JP2007003659A - Optical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical connector that is easy to form and that is capable of fully securing an optical coupling efficiency between some other optical transmission structure and an optical waveguide. <P>SOLUTION: The optical connector of the present invention is equipped with: a U-shaped placing section 1 which is provided with a flat part 11 for placing a part of a film-like waveguide F capable of optically coupling with some other optical transmission structure and which is provided with a vertical part 12 erected from both ends of the flat part 11 across the short side direction of the film-like waveguide F; a supporting base section 2 which is provided with a film-like-waveguide mounting part 21 for mounting the placing section 1 on the way from one end to the other end in a top view; and a cover section 3 which is provided with a projected part 31 for pressing the film-like waveguide F to the supporting base section 2 and which is also connected thereto, near the end, on some other optical transmission structure side, of at least the film-like waveguide mounting part 21. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical connector for optically coupling an optical transmission structure such as an optical fiber and an optical waveguide.

  In recent years, with the rapid widening of communication infrastructure and the dramatic improvement in information processing capability of computers and the like, there is an increasing need for information processing circuits having very high-speed information transmission paths. Under such circumstances, transmission by optical signal is considered as one means to break the transmission speed limit of electric signal, and opto-electric hybrid mounting in which an optical circuit is mixed on a circuit board such as a printed circuit board. A wiring board has been proposed, and an optical waveguide, for example, is employed as an optical wiring constituting the optical circuit.

In addition, as a conventional optical coupling method for optically coupling a light propagation structure such as an optical fiber and an optical waveguide, for example, a cylindrical optical coupling portion (cylindrical portion) is formed from an end surface of a waveguide substrate on which the optical waveguide is formed. ), And the ferrule is arranged in such a manner that the front end surface of the ferrule holding one end of the optical fiber is brought into contact with the front end surface of the optical coupling portion. The thing attached to an optical coupling part can be mentioned (for example, refer patent document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 08-313758

  However, in the optical coupling method as described above, when an optical coupling portion such as a cylindrical portion is formed on the end face of the waveguide substrate, the shape is highly accurate on the order of microns in order to obtain sufficient optical coupling efficiency. Therefore, there is a problem that a very advanced processing technique is required. In addition, there is a problem that optimization of processing conditions is required according to the material and configuration of the waveguide substrate.

  The present invention has been made to remedy the above problems, and provides an optical connector that can be easily formed and can sufficiently ensure the optical coupling efficiency between another optical propagation structure and an optical waveguide. It is intended to do.

  In order to achieve the above object, an optical connector according to claim 1 of the present invention is an optical connector for optically coupling an optical transmission structure and an optical waveguide, wherein the optical waveguide is connected to another optical transmission structure and an optical fiber. A film-like waveguide that can be coupled, and has a flat portion on which a part of the film-shaped waveguide is stacked and a standing portion that is erected from both ends of the flat portion across the short direction of the film-like waveguide A U-shaped stacking section, a support base section having a film-shaped waveguide mounting section for mounting the stacking section on the way from one end to the other end in plan view, and at least a film-shaped waveguide mounting section And a lid portion that is connected to the support base portion and includes a convex portion that presses the film-like waveguide against the support base portion in the vicinity of the end portion on the other optical transmission structure side.

  An optical connector according to a second aspect of the present invention is the optical connector according to the first aspect, wherein the support base portion includes an alignment mark on an upper surface in a plan view.

  An optical connector according to a third aspect of the present invention is the optical connector according to the first or second aspect, wherein at least one of the support base part or the lid part penetrates from a side surface and the stacking part stands. Opening holes that open to the installation part are provided on both side surfaces.

  An optical connector according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the optical connector according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the lid portion has an opening region at least at a location facing the concave portion in plan view. I have.

  Moreover, the optical connector which concerns on Claim 5 of this invention is the optical connector in any one of Claim 1 thru | or 4 WHEREIN: As for the said support stand part, the said film waveguide is said other optical transmission structure. The first mounting portion is inclined toward the end opposite to the optical coupling side, and the lid portion includes an inclined portion corresponding to the first mounting portion.

  The optical connector having such a configuration can be easily formed, the stacking portion is formed in a U-shape, and the stacking portion and the support base portion are configured separately to form a film-like optical waveguide. Since the fine adjustment of the waveguide loading position can be easily performed in the plane, it is possible to sufficiently secure the optical coupling efficiency between the other light propagation structure and the film waveguide.

  An embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, in each figure, the structure which attached | subjected the same code | symbol has shown that it is the same structure. 1A and 1B show a loading section, where FIG. 1A is a front view and FIG. 1B is a plan view. 2A and 2B show a support base, where FIG. 2A is a front view, FIG. 2B is a plan view, FIG. 2C is a side view, and FIG. 2D is a bottom view. 3A and 3B show the lid, wherein FIG. 3A is a front view, FIG. 3B is a plan view, FIG. 3C is a side view, and FIG. 3D is a bottom view. FIG. 4 shows an example of a state in which the film-like waveguide is mounted on the optical connector, where (a) is a front view, (b) is a plan view, and (c) is a side view. FIGS. 5A and 5B are explanatory views showing alignment marks, where FIG. 5A shows the support base side, and FIG. 5B shows the film waveguide side. In each figure, the hidden line (broken line) in the front view is not shown in order to simplify the figure. Also, hidden lines in FIG. 4 are not shown for simplification.

  The optical connector of this embodiment is for optically coupling a light propagation structure (not shown) such as an optical fiber and an optical waveguide. As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. It is the structure provided with the base part 2 and the cover part 3. FIG. In addition, although each part 1, 2, 3 which comprises an optical connector is formed with aluminum in this embodiment, it has sufficient rigidity when connecting with a light propagation structure, and is made of a material that can be easily processed. Other than that, for example, a metal such as stainless steel or brass, a plastic such as polycarbonate, acrylic, or epoxy may be used.

  Here, the optical waveguide is a film-like waveguide F (see FIG. 4) that can be optically coupled to another optical transmission structure, for example, based on an epoxy resin, for example, a rectangle having a cross section of 40 μm, and each pitch is Eight arrays (not shown) of 250 μm are provided, the film width is 3 mm, the upper cladding layer (not shown) and the lower cladding layer (not shown) are each 20 μm thick, and the total thickness is 80 μm. The refractive index of the film waveguide F at a wavelength of 850 nm is 1.6 for the core (not shown) and 1.4 for the clad (not shown).

  As shown in FIG. 1, the stacking unit 1 includes a flat part 11 on which a part of the film-shaped waveguide F is stacked, and 90 ° across the short-side direction of the film-shaped waveguide F from both ends of the flat part 11. For example, the flat portion 11 has a width X of 3 mm, the flat portion 11 has a length Y of 4 mm, and the standing portion 12 has a height t of 2 mm. The thickness of the flat portion 11 and the thickness of the standing portion 12 are 0.5 mm. The loading surface width X is determined according to the width of the film-like waveguide F to be loaded, but is preferably about 0.5 mm to 5 mm in consideration of the size of the existing rated connector. The loading surface length Y is preferably about 4 mm to 8 mm in consideration of handling properties.

  The standing portion 12 may be configured to be inclined from the normal direction of the flat portion 11 toward the flat portion 11 within a range of 10 °. In this way, by tilting the standing portion 12 toward the flat portion 11 side, the film-like waveguide F can be stably loaded in the loading portion 1 without the need to temporarily fix the film-like waveguide F. It becomes.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the support base 2 includes a film-like waveguide mounting portion 21 extending from one end to the other end in a plan view.

  In the present embodiment, the film-shaped waveguide mounting portion 21 includes a second mounting portion 21b formed on the end surface side on the side to be optically coupled to another optical transmission structure, and a second mounting portion formed on the opposite end surface side. 1 mounting portion 21a is provided. In addition, the support base part 2 is equipped with the recessed part 21c mounted so that the flat part 11 of the stacking part 1 may become a bottom face between the 2nd mounting part 21b and the 1st mounting part 21a.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the film-shaped waveguide F is disposed on the second mounting portion 21b, the stacking portion 1 mounted in the recess 21c, and the first mounting portion 21a.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the first mounting portion 21 a is formed so as to be smoothly inclined, for example, in an S shape from the concave portion 21 c side toward the end portion side. The 2nd mounting part 21b is comprised by the same height as the height by the side of the recessed part 21c of the 1st mounting part 21a. The inclination of the first mounting portion 21a is provided in order to reduce the radiation loss of the film-shaped waveguide F as much as possible, and may be an S-shaped inclination as long as the radiation loss of the film-shaped waveguide F is allowable. . In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, for example, two arcs having a radius R = 4 are combined on the end side so as to reach the bottom surface of the support base 2.

  The concave portion 21c is formed slightly wider (for example, about 1 mm to 2 mm) than the bottom area of the stacking portion 1 in a plan view, and when the stacking portion 1 is mounted, the flat portion 11 becomes the first mounting portion 21a, The depth is set so that it becomes the same height as the second mounting portion 21b, that is, the flat portion 11 of the stacking portion 1 arranged in the first mounting portion 21a, the second mounting portion 21b, and the recess 21c has the same height. It is preferable. The depth of the concave portion 21c is determined so that when the stacking portion 1 is mounted, the flat waveguide portion 11 corrugates up and down with respect to the first mounting portion 21a and the second mounting portion 21b. As long as the radiation loss is in an allowable range, the heights may be approximately the same.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 5A, the support base 2 includes an alignment mark 23 at a desired position on the surface side of the second mounting portion 21b. Also, the film-like waveguide F is provided with an alignment mark F1 that matches the alignment mark 23 on the support base 2 side as shown in FIG.

  The film-like waveguide F loaded on the flat portion 11 of the loading portion 1 is optimal for the loading portion 1 to be described later so that the alignment marks 23 and F1 are aligned with each other when the loading portion 1 is loaded in the recess 21c. Make fine adjustments to the position and move it.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5A, the hatched portion of the second mounting portion 21b is projected by 100 μm, and the sizes L1 = 1.0 mm and M1 = 0.23 mm. Further, in the film-like waveguide F, as shown in FIG. 5B, the shaded portion is formed of a core resin and the periphery thereof is covered with a clad resin, and the size L2 = 0.7 mm and M2 = 0.2 mm. It is. In this case, when the alignment marks 23 and F1 are aligned with each other so as not to contact the shaded portion when aligned with the second mounting portion 21b side, a range of ± 15 μm from the difference between M1 and M2 of the alignment marks 23 and F1. It can be positioned with.

  The shapes of the alignment marks 23 and F1 on the support base 2 side and the film-like waveguide F side are not particularly limited as long as they can be aligned and matched with each other. . The alignment mark 23 provided on the support base 2 and the alignment mark F1 provided on the film-like waveguide F are visible from the difference in refractive index between each other.

  Moreover, the support base part 2 is provided with the fitting hole 24 for connecting with the connector based on a certain standard, or the connector outside a standard in the end surface of the 2nd mounting part 21b.

  In the present embodiment, a guide pin hole 24 is used as the fitting hole 24 in order to optically couple an MT connector (JIS C5981) (not shown) and an optical connector sandwiching the film waveguide F.

  The height of the guide pin hole 24 is set to be higher than the height of the second mounting portion 21b by the thickness of the lower clad of the film-shaped waveguide F, so that the film-shaped waveguide F is positioned at an optimal position. It becomes easy to set with nature. The lower clad layer of the film-like waveguide F is generally formed by spin coating, a mold or the like, so that the thickness accuracy is easily obtained. Here, the optimal position of the film-like waveguide F refers to a position where light can be transferred to and from other light propagation structures with minimum loss.

  The support base 2 is provided with, for example, four screw holes 25 of M2 for use in connection (fixation) with the lid 3 described later, on both sides of the film waveguide mounting portion 21 on the upper surface. For example, four through holes 26 having a diameter of 2.5 mm are provided on both sides in the longitudinal direction for use in fixing to the substrate 4.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the lid portion 3 includes at least a convex portion 31 facing the vicinity of the end portion of the second mounting portion 21 b of the support base portion 2, and in the vicinity of the end portions of the convex portion 31 and the second mounting portion 21 b. The film-like waveguide F is sandwiched.

  Moreover, the cover part 3 is provided with the inclination part 32 of the shape corresponding to the inclination of the 1st mounting part 21a of the support stand part 2, as shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, the lid 3 further includes a through hole 33 having a diameter of 2.5 mm corresponding to the screw hole 25 of the support base 2 and is fixed to the support base 2 by fitting and screwing.

  Here, in the present embodiment, the lid 3 includes an opening region 34 that is open so that the region directly above the recess 21c of the support base 2 and the alignment mark 23 provided on the support base 2 side can be seen. Yes. By providing the opening region 34, the film-like waveguide F loaded on the loading portion 1 is mounted in the recess 21c, and the lid portion 3 and the support base portion 2 are temporarily fixed, and then the position of the film-like waveguide F is changed. Fine adjustment is possible while observing.

  Moreover, since an adhesive agent can be poured into the film-shaped waveguide F after final positioning, the opening-shaped area | region 34 can fix the film-shaped waveguide F in an optimal position.

  The lid portion 3 is provided with opening holes 35 on both side surfaces that penetrate from the side surface and reach the standing portion 12 of the stacking portion 1 in the opening region 34. In the present embodiment, the opening hole 35 is, for example, an M2 threaded hole, and has a configuration in which two sides are provided, for example, 3 mm apart on each side surface to enable adjustment of the rotation direction.

  The position of the film-like waveguide F is finely adjusted by finely adjusting the position of the stacking portion 1 by fitting a screw having a length that can reach the standing portion 12 from the opening hole 35 provided in the lid portion 3. Can be adjusted. The opening hole 35 may not be threaded as long as it is a through hole. In this case, a benign pin may be used instead of a screw.

  Hereinafter, an example of a method for mounting the film-like waveguide F on the optical connector will be described with reference to FIG. First, for example, a film waveguide F is laminated on the surface of a desired substrate 4. At this time, lamination molding of the film-like waveguide F and the substrate 4 is performed by using heat and pressure molding that is used for a general printed circuit board with a prepreg (not shown) that is B-staged (semi-cured). went. In addition, the film-shaped waveguide F requires areas to be stacked on the optical connector stacking unit 1, the first mounting unit 21a, and the second mounting unit 21b, and in order to form a free region free from the surface of the substrate 4, The size of the hot plate (not shown) to be used is selected so that the prepreg is removed and no pressure is applied to the free area. In addition to the configuration in which the film waveguide F is stacked on the surface of the substrate 4, the film-shaped waveguide F may be embedded in the substrate 4 as long as the above-described free region can be secured.

  The substrate 4 integrated with the film waveguide F and the support base 2 use a through hole 41 formed in the substrate 4 in advance, a through hole 26 of the support base 2, bolts, nuts 27 and 42. And fix.

  The free region of the film-like waveguide F is placed on the flat portion 11 of the stacking portion 1 and temporarily fixed with an adhesive that can be fixed instantaneously, for example. The loading unit 1 in this state is mounted in the recess 21c while adjusting the position so that the end surface of the free region of the film waveguide F is aligned with the end surface of the support base 2 on the second mounting unit 21b side, and further the lid 3 The support base 2 was covered and fixed with screws 37. At this time, the fixing by screwing is slightly loosened within a range in which the position of the film waveguide F can be finely adjusted. As shown in FIG. 4, one end of the film-shaped waveguide F (the end of the free region) is sandwiched between the support 31 and the convex portion 31 of the lid 3, and another optical transmission structure. It is exposed from the end of the optical connector so that it can be optically coupled.

  Next, through the stereomicroscope (not shown) from the opening region 34 on the surface of the lid part 3, the alignment marks 23 and F1 formed on both the support base part 2 side and the film-like waveguide F side are visually recognized. A screw is inserted from a threaded hole provided on the side surface of the sheet, and the stacking unit 1 is finely adjusted to a position where the alignment marks 23 and F1 are aligned.

  Further, in consideration of errors in the production of the alignment mark 23 formed on both the support base 2 side and the film waveguide F side, F1 itself, etc., the film waveguide F disposed on the optical connector and the light source (non- (Not shown) and an optical fiber (not shown) which is a light propagation structure and an MT connector connected to each other are actually joined, and light is actually monitored through the optical power meter (not shown). The film waveguide F is finally adjusted to an optimum position.

  When the film-shaped waveguide F is adjusted to the optimum position, the screw fixing is permanently fixed from the temporarily fixed state, and the UV curable resin (not shown) which is the same material as the clad from the opening region 34 of the lid 3. Then, the film-shaped waveguide F is fixed at an optimum position by being cured by irradiating an ultrahigh pressure mercury lamp with about 1000 mJ.

  In addition, when the opening area 34 provided in the cover part 3 is sized so that the alignment mark 23 cannot be visually recognized, or when the opening area 34 is not provided in the cover part 3, the opening area 34 is loaded in the recess 21 c of the support base part 2. At the time when the portion 1 is mounted, the alignment marks 23 and F1 formed on both the support base 2 side and the film waveguide F side are visually recognized and finely adjusted, and the aforementioned UV curable resin is poured into the recess 21c on the spot. It can be cured with.

  The optical connector according to the present embodiment can be easily formed, the stacking section 1 is formed in a U-shape, and the stacking section 1 and the support base section 2 are configured separately to form a film-shaped guide. Since the fine adjustment of the loading position of the waveguide F can be easily performed in a plane, the optical coupling efficiency between the other light propagation structure and the film waveguide F can be sufficiently secured.

  In addition, an optical waveguide component including an optical connector and a film-like waveguide F integrated with a substrate can be easily formed.

  Here, in the present embodiment, the opening hole 35 opened to the standing portion 12 of the stacking portion 1 is provided in the lid portion 3, but may be configured to be provided in the support base portion 2.

The stacking part which concerns on this embodiment is shown, (a) is a front view, (b) is a top view. The support stand part which concerns on this embodiment is shown, (a) is a front view, (b) is a top view, (d) is a bottom view. The cover part which concerns on this embodiment is shown, (a) is a front view, (b) is a top view, (c) is a side view, (d) is a bottom view. An example of the state which mounted the film-form waveguide concerning this embodiment in an optical connector is shown, (a) is a front view, (b) is a top view, (c) is a side view. It is explanatory drawing which shows the alignment mark which concerns on this embodiment, (a) is the thing of the support stand part side, (b) shows the thing of the film-form waveguide side.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Loading part 2 Supporting base part 3 Cover part 4 Board | substrate 11 Flat part 12 Standing part 21 Film-shaped waveguide mounting part 21a 1st mounting part 21b 2nd mounting part 21c Concave part 23 Alignment mark 31 Convex part 32 Inclination part 34 Opening area | region 35 Opening hole

Claims (5)

In an optical connector that optically couples an optical transmission structure and an optical waveguide,
The optical waveguide is a film-like waveguide that can be optically coupled to another optical transmission structure,
A U-shaped stacking portion having a flat portion on which a part of the film-shaped waveguide is stacked and having a standing portion erected across the short direction of the film-shaped waveguide from both ends of the flat portion;
A support base portion having a film-like waveguide mounting portion for mounting the stacking portion in the middle from one end portion to the other end portion in plan view;
At least near the end of the film-shaped waveguide mounting portion on the side of the other optical transmission structure, including a convex portion that presses the film-shaped waveguide against the support base, and a lid that connects to the support base. An optical connector characterized by that. The optical connector according to claim 1, wherein the support base portion includes an alignment mark on an upper surface in a plan view.   3. The optical connector according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the support base and the lid is provided with opening holes on both side surfaces penetrating from a side surface and opening to a standing portion of the stacking portion.   The optical connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the lid portion includes an opening region at least at a location facing the concave portion in plan view.   The support base includes a first mounting portion that is inclined as the film waveguide heads toward an end opposite to the optical coupling side with the other optical transmission structure, and the lid includes the first mounting portion. The optical connector according to claim 1, further comprising an inclined portion corresponding to one mounting portion.

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