JP2020046585A - Optical transceiver and method for building the same - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an optical transceiver and a method for building the optical transceiver which can prevent breakage of an internal optical fiber when the optical transceiver is built and can contain the optical fiber efficiently.SOLUTION: The optical transceiver according to an embodiment includes: an optical module 12 for sending or receiving an optical signal; a receptacle 4 for receiving an external optical connector and sending or receiving an optical signal to or from the outside through the optical connector; an optical fiber 11 having a length set to a predetermined value, the optical fiber optically connecting the optical module 12 and the receptacle 4 to each other; a fiber tray 15 located between the receptacle 4 and the optical module 12, the fiber tray holding the optical fiber 11 being wound in the shape of a circle; and a circuit board 13 equipped with the optical module 12. The receptacle 4 and the optical fiber 11 are movable in a direction D2, which is the width direction of the optical transceiver 1, to the fiber tray 15.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

  One aspect of the present invention relates to an optical transceiver and an assembling method.

  Patent Document 1 discloses an optical assembly including a light emitting element or a light receiving element, a circuit board electrically connected to the optical assembly, an optical fiber optically connected to the optical assembly, and winding and drawing the optical fiber. An optical module including a tray and a case for storing an optical assembly, a circuit board, an optical fiber, and a tray is described. The tray is attached to the case so as to reciprocate within a restricted range. The tray moves from one side of the regulation range to the other side and separates from the electrical connection between the optical assembly and the circuit board.

  Patent Document 2 discloses a module including a circuit board on which TOSA and ROSA are mounted, a receptacle for receiving an external optical connector, and optical fibers extending from the receptacle to each of TOSA and ROSA on the circuit board. ing. A connection assembly around which the optical fiber is wound is provided between the receptacle and the circuit board.

  Patent Document 3 describes an optical transceiver (active optical cable) including an active cable and a module of a QSFP platform. The active cable is provided with a protective tube and a boot, and a ribbon fiber extends from the boot.

  Patent Document 4 describes a bidirectional optical module. This optical module includes two optical ports for receiving external optical connectors, a fiber bobbin, two optical modules, and a circuit board. A fiber bobbin, two optical modules and an electronic circuit are mounted on a circuit board. Each of the two optical ports and each of the two optical modules are connected to each other via an optical fiber. An optical fiber is wound around a fiber bobbin between each of the two optical ports and each of the two optical modules.

JP-A-2011-33644 US Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0010600 JP, 2018-508046, A JP-A-2006-161942

  By the way, an optical fiber for connecting a receptacle for receiving an external optical connector and an optical element including a light emitting element or a light receiving element is required to be efficiently housed inside the optical transceiver in order to reduce the size of the optical transceiver. In recent years, in particular, in recent years, as the functions have been improved, the internal components have been highly integrated and highly functionalized, and there has been an increasing demand for miniaturization of each component of the optical transceiver. On the other hand, in order to efficiently store the optical fiber inside the optical transceiver, it is necessary to bend the optical fiber as small as possible. However, when assembling the optical transceiver, if the optical fiber is bent with a bending radius less than the specification, the optical fiber may be damaged by bending stress.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an optical transceiver and an assembling method capable of preventing damage to an optical fiber during assembly and efficiently storing the optical fiber.

  An optical transceiver according to one aspect of the present invention is an optical transceiver that is inserted into and removed from a cage of a host system, and receives an optical element that transmits or receives an optical signal and an external optical connector, and receives the optical signal through an optical connector. A receptacle for transmitting / receiving an optical signal to / from the outside, an optical fiber having a length set to a predetermined value and optically connecting the optical element and the receptacle, and an optical fiber disposed between the receptacle and the optical element; A fiber tray for holding the fiber in a circularly wound state therein; and a circuit board on which the optical element is mounted, wherein the receptacle and the optical fiber are movable in the width direction of the optical transceiver with respect to the fiber tray. ing.

  An assembling method according to one aspect of the present invention is an assembling method for assembling the optical transceiver described above, wherein a step of preparing an optical fiber to which a receptacle and an optical element are connected, and a step of positioning the receptacle with respect to a fiber tray. A step of winding an optical fiber around a fiber tray with the optical element, and a step of mounting the optical element on a circuit board.

  According to one aspect of the present invention, damage to an optical fiber during assembly can be prevented, and the optical fiber can be efficiently stored.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an optical transceiver according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a receptacle, a fiber tray, an optical element, and a circuit board of the optical transceiver of FIG. FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the receptacle, fiber tray, optical element, and circuit board of FIG. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the receptacle, the optical element, and the optical fiber of FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the fiber tray of FIG. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the fiber tray of FIG. 2 viewed from a direction different from that of FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing a state in which the optical fiber is housed. 8 (a), 8 (b), 8 (c) and 8 (d) are views schematically showing a process for housing an optical fiber in the assembling method according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a part of the process of housing the optical fiber of FIG.

[Description of Embodiment of the Present Invention]
First, the contents of the embodiment of the present invention will be listed and described. An optical transceiver according to an embodiment of the present invention is an optical transceiver that is inserted into and removed from a cage of a host system, and that receives an optical element for transmitting or receiving an optical signal and an external optical connector, and receives the optical connector via the optical connector. A receptacle for transmitting and receiving an optical signal to and from the outside, having a length set to a predetermined value, an optical fiber for optically connecting the optical element and the receptacle, and disposed between the receptacle and the optical element; A fiber tray that holds the optical fiber inside in a state of being wound in a circular shape, and a circuit board on which the optical element is mounted, wherein the receptacle and the optical fiber are movable in the width direction of the optical transceiver with respect to the fiber tray. Have been.

  In this optical transceiver, an optical fiber for optically connecting an optical element for transmitting or receiving an optical signal and a receptacle has a length set to a predetermined value, and the optical fiber is wound around a fiber tray and held. Is done. The fiber tray is disposed between the receptacle and the optical element, and holds the optical fiber in a state of being wound in a circular shape. Therefore, when the optical fiber is wound around the fiber tray, the optical fiber is bent while being held by the fiber tray. Therefore, since the bending of the optical fiber can be regulated by the fiber tray, the bending radius of the optical fiber can be made equal to or more than the specified value. As a result, damage to the optical fiber can be prevented. The receptacle transmits and receives an optical signal to and from the outside via the optical connector, and the receptacle and the optical fiber are movable in the width direction of the optical transceiver with respect to the fiber tray. Therefore, when the optical fiber is wound around the fiber tray with the optical element to which the optical fiber is connected, the receptacle can be moved together with the optical fiber in the width direction of the optical transceiver. Therefore, when the optical fiber is wound around the fiber tray with the optical element, the receptacle is moved in the width direction of the optical transceiver, so that the receptacle is not obstructed. As a result, the optical fiber can be efficiently wound and the optical fiber can be stored efficiently.

  Further, the fiber tray may have an abutting portion abutting against an end surface of the circuit board at an end on the receptacle side. In this case, the fiber tray can be positioned with respect to the circuit board by abutting the abutting portion located at the end on the receptacle side against the end face of the circuit board. Therefore, the fiber tray can be stably fixed to the circuit board.

  The fiber tray has a first cylindrical wall extending in a direction outside the plane of the circuit board, and a second wall extending outside the plane and located outside the first wall. May be accommodated between the first wall and the second wall, and the outer peripheral shape of the first wall may be formed so that the bending diameter of the optical fiber is larger than a predetermined value. In this case, since the bending diameter of the optical fiber becomes larger than a predetermined value depending on the outer peripheral shape of the first wall portion, damage to the optical fiber can be more reliably prevented.

  Also, the height of the one end connected to the optical element of the optical fiber from the mounting surface of the circuit board is higher than the height of the other end connected to the receptacle of the optical fiber from the mounting surface of the circuit board. It may be set large. In this case, when the optical fiber is wound in a direction away from the circuit board, the height of the optical fiber can be reduced from the one end to the other end, so that the damage of the optical fiber 11 is further reduced. It can be suppressed reliably.

  An assembling method of an optical transceiver according to an embodiment of the present invention is an assembling method of assembling the optical transceiver described above, wherein a step of preparing an optical fiber to which a receptacle and an optical element are connected, and a step of mounting the receptacle to a fiber tray. The method includes a step of positioning, a step of winding an optical fiber around a fiber tray while holding the optical element, and a step of mounting the optical element on a circuit board.

  In this optical transceiver assembling method, after positioning the receptacle with respect to the fiber tray, the optical fiber is wound around the fiber tray while holding the optical element. Incidentally, the distance (height) from the circuit board to the optical element is longer than the distance (height) from the circuit board to the receptacle. Therefore, by winding the optical fiber by holding the optical element after positioning the receptacle, the optical fiber is wound in a direction away from the circuit board. Therefore, when the optical fiber is wound, the optical fiber can be prevented from being pressed against the circuit board, so that damage to the optical fiber when the optical fiber is wound can be more reliably avoided.

[Details of the embodiment of the present invention]
A specific example of the optical transceiver according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the following examples, but is indicated by the appended claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the scope equivalent to the appended claims. In the following description, the same or corresponding elements will be denoted by the same reference characters in the description of the drawings, without redundant description. In addition, the drawings may be partially simplified or exaggerated for easy understanding, and the dimensional ratios and the like are not limited to those described in the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an optical transceiver 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The optical transceiver 1 complies with, for example, the QSFP standard. The standard referred to here is, for example, MSA (Multi-Source Agreement) which is one of industry standards. As shown in FIG. 1, an optical transceiver 1 includes a metal housing 2, a slider 3 engaged with the housing 2, a receptacle 4 located at one end of the housing 2, and a pull tab extending from the slider 3. 5 is provided. The housing 2 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape as described later, and particularly extends in one direction. In the following description, a direction in which the shape of the housing 2 is elongated is referred to as a longitudinal direction. The optical transceiver 1 is inserted / extracted (inserted / extracted) into / from a cage provided in a host system (optical communication device) along a direction D1 which is a longitudinal direction thereof. It is to be noted that what is inserted into the cage is mainly the portion of the housing 2, and the receptacle 4 and the pull tab 5 are exposed outside the cage. That is, when inserting the optical transceiver 1 into the cage, the optical transceiver 1 moves so that the end opposite to the one end provided with the receptacle 4 approaches the cage in the longitudinal direction D1 of the housing 2. When the optical transceiver 1 is pulled out (withdrawn) from the cage, one end of the housing 2 provided with the receptacle 4 moves away from the cage to the outside. The slider 3 extends from one end of the housing 2 where the receptacle 4 is provided in a direction opposite to the cage. The receptacle 4 receives an external optical connector and transmits / receives an optical signal to / from the outside via the optical connector.

  The housing 2 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape. For example, the cross-sectional shape of the housing 2 perpendicular to the direction D1 is rectangular. The housing 2 and the pull tab 5 both extend along the direction D1. The pull tab 5 is made of, for example, a resin and has a flexible material. By holding the pull tab 5 and pulling the pull tab 5 to the opposite side of the cage, the engagement of the optical transceiver 1 with the cage is released, and the optical transceiver 1 can be pulled out from the host system. The housing 2 includes an electrical plug 6 connected to an electrical connector provided inside the cage at an end opposite to the one end provided with the receptacle 4. In the following description, the receptacle 4 side may be referred to as the front, and the electrical plug 6 side may be referred to as the rear.

  FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the internal structure of the housing 2. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, inside the housing 2, a pair of sleeves 4 a of the receptacle 4, and a pair of optical modules 12 (connected to each of the pair of sleeves 4 a via an optical fiber 11). (Optical element), a circuit board 13 provided with an electric plug 6 and a circuit element 13a such as a PHY-IC, and an optical fiber 11 for optically connecting each sleeve 4a and each optical module 12. And a fiber tray 15 for storage. The circuit board 13 is accommodated in the housing 2 so that the electric plug 6 can be fitted with an electric connector in the cage. That is, the electric plug 6 is disposed so as to be exposed to the outside from the housing 2.

  The sleeve 4a is, for example, an LC type sleeve. The optical fiber 11 extending from each sleeve 4a in the direction D1 is a multi-mode fiber (Multi Mode Fiber: MMF). The optical module 12 is connected to an end of the optical fiber 11 opposite to the sleeve 4a. One end of the optical fiber 11 is optically coupled to the sleeve 4a and fixed semi-permanently to the sleeve 4a. The other end of the optical fiber 11 is optically coupled to the optical module 12 and is fixed to the optical module 12 semi-permanently. A pair of optical modules 12 are arranged along a direction D2 which is a width direction of the housing 2. The width direction D2 is orthogonal to the longitudinal direction D1, for example, on a plane parallel to the mounting surface of the circuit board 13 on which the circuit element 13a is mounted. The distance K1 in the direction D2 between the pair of sleeves 4a is, for example, 6.25 mm, and the distance in the direction D2 between the pair of optical modules 12 is substantially the same as the distance K1. The optical module 12 transmits or receives an optical signal. Specifically, the optical module 12 is an optical coupling block that covers a light receiving element (Photo diode: PD) and a surface light emitting element (Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser: VCSEL) mounted on the circuit board 13. The optical coupling block includes a light receiving element and a surface light emitting element for inputting and outputting an optical signal (light beam) out of the plane of the mounting surface of the circuit board 13, and an optical fiber disposed in the plane of the mounting surface of the circuit board 13. 11 has a function of optically coupling the same.

  In the optical module 12, for example, the light emitted from the surface light emitting element in the direction D <b> 3, which is the out-of-plane direction of the circuit board 13, is changed in traveling direction D <b> 1 by a built-in mirror and is incident on the end face of the optical fiber 11. . In the optical module 12, for example, the light emitted from the end of the optical fiber 11 in the direction D1 is converted into a direction toward the circuit board 13 (out-of-plane direction) by a built-in mirror, and is converted into a light receiving element. Incident. The optical module 12 has a lens for converting the emitted light into collimated light, and a lens for condensing the collimated light and causing the collimated light to enter the end of the optical fiber 11 or the light receiving surface of the light receiving element. Is also good. Further, an optical filter or the like may be provided to separate one optical signal into two or to combine two optical signals into one. The optical module 12 is connected to an end of the optical fiber 11. The optical fiber 11 extends from the optical module 12 in the direction D1.

  FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the sleeve 4a and the fiber tray 15. The fiber tray 15 is made of, for example, a resin, and is made of, for example, PPS (polyphenylene sulfide). As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the fiber tray 15 is mounted on the circuit board 13 and adjusts the drawing of the optical fiber 11 so that the optical fiber 11 is located in the space between the sleeve 4 a and the optical module 12. It is provided to accommodate in. The space between the sleeve 4a and the optical module 12 is, for example, a region of L1 (mm) × L2 (mm) in FIG. The fiber tray 15 includes a cylindrical first wall portion 16 having a cylindrical or hexagonal cross section located inside the circuit board 13 in the direction D2 and a pair of second wall members located outside the circuit board 13 in the direction D2. And a wall portion 17. The first wall portion 16 and the second wall portion 17 extend in an out-of-plane direction of the circuit board 13. A guide space for accommodating the optical fiber 11 is formed between the first wall 16 and the second wall 17. The optical fiber 11 is accommodated in the guide space in a state of being wound in a circular shape. At this time, the bending radius of the optical fiber 11 is determined by the shape of the outer periphery of the first wall portion 16.

  The first wall portion 16 has, for example, a C-shape when viewed from an out-of-plane direction of the circuit board 13. Since the optical fiber 11 is wound around the outside of the first wall 16, the shape of the first wall 16 defines the bending radius of the optical fiber 11. Since the outer diameter of the circular portion of the first wall 16 is set to be larger than the minimum bending diameter of the optical fiber 11, the bending radius of the optical fiber 11 is increased by passing the optical fiber 11 outside the first wall 16. Can be reliably maintained at or above the minimum bending diameter.

  Further, it is possible to compactly arrange the optical fibers 11 in a region of L1 (mm) × L2 (mm) where the fiber tray 15 is provided. For example, the value of L1 is 15 mm and the value of L2 is 18 mm. As an example, the length of the optical fiber 11 is 60.55 ± 0.50 mm, and the minimum bending diameter of the optical fiber 11 is 5.5 mm. The outer diameter of the first wall portion 16 is 5.8 mm or more and 6.0 mm or less.

  The first wall portion 16 has a claw portion 16a protruding outward in the direction D2. For example, the length of the claw portion 16a in the direction D3 is １ ／ to の of the length of the first wall portion 16. Is set. The optical fiber 11 is passed through the claw portion 16a on the circuit board 13 side (the lower side in FIG. 3). The first wall portion 16 further includes an abutting portion 16c abutting against the end surface 13b of the circuit board 13. The second wall portion 17 is provided as a pair along the direction D2. The pair of second wall portions 17 are arranged, for example, at positions symmetrical to each other with respect to a reference line L extending through the center of the circuit board 13 in the direction D2 and extending in the direction D1. Further, each of the pair of second wall portions 17 may have a shape that is line-symmetric with respect to the reference line L.

  The second wall portion 17 has a plurality of claw portions 17a protruding inward in the direction D2, and the pair of claw portions 17a are arranged line-symmetrically with respect to the reference line L. The claw portion 16a is arranged between a pair of claw portions 17a arranged along the direction D1 and another pair of claw portions 17a. The length of the claw portion 17a in the direction D3 is set to 〜 to の of the length of the second wall portion 17. The optical fiber 11 is passed through the claw portion 17a on the circuit board 13 side (the lower side in FIG. 3). In this manner, the optical fibers 11 are passed through the claw portions 16a and the claw portions 17a on the circuit board 13 side, so that the optical fibers 11 are prevented from jumping out of the fiber tray 15. Further, the second wall portion 17 has an arm portion 17c hooked on the circuit board 13. The arm 17c will be described later in detail.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a state of the optical fiber 11 wound around the fiber tray 15. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the optical fiber 11 extending from the sleeve 4 a extends along the outer circumference of the first wall portion 16 and the inner circumference of the second wall portion 17, for example, one or more rounds and one and a half circles. Thereafter, it is wound around the fiber tray 15 and reaches the optical module 12. As described above, each optical fiber 11 is wound one or more rounds and one and a half or less rounds and stored in the fiber tray 15. One end of the optical fiber 11 is semi-permanently fixed to the sleeve 4a, and the other end is semi-permanently fixed to the optical module 12, as described above. Therefore, the length from one end to the other end of the optical fiber 11 is set to a length that can be wound around the fiber tray 15 in one or more rounds and one and a half or less rounds. At this time, the number of turns of the optical fiber 11 may be set to two or more, for example, two or more and two and a half or less. The length from one end to the other end of the optical fiber 11 is set according to the number of turns of the optical fiber 11.

  FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the fiber tray 15. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the fiber tray 15 viewed from the opposite side of FIG. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the fiber tray 15 has a first through hole 15a penetrating in the direction D3, and a pair of second through holes 15b. The first through hole 15a extends in the direction D1 at the center of the direction D2. The pair of second through holes 15b are arranged, for example, on the opposite side of the abutting portion 16c, at positions that are line-symmetric with respect to the reference line L with the first through hole 15a interposed therebetween. The first wall portion 16 has a pair of cutout portions 16b on the front side (abutting portion 16c side). The position of the notch 16b corresponds to the position of the claw 17a on the butting portion 16c side, and the optical fiber 11 is temporarily released into the notch 16b so that the claw 17a is on the circuit board 13 side (lower side). ) Can be easily inserted into the optical fiber 11.

  On the opposite side of the pair of second wall portions 17 to the abutting portion 16c, a connecting portion 18 that connects the pair of second wall portions 17 is provided. The connecting portion 18 connects between the ends of the second wall portions 17 on the opposite side to the abutting portion 16c. The connecting portion 18 is, for example, in a plate shape, and is formed to protrude outward from the fiber tray 15 toward the center in the direction D2. The projecting direction of the connecting portion 18 is a direction approaching the optical module 12 when the fiber tray 15 is attached to the circuit board 13. The connecting portion 18 has a protruding portion 18a protruding from the center of the direction D2 in the direction D3, and a claw portion 18b protruding from the protruding portion 18a toward the center of the fiber tray 15. The optical fiber 11 is passed between the projecting portion 18a and the first wall portion 16, and a claw portion 18b is provided to cover the optical fiber 11. Therefore, the projection of the optical fiber 11 from the fiber tray 15 is suppressed by the claw portion 18b. When the fiber tray 15 is attached to the circuit board 13, the protrusion 18 a is sandwiched between portions where the optical fibers 11 extend from each of the pair of optical modules 12.

  Each arm portion 17c protrudes in the direction D3 from near the center of the second wall portion 17 in the direction D1, and can be bent in the direction D2. At the end 17e in the direction D3 of each arm 17c, there is provided a projection 17d projecting inward in the direction D2 of the fiber tray 15. The projection 17d has a tapered surface 17f inclined from the end 17e in both the direction D3 and the direction D2, and a first flat extending in both the direction D3 and the direction D1 from a side of the tapered surface 17f opposite to the end 17e. It has a surface 17g and a second flat surface 17h extending in the direction D2 from the first flat surface 17g. When the fiber tray 15 is attached to the circuit board 13, each tapered surface 17f abuts on the circuit board 13 and each arm portion 17c is pushed outward in the direction D2, and then along the second flat surface 17h. When the circuit board 13 enters, the second flat surface 17h is hooked on the circuit board 13 and the fiber tray 15 is fixed to the circuit board 13.

  The butting portion 16c is provided at an end of the fiber tray 15 in the direction D1, and has a rod shape extending in the direction D2 at the end of the direction D1. The abutting portion 16c has a pair of abutting surfaces 16d provided along the direction D2 and a concave portion 16e located between the pair of abutting surfaces 16d. Butted against the end face 13b. The abutting portion 16c linearly extends in the direction D2 from the first end wall 16f located closer to the end in the direction D1 than each of the notches 16b. The butting portion 16c extends in the direction D2 from the end of the first end wall 16f in the direction D3. The fiber tray 15 is fixed at a predetermined position between the optical module 12 and the sleeve 4a by the abutting portion 16c abutting against the end face 13b of the circuit board.

  As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 5, the abutting portion 16c, the arm portion 17c of the second wall portion 17, and the second end wall 17j extending from the arm portion 17c toward the first end wall 16f. Between them, there is provided a fiber escape portion 19 that enables the optical fiber 11 to move in the direction D2. A pair of fiber relief portions 19 are provided along the direction D2, and each of the fiber relief portions 19 includes a concave portion 17k recessed in the direction D3 on the arm portion 17c side of the second end wall 17j. Fiber release portions 19 are provided on both sides of the abutting portion 16c in the direction D2. By appropriately releasing the optical fiber 11 to the fiber release portion 19 at the time of winding the optical fiber 11 or the like, efficient storage of the optical fiber 11 is realized. The method of winding the optical fiber 11 around the fiber tray 15 will be described later in detail.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically illustrating a cross section when the circuit board 13 is cut along a plane extending in both the direction D1 and the direction D3. As shown in FIG. 7, the optical fiber 11 extends in the direction D1 from the lens 12a located at one end of the optical module 12 on the fiber tray 15 side, and is connected to the sleeve 4a of the receptacle 4 after being wound around the fiber tray 15. Have been. The distance H1 (height) of the portion where the optical fiber 11 extends from the lens 12a from the mounting surface of the circuit board 13 is the distance H2 (high) from the mounting surface of the circuit board 13 where the optical fiber 11 extends from the sleeve 4a. Higher). When assembling the optical transceiver 1, the optical fiber 11 has one end connected to the sleeve 4 a and the other end connected to the optical module 12.

  By the way, when the optical fiber 11 is wound around the fiber tray 15, if the optical module 12 is first positioned and the optical fiber 11 is wound with the sleeve 4a, the circuit board 13 approaches the circuit board 13 along the direction D3. In this case, the optical fiber 11 is wound in the direction in which the optical fiber 11 moves. Therefore, when the optical fiber 11 is wound, the optical fiber 11 may be pressed in a direction approaching the circuit board 13, so that a strong force may be applied to the optical fiber 11 and the optical fiber 11 may be damaged.

  On the other hand, when the position of the sleeve 4a is determined first and the optical fiber 11 is wound around the fiber tray 15 by holding the optical module 12, the optical fiber 11 is wound in a direction away from the circuit board 13. Become. Therefore, the optical fiber 11 is not pressed when it is wound, so that a strong force is not applied to the optical fiber 11, so that damage to the optical fiber 11 can be avoided.

  Next, a method of assembling the optical transceiver according to the present embodiment will be described. First, as shown in FIG. 4, for example, an optical fiber 11 connected to each of the sleeve 4a of the receptacle 4 and the optical module 12 is prepared (a step of preparing an optical fiber). At this time, the sleeve 4a is fixed to one end of the optical fiber 11, and the lens 12a of the optical module 12 is fixed to the other end of the optical fiber 11. Further, two sets of the sleeve 4a, the optical fiber 11, and the optical module 12 are prepared. Then, the abutting portion 16c of the fiber tray 15 is applied to the end surface 13b of the circuit board 13, and each arm 17c is hooked on the circuit board 13, thereby fixing the fiber tray 15 to the circuit board 13.

  FIGS. 8A to 8D are diagrams schematically showing the optical fiber 11 wound around the fiber tray 15. As shown in FIG. 8A, the fiber tray is arranged such that the sleeve 4a and the optical module 12 are located on one side in the direction D1 of the fiber tray 15, and the optical fibers 11 extend in a U-shape around the fiber tray 15. The first set of optical fibers 11 is arranged at 15. Then, as shown in FIG. 8B, the sleeve 4a and the optical module 12 are located on one side of the fiber tray 15 in the direction D1 with respect to the second set of the sleeve 4a, the optical fiber 11, and the optical module 12. The second set of optical fibers 11 is arranged so that the optical fibers 11 extend in a U-shape around the fiber tray 15. At this time, the optical fibers 11 are arranged so that the second set of optical modules 12 is located at the position of the first set of sleeves 4a and the second set of sleeves 4a is located at the position of the first set of optical modules 12. I do.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 8C, the positioning of each sleeve 4a with respect to the fiber tray 15 is performed (positioning step). The first set of optical fibers 11 is wound around the fiber tray 15 by moving along the direction (the step of winding the optical fibers). At this time, if the optical module 12 is likely to hit the first set of sleeves 4a, as shown in FIG. 9, the first set of sleeves 4a is released to the fiber release section 19, and the sleeve 4a is inclined in the direction D2. The first set of optical fibers 11 is accommodated in a guide space between the first wall portion 16 and the second wall portion 17 of the fiber tray 15.

  By inclining the first set of sleeves 4a in the direction D2 in this manner, the extra length of the optical fiber 11 (the length of the optical fiber 11 when it is finally wound around the fiber tray 15 by about half a circle) is secured. Can be easily wound, and the sleeve 4a can be kept out of the way during winding. Then, the first set of optical fibers 11 is wound around the fiber tray 15 one or more rounds and one and a half or less rounds, and then the first set of optical modules 12 is fixed on the opposite side of the receptacle 4 (step of mounting an optical element).

  Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 8D, the second set of optical fibers 11 is moved by holding the second set of optical modules 12 along the circumferential direction of the fiber tray 15. The optical fiber is wound around the fiber tray 15 (the step of winding the optical fiber). At this time, the second set of optical modules 11 is wound around the fiber tray 15 one or more rounds and one and a half or less round, and then the second set of optical modules 12 is fixed to the opposite side of the receptacle 4 (step of mounting an optical element). . When the optical fiber 11 is wound with the second set of optical modules 12, the second set of sleeves 4 a can be prevented from getting in the way by allowing the second set of sleeves 4 a to escape to the fiber escape portion 19. . After fixing the two optical modules 12 on the opposite sides of the receptacle 4 in this manner, a series of steps is completed.

  Next, the operation and effect obtained from the optical transceiver 1 according to the present embodiment and the assembling method according to the present embodiment will be described in detail. In the optical transceiver 1, an optical fiber 11 for optically connecting an optical module 12 for transmitting or receiving an optical signal and the receptacle 4 has a length set to a predetermined value, and the optical fiber 11 is a fiber tray 15. It is wound around and held. The fiber tray 15 is disposed between the receptacle 4 and the optical module 12, and holds the optical fiber 11 in a state of being wound in a circular shape. Therefore, when the optical fiber 11 is wound around the fiber tray 15, the optical fiber 11 is bent while being held by the fiber tray 15. Therefore, the bending of the optical fiber 11 can be regulated by the fiber tray 15, so that the bending radius of the optical fiber 11 can be reliably maintained at or above the specified value (minimum bending diameter). As a result, damage to the optical fiber 11 can be prevented. Therefore, the long-term reliability of the optical fiber 11 that is the MMF can be improved.

  Also, as shown in FIG. 9, the fiber tray 15 is provided with the fiber escape portion 19, so that the receptacle 4 and the optical fiber 11 move in the direction D2 which is the width direction of the optical transceiver 1 with respect to the fiber tray 15. It is possible. Therefore, when winding the optical fiber 11 around the fiber tray 15 with the optical module 12 to which the optical fiber 11 is connected, the receptacle 4 can be moved together with the optical fiber 11 in the direction D2. Accordingly, when the optical fiber 11 is wound around the fiber tray 15 with the optical module 12, the receptacle 4 is moved in the direction D <b> 2, so that the receptacle 4 is not obstructed. As a result, the optical fiber 11 can be efficiently wound and the optical fiber 11 can be stored efficiently.

  In addition, the fiber tray 15 has an abutting portion 16c which abuts against the end surface 13b of the circuit board 13 at the end on the receptacle 4 side. Therefore, the fiber tray 15 can be positioned with respect to the circuit board 13 by abutting the butting portion 16c located at the end on the receptacle 4 side against the end face 13b of the circuit board 13. Therefore, the fiber tray 15 can be stably fixed to the circuit board 13 and the fiber tray 15 can be prevented from moving from the circuit board 13 during winding. Thus, the fiber tray 15 can be easily and suitably arranged in a predetermined space between the sleeve 4a and the optical module 12.

  The fiber tray 15 includes a cylindrical first wall portion 16 extending in an out-of-plane direction of the circuit board 13 and a second wall portion 17 extending in an out-of-plane direction and located outside the first wall portion 16. The optical fiber 11 is housed between the first wall 16 and the second wall 17, and the outer peripheral shape of the first wall 16 is such that the bending diameter of the optical fiber 11 is larger than a predetermined value. It may be formed as follows. In this case, since the bending diameter of the optical fiber 11 becomes larger than a predetermined value due to the outer peripheral shape of the first wall portion 16, damage to the optical fiber 11 can be more reliably prevented.

  The height (distance H1) of one end of the optical fiber 11 connected to the optical module 12 from the mounting surface of the circuit board 13 is determined by the circuit of the other end connected to the receptacle 4 of the optical fiber 11. The height (distance H2) from the mounting surface of the substrate 13 may be set larger. In this case, when the optical fiber 11 is wound in a direction away from the circuit board 13, the height of the optical fiber 11 can be reduced from the one end to the other end. Damage can be more reliably suppressed.

  In the method of assembling the optical transceiver 1, the optical fiber 11 is wound around the fiber tray 15 while holding the optical module 12 after positioning the receptacle 4 with respect to the fiber tray 15. As described above, the distance H1 from the mounting surface of the circuit board 13 to the optical module 12 is longer than the distance H2 from the mounting surface of the circuit board 13 to the receptacle 4. Therefore, by winding the optical fiber 11 while holding the optical module 12 after positioning the receptacle 4, the optical fiber 11 is wound in a direction away from the circuit board 13. Therefore, when the optical fiber 11 is wound, the optical fiber 11 can be prevented from being pressed against the circuit board 13, so that damage to the optical fiber 11 at the time of winding the optical fiber 11 can be more reliably avoided.

  The embodiments of the optical transceiver and the assembling method according to the present invention have been described above, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. That is, it is easily recognized by those skilled in the art that the present invention can be variously modified and changed within the scope of the gist described in the claims. For example, the shape, size, number, material, and arrangement of each part such as the fiber tray of the optical transceiver can be appropriately changed, and the contents and order of each step of the assembling method can be appropriately changed. In the above-described embodiment, the optical transceiver 1 conforming to the QSFP standard has been described. However, the optical transceiver according to the present invention may be an optical transceiver conforming to a standard other than the QSFP standard, such as the SFP standard.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Optical transceiver, 2 ... Case, 3 ... Slider, 4 ... Receptacle, 4a ... Sleeve (receptacle), 5 ... Pull tab, 6 ... Electric plug, 11 ... Optical fiber, 12 ... Optical module (optical element), 12a ... Lens, 13: circuit board, 13a: circuit element, 13b: end face, 15: fiber tray, 16: first wall portion, 16a: claw portion, 16b: cutout portion, 16c: abutting portion, 16d: abutting surface Reference numeral 16e: concave portion, 16f: first end wall, 17: second wall portion, 17a: claw portion, 17c: arm portion, 17d: convex portion, 17e: end portion, 17f: tapered surface, 17g: first flat surface Surface, 17h: second flat surface, 17j: second end wall, 17k: concave portion, 18: connecting portion, 18a: protruding portion, 18b: claw portion, 19: fiber escape portion, D1, D2, D3 ... direction, H1, H2 ... distance.

Claims (5)

An optical transceiver inserted into and removed from a cage of a host system,
An optical element for transmitting or receiving an optical signal,
A receptacle for receiving an external optical connector and transmitting and receiving an optical signal to and from the outside via the optical connector;
An optical fiber having a length set to a predetermined value and optically connecting the optical element and the receptacle,
A fiber tray disposed between the receptacle and the optical element and holding the optical fiber in a state of being wound in a circular shape,
A circuit board on which the optical element is mounted,
With
The receptacle and the optical fiber are movable in the width direction of the optical transceiver with respect to the fiber tray,
Optical transceiver. The fiber tray has an abutting portion abutting against an end surface of the circuit board at an end on the receptacle side,
The optical transceiver according to claim 1. The fiber tray has a cylindrical first wall portion extending in an out-of-plane direction of the circuit board, and a second wall portion extending in the out-of-plane direction and located outside the first wall portion,
The optical fiber is housed between the first wall and the second wall,
The outer peripheral shape of the first wall portion is formed such that a bending diameter of the optical fiber is larger than a predetermined value.
The optical transceiver according to claim 1. The height of one end of the optical fiber connected to the optical element from the mounting surface of the circuit board is from the mounting surface of the circuit board at the other end connected to the receptacle of the optical fiber. Is set larger than the height of
The optical transceiver according to claim 1. An assembling method for assembling the optical transceiver according to claim 1,
A step of preparing the optical fiber to which the receptacle and the optical element are connected,
Positioning the receptacle with respect to the fiber tray;
Winding the optical fiber around the fiber tray with the optical element,
Mounting the optical element on the circuit board;
Assembly method comprising:

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