JP2007155920A - Optical receptacle and optical module - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce cost by decreasing the number of components. <P>SOLUTION: An optical receptacle (10) is molded of a high optical transmittance synthetic resin that combines the whole housing (21), including a cylindrical part (22) for holding a ferrule (40) so that it can be inserted into and separated from one end, and an optical coupling part (23) for optically coupling the ferrule (40) to a central part of the other end, and further, that is integrated with a ring form metal member (30) insertion-molded on the outer periphery of the other end. An optical module (1), positions an optical device (50), on the other end side of the optical receptacle (10) so that the optical device is coupled optically with the ferrule (40) with the optical coupling part (23), and fixing a metal part of the optical device (50) to the metal part (30). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical receptacle for optically connecting an optical fiber and an optical device, and an optical module using the same.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a ferrule (plug ferrule) 140 can be inserted into and removed from the other end of the fiber stub 123 held by press-fitting one end into a metal holder 126 as shown in FIG. Some sleeves 122 are inserted and a sleeve case 127 containing the sleeve 122 is held by the holder 126 (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In the case of this optical receptacle 110, as shown in FIG. 5, the optical device 150 disposed on the one end side of the fiber stub 123 is welded and fixed to the case and the metal holder 126 so that the optical device The module 101 is configured.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6, a conventional optical receptacle has a stopper 226 having a through hole 223 for an optical path instead of a fiber stub, and a holding member for holding a sleeve 222 into which a ferrule (connector ferrule) 240 can be inserted and removed. Some of them are press-fitted and held at the end of 227 (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

In the case of this optical receptacle 210, as shown in FIG. 7, an optical module 201 is configured by fixing an optical device 250 arranged outside the stopper 226 to the holding member 227.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-134550 JP-A-10-206700

  However, the conventional optical receptacle as described above has the following problems.

  That is, in the case of the optical receptacle 110 shown in FIG. 4, since the fiber stub 123 made of zirconia ceramics and the metal holder 126 are combined, the cost is high and the sleeve 122 and the sleeve case 127 are necessary. The number of parts is also large, and it is difficult to reduce costs from this point.

  Further, in the case of the optical receptacle 210 shown in FIG. 6, not only the stopper 226, the sleeve 222 and the holding member 227 are necessary, but also, for example, a spherical lens 260 for guiding the optical path in the through hole 223 of the stopper 226 is indispensable. There are many parts and it is difficult to keep costs down.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an optical receptacle and an optical module that have a small number of parts and can reduce costs.

  An optical receptacle according to a first aspect of the present invention includes an entire housing including a cylindrical portion that holds a ferrule so that it can be inserted and removed from one end, and a central portion of the other end portion and an optical coupling portion that optically couples the ferrule. , And is integrally formed using a synthetic resin having a high light transmittance.

  An optical receptacle according to a second aspect of the present invention is the optical receptacle according to the first aspect, wherein an annular metal member is insert-molded on the outer periphery of the other end portion.

  An optical receptacle according to a third aspect of the present invention is the optical receptacle according to the second aspect, wherein at least one concave groove along the axial direction is formed on the inner periphery of the metal member.

  An optical receptacle according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the optical receptacle according to the first or second aspect, wherein a central hole having the same axis as that of the cylindrical portion is provided in a central portion of the other end portion. The bottom surface is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to a plane orthogonal to the axis.

  An optical module according to a fifth aspect of the present invention includes an entire housing including a cylindrical portion that holds a ferrule so that it can be inserted and removed from one end, and an optical coupling portion that optically couples the central portion of the other end to the ferrule. The optical device is positioned and attached to the other end of the optical receptacle integrally molded using a synthetic resin having a high light transmittance so as to be optically coupled to the ferrule by the optical coupling portion. To do.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optical module comprising: a cylindrical portion that holds a ferrule so as to be insertable / removable from one end; and an entire housing including an optical coupling portion that optically couples the central portion of the other end portion and the ferrule. An optical device is connected to the other end side of the optical receptacle integrally molded by insert molding an annular metal member on the outer periphery of the other end portion using a synthetic resin having a high light transmittance. The metal part of the optical device and the metal member are fixedly positioned so as to be optically coupled to the ferrule.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the entire housing including the cylindrical portion that holds the ferrule from one end so as to be insertable / removable, and the optical coupling portion that optically couples the central portion of the other end to the ferrule has a light transmittance. Therefore, the number of parts of the optical receptacle is small, and the cost can be reduced.

  In addition, the present invention has a high light transmittance for the entire housing including a cylindrical portion that holds the ferrule so that it can be inserted and removed from one end, and an optical coupling portion that optically couples the central portion of the other end to the ferrule. Since the optical device is positioned and attached to the other end of the optical receptacle integrally molded using a synthetic resin so as to be optically coupled to the ferrule by the optical coupling portion, the number of components as an optical module Therefore, the cost can be reduced.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view and an end view showing an embodiment of an optical receptacle according to the present invention. The optical receptacle 10 includes an optical receptacle body 20 and an annular metal member 30.

  The optical receptacle body 20 includes a cylindrical portion 22 that holds the ferrule 40 so that it can be inserted and removed from one end (right end in the figure), a central portion of the other end portion (left end portion in the figure), and a ferrule 40 inserted into the cylindrical portion 22. The entire housing 21 including the optical coupling portion 23 that optically couples is integrally molded using a synthetic resin having a high light transmittance such as polycarbonate.

  The inner diameter of the cylindrical portion 22 is formed to have a necessary clearance with respect to the outer diameter of the ferrule 40 to be inserted and extracted. Therefore, the thick inner portion of the cylindrical portion 22 performs substantially the same function as the conventional sleeves 122 and 222, and the thick outer portion of the cylindrical portion 22 is the conventional sleeve case 127 or holding member. Performs substantially the same function as H.227.

  The optical coupling portion 23 is defined as a cylindrical region having a required radial extension from the central axis of the optical receptacle body 20, and is substantially the same as the conventional fiber stub 123 or the through hole 223 of the stopper 226. Fulfills the function.

  The optical receptacle body 20 includes a central hole 24 having the same axis as that of the cylindrical portion 22 in the central portion of the other end (left end in the figure), and the bottom surface of the central hole 24 is in a plane perpendicular to the axis. It is formed as an inclined surface 25 inclined with respect to a predetermined angle.

  The inclined surface 25 is formed when an optical element such as an LD (laser diode) or PD (photodiode) as the optical device 50 is disposed on the other end (left end in the figure) side of the optical receptacle body 20. The optical signal emitted from the optical element as the device 50 is intended to prevent reflection of light reflected from the end face of the optical coupling portion 23 and returning to the optical element, and the inclination angle is, for example, about 4 to 12 °. Can do.

  In order to prevent such reflection, the inclined surface 25 does not necessarily have to be formed as the bottom surface of the central hole 24. For example, the inclined surface 25 can be formed by providing an inclined recess (recess) in the central portion of the other end portion (left end portion in the figure) of the optical receptacle body 20.

  Furthermore, when such a configuration for the purpose of preventing reflection is not necessary, the inclination angle of the inclined surface 25 can be substantially 0 °, that is, the inclined surface 25 can be omitted.

  An annular metal member 30 is insert-molded on the outer periphery of the other end portion (left end portion in the figure) of the optical receptacle body 20.

  When the optical element as the optical device 50 is arranged on the other end (left end in the figure) side of the optical receptacle body 20 by insert molding the metal member 30, the metal of the case of the optical element as the optical device 50 is disposed. The portion can be fixed by welding to the metal member 30 and thus to the optical receptacle 10.

  As shown in FIG. 2, at least one concave groove 31 along the axial direction is formed on the inner periphery of the metal member 30. The concave groove 31 is for preventing the metal member 30 and the optical receptacle body 20 from rotating relative to each other in the circumferential direction.

  Therefore, instead of the groove 31, a protrusion along the axial direction may be formed, and one recess or protrusion not extending in the axial direction is provided instead of the groove 31 or protrusion extending in the axial direction. It is also possible to form a plurality.

  In any case, the concave groove 31 or the protrusion, or the concave portion or the protrusion serves as a rotation preventing means for preventing the metal member 30 and the optical receptacle body 20 from rotating relative to each other in the circumferential direction. Have

  Since the optical receptacle 10 as described above is composed of a total of two parts including the optical receptacle body 20 and the annular metal member 30, the number of parts is extremely small, and the cost can be reduced.

  In addition, if welding fixing with the optical device 50 is not required, the annular metal member 30 is not required, and thus the optical receptacle 10 is configured by a single component including only the optical receptacle body 20. In addition, the number of parts is minimized and further cost reduction can be achieved.

  FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of an optical module according to the present invention. This optical module 1 uses the optical receptacle 10 shown in FIG. 1, and includes an optical receptacle 10 and an optical device 50. Composed.

  As the optical device 50, for example, an optical element such as an LD (laser diode) or PD (photodiode), or any other appropriate optical element / device can be used.

  Then, the optical device 50 is positioned on the other end (the left end in the figure) side of the optical receptacle 10 so as to be optically coupled to the ferrule 1 by the optical coupling portion 23, and the metal portion of the case of the optical device 50 is optically coupled. The optical device 50 is hermetically sealed and attached to the optical receptacle 10 by welding and fixing to the annular metal member 30 of the receptacle 10.

  Since the optical module 1 as described above has a very small number of parts of the optical receptacle 10, the number of parts as the optical module 1 is also small, and the cost can be reduced.

It is (a) sectional drawing and (b) end elevation which show one Embodiment of the optical receptacle by this invention. It is (a) end elevation of a cyclic | annular metal member, (b) The enlarged view of B part, (c) It is sectional drawing along CC line. It is sectional drawing which shows one Embodiment of the optical module by this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows an example of the conventional optical receptacle. It is sectional drawing which shows an example of the conventional optical module. It is sectional drawing which shows the other example of the conventional optical receptacle. It is sectional drawing which shows the other example of the conventional optical module.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Optical module 10 Optical receptacle 20 Optical receptacle main body 21 Housing 22 Cylindrical part 23 Optical coupling part 24 Central hole 25 Inclined surface 30 Circular metal member 31 Groove 40 Ferrule 50 Optical device

Claims (6)

  The entire housing including the cylindrical portion that holds the ferrule so that it can be inserted and removed from one end, and the optical coupling portion that optically couples the central portion of the other end to the ferrule is integrated using a synthetic resin having a high light transmittance. An optical receptacle characterized by being molded.   The optical receptacle according to claim 1, wherein an annular metal member is insert-molded on an outer periphery of the other end portion.   The optical receptacle according to claim 2, wherein at least one concave groove along the axial direction is formed on an inner periphery of the metal member.   The central portion of the other end portion is provided with a central hole having the same axis as the cylindrical portion, and the bottom surface of the central hole is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to a plane orthogonal to the axis. The optical receptacle according to claim 1 or 2.   The entire housing including the cylindrical portion that holds the ferrule so that it can be inserted and removed from one end, and the optical coupling portion that optically couples the central portion of the other end to the ferrule is integrated using a synthetic resin with high light transmittance An optical module comprising: an optical device positioned and attached to the other end of the molded optical receptacle so as to be optically coupled to the ferrule by the optical coupling portion.   Using a synthetic resin having a high light transmittance, the entire housing including a cylindrical portion that holds the ferrule so that it can be inserted and removed from one end, and a central portion of the other end and the optical coupling portion that optically couples the ferrule, In addition, an optical device is positioned on the other end side of the optical receptacle integrally molded by insert molding an annular metal member on the outer periphery of the other end portion so as to be optically coupled to the ferrule by the optical coupling portion. An optical module characterized in that the metal part of the optical device and the metal member are fixed.

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