Optical fiber multiplexing/demultiplexing device for multiple-fiber ribbon of optical fibers and their fabrication method

Claim 1

An optical fiber multiplexing/demultiplexing device for the multiple-fiber ribbon of optical fibers comprising: a set of optical fibers arranged in the form of a multiple-fiber ribbon wherein an intermediate point on the multiple-fiber ribbon is first cut, the covers of the optical fibers in the multiple-fiber ribbon cut at the intermediate point are removed on both sides of the cut edges by a certain length required to expose the optical fiber elements, and both edges of the optical fiber elements paired on both sides of the cut point are welded each other by arc discharge; a pair of substrates in each of which a plurality of V-grooves by the number of the optical fiber elements are provided in parallel each other at equal intervals to form an array on one side thereof, a hollow is provided at both ends of the V-grooves to mount the covers of the optical fibers in the multiple-fiber ribbon of optical fibers, and a trench is provided at the center of the V-groove array across the plurality of V-grooves at right angle; and an assembly of the optical fiber elements buried together into and fastened to the V-grooves by some adhesives, the clads of the optical fiber elements scrubbed together with the one side of the surfaces of each substrate so that the cores of the optical fiber elements are just before exposed, and the pair of substrates assembled so that the scrubbed sides of the surfaces in the pair of substrates are contacted each other so as to couple the cores of the optical fiber elements together according to the Evanescent wave coupling.

Claim 8

A method of fabricating the optical fiber multiplexing/demultiplexing device for the multiple-fiber ribbon of optical fibers consisting of: "Remove covers of optical fibers" step wherein an intermediate point on the multiple-fiber ribbon is first cut, and the covers of the optical fibers in the multiple-fiber ribbon cut at the intermediate point are removed on both sides by a certain length required to expose the optical fiber elements; "Fuse and connect" step wherein both edges of the optical fiber elements paired on both sides of the cut point are welded each other by arc discharge; "Work on substrate" step wherein a plurality of V-grooves by the number of the optical fiber elements are provided in parallel each other at equal intervals to form an array on one side of each of a pair of substrates, a hollow is provided at both edges of the V-grooves to mount the covers of the optical fibers in the multiple-fiber ribbon of optical fibers, and a trench is provided at the center of the V-groove array across the plurality of V-grooves at right angle; "Assemble a pair of substrates" step wherein the optical fiber elements are buried together into and fastened to the V-grooves by some adhesives, and the clads of the optical fiber elements are scrubbed together with the one side of the surfaces of each substrate so that the cores of the optical fiber elements are just before exposed; and "Assemble multiplexing/demultiplexing device" wherein the pair of substrates are assembled so that the scrubbed sides of the surfaces in the pair of substrates are contacted each other so as to couple the cores of the optical fiber elements together according to the Evanescent wave coupling.

Claim 9

A method of fabricating the optical fiber multiplexing/demultiplexing device for the multiple-fiber ribbon of optical fibers consisting of: "Remove covers of optical fibers" step wherein an intermediate point on the multiple-fiber ribbon is first cut, and the covers of the optical fibers in the multiple-fiber ribbon cut at the intermediate point are removed on both sides by a certain length required to expose the optical fiber elements; "Fuse and connect" step wherein both edges of the optical fiber elements paired on both sides of the cut point are welded each other by arc discharge; "Work on substrate" step wherein a plurality of V-grooves by the number of the optical fiber elements are provided in parallel each other at equal intervals to form an array on one side of each of a pair of substrates, a hollow is provided at both edges of the V-grooves to mount the covers of the optical fibers in the multiple-fiber ribbon of optical fibers, and a trench is provided at the center of the V-groove array across the plurality of V-grooves at right angle; "Assemble a pair of substrates" step wherein the optical fiber elements are buried together into and fastened to the V-grooves by some adhesives, and the clads of the optical fiber elements are scrubbed together with the one side of the surfaces of each substrate so that the cores of the optical fiber elements are just before exposed; and "Assemble multiplexing/demultiplexing device" wherein the pair of substrates are assembled so that the scrubbed sides of the surfaces in the pair of substrates are contacted each other so as to couple the cores of the optical fiber elements together according to the Evanescent wave coupling.