DE102004043001B3 - Substrate component with embedded optical fibre and radiation deflection, with optical fibre accessible via hole in assembly side, with hole available for radiation deflection in assembly side direction - Google Patents

Abstract

Substrate component contains assembly side(s) (18) for electrically contactable components (23) and embedded optical fibre (16) over hole (19) in substrate for radiation element (14) with optical interface (13) for component (12) on assembly side. Radiation element is aligned for maximum optical transmission quality.Radiation element has adjusters (29) for passive alignment of component (12), related to adjusters (29) for passive alignment of component (12), related to optical interface, while in hole and radiation element is provided alignment aid for positioning radiation element in hole. Independent claims are included for forming substrate component.

Description

The The invention relates to a substrate component with at least one mounting side for electric contactable components and with a in the substrate component embedded optical waveguide, wherein in the mounting side a the optical fiber exposing recess for a Strahlumlenkelement with an optical interface for a mountable on the mounting side component is provided.

One Such a substrate component may, for example, the publication "Self-Aligned Coupling of Optical Transmitters and Receiver Modules to Board Integrated Optical Mulimode Waveguides "by E. Griese u. a., Proceedings of SPIE, Vol. 4455, October, 2001 become. According to this publication For example, a substrate component may have an optical layer that is in a layered structure is included. In the substrate component a recess can be introduced which exposes the optical layer. Subsequently can on a mounting side of the substrate member, which is the recess has, as a component, a laser (VCSEL) or a photodiode mounted be at the optical output or input a Strahlumlenkelement via a optical interface is mounted. This protrudes in the assembled state of the component into the recess, wherein the beam deflection a optical connection with the light guide exposed in the recess is produced.

When Alternative is described in the above publication that the depression just up to the light conductor contained layer can go. In this case, you can the optical fibers, for example, by hot stamping in the relevant situation be introduced, the beam deflections as 45 ° beveled ends made of trained gutters. The gutters are going through a photoconductive filler filled, wherein a beam deflection at the beveled ends of the thus formed Light guide is done. This will provide an interface for the optical Component formed at the component with its input and output be mounted directly without the aid of a Strahlumlenkelementes can.

at the assembly of the component on the substrate component must be independent of whether a beam deflection element is used or not, one for the optical transmission sufficient of signals Accuracy in alignment of component (possibly with beam deflecting element) and optical fiber with respect to the substrate component be achieved. Here are the tolerances to be complied with the optics assembly much closer than the electronics assembly commonly used. This fact must be taken into account in the assembly process, in which the assembly of at least only electrically contactable components takes place in manufacturing facilities of electronics assembly.

According to the DE 199 17 554 A1 It is proposed that in the recess for the Strahlumlenkelement can be introduced high-precision guide holes, which are formed for example by located in the substrate member tubes that are cut through the recess. In this case, the beam deflection element has precise pins corresponding to these holes, which ensure positioning with sufficient accuracy for optical transmission. When assembling the component, which has the beam deflection, therefore, the accuracy process-related must be ensured, which is sufficient to insert the dowel pins precisely in the holes provided for this purpose.

Farther it can be taken from WO 2004/015463 A1 that it is also possible the component with the beam deflection via its electrical contacts align. These must then with a for the optical transmission be manufactured with sufficient accuracy.

Last exists according to the abstract to JP 2003-140061 A the possibility the association formed by beam deflection, component and substrate component with form an actuator, the manufacturing tolerances at startup the module can actively correct. For this purpose, the Strahlumlenkelement for example, in its altitude be moved up and down in the recess of the substrate component.

The The object of the invention is a substrate component with embedded Light guide and the mounting side of the substrate component directed towards beam deflection specify, in which the assembly of a component on by the Beam deflection formed optical interface comparatively can be done easily.

This object is achieved in the substrate component described above, in which the Strahlumlenkelement is actively aligned and fixed in a the required optical transmission quality between Strahlumlenkelement and light guide layer to the light guide in the recess, according to the invention solved in that the Strahlumlenkelement on the one hand adjustment elements for passive alignment of the component with respect to the optical interface, and on the other hand in the recess and on the Strahlumlenkelement an alignment aid is provided which deflects the beam Positioned with a game for active alignment in the recess. The component is preferably an electro-optical component which simultaneously has electrical connections. The component can accordingly be formed, for example, by a VCSEL (Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser) as an optical transmitter or by a photodiode as an optical receiver. The component can also be formed by an optical connector. The substrate component can be made of a printed circuit board or from a complex of complicated geometry, such. B. a housing, which provides as a mounting side, for example, the housing inner wall.

Of the Advantage of the invention is solution in that the beam deflection element used on the one hand in front of his Fixation in the substrate component with the aid of the alignment aid can be actively aligned and on the other hand an optical interface with adjustment elements for having a subsequent assembly of a component which by means of the adjustment elements is automatically aligned passively. The active one Orientation continues to take place with the aid of an optical Facility with whose help during the alignment between the transmission quality the Strahlumlenkelement and the light guide in the substrate component can be checked.

These Optical device consists for example of a laser and a photodiode, these components at the interface of the Strahlumlenkelementes for the Component and at the end facing away from the recess of the light guide are attached. The adjustment is then completed when passing through the photodiode the signal of the laser with sufficient intensity can be determined. The transmission quality is thus by the maximum allowable optical transmission losses predetermined between the light guide and Strahlumlenkelement.

There after active alignment fixation of the beam deflection takes place in the depression, a substrate component is provided according to the invention, which the deflection of the optical signals from the embedded Light guide to the mounting side out with sufficient transmission quality guaranteed. This can be advantageous with the help of customary in electronics assembly Method (equipping, Soldering etc.) be further processed. This can also be done on the optical interface the Strahlumlenkelementes to be mounted component are mounted. Ensure the adjustment elements in this case, the accuracy required in the assembly of this component. In this case, further advantageous is only a passive orientation the component necessary; So there are no active adjustment steps under review of the transmission quality necessary. Therefore lets with the substrate component according to the invention advantageous an economical assembly with the optical Component in customary in the electronics assembly placement machines achieve.

According to one Embodiment of the invention is provided that the substrate component Having contact points for electrical contacting of the component. These allow advantageous a simple contacting of the component, if this is designed as an electro-optical device. The electrical contact of the component can be advantageous - as already mentioned - by more common Procedure of electronics assembly done.

A Another embodiment of the invention provides that the substrate component is executed with a recess surrounding the frame. This framework allows advantageous with a limited thickness of the substrate component a greater depth the recess, so that with respect to the dimensions of the Strahlumlenkelementes a greater freedom of design consists. Furthermore The frame may be advantageous for forming the electrical connections between Substrate component and electro-optical component can be used by the contact points for electrical contacting of the component be provided for in the framework.

The Adjustment elements can Advantageous by an alignment pin or through a receiving opening for a Alignment pin be formed. Accordingly, in the component to a Justagelement the Strahlumlenkelementes matching alignment pin or a suitable receiving opening For this intended. Here you can Advantageously standardized components, such as MT pins are used. Further acts it is advantageous to an easy to manufacture adjustment device, which in addition Ensures the required accuracy.

According to one additional Embodiment of the invention is provided that in the recess and on the Strahlumlenkelement an alignment, in particular existing an auxiliary alignment pin and an auxiliary receiving opening, is provided, which the Strahlumlenkelement with a game for the active Orientation positioned in the recess. This alignment aid thus advantageously simplifies the coarse positioning of the Strahlumlenkelementes in the recess, the game ensures that an active Fine adjustment of Strahlumlenkelementes is still possible. The coarse positioning advantageously provides protection of the sensitive optical transmission sites the Strahlumlenkelementes and the light guide, since these two Components at their approach already led are, causing the transmission points hazardous Collisions are prevented.

A particularly simple embodiment of Invention is obtained when the alignment pins and the auxiliary alignment pins each by the opposite, free-standing ends of MT pins are formed, with their middle part respectively in the Strahlumlenkelement are held. The receptacles in the beam deflecting element are thus Through holes, in which the middle part of the MT pins is fixed so that the free The ends of the MT pins protrude from these through holes. The one The end of the MT pins is then used as an alignment pin and the other End each used as Hilfsausrichtstift. This can be by using both ends of the MT pins an accurate production of the beam deflecting elements reach with comparatively low production costs.

Especially it is advantageous if the fixation of the Strahlumlenkelementes in the recess by a solidified compound, for example a cured one Cast resin guaranteed is. This leaves simply after the orientation of the Strahlumlenkelementes in the Insert recess, which is due to the hardening a reliable fixation and at the same time a seal of the sensitive transfer site between the beam deflecting element and the light guide. As casting resin is In particular, an index-matched polymer is used, i. H. that the photoconductive properties of the casting resin a transmission between Strahlumlenkelement and light guide then not impair conditions, if this is in the transfer office penetrates between these two components.

Farther The invention relates to a method for producing a substrate component with an embedded light guide and a beam deflector. One such method is in the publication already mentioned above by E. Griese u. a. described. A method for active alignment a beam deflection with an already mounted on her optical Component leaves the already mentioned Summary of JP 2003-140062 A. It follows for a such method corresponding to the above-mentioned object Task.

These The object is achieved by a Method for inserting a substrate component with an embedded Light guide and a beam deflection, the light from the light guide to a mounting side of the substrate member for electrically contactable Redirects components, solved, in which a recess exposing the embedded light guide is introduced into the mounting side, a Strahlumlenkelement checking the transmission quality between Beam deflection and light guide aligned in the recess that reaches the required transmission quality becomes (active adjustment), wherein the Strahlumlenkelement an optical Interface with adjustment elements for passive alignment of a Component with respect to the optical interface, on the the component is not yet mounted and which serves to check the quality of transmission, and the beam deflecting element in the orientation found in FIG Deepening is fixed. With the method according to the invention can be the already mentioned Benefits. In particular, the method enables the production a substrate member in which a beam deflecting member having a for the optical transmission between Strahlumlenkelement and light guide sufficient accuracy is pre-assembled. This substrate component can then be advantageous be integrated into an assembly process, in addition to electronic Components also optical or op toelektrische components on the Interface to be mounted. This can be the manufacturing facilities the electronics assembly also for be used because the adjustment elements a passive Alignment of the component with for the optical transmission ensure adequate accuracy.

According to one Embodiment of the method according to the invention it is envisaged that the depression after its generation until the Insertion of the Strahlumlenkelementes closed with a cover becomes. As a result, the sensitive transfer site of the exposed Fiber optics against environmental influences protected, until the Strahlumlenkelement is used. In particular, upstream can Manufacturing steps performed are, for example, would charge too much without a cover, the light guides a reflow soldering from before the onset of Strahlumlenkelementes patched components.

Further Details of the invention are described below with reference to the drawing described. Here are for same or corresponding drawing elements the same Used reference numerals and only as far as explained several times how Differences in the individual figures of the drawing result.

It demonstrate

1 An embodiment of the substrate component according to the invention in a schematic cross section,

2 an embodiment of the deflection element used in the substrate component according to the invention partially cut in two variants and

3 selected production steps of a Embodiment of the method according to the invention.

The 1 shows the substrate component according to the invention 11 , on the one with photodiode 12a equipped component 12 at an interface 13 a Strahlumlenkelementes 14 is mounted. The substrate component consists of a base layer 15a and a top layer 15b which is a light guide 16 forming optical layer with protective layers 17 einschießen.

In a mounting side 18 of the substrate component 11 is a depression 19 introduced the top layer 15b interspersed and the optical position with the light guide 16 exposes. This depression 19 serves to accommodate the Strahlumlenkelementes 14 , which actively adjusts the optimum transmission of light and by means of an optical casting resin 20 in the depression 19 was poured in and fixed. The volume of the depression will continue through a frame 21 enlarged on the mounting side 18 rests and the recess 19 surrounds annularly. The frame 21 Can with the mounting side 18 glued or by solder joints 22 being held. The substrate component 11 has more soldered components 23 on.

To form the beam deflection, the Strahlumlenkelement 14 a 45 ° beveled surface with a silver layer 24 as mirroring on. At the beam deflection are then Lichtleitpfade 25 in a basic body 26 the Strahlumlenkelementes 14 trained, which is also the interface 13 form. This is an optical connection of the light guide 16 with the component 12 possible.

The function of the light transmission is of a sufficiently accurate for the transmission of light signals alignment of the deflecting element 14 dependent. This is actively aligned on the one hand in the depression, with an auxiliary alignment pin 27 in an auxiliary receiving opening 28 the orientation of the Strahlumlenkelementes supportive is used (see also 3b ). Also, on the side of the interface 13 the Strahlumlenkelementes 14 an alignment pin 29 (For example, MT pin) provided as an adjusting element, which in cooperation with a second alignment pin, not shown, a passive orientation of the component 12 allows. The alignment pin engages 29 in this designated alignment holes as receiving openings in a body 30 of the component 12 one.

The component 12 is still using wire bonds 31 with contact points 32 on the frame 21 electrically connected, with an electrical connection to the mounting side 18 over the solder joints 22 he follows. For protection, the component is on the top of the frame in a potting compound 33 cast.

In 2 is the beam deflecting element 14 as a supervision with the viewer facing optical fiber 25 shown. This representation can be taken for the adjustment elements different variants. According to a variant, the alignment pin 29 and the auxiliary alignment pin 27 exactly opposite, so that they can be formed by a single MT pin, with its central part through the body 26 is inserted through and protrudes from this at both ends. Instead of an alignment pin can in the body 26 also a receiving opening in the form of a bore 34 to be provided, wherein the component to be aligned then has to carry the alignment pin (not shown).

In 3a is a stage in the production of the substrate component according to 1 shown in which the recess 19 already introduced into the substrate component. Furthermore, the frame 21 mounted, passing through the frame 21 formed opening of the recess by means of a cover 35 is closed. The recess is therefore for the subsequent processing step of reflow soldering to form the solder joints 22 (see. 3b ) protected. For the Reflow soldering are already Lotdepots 36 at the frame 21 and on the device 23 intended.

In 3b is shown the process of active adjustment. For this purpose, the beam deflecting element 14 with the alignment pin 29 in a gripping tool 37 an alignment device 38 held. This leads the Strahlumlenkelement 14 with its auxiliary alignment pin 27 first into the auxiliary receiving opening 28 of the substrate component 11 one. Subsequently, the fine adjustment of the Strahlumlenkelementes 14 opposite the light guide 16 which due to the game of Hilfsausrichtstiftes 27 is still possible. During the active fine adjustment, for example, by means of a laser, not shown, a light signal (lightning symbol in 3b ) in the light guide 16 fed. The alignment device 38 has a light detector 39 with, depending on the adjustment, the optimum transmission of the light through the Strahlumlenkelement 14 can be checked. In the found position, the beam deflecting element 14 held by the alignment and in a subsequent step (not shown) the recess 19 with a UV-curable cast resin 20 (see. 1 ) and cured. After this fixation by the casting resin, the alignment device 38 be removed.

Claims (9)

Substrate component with at least one mounting side ( 18 ) for electrically contactable components ( 23 ) and embedded in the substrate component th light guide ( 16 ), wherein in the mounting side of a light guide ( 16 ) exposing depression ( 19 ) for a beam deflection element ( 14 ) with an optical interface ( 13 ) for one on the mounting side ( 18 ) mountable component ( 12 ) is provided, wherein the Strahlumlenkelement ( 14 ) in a the required optical transmission quality between Strahlumlenkelement ( 14 ) and light guides ( 16 ) ensuring the position to the light guide ( 16 ) in the depression ( 19 ) is actively aligned and fixed, characterized in that the Strahlumlenkelement ( 14 ) on the one hand adjustment elements ( 29 . 34 ) for passive alignment of the component ( 12 ) with respect to the optical interface ( 13 ) and on the other hand in the recess ( 19 ) and at the beam deflecting element ( 14 ) an alignment aid is provided which the Strahlumlenkelement ( 14 ) with a game for active alignment in the well ( 19 ). Substrate component according to claim 1, characterized in that the substrate component contact points ( 32 ) for electrical contacting of the component ( 12 ) having. Substrate component according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the substrate component with a recess ( 19 ) surrounding frame ( 21 ) is executed. Substrate component according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the adjustment elements ( 29 . 34 ) by an alignment pin ( 29 ) or through a receiving opening ( 34 ) are formed for an alignment pin. Substrate component according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the alignment aid consists of an auxiliary alignment pin ( 27 ) and an auxiliary receiving opening ( 28 ) consists. Substrate component according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the alignment pins ( 29 ) and the auxiliary alignment pins ( 27 ) are each formed by the opposite, free-standing ends of MT pins, which are held with their middle part respectively in the Strahlumlenkelement. Substrate component according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fixing of the beam deflecting element ( 14 ) in the depression ( 19 ) by a solidified compound ( 20 ) is guaranteed. Method for producing a substrate component ( 11 ) with an embedded light guide ( 16 ) and a beam deflection, the light from the optical fiber ( 16 ) to a mounting side ( 18 ) of the substrate component ( 11 ) for electrically contactable components ( 23 ), in which - an embedded optical fiber ( 16 ) exposing depression ( 19 ) in the mounting side ( 18 ), - a beam deflection element ( 14 ) while checking the transmission quality between the beam deflection element ( 14 ) and light guides ( 16 ) in the depression ( 19 ) is achieved, that the required transmission quality is achieved (active adjustment), wherein the beam deflecting element ( 14 ) an optical interface ( 13 ) with adjustment elements ( 29 . 34 ) for the passive alignment of a component ( 12 ) with respect to the optical interface on which the component is not yet mounted and which serves to check the quality of transmission, and - the beam deflecting element ( 14 ) in the found orientation in the depression ( 19 ) is fixed. Method according to claim 8, characterized in that the depression ( 19 ) after their generation until the insertion of the beam deflecting element ( 14 ) with a cover ( 35 ) is closed.