JP3163580B2 - Waveguide optical components - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a waveguide type optical component comprising an optical waveguide and an input / output optical fiber used in the field of optical communication and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the development of optical communication technology, various optical components such as an optical branching element, an optical switch, and an optical multiplexer / demultiplexer have been required in addition to the conventional light source, optical fiber, and optical receiver.

[0003] As a form to realize these optical components,
Bulk type, fiber type, and waveguide type have been proposed, but from the viewpoint of miniaturization, stability, mass productivity, scale expansion, etc., it is expected that waveguide type will play an important role in the future. I have. At present, the biggest problem in commercializing waveguide optical components is how to efficiently and stably connect the optical waveguides constituting the waveguide optical components and the input / output optical fibers. To do that.

Various methods such as a fusion bonding method and an adhesive method have been tried as a method of connecting an optical waveguide and an optical fiber. Among these methods, the adhesive method has a disadvantage in terms of cost reduction. Promising. As this kind of adhesive, an adhesive which is usually cured by ultraviolet rays, that is, a so-called UV adhesive is used in order to quickly cure the adhesive.

FIG. 2 is a structural view of a waveguide type optical component manufactured by a conventional adhesive connection method. FIG. 2 (A) is an external view, and FIG. 2 (B) is an X-ray of FIG. FIG. 3C is an enlarged sectional view taken in the direction of the arrow X-ray, and FIG. 3C is an enlarged sectional view taken in the direction of the line YY or ZZ in FIG.

In FIG. 2, 1 is an optical waveguide module,
Reference numerals 2 and 3 denote optical fiber modules, 10 denotes an optical waveguide holding housing, 11 denotes a substrate with a waveguide held by the optical waveguide holding housing 10, 11a and 11b are formed on the substrate 11, and both ends are optically guided. An optical waveguide terminated to an end face of the waveguide holding casing 10, 20 and 30 are optical fiber holding casings,
Reference numerals 21a and 21b denote input / output optical fibers having one ends terminated to the optical fiber holding casing 20 and connected so that the optical axes coincide with one ends of the optical waveguides 11a and 11b.
Reference numerals 31a and 31b denote input / output optical fibers having one ends terminated to the optical fiber holding casing 30 and connected so that the optical axes coincide with the other ends of the optical waveguides 11a and 11b.
41 is an optical waveguide 11a, 11b and an optical fiber 21a, 2
Reference numeral 1b and reference numeral 42 denote an adhesive layer made of a UV adhesive (ultraviolet curable adhesive) for connecting the housings interposed between the joint surfaces of the optical waveguides 11a and 11b and the optical fibers 31a and 31b. . The optical waveguide holding housing 10 and the optical fiber holding housings 20 and 30 are generally made of metal from the viewpoint of workability, linear expansion coefficient, mechanical strength, and the like.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of a component assembling process for manufacturing such a conventional waveguide type optical component. In the figure, reference numeral 51 denotes a base for fixing the optical waveguide module 1;
Holds the optical fiber module 2 and the optical waveguides 11a,
A fine adjustment arm 53 for aligning the optical axes of the optical fibers 21a and 21b with one end of the optical fiber 11b holds the optical fiber module 3, and the optical fibers 31a and 31b are connected to the other ends of the optical waveguides 11a and 11b. Arm 61a, 61b for adjusting the optical axis of the optical fiber 21
a, a light source for monitoring connected to the other ends of 21a and 21b;
Reference numeral 71b denotes a monitoring light receiver connected to the other ends of the optical fibers 31a and 31b, and reference numeral 80 denotes an ultraviolet irradiation probe.

In order to assemble the waveguide type optical component, first, the optical waveguides 11a and 11b on the substrate 11 set on the base 51 are set.
A fine movement device is provided at both ends of the optical waveguide module 10 including
The optical fibers 21a and 21b and the optical fibers 31a and 31b held by these are driven to move closer to each other.

At this time, monitor light from monitor light sources 61a and 61b is introduced from one ends of the optical fibers 21a and 21b, and the monitor light passes through the optical waveguides 11a and 11b, and subsequently through the optical fibers 31a and 31b. The emitted light intensity is detected by the monitoring light receivers 71a and 71b.

The intensity information of the light detected by the monitoring light receivers 71a and 71b is processed by a feedback control device (not shown). Based on this processing result, the fine movement arm 5
2 and 53, and the optical fibers 21a, 21b and 3
The optical axes 1a and 31b adjust the optical axes so that the optical axes coincide with the optical waveguides 11a and 11b at the optimum positions.

Also, the optical fibers 21a, 21b and 3
Between the ends of the optical waveguides 1a and 31b and the ends of the optical waveguides 11a and 11b, a UV adhesive is applied also as a refractive index matching agent. The assembly of the parts is completed by irradiating the optical axis alignment portion with ultraviolet rays from the probe 80 to solidify the adhesive and sequentially forming the adhesive layers 41 and 42.

[0012]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional waveguide type optical component, the optical waveguide holding casing 10 and the optical fiber holding casings 20, 30 are inferior in ultraviolet transmittance since they are metallic. The ultraviolet rays radiated from the ultraviolet irradiating probe 80 are applied to the adhesive layers 41 and 4 also serving as a refractive index matching agent.
Transmit only 2

For this reason, the ultraviolet irradiation probe 80 is
It is indispensable to arrange it mainly in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis (a direction parallel to the bonding surface), and the adhesive on the side close to the ultraviolet irradiation probe 80 starts to cure first when the ultraviolet irradiation is performed. In addition, since the curing of the adhesive on the far side is delayed, there has been a problem that the optical axis alignment of the bent angle precisely performed in the assembling process is out of order at the time of curing.

This is a particularly serious problem when a single-mode optical waveguide having a small core size is connected to a single-mode optical fiber, and the optical axes are aligned so as to minimize the connection loss. From the stage, there is a problem that the connection loss increases by about 1 to 5 dB.

As a solution to this problem, a method has been proposed in which the thickness of the adhesive layer is increased to increase the amount of transmitted ultraviolet light.

However, the waveguide type optical component manufactured by this method has a problem that the connection loss is increased due to the high optical loss of the adhesive layers 41 and 42. In addition, since the linear expansion coefficient of the adhesive layers 41 and 42 and the linear expansion coefficient of the quartz glass constituting the optical fiber and the optical waveguide and the metal constituting the housing differ by one digit or more, the fluctuation of the optical loss due to the temperature change Problems and problems with long-term reliability.

As another method, there is a method in which the optical fiber and the optical waveguide are connected by the outer circumference of the optical fiber modules 2 and 3 and the outer circumference of the optical waveguide module 1 instead of the joint surface between them. However, this method, on the contrary, does not reach the optical fiber / optical waveguide interface and is not bonded due to the thick adhesive layer. For this reason, the same problem as described above, that is, the coefficient of linear expansion of the adhesive layer differs from that of the quartz glass constituting the optical fiber or the optical waveguide or the metal constituting the housing by one digit or more, so that the temperature change However, there still remains a problem in that the optical loss fluctuates greatly and a problem such as long-term reliability. Further, this method has a disadvantage that the connection strength is weak.

The UV adhesive generally has a resin component and a photosensitive agent as main components, and is a mechanism of causing a reaction of the resin component and causing adhesion by absorbing light. This photosensitive agent is designed to have a maximum absorption around 360 nm, generally to match the wavelength of the light source.

However, the photosensitive agent is decomposed in a very short time when irradiated with light, and the shape of the absorption spectrum changes. When the adhesive layer is thick, the absorption spectrum of the surface changes, so that the ultraviolet ray does not reach the inside. For this reason, even in the case of a thick film, it is extremely difficult for a UV adhesive to react when exposed to ultraviolet light for a long time.

In any of the conventional connection methods using this UV adhesive, since the ultraviolet rays are radiated substantially parallel to the joint surface between the optical fiber and the optical waveguide as described above, a substantially thick film is bonded. It is the same as using an agent, and there is a problem that it is difficult to cure to a deep part.

Therefore, the conventional waveguide type optical component having the above-mentioned bonding surface not only has a large connection loss, but also has a loss variation due to a temperature change, a long-term reliability, and a long time. There was a major problem with mechanical strength.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a waveguide type optical component having small optical loss, excellent mechanical strength characteristics, and excellent long-term reliability. It is in.

[0023]

In order to solve the above-mentioned object, according to the first aspect, each of them is held by a housing , and each light is
Therefore, the optical axes coincide with each other via the adhesive layer that cures.
Waveguide and silica optical fiber for input and output
In waveguide type optical component having bets, said one of said housing
Optical fiber housing for holding quartz optical fiber for input and output
Was composed of Pyrex glass, the input-output silica-based optical fiber is inserted through one end surface in the optical fiber housing has a configuration that is held is terminated.

[0024]

[0025]

According to the first aspect, for example, the light irradiated from the irradiation probe passes through the housing made of a light transmitting material and reaches the adhesive layer on the joint surface.

At this time, it is possible to irradiate light at an angle close to a right angle to the bonding surface between the optical waveguide and the optical fiber of the adhesive layer.

For this reason, the amount of light uniformly radiated to the adhesive layer is larger than that in the case of irradiating the adhesive layer in parallel,
In addition, the adhesive layer is uniformly irradiated, so that the bonding surfaces are uniformly bonded.

[0028]

[0029]

[0030]

Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 is an external view showing an entire configuration of an embodiment of a waveguide type optical component according to the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a view showing a component assembling process for manufacturing the waveguide type optical component of FIG. It is an explanatory view, and the same components as in FIGS. 2 and 3 showing the conventional example are denoted by the same reference numerals.

That is, 1 is an optical waveguide module, 2 and 3 are optical fiber modules, 10a is an optical waveguide holding casing made of Pyrex glass, and 11 is a 0.7 mm thick sheet held by the casing 10a. Silicon substrate, 11a, 11b
Denotes a core dimension formed on the substrate 11 of 50 μm × 50 μm
The both ends of the quartz multimode optical waveguide are terminated with respect to the end face of the housing 10a, and are held together with the substrate 11 in the optical waveguide holding housing 10a.

Reference numeral 20a denotes an optical fiber holding case made of Pyrex glass, and reference numerals 21a and 21b denote input / output quartz multi-mode optical fibers having a core diameter of 50 μm. One end surface of the optical fiber holding case 20a is formed. Ended and held. The optical fibers 21a and 21b are connected via the adhesive layer 41 such that one ends of the optical fibers 21a and 21b coincide with the optical axes of the optical waveguides 11a and 11b.

Numeral 30a denotes an optical fiber holding case made of Pyrex glass, 31a and 31b denote input / output quartz multi-mode optical fibers having a core diameter of 50 μm, and one end face is formed on the optical fiber holding case 30a. Ended and held. The optical fibers 31a and 31b are connected via the adhesive layer 42 such that one end of the optical fibers 31a and 31b coincides with the other end of the optical waveguides 11a and 11b.

The adhesive layers 41 and 42 are made of a UV adhesive, specifically, a fluorinated epoxy acrylate-based material, and have optical waveguides 11a and 11b and optical fibers 21a and 21a.
b, the optical waveguides 11a, 11b and the optical fibers 31a, 31b are interposed at one end surface of the optical waveguide holding housing 10a, one end surface of the optical fiber holding housing 20a, and the optical waveguide. The other end face of the holding casing 10a and the one end face of the optical fiber holding casing 30a are connected to each other.

Reference numeral 51 denotes a base for fixing the optical waveguide module 1, and reference numeral 52 denotes a fine movement arm, which is an optical waveguide 11a, 11b.
In order to align the optical axes of the optical fibers 21a and 21b with one end of the optical fiber module 2, the optical fiber module 2 is driven by a feedback control device (not shown) to slightly move the mounted optical fiber module 2. Reference numeral 53 denotes a fine movement arm, which is an optical waveguide 11a, 11b.
In order to align the optical axes of the optical fibers 31a and 31b with the other end of the optical fiber module, the optical fiber module 3 is driven by a feedback control device (not shown) to slightly move the mounted optical fiber module 3.

Reference numerals 61a and 61b denote monitoring light sources composed of, for example, a semiconductor laser having a wavelength of 1.3 μm, and are connected to, for example, the other ends of the optical fibers 21a and 21b. Reference numerals 71a and 71b denote monitoring light receivers connected to the other ends of the optical fibers 31a and 31b, and reference numeral 80 denotes an ultraviolet irradiation probe using a metal halide lamp or a mercury xenon lamp as a light source, and optical waveguides 11a and 11b. And optical fiber 21
UV bonding which is disposed at an angle close to a right angle, for example, about 60 degrees, with respect to the bonding surface between the optical waveguides 11a and 11b and the bonding surface between the optical waveguides 11a and 11b and the optical fibers 31a and 31b. The agent is irradiated with ultraviolet light.

Next, a process of assembling the waveguide type optical component having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG.

First, at both ends of the optical waveguide module 1 including the optical waveguides 11a and 11b on the substrate 11 placed on the base 51, the fine movement arms 52 and 53 are driven to emit light held by these. Fibers 21a and 21b and optical fiber 31
a and 31b are brought closer to each other.

At this time, monitor light from the monitor light sources 61a and 61b is introduced from one end of the optical fibers 21a and 21b, and the monitor light passes through the optical waveguides 11a and 11b and subsequently through the optical fibers 31a and 31b. The emitted light intensity is detected by the monitoring light receivers 71a and 71b.

The intensity information of the light detected by the monitoring light receivers 71a and 71b is processed by a feedback control device (not shown). Based on this processing result, the fine movement arm 5
2 and 53, and the optical fibers 21a, 21b and 3
The optical axes 1a and 31b adjust the optical axes so that the optical axes coincide with the optical waveguides 11a and 11b at the optimum positions.

The optical fibers 21a, 21b and 3
Between the periphery of the ends of the optical waveguides 1a and 31b and the periphery of the ends of the optical waveguides 11a and 11b, a UV adhesive
When the alignment of the optical axes is completed, the ultraviolet irradiation probe 80 is connected to the optical waveguides 11a and 11a.
b and the optical fibers 21a and 21b and the optical waveguides 11a and 11b and the optical fibers 31a and 31b are arranged at an angle close to a right angle, for example, an angle of about 60 degrees. The adhesive is solidified by irradiating ultraviolet rays, and the adhesive layers 41 and 42 are sequentially formed.

After the above connection operation is completed, the monitor light sources 61a and 61b are output from the optical fiber holding housing 20a, and the monitoring light receiver 7 is output from the optical fiber holding housing 30a.
After removing 1a and 71b and performing appropriate processing as needed, the assembly of the waveguide type optical component is completed.

The waveguide-type optical component actually manufactured through the above-described process is about 60 ° with respect to the joint surface of the optical fiber / optical waveguide.
The adhesive on the joint surface could be completely adhered by the ultraviolet rays irradiated from the ultraviolet irradiation probe 80 installed in the apparatus. Similarly, the joining surface at the other end could be completely connected. At this time, there was no axis shift at the time of curing the adhesive, which was observed at the time of the conventional assembly, and no change in connection loss due to the curing of the adhesive was observed.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the relationship between the ultraviolet irradiation time and the bending strength of the completed component when the optical waveguide module 1 and the optical fiber modules 2 and 3 are bonded with a UV adhesive. It is. The bending strength is a parameter reflecting the adhesive strength.

In the drawing, the curve indicated by the solid line A shows the characteristics when the optical waveguide holding casing 10a and the optical fiber holding casings 20a, 30a are made of Pyrex glass as in this embodiment. I have. In this experiment, a mercury xenon lamp was used as a light source.

From FIG. 5, it can be seen that in the case of this configuration, the bending strength is saturated by the ultraviolet irradiation time of 30 seconds, and that it is sufficiently cured.

Further, when a heat cycle test was performed on the connected optical components, the loss fluctuation in the temperature range of -20 to 70 ° C. was 0.1 dB or less. As a result of a tensile test, the breaking strength of the connection portion was 200 kgf / cm ² .

As described above, according to the present embodiment,
Optical waveguide holding casing 10 and optical fiber holding casing 2
Reference numerals 0 and 30 are made of an ultraviolet-transmissive material (Pyrex glass in this embodiment), and an adhesive layer 41, which is cured by light on the joint surface between the optical waveguide and the optical fiber.
With the provision of 42, the adhesive layer on the joint surface between the optical waveguide module 1 and the optical fiber modules 2 and 3 can be cured uniformly and in a short time.

For this reason, the workability in manufacturing the optical component is extremely good, and the manufactured optical component has a low light loss, a small loss fluctuation due to a temperature change, and has excellent long-term reliability. There is an advantage that the mechanical strength of the connection portion is large.

In this embodiment, the bonding surfaces are sequentially connected. However, a plurality of ultraviolet irradiation probes may be used to simultaneously connect two bonding surfaces, or a plurality of ultraviolet irradiation probes may be connected to one bonding surface. By irradiating ultraviolet rays from different directions using a probe for irradiating ultraviolet rays, curing of the adhesive can be ensured, which is effective.

[0051]

Embodiment 2 This embodiment is different from Embodiment 1 in that the single-mode optical waveguides 11a and 11b are embedded in a 50 μm-thick quartz glass clad layer on a silicon substrate 11 in cross section. A single-mode silica glass optical waveguide composed of a 8 μm × 8 μm silica glass core is used, and input / output optical fibers 21 a, 21 b, 31 a, 3.
1b, a single-mode silica-based optical fiber having a core diameter of 10 μm was used, and these optical waveguides 11a, 11b were connected to optical fibers 21a, 21b and 31a, 31b;
Both the optical waveguide holding casing 10a and the optical fiber holding casings 20a and 30a are made of a composite material composed of silica glass and epoxy resin, and a fluorinated urethane acrylate-based material as a UV adhesive. The point is to use.

Also in this embodiment, the connection between the optical fiber and the optical waveguide was performed by the same device configuration and procedure as in the first embodiment. As a result, there was no axis deviation at the time of curing the adhesive, which was observed at the time of the conventional assembly, and no change in loss at the time of connection due to the curing of the adhesive was observed. When a heat cycle test was performed on the connected components, the loss fluctuation in the temperature range of −20 to 70 ° C. was 0.1 dB or less, as in the case of the first embodiment. As a result of the tensile test, the breaking strength of the connection portion was 200 kgf / cm ² or more.

As described above, also in this embodiment, the same effects as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

[0054]

Embodiment 3 This embodiment is different from Embodiment 2 in that the optical waveguide holding casing 10a is made of SUS and the optical fiber holding casings 20a and 30a are made of silica glass and epoxy resin. And the use of a fluorinated epoxy acrylate-based material as the UV adhesive.

In this embodiment, the connection between the optical fiber and the optical waveguide was carried out in the same device configuration and procedure as in the first embodiment. As a result, there was no axis deviation at the time of curing the adhesive, which was observed at the time of the conventional assembly, and no change in loss at the time of connection due to the curing of the adhesive was observed. When a heat cycle test was performed on the connected components, the loss fluctuation in the temperature range of -20 to 70 ° C. was 0.1 dB or less, as in the case of the first and second embodiments. As a result of the tensile test, the breaking strength of the connection portion was 200 kgf / cm ² or more.

As described above, also in this embodiment, the same effects as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

[0057]

Embodiment 4 This embodiment is different from Embodiment 1 in that the optical fiber holding housings 20a and 30a are made of Pyrex glass instead of liquid crystal polyester containing glass fiber which is a light-impermeable plastic material. In that it is configured using

In this configuration, the optical waveguide holding casing 1 is provided.
In order to connect the optical fiber holding housings 20a and 30a to each other, a fluorinated epoxy acrylate-based material is used as a UV adhesive and ultraviolet light is applied to each connection part for 30 seconds as in the first embodiment. Irradiated. The relationship between the ultraviolet irradiation time and the bending strength of the completed component in this case is shown by a curve B in FIG.

As can be seen from FIG. 5, even if an optically non-transparent plastic material is used as the material of the optical fiber holding casings 20a and 30a as in the present embodiment, the optical fiber holding housing 20a and 30a can be used as in the first embodiment. The assembly time of the optical component and the bonding strength of the joint surface are equal to those in the case where a light transmitting glass material is used for both the housings 20a and 30a.

Further, no change in loss at the time of connection due to curing of the adhesive was observed. Further, when a heat cycle test was performed on the connected components, the loss fluctuation in a temperature range of -20 to 70 ° C. was 0.1 dB or less. As a result of the tensile test, the breaking strength of the connection portion was 200 kgf / cm.
² or more.

According to the present embodiment, a plastic optical fiber holding case is used in place of the glass optical fiber holding case, so that the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained and the optical components can be reduced. Prevents cracks and cracks that may occur with glass materials when coming into contact with other solid matter on the input / output end face, not only facilitates the handling of optical components, but also mechanical strength and long-term reliability Can be further improved.

[0062]

Embodiment 5 This embodiment is different from Embodiment 2 in that the optical fiber holding housings 20a and 30a are made of glass / epoxy, which is a light-impermeable plastic material, instead of Pyrex glass. It has been constituted by.

In this embodiment, the connection between the optical fiber and the optical waveguide was carried out in the same device configuration and procedure as in the fourth embodiment. As a result, there was no axis deviation at the time of curing the adhesive, which was observed at the time of the conventional assembly, and no change in loss at the time of connection due to the curing of the adhesive was observed. When a heat cycle test was performed on the connected components, the loss fluctuation in the temperature range of -20 to 70 ° C. was 0.1 dB or less, as in the case of the fourth embodiment. As a result of the tensile test, the breaking strength of the connection portion was 200 kgf / cm ² or more.

As described above, also in this embodiment, the same effects as in the fourth embodiment can be obtained.

[0065]

Embodiment 6 This embodiment is different from Embodiment 3 in that an optical waveguide holding casing 10a and an optical fiber holding casing 2 are provided.
Instead of using the composite material made of silica glass and epoxy resin for the optical waveguides 0a and 30a, the optical waveguide holding casing 10a
Is made of quartz glass, the optical fiber holding housings 20a and 30a are made of glass / polyimide which is a light-impermeable plastic material, and a fluorinated urethane acrylate-based material is used as a UV adhesive. Instead of using a fluorinated epoxy acrylate-based material.

In this embodiment, the connection between the optical fiber and the optical waveguide was performed by the same device configuration and procedure as in the fourth embodiment. As a result, there was no axis deviation at the time of curing the adhesive, which was observed at the time of the conventional assembly, and no change in loss at the time of connection due to the curing of the adhesive was observed. When a heat cycle test was performed on the connected components, the loss fluctuation in the temperature range of -20 to 70 ° C. was 0.1 dB or less, as in the case of the fourth embodiment. As a result of the tensile test, the breaking strength of the connection portion was 200 kgf / cm ² or more.

As described above, also in this embodiment, the same effects as in the fourth embodiment can be obtained.

In the first to sixth embodiments, two optical fibers 21 are provided at both ends of the optical waveguides 11a and 11b.
Although the example of connecting the a, 21b and 31a, 31b has been described, the present invention is not limited to this.
For example, it is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to a case where eight optical fiber modules are collectively connected to eight rows of optical waveguide modules.

Also, an example has been described in which quartz optical waveguides formed on a silicon substrate are used as the optical waveguides 11a and 11b. This is because the quartz optical waveguide has excellent refractive index matching with the silica optical fiber. This is because a practical waveguide type optical component can be realized, and it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to only such a quartz optical waveguide.

When the optical waveguide holding casing 10a and the optical fiber holding casings 20a, 30a are made of a light-transmitting material, the material is not particularly limited as long as it is an ultraviolet-transmitting material. Glass such as quartz glass, Pyrex glass, epoxy resin, polycarbonate, acrylic resin, silicone resin, plastic such as polystyrene, or composite material such as glass powder and plastic, or composite material of glass and ceramic It is.

When the optical fiber holding housings 20a and 30a are made of a plastic material as in the fourth to sixth embodiments, the plastic material is not particularly limited. Thermosetting resins are suitable. Specifically, epoxy resins, phenol resins, thermosetting resins such as polyimides, polyphenylene sulfide, polycyclohexane dimethylene terephthalate, polyetherimide, polybutylene terephthalate, polyethylene terephthalate, Polyethersulfone, polyarylate, polycarbonate, thermoplastic resin such as acrylic resin, silicone resin, polystyrene, etc., liquid crystal polymer such as polyester, or filler such as glass or ceramic in these plastics. A filled composite material or the like is applicable.

The adhesive is not particularly limited as long as it is an adhesive which is cured by light, but an adhesive of epoxy type, urethane type, epoxy acrylate type, urethane acrylate type or the like is applicable. It is possible.

[0073]

As described above, according to the first aspect, at least one of the housing for holding the optical waveguide and the housing for holding the optical fiber is made of a light transmitting material. The adhesive layer on the joint surface between the waveguide and the optical fiber can be cured uniformly and in a short time.

For this reason, the workability at the time of manufacturing an optical component is extremely good, the optical loss is low, the loss fluctuation due to a temperature change is small, the long-term reliability is excellent, and the mechanical strength of the connecting portion is low. There is an advantage that a large waveguide type optical component can be provided.

According to the second aspect, when the input / output end face of the optical component comes into contact with another solid matter, cracks and cracks which may occur in the glass component can be prevented, and the handling of the optical component becomes easy. Not only that, the mechanical strength and long-term reliability can be further improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view showing an entire configuration of an embodiment of a waveguide type optical component according to the present invention.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are configuration diagrams of a waveguide type optical component manufactured by a conventional adhesive connection method, wherein FIG. 2A is an external view and FIG.
Is an enlarged cross-sectional view of (A) in the direction of arrow XX, and (c) of FIG.
FIG. 3A is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line YY or YY of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a component assembling process for producing the waveguide optical component of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of a component assembling process for producing the waveguide optical component of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a relationship between an ultraviolet irradiation time and a bending strength of a completed component when an optical waveguide module and an optical fiber module are bonded with a UV adhesive.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Optical waveguide module 2, 3 ... Optical fiber module 10a ... Optical waveguide holding case 11 ... Silicon substrate 11a, 11b ... Optical waveguide 20a, 30a ... Optical fiber holding case 21a, 21b, 31a 31b Optical fibers 41, 42 Adhesive layer 51 Base 52, 53 Fine movement arm 61a, 61b Monitor light source 71a, 71b Monitor light receiver 80 Ultraviolet irradiation probe

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Tetsuo Miya 1-6, Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (56) References JP-A-64-23209 (JP, A) 1-302211 (JP, A) JP-B-59-9214 (JP, B2) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G02B 6/00 G02B 6/36

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. Each of them is held in a housing and is illuminated by light.
The optical axes are aligned with each other via the adhesive layer that cures
Contains connected optical waveguide and input / output quartz optical fiber
In the waveguide type optical component, the input / output quartz optical fiber of the housing is held.
Waveguide to that of the optical fiber housing constituted by Pyrex glass, one end face the input-output silica-based optical fiber is inserted into the optical fiber housing is characterized in that it is held by being terminated Mold light parts.