JP2000298219A - Awg module - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate connection of the AWG(array waveguide circuit grating) and an external optical fiber to each other. SOLUTION: A connector plug 30 is constituted by fitting a connector ferrule 28 (e.g. MT type) to one end of an optical fiber array 20. The other end of the optical fiber array 20 is connected to an input/output waveguide 12 of the AWG chip 10 as usual. The plug 30 is fixed to a package 24 and its connection- side end surface is made open toward the outside of the package 24. Consequently, a connector connection with an external fiber is made easily.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a module of an arrayed waveguide diffraction grating (hereinafter, AWG), and more particularly to a method of connecting an AWG chip to an external optical fiber.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An example will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3A is a schematic plan view, and FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. Reference numeral 10 denotes a well-known quartz planar substrate type AWG chip, 11 denotes a quartz substrate, 12 denotes an input / output waveguide, 14 denotes a slab waveguide, and 16 denotes an array waveguide. A heating / cooling element 18 controls the temperature of the AWG chip 10.

In general, an optical fiber array 20 is used to connect an input / output waveguide 12 of a substrate type optical element such as an AWG chip 10 to an external optical fiber. As is well known, the optical fiber array 20 is one in which an optical fiber 21 is housed and fixed in a V groove (same pitch as the input / output waveguide 12, not shown) of a quartz or ceramics array substrate 22. The core (not shown) of the optical fiber 21 and the input / output waveguide 12
Are connected in a state where they are aligned with each other (not shown), and fixed by bonding or the like. Reference numeral 24 denotes a package, and the optical fiber 21 extends outside through a side wall thereof.

[0004]

In the above case, since the optical fiber 21 comes directly from the package 24, it takes time to process the optical fiber 21 when connecting to the outside. Also, the degree of freedom in wiring and package installation is lost.

[0005]

Means for Solving the Problems The first aspect of the present invention is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, one end of an optical fiber array 20 in which an optical fiber 21 is housed and fixed in an input / output waveguide 12 of an AWG chip 10 is aligned with each core of the input / output waveguide 12 and the optical fiber 21. The other end of the optical fiber array 20 is inserted and fixed in the connector ferrule 28, and the connector plug 30
Characterized by the above configuration.

[0006] In this manner, connector connection with an external fiber becomes possible.

[0007] Instead of the optical fiber array 20, an optical waveguide component 40 having a plurality of linear cores 42 can be used as in the second embodiment shown in FIG.

Further, when the connector plug 30 is fixed to the package 24 and the connection-side end face of the connector plug 30 is opened toward the outside of the package 24 as in the invention of claim 3, Connection with external fibers and handling of the module itself are facilitated.

[0009]

First Embodiment FIG. 1 will be described. This embodiment corresponds to claims 1 and 3. FIG. 1 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion related to the optical fiber array 20 and the connector plug 30 which is a feature of the present invention. The array substrate 22 has a V-groove 2 with the same pitch as the input / output waveguide 12.
The optical fiber array 20 is formed by storing and fixing short optical fibers 21 therein. In the figure, on the left side of the optical fiber array 20, optical fibers 21
And the end faces of the array substrate 22 coincide. A ferrule 28 is attached to the right side to form a connector plug 30. As the ferrule 28, for example, a known MT type is used. 32
Indicates a guide pin hole (for a guide pin commonly used for positioning the MT type optical connector).

FIG. 2 illustrates how to assemble the optical fiber array 20 and the connector plug 30. The optical fiber 21 is slightly protruded from the array substrate 22 on the right side of the drawing. The optical fiber array 20 is inserted into a hollow ferrule 28 (usually made of resin such as epoxy resin), and the optical fiber 21 is inserted into a fiber hole 28 opened at the tip of the ferrule.
Insert into 0. Thereafter, the adhesive is dropped from the window 282 to fix the optical fiber array 20 and the connector plug 30 together. Thereafter, the end face of the ferrule 28 on the right side in the drawing is ground and finished in the same manner as in the case of a normal connector. That is, the connector plug 30 used here has an outer shape from which the brim portion of the MT type optical connector (JIS C 5981, multi-core optical fiber connector) is removed, and is connectable to an optical ferrule for a normal MT type optical connector. Thus, the fiber pitch and the pin interval are matched.

The connector plug 30 is fixed to the side surface of the package 24, and its connection side end surface is opened toward the outside of the package 24.

In addition to the above-described method of forming an optical connector plug, for example, the entire end of an optical fiber array on which an optical fiber is mounted may be resin-molded to obtain an optical connector plug having the above-described outer shape.

FIG. 3 shows how the AWG module is used. The right side of the figure shows an MT type optical connector ferrule 34.
The optical fiber tape 36 to which is attached is shown. The left side shows a state where the connectors are connected. 38 is a guide pin.

Further, although not particularly shown, the package 2
The connection between the optical fiber tape side and the optical fiber tape side can be made, for example, by housing the optical connector ferrule 34 in a plug-type optical connector housing and making the package 24 side a receptacle type or an adapter type.

[0015]

Embodiment 2 Referring to FIG. This corresponds to the invention of claim 2. (A) is a plane view, (b) is a front view, and (c) is a left side view. Instead of the optical fiber array 20, an optical waveguide component 40 having a plurality of linear cores 42 is used. The pitch of the core 42 is equal to the pitch of the input / output waveguide 12. The ferrule 28 is attached to one end of the optical waveguide component 40 in the same manner as described above to form the connector plug 30.

The method of using this part is the same as that of FIG.

[0017]

According to the present invention, connection with an external fiber is facilitated. Since the module is compact, a high-density system configuration is easy, and the layout of the design can be easily changed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an optical fiber array 2 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
Explanatory drawing of how to assemble 0+ connector plug 30 parts.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a method of using an AWG module according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4A is a plan view according to a second embodiment of the present invention;
(B) is a front view and (c) is a left side view.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 AWG chip 11 Silicon substrate 12 I / O waveguide 14 Slab waveguide 16 Array waveguide 18 Heating / cooling element 20 Optical fiber array 21 Optical fiber 22 Array substrate 220 V groove 24 Package 28 Ferrule 280 Fiber hole 282 Window 30 Connector plug 32 Guide Hole 34 Connector plug 36 Optical fiber tape 38 Guide pin 40 Optical waveguide component 42 Core

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Kenichiro Asano 1440 Mutsuzaki, Sakura-shi, Chiba Prefecture Fujikura Sakura Plant Co., Ltd. Terms (reference) 2H036 JA04 LA03 QA03 QA23 QA29 2H037 BA35 DA12 DA17 DA31 2H047 KA02 KA03 KA12 LA01 LA18 MA05 QA04 TA43

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An input / output waveguide 12 of an AWG chip 10.
The optical fiber array 2 in which the optical fiber 21 is stored and fixed
0 is the input / output waveguide 12 and the optical fiber 2
An AWG module, wherein each of the cores is connected in an aligned state, and the other end of the optical fiber array 20 constitutes a connector plug 30. 2. The AWG module according to claim 1, wherein an optical waveguide component having a plurality of linear cores is used instead of the optical fiber array. 3. The connector plug 30 is mounted on the package 24.
And the connection side end face of the connector plug 30 is
The AWG module according to claim 1, wherein the AWG module is open toward the outside of the package 24.