JPH11154907A - Optical transmission device and optical transmission method using optical fiber - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To transmit and receive an optical signal and to input / output a power source or to transmit and receive an electric signal, without installing a separate cable or an electric signal connection line. The optical signal and the electric signal or the power are transmitted by one copper coated optical fiber through the attachment and the clamping. An optical signal transmitting unit that generates and transmits an optical signal, an optical signal receiving unit that receives an optical signal generated and transmitted by the optical signal transmitting unit, and an electric signal transmitting unit that transmits an electric signal. An electric signal receiving unit that receives an electric signal transmitted by the electric signal transmitting unit; and an optical signal transmitting unit that connects the optical signal transmitting unit and the optical signal receiving unit to transmit an optical signal. An optical transmission device is constituted by a metal receiving optical fiber for transmitting an electric signal by connecting to a signal receiving unit.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical transmission device,
In particular, the present invention relates to an optical transmission device and an optical transmission method using a metal coated optical fiber for transmitting an optical signal and an electric signal using an optical fiber coated with a metal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an optical fiber is widely used as a signal transmission medium in an optical communication system. FIG.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a normal optical fiber in a longitudinal direction, showing a core 1;
A cladding 110 having a lower refractive index than the core; and a coating part 120 coated to protect the cladding 110. The material of the core 100 and the cladding 110 is a silica component.
The optical fiber of the silica component has an outer diameter of approximately 100 to 150.
Since the glass fiber is as thin as about μm, if it is not coated, it is too weak and easily broken. Since glass is a material that exhibits breakage different from metal, if a slight defect grows on the surface of the optical fiber and local stress concentration occurs at that portion, it will cause breakage. In addition, although the optical fiber of the silica component theoretically has a high strength of about 200 GPa or more, it has a very fragile property to moisture, so that moisture comes into contact with the surface of the optical fiber. In addition, the strength of the optical fiber is significantly reduced. In order to solve this problem, the optical fiber is coated with a hardened resin or plastic which protects the surface of the optical fiber, improves tensile strength and bending strength, and prevents moisture penetration. That is, the outer layer 120 is coated to protect the cladding 110, and the primary coating is usually made of acrylic (UV-curable) which is hardened only by irradiating ultraviolet rays with a thickness of about 250 ± 10 μm, and the secondary coating is performed. Has a thickness of about 900 ± 100 μm.

On the other hand, the principle of transmitting an optical signal is to make the refractive index of the core 100 higher than the refractive index of the external cladding 110 within a certain size, and to transmit the internal light by total internal reflection. FIG.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a general optical transmission apparatus, mainly showing transmission of an optical signal and an electric signal. The optical signal transmitting unit 200 generates and transmits an optical signal, and receives the transmitted optical signal. Optical signal receiving section 210, optical signal transmitting section 2
00 and an optical signal receiving unit 210, an optical signal transmission medium, an optical fiber cable 220 coated with plastic or hardened resin, an electric signal transmitting unit 230 for transmitting an electric signal, An electric signal receiving unit 240 for receiving a signal, and the electric signal transmitting unit 230 and the electric signal receiving unit 240 are connected to each other, and the electric line 250 is an electric signal transmitting medium. Therefore, when an optical signal is input from the optical signal transmitting unit 200 and the optical signal is transmitted to the optical signal receiving unit 210, the optical signal is transmitted through the optical fiber 220. However, together with the optical signal, the electric signal transmitting unit 23
If it is desired to transmit an electric signal from 0 to the electric signal receiving unit 240, or if it is necessary to connect a power supply, the optical fiber 220 is made only of a non-conductive material as described above. Therefore, another cable or electrical signal connection 250 should be provided with the optical fiber 220.

[0004]

The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to transmit an optical signal and an electric signal.
Rather than providing another conductive metal together, in order to reduce the volume and improve the reliability of the optical fiber, the surface of the optical fiber is coated with a highly conductive metal, which is used for power supply and electrical An object of the present invention is to provide an optical transmission device and an optical transmission method using a metal-coated optical fiber provided to a signal connection line.

[0005]

An optical transmission apparatus using a metal-coated optical fiber according to the present invention for achieving the above technical object comprises: an optical signal transmitting unit for generating and transmitting an optical signal; An optical signal receiving unit that receives an optical signal generated and transmitted by the optical signal transmitting unit; an electrical signal transmitting unit that transmits an electrical signal; and an electrical signal receiving unit that receives the electrical signal transmitted by the electrical signal transmitting unit And a metal coating that connects the optical signal transmitting unit and the optical signal receiving unit to transmit an optical signal, and connects the electrical signal transmitting unit and the electrical signal receiving unit to transmit an electrical signal. Preferably, an optical fiber is included, and the electric signal transmitting unit and the electric signal receiving unit are connected to the metal-coated optical fiber by soldering.

Further, the metal is preferably copper. In the optical transmission device using the metal-coated optical fiber, the electric signal transmitting unit transmits power from a power supply as an electric signal, and the electric signal receiving unit receives the power transmitted from the electric signal transmitting unit. The copper-coated optical fiber transmits power from a power source.

Further, the electric signal transmitting section includes an electric signal generating section for generating an electric signal, and a modulator for modulating a signal generated in the electric signal source and connecting to the copper-coated optical fiber. A demodulator that receives and demodulates an electric signal sent through the copper-coated optical fiber; and an electric signal that receives and processes the demodulated electric signal via the demodulator. And a processing unit.

Preferably, the metal-coated optical fiber is coated with an acrylic layer which is cured only when the copper layer is irradiated with ultraviolet rays in order to prevent the copper layer from being oxidized as required.

An optical transmission method using a metal-coated optical fiber for solving the technical problem is to provide a copper-coated optical fiber, to transmit an optical signal via the optical fiber, Preferably, the method further includes transmitting an electric signal to the optical fiber via a coated metal wire, and preferably transmits the optical signal and the electric signal all at once through the metal coated optical fiber. Preferably, the metal is copper. Power is supplied through a copper wire of a copper-coated optical fiber to transmit an optical signal and power at once.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The optical fibers used in the present invention are those coated with metal, preferably copper. FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an optical fiber, which is a feature of the present invention, and includes a core 300, a clad 310, a metal coating layer 320, and an acrylic coating layer 330. The metal coating layer 320 is formed on the core 300 and the clad 310 of the optical fiber by using copper (C) having excellent conductivity.
u) Coat the layer. The acrylic coating layer 330 may be optionally provided with the metal coating layer 32.
0 is coated with acrylic, which hardens only when ultraviolet rays are irradiated on the upper layer, and the metal coating layer 3
20 is prevented from oxidizing in air. The metal-coated optical fiber is a metal-coated optical fiber (Sn, Al, Pb) of another material that has been developed.
Since it has better conductivity and a higher melting point (600 ° C.), the metal does not melt when soldering and does not affect the optical fiber.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an optical transmission device using a copper-coated optical fiber according to the present invention, wherein an optical signal transmitting section 400, an optical signal receiving section 410,
It comprises an electric signal transmitting unit 430, an electric signal receiving unit 440, and an optical fiber 420 coated with metal.

The optical signal transmitter 400 is a block for generating information to be transmitted as an optical signal and transmitting the information to a receiving end, and corresponds to a normal transmission module of an optical transmission apparatus.
The optical signal receiving unit 410 is a block for receiving an optical signal transmitted from the optical signal transmitting unit 400, and corresponds to a normal receiving module of an optical transmission device.

The electric signal transmitting unit 430 is a block for transmitting an electric signal, and generally transmits an electric signal used as a monitor signal required for transmitting the optical signal or a control signal of an optical transmission device. The electric signal receiving unit 440 is a block that receives the electric signal transmitted from the electric signal transmitting unit 430, and corresponds to a normal electric signal receiving module of an optical transmission device.

The copper coated optical fiber 420 connects the optical signal transmitting unit 400 and the optical signal receiving unit 410, and the copper coated optical fiber shown in FIG. 1 is used as an optical signal transmitting medium. Further, the metal-coated optical fiber 420 connects the electric signal transmitting unit 430 and the electric signal receiving unit 440, and transmits an electric signal through the coated copper. In addition, the electrical connection between the electrical signal transmitting unit 430 and the electrical signal receiving unit 440 and the metal-coated optical fiber 420 is soldered or clamped.
ing). Here, the electric signal transmission unit 430 supplies electric power from a power supply instead of an electric signal as necessary, and
20 may be transmitted.

FIG. 3 shows a modified form of the electric signal transmitting section 430 and the electric signal receiving section 440. The electric signal transmitting section 430 is replaced with an electric signal generating and electric signal supplying source. The electrical signal generator 500 and the modulator 510 for modulating the electrical signal supplied from the electrical signal generator 500 are electrically connected to the metal-coated optical fiber 420. Also, a demodulator 520 for demodulating an electric signal transmitted through the metal-coated optical fiber 420 and an electric signal processing unit 530 for receiving and processing the demodulated signal are provided instead of the electric signal receiving unit 440. It is connected to the metal coated optical fiber 420.

With this connection, the internal optical signal has a higher refractive index of the core than the external cladding, so that the internal light is totally reflected and transmitted, and the electric signal is transmitted through the copper-coated optical fiber. It is transmitted through 420 coated copper. In this case, it is not necessary to provide another cable or an electric signal connection line. In the case of soldering, since the melting point of copper (Cu) is 600 ° C. or more, there is an advantage that there is no possibility that the coating is peeled off or the internal optical fiber is damaged.

[0017]

According to the present invention, when an optical signal is transmitted and received, and when input / output of power from a power source is required or when an electric signal is transmitted and received, another cable or an electric signal connection line is required. Optical signals and electrical signals or power can be transmitted by a single copper coated optical fiber through soldering or clamping without installation. In particular, FTTC (Fib
er To The Curb) and FTTH (Fiber To The Home) can be used to supply power or transmit electric signals.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an optical fiber of a characteristic portion of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of an optical transmission device using a copper-coated optical fiber according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a modified form of an electric signal transmitting unit and an electric signal receiving unit.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a normal optical fiber.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a typical optical transmission device mainly for transmitting an optical signal and an electric signal.

[Explanation of symbols]

 300 core 310 clad 320 metal coating layer 330 acrylic coating layer 400 optical signal transmitting section 410 optical signal receiving section 420 metal coated optical fiber 430 electrical signal transmitting section 440 electrical signal receiving section 500 electrical signal generating section 510 modulator 520 demodulator 530 electricity Signal processing section

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. An optical signal transmitting unit that generates and transmits an optical signal, an optical signal receiving unit that receives an optical signal generated and transmitted by the optical signal transmitting unit, and an electric signal transmitting unit that transmits an electric signal. And an electric signal receiving unit that receives the electric signal transmitted in the electric signal transmitting unit, and transmits an optical signal by connecting the optical signal transmitting unit and the optical signal receiving unit, and the electric signal transmitting unit. A metal coated optical fiber for transmitting the electrical signal by connecting the electrical signal receiving unit to the electrical signal receiving unit, wherein the electrical signal transmitting unit and the electrical signal receiving unit and the metal coated optical fiber are soldered. An optical transmission device using a metal-coated optical fiber connected by attachment. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the metal is copper.
An optical transmission device using the metal-coated optical fiber according to claim 1. 3. The electric signal transmitting unit transmits electric power from a power supply as an electric signal, and the electric signal receiving unit receives the electric power transmitted from the electric signal transmitting unit,
The optical transmission device of claim 2, wherein the copper-coated optical fiber transmits power from the power source. 4. The metal coated optical fiber according to claim 2, wherein the connection between the electric signal transmitting unit and the electric signal receiving unit and the copper coated optical fiber is performed by clamping. Optical transmission equipment. 5. An electric signal transmitting unit for generating an electric signal, and a modulator for modulating a signal generated in the electric signal generating unit and connecting the signal to the copper-coated optical fiber. The electric signal receiving unit receives and demodulates an electric signal sent through the copper-coated optical fiber, and receives and processes the electric signal demodulated through the demodulator. The optical transmission device using a metal-coated optical fiber according to claim 2, further comprising an electric signal processing unit. 6. The copper coated optical fiber is coated with an acrylic layer which is cured only by irradiating the copper layer with ultraviolet rays to prevent the copper layer from being oxidized. , Claim 2
6. An optical transmission device using the metal-coated optical fiber according to any one of items 5 to 5. 7. Providing an optical fiber coated with a metal, transmitting an optical signal through the optical fiber, and sending an electrical signal through the metal coated on the optical fiber. An optical transmission method using a metal-coated optical fiber, wherein the optical signal and the electric signal are transmitted at a time via the metal-coated optical fiber. 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the metal is copper.
An optical transmission method using the metal-coated optical fiber according to claim 7. 9. The optical transmission method using a metal-coated optical fiber according to claim 8, wherein power is supplied through the copper wire to transmit an optical signal and power at once.