one or more optical fibers are a plurality of optical fibers; the one or more first grooves are arranged parallel to one another and each of the first grooves holds a corresponding one of the glass fibers exposed at an end of each of the optical fibers; 9. The optical fiber connecting component according to claim 7, wherein the one or more second grooves are arranged parallel to one another and each of the second grooves holds a corresponding one of the glass fibers.

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