CN107272136A - Optical fiber clamp and optical fiber fixing method - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention discloses an optical fiber clamp, comprising: a flexible polymer body and a hard guide tube, the hard guide tube penetrates a through hole on the flexible polymer body, the outer diameter of the hard guide tube is larger than the diameter of the through hole, the The aperture of the through hole is smaller than the diameter of the optical fiber to be threaded. The invention solves the technical problem that the existing clamping and fixing methods are easy to damage, thin and easily broken optical fibers.

Description

An optical fiber clamp and an optical fiber fixing method

technical field

The invention relates to the field of 3D printing, in particular to an optical fiber clamp and an optical fiber fixing method.

Background technique

In recent years, new fiber optic technologies, such as fiber probes and fiber tweezers, have attracted more and more attention by integrating nano-optical structures on the end face of the fiber head for light regulation. This technology greatly expands the functions of fiber-optic probes, and potential applications include optical processing, environmental monitoring, life sciences and other fields.

In the process of preparing nano-optical structures on the end face of the optical fiber, such as depositing thin film materials, photolithography, patterning, etc., it is necessary to clamp and fix the optical fiber. The clamping and fixing of cylindrical objects usually adopts hard materials to directly fix the cylindrical objects, and this method is easy to damage thin and easily broken optical fibers.

Contents of the invention

The embodiments of the present invention provide an optical fiber clamp, which solves the technical problem that the existing clamping and fixing methods are easy to damage, thin and easily broken optical fibers.

In the first aspect, an optical fiber clamp provided by an embodiment of the present invention includes: a flexible polymer body and a rigid guide tube, the rigid guide tube penetrates through holes on the flexible polymer body, wherein the rigid guide tube The outer diameter of the tube is larger than the diameter of the through hole, which is smaller than the diameter of the optical fiber to be threaded.

Optionally, the material of the flexible polymer body is polydimethylsiloxane or polymethylmethacrylate.

Optionally, the shape of the flexible polymer body is one of cylinder, cuboid and cube.

Optionally, the shape of the flexible polymer body is a cylinder, and the through hole is opened along the axis of the cylinder, wherein the length of the through hole is equal to the height of the cylinder.

Optionally, the shape of the flexible polymer body is a cuboid, and the through hole is opened along the lengthwise centerline of the cuboid, wherein the length of the through hole is equal to the length of the cuboid.

Optionally, the shape of the flexible polymer body is a cube, and the through hole is opened along the center line of the cube in the side length direction, wherein the length of the through hole is equal to the side length of the cube.

Optionally, the stiffness of the rigid guide tube is greater than the stiffness of the flexible polymer body.

Optionally, the rigid guiding tube vertically penetrates the through hole on the flexible polymer body.

In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides a method for fixing an optical fiber, including:

securing the first flexible polymer body and the second flexible polymer body to the main body structure;

vertically penetrating a rigid guide tube through the first flexible polymer body and the second flexible polymer body to be supported on the first flexible polymer body and the second flexible polymer body;

passing an optical fiber through the conduit of the rigid guide tube;

The rigid guide tube is withdrawn from the first flexible polymer body and the second flexible polymer body such that the first flexible polymer body and the second flexible polymer body contact and clamp in place on said optical fiber;

Moving the first flexible polymer body to one end of the optical fiber, and moving the second flexible polymer body to the other end of the optical fiber.

One or more technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present invention have at least the following technical effects or advantages:

The through hole on the flexible polymer body is penetrated by the hard guide tube, so that the optical fiber can pass through the flexible polymer body through the tube of the hard guide tube without being damaged or broken, and the flexible polymer can be made by pulling out the hard guide tube. Shrink and clamp the optical fiber, so the optical fiber clamp provided by the present invention will not damage the optical fiber when fixing the optical fiber, and can achieve a good effect of clamping and fixing the optical fiber without damaging the optical fiber. The optical fiber clamp is simple in operation and low in cost.

Description of drawings

In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the following will briefly introduce the drawings that need to be used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art. Obviously, the accompanying drawings in the following description are only It is an embodiment of the present invention, and those skilled in the art can also obtain other drawings according to the provided drawings without creative work.

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural view of an optical fiber clamp in an embodiment of the present invention;

2A-2B are schematic diagrams of a method for fixing an optical fiber by an optical fiber clamp in an embodiment of the present invention.

detailed description

In view of the technical problem of clamping and fixing fragile, thin and easily broken optical fibers in the prior art, an embodiment of the present invention provides an optical fiber clamp and an optical fiber fixing method. The general idea is as follows:

Through the through hole on the flexible polymer body, the hard guide tube can be used to guide the optical fiber through the flexible polymer body. After the hard guide tube is pulled out, the through hole of the flexible polymer body will shrink to The optical fiber can be clamped and fixed without damaging the optical fiber, and because it is fixed on the flexible polymer body, the optical fiber will not be broken or damaged later.

In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments It is a part of embodiments of the present invention, but not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by persons of ordinary skill in the art without creative efforts fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, an optical fiber clamp provided by an embodiment of the present invention includes: a flexible polymer body 1 and a rigid guide tube 2, and the rigid guide tube 2 penetrates through the through hole on the flexible polymer body 1, wherein the rigid guide tube The outer diameter of the tube 2 is larger than the diameter of the through hole, and the diameter of the through hole on the flexible polymer body 1 is smaller than the diameter of the optical fiber 3 to be threaded.

In this embodiment, since the outer diameter of the rigid guide tube 2 is greater than the aperture diameter of the through hole on the flexible polymer body 1, the rigid guide tube 2 can expand the through hole of the flexible polymer body 1, and the pipeline of the rigid guide tube 2 The inner diameter is larger than the diameter of the optical fiber 3 , thereby facilitating the optical fiber 3 to pass through the flexible polymer body 1 . Since the diameter of the through hole on the flexible polymer body 1 is smaller than the diameter of the optical fiber 3, the optical fiber 3 will be clamped when the through hole of the flexible polymer body 1 shrinks to its original size after the rigid guide tube 2 is pulled out.

The inner diameter of the rigid guide tube 2 is larger than the diameter of the optical fiber 3 , so that the optical fiber 3 can pass through the rigid guide tube 2 smoothly.

The material of the flexible polymer body 1 is PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane, polydimethylsiloxane), or PMMA (polymethylmethacrylate, polymethyl methacrylate).

The shape of the flexible polymer body 1 is one of cylinder, cuboid and cube. Next, the shape of the flexible polymer body 1 will be described in detail:

In a specific embodiment one: the shape of the flexible polymer body 1 is a cylinder, and the through hole of the flexible polymer body 1 is opened along the axis of the cylinder, wherein the length of the through hole is equal to the height of the cylinder.

In a second embodiment: the shape of the flexible polymer body 1 is a cuboid, and the through hole of the flexible polymer body 1 is opened along the lengthwise center line of the cuboid, wherein the length of the through hole is equal to the length of the cuboid.

In a third embodiment: the shape of the flexible polymer body 1 is a cube, and the through hole of the flexible polymer body 1 is opened along the centerline of the side length direction of the cube, wherein the length of the through hole is equal to the side length of the cube.

In a specific implementation process, the flexible polymer body 1 can also be a plate-shaped flexible polymer body 1, and the cross-section of the plate-shaped flexible polymer body 1 is a circular surface, or a square, or a rectangle.

The hardness of the rigid guide tube 2 is greater than that of the flexible polymer body 1 , so that the rigid guide tube 2 can penetrate through holes in the flexible polymer body 1 which are smaller than its outer diameter.

Specifically, the rigid guide tube 2 can be a plastic tube or a metal tube. The rigid guide tube 2 vertically penetrates the through hole on the flexible polymer body 1, that is, the axis of the rigid guide tube 2 is perpendicular to the axis of the hole opened on the flexible polymer body 1, and the support for the optical fiber 3 is more stable.

Based on the same inventive concept, an embodiment of the present invention provides a method for fixing an optical fiber, as shown in FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B , including the following steps:

Step 1. Fix the first flexible polymer body 1-1 and the second flexible polymer body 1-2 on the main structure (not shown).

Step 2. As shown in FIG. 2A, the rigid guide tube 2 is vertically penetrated through the first flexible polymer body 1-1 and the second flexible polymer body 1-2 to be supported on the first flexible polymer body 1-1 and the second flexible polymer body 1-2. on the second flexible polymer body 1-2;

It should be noted that, in this embodiment, both the first flexible polymer body 1-1 and the second flexible polymer body 1-2 have through holes, and the outer diameter of the rigid guide tube 2 is also larger than that of the first flexible polymer body. The apertures of the through holes on the body 1-1 and the second flexible polymer body 1-2, the apertures of the through holes on the first flexible polymer body 1-1 and the apertures of the through holes on the second flexible polymer body 1-2 Both are smaller than the diameter of the optical fiber 3 to be penetrated.

In this embodiment, since the outer diameter of the rigid guide tube 2 is greater than the aperture diameters of the through holes on the first flexible polymer body 1-1 and the second flexible polymer body 1-2, the first flexible polymer body 1 can be The respective through holes on the -1 and the second flexible polymer body 1-2 are expanded, and the inner diameter of the rigid guide tube 2 is larger than the diameter of the optical fiber 3, thereby facilitating the passage of the optical fiber 3 through the first flexible polymer body 1-1 and the second flexible polymer body 1-1. Two flexible polymer bodies 1-2. Since the diameter of the through hole on the first flexible polymer body 1-1 and the second flexible polymer body 1-2 is smaller than the diameter of the optical fiber 3 to be penetrated, after the rigid guide tube 2 is drawn out, the first flexible polymer body 1 -1 and the through holes on the second flexible polymer body 1-2 will clamp the optical fiber 3 when shrinking to the original size.

The first flexible polymer body 1-1 and the second flexible polymer body 1-2 may be the same or different. The material of the first flexible polymer body 1-1 and the second flexible polymer body 1-2 can be PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane, polydimethylsiloxane), or PMMA (PolymethylMethacrylate, polymethyl methacrylate).

The shape of the first flexible polymer body 1-1 and the second flexible polymer body 1-2 is one of a cylinder, a cuboid, and a cube. For details, refer to the above-mentioned embodiment of the optical fiber clamp. For the sake of brevity, this embodiment will not repeat.

The stiffness of the rigid guide tube 2 is greater than the stiffness of the first flexible polymer body 1-1 and the second flexible polymer body 1-2. Specifically, the rigid guide tube 2 can be a plastic tube or a metal tube, therefore, the rigid guide tube 2 can easily pass through the through holes on the first flexible polymer body 1-1 and the second flexible polymer body 1-2.

Step 3, passing the optical fiber through the duct of the rigid guide tube 2 .

Step 4, as shown in FIG. 2B, extract the rigid guide tube 2 from the first flexible polymer body 1-1 and the second flexible polymer body 1-2, so that the first flexible polymer body 1-1 and the second flexible polymer body 1-1 The flexible polymer body 1 - 2 shrinks to contact and clamp on the optical fiber 3 .

Step 5, moving the first flexible polymer body 1 - 1 to one end of the optical fiber 3 , and moving the second flexible polymer body 1 - 2 to the other end of the optical fiber 3 .

One or more embodiments provided by the present invention have at least the following technical effect or advantage: the through hole on the flexible polymer body is penetrated by the hard guide tube, so that the optical fiber can pass through the flexible polymer body through the duct of the hard guide tube, Without damaging or breaking the optical fiber, pulling out the rigid guide tube can shrink the flexible polymer and clamp the optical fiber. Therefore, the optical fiber clamp provided by the present invention will not damage the optical fiber when fixing the optical fiber, and can achieve a good clamping effect. The effect of tightly fixing the optical fiber will not damage the optical fiber. The optical fiber clamp is simple in operation and low in cost.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been described, additional changes and modifications to these embodiments can be made by those skilled in the art once the basic inventive concept is appreciated. Therefore, it is intended that the appended claims be construed to cover the preferred embodiment as well as all changes and modifications which fall within the scope of the invention.

Obviously, those skilled in the art can make various changes and modifications to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus, if these modifications and variations of the present invention fall within the scope of the claims of the present invention and equivalent technologies thereof, the present invention also intends to include these modifications and variations.

Claims (9)

1. An optical fiber clamp, characterized in that it comprises: a flexible polymer body and a rigid guide tube, the rigid guide tube penetrates the through hole on the flexible polymer body, wherein the outer diameter of the rigid guide tube larger than the diameter of the through hole, and the diameter of the through hole is smaller than the diameter of the optical fiber to be threaded. 2. The optical fiber clamp according to claim 1, wherein the flexible polymer body is made of polydimethylsiloxane or polymethylmethacrylate. 3. The optical fiber clamp according to claim 1, wherein the shape of the flexible polymer body is one of cylinder, cuboid and cube. 4. The optical fiber clamp according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the flexible polymer body is in the shape of a cylinder, and the through hole is opened along the axis of the cylinder, wherein the length of the through hole is equal to the height of the cylinder. 5. The optical fiber clamp according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the flexible polymer body is in the shape of a cuboid, and the through hole is opened along the centerline of the length direction of the cuboid, wherein the The length of the through hole is equal to the length of the cuboid. 6. The optical fiber clamp according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the shape of the flexible polymer body is a cube, and the through hole is opened along the center line of the side length direction of the cube, wherein the The length of the through hole is equal to the side length of the cube. 7. The optical fiber holder of claim 1 or 2, wherein the stiffness of the rigid guide tube is greater than the stiffness of the flexible polymer body. 8. The optical fiber holder according to claim 1, wherein the rigid guiding tube vertically penetrates through holes in the flexible polymer body. 9. A method for fixing an optical fiber, comprising: securing the first flexible polymer body and the second flexible polymer body to the main body structure; vertically penetrating a rigid guide tube through the first flexible polymer body and the second flexible polymer body to be supported on the first flexible polymer body and the second flexible polymer body; passing an optical fiber through the conduit of the rigid guide tube; The rigid guide tube is withdrawn from the first flexible polymer body and the second flexible polymer body such that the first flexible polymer body and the second flexible polymer body contact and clamp in place on said optical fiber; Moving the first flexible polymer body to one end of the optical fiber, and moving the second flexible polymer body to the other end of the optical fiber.