JP2000183370A - Optical module - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inexpensive optical module that can be mounted and replaced easily. SOLUTION: An optical module is provided with an optical module body 110 and a socket 130 that can mutually be separated and fitted. The optical module body 110 is equipped with at least one of electricity/light conversion parts for converting electric signal into an optical signal, and an optoelectric conversion part for converting an optical signal into an electric signal. The socket 130 is connected electrically and mechanically to a substrate 200 and is electrically connected to the optical module, thus providing functions for electrically connecting the optical module body 110 to the substrate.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical module, and more particularly to an optical module in which optical components can be replaced.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, demand for communication lines has increased due to the spread of the Internet and the like, and demand for subscriber systems as well as trunk systems has been increasing. In particular, there is a strict demand for communication costs in the subscriber system, and there is an urgent need to reduce the cost of communication optical devices in order to expand the subscriber optical communication network. For this reason, while there is a demand for miniaturization and high functionality of the optical module for a subscriber, cost reduction is an important issue.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a conventional optical module. A light emitting element, a light receiving element, an electric circuit component, an electric connector, and the like are disposed inside a case 11 of the optical module 10. One side of the case 11 optically couples the light receiving and emitting element with the main line. Optical fiber 1
2, a wiring terminal 13 for electrically connecting the light emitting / receiving element or the like to the wiring pattern 21 formed on the substrate 20 is provided on the bottom surface of the case 11.

When the optical module 10 having such a configuration is mounted on the substrate 20, the wiring terminals 13 of the optical module 10 are used.
Is inserted into a fixing hole 22 formed at an end of the wiring pattern 21 of the substrate 20. Thereafter, the distal end of the wiring terminal 13 and the periphery of the fixing hole 22 are electrically and mechanically connected and fixed by soldering or the like. Thus, the mounting of the optical module 10 on the substrate 20 is completed. The optical module 10 has a function of converting an electric signal into an optical signal and a function of converting an optical signal into an electric signal. The same applies to an optical module having at least one of them.

[0005]

However, according to the conventional optical module 10, when the optical module 12 is mounted on the substrate 20, the wiring terminals 13 of the optical module 10 are connected to the optical fibers 12 with the fixing holes of the substrate 20 fixed. After being inserted into the mounting terminal 22, the end of the wiring terminal 13 and the periphery of the fixing hole 22 must be soldered, which takes a lot of time for the mounting operation and causes an increase in mounting cost. Furthermore, it is necessary to increase the heat resistance against soldering, and the room for selecting the components of the optical module 10 is narrowed, and the structure becomes complicated, so that the assembly takes time.
There was a problem that the cost of itself increased.

When the optical component of the optical module 10 fails, the solder is removed to remove the failed optical module 1.
0 must be removed, and a new optical module 10 must be mounted in the same manner, which requires time and labor for the replacement work, which also increases the cost of the replacement work. In order to eliminate this replacement work, it is sufficient to increase the reliability of the optical module 10 so as not to cause a failure. However, in order to realize this high reliability, the cost of the optical module 10 itself increases. was there.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an inexpensive optical module that can be easily mounted and replaced.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an optical module having an optical communication function, which converts an electric signal into an optical signal, and converts an optical signal into an electric signal. An optical module main body having at least one of a public-electric conversion part, and an electric / mechanical connection to a substrate, and a detachable construction with the optical module main body, and an electric connection with the optical module main body Accordingly, there is provided an optical module including a socket for electrically connecting the optical module body and a substrate.

According to the above configuration, the optical module main body and the socket can be separated, and the optical module main body and the socket can be attached and detached with one touch, so that the mounting and replacement work is easy. Further, since the main communication function is provided on the optical module main body side, it is not necessary to provide high heat resistance as in the related art. Therefore, cost reduction can be realized.

[0010]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of an optical module according to the present invention. The optical module 100 includes an optical module main body 110 and a socket 130 which can be attached to and detached from each other. Optical module body 110
Has a function of converting an electric signal into an optical signal and a function of converting an optical signal into an electric signal. Substantially rectangular parallelepiped case
A light-emitting element, a light-receiving element, an electric circuit component, and the like are disposed inside the housing 111. On one side surface 111a of the case 111, an optical fiber 112 for optically coupling the light-receiving and light-emitting element and the like to the main line is provided. A concave electrical connector 113 for electrically connecting the socket 130 with the light emitting / receiving element or the like is provided on one side surface 111b of the case 111 facing the one side surface.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of the internal configuration of the optical module main body 110. This optical module body 11
The inside of 0 is functionally composed of a transmission unit and a reception unit. The transmitting unit is, for example, an LD (Laser) which is a light emitting element.
The light receiving element includes, for example, a PD (Photo Diode) element 117, a PD driving IC 118, and an optical waveguide 119, which are light receiving elements.
It is roughly composed of

That is, at a substantially central portion on the module substrate 120 fixed near the bottom surface of the case 111, one side surface 11 of the case 111 on which the optical fiber 112 is disposed is provided.
Case 1 in which the electrical connector 113 is provided from 1a
11. Optical waveguide substrate 1 extending toward one side surface 111b
21 are provided. On the optical waveguide substrate 121, the optical waveguides 116 and 119 extending substantially in parallel from one end on the one side surface 111b toward the one side surface 111a are optically coupled to the optical fiber 112, and are directed toward the one side surface 111b. Optical waveguide 122 which extends and optical waveguides 116 and 119
And an optical coupler 123 that optically couples the optical waveguide 122 with the optical waveguide 122.

On the module substrate 120 near one end of the optical waveguide substrate 121, an LD element 114 and a PD element 117 aligned with the optical axis of each of the optical waveguides 116 and 119 are mounted. Then, the LD driving IC 11 is mounted on the module substrate 120 near both side surfaces of the waveguide substrate 121.
5. Other electric circuit components 124 electrically connected to the PD driving IC 118 and the electric connector 113 are mounted.

In FIG. 1, the socket 130 has a function of transmitting a communication signal and a control signal between the optical module main body 110 and the board 200. On the bottom surface of the case 131 provided with a substantially rectangular parallelepiped concave storage portion 132 having substantially the same shape as the case 111 of the optical module body 110,
A wiring terminal 133 for electrically connecting to the wiring pattern 201 formed on the substrate 200 and a fixing terminal 134 for fixing to the substrate 200 are provided.
A convex electrical connector 135 for electrically connecting to the electrical connector 113 of the optical module body 110 is provided on one side surface 132a. And the wiring terminal 13
3 and the electric connector 135 are electrically connected to each other inside the case 131.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are perspective views showing detailed examples of the electric connector 113 of the optical module main body 110 and the electric connector 135 of the socket 130. FIG. A plurality of electrical connectors 113 of the optical module main body 110 are provided on one side surface 111b of the case 111 (five in the upper row,
(Four in the lower row), and the electrical connector 135 of the socket 130 is
A plurality (five in the upper row and four in the lower row) are arranged in the 32a so as to correspond to the electrical connectors 113. Therefore, each electric connector 135 is inserted into each electric connector 113 and is electrically connected.

When mounting the optical module 100 having such a configuration on the substrate 200, the wiring terminals 1
33 is inserted into a fixing hole 202 formed at an end of the wiring pattern 201 of the substrate 200, and a tip of the fixing terminal 134 of the socket 130 is inserted into the substrate 2.
00 is inserted into the fixing hole 203 formed in the hole. Thereafter, the tip of the wiring terminal 134 and the periphery of the fixing hole 202 are electrically and mechanically connected and fixed by soldering or the like, and the tip of the fixing terminal 134 and the fixing hole 20 are fixed.
3 and the periphery thereof are mechanically fixed by soldering or the like.

Then, the optical module main body 110 is placed on the socket 130 with the one side surface 111b of the optical module main body 110 on which the electric connector 113 is disposed facing the one side surface 132a of the socket 130 on which the electric connector 135 is disposed. While sliding it into the storage section 132 of FIG. Then, the electric connector 113 of the optical module main body 110 is joined to the electric connector 134 of the socket 130 so that the optical module main body 110 and the socket 130 are electrically connected and mechanically fixed. Thus, the mounting of the optical module 100 on the substrate 200 is completed.

As described above, the optical module 10 of the present embodiment
0 is an optical module main body 110 having an optical communication function;
Since it is separated into the socket 130 having a communication signal transmission function, the optical module main body 110 can be easily attached to and detached from the socket 130 by mounting only the socket 130 on the substrate 200 in advance. Therefore,
Mounting work of optical module 100, optical module body 11
The number of man-hours for replacement work due to a failure of 0 or a change to an optical module body having other functions can be greatly reduced, and cost can be reduced. Also, the optical module body 110
Is not required to be soldered to the substrate 200, so that the high heat resistance of the optical module main body 110 is not required. Therefore, it is possible to design the material of the components of the optical module body 110 and the assembling method with priority given to cost reduction.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of the optical module according to the present invention in correspondence with FIG. 1. The same components as those in FIG. This optical module 300 is different from the optical module 10 of FIG. 1 in that the outer shape of the case 311 of the optical module body 310 and the outer shape of the case 331 of the socket 330 are changed.
The configuration is different from 0.

That is, the case 3 of the optical module body 310
11 is one side surface 11 on which the optical fiber 112 is provided.
1a and one side surface 11 on which the electrical connector 113 is disposed
1b, two convex guide rails 311
a is provided. The case 331 of the socket 330 is provided with concave guide grooves 332a on which two guide rails 311a are fitted and slidable on two side surfaces orthogonal to one side surface 132a of the storage portion 332 in which the electrical connector 135 is provided. Is provided.

According to the optical module 300 having such a configuration, when the optical module body 310 is mounted on the socket 330, the guide rail 311a may be fitted into the guide groove 332a and slid.
00 can be performed more easily and quickly. Further, the optical module body 310 is
11a and the guide groove 332a, the socket 3 supporting the bottom surface of the optical module main body 310 is supported.
30 can be eliminated, and the optical module 300 can be made thinner.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a third embodiment of the socket of the optical module according to the present invention, corresponding to FIG. 4, and the same components as those in FIG. . The optical module 400 uses the optical module body 310 of FIG.
31 is different from the optical module 300 in FIG. 4 in that the outer shape of the optical module 31 is changed.

That is, the case 431 of the socket 430 is
A plurality of storage portions 332 shown in FIG. 4 (two locations in the illustrated case) are provided in the horizontal direction. According to the optical module 400 having such a configuration, a plurality (two in the illustrated case) of the optical module main bodies 310 can be mounted in a plane, so that the optical module main body 310 and other functions are provided as necessary. An optical module main body can be added, and high-density mounting is possible even when space is not available in the height direction.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a fourth embodiment of the socket of the optical module according to the present invention, corresponding to FIG. 4, and the same components as those in FIG. . The optical module 500 uses the optical module body 310 of FIG.
31 is different from the optical module 300 in FIG. 4 in that the outer shape of the optical module 31 is changed.

That is, the case 531 of the socket 530 is
A plurality of rows (two rows in the illustrated case) of guide grooves 331b are provided in the storage section 532 in the vertical direction. According to the optical module 500 having such a configuration, the optical module body 31
Since a plurality of 0s (two in the illustrated case) can be mounted three-dimensionally, the optical module main body 310 and an optical module main body having another function can be added as necessary, and the space in the width direction is increased. Even if it cannot be removed, high-density mounting is possible.

It should be noted that the optical modules 100, 3
Each of the modules 00, 400, and 500 has a function of converting an electric signal into an optical signal and a function of converting an optical signal into an electric signal. However, the present invention can be similarly applied to an optical module having at least one of them. Further, the present invention can be similarly applied to an optical module having a function not including an electric circuit or the like, that is, a function of only optically coupling a light emitting element or a light receiving element and an optical fiber.

The optical module 300 of each embodiment,
The shapes and fitting methods of the guide rails 311a and the guide grooves 332a in 400 and 500 are not limited to those shown in the drawings. For example, the guide grooves 332a are provided on the optical module body 310 side, and the sockets 330, 430, and 5 are provided.
Like the configuration in which the guide rail 311a is provided on the 30 side,
Optical module body 310 and sockets 330, 430, 5
Any shape and fitting method that can join 30 can be applied.

[0028]

As described above, according to the present invention, the mounting work and the replacing work are facilitated, so that the number of man-hours can be greatly reduced. In addition, since characteristics such as high heat resistance are not required, the present invention is inexpensive. In addition, simple components can be used and a simple structure can be used, so that various costs can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of an optical module of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of an internal configuration of an optical module main body.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a detailed example of an electric connector of the optical module main body and an electric connector of the socket.

FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the optical module of the present invention in FIG.
It is a perspective view shown corresponding to FIG.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a third embodiment of the socket of the optical module according to the present invention, corresponding to FIG.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a fourth embodiment of the socket of the optical module according to the present invention, corresponding to FIG.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a conventional optical module.

[Explanation of symbols]

 100, 300, 400, 500 Optical module 110, 310 Optical module main body 111, 311 case 112 Optical fiber 113 Electric connector 114 LD (Laser Diode) element 115 LD driving IC 116 Optical waveguide 117 PD (Photo Diode) element 118 PD driving IC 119 Optical waveguide 120 Module substrate 121 Optical waveguide substrate 122 Optical waveguide 123 Optical coupler 124 Electric circuit parts 130 Socket 131, 331, 431, 511 Case 132, 332, 532 Housing 133 Wiring terminal 134 Fixing terminal 135 Electricity Connector 200 Board 201 Wiring pattern 202 Fixing hole 203 Fixing hole 311a Guide rail 332a Guide groove

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An optical module having an optical communication function, comprising: an optical-to-optical converter for converting an electric signal to an optical signal; and an optical module main body having at least one of a photoelectric converter for converting an optical signal to an electric signal. The optical module main body is electrically and mechanically connected to the substrate, and is configured to be detachable from the optical module main body, and is electrically connected to the optical module main body to electrically connect the optical module main body to the substrate. An optical module comprising a socket. 2. An optical module having an optical communication function, comprising: a transmitter having at least a light emitting element and an optical waveguide for guiding light from the light emitting element to an optical fiber; and transmitting light from at least a light receiving element and the optical fiber to the optical fiber. An optical module main body having at least one of a receiving section having an optical waveguide for guiding light to a light receiving element; an optical module that is electrically and mechanically connected to a substrate and is detachably attached to the optical module main body; An optical module comprising: a socket having a concave storage portion for receiving the module body. 3. The optical module main body includes a first connector electrically connected to at least one of the transmission unit and the reception unit, the socket being provided in the storage unit, The optical module according to claim 2, further comprising a second connector that is electrically connected to the optical module body and a substrate by being connected to the first connector. 4. The optical module body includes a plurality of optical module bodies connected to a plurality of the optical fibers,
The optical module according to claim 1, wherein the socket has a plurality of the storage sections that receive the plurality of optical module bodies. 5. The optical module according to claim 1, wherein the optical module main body has a guide rail on an outer wall, and the socket has a guide groove on the inner wall of the storage portion, the guide groove being coupled to the guide rail.