PROCESS FOR PRODUCING OPTICAL CONNECTOR, APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING THE SAME, AND PROCESS FOR FORMING POLYMER COATING

Abstract

The present invention provides a process for producing an optical connector, an apparatus for producing the same, and a process for forming a polymer coating film on an end face of a fibrous dielectric, which can dispose a refractive index adjuster only onto an end face of an optical transmitting medium with excellent reproducibility. Such a process includes bringing an end surface of the optical transmitting medium close to an end face of a liquid refractive index adjuster, while charging at least one of the optical transmitting medium and the liquid refractive index adjuster, thereby adhering the liquid refractive index adjuster to the end face of the optical transmitting medium, and thereafter solidifying the adhered liquid refractive index adjuster to obtain the refractive index adjuster.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an optical fiber with a refractive index adjuster in the embodiment of the present invention, which is cut in a plane parallel to the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber.

FIG. 2 is an A-A cross-sectional view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of each fiber when another optical fiber is connected to the optical fiber with a refractive index adjuster as indicated above.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a production apparatus of the optical fiber with a refractive index adjuster as indicated above.

FIG. 5 is a B-B cross-sectional view of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a side view which corresponds to FIG. 4 when the liquid refractive index adjuster is adhered to an end face of an optical fiber using the production apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a side view which corresponds to FIG. 4 after the liquid refractive index adjuster is adhered to an end face of the optical fiber.

FIG. 8 is a side view which corresponds to a part of FIG. 4 which shows a modified example of the above embodiment.

Claims

1. A process for producing an optical connector having a refractive index adjuster on an end face of an optical transmitting medium, comprising bringing an end surface of the optical transmitting medium close to an end face of a liquid refractive index adjuster, while charging at least one of the optical transmitting medium and the liquid refractive index adjuster, thereby adhering the liquid refractive index adjuster to the end face of the optical transmitting medium, and thereafter solidifying the adhered liquid refractive index adjuster so as to obtain the refractive index adjuster.

2. The process for producing an optical connector as set forth in claim 1, wherein said refractive index adjuster has elasticity.

3. The process for producing an optical connector as set forth in claim 1 or 2, wherein said refractive index adjuster has adhesiveness.

4. The process for producing an optical connector as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said liquid refractive index adjuster is a solution of the refractive index adjuster.

5. An apparatus for producing an optical connector having a refractive index adjuster on an end face of an optical transmitting medium, comprising a medium charging means for charging the optical transmitting medium, and a refractive index adjuster holding means for holding the liquid refractive index adjuster.

6. The apparatus for producing an optical connector as set forth in claim 5, further comprising moving means for moving the end face of the optical transmitting medium and the surface of the liquid refractive index adjuster near to or away from each other.

7. The apparatus for producing an optical connector as set forth in claim 5 or 6, wherein said medium charging means is a static dielectric device constituted from an electrode and a dielectric, which holds the optical transmitting medium in a charged state.

8. The apparatus for producing an optical connector as set forth in claim 7, wherein said medium charging means is a static chuck which holds the optical transmitting medium in a charged state.

9. The apparatus for producing an optical connector as set forth in claim 5 or 6, wherein said medium charging means is a frictional charging device which holds the optical transmitting medium in a charged state.

10. The apparatus for producing an optical connector as set forth in any one of claims 5 to 9, wherein said adjuster holding means has a holding mechanism which adheres the liquid refractive index adjuster, and a supplier which supplies the liquid refractive index adjuster to the holding mechanism.

11. The apparatus for producing an optical connector as set forth in claim 10, wherein said holding mechanism is a holding wall.

12. A process for forming a polymer coating on an end face of a fibrous dielectric, comprising bringing the end face of the dielectric in a charged state close to the surface of the solution of the polymer, adhering the solution of the polymer to the end face of the dielectric, and the solidifying the adhered solution of the polymer to form the polymer coating.