Multiple-fiber optical component and method for manufacturing of the same

A method for manufacturing an optical component, comprising the steps of:

• forming a plurality of parallel fiber guide grooves and at least one alignment-pin guide groove in each of surfaces of at least first through third block members, to obtain at least first to third blocks;
• placing and securing optical fibers in said fiber guide grooves of said at least first to third blocks;
• obliquely polishing one end of each of said at least first to third blocks together with said optical fibers placed thereon to thereby form an inclined face;
• forming a first optical film on said inclined face of at least one of said first and second blocks and then arranging said first and second blocks in such a way that when an optical signal incident to a respective one of said optical fibers of said first block passes through said first optical film, said optical signal is propagated to a corresponding one of said optical fibers of said second block along an optical axis thereof;
• forming a second optical film on said inclined face of said third block and then arranging said third block in such a way that an optical axis of each optical fiber of said third block is in parallel to optical axes of associated ones of said optical fibers of said first and second blocks and when an optical signal incident to a respective one of said optical fibers of said first block is successively reflected at said first and second optical films, said optical signal is propagated to said each optical fiber of said third block along an optical axis thereof;
• and
• disposing a common alignment pin in said alignment-pin guide grooves respectively formed in said first to third blocks and bringing said first to third blocks into one piece by said common alignment pin.

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 to an opposite surface thereof at a predetermined angle;
• an optical film fitted in said slit;
• a group of straight-path optical fibers each placed, secured and halved into two sub-groups of optical fibers in an associated one of said guide grooves in such a way that the optical axes of each optical fiber sub-group, between which fiber sub-group 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 an optical signal incident to 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.

A method for manufacturing a multiple-fiber optical component, comprising the steps of:

• forming a plurality of parallel shallow guide grooves on a first plate at a substantially middle portion of a surface of the same substrate, to obtain a first substrate;
• disposing and securing straight-path optical fibers in each of said guide grooves;
• forming a slit crossing said straight-path optical fibers and extending from said surface of said first substrate to an opposite surface thereof at a predetermined angle;
• fitting and securing an optical film in said slit;
• disposing and securing branch-path optical fibers in a plurality of parallel guide grooves formed in a surface of a second substrate;
• and
• disposing each of said branch-path optical fiber in contact with an outer surface of an associated one of said straight-path optical fibers in such a way that an optical signal incident to said associated one straight-path optical fiber and then reflected at said optical film is propagated along an optical axis of said each branch-path optical fiber.

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 to 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.

A multiple-wavelength multiple-fiber type of wavelength division multiplexer/demultiplexer, comprising:

• a straight-path common substrate;
• a plurality of straight-path optical fibers, 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 to 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 to opposite surfaces thereof at angles, corresponding to the predetermined angles at which angles said slits of said straight-path common substrate extend, with respect to said surfaces of said branch-path substrates, said branch-path substrates being disposed in contact with and secured to said straight-path common substrate, with said branch-path optical films optically aligned respectively with said straight-path films of said straight-path common substrate in association with said characteristics of said branch-path films and said characteristics of said straight-path films.

A multiple-fiber optical component having a multiple-fiber/single-fiber conversion function to transmit optical signals between one of optical fibers of at least one multiple-fiber optical cable and at least one single fiber corresponding thereto, comprising:

• a main body for executing said multiple-fiber/single-fiber conversion function, said main body having at least two input/output ports;
• multiple-fiber input/output means provided at one of said input/output ports of said main body, through which said at least one multiple-fiber optical cable is optically connected to said one of the input/output ports;
• and
• single-fiber input/output means provided at the remaining at least one input/output port of said main body, through which said at least one single fiber is optically connected to said remaining at least one input/output port.

A method for manufacturing a multiple-fiber optical component with a multiple-fiber/single-fiber conversion function, comprising the steps of:

• forming a plurality of parallel shallow guide grooves in a substantially center portion in a surface of a straight-path plate, to obtain a straight-path substrate;
• disposing and securing a plurality of straight-path single fibers in said guide grooves;
• forming in said surface of said straight-path substrate a slit extending across said straight-path single fibers and from said surface of said straight-path substrate to an opposite surface thereof at a predetermined angle;
• fitting and securing a first wavelength selective film in said slit;
• forming a plurality of parallel guide grooves in a surface of a branch-path substrate;
• disposing and securing a branch-path ribbon fiber in said guide grooves of said branch-path substrate;
• forming in said surface of said branch-path substrate a slit extending across said branch-path ribbon fiber and from said surface of said branch-path substrate to an opposite surface thereof at a predetermined angle;
• fitting and securing a second wavelength selective film in said slit of said branch-path substrate;
• and
• jointing said branch-path ribbon fiber to outer surfaces of said straight-path single fibers in such a way that optical signal incident to said straight-path single fibers and reflected at said first and second wavelength selective films is propagated along an optical axis of said branch-path ribbon fiber.