JP2003195126A - Optical circuit element and optical transmission and reception device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical circuit element which consists of a small number of components and is inexpensive and made small-sized and an optical transmission and reception device equipped with it. <P>SOLUTION: In the optical circuit element 15, a base body 15a formed of an optical material is provided with a 1st convex lens surface 15b on which light of 1st wavelength emitted by a laser diode 11 impinges, a concave lens surface 15c which reflects the light of 1st wavelength incident from the 1st convex lens surface 15b and transmits light of 2nd wavelength emitted from an optical fiber 12 to converge the light on a photodiode 13, and a 2nd convex lens surface 15d which emits the light of 1st wavelength reflected by the concave lens surface 15c to the optical fiber 12 and receives and transmits the light of 2nd wavelength from the optical fiber 12 to the concave lens surface 15c. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical circuit element and an optical transmitter / receiver including the same, and more particularly, to an optical circuit element having a reduced number of parts, downsizing and cost reduction, and an optical transmitter / receiver including the same. Regarding

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is an optical transmitter / receiver shown in FIG. This optical transceiver 30 has a first wavelength, for example, λ, emitted from a laser diode 11 which is a light emitting element.
The light of 1 = 1310 nm is incident on the optical fiber 12, and the light of the second wavelength emitted from the optical fiber 12, for example, λ2 = 1550 nm is received by the photodiode 13, which is a light receiving element.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the optical transmitter-receiver 30 has a first collimation lens 31, an optical fiber 12, which is provided near the laser diode 11, in addition to the laser diode 11 and the photodiode 13. A second collimation lens 32 provided close to
And a condenser lens 33 provided close to the photodiode 13, and acts as a dichroic mirror arranged between the first and second collimation lenses 31 and 32 at an angle of 45 ° with respect to the optical axis. A multilayer filter 34 is provided.

According to this optical transmitter / receiver 30, the light of the first wavelength emitted from the laser diode 11 is collimated by the first collimation lens 31, passes through the multilayer filter 34, and is transmitted through the second filter. It is condensed by the collimation lens 32 and enters the optical fiber 12.

On the other hand, the second light emitted from the optical fiber 12
The light having the wavelength is collimated by the second collimation lens 32, reflected by the multilayer filter 34, condensed by the condenser lens 33, and received by the light receiving unit 14 of the photodiode 13.
Incident on.

[0006]

By the way, the conventional optical transmitter-receiver 30 described above has three lenses 31, 32, and 3.
3 and the multilayer filter 34 are used, and the number of parts is large. For this reason, there are problems that the cost of the parts is high and the device is large. Further, there is a problem that it takes time and effort to adjust the position of each component, and the manufacturing process becomes complicated.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an optical circuit element having a small number of parts, which is inexpensive and can be miniaturized, and an optical transmitting / receiving apparatus including the same.

[0008]

The optical circuit element according to the present invention completed in order to achieve the above-mentioned object is a light of a first wavelength emitted from a light emitting element on a substrate formed of an optical material. And a light receiving element that reflects the light of the first wavelength transmitted through the first optical function surface and transmits the light of the second wavelength emitted from the optical fiber. A second optical function surface for focusing light on the
The light of the first wavelength reflected by the optical function surface of the optical fiber is emitted toward the optical fiber, and the light of the second wavelength is incident from the optical fiber to emit the light of the second wavelength. The third which transmits toward the second optical function surface
And an optical function surface of.

With such a configuration, according to the optical circuit element of the present invention, an optical circuit having a function of a filter or a lens component arranged between the light emitting element, the optical fiber, and the light receiving element is formed as a single optical circuit element. It is possible to reduce the number of parts, and it is possible to make it inexpensive and have high optical accuracy. Moreover, since the number of parts can be reduced, the structure of the optical circuit can be downsized. Further, the position adjustment of each component during the manufacturing process can be largely omitted, and the manufacturing process can be simplified. In the optical circuit element according to the present invention, the optical function surface to be shaped can have the required performance, so that it is excellent in versatility.

Here, in the optical circuit element according to the present invention, the second optical function surface is a concave spherical surface, and the concave spherical surface reflects the light of the first wavelength and the light of the second wavelength. It is preferable that an optical multi-layer film that transmits light is formed. With this configuration, in the optical circuit element according to the present invention,
High wavelength selectivity can be provided.

In the optical circuit element according to the present invention, the first
And the third optical function surface is a convex lens surface, the first optical function surface converts the light of the first wavelength from the light emitting element into parallel light, and the third optical function surface is the second optical function surface. It is preferable to collect the reflected light of the first wavelength on the end face of the optical fiber. With such a configuration, according to the optical circuit element of the present invention, the light of the first wavelength is efficiently guided to the second optical function surface by the first optical function surface and is reflected by the second optical function surface. The light of the first wavelength is efficiently condensed on the optical fiber by the third optical function surface.

Further, in the optical circuit element according to the present invention, the base body is provided with a reflecting surface which reflects the light of the first wavelength incident from the first optical functional surface and makes it enter the second optical functional surface. Is preferred. With such a configuration, according to the optical circuit element of the present invention, the reflecting surface reflects the light of the first wavelength incident from the first optical function surface, and the second optical function is arranged at a desired position. Since it can be incident on the surface,
The light receiving element and the light emitting element can be arranged in a desired positional relationship, specifically, approximately at a right angle, and the optical transceiver including the optical circuit element can be downsized.

In the optical circuit element according to the present invention, it is preferable that the base body having the first, second and third optical function surfaces is integrally molded of synthetic resin. With this configuration, the optical circuit element according to the present invention has the first and second optical circuit elements.
Also, since the third optical function surface is integrally molded with the base body, the number of parts can be efficiently reduced and the manufacturing can be easily performed.

Further, the optical transmitter / receiver according to the present invention completed in order to achieve the above-mentioned object emits light from the light emitting element, the light receiving element and the light emitting element to the optical fiber and emits the light from the optical fiber. An optical transmission / reception device comprising: an optical circuit element that emits light to a light receiving element, wherein the optical circuit element is configured such that light of a first wavelength emitted from the light emitting element is incident on a base body formed of an optical material. A first optical function surface and a second wavelength light which is transmitted through the first optical function surface and which reflects the first wavelength light and transmits the second wavelength light which is emitted from the optical fiber and is condensed on the light receiving element. The light of the first wavelength reflected by the optical function surface and the second optical function surface is emitted toward the optical fiber, and the light of the second wavelength is incident from the optical fiber and the light of the second wavelength is input. Optical for transmitting light toward the second optical function surface It is characterized in that a Noh masks.

According to the optical transmitter / receiver of the present invention having such a configuration, the optical circuit having the functions of the filter and the lens component arranged between the light emitting element, the optical fiber, and the light receiving element is composed of a single optical circuit element. It is possible to reduce the number of parts, and it is possible to make it inexpensive and have high optical accuracy. Moreover, since the number of components can be reduced, the structure of the optical transmitter-receiver can be downsized. Further, the position adjustment of each component during the manufacturing process can be largely omitted, and the manufacturing process can be simplified. In the optical transmitter / receiver according to the present invention, since the optical function surface to be shaped can have the required performance, it is excellent in versatility.

Here, in the optical transceiver according to the present invention,
In the optical circuit element, the second optical function surface is a concave spherical surface, and an optical multilayer film that reflects light of the first wavelength and transmits light of the second wavelength is formed on the concave spherical surface. Is preferred. With this configuration, the optical transceiver according to the present invention can have high wavelength selectivity.

In the optical transmitter / receiver according to the present invention, in the optical circuit element, the first and third optical function surfaces are convex lens surfaces, and the first optical function surface is the first wavelength from the light emitting element. It is preferable that the light of (1) is made into parallel light, and the light of the first wavelength reflected by the second optical function surface of the third optical function surface is condensed on the end surface of the optical fiber. With this configuration, according to the optical transmitter / receiver of the present invention, the light of the first wavelength is efficiently guided to the second optical function surface by the first optical function surface and is reflected by the second optical function surface. The light of the first wavelength is efficiently condensed on the optical fiber by the third optical function surface.

Furthermore, in the optical transceiver according to the present invention,
In the optical circuit element, it is preferable that the substrate has a reflecting surface that reflects the light of the first wavelength that has entered from the first optical function surface and makes it enter the second optical function surface. With such a configuration, according to the optical transmission / reception device of the present invention, the reflection surface reflects the light of the first wavelength incident from the first optical function surface and arranges the second optical function at a desired position. Since the light can be incident on the surface, the light receiving element and the light emitting element can be arranged in a desired positional relationship, specifically, substantially right angles, and as a result, the optical transceiver can be downsized.

In the optical transmitter / receiver according to the present invention, in the optical circuit element, it is preferable that the base body having the first, second and third optical function surfaces is integrally molded of synthetic resin. With such a configuration, according to the optical transmitter / receiver of the present invention, the first, second, and third optical function surfaces are integrally molded with the base body, so that the number of parts can be efficiently reduced and the optical transmitter / receiver can be easily manufactured. It will be possible.

[0020]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Figure 1
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an optical transmitter / receiver 10 according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the optical transceiver 10 according to the present embodiment has a laser diode 11 which is a light emitting element.
And a photodiode 13, which is a light receiving element, and an optical circuit element 15. Then, the optical transceiver 10
It is connected to the optical fiber 12 via a connector (not shown).

The optical circuit element 15 causes the light of the first wavelength emitted from the laser diode 11, which is a light emitting element, to enter the optical fiber 12, and the light of the second wavelength emitted from the optical fiber 12 is photo-photographed. The light is incident on the light receiving portion 14 in the diode 13. Here, for example, the light of the first wavelength is light of wavelength λ1 = 1310 nm,
The light having the second wavelength is light having a wavelength λ2 = 1550 nm.

More specifically, in the optical circuit element 15, the light of the first wavelength emitted from the laser diode 11 is incident on the base 15a made of an optical resin, and the light of the first wavelength is substantially parallel. The first convex lens surface 15b as light and the transmitted light of the light of the first wavelength from the first convex lens surface 15b are reflected, and the light of the second wavelength emitted from the optical fiber 12 is transmitted and photo The concave lens surface 15c to be condensed on the diode 13 and the light of the first wavelength reflected by the concave lens surface 15c are emitted toward the optical fiber 12, and the light of the second wavelength from the optical fiber 12 is incident on the concave lens surface 15c. A second convex lens surface 15d for transmitting the light of the second wavelength toward the concave lens surface 15c is formed.

The surface of the first convex lens surface 15b is a convex aspherical surface, and the curve of this aspherical surface is designed so that the light of the first wavelength incident from the laser diode 11 becomes substantially parallel light. To be done. In addition, the first convex lens surface 15b
Are arranged so that their optical axes are located on the emission axis O1 of the laser diode 11. With such a first convex lens surface 15b, the light of the first wavelength is made into substantially parallel light and is efficiently guided to the concave lens surface 15c. In the present embodiment, the first convex lens surface 15b is designed so that the light of the first wavelength is substantially parallel light, but the present invention is not limited to this.
It is sufficient that at least the first convex lens surface 15b guides the light of the first wavelength from the laser diode 11 into light having a small divergence angle and guides it to the concave lens surface 15c.

The surface of the concave lens surface 15c is a concave spherical surface, and an optical multilayer film 16 having wavelength selectivity is coated on the concave spherical surface. The optical multilayer film 16 is a so-called dichroic film, which reflects light of the first wavelength and transmits light of the second wavelength. By using such an optical multilayer film 16, high wavelength selectivity can be realized. The concave lens surface 15c is arranged such that the center of the optical multilayer film 16 is located on the intersection of the emission axis O1 of the laser diode 11, the emission axis O2 of the optical fiber 12, and the light reception axis O3 of the photodiode 13. .

The surface of the second convex lens surface 15d is a convex aspherical surface, and the curve of this aspherical surface is the concave lens surface 1
While converging the light of the first wavelength reflected by the optical multilayer film 16 formed on 5c on the end face of the optical fiber 12,
It is designed to guide the light of the second wavelength emitted from the optical fiber 12 to the optical multilayer film 16. The optical axis of the second convex lens surface 15d is the light emission axis O2 of the optical fiber 12.
It is arranged above. Such a second convex lens surface 15d
Thus, the light of the first wavelength reflected by the concave lens surface 15c is efficiently condensed on the end surface of the optical fiber 12.

The base 15a on which the first convex lens surface 15b, the concave lens surface 15c, and the second convex lens surface 15d are formed is made of an optical resin, and the lens surface 15b,
15c and 15d are integrally formed with the base body 15a.

According to the optical circuit element 15 and the optical transmitter / receiver 10 configured as described above, the conventional laser diode 1
The optical circuit, which is arranged between the optical fiber 12, and the photodiode 13 and is composed of a filter and a lens component, can be integrally configured by the above-mentioned optical circuit element 15 alone. It is possible to reduce the cost, and it is possible to reduce the cost and the optical precision.
Further, according to the optical circuit element 15 and the optical transmitter / receiver 10, the number of parts can be reduced, so that the size can be reduced, and further, the position adjustment of each part during the manufacturing process can be largely omitted. Therefore, the manufacturing process can be simplified. In the optical circuit element 15, an optical function surface to be shaped,
That is, since the first convex lens surface 15b, the concave lens surface 15c, and the second convex lens surface 15d can have the required performance, the versatility can be improved. In addition, the first convex lens surface 15b and the concave lens surface 15c
Also, by integrally molding the base body 15a on which the second convex lens surface 15d is formed with an optical resin, it becomes possible to easily mold and the cost of parts becomes low.

Next, the process of transmitting and receiving light in the optical transmitter-receiver 10 according to this embodiment having the above-described structure will be described. First, the light of the first wavelength emitted from the laser diode 11 is incident on the first convex lens surface 15b of the base 15a, and is made into substantially parallel light by the first convex lens surface 15b.

Then, the substantially parallel light of the first wavelength transmitted through the first convex lens surface 15b is reflected by the optical multilayer film 16 of the concave lens surface 15c, and the second convex lens surface 15d.
Incident on. Thereafter, the light of the first wavelength passes through the second convex lens surface 15d and is condensed on the end face of the optical fiber 12 by the second convex lens surface 15d.

On the other hand, the second light emitted from the optical fiber 12
The light of the wavelength is incident on the second convex lens surface 15d, and is condensed by the second convex lens surface 15d while being collected by the base 15
The light is transmitted through the inside of a and further through the concave lens surface 15c, and is condensed on the light receiving portion 14 of the photodiode 13.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an optical transceiver 20 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

The optical circuit element 25 according to the second embodiment of the present invention is similar to the above-described first embodiment in that it has a base 25a.
The first convex lens surface 25b, the concave lens surface 25c, and the second convex lens surface 25d are respectively formed in the above. Since their configurations and actions are similar to those of the respective lens surfaces of the first embodiment, description thereof will be given. Is omitted.

Further, in this optical circuit element 25, the optical multilayer film 16 having the wavelength selectivity similar to that of the first embodiment is formed on the concave spherical surface of the concave lens surface 25c, which will also be described. Omit it.

In the optical circuit element 25 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the first convex lens surface 25 is provided on the base 25a.
The concave lens surface 2 that reflects the light of the first wavelength incident from b
The point where the reflecting surface 25e which is incident on 5c is formed is
This is different from the first embodiment.

According to the optical transmitter / receiver 20 including the optical circuit element 25 according to the present embodiment configured as described above, the light of the first wavelength from the laser diode 11 is reflected by the reflecting surface 25e, Concave lens surface 2 placed at the desired position
Since the light can be incident on 5c, the laser diode 11 and the photodiode 13 can be arranged in a desired positional relationship, specifically, at a substantially right angle. Therefore, as a result, the optical transceiver 20 including the optical circuit element 25 can be more effectively miniaturized.

In the present embodiment, it is possible to arrange the laser diode 11 and the photodiode 13 in a positional relationship of a right angle, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a plurality of reflecting surfaces 25e may be used. By devising the arrangement, the positions of the laser diode 11 and the photodiode 13 can be arranged on the same plane, and the mounting process can be simplified and the accuracy can be improved. Further, in this case, it is also possible to apply an integrated light emitting and receiving element in which the laser diode 11 and the photodiode 13 are integrated.

Although the first and second embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and can be modified within the scope of the invention.

[0039]

As described in detail above, according to the optical circuit element and the optical transceiver of the present invention, the conventional light emitting element,
Since the optical circuit, which is arranged between the optical fiber and the light receiving element and is composed of the filter and the lens component, can be integrally configured, the number of components can be reduced, the cost is low, and the optical precision is high. Can be one.
Further, since the number of parts can be reduced, the size can be reduced, and the position adjustment of each part in the manufacturing process can be largely omitted, and the manufacturing process can be simplified. In the optical circuit element according to the present invention, the optical function surface to be shaped can have the required performance, so that it is excellent in versatility.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an optical transmitting / receiving device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an optical transceiver according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a conventional optical transceiver.

[Explanation of symbols]

10,20 Optical transceiver 11 Laser diode 12 optical fiber 13 Photodiode 15,25 Optical circuit element 15a, 25a base 15b, 25b First convex lens surface 15c, 25c concave lens surface 15d, 25d Second convex lens surface 16 Optical multilayer film 25e Reflective surface 30 Optical transceiver 31 First collimation lens 32 Second collimation lens 33 Condensing lens 34 Multilayer filter

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A first substrate on which light of a first wavelength emitted from a light-emitting element is incident on a substrate formed of an optical material.
Of the optical function surface of the first optical function surface and the light of the first wavelength transmitted through the first optical function surface are reflected, and the light of the second wavelength emitted from the optical fiber is transmitted and condensed on the light receiving element. Light of the first wavelength reflected by the second optical function surface and the second optical function surface is emitted toward the optical fiber, and the light of the second wavelength is incident from the optical fiber. And a third optical functional surface that transmits the light of the second wavelength toward the second optical functional surface. 2. The second optical function surface is a concave spherical surface, and the concave spherical surface reflects an optical multi-layer having a wavelength of the first wavelength and transmits a light of the second wavelength. The optical circuit element according to claim 1, wherein a film is formed. 3. The first and third optical functional surfaces are convex lens surfaces, respectively, and the first optical functional surface converts the light of the first wavelength from the light emitting element into parallel light, 3. The light according to claim 1, wherein the third optical function surface focuses the light of the first wavelength reflected by the second optical function surface on the end surface of the optical fiber. Circuit element. 4. The substrate is provided with a reflecting surface that reflects the light of the first wavelength incident from the first optical function surface and makes the light incident on the second optical function surface. Item 5. The optical circuit element according to any one of Items 1 to 3. 5. The base body provided with the first, second and third optical function surfaces is made of synthetic resin and is integrally formed by molding. The optical circuit element described. 6. An optical transmitter / receiver comprising a light emitting element, a light receiving element, and an optical circuit element for emitting light from the light emitting element to an optical fiber and emitting light from the optical fiber to the light receiving element. Wherein the optical circuit element has a first optical functional surface on which light of a first wavelength emitted from the light emitting element is incident on a base body formed of an optical material, and the first optical functional surface. A second optical function surface that reflects the light of the first wavelength that has passed through and transmits the light of the second wavelength that is emitted from the optical fiber and focuses the light on the light receiving element; and the second optical function. The light of the first wavelength reflected by the surface is emitted toward the optical fiber, and the light of the second wavelength from the optical fiber is made incident and the light of the second wavelength is changed to the second light. A third optical function surface that transmits light toward the optical function surface An optical transmission / reception device comprising: 7. The second optical function surface is a concave spherical surface, and the concave spherical surface reflects an optical multilayer of the first wavelength and transmits the second wavelength of light. The optical transceiver according to claim 6, wherein a film is formed. 8. The first and third optical functional surfaces are convex lens surfaces, respectively, and the first optical functional surface converts the light of the first wavelength from the light emitting element into parallel light, 8. The light according to claim 6, wherein the third optical function surface focuses the light of the first wavelength reflected by the second optical function surface on the end surface of the optical fiber. Transceiver. 9. The substrate is provided with a reflecting surface that reflects the light of the first wavelength incident from the first optical function surface and makes the light incident on the second optical function surface. Item 9. The optical transceiver according to any one of items 6 to 8. 10. The base body having the first, second and third optical function surfaces is made of synthetic resin and is integrally formed by molding. The optical transmitter-receiver according to.