JP2948978B2 - Processing method for stretched optical fiber parts - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for processing an optical fiber extending part such as an optical fiber coupler and an optical multiplexer / demultiplexer used for optical communication and optical measurement.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an apparatus for processing an optical fiber stretched part such as an optical fiber coupler, in order to accurately monitor the stretch length of an optical fiber, a plurality of optical fibers are gripped on a pair of left and right stretch stages. The optical fiber was firmly pressed onto the stage so that the optical fiber did not slip at the gripping portion.

[0003]

According to such a gripping method, a method has been proposed in which the optical signal is manufactured by elongating a set length without monitoring the branching ratio of the optical signal during manufacture.
In practice, it is not possible to obtain a product with sufficient performance simply by controlling the stretching length accurately, and it is essential to monitor the optical power during production. When monitoring the branching ratio, when the optical fiber is firmly fixed to the stretching stage as described above, the tension applied to the optical fiber in the stretching process changes according to the heating temperature of the stretching portion, and the monitoring of the branching ratio is performed. There was a drawback that the product became unstable and the yield of the product deteriorated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and to provide a processing method capable of manufacturing a low-loss drawn optical fiber component at a low cost by eliminating a factor which makes an output waveform monitored at the time of manufacturing the drawn optical fiber component unstable. It is to be.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a method for processing an optical fiber drawn part according to the present invention is a method for processing an optical fiber drawn part in which a plurality of optical fibers are partially fused and drawn. In at least one of the pair of drive stages, a plurality of optical fibers are gripped by friction of about 100 g weight or less, and a part of the plurality of optical fibers is fused and drawn in the middle of the pair of drive stages. In order to heat the optical fiber, the drive stage is moved in the direction in which the optical fiber is stretched, and the optical fiber is stretched while sliding the optical fiber with at least one of the grips for at least a certain period of the process.

[0006]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a main part of a processing apparatus for explaining a method for processing an optical fiber stretched part according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration of a drive stage for explaining a method for processing an optical fiber stretched part according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the optical fiber coupler manufactured according to the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an optical fiber coating, 2 denotes a drive stage, 3 denotes an optical fiber holder, 4 denotes a heating burner, and 5 denotes an optical fiber clad. The plurality of optical fibers are aligned and adhered by a fiber alignment jig (not shown), and are temporarily fixed on the drive stages 2 and 2 by the optical fiber retainers 3 and 3. The bonded optical fiber clad 5 is heated by the heating burner 4, and the drive stage 2 extends the optical fiber along the optical fiber long axis. Note that, since FIG. 1 shows only a main part of the processing apparatus, a monitor device, a controller, and other jigs are not shown in the figure.

When an optical fiber stretched part was manufactured by actually adjusting the frictional force by temporary fixing, the optical fiber holder 3
When the frictional force of about 100 g or less was applied to the optical fiber by the drive stage 2 and the drive stage 2, the yield was the best. When the optical fiber is drawn by a frictional force of about 100 g or less, the tension applied to the optical fiber during the drawing process does not change due to the heating temperature of the drawing section, and the optical fiber can be drawn at a constant tension. .

FIG. 2 is a schematic structural view of the drive stage according to the present embodiment. Reference numeral 2 denotes a drive stage, reference numeral 3 denotes an optical fiber holder, and reference numeral 7 denotes a frictional material. A resin, leather, metal, rubber, or the like is used as the friction-adding material.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of an embodiment of an optical fiber coupler manufactured according to the present invention.
Denotes an optical fiber clad, and 6 denotes a fusion-stretched portion.

As described above, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the optical fiber slides at the holding portion in accordance with the degree of softening due to its heating and is always stretched with a constant tension. As the optical fiber slides at the gripping part and the optical fiber is drawn at a speed lower than the drawing speed of the drive stage, a large tension is not applied to the optical fiber. Since the optical fiber is drawn at a speed equal to or close to the speed, the heating section does not sag.

[0012]

As described above, an optical fiber can be drawn with a constant tension by a drawing apparatus using a motor, and the change in the branching ratio can be monitored stably and accurately. Furthermore, since the stretched portion of the optical fiber becomes thinner as it is drawn, the heat capacity decreases, and even if the temperature distribution changes from the beginning, a constant tension is applied. Can be manufactured.

[0013] It is possible to improve the yield and contribute to the cost reduction of the product, and it is possible to manufacture the manufacturing apparatus at low cost and to obtain a high-precision one.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a main part of a processing apparatus for explaining a method of processing an optical fiber stretched part of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a drive stage for describing a method for processing an optical fiber stretched component of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of one embodiment of an optical fiber coupler manufactured according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Optical fiber coating 2 Drive stage 3 Optical fiber holder 4 Heating burner 5 Optical fiber clad 6 Fusion extension part 7 Friction addition material

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A method for processing an optical fiber drawn part in which a plurality of optical fibers are fused and drawn at a part thereof, wherein at least one of the plurality of optical fibers on a pair of drive stages is weighed by about 100 grams or less. Holding by friction, heating in order to fuse and stretch a part of the plurality of optical fibers in the middle of the pair of drive stages, moving the drive stage in the direction of stretching the optical fibers, A method for processing an optical fiber stretched part, wherein the optical fiber is stretched while sliding the optical fiber with at least one of the grips for a certain period.