JP3049306B2 - Optical module and method of manufacturing the same - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical module and a method for manufacturing the same, and more particularly, to an optical module for facilitating connection handling of an optical connector for inputting and outputting light to and from the optical module and a method for manufacturing the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional example of an optical module will be described with reference to FIG. In the optical module shown in FIG. 3, after the light emitting element 4 is mounted at a predetermined position in the package 5, the light emitting element 4 is actually energized to emit light through the electric terminal 42, and the radiated light enters the optical fiber core wire 9. The optical fiber core wire 9 is aligned and fixed so that the amount of incident light is maximized while monitoring the state of the optical fiber. When 4 is a light receiving element,
The light receiving element 4 is illuminated with the light introduced through the optical fiber core wire 9, and the amount of light incident on the light receiving element 4 is monitored so as to maximize the amount of incident light while monitoring the electric output obtained via the electric terminal 42. The fiber core wire 9 is aligned and fixed. To align and fix the optical fiber core wire 9, the optical fiber core wire 9 is bonded and sealed with a sealing material 10 in a pipe for protecting the optical fiber core wire 9 or by brazing. Since the optical fiber core 9 is made of glass, a metal coating is performed on the optical fiber core 9 when brazing.

Another conventional optical module will be described with reference to FIG. After mounting the light emitting element or the light receiving element 4 in the package 5, it is sealed with a glass window 13. In this case, the optical fiber core wire 9 is attached to the ferrule 20 through its center. Since the distal end of the fiber core wire 9 is exposed at the center of the distal end of the ferrule 20, the distal end of the ferrule 20 is engaged with the glass window 13 so that the amount of input / output light between the light emitting element and the light receiving element 4 is maximized. The optical fiber core wire 9 is aligned and fixed by monitoring from the outside of the glass window 13 such that

Referring to FIG. 5, in each of the above-described optical modules, the optical fiber core wire 9 is formed into a tape optical fiber 6 and extends from the optical module to a certain length. A configuration in which the connector 15 is attached is adopted. Such an optical module in which the tape optical fiber 6 extends from the optical module is generally called a pigtail type optical module. In the optical module, the optical connector 15 is connected to the tape optical fiber 6 extending to a certain length, and the other optical connector 16 is connected to the optical connector 15 to input / output light to / from the outside through the optical connector. Will be.

[0005]

The above-mentioned optical module is for causing the light emitting element to actually emit light or for inputting light to the light receiving element to align and fix the optical fiber. Become. And, it is not easy to fix the optical fiber in the pipe. In addition, the conventional examples of the optical module are all pigtail type, but the extra length of the tail optical fiber must be handled.
This is not easy to handle for the user of the optical module.

An object of the present invention is to provide an optical module and a method of manufacturing the same, which have solved the problems to be solved as described above.

[0007]

An optical module for inputting and outputting light to and from a light emitting element or a light receiving element via an optical fiber is provided with a mounting substrate having a V-groove formed with two V-grooves. , A light-emitting element or a light-receiving element 4 positioned and fixed to the V-groove mounting substrate 3 with reference to the V-groove 31, a package 5 to which the V-groove mounting substrate 3 is mounted and fixed, and two guides. An optical module having a sealing glass window 2 for mounting the pin 1 in the window hole 51 of the package 5 in a state where the pin 1 is fitted and aligned with the V groove 31 and sealing the window hole 51 is formed.

Further, an optical module having an optical connector 15 connected to the package 5 via the guide pin 1 is constructed. The optical connector 15 is a package 5
Has two guide pin fitting holes 7 into which the two guide pins 1 fit. The distance between the center lines of the two guide pin fitting holes 7 is between the center lines of the two guide pins 1. The optical fiber 6 is attached to the optical connector 15 with reference to the two guide pin fitting holes 7 and the tip of the optical fiber core wire emits light by using the guide pin fitting hole 7 and the guide pin 1 of the optical module as an intermediate. An optical module which was precisely adjusted and adjusted to the element or the light receiving element 4 was constructed.

Further, the light emitting element or the light receiving element 4 is an array type element, and the optical fiber 6 constitutes an optical module which is a multi-core tape optical fiber. Here, in the method of manufacturing an optical module for inputting / outputting light to / from the light emitting element or the light receiving element 4 via the optical fiber 6, two V grooves 31 are formed in the mounting substrate 3 with V grooves, and the V grooves 31 are formed. As a reference, the light emitting element or the light receiving element 4 is positioned and fixed on the mounting substrate 3 with the V-groove, the mounting substrate 3 with the V-groove is fixed on the package 5, and the guide pin 1 is fitted into the glass window 2 for sealing in the V-groove 31. A method of manufacturing an optical module is provided in which the sealing glass window 2 is attached to the window hole 51 of the package 5 and sealed with the guide pins 1 fitted and aligned in the V-grooves 31 while the guide pins 1 are fitted and aligned in the V-grooves 31.

In the above-described method for manufacturing an optical module, two guide pin fitting holes 7 for fitting the guide pins 1 of the optical module into the optical connector 15 are further formed.
The distance between the center lines of the two guide pin fitting holes 7 is adjusted to be exactly equal to the distance between the center lines of the two guide pins.
The optical fiber 6 is attached to the optical connector with the guide pin fitting hole 7 as a reference, and the guide pin fitting hole 7 and the guide pin 1 of the optical module are used as intermediates so that the tip of the optical fiber core wire can be accurately placed on the light emitting element or the light receiving element. A method for manufacturing an optical module to be aligned and adjusted is configured.

Further, in the above-described method for manufacturing an optical module, the method for manufacturing an optical module in which the V-groove 31 is formed by applying anisotropic etching to the silicon wafer for the mounting substrate 3 with V-grooves.

[0012]

According to the present invention, a light emitting element or a light receiving element is mounted at a predetermined position set on the basis of a V groove on a mounting substrate having a V groove for alignment. A guide pin is fixed through the glass window for sealing. When the guide pin is fixed to the glass window, high-precision alignment is not required. Here, the distance between the pins is controlled with high precision. The glass window is fixed to the package by bonding, brazing or welding at the position where the guide pin is placed in the V groove on the mounting substrate.

Since the glass window is in surface contact with the package, sealing is easy. Since the optical connector has the guide pin fitting hole fitted to the guide pin and is coupled to the optical module, the optical fiber core wire of the optical connector is connected to the light emitting element or the light receiving element via the guide pin and the V groove. Can be positioned with high accuracy, and the optical fiber alignment step is not required at the time of coupling.

Anisotropically etching a silicon wafer to obtain V
By engraving the groove, processing with an accuracy of 1 μm or less can be performed.

[0015]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of components of an embodiment of the optical module. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 4 denotes a light emitting element or a light receiving element, which comprises an array type element. The array type light emitting element or light receiving element 4 is arranged at a predetermined position of the mounting substrate 3 on which two mutually parallel V grooves 31 are formed, and the arrangement direction thereof is arranged orthogonal to the V grooves 31. Will be installed. The positioning of the array type light emitting element or the light receiving element 4 must satisfy a predetermined mutual positional relationship between the two V grooves 31 with reference to the two V grooves 31 accurately. The mutual positioning between the reference V-groove 31 and the array type light emitting element or the light receiving element 4 is determined by photolithography technology.
By using the alignment marks formed when engraving 1, a high-precision operation can be performed.

Here, two guide pins 1 are passed through and fixed to the sealing glass window 2 for closing the window hole 51 formed on the side surface of the package 5. The fixing position of the glass window 2 with respect to the window hole 51 does not need to be particularly high precision, and one end of each of the two guide pins 1 is fitted into the V groove 31 as described later. It is sufficient that the window hole 51 can be closed in the state.

The array type light emitting element or light receiving element 4 is
The V-grooved mounting substrate 3 accurately positioned relative to the mounting substrate 1 is bonded and fixed to the bottom surface 52 of the package 5.
Two guide pins 1 that are fixed through the glass window 2 for sealing
One end of each is inserted from the window hole 51 on the side surface of the package 5, and the sealing glass window 2 is bonded, brazed, or welded to the side surface of the package 5 in a state fitted in the V-groove 31. The lid is welded to the package 5 to complete the sealing of the package 5.

FIG. 2A shows the optical module in which the sealing of the package 5 is completed. The illustrated array type light emitting element or light receiving element 4 is composed of four elements. Each of these elements is connected to an output terminal 42 via a wiring 41. Then, one end of each of the two guide pins 1 is fitted into the V-groove 31, and the other end is connected to the package 5.
It protrudes outside.

Next, the optical connector 15 fitted and coupled to the optical module will be described with reference to FIG. The optical fiber 6 exposes the optical fiber core wire 9 at the optical connector 15. The optical fiber 6 is preferably a multi-core tape optical fiber. Here, reference numeral 7 denotes a guide pin fitting hole into which the guide pin 1 of the package 5 fits.
The distance between the center lines of the two guide pin fitting holes 7 is exactly equal to the distance between the center lines of the two guide pins 1. The optical fiber 6 is attached to the optical connector with reference to the two guide pin fitting holes 7, and the tip of the optical fiber core wire 9 is arranged as an array type light emitting element or the like by the guide pin fitting hole 7 and the guide pin 1 of the optical module. Is adjusted in advance so as to accurately match the light receiving element 4.

The guide pins 1 projecting out of the package 5 are fitted into the two guide pin fitting holes 7 of the optical connector 15, and they are mutually connected. After all, the core wire 9 of the optical fiber 6 and the array type light emitting element or light receiving element 4 are
The alignment is performed with reference to the guide pin 1 and the guide pin fitting hole 7. FIG. 1 shows only one embodiment of the present invention, and the shapes of the V-groove and the guide pin are not limited to those having the configuration shown in FIG. Then, in addition to the above-described procedure, the guide pin 1 is first fixed to the V-groove, and then the sealing glass window can be fixed through.

[0021]

As described above, according to the present invention, a V-groove is formed in a mounting substrate with a V-groove, and a light emitting element or a light-receiving element is accurately positioned and fixed on the mounting substrate with a V-groove based on the V-groove. And fix the mounting substrate with V-groove to the package,
A guide pin is attached to the sealing glass window in a state where the guide pin is fitted and aligned in the V-groove. In a state where the guide pin is fitted and aligned in the V-groove, the sealing glass window is attached to the window hole of the package and sealed. On the one hand, the optical connector is configured such that the spacing between the center lines of the two guide pin fitting holes is exactly equal to the spacing between the center lines of the two guide pins, and The optical fiber is attached to the optical connector with the mating hole as a reference, and the tip of the optical fiber core wire is accurately aligned and adjusted with the array type light emitting element or light receiving element by using the guide pin fitting hole and the guide pin of the optical module in the middle. In this way, the optical module and the optical connector have a V-groove,
Since the guide pin and the guide pin fitting hole are used as a reference for alignment, the light emitting element or the light receiving element and the core wire of the optical fiber can be aligned.
No special alignment process is required. And the sealing of the optical module is relatively easy. In addition, since the optical connector is directly connected to the optical module, there is no need for an unnecessary optical fiber as in the pigtail type, and no extra processing of the optical fiber serving as the tail is required, so that the optical module is easy to handle for the user of the optical module. Module.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing components constituting an optical module according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of an optical module and an optical connector according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a conventional example of an optical module.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing another conventional example of an optical module.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a conventional pigtail type optical module.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Guide pin 2 Glass window 3 Mounting substrate with V groove 4 Light emitting element or light receiving element 5 Package 6 Tape optical fiber 7 Guide pin fitting hole 9 Optical fiber core wire 10 Sealing material 15 Optical connector 16 Optical connector 20 Ferrule 31 V groove 51 Window hole

Claims (7)

(57) [Claims] 1. An optical module for inputting and outputting light to and from a light-emitting element or a light-receiving element via an optical fiber, comprising: a mounting substrate with a V-groove formed with a V-groove; A light-emitting element or a light-receiving element positioned and fixed at a position, a package to which a mounting substrate with a V-groove is mounted and fixed, and a sealing glass window with a guide pin fitted and aligned with the V-groove. An optical module, comprising: a sealing glass window which is attached to a window hole of a package in a state where the guide pin is fitted and aligned with the V groove and seals the same. 2. The optical module according to claim 1, further comprising an optical connector coupled to the package via a guide pin. 3. The optical module according to claim 2, wherein the optical connector has two guide pin fitting holes into which the guide pins of the package fit, and the center line of the two guide pin fitting holes. Is set to be equal to the distance between the center lines of the two guide pins, the optical fiber is attached to the optical connector based on the two guide pin fitting holes, and the guide pin fitting hole and the optical module are mounted. An optical module characterized in that the tip end of an optical fiber core wire is precisely adjusted and adjusted to an array type light emitting element or a light receiving element by using a guide pin as an intermediary. 4. The optical module according to claim 3, wherein the light emitting element or the light receiving element is an array type element, and the optical fiber is a multi-core tape optical fiber. 5. A method of manufacturing an optical module for inputting and outputting light to a light emitting element or a light receiving element via an optical fiber,
A V-groove is formed on a mounting substrate with a V-groove, and a light emitting element or a light-receiving element is positioned and fixed on the mounting substrate with a V-groove based on the V-groove, and the mounting substrate with a V-groove is fixed to a package, and a glass window for sealing A guide pin is fitted in the V-groove in a state where the guide pin is fitted in the V-groove, and a sealing glass window is attached to the window hole of the package when the guide pin is fitted in the V-groove and sealed. Module manufacturing method. 6. The method for manufacturing an optical module according to claim 5, wherein two guide pin fitting holes for fitting the guide pins of the package are formed in the optical connector, and the two guide pin fitting holes are formed. 7
The distance between the center lines is adjusted exactly equal to the distance between the center lines of the two guide pins, and the optical fiber is attached to the optical connector based on the two guide pin fitting holes. A method for manufacturing an optical module, comprising: accurately aligning and adjusting an end of an optical fiber core wire with an array-type light-emitting element or a light-receiving element by using a hole and a guide pin of the optical module. 7. The method for manufacturing an optical module according to claim 5, wherein the mounting substrate with a V-groove is formed by performing anisotropic etching on a silicon wafer to form a V-groove. A method for manufacturing an optical module, comprising: