JP3697802B2 - Optical module - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an optical module used for optical fiber communication.
[0002]
[Prior art]
One of optical components used for optical fiber communication is an optical module.
[0003]
FIG. 4 is an external perspective view showing a conventional example of an optical module.
[0004]
The optical fiber 1 is fused and connected to the waveguide element 2, and the waveguide element 2 is fixed to the pedestal 3 via a nonmetallic elastic body. The optical fiber 1 is fixed to a slot 5 formed in a metal package 4 with a resin. An element fixing reference wall 6 is formed on the side surface of the package 4 along the longitudinal direction. The waveguide element 2 is pressed against the element fixing reference wall 6.
[0005]
FIG. 5 is an external perspective view showing another conventional optical module.
[0006]
As shown in the figure, the optical fiber 1 is fused and connected to the waveguide element 2, and the waveguide element 2 is fixed to the pedestal 3 via a non-metallic elastic body. The optical fiber 1 is fixed with resin in a slot 5 formed in the package 4. Note that the coating of the optical fiber 1 from 3 to 5 mm from the fused portion 7 is removed.
[0007]
FIG. 6 is an external perspective view showing another conventional optical module.
[0008]
The waveguide element 2 having the waveguide array portion 8 is bonded and fixed together with the waveguide array portion 8 to a rounded rectangular base 3a.
[0009]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Incidentally, since the optical module shown in FIG. 4 has no reference for the longitudinal position of the waveguide element 2, the waveguide element 2 is visually aligned and fixed after being aligned with the center of the package 4. . For this reason, when the position of the waveguide element 2 is measured after the waveguide element 2 is fixed, it may be out of the allowable range of the fixed position.
[0010]
Further, in the optical module shown in FIG. 5, the slot 5 for fixing the optical fiber 1 is as thin as 0.5 mm or less and is formed in the package 4 by machining, so that an invisible metal burr remains, During the mounting, the burrs are scattered, and the optical fiber 1 from which the coating has been removed may be damaged or the optical fiber 1 may be broken in the proof test. Further, a brittle portion such as a chip that is too small to be visually confirmed may occur in the waveguide element 2 in the manufacturing process. The glass is scattered from these fragile portions due to external impact and vibration, and the optical fiber 1 may be damaged, and it is difficult to guarantee long-term reliability.
[0011]
Furthermore, although the optical module shown in FIG. 6 is fixed to the pedestal 3a up to the waveguide array section 8, the waveguide array section 8 is sensitive to stress, so that the optical characteristics of the waveguide element 2 are compared with those before fixing. Change. In particular, the center wavelength may move by a maximum of 0.32 nm (average 0.05 nm).
[0012]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems and provide a highly reliable optical module.
[0013]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a metal package, a pedestal formed on the metal package, a waveguide element fixed to the pedestal via a non-metallic elastic body, and fixed to the waveguide element. An optical module , wherein the optical fiber is fixed to a slot formed in a longitudinal direction of the metal package ,
The metal package is provided on the side surface of the metal package along the longitudinal direction with the element fixing reference wall and the longitudinal direction of the waveguide element in the longitudinal direction and provided at a position spaced from the slot. And a convex stopper that restricts the longitudinal movement of the waveguide element.
[0014]
In addition to the above configuration, in the present invention, the distance between the stoppers is preferably not less than the length in the longitudinal direction of the waveguide element and not more than the value obtained by adding 2 mm to the length of the waveguide element.
[0019]
According to the present invention, when the waveguide element is fixed by the element fixing reference wall and the two front and rear stoppers, the fixed position of the waveguide element is regulated, so that it does not protrude from the range of the allowable fixed position. , Position accuracy is increased and reliability is improved.
[0020]
When the distance between the stoppers is not less than the length in the longitudinal direction of the waveguide element and not more than the value obtained by adding 2 mm to the length of the waveguide element, the most severe vibration test specified in JIS standard is performed. However, it can withstand without resonating, and the reliability is improved.
[0021]
When the part from which the optical fiber coating is removed is coated with resin, the optical fiber coating is removed so that the optical fiber is not damaged during mounting. The fiber is not broken and the reliability is improved.
[0022]
When the waveguide element is bonded and fixed to the pedestal at a portion other than the waveguide array portion, the waveguide array portion is not fixed to the pedestal, so that stress applied to the pedestal may be applied to the waveguide array portion. The change in optical characteristics is prevented, and the reliability is improved.
[0023]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0024]
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention. In addition, the same code | symbol was used for the member similar to a prior art example.
[0025]
As shown in FIG. 1, an optical fiber 1 is fused and connected to a waveguide element 2, and the waveguide element 2 is fixed to a pedestal 3 via a nonmetallic elastic body. The pedestal 3 may be formed integrally with the package 4, or may be formed separately and fixed by screwing or the like. As the non-metallic elastic body, a silicone resin adhesive is preferable. The optical fiber 1 is fixed with resin in a slot 5 formed in the package 4. An element fixing reference wall 6 is formed on the side surface of the package 4 along the longitudinal direction. Stoppers 10 a and 10 b are provided before and after the element fixing reference wall 6 (on the optical fiber side), and the waveguide element 2 is pressed against the element fixing reference wall 6.
[0026]
The distance S between the stoppers 10a and 10b is not less than the length L in the longitudinal direction of the waveguide element 2 and not more than the value obtained by adding 2 mm to the length of the waveguide element 2.
[0027]
Here, if the distance S between the stoppers 10 a and 10 b is narrower than the length L of the waveguide element 2, the waveguide element 2 cannot be pressed against the element fixing reference wall 6. Further, when the value is equal to or larger than the value obtained by adding 2 mm to the length L of the waveguide element 2, the waveguide element 2 protrudes from the allowable fixing range, and the distance from the fusion part 7 to the slot 5 and the fusion part 12. To the slot 13 becomes uneven. Therefore, when the most severe vibration test (10 to 2000 Hz) shown in JIS or the like is performed, the optical fiber 1 having the longer distance from the fused portion 7 (12) to the slot 5 (13) resonates, and finally Will break the optical fiber 1 at the fused portion.
[0028]
From the above points, the distance S between the stoppers 10a and 10b is not less than the length L in the longitudinal direction of the waveguide element 2 and should be not more than the value obtained by adding 2 mm to the length L of the waveguide element 2.
[0029]
The optical module of the present invention is provided with stoppers 10a and 10b for restricting the waveguide element 2 from moving in the front-rear direction before and after the element fixing reference wall 6 in the longitudinal direction. Even when the vibration test was performed in the range of 10 to 2000 Hz, the optical fiber 1 did not resonate, and the optical fiber 1 did not break at the fused portions 7 and 12.
[0030]
As described above, the optical module of the present invention can provide an optical module that can reliably fix the waveguide element at a permitted position and is resistant to vibration from the outside.
[0031]
2A and 2B are explanatory views for explaining another embodiment of the optical module of the present invention. FIG. 2A shows a state before processing, and FIG. 2B shows a state after processing. Note that the metal package is omitted for the sake of simplicity.
[0032]
The optical fiber 1 fused to the waveguide element 2 has a portion 1a of 3 to 5 mm removed from the fused portion 7 (FIG. 2A).
[0033]
The resin 1 having a Young's modulus of 0.1 kgf / mm ² or less is coated on the portion 1a from which the coating of the optical fiber 1 has been removed. The coating is performed immediately after the optical fiber 1 is fused to the waveguide element 2 (FIG. 2B).
[0034]
When the resin 15 is coated on the optical fiber 1 from which the coating has been removed, the optical fiber 1 is not damaged during mounting, and the optical fiber 1 is not broken in the proof test, thereby ensuring long-term reliability. be able to.
[0035]
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for explaining another embodiment of the optical module of the present invention, FIG. 3 (a) is an external perspective view of the waveguide element, and FIG. 3 (b) is an illustration of the waveguide element. It is a top view. Note that the metal package is omitted for the sake of simplicity.
[0036]
As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, a waveguide array element is bonded and fixed as a waveguide element 2 on a U-shaped pedestal 16 with a silicone resin adhesive. The waveguide element 2 is bonded and fixed to the pedestal 16 at a portion other than the waveguide array portion 8.
[0037]
In such an optical module, since the waveguide array portion 8 is not fixed to the pedestal 16, no stress is applied to the waveguide array portion 8 even when stress is applied to the pedestal 16, and deterioration of optical characteristics is prevented. , Improve reliability.
[0038]
Instead of using the U-shaped pedestal 16, an adhesive may be applied in a U-shape on a pedestal similar to the conventional one.
[0039]
【The invention's effect】
In short, according to the present invention, the following excellent effects are exhibited.
[0040]
(1) When the waveguide element is fixed by the element fixing reference wall and the two front and rear stoppers, the fixed position of the waveguide element is restricted, so that the waveguide element protrudes from the allowable fixed position range or the optical fiber vibrates. This eliminates breakage and improves reliability.
[0041]
(2) When the part from which the optical fiber coating has been removed is coated with resin, the part from which the optical fiber coating has been removed is protected, so that the optical fiber is not damaged during mounting. In the test, the optical fiber is not broken and the reliability is improved.
[0042]
(3) When the waveguide element is bonded and fixed to the pedestal at a portion other than the waveguide array portion, the stress applied to the pedestal is applied to the waveguide array portion because the waveguide array portion is not fixed to the pedestal. It is not added, the change in optical characteristics is prevented, and the reliability is improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for explaining another embodiment of the optical module of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for explaining another embodiment of the optical module of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is an external perspective view showing a conventional example of an optical module.
FIG. 5 is an external perspective view showing another conventional example of an optical module.
FIG. 6 is an external perspective view showing another conventional example of an optical module.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Optical fiber 2 Waveguide element 4 Package 6 Element reference wall 8 Waveguide array part 10a, 10b Stopper 16 Base

Claims (2)

A metal package; a base formed on the metal package; a waveguide element fixed to the base via a non-metallic elastic body; and an optical fiber fixed to the waveguide element. Is an optical module fixed to a slot formed in the longitudinal direction of the metal package ,
The metal package is provided on the side surface of the metal package along the longitudinal direction with the element fixing reference wall and the longitudinal direction of the waveguide element in the longitudinal direction and provided at a position spaced from the slot. An optical module comprising a convex stopper for restricting movement of the waveguide element in the longitudinal direction.   2. The optical module according to claim 1, wherein the distance between the stoppers is not less than a length in a longitudinal direction of the waveguide element and not more than a value obtained by adding 2 mm to the length of the waveguide element.

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