Multiple-fiber optical component and method for manufacturing the same

Claim 2

An optical component comprising: first, second and third blocks formed at their surfaces with first, second and third groups of guide grooves, respectively, said guide grooves of each group extending in parallel with each other, said first and second blocks being arranged to have respective end faces facing each other, said third block being arranged to have the surface thereof on which the guide grooves are formed facing the surfaces of said first and second blocks on which the guide grooves are formed; and first to third groups of optical fibers being respectively placed and secured in said first through third groups of guide grooves, each of the optical fibers having an inclined face at one end, at least one of opposed optical fibers of said first and second groups of optical fibers being provided at its inclined face with a first optical film, each of said third group of optical fibers being provided at its inclined face with a second optical film; said opposed optical fibers of said first and second groups of optical fibers being jointed at said inclined faces to each other through the associated first optical film in such a way that optical axes of said jointed optical fibers are aligned with each other; the or each of said third group of optical fibers being disposed so that its optical axis is directed with respect to the optical axes of the associated ones of said first and second groups of optical fibers such that an optical signal incident through the associated one of said first group of optical fibers and then successively reflected at said first and second optical films is propagated along the optical axis of said optical fiber of said third group.

Claim 3

An optical component according to claim 1, wherein at least one alignment-pin guide groove is formed in the surface of each of said first to third blocks on which said first to third groups of optical fibers are respectively disposed, and said first to third blocks are held with a predetermined positional relationship by a common alignment pin disposed in said alignment-pin guide grooves.

Claim 4

An optical component according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each of the end faces of said first to third blocks extends obliquely and is disposed flush with said inclined end faces of said associated optical fibers.

Claim 5

An optical component according to claim 1,2 or 3 wherein said end faces of said first and second blocks are in contact with each other.

Claim 6

An optical component according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the surface of each of said first to third blocks, on which the guide grooves are formed, is located flush with an outermost portion, from an associated one of the guide grooves, of an outer peripheral surface of each of said optical fibers secured in the guide grooves.

Claim 9

A method according to claim 6, wherein in said inclined-face forming step, after a plurality of optical fibers are respectively disposed and secured in a plurality of parallel fiber guide grooves formed in a surface of a single continuous block member for said first and second block, said single continuous block member is obliquely cut together with said optical fibers into said first and second blocks.

Claim 10

A multiple-fiber optical component comprising: a first substrate having a surface formed with a plurality of parallel guide grooves, and a slit crossing said guide grooves and extending from said surface towards an opposite surface thereof at a predetermined angle to said surface; an optical film fitted in said slit; a group of straight-path optical fibers each placed and secured in an associated one of said guide grooves in such a way that optical axes of both halves of said each fiber, between which halves said optical film is sandwiched, are aligned with each other; a second substrate having a plurality of guide grooves formed on a surface thereof; and a group of branch-path optical fibers, each placed and secured in a corresponding one of said guide grooves of said second substrate, each branch-path optical fiber being disposed in contact with a circumference of an associated one of said straight-­path optical fibers in such a way that optical signal incident through the associated one straight-path optical fiber and reflected at said optical film is propagated along an optical axis of said each branch-path optical fiber.

Claim 11

A multiple-fiber optical component comprising: a first substrate having a surface formed with a plurality of parallel guide grooves, and a slit crossing said guide grooves and extending from said surface towards an opposite surface thereof at a predetermined angle to said surface; an optical film fitted in said slit; a group of straight-path optical fibers each placed and secured in an associated one of said guide grooves in such a way that optical axes of both halves of said each fiber, between which halves said optical film is sandwiched, are aligned with each other; a second substrate having a plurality of guide grooves formed on a surface thereof; and a group of branch-path optical fibers, each placed and secured in a corresponding one of said guide grooves of said second substrate, each branch-path optical fiber being disposed in contact with a circumference of an associated one of said straight-­path optical fibers in such a way that optical signal incident through the associated one straight-path optical fiber and reflected at said optical film is propagated along an optical axis of said each branch-path optical fiber.

Claim 12

An optical component according to claim 8, wherein said second substrate has a surface formed with a plurality of parallel guide grooves and a slit extending across said guide grooves and from said surface towards an opposite surface said second substrate at a predetermined angle, said optical component having an optical film being fitted in said slit, and branch-path optical fibers each being disposed and secured in an associated one of said grooves in such a way that optical axes of both halves of said each fiber, between which said optical film is sandwiched, are aligned with each other, and that an outer peripheral surface of said each fiber is in contact with an outer peripheral surface of an associated one of said straight-path optical fibers.

Claim 13

An optical component according to claim 8, wherein said second-substrate has a surface formed with a plurality of guide grooves in which branch-path optical fibers are respectively disposed and secured, and each of the branch-path optical fibers has one end face obliquely polished and is disposed in closed contact at its end face with an outer peripheral surface of an associated one of said straight-path optical fibers.

Claim 14

An optical component according to claim 8 or 9, wherein said second substrate has a surface formed with a plurality of guide grooves in which branch-path optical fibers are respectively disposed and secured, and the branch-path optical fibers each have one end face, obliquely polished and formed thereover with an optical film, and an outer surface, disposed in closed contact with an outer surface of an associated one of said straight-path optical fibers.

Claim 15

An optical component according to any of claims 8 - 11, wherein at least one of said first and second substrates is formed with at least one guide groove for receiving an alignment pin for optical axial alignment.

Claim 16

An optical component according to any of claims 8 - 12, wherein at least one of said first and second substrates is formed with a guide groove for receiving an alignment pin adapted for connection with a multiple-fiber connector.

Claim 17

An optical component according to any one of claims 8 - 13, wherein said optical films formed in said first and second substrates are wavelength selective films.

Claim 18

An optical component according to any one of claims 8,9,11 to 14 wherein said optical film formed in said first substrate is a splitting film having a predetermined splitting ratio with respect to an optical signal with at least one wavelength, and said optical film formed in said second substrate is a total reflection film for effecting total reflection of an optical signal with said at least one wavelength.

Claim 21

A method according to claim 16, further comprising the steps of polishing said surface of said first substrate in such a way that an outer surface of each of said straight-path optical fibers is polished up to a region short of a core of the same fiber, after disposing and securing said optical film in said slit of said first substrate.

Claim 22

A method according to claim 16 or 17,wherein said slit forming step includes the steps of: arranging said first and second substrates in such a way that said guide grooves of said first substrate are respectively in parallel to said grooves of said second substrate; and forming a slit on a surface of said second substrate together with the slit of said first substrate.

Claim 23

An optical component comprising: a substrate; at least one optical fiber disposed and secured on a surface of said substrate in a lengthwise direction thereof; at least one optical film fittedly secured in at least one slit extending across said at least one optical fiber and from said surface of said substrate towards an opposite surface thereof at a predetermined angle to said surface of said substrate, said film being adapted to be jointed to at least one external optical component; and at least one alignment pin for optical axial alignment, disposed on said surface of said substrate in said lengthwise direction of said surface thereof, said pin being adapted to be fitted to said at least one external optical component.

Claim 24

An optical component comprising: a substrate; at least one optical fiber disposed and secured on a surface of said substrate in a lengthwise direction thereof; at least one optical film fittedly secured in at least one slit extending across said at least one optical fiber and from said surface of said substrate towards an opposite surface thereof at a predetermined angle to said surface of said substrate, said film being adapted to be jointed to at least one external optical component; and at least one alignment pin for optical axial alignment, disposed on said surface of said substrate in said lengthwise direction of said surface thereof, said pin being adapted to be fitted to said at least one external optical component.

Claim 25

An optical component according to claim 19, wherein said at least one optical film includes a plurality of optical films having different characteristics from one another in association with plural external optical components.

Claim 26

An optical component according to claim 19, wherein said at least one optical fiber comprises an element selected from a group consisting of one single optical fiber, a multiple-fiber optical ribbon or a plurality of single fibers disposed in parallel in said lengthwise direction of said substrate.

Claim 27

A multiple-wavelength multiple-fiber type of wavelength division multiplexer/demultiplexer, comprising: a straight-path common substrate; a plurality of optical fibers for straight-path, secured in a plurality of parallel optical fiber guide grooves provided in a surface of said straight-path common substrate in a lengthwise direction thereof; a plurality of straight-path optical films with different characteristics secured respectively in a plurality of slits formed in said surface of said straight-path common substrate and extending across said straight-path optical fibers and from the same surface towards an opposite surface thereof at predetermined angles to said surface thereof; a plurality of branch-path substrates each having a plurality of parallel optical fiber guide grooves formed in a surface thereof in a lengthwise direction thereof; a plurality of optical fibers secured in said optical fiber guide grooves of said branch-path substrates; and branch-path optical films with different characteristics from one another, said films being secured in slits respectively formed on said surfaces of said branch-path substrates , said slits of said branch-path substrates crossing said optical fibers of the same substrates and extending from said surfaces thereof towards opposite surfaces thereof at angles, corresponding to the predetermined angles at which angles said slits of said straight-path common substrate extend, said branch-path substrates being disposed in contact with and secured to said straight-path common substrate, with said branch-path optical films optically disposed respectively with said straight-path films of said straight-path common substrate in accordance with said characteristics of said branch-path films and said characteristics of said straight-path films.

Claim 28

A multiple-wavelength multiple-fiber type of wavelength division multiplexer/demultiplexer, comprising: a straight-path common substrate; a plurality of optical fibers for straight-path, secured in a plurality of parallel optical fiber guide grooves provided in a surface of said straight-path common substrate in a lengthwise direction thereof; a plurality of straight-path optical films with different characteristics secured respectively in a plurality of slits formed in said surface of said straight-path common substrate and extending across said straight-path optical fibers and from the same surface towards an opposite surface thereof at predetermined angles to said surface thereof; a plurality of branch-path substrates each having a plurality of parallel optical fiber guide grooves formed in a surface thereof in a lengthwise direction thereof; a plurality of optical fibers secured in said optical fiber guide grooves of said branch-path substrates; and branch-path optical films with different characteristics from one another, said films being secured in slits respectively formed on said surfaces of said branch-path substrates , said slits of said branch-path substrates crossing said optical fibers of the same substrates and extending from said surfaces thereof towards opposite surfaces thereof at angles, corresponding to the predetermined angles at which angles said slits of said straight-path common substrate extend, said branch-path substrates being disposed in contact with and secured to said straight-path common substrate, with said branch-path optical films optically disposed respectively with said straight-path films of said straight-path common substrate in accordance with said characteristics of said branch-path films and said characteristics of said straight-path films.

Claim 29

A multiple-fiber optical component with a multiple-fiber/single-fiber conversion function, comprising: a main body for executing a multiple-fiber/single-­fiber conversion, said main body having at least two input/output ports; at least one single-fiber input/output means provided at at least one of said input/output ports of said main body; and multiple-fiber input/output means provided at other input/output ports of said main body.

Claim 30

A multiple-fiber optical component with a multiple-fiber/single-fiber conversion function, comprising: a main body for executing a multiple-fiber/single-­fiber conversion, said main body having at least two input/output ports; at least one single-fiber input/output means provided at at least one of said input/output ports of said main body; and multiple-fiber input/output means provided at other input/output ports of said main body.

Claim 31

An optical component according to claim 23, wherein said main body comprises a multiple-fiber wavelength division multiplexer/demultiplexer having a straight-path section and a branch-path section, said straight-path section comprising: a straight-path substrate having a surface formed with a plurality of parallel guide grooves and a slit extending across said guide grooves and from said surface towards an opposite surface thereof at a predetermined angle; a first wavelength selective film secured in said slit; and a plurality of straight-path single fibers respectively disposed and secured in said grooves in such a way that optical axes of both halves of each straight-path fiber, between which the first film is sandwiched, are aligned with each other, and said branch-path section comprising: a branch-path substrate having a surface formed with a plurality of parallel guide grooves and a slit extending across said guide grooves and from said surface towards an opposite surface of the same substrate at a predetermined angle; a second wavelength selective film; a branch-path ribbon fiber having plural fibers which are disposed and secured in said grooves so that optical axes of both halves of each of the plural fiber between which said second film is sandwiched are aligned with each other; an outer peripheral surface of each of said plurality of straight-path single fibers being disposed in closed contact with an outer periphery surface of an associated one of the plural fibers of said ribbon fiber.

Claim 32

An optical component according to claim 23, wherein said main body comprises a multiple-fiber wavelength division multiplexer/demultiplexer having a straight-path section and a branch-path section; said straight-path section comprising: a straight-path substrate having a surface formed with a plurality of parallel guide grooves and a slit extending across said guide grooves and from said surface towards an opposite surface thereof at a predetermined angle; a first wavelength selective film secured in said slit; and a plurality of straight-path single fibers respectively disposed and secured in said grooves in such a way that optical axes of both halves of each straight-path fiber, between which the first film is sandwiched, are aligned with each other, and said branch-path section comprising: a branch-path substrate having a surface formed with a plurality of parallel guide grooves and a polished one end face obliquely extending at a predetermined angle; and a branch-path ribbon fiber secured in said grooves and having one end face obliquely polished together with said branch-path substrate, said one end face of said branch-path ribbon fiber being disposed in closed contact with and secured to outer surfaces of said straight-path single fibers.

Claim 33

An optical component according to claim 24, wherein said main body comprises an optical coupler/splitter having a splitting film with a predetermined splitting ratio with respect to optical signal with at least one wavelength in place of said first wavelength selective film, and having a total reflection film, in place of said second wavelength selective film, for total reflection of optical signal with said at least one wavelength.

Claim 34

An optical component according to any of claims 23 - 26, wherein said single-fiber input/output means comprises an element selected from a group consisting of a single fiber and a single-fiber ferrule, and said multiple-fiber input/output means comprises an element selected from a group consisting of a ribbon fiber, and multiple-fiber ferrule, or a ribbon fiber whose termination is connected to a multiple-fiber ferrule.

Claim 35

An optical component according to any of claims 23 - 27, wherein said main body, said single-­fiber input/output means and said multiple-fiber input/output means are disposed in the same case.

Claim 36

An optical component according to claim 28, wherein said case has a multiple-fiber connector adapter and a single-fiber connector adapter.

Claim 39

A method according to claim 30, further comprising the step of polishing said surface of said straight-path substrate in such a way that an outer surface of each of said straight-path single fibers is polished up to a region short of a core of said each straight-path optical fibers, after disposing and securing said first wavelength selective film in said slit of said straight-path substrate.

Claim 40

A multiple-fiber optical component with a multiple-fiber/single-fiber conversion function, comprising: a main body having at least two multiple-fiber input/output ports; and at least one multiple-fiber/single-fiber conversion component, coupled to at least one of said multiple-­fiber input/output ports, for executing a multiple-­fiber/single-fiber conversion.

Claim 41

A multiple-fiber optical component with a multiple-fiber/single-fiber conversion function, comprising: a main body having at least two multiple-fiber input/output ports; and at least one multiple-fiber/single-fiber conversion component, coupled to at least one of said multiple-­fiber input/output ports, for executing a multiple-­fiber/single-fiber conversion.

Claim 42

An optical component according to claim 32, wherein said multiple-fiber/single-fiber conversion component comprises N (N=2, 3, 4, ...) single fibers each having opposite terminations at both ends, the respective one terminations of these fibers being attached together to an N-fiber ferrule at one end and the respective one other terminations of said N single fibers consisting of at least one of a single fibers and/or a single-fiber ferrule connected to a single fiber at the other end.

Claim 43

An optical component according to claim 32 or 33, wherein said each of said multiple-fiber input/output ports of said main body comprises an element selected from a group consisting of an N-fiber ribbon, an N-fiber ferrule, or an N-fiber ribbon whose termination is attached to an N-fiber ferrule.

Claim 44

An optical component according to any of claims 32 to 34, wherein said main body and said at least one multiple-­fiber/single-fiber conversion component are disposed in a same case.

Claim 45

The optical component according to claim 35, wherein said case has a multiple-fiber connector adapter, serving as a multiple-fiber input/output port of said optical component and being adapted for connection to an external unit, and a single-fiber connector adapter as a single-fiber input/output port of said multiple-fiber/single-fiber conversion component and being adapted for connection to an external unit.

Claim 46

The optical component according to any one of claims 32 - 36, wherein said main body comprises a wavelength division multiplexer/demultiplexer having three N-fiber input/output ports, and said at least one multiple-­fiber/single-fiber conversion component is coupled to less than three of said three N-fiber input/output ports of said wavelength division multiplexer/demultiplexer.

Claim 47

The optical component according to any one of claims 32 - 36, wherein said main body comprises an optical coupler/splitter having three N-fiber input/output ports.