Precision Multi-Channel Fiber Optic Interface and Method

(1) Field of the Invention

This invention is directed to fiber optics, and more particularly, to a novel, precision multi-channel fiber optic interface and method.

(2) Description of the Prior Art

One technique has been developed through the prior art to align several multimode optical fibers across an interface. The technique involves the precision drilling of holes for the fibers into a precision alignment bushing. Fiber alignment across an interface is maintained by precision pins which are anchored in other precision holes in the alignment bushing. The optical fibers are polished flush with the surface of the alignment bushing. When two such planar interfaces are mated fiber-to-fiber alignment is accomplished by precision alignment pins that connect the alignment bushings. The optical fibers that have been used have a 140 .mu.m outside diameter and a 100 .mu.m core diameter. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, drilling holes for these fibers is a technical challenge. The holes must have a large length/diameter ratio to assure that light will not exit from the fiber face at an angle. Conventional drilling technology, however, does not provide a sufficient length/diameter ratio for accurate fiber alignment. For the multimode optical fibers with an outside diameter of 125 .mu.m and a core diameter of 62.5 .mu.m that are becoming a new Navy standard, a more accurate alignment technique and precision optical interface are required.

In accordance with one object of the instant invention, a more accurate method is disclosed that precisely positions optical fibers at an optical interface. In accordance with another of its objects, the present invention discloses a precision multi-channel fiber optic interface. In accordance therewith, an electroformed disk is disclosed to provide fiber alignment, and electrical discharge machining (EDM) is disclosed to provide accurate angular alignment of optical fibers at a planar optical interface. In one method embodiment, a combination of EDM, an alignment bushing and an electroformed disk are used to fashion a precision multi-channel fiber optic interface, and in one interface and method embodiment, two electroformed disks are used to provide a precision, multi-channel fiber optic interface.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, and to the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1A is a side sectional view and FIG. 1B is an end view of a precision alignment bushing in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2A is a side sectional view and FIG. 2B is an end view of a precision alignment disk in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of an assembly setup in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of an alternative assembly setup in accordance with the present invention; and FIG. 5A, FIG. 5B and FIG. 5C are plan views of different components of the FIG. 4 assembly setup.

Referring now to FIG. 1 there is shown in FIG. 1A a side sectional view and in FIG. 1B an end view of a precision alignment bushing 2. The bushing 2 is made out of a metal, and preferably is drilled using both electrical discharge machining (EDM) and conventional drilling. The bushing 2 contains large holes 4 and 10, which preferably are drilled and jig-ground by the conventional machining techniques. A plurality of holes 6 for optical fibers preferably are drilled by EDM, since the holes 6, which have an outer diameter as small as 125 .mu.m, are difficult to drill with sufficient length/diameter ratio using the conventional drilling technology. EDM, such as tubular EDM well-known to those skilled in the art, allows such small holes to be drilled with exemplary length/diameter ratios of 8/1, and typically results in a slightly larger diameter on the outside of the hole than on the inside, so that the hole is cone-shaped with a 1 or 2 degree taper at the surface of the interface, shown exaggerated for purposes of illustration. Holes 8 are counterbored preferably using conventional drilling techniques at the holes 6 from the rear of the alignment bushing 2, with a diameter to accept optical fiber coatings or jackets.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown in FIG. 2A a side sectional view and in FIG. 2B an end view of a precision alignment disk 11. The disk 11 is preferably made using electroform technology, which, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, is a high accuracy, photolithographic technique, although any other suitable technique may be employed. The disk 11 is formed by electro-deposition of a metal, such as nickel, onto a precision mask. The disk preferably is a few thousandths of an inch thick and contains holes 12 and 14 for precision alignment pins, and a plurality of small holes 16 matching hole 6 of bushing 2 for optical fibers. As shown in FIG. 2A, the electroformed disk 11 has naturally rounded edges on one side of the holes 12, 14, 16, which is beneficial for inserting small fibers thereinto.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown an assembly setup for precisely epoxying optical fibers into a precision alignment bushing. Alignment pins 22 and 24 are inserted into their respective holes 12 and 14 of disk 11 and 4 and 10 of alignment bushing 2. Then a spacer disk 26, preferably of a metallic material, is slipped over the alignment pins 22 and 24 and positioned next to the planar face of the alignment bushing 2. Any material suitable for drilling and etching may be employed for the spacer disk 26. The spacer disk has cut-outs for alignment pin holes 4 and 10 of bushing 2 and 12 and 14 of precision alignment disk 11 and cut-outs for optical fiber holes 6 of bushing 2 and 16 of precision alignment disk 11. Then a precision alignment disk 11 is slipped over the alignment pins 22 and 24 and positioned against the spacer 26. Then optical fibers 28 are inserted into the counterbored holes 8. The ends of the optical fibers are stripped of coating or jacket so that the bare glass fibers feed into the EDM-drilled holes 6 in the alignment bushing 2 and the electroformed holes 16 in the precision alignment disk 11. The spacer disk 26 spaces the alignment disk 11 away from the mouths of the holes 6 providing thereby better fiber optic alignment accuracy than that obtained without the spacer disk. Epoxy is introduced into the counterbored holes 8, and drawn under vacuum, imparted by any suitable vacuum means, through the EDM-drilled holes 6 so that an epoxy bead is formed where each optical fiber 28 exits from its hole 6. After the epoxy is cured, the spacer disk 26, alignment pins 22 and 24, and the alignment disk 28, together with the projecting ends of the optical fibers, are removed either by grinding or some other mechanical means exposing the planar top surface of the alignment bushing 2. The face thereof is then polished so that the optical fibers are flush with the surface of the alignment bushing 2. The spacer disk allows any fracture that may occur in the optical fibers to terminate short of the holes 6 during their removal, providing thereby an interface substantially free from fractures of optical fibers.

Referring now to FIG. 4 there is shown an alternative assembly setup to align optical fibers to form a planar fiber optic interface on a precision alignment bushing. A mold housing 50 defines the outside boundary of the precision alignment bushing to be fabricated. On the top of the mold housing 50 is placed a perforated precision electroformed alignment disk 52, an alignment pin receptacle and spacer 54, and a perforated precision electroformed alignment disk 56. The top of the alignment disk 52 is coated with mold release such as a silicon compound. Precision alignment pins 58 and 60 are inserted in the alignment pin holes in the alignment disk 52, in the holes of the alignment pin receptacle 54, and in the holes of the perforated alignment disk 56 and project thereinthrough, as shown. The portions of the alignment pins 58 and 60 which project beyond the perforated alignment disk 56 are coated with mold release. Fibers 62 are inserted through the aligned openings provided therefor in the members 52, 54, 56. A filled epoxy 64 such as CHOCKFAST ORANGE is poured into the mold housing 50. The filled epoxy passes through the perforated disk 56 which has slots 70, 72 and 74 as shown in FIG. 5A and fills the void 66 in the alignment pin receptacle 54. The outside circumferential wall of the alignment pin receptacle 54 is preferably serrated to facilitate bonding to the epoxy 64. After the epoxy 64 is cured, the mold housing 50, alignment pins 58 and 60, the alignment disk 52, and the extending portions of the optical fibers are removed, either by grinding and polishing or some other mechanical means and the top surface of the molded alignment bushing is optically polished to form a precision planar fiber optic interface.

A modification to the assembly setup shown in FIG. 4 is to replace the alignment pin receptacle 54 by a loose spacer, not shown, and to seat the lower ends of alignment pins 58 and 60 in a precision positioning jig, not shown. Then, when the epoxy 64 is poured into the mould housing 50, the epoxy flows around the alignment pins 58 and 60 in the region above the alignment disk 52. When the pins are removed, the receptacle holes are formed as the negative image of the pins out of epoxy. This reduces assembly cost, since the only precision part in the final molded alignment bushing is the perforated alignment disk, which is mass producable at low cost.

Many other modifications to the presently disclosed invention are possible without departing from the inventive concept.