JP3680413B2 - Manufacturing method of multi-core optical module - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an improved manufacturing method for aligning and fixing a multi-core optical component and a flange in a parallel optical transceiver module that simultaneously transmits optical signals to a plurality of lines in the optical communication field.
[0002]
[Prior art]
FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a conventional picture tail type module.
As shown in FIG. 3, the conventional multi-core optical module has a pigtail structure in which the optical fiber tape 1 protrudes from the module body 3 and the multi-fiber optical connector 2 is attached to the tip.
More specifically, FIG. 4 shows the internal structure of the module body in FIG. That is, the LD (PD) array 7 is aligned with the optical fiber array 24 via the lens array 6.
That is, an optical fiber tape 1 is prepared by preparing in advance an optical fiber array 24 at one end and a multi-fiber optical connector 2 at the other end. The module body 3 has a structure in which both are aligned and fixed.
In FIG. 4, there may be a configuration (bad joint) in which the LD (PD) array 7 and the optical fiber array 24 are directly abutted without using the lens array 6.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In conventional pigtail type optical modules, handling of the optical fiber tape is difficult in each manufacturing process. In particular, the optical fiber tape coating is made of resin, has poor heat resistance, and is also solvent resistant during cleaning. There was a problem.
FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing a conventional pigtail type substrate mounting example.
As shown in FIG. 10, even when mounted on the wiring board 19, the optimum length of the optical fiber tape 1 varies depending on each substrate and each mounting position. It was necessary to process the extra length by a method such as wrapping above, or to make a custom production according to each optimum length.
[0004]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
As a result of various studies on the above problems, the present inventors have relatively positioned and fixed the multi-core optical component, the lens array, and the multi-core optical connector by the guide means, and the multi-core optical component and the external multi-core optical connector are attached. And the structure that optically aligns and fixes the flange and the multi-core optical component while observing the beam from the back side through the lens array. The invention has been completed.
[0005]
That is, the present invention provides:
[1] Manufacturing method of multi-core optical module ( 1 ) First step of fixing guide pins to first flange, second step of hermetically fixing lens array to second flange, and first flange The first and second flanges are aligned and fixed while observing the beam emitted from the multi-fiber optical connector positioned by the guide pins fixed to the second side through the lens array fixed to the second flange from the back side. There is provided a method for manufacturing a multi-core optical module comprising a third step and a fourth step of aligning and fixing the integrated first and second flanges and the multi-core optical component. Also,
( 2 ) The multi-core optical component is characterized in that it is one of a PD array, an LD array, and an optical waveguide type device. Also,
(3) the first step is characterized in that it is intended to insert molding using an epoxy resin with the flange while gripping the guide pin spacing. Further, characterized in (4) points the first step is to fixing using a low melting point glass with respect to the flange while gripping the guide pin spacing. Also,
( 5 ) A first step of airtightly fixing the lens array to the flange, and the lens array while observing the beam emitted from the multi-core optical connector having the guide pin inserted from the back side through the lens array fixed to the flange. And a third step of aligning and fixing the flange and the multi-core optical component, and a method of manufacturing a multi-core optical module. Also,
( 6 ) The multi-core optical component is characterized in that it is one of a PD array, an LD array, and an optical waveguide type device. Also,
[0006]
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings when the multi-core optical component is mainly a PD array or an LD array.
(A) Construction 1 of a multi-core optical module is a schematic diagram showing the basic configuration of the multi-core optical module.
FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing an example of the module with the adapter housing.
1-2, 1 is an optical fiber tape, 1 'is an optical fiber, 2 is a multi-fiber optical connector, 3 is an optical module body, 4 is a lead wire, 5 is a package, 6 is a lens array, and 7 is an LD (PD ) Array, 8 is a guide pin, 9 is a guide pin insertion hole, 10 is an adapter housing, 11 is a housing fitting portion, 12 is a pressing spring, and 20 is a drive IC.
3 to 4 are schematic views showing a conventional pictail type module and the inside thereof.
3-4, 1 is an optical fiber tape, 1 'is an optical fiber, 2 is a multi-fiber optical connector, 3 is an optical module body, 4 is a lead wire, 5 is a package, 6 is a lens array, and 7 is an LD (PD ) Array, 20 is a driving IC, and 24 is an optical fiber array.
As shown in FIGS. 3 to 4, in the conventional example, the external multi-fiber optical connector 2 is accurately placed in the position where the optical fiber array 13 is aligned and fixed as shown in FIGS. The guide means for alignment is precisely aligned and fixed.
In this case , two guide pins 8 are generally used as the guide means of the multi-fiber optical connector 2, but the guide pins 8 are fixed to the optical module 3 side or guide pin insertion holes 9 are used. ing to be provided.
[0007]
In general, the positioning reproducibility using the guide pins 8 is accurate to 1 μm or less. By adopting such a configuration, both the module manufacturing process and the substrate mounting process have the effect of eliminating troublesome handling of the optical fiber tape portion.
In this case, the optical fiber tape 1 is connected by fitting the multi-fiber optical connector 2 at the end of the substrate mounting stage.
[0008]
(B) Board Mounting of Multi-Core Optical Module FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing one example of board mounting according to the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing another example of the substrate mounting example of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing a conventional pigtail type substrate mounting example.
8 to 10, 1 is an optical fiber tape, 2 is an optical fiber connector, 3 is a module body, 4 is a lead wire, 13 is an adapter, 14 is an external cable, 15 is an optical fiber tape with connectors at both ends, and 16 is a backboard. An adapter, 17 is a module with an adapter housing, 18 is a board, and 19 is a wiring board.
[0009]
As shown in FIG. 8, regarding the extra length processing of the optical fiber tape, the length of the optical fiber tape 15 with the multi-fiber optical connector at both ends that is inexpensive as in the present invention can be aligned in advance to the optimum length. In an expensive pigtail-type optical module, the extra length processing can be simplified and the cost is more effective than the optical fiber tape length is previously set to the optimum length.
Further, as shown in FIG. 9, in the multi-core optical module, the module 17 with the adapter housing can be connected to the end of the wiring board 18 by attaching the backboard adapter 16 to the adapter part of the connector connection, and securing the adapter part. It is also possible to dispose them directly and connect them directly to the external optical cable 14.
FIG. 10 shows a substrate mounting form in a conventional pigtail type module, while FIGS. 8 to 9 show a substrate mounting form of the multi-core optical module of the present invention, and the difference between them is clarified.
[0010]
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining a mechanism for attaching and detaching a multi-fiber optical connector with a push-pull.
In FIG. 2, an adapter housing 10 for attaching and detaching the multi-fiber optical connector 2 with a push-pull is also provided. Thus, the workability for attaching and detaching the optical connector 2 to the optical module 3 is remarkably improved.
The push-pull type optical connector 2 ′ is precisely positioned by the guide means (guide pin 8, guide pin insertion hole 9), so that the adapter housing 10 itself is not required to be so accurate.
Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 1 to 2, LD (PD) array 7, the lens array 6, be arranged, respectively two-dimensional array of multi-fiber optical connector 2,2 'is effective for high-density mounting.
[0011]
(C) Multi-core optical module manufacturing method
(i) One Production Example FIGS. 5 to 6 are schematic views showing one example of production of the optical module of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing another example of manufacturing the optical module of the present invention.
5-7, 1 is an optical fiber, 2 is an optical connector, 4 is a lead wire, 6 is a lens array, 7 is an LD (PD) array, 8 is a guide pin, 20 is a drive IC, and 21 is an optical signal transmission window. , 22 is a first flange, and 23 is a second flange.
To achieve the multicore optical module of the present invention, the lens array 6 and the guide means (guide pin 8, the guide pin insertion hole 9) and has to be relatively accurately aligned fix.
[0012]
As shown in the first to fourth steps in FIGS. 5 to 6, the lens array 6 and the guide means (guide pins 8, guide pin insertion holes 9) are fixed to independent flanges, and both flanges are relatively positioned. Accuracy can be easily achieved by using a combined structure.
Specifically, in the first step, the guide pin 8 is fixed to the first flange 22 with, for example, a low melting point glass or an insert mold using an epoxy resin. The lens array 6 is hermetically fixed to the first flange 23 in the second step (claim 1 ).
In order to accommodate a larger number of lens arrays 6 or optical fibers 1 'in a limited space inside the guide means, as shown in the third step of FIG. A structure in which the guide means is fixed to the same flange is advantageous in design. In particular, the focal length of the lens is small, its effect when not largely take a distance between the lens array 6 and the connector 2 end surface is remarkable.
Normally, in an optical module, an LD or PD element is hermetically sealed from the outside in order to ensure long-term reliability. In this case, organic substances such as plastics are avoided as they are not suitable for hermetic sealing because they may cause gas generation or permeation, and metals, ceramics, glass, etc. are exclusively used as constituents.
[0013]
In the case of the present invention, as shown in the second step of FIG. 5, the lens array 6 is hermetically sealed inside from the lens array 6, but the lens array 6 has a low melting point with respect to the window hole portion of the metal flange. A method of hermetically fixing using glass is desirable.
On the other hand, when the guide means of the multi-fiber optical connector 2 is formed on a part of the flange, it is easy in the process to use an organic resin or an organic adhesive. For this reason, when the lens array 6 and the guide means described above are fixed to the same flange, it is desirable that the guide means forming portion has a structure in which the flange does not have a through portion.
5-6, the 1st process of fixing the guide pin 8 to the 1st flange 22 with sufficient pitch accuracy, the 2nd process of airtightly fixing the lens array 6 to the 2nd flange 23, and said 1st A third step of aligning and fixing the flange 22 and the second flange 23; and a fourth step of aligning and fixing the integrated first and second flanges 22 and 23 and the LD array or PD array 7. It consists of a process (claim 1 ).
[0014]
Note that the order of the first step and the second step may be interchanged.
In the first step, the guide pins 8 are fixed to the first flange 22 by (a) insert molding using the epoxy resin together with the first flange 22 in a state where the distance between the guide pins 8 is precisely grasped. (Claim 3 ) or (B) It is preferable that the pitch of the guide pin 8 is precisely gripped and fixed to the flange using low melting point glass (Claim 4 ).
In the second step, the method of airtightly fixing the lens array 6 to the second flange 23 generally uses low melting point glass as described above.
[0015]
Furthermore, in the third step, as a method of aligning and fixing the first and second flanges, the multi-fiber optical connector 2 is positioned by the guide pins 8 fixed to the first flange 22, The first and second flanges 22 are arranged so that the beam emitted from the optical fiber 1 reaches the maximum light amount while observing the beam from the back side through, for example, a CCD camera or the like through the lens array 6 fixed to the second flange 23. 23 is preferably aligned and fixed by means such as YAG laser welding (claim 1 ).
In the fourth step, the first and second flanges and the multi-core optical component assembled and integrated in the first to third steps are aligned and fixed to complete a multi-core optical module.
[0016]
(Ii) Other Manufacturing Examples FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing another manufacturing example of the optical module of the present invention.
A first step of airtightly fixing the lens array 6 to the flange 20, and observing the beam emitted from the multi-fiber optical connector 2 with the guide pins 8 inserted through the lens array 6 fixed to the flange 20 from the back side , It comprises a second step of aligning the lens array 6 and adhesively fixing it to the flange 20, and a third step of aligning and fixing the flange 20 and an optical component such as an LD array or PD array 7 (claim 5). ).
Specifically, as a method of aligning and fixing the guide pin, the multi-fiber optical connector 2 into which the guide pin 8 is inserted is provided with a flange at the tip of the guide pin 8 and is dropped into a recess or the like in the connector 2. The position of the connector is adjusted so that the maximum light amount can be obtained while observing the beam emitted from the optical fiber 1 through the lens array 6 fixed to the flange from the back side with, for example, a CCD camera. In this state, for example, an organic adhesive or the like It is preferable that the guide pin 6 is fixed to the flange by using and the guide pin 8 is pulled out from the connector 2 after being sufficiently cured (claim 5 ).
As described above, the case where the multi-core optical component is mainly a PD array or an LD array has been described. However, even when an optical waveguide device is used as the multi-core optical component, the basic concept is completely the same.
FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example when an optical waveguide device is used as a multi-core optical component.
Examples of the optical waveguide device include passive devices such as optical multiplexing and optical demultiplexing, and active devices such as optical switches and optical modulators using electro-optic effects. The lead wire 4 in FIG. 11 is necessary in the case of an active device.
[0017]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the present invention has the effect of facilitating handling during module manufacturing or board mounting.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a basic configuration of a multi- core optical module.
2 is a schematic view showing an example of a module with an adapter housing in the multi-core optical module in FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a conventional picture tail type module.
FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a conventional pictail type module and its interior.
FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing one of manufacturing examples (first and second steps) of the optical module of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing one of manufacturing examples (third to fourth steps) of the optical module of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing another manufacturing example of the optical module of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing one example of substrate mounting according to the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing another example of the substrate mounting example of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing a conventional pigtail type substrate mounting example.
FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example when an optical waveguide device is used as a multi-core optical component.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Optical fiber tape 1 'Optical fiber 2 Multi-fiber optical connector 2' Push pull type optical connector 3 Optical module main body 4 Lead wire 5 Package 6 Lens array 7 LD (PD) array 8 Guide pin 9 Guide pin insertion hole 10 Adapter housing 11 Housing fitting portion 12 Press spring 13 Adapter 14 External cable 15 Optical fiber tape 16 with connectors at both ends Backboard adapter 17 Module with adapter housing 18 Board 19 Wiring board 20 Drive IC
21 Optical signal transmission window 22 First flange 23 Second flange 24 Optical fiber array 25 Guide pin fixing portion 26 Optical waveguide type device

Claims (6)

A first step of fixing the guide pins to the first flange, a second step of hermetically fixing the lens array to the second flange, and a multi-core light positioned by the guide pins fixed to the first flange A third step of aligning and fixing the first and second flanges while observing the beam emitted from the connector from the back side through a lens array fixed to the second flange, and the integrated first step A method for manufacturing a multi-core optical module comprising the fourth step of aligning and fixing the second flange and the multi-core optical component. The multi-fiber optical component, PD array, LD array, a manufacturing method of multiple-core optical module according to claim 1, wherein a is any one of an optical waveguide type device. The first step is the manufacturing method of multiple-core optical module according to claim 1, characterized in that the insert molding using an epoxy resin with the flange while gripping the guide pin spacing. The first step is the manufacturing method of multiple-core optical module according to claim 1, characterized in that for fixing with a low melting point glass with respect to the flange while gripping the guide pin spacing. A first step of airtightly fixing the lens array to the flange, and observing the beam emitted from the multi-fiber optical connector having the guide pin inserted from the back side through the lens array fixed to the flange, A method for manufacturing a multi-core optical module, comprising: a second step of aligning and fixing the flange to the flange; and a third step of aligning and fixing the flange and the multi-core optical component. 6. The method of manufacturing a multi-fiber optical module according to claim 5, wherein the multi-fiber optical component is any one of a PD array, an LD array, and an optical waveguide device.

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