JP2003140003A - Method and device for manufacturing optical module - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To manufacture an optical module of stable quality by improving the positioning precision for welding with laser or the like between an optical element and a holder of an optical fiber with a connector which constitute the optical module. SOLUTION: When laser light from a laser welding stage 20 is radiated to a preliminarily determined coordinate position to join an optical element 2 like a laser diode or a photo diode and a holder 3 of the optical fiber with the connector after one of the optical element 2 and the holder 3 is attached to an aligning stage 7 and is aligned, a light emitting element 10b and a light receiving element 10a are provided in one of the aligning stage 7 and the laser welding stage 20 and the other respectively and ate preliminarily set so that conduction can be obtained between both elements in a proper welding position. In the case that the conduction cannot be obtained in the preliminarily determined coordinate position after completion of alignment, laser welding is performed after the laser welding stage 20 is relatively moved to a position where the conduction is obtained.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical module manufacturing method and manufacturing apparatus for performing optical axis alignment and assembly of an optical element such as a laser diode or a photodiode and an optical fiber.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an optical module used for optical communication or the like, there is one in which an optical element such as a laser diode or a photodiode and a holder of an optical fiber with a connector are joined.

Conventionally, in the assembly of such an optical module, optical axes of an optical element such as a laser diode or a photodiode and an optical fiber are aligned, and after the alignment is completed,
The respective members (optical element and holder) are joined by laser welding such as YAG laser.

FIG. 2 shows a conventional optical module manufacturing apparatus. This device is a work fixing part for fixing an optical alignment stage 7 to which an optical element 2 such as a laser diode or a photodiode is attached, and a holder 3 of an optical connector cord 1 which is an optical fiber with a connector facing the optical element 2. 8
And a centering stepping motor (motor stage) 9 for moving the centering stage 7 to perform optical axis centering of the optical element 2 and the optical fiber. A laser welding stage 20 provided with a laser emitting end (emission lens portion) 5 movable by a stepping motor 4 for a rotary shaft is arranged around the outer periphery of the alignment stage 7, and an optical fiber 6 for laser welding is used. Is connected to the laser welder 21 and the personal computer 2
A motor controller 2 that constitutes a control device 24 together with
2, the laser emitting end 5 of the laser welding stage 20 is moved to a predetermined coordinate position after the alignment is completed under the control of the controller 24, and the optical element 2 and the holder are irradiated with laser light. It is configured to perform laser welding between the three.

As described above, in the conventional optical module manufacturing apparatus, each member (optical element and holder) after alignment is welded
Laser welding machine 21 to be fixed, stepping motor 4 for rotary shaft and motor control 22 to determine welding position
Personal computer 23 that has a configuration including
The welding coordinates registered in advance in the personal computer 23 are transmitted via a communication such as a bus format GP-IB capable of transferring a plurality of signals.
To the motor control 22 to determine the welding position between each member.

[0006]

However, in the prior art, as a result of aligning the optical axis, the actual coordinates to be joined of the aligning stage after the alignment is completed are the laser emitting ends of the laser welding stage 20 in advance. Coordinates on the 5 side, that is, the control device 24
The welding coordinates will be different from those registered in, and the welding position will be misaligned. Further, the amount of this deviation also differs depending on the dispersion of the aligned optical elements, so that the deviation of the welding position occurs at each alignment.

Furthermore, the positioning accuracy of the rotary shaft stepping motor 4 itself is caused by the wear of the rotary shaft (welding positioning) stepping motor 4 which determines the welding position and the load of the laser welding optical fiber 6 which transmits welding light. However, there is a problem that the welding position shifts similarly.

Particularly, in the optical module aligning and assembling apparatus having the automatic transporting apparatus, there is a possibility that a large number of defective welding products may be produced due to the above-mentioned displacement of the welding position, which causes a problem in quality maintenance.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above problems and improve the positioning accuracy of welding between the optical element constituting the optical module and the holder of the optical fiber with a connector by means of a laser or the like to provide an optical module of stable quality. An object of the present invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for manufacturing an optical module for manufacturing.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is configured as follows.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optical module manufacturing method, wherein one of an optical element such as a laser diode and a photodiode and a holder of an optical fiber with a connector is attached to a centering stage. Aligning is performed, and after alignment is completed, a laser beam from the laser welding stage is irradiated at a predetermined coordinate position, and the optical module and the holder are joined by laser welding. A light emitting element is provided on one side of the stage and the laser welding stage, and a light receiving element is provided on the other side, and preset so that there is conduction between the light emitting element and the light receiving element at an appropriate welding position. If continuity cannot be obtained at the above-mentioned predetermined coordinate position, move the laser welding stage relative to the alignment stage until a position where continuity exists. From and performs the laser welding.

According to a second aspect of the invention, in the method of manufacturing an optical module according to the first aspect, UV resin (ultraviolet curable resin) is applied to the surfaces to be joined between the optical element and the holder,
A UV (ultraviolet) light source stage is provided instead of the laser welding stage, and UV light from the UV light source stage is irradiated to bond the optical element and the holder.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optical module manufacturing apparatus in which a centering stage to which an optical element such as a laser diode or a photodiode is attached, and a work for fixing a holder of an optical fiber with a connector facing the optical element. Fixed part, moving means for aligning stage for moving the aligning stage to align the optical axis of the optical element and the optical fiber, laser welding stage with a movable laser emitting end, and laser of the laser welding stage after the aligning is completed. In an optical module manufacturing apparatus including a control device that moves an emission end to a predetermined coordinate position and irradiates a laser beam to bond an optical element and a holder, one of the alignment stage and the laser emission end. A light emitting element on the other side, and a light receiving element on the other side, are preset so that there is conduction between the light emitting element and the light receiving element at an appropriate welding position, After completion of the alignment, if this conduction is not obtained at the predetermined coordinate position, the laser emission end is relatively moved with respect to the alignment stage by the control device until the conduction exists. An apparatus characterized by performing the above laser welding.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the optical module manufacturing apparatus according to the third aspect, UV resin is applied to the surfaces of the optical element and the holder to be joined, and a UV light source stage is used instead of the laser welding stage. It is characterized in that UV light from this UV light source stage is irradiated to bond the optical element and the holder.

<Operation> According to the present invention, a light emitting element is provided on one of the alignment stage side and the laser welding stage (or UV light source stage) side, and a light receiving element is provided on the other side. If the continuity is not obtained at the predetermined coordinate position after the completion of the centering, the laser welding stage or the UV light source stage is set to the centering stage until the position where the continuity exists. After moving relative to each other, light rays or UV rays are irradiated to perform welding. Therefore, even if the coordinates to be joined after centering are different from the welding coordinates registered on the laser welding stage side or the UV light source stage side in advance, the welding position shift is compensated for and proper welding is performed. It is possible to correct the laser emission end or the UV emission end to the position and perform welding at an appropriate welding position.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention will be described below based on the illustrated embodiments.

An embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. The basic structure of the manufacturing apparatus of this optical module is the same as that in the case of FIG. 2, and an aligning stage 7 for holding and fixing the optical element 2 such as a laser diode (LD) or a photodiode is provided so as to face the optical element 2. In the form of a work fixing part 8 for holding and fixing the holder 3 of the cord 1 with an optical connector, which is an optical fiber with a connector, and a motor stage for moving the aligning stage 7 to perform optical axis alignment of the optical element 2 and the optical fiber. The stepping motor (centering moving means) 9 for the centering is provided. A laser welding stage 20 having a movable laser emission end (emission lens portion) 5 is arranged around the outer periphery of the alignment stage 7.

This movable laser emission end (emission lens portion)
The laser welding stage 20 is supported on the base of the laser welding stage 20 so as to be pivotable and vertically movable, and can be freely driven vertically and horizontally by a stepping motor (irradiation moving means) 4 for a rotary shaft that determines a welding position. There is. The laser welding stage 20 is connected to a laser welding machine 21 such as a YAG laser via a laser welding optical fiber 6 and is also connected to a motor controller 22 that constitutes a control device 24 together with a personal computer 23 by wire. There is. After the alignment of the optical axis is completed, the motor controller 22 is configured to perform the laser welding stage 2
The laser emission end 5 of 0 is moved to a pre-registered coordinate position input from the personal computer 23, and laser light is emitted at that position to control the optical element 2 and the holder to be bonded to each other.

As described above, the optical module manufacturing apparatus of this embodiment, that is, the optical module centering and assembling apparatus is premised on the work fixing portion 8 for holding the holder 3 into which the cord 1 with the optical connector is inserted, the LD, and the like. A centering stage 7 for gripping and fixing the optical element 2, a centering mechanism section for driving an optical axis by driving a stepping motor (stage) 9 attached to the lower part thereof, and a holder 3 etc. after the centering. The laser welding stage 20 and the laser welder 21 for welding and fixing the respective members, here, the optical element 2 and the holder 3 are fixed, and the basic configuration thereof is the same as the conventional one.

However, unlike the prior art, in the optical module manufacturing apparatus of the present invention, the aligning stage 7 and the laser welding stage 20 are arranged in order to monitor the welding position between the respective members.
A light receiving element 10a is provided on one side of the laser emission end 5 side, here, on the laser emission end 5 side, and a light emitting element 10b is provided on the other side of the alignment stage 7 side. Then, when the optical element 2 and the holder 3 are in proper welding positions, it is preset so that there is conduction between the light receiving element 10a and the light receiving element 10b.

Further, the control device 24 including the motor controller 22 and the personal computer 23 is for the rotating shaft for determining the welding position if the continuity cannot be obtained at the predetermined coordinate position after the completion of the alignment. Stepping motor 4
To move the laser emitting end 5 of the laser welding stage 20 relative to the centering stage 7 to a position where there is conduction between the light receiving element 10a and the light receiving element 10b. The laser welding is performed after correcting the deviation.

To explain the operation by the above control in detail, after performing the optical axis alignment of the holder 3 in which the optical element 2 and the cord 1 with the optical connector are inserted, when the welding process is started, the control device 24
The laser welding stage 20 is placed at the coordinates registered in advance in the motor controller 22 and the laser emission end (emission lens portion) is formed.
Move 5 At this time, the light receiving element 10a and the light emitting element 10
If there is continuity between b, it is determined that the welding position is proper, and laser welding is performed between the respective members (optical element 2 and holder 3). If there is no continuity, it is determined that the welding position has shifted, and the personal computer 23 that controls the entire apparatus determines the welding position up to the position where there is continuity between the photoelectric sensor 10a and the photoelectric sensor 10b. Four
The angle of the laser emission end (emission lens portion) 5 is changed by the welding to perform welding positioning. Then, laser welding is performed at this welding position.

According to the above-mentioned manufacturing method, the photoelectric sensor for welding positioning is attached to each of the aligning stages for fixing the lens emitting the welding light and the optical element, and the welding position is confirmed or confirmed by the signal from the photoelectric sensor. Since the setting is performed, welding between the optical element 2 and the holder 3 can be performed at an appropriate position in which the misalignment after the centering is corrected.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the mode in which the optical element 2 and the holder 3 are welded by laser welding such as YAG laser has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a UV resin using a UV light source is used. It can also be applied to the positioning of UV light with respect to. That is, a UV resin (ultraviolet curable resin) adhesive is applied to the surfaces of the optical element 2 and the holder 3 to be joined, and the laser welding stage 2
Alternatively, a UV (ultraviolet) light source stage may be provided instead of 0, and UV light from the UV light source stage may be irradiated to cure the UV resin between the optical element 2 and the holder 3 to bond them.

[0025]

As described above, according to the present invention, a light emitting element is provided on one of the centering stage side and the laser welding stage (or UV light source stage) side, and a light receiving element is provided on the other side, and proper welding is performed. It is preset so that there is continuity between the light emitting and receiving elements at the position, and if this continuity cannot be obtained at the predetermined coordinate position after completion of the alignment, the laser welding stage or Welding is performed by moving the UV light source stage relative to the alignment stage and then irradiating it with a laser beam or a UV beam. For this reason,
Even if the coordinates to be actually joined after alignment are different from the welding coordinates registered in advance on the laser welding stage side or the UV light source stage side, the welding position deviation is compensated for and proper welding is performed. It is possible to correct the emission direction of the laser light or the UV light to the position and perform welding at an appropriate welding position.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of an optical module manufacturing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a conventional optical module manufacturing apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Optical connector cord (optical fiber connector) 2 optical elements 3 holder 4 Stepping motor for rotating shaft 5 Laser emission end 7 Alignment stage 9 Stepping motor for centering (moving means for centering) 10a light receiving element 10b light emitting element 20 Laser welding stage 22 Motor controller 23 PC 24 Control device

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An optical element such as a laser diode or a photodiode and one of a holder of an optical fiber with a connector are attached to an alignment stage to perform optical axis alignment of the optical element and the optical fiber, and after the alignment is completed, laser welding is performed. In a method of manufacturing an optical module in which a laser beam from a stage is irradiated at a predetermined coordinate position and an optical element and a holder are joined by laser welding, a light emitting element is provided on one of the alignment stage and the laser welding stage side. In addition, a light receiving element is provided on the other side, and it is preset so that there is conduction between the light emitting element and the light receiving element at an appropriate welding position, and after the alignment is completed, this conduction is obtained at the predetermined coordinate position. If not, the laser welding stage is moved relative to the alignment stage to a position where there is conduction, and then the laser welding is performed. Method of manufacturing the module. 2. The method of manufacturing an optical module according to claim 1, wherein a UV resin is applied to the surfaces of the optical element and the holder to be joined, and a UV light source stage is provided instead of the laser welding stage. A method of manufacturing an optical module, which comprises irradiating UV light from a stage to bond the optical element and the holder. 3. An aligning stage for mounting an optical element such as a laser diode or a photodiode, a work fixing portion for fixing a holder of an optical fiber with a connector facing the optical element, and an optical axis of the optical element and the optical fiber. Centering moving means for moving the centering stage to perform centering, a laser welding stage with a movable laser emission end, and a laser emission end of the laser welding stage moved to a predetermined coordinate position after completion of the centering. In a manufacturing apparatus of an optical module including a control device for irradiating a laser beam to bond an optical element and a holder, a light emitting element is provided on one of the alignment stage and the laser emission end,
In addition, a light-receiving element is provided on the other side, and it is preset so that there is conduction between the light-emitting element and the light-receiving element at an appropriate welding position, and after the alignment is completed, this conduction is obtained at the predetermined coordinate position. If not, the above-mentioned laser welding is performed after the laser emission end is relatively moved with respect to the alignment stage by the control device to a position where there is conduction, and the optical module manufacturing device is characterized. 4. The optical module manufacturing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein UV resin is applied to the surfaces of the optical element and the holder to be joined, and a UV light source stage is provided in place of the laser welding stage. An apparatus for manufacturing an optical module, characterized in that UV light from a stage is irradiated to bond the optical element and the holder.