JPH06102425A - Planar waveguide chip for optical add / drop module - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] Parts required for assembling a fiber optic branch module
The number of points can be reduced, contributing to cost reduction and miniaturization.
To provide a planar waveguide chip for an optical add / drop module
It [Structure] Multiple sets of optical coupling / dividing waveguide pattern a₁, A₂
And the optical branching pattern a.
₁, A₂Multiple sets of input / output waveguides connected to each
Pattern b₁, B₂, B₃, B_FourWiring part B consisting of₁，
B₂Are formed on a flat substrate, and the wiring portion B₁, B
₂Each input / output terminal part D₁, D₂, D₃, D _FourTo the other
Pin fitting guide hole for pin connection of optical parts or
Pin guide grooves 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d, 13
Optical branching in which e, 13f, 13g, and 13h are formed
Planar waveguide chip for modules.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a planar waveguide chip used when assembling an optical coupling / decoupling module, and more particularly to an optical coupling / decoupling module with a small number of parts and therefore at low cost. The present invention relates to a planar waveguide chip for modules.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an optical line monitoring system in optical fiber communication, an optical add / drop module is used. FIG. 8 shows a conventional example in the case of two cores. In the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer module shown in FIG. 8, first, a plurality of (two in the figure) fiber processing type optical multiplexer / demultiplexers 2a and 2b are provided in the box body 1.
Are arranged. One of the input / output terminals of each of the optical multiplexer / demultiplexers 2a and 2b is fusion-spliced with a single multi-core fiber type filter component 3 and optical fibers 4a and 4b, and is optically connected through its reinforcing protection portions 5a and 5b. There is.

The multi-core fiber type filter 3 is processed into terminals through the multi-core / single-core conversion fan-out part 6, and the single-core connector parts 7a, 7b and the optical fibers 4c, 4d mounted on the box body 1 are processed. Optically connected by. The remaining three input / output terminals in the optical multiplexer / demultiplexers 2a, 2b are all processed into terminals, and the multi-fiber connector parts 8a, 8b, 8c and the optical fibers 4e, 4f, 4g,
Optical connections are made by 4h, 4i, and 4j.

As described above, in the conventional optical coupling / dividing module, the optical components having different functions are arranged in the box body 1 and the optical components are connected to each other. Therefore, the number of parts used is as large as seven, which is high in cost, and since the parts are connected by optical fibers, the overall size becomes large. As a measure against such a problem, FIG.
It has been proposed to introduce a planar waveguide chip such as shown in.

This chip is a flat substrate such as a Si substrate.
On top of, for example, by the flame deposition method,
A plurality of (two in the figure) waveguide patterns a that function₁, A
₂And an optical coupling / dividing portion A is formed.
I / O terminal part b on both sides of ₁, B₂Wiring section B having
₁And input / output terminal b₃, B_FourWiring section B having₂Formed
In addition, one of these input / output terminals (see the figure
Is the input / output terminal b₁), Crossing the waveguides that make it up
Then, a filter C is provided.

Compared to the optical multiplexer / demultiplexer module shown in FIG. 8, this chip has optical multiplexer / demultiplexers 2a and 2b, a multi-core fiber type filter 6, a fusion splicer and a reinforcement protection portion 5 thereof.
Since a, 5b and a part of the optical fibers 4a, 4b, 4e, 4f are integrated on one substrate, the number of parts used is reduced and the size is reduced.

[0007]

However, when an attempt is made to assemble the optical coupling / decoupling module shown in FIG. 8 using the above-mentioned planar waveguide chip, the multicore / multicore
Single-core conversion fan-out parts 6, 2 single-core connector parts 7a, 7b, 3 multi-core connector parts 8a, 8b, 8c
Is needed, and the number of parts used is still large.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems in the conventional planar waveguide chip for an optical coupling / dividing module, can further reduce the number of parts used, and is low in cost.
An object of the present invention is to provide a planar waveguide chip for an optical coupling / decoupling module that can assemble a small-sized optical coupling / decoupling module.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, in the present invention, an optical combining / branching portion composed of a plurality of sets of optical combining / branching waveguide patterns, and a plurality of connecting to each of the optical combining / branching waveguide patterns. A wiring portion formed of a pair of input / output waveguide patterns is formed on a flat substrate, and each input / output terminal portion of the wiring portion has a pin-fitting guide hole for pin-connecting another optical component or Provided is a planar waveguide chip for an optical coupling / dividing module, which is provided with a pin guide groove.

[0010]

In the planar waveguide chip of the present invention, an optical component such as a multi-core connector ferrule component can be connected to the pin guide hole or the pin guide groove formed in the input / output terminal portion of the wiring portion through the insertion pin. Therefore, as a whole, it is possible to assemble an optical coupling / dividing module with at least two parts,
Compared with the conventional module shown in FIG. 8, the number of parts can be greatly reduced, and the cost and the size can be reduced.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of an example of a chip of the present invention,
FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line II-II in FIG. In the figure, a lower clad layer 10 and a core slab, which are formed by forming a fine particle layer of quartz glass by a flame deposition method and then vitrifying it, are formed on a flat substrate 9 such as a Si substrate. By applying, for example, a dry etching technique, the waveguides 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d are formed in a desired plane pattern, and the waveguides are further embedded to form the upper clad layer 12 by, for example, a flame deposition method. .

In the above waveguide pattern, the waveguide
11a and the waveguide 11c are the optical coupling / dividing waveguide pattern a
₁The waveguide 11b and the waveguide 11d are optical coupling / decoupling waveguide patterns.
Turn a ₂And the optical combining / splitting part A is formed as a whole.
There is. In addition, at both ends of the substrate 9, the waveguide 11a
The waveguide 11b includes two input / output waveguide patterns b.₁，
b₃, The waveguide 11c and the waveguide 11d are for two input / output
Waveguide pattern b₂, B_FourTo form a waveguide pattern for input and output.
Turn b₁And input / output waveguide pattern b₂And wiring part B₁
And two sets of input / output terminals D₁, D₂Is formed,
The input / output waveguide b₃And input / output waveguide b_FourOther distribution
Line B₂And another two sets of input / output terminal parts
D₃, D_FourAre formed.

Further, for the purpose of integrating the filter parts shown in FIG. 8 as well, in this embodiment, each waveguide 11 is provided in the input / output waveguide pattern b ₁ of the wiring portion B _1.
One filter C is disposed across a and 11b. This filter C is formed by, for example, dicing a slit having a desired shape and depth at a place to be arranged, inserting the desired filter therein, and then fixing the filter in the slit with an optical adhesive. It is arranged.

In the input / output terminal portion D ₁ , a pin guide groove 13a having a V-shaped cross section is formed by, for example, a slicer process.
13b is engraved. Output terminal portion D ₂ in pin guide grooves 13c, 13d is, input-output terminal portions D ₃ in pin guide grooves 13e, 13f, but also input and output terminal portion D ₄ in pin guide grooves 13 g, is 13h is carved respectively . This pin guide groove functions as follows. That is, a case will be described where another optical component such as a multi-fiber connector ferrule is connected to any one of the input / output waveguide patterns (which will be referred to as the input / output waveguide pattern b ₁ ).

First, a pin guide groove having a similar size is formed in the optical component, and the optical component is abutted against the input / output terminal portion D ₁ of FIG. As a result, the pin guide groove of the optical component and the pin guide groove 13 formed in the input / output terminal portion D ₁ are formed.
a and 13b are coaxially coincident with each other. A pin having a predetermined diameter is fitted into the corresponding groove so that both the input / output terminal portion D ₁ and the optical component abutted thereon are commonly fitted, and then the whole is pressed by a holding plate (not shown), for example. by keeping, the waveguide 1 output waveguide pattern b ₁
The cores of the optical components are aligned with 1a and 11b.

Therefore, the cross-sectional shape of the pin guide groove having such a function is not limited to the V-shape shown in the figure. Further, instead of the groove shape, it may be a guide hole shape which is formed in the end surface of the chip and the optical component to be connected so that the pin can be fitted therein. FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view showing a chip of another embodiment. In this chip, a means for holding another optical component connected to the input / output terminal portion is formed.

The chip shown in FIG. 3 has the same overall structure as the chip shown in FIG. 1 except that notches 14 and 14 are formed at substantially the centers of both ends in the longitudinal direction (light propagation direction) of the chip.
The claw portions 15a, 15a, 15 are provided in the respective cutout portions.
a, 15a formed resin mold pieces 1.5, 1.5
Is integrally attached, and locking pieces 16, 16 having claw portions 16a, 16a, 16a, 16a at both ends thereof are also integrally attached to both side portions of the chip. Then, the resin mold piece 15 and the locking piece 1
6 functions as a holding means for fixing the chip and the optical component when the optical component is connected to the input / output terminal portion.

For example, as shown in FIG. 4, when a multi-fiber connector ferrule 17 having a tape fiber 17d is connected to the input / output terminal portion D ₁ of the chip, the end faces of both are abutted and the multi-fiber connector ferrule 17 is joined. After the pin guide grooves 17a and 17b formed in ₁ ) and the pin guide grooves 13a and 13b formed in the input / output terminal portion D1 are used as common grooves, and the pins 18 and 18 are fitted therein and aligned, As shown in FIG.
It is fitted into a clip 19 made of an elastic body having 9a, 19a, 19a, 19a. At this time, the claws 19a and 19c of the clip 10 are not the same as the claws 16a of the locking piece 16 and the optical component 1.
The end surface 17c of 7 is elastically sandwiched, and the clip 19
The claw portions 19b and 19d of the claw portion 1 of the resin mold piece 15 are
Since 5a and the end surface 17c of the optical component 17 are elastically sandwiched, the chip and the optical component are held by the clip 19.

Further, in FIG. 4, a multi-core connector ferrule may be used as an optical component, and after the chip and this multi-core connector ferrule are aligned and connected, the both may be permanently fixed by, for example, an optical adhesive. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, the multi-fiber / single-fiber conversion fan-out component 6 is further connected to the tape fiber 17d of the permanently fixed multi-fiber connector ferrule 17, and the single-fiber connector components 7a, 7b and An optical fiber 4c is provided between the single-fiber conversion fan-out parts 6,
By connecting with 4d, the optical coupling / decoupling module can be configured with three types of components as a whole.

This module has an overall length of 5 cm and a width of 2
It can be made about cm, which is much more compact than the conventional module shown in FIG. 8 having a length of 20 cm and a width of 10 cm. Also, the input / output terminal of the chip and the optical component 1
Instead of permanently fixing 7 with an optical adhesive, as shown in FIG. 7, a connector can be connected and these can be simply clipped to form a module.

In each of the above embodiments, the filter is arranged in the input / output waveguide pattern of the chip, but the arrangement of the filter is not limited to this, and for example, a multi-core connector is used. You may arrange | position in the optical fiber in a ferrule.

[0022]

As is apparent from the above description, when assembling an optical coupling / decoupling module using the planar waveguide chip for an optical coupling / decoupling module of the present invention, the number of parts required is greatly reduced. Therefore, cost reduction can be realized as a whole. Moreover, since the necessary components are integrated in this chip, the assembled optical coupling / dividing module becomes very compact.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing an example of a planar waveguide chip of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view showing a chip of another embodiment.

4 is a schematic plan view showing a state in which a multi-core connector ferrule is connected to the chip of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a clip.

FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view of an optical combining / branching module assembled using the chip of FIG.

7 is a schematic plan view showing a state in which a multi-core connector ferrule is connected to all the input / output terminal portions of the chip of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view showing a conventional optical add / drop module.

FIG. 9 is a schematic plan view showing a conventional planar waveguide chip.

[Explanation of reference symbols] A optical coupling / decoupling part a ₁ , a ₂ optical coupling / decoupling waveguide pattern B ₁ , B ₂ wiring part b ₁ , b ₂ , b ₃ , b ₄ input / output waveguide pattern C filter D ₁ , D ₂ , D ₃ and D ₄ Input / output terminal section 1 Box body 2a, 2b Optical multiplexer / demultiplexer 3 Multi-fiber filter 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d Optical fiber 5a, 5b Fusion splicing and its reinforcement protection section 6 Multi-core / single Core conversion fan-out component 7a, 7b Single-core connector component 8a, 8b, 8c Multi-core connector component 9 Planar substrate 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d Waveguide 12 Upper clad layer 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d Pin guide groove 14 Notch 15 Resin Mold Piece 15a Claw Part of Resin Mold Piece 15 16 Locking Piece 16a Claw Part of Locking Piece 16 Multicore Connector Ferrule 17a, 17b Pin of Multicore Connector Ferrule 17 End surface 17d tape fiber 18 pin 19 clip 19a of the guide groove 17c multifiber connector ferrule 17, 19b, 19c, the claw portions of 19d clip 19

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued Front Page (72) Inventor Shiro Nakamura 2-6-1, Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Ken Ueki 2-6-1, Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Nobuo Tomita 1-1-6 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Nihon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A flat substrate having an optical coupling / decoupling portion including a plurality of sets of optical coupling / decoupling waveguide patterns and a wiring portion including a plurality of sets of input / output waveguide patterns connected to each of the optical coupling / decoupling waveguide patterns. And a pin fitting guide hole or pin guide groove for pin-connecting another optical component is formed in each input / output terminal portion of the wiring portion. Waveguide chip. 2. The planar waveguide chip for an optical add / drop module according to claim 1, wherein a filter is provided on at least one of the input / output waveguide patterns. 3. The planar waveguide chip for an optical coupling / decoupling module according to claim 1, wherein each of the input / output terminal portions is provided with a holding means for holding an optical component connected thereto.