JP2022143753A - optical module - Google Patents

Abstract

To improve high frequency characteristics.SOLUTION: An optical module 100 includes: a conductive stem 10 having a first surface 12 and a second surface 22, the conductive stem having a plurality of through holes 24 penetrating between the first surface 12 and the second surface 22; a plurality of lead pins 26; a thermoelectric cooler 38 having a lower surface 42 fixed to the first surface 12; a sub-mount substrate 50 fixed to the upper surface 40 of the thermoelectric cooler 38, and having a wiring pattern 52 on a side opposite to the thermoelectric cooler 38; and a signal wire 72 electrically connecting the tip face of a signal lead pin 36 to the wiring pattern 52 of the sub-mount substrate 50. The first surface 12 of the conductive stem 10 includes a reference area 14 where the plurality of lead pins 26 are arranged and a mounting area 16 which is lower than the reference area 14, and in which the thermoelectric cooler 38 is mounted.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to optical modules.

Small optical modules are required to have improved high-frequency characteristics. A TO-CAN (Transistor Outline Can) package (Patent Document 1) uses lead pins to transmit electrical signals to an edge-emitting laser. A lead pin passes through the conductive stem. A cooling element is mounted on the conductive stem, a subcarrier substrate is mounted on the cooling element, and an edge emitting laser is mounted on the subcarrier substrate.

JP 2011-108939 A

The lead pin and the edge-emitting laser are electrically connected via a relay line substrate. The lead pins and the relay line substrate are joined with gold-based solder. The edge-emitting laser and the relay substrate are connected by bonding wires. By using the relay line substrate, the bonding wire can be shortened and the high frequency characteristics can be improved, but the use of gold-based solder increases the cost.

An object of the present invention is to improve high frequency characteristics.

The optical module has a first surface and a second surface, and includes a conductive stem having a plurality of through holes penetrating between the first surface and the second surface, a signal lead pin, the plurality of through holes. and a plurality of lead pins each positioned inside the conductive stem and each fixed in a dielectrically insulated manner from the conductive stem; a thermoelectric cooler having the lower surface fixed to the first surface; and a submount substrate fixed to the upper surface of the thermoelectric cooler and having a wiring pattern on the surface opposite to the thermoelectric cooler. a photoelectric element mounted on the submount substrate, electrically connected to the wiring pattern, and adapted to convert at least one of an optical signal and an electrical signal to the other; and a signal wire electrically connecting the wiring pattern of the mounting substrate, wherein the first surface of the conductive stem has a reference area in which the plurality of lead pins are arranged and a lower level than the reference area. a mounting area on which the thermoelectric cooler is mounted.

Since the mounting area is lower than the reference area, the position of the wiring pattern can be lowered. As a result, the height difference between the tip surface of the signal lead pin and the wiring pattern is reduced, so that the signal wire can be shortened and the high frequency characteristics can be improved.

1 is a side view of an optical module according to a first embodiment; FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conductive stem and electronic components mounted thereon; FIG. FIG. 2 is a plan view of a conductive stem and electronic components mounted thereon; FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the structure shown in FIG. 3 taken along line IV-IV; 1 is an exploded perspective view of an optical module; FIG. FIG. 8 is a plan view of a conductive stem and an electronic component mounted thereon according to a second embodiment;

Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Members denoted by the same reference numerals in all drawings have the same or equivalent functions, and repeated description thereof will be omitted. Note that the size of the figure does not necessarily match the magnification.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a side view of the optical module according to the first embodiment. The optical module 100 is a TO-CAN (Transistor Outline-Can) type optical module, and includes a transmitter optical sub-assembly (TOSA) including a light emitting element and a receiver sub-assembly (ROSA) including a light receiving element. Optical Sub-Assembly) or a bidirectional module (BOSA: Bidirectional Optical Sub-Assembly) that includes both a light emitting element and a light receiving element. The optical module 100 has a flexible printed circuit board (FPC) 102 and is adapted to be connected to a printed circuit board (PCB) 104 . The optical module 100 has a conductive stem 10 .

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the conductive stem 10 and electronic components mounted thereon. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the conductive stem 10 and electronic components mounted thereon. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the structure shown in FIG. 3 taken along line IV--IV.

[Conductive stem]
Conductive stem 10 is made of a conductive material such as metal. Conductive stem 10 is connected to a reference potential (eg, ground). Conductive stem 10 includes eyelets.

Conductive stem 10 has a first surface 12 . First surface 12 of conductive stem 10 includes reference area 14 . First side 12 includes mounting area 16 that is lower than reference area 14 . The first surface 12 has a convex portion 18 around the mounting area 16 . The upper surface of the convex portion 18 is the reference area 14 . The first surface 12 includes an outer perimeter region 20 around the protrusion 18 that is lower than the reference region 14 . There is a convex portion 18 inside the outer peripheral region 20 .

Conductive stem 10 has a second surface 22 . The second surface 22 is flat. Conductive stem 10 has a plurality of through holes 24 extending therethrough between first surface 12 and second surface 22 . A plurality of through holes 24 are formed in the reference area 14 .

[Lead pin]
The optical module 100 has multiple lead pins 26 . A plurality of lead pins 26 are arranged in the reference area 14 . The plurality of lead pins 26 are positioned inside the plurality of through holes 24, respectively. A plurality of lead pins 26 are insulated from the conductive stem 10 by a dielectric 28 (for example, glass) and fixed to each other, thereby forming a coaxial line.

As shown in FIG. 4 , each of the plurality of lead pins 26 includes a shaft portion 30 inside the plurality of through holes 24 . Each of the plurality of lead pins 26 includes a first end 32 projecting from the first surface 12 . Each of the plurality of lead pins 26 includes a second end 34 protruding from the second surface 22 . Second end 34 is connected to flexible substrate 102 (FIG. 1).

The plurality of lead pins 26 includes signal lead pins 36 . The signal lead pin 36 has a thinner shank 30 than any other of the plurality of lead pins 26 . The signal lead pin 36 has a first end portion 32 larger in diameter than the shaft portion 30 . The tip surface of the first end portion 32 is flat.

[Thermoelectric cooler]
The optical module 100 has a thermoelectric cooler 38 . Thermoelectric cooler 38 has an upper surface 40 and a lower surface 42 . The upper surface 40 and the lower surface 42 are made of an insulator such as ceramic. Thermoelectric cooler 38 is adapted to transfer heat between upper surface 40 and lower surface 42 . Thermoelectric cooler 38 has a Peltier element 41 therein for transferring heat between upper surface 40 and lower surface 42 . For example, the upper surface 40 serves as a heat absorbing surface and the lower surface 42 serves as a heat dissipating surface, but can be switched vice versa. The electrodes of thermoelectric cooler 38 are connected to lead pins 26 by wires W1.

Thermoelectric cooler 38 has a conductive film 44 on top surface 40 . The conductive film 44 becomes a reference potential plane (for example, ground plane). A thermistor 46 rests on the conductive film 44 and is electrically connected so that the temperature can be measured. The thermistor 46 is connected to the lead pin 26 by a wire W2 and is energized.

The thermoelectric cooler 38 has a lower surface 42 secured to the first surface 12 . As shown in FIG. 4, a non-conductive adhesive 48 is interposed between thermoelectric cooler 38 and first surface 12 . A thermoelectric cooler 38 is mounted on the mounting area 16 . A non-conductive adhesive 48 is interposed between the thermoelectric cooler 38 and the mounting area 16 to adhere them together. The height difference between the reference area 14 and the mounting area 16 is more than half the thickness of the thermoelectric cooler 38 .

[Submount substrate]
The optical module 100 has a submount substrate 50 . The submount substrate 50 is at least indirectly fixed to the first surface 12 . A thermoelectric cooler 38 is interposed between the submount substrate 50 and the first surface 12 . A submount substrate 50 is secured to the top surface 40 of the thermoelectric cooler 38 . A submount substrate 50 is mounted on the conductive film 44 .

As shown in FIG. 3, submount substrate 50 overhangs in the direction from thermoelectric cooler 38 to signal lead pins 36 . Submount substrate 50 has an edge above reference area 14 . The ends of the submount substrate 50 are spaced from the conductive stems 10 (FIG. 4).

The submount substrate 50 has wiring patterns 52 . The wiring pattern 52 is on the opposite side of the submount substrate 50 from the thermoelectric cooler 38 . The wiring pattern 52 includes a signal pattern 54 . The signal pattern 54 is electrically connected to a photoelectric element 56 (optical modulator) by a wire W3 to input a high frequency signal.

The wiring pattern 52 includes a ground pattern 58 . The ground pattern 58 is connected via a through hole 60 to a back electrode (not shown) on the side opposite to the mounting surface. Thereby, the ground pattern 58 is electrically connected to the conductive film 44 .

The submount substrate 50 has a mounting surface on which the photoelectric element 56 is mounted. The photoelectric element 56 is arranged so that the optical axis is directed parallel to the mounting surface. A terminating resistor (not shown) may be provided on the submount substrate 50 to suppress reflected waves of modulated electrical signals having high-frequency components from returning to the drive IC (not shown).

[Photoelectric device]
The optical module 100 has a photoelectric element 56 . Optoelectronic device 56 is adapted to convert at least one optical signal and an electrical signal to the other. The photoelectric device 56 integrates a semiconductor laser and an optical modulator. A wire W4 is bonded to the semiconductor laser to apply a DC voltage. The optical modulator is designed to be single-ended driven.

The photoelectric element 56 is mounted on the submount substrate 50 . The photoelectric element 56 (back electrode) is electrically connected to the wiring pattern 52 (ground pattern 58). The photoelectric element 56 is an edge-emitting laser that emits light parallel to the first surface 12 . The emitted light is reflected by the mirror 62 in a direction crossing the first surface 12 .

A bypass capacitor 64 is mounted on the conductive stem 10 . The back surface (one electrode) of the bypass capacitor 64 is electrically connected to the first surface 12 and connected to a reference potential (eg, ground). The upper surface (the other electrode) of the bypass capacitor 64 is connected to the lead pin 26 via the wire W5 so that a voltage is applied. The voltage is also connected to the photoelectric element 56 (semiconductor laser) via wire W4 to supply a DC voltage. A bypass capacitor 64 separates the high-frequency signal superimposed on the DC signal.

[Dielectric block]
Optical module 100 has a dielectric block 66 . A dielectric block 66 has a metallization pattern 68 on its surface. A dielectric block 66 is mounted on the first side 12 of the conductive stem 10 . Metallized pattern 68 is in electrical communication with conductive stem 10 . The metallized pattern 68 is formed continuously from the bottom surface to the top surface of the dielectric block 66 .

[Wire]
A ground wire 70 electrically connects the first surface 12 of the conductive stem 10 and the ground pattern 58 . One end of ground wire 70 is bonded to metallization pattern 68 of dielectric block 66 .

A signal wire 72 electrically connects the tip surface of the signal lead pin 36 and the wiring pattern 52 of the submount substrate 50 . A signal wire 72 is bonded to the signal pattern 54 .

Since the mounting area 16 is lower than the reference area 14, the position of the wiring pattern 52 can be lowered. As a result, the height difference between the tip surface of the signal lead pin 36 and the wiring pattern 52 is reduced, so that the signal wire 72 can be shortened and the high frequency characteristics can be improved.

[lens cap]
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the optical module 100. FIG. A lens cap 74 has a lens 76 . The lens 76 collects the light emitted from the photoelectric element 56 and reflected by the mirror 62 . As such, the lens 76 faces the center of the first surface 12 of the conductive stem 10 . Correspondingly, the mirror 62 is also centered on the first surface 12 of the conductive stem 10 . The lens cap 74 is attached to the conductive stem 10 using the projection 18 as a guide.

[Second embodiment]
FIG. 6 is a plan view of a conductive stem and an electronic component mounted thereon according to a second embodiment. One or more wires 278 electrically connect the first surface 12 and the conductive film 44 . One end of wire 278 is bonded to conductive film 44 . The other end of wire 278 is bonded to the reference surface of first surface 12 . A wire 278 may connect the conductive film 44 to ground potential. For other contents, what has been described in the first embodiment can be applied.

[Overview of embodiment]
(1) a conductive stem 10 having a first surface 12 and a second surface 22 and having a plurality of through holes 24 penetrating between the first surface 12 and the second surface 22; a plurality of lead pins 26 positioned inside the through-holes 24 of the conductive stem 10 and fixed thereto insulated by a dielectric 28; A thermoelectric cooler 38 adapted to transfer heat between and having a lower surface 42 secured to the first surface 12 and a thermoelectric cooler 38 secured to a top surface 40 opposite the thermoelectric cooler 38 . and a photoelectric element mounted on the submount substrate 50 and electrically connected to the wiring pattern 52 and adapted to convert at least one of an optical signal and an electrical signal to the other. and signal wires 72 for electrically connecting the tip surfaces of the signal lead pins 36 and the wiring patterns 52 of the submount substrate 50 . and a mounting area 16 lower than the reference area 14 where the thermoelectric cooler 38 is mounted.

(2) The optical module 100 described in (1), wherein the submount substrate 50 overhangs in the direction from the thermoelectric cooler 38 to the signal lead pins 36 and has an end portion above the reference area 14. module 100;

(3) The optical module 100 described in (2), wherein the end of the submount substrate 50 is spaced from the conductive stem 10 .

(4) In the optical module 100 described in any one of (1) to (3), the height difference between the reference area 14 and the mounting area 16 is at least half the thickness of the thermoelectric cooler 38. An optical module 100;

(5) The optical module 100 according to any one of (1) to (4), further comprising a non-conductive adhesive 48 interposed between the thermoelectric cooler 38 and the mounting area 16. 100.

(6) In the optical module 100 described in any one of (1) to (5), the wiring pattern 52 of the submount substrate 50 includes a signal pattern 54 to which the signal wire 72 is bonded and a ground pattern. 58 and further comprising a ground wire 70 electrically connecting the first surface 12 of the conductive stem 10 and the ground pattern 58 .

(7) The optical module 100 described in (6), which has a metallized pattern 68 on its surface, is mounted on the first surface 12 of the conductive stem 10, and the metallized pattern 68 is electrically connected to the conductive stem 10. and one end of the ground wire 70 is bonded to the metallization pattern 68 .

(8) The optical module described in (7), wherein the thermoelectric cooler 38 has a conductive film 44 on the top surface 40, and the submount substrate 50 is mounted on the conductive film 44 to form a ground pattern. The optical module 58 is in electrical communication with the conductive film 44 and further has another wire 278 electrically connecting the first surface 12 and the conductive film 44 .

(9) In the optical module 100 described in any one of (1) to (8), the first surface 12 of the conductive stem 10 has a convex portion 18 around the mounting area 16, The upper surface of the convex portion 18 is the reference region 14, includes an outer peripheral region 20 around the convex portion 18 that is lower than the reference region 14, and further has a lens cap 74 attached to the conductive stem 10 using the convex portion 18 as a guide. optical module 100;

(10) In the optical module 100 described in any one of (1) to (9), the photoelectric element 56 is an edge-emitting laser that emits light parallel to the first surface 12, Optical module 100 further comprising a mirror 62 that reflects light in a direction transverse to surface 12 .

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible. For example, the configurations described in the embodiments can be replaced with configurations that are substantially the same, configurations that produce the same effects, or configurations that can achieve the same purpose.

Reference Signs List 10 Conductive stem 12 First surface 14 Reference area 16 Mounting area 18 Projection 20 Peripheral area 22 Second surface 24 Through hole 26 Lead pin 28 Dielectric 30 Shaft 32 First end part, 34 second end, 36 signal lead pin, 38 thermoelectric cooler, 40 upper surface, 41 Peltier element, 42 lower surface, 44 conductive film, 46 thermistor, 48 non-conductive adhesive, 50 submount substrate, 52 wiring pattern, 54 signal pattern, 56 photoelectric element, 58 ground pattern, 60 through hole, 62 mirror, 64 bypass capacitor, 66 dielectric block, 68 metallized pattern, 70 ground wire, 72 signal wire, 74 lens cap, 76 lens, 100 optical module , 102 flexible substrate, 104 printed circuit board, 278 wire, W1 wire, W2 wire, W3 wire, W4 wire, W5 wire.

Claims (10)

a conductive stem having a first surface and a second surface and having a plurality of through holes penetrating between the first surface and the second surface;
a plurality of lead pins including signal lead pins, positioned inside the plurality of through holes, respectively fixed to the conductive stem while being insulated by a dielectric;
a thermoelectric cooler having a top surface and a bottom surface adapted to transfer heat between the top surface and the bottom surface, the bottom surface being secured to the first surface;
a submount substrate fixed to the upper surface of the thermoelectric cooler and having a wiring pattern on a surface opposite to the thermoelectric cooler;
a photoelectric element mounted on the submount substrate, electrically connected to the wiring pattern, and configured to convert at least one of an optical signal and an electrical signal to the other;
a signal wire electrically connecting the tip surface of the signal lead pin and the wiring pattern of the submount substrate;
has
The optical module, wherein the first surface of the conductive stem includes a reference area in which the plurality of lead pins are arranged and a mounting area that is lower than the reference area and in which the thermoelectric cooler is mounted. An optical module according to claim 1,
An optical module in which the submount substrate overhangs in a direction from the thermoelectric cooler to the signal lead pins and has an edge above the reference area. An optical module according to claim 2,
The optical module wherein the end of the submount substrate is spaced from the conductive stem. An optical module according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The optical module, wherein the height difference between the reference area and the mounting area is equal to or greater than half the thickness of the thermoelectric cooler. An optical module according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
An optical module further comprising a non-conductive adhesive interposed between the thermoelectric cooler and the mounting area. An optical module according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
the wiring pattern of the submount substrate includes a signal pattern to which the signal wire is bonded and a ground pattern;
The optical module further comprising a ground wire electrically connecting the first surface of the conductive stem and the ground pattern. An optical module according to claim 6,
further comprising a dielectric block having a metallized pattern on its surface and mounted on said first surface of said conductive stem, said metallized pattern being in electrical communication with said conductive stem;
An optical module in which one end of the ground wire is bonded to the metallization pattern. An optical module according to claim 7,
The thermoelectric cooler has a conductive film on the upper surface,
The submount substrate is mounted on the conductive film, and the ground pattern is electrically connected to the conductive film,
The optical module further comprising another wire electrically connecting the first surface and the conductive film. An optical module according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
The first surface of the conductive stem has a convex portion around the mounting region, the upper surface of the convex portion being the reference region, and the convex portion having an outer peripheral region lower than the reference region. including
An optical module further comprising a lens cap attached to the conductive stem using the convex portion as a guide. An optical module according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
the photoelectric element is an edge-emitting laser that emits light parallel to the first surface;
An optical module further comprising a mirror that reflects the light in a direction intersecting the first surface.

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