Light guide structure and method for manufacturing the same

Abstract

To provide a light guide structure which stabilizes light distribution and has small optical loss, and a method for manufacturing the same.SOLUTION: A light guide structure 3 includes: an optical fiber 4 having a core 41 and a clad 42; a reflection member 5 for reflecting emission light emitted from an end face 41 of the core 41 in a direction crossing the axial direction of the optical fiber 4; and a light transmitting storage member 6 for storing at least a part of the optical fiber 4 and the reflection member 5. A space between the end face 41a of the core 41 inside the storage member 6, and the reflection member 5 is filled with a filler 7 having light transmitting property, and positions of the core 41 and the reflection member 6 relative to the storage member 6 are fixed by the filler 7.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Claims

1. The optical fiber comprises a core and a cladding, a reflecting member that reflects the emitted light emitted from the end face of the core in a direction intersecting the axial direction of the optical fiber, and a light-transmitting housing member that houses at least a portion of the optical fiber and the reflecting member. A light-transmitting filler is filled between the end face of the core and the reflective member inside the housing member. The filler is an optical adhesive that has light transmittance, The positions of the core and the reflective member relative to the housing member are fixed by the filler. The reflective member has a conical portion formed in a conical shape and a cylindrical portion formed in a cylindrical shape. At least a portion of the cylindrical portion is housed in the housing member together with the conical portion. The outer surface of the conical portion is a reflective surface that reflects the emitted light. The inner diameter of the housing member is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the optical fiber inside the housing member and the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion of the reflecting member. The filler is filled between the inner surface of the housing member, the optical fiber, and the cylindrical portion. Light guiding structure.

2. The optical fiber and the reflective member are arranged inside the housing member in the longitudinal direction of the housing member, A light leakage suppression portion is formed on both ends of the housing member in the longitudinal direction, such that it covers the end on the side of the reflective member, and suppresses light leakage that leaks from that end in the axial direction of the housing member. The aforementioned light leakage suppression section is formed in a bowl shape by dispersing and mixing light scattering particles or light absorbing particles in a light-transmitting substrate. The light guide structure according to claim 1.

3. The optical fiber and the reflective member are arranged inside the housing member in the longitudinal direction of the housing member, A tapered portion is formed on both ends of the housing member in the longitudinal direction so as to cover the end face on the optical fiber side, and the outer diameter of the tapered portion decreases as it moves away from the end face in the axial direction. The light guide structure according to claim 1.

4. A portion of the cylindrical part of the reflective member protrudes from the housing member. The light guide structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. A method for manufacturing a light guide structure according to claim 1, A first step involves inserting the optical fiber into the housing member and causing a portion of the optical fiber to protrude from the housing member, A second step involves applying the liquid filler to the periphery of a portion of the optical fiber, A third step involves pushing the portion of the optical fiber and the liquid filler together with the reflective member into the inside of the housing member. A fourth step involves solidifying the filler inside the housing member, A method for manufacturing a light guide structure having the light guide structure.

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