JP4662153B2 - OPTICAL MODULE AND OPTICAL CONNECTOR HAVING OPTICAL MODULE - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical module having improved optical coupling efficiency, and an optical connector. <P>SOLUTION: The optical module 1 optically couples a ferrule 3 and a photoelectric conversion element package 15 via a lens 12, wherein the ferrule 3 is fitted into the end part fitting hole 4 of a holder 2, a photoelectric conversion element package 15 is engaged in the photoelectric element fitting part 16 of the holder 2, and a lens 12 is arranged between the end part fitting hole 4 of the holder 2 and the photoelectric element fitting part 16. A light transmitting body 10 is housed in a light transmitting body housing groove 6 which crosses substantially at right angle with the end part fitting hole 4 of the holder 2. The open part 7 of the light transmitting body housing groove 6 is sealed by a sealing and fixing means 11. The end of the ferrule 3 and the end of an optical fiber are butted to the light transmitting body 10 and the light transmitting body 10 is closely made contact with the lens 12. Thus, an air space does not exist between the ferrule 3 and the lens 12. The light transmitting body 10 is composed of a material having a refractive index value between the refractive index of the optical fiber and the refractive index of the lens. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

The present invention relates between the optical transmission path and the light-emitting element and / or the light receiving element optically coupled to the optical module, and the optical connector having the optical module.

  An optical module for optical communication includes a photoelectric conversion element package (for example, a package containing a light emitting element such as a semiconductor laser or a light receiving element such as a photodiode) and a ferrule disposed as an end of an optical fiber as an optical transmission path. And a lens and a holder for accommodating these.

  Such an optical module is configured such that a photoelectric conversion element (a light emitting element or a light receiving element as a photoelectric element) and an optical fiber in a photoelectric conversion element package are optically coupled via a lens. It is.

  FIG. 9 shows an example of such an optical module 100. In the optical module 100 shown in FIG. 9, in order to eliminate the mounting error of the lens 103 and increase the optical coupling efficiency between the optical fiber 102 and the photoelectric conversion element package 101, the holder 104 and the lens 103 are integrated with resin. In addition to injection molding, the sleeve 106 into which the ferrule 105 is fitted is formed with high accuracy. The optical fiber 102 and the photoelectric conversion element package 101 are aligned and aligned with high accuracy. As a result, such an optical module 100 is mounted in the holder 104 with the ferrule 105 and the photoelectric conversion element package 101 positioned with high precision with respect to the lens 103, and optical communication can be performed with a desired optical coupling efficiency. This is possible (see Patent Document 1). Note that one or a plurality of such optical modules 100 are accommodated in a housing according to the purpose of use to constitute an optical connector.

  However, the optical module 100 as shown in FIG. 9 has a configuration in which an air layer that is significantly different from the refractive index of the optical fiber 102 exists between the optical fiber 102 and the lens 103, so that light can be transmitted from the air layer side. Part of the light that is about to enter the fiber 102 or the lens 103 is reflected on the surface of the optical fiber 102 or the lens 103, and the influence of the reflected light deteriorates the coupling efficiency due to the decrease in the amount of transmitted light and the operation of the photoelectric conversion element. It has been pointed out that there is a risk of becoming unstable.

  Thus, for example, an optical module as disclosed in Patent Document 2 has been developed. Such a conventional optical module is integrally formed of a resin material, and an optical fiber is brought into contact with the end face of the stopper portion, so that there is no air layer between the optical fiber and the condenser lens. A part of the light transmitted through the molding member is reflected on the surface of the optical fiber so as not to return to the photoelectric conversion element (light emitting element) side.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-134225 (see particularly FIG. 8). Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-227968 (see particularly FIG. 2).

  However, since the conventional optical module has a configuration in which the tip of the optical fiber is abutted against the end face of the stopper portion formed of a resin material, when the optical fiber is repeatedly attached and detached together with the sleeve, the tip of the optical fiber Optical coupling efficiency decreases due to collision with the end surface of the stopper portion, rubbing of the end surface of the stopper by the tip of the optical fiber, and roughening of the surface of the stopper end surface (light exit surface or incident surface). There was a risk of problems.

Accordingly, the present invention is to reduce the reflection loss of light, and to provide more light module which can enhance the optical coupling efficiency, and a light connector having the optical module.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the end of the optical transmission line is fitted into the end mounting hole on the one end side in the axial direction of the holder, and the light emitting element and / or the light receiving portion is mounted on the photoelectric element mounting portion on the other end in the axial direction of the holder. A photoelectric element including an element is engaged, a lens is disposed between the end part mounting hole of the holder and the photoelectric element mounting part, and the optical transmission path and the photoelectric element are interposed via the lens. The present invention relates to an optical module that is optically coupled. In this optical module, the holder extends beyond the end mounting hole from the opening on the side of the holder so that the end mounting hole of the holder communicates with the external environment on the side of the holder. A light transmitting body accommodation groove which is a bottomed groove extending to a certain position is formed. In addition, the light transmitting member receiving groove has an opening on a side surface of the holder so that the light transmitting member, which is a plate having a quadrangular planar shape, can be stored at a position between the light transmission path and the lens. A shallow groove for filling an adhesive is formed in a portion on the photoelectric element side in the light transmitting body accommodation groove. The light transmitting body is (1) received in the light transmitting body receiving groove of the holder, the tip of the end of the optical transmission path is abutted, and the light transmitting The light transmitting body is accommodated by an adhesive filled in the shallow groove, which is in close contact with the inner wall surface of the body housing groove on the lens side and pressed against the bottom of the groove by a sealing fixing means that closes the opening on the side surface of the holder. And (2) a material having a refractive index value between the refractive index of the optical transmission path and the refractive index of the lens, or the refractive index of the optical transmission path. It is a material having a refractive index value with a small difference from the refractive index of the lens, and is made of glass or a material harder than the optical transmission path.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the lens, the light transmission body, and the optical transmission path can be arranged in close contact, an air layer is not interposed between the lens and the optical transmission path, and the transmission body and the optical transmission path Since reflection of light on the facing surface can be suppressed, the optical coupling efficiency between the optical transmission path and the photoelectric element is improved, and efficient optical communication is possible.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the optical module according to the first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of concave portions are formed along the circumferential direction at the opening end of the inner peripheral surface of the photoelectric element mounting portion, and the photoelectric element mounting portion The gap between the inner peripheral surface and the photoelectric element is filled with an adhesive, and the photoelectric element mounting portion and the photoelectric element are bonded and fixed.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, excess adhesive interposed in the gap between the photoelectric transformer and the inner peripheral surface of the photoelectric element mounting portion is accommodated in the recess, and the thickness of the adhesive becomes constant in the circumferential direction. Since it is possible to suppress the deviation of the axial position of the optical transmission path and the photoelectric element, the optical coupling efficiency between the optical transmission path and the photoelectric element can be improved.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the optical module according to the second aspect of the present invention, the internal space of the photoelectric element mounting portion and the external space of the photoelectric element mounting portion are communicated in the radial direction of the photoelectric element mounting portion, A through hole for guiding a gas generated from the adhesive generated inside the photoelectric element mounting portion to an external space of the photoelectric element mounting portion, and a sealing member for closing the through hole are provided.

  According to the invention of claim 3, since the gas generated when the adhesive is cured can be discharged from the through hole to the outside of the holder when the photoelectric element is bonded and fixed in the photoelectric element mounting portion, the lens and the photoelectric element The optical refractive index of the light in the space between the two (the space in the photoelectric element mounting portion) is not changed by the gas generated from the adhesive, and the optical communication between the optical transmission line and the photoelectric element is performed with a desired coupling efficiency. Can be done.

  A fourth aspect of the present invention relates to an optical connector comprising the optical module according to any one of the first to third aspects of the present invention and a housing that accommodates and holds the optical module.

  According to the optical connector of the invention of claim 4, efficient optical communication is possible by using an optical module having high optical coupling efficiency.

  According to the present invention, an optical module capable of reducing reflection loss between an optical transmission line and a photoelectric element, improving optical coupling efficiency, and performing stable optical communication, and this optical module It is possible to provide an optical connector provided and an optical coupling method using an optical module.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
1 and 2 are diagrams for explaining an optical module 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Among these, FIG. 1 is a figure which shows the holder 2 which comprises the optical module 1, FIG. 1 (a) is a front view, FIG.1 (b) is a side view. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG.

  The holder 2 shown in these drawings is integrally formed by injection molding a light transmissive resin material (for example, PEI, PC, PMMA, etc.). An end mounting hole 4 for detachably engaging the ferrule 3 is formed on one end side in the direction along the axis CL of the holder 2. The end mounting hole 4 is a bottomed cylindrical hole that opens on one end side (the left end side in FIG. 1A and FIG. 2) in the direction along the axis CL of the holder 2. Is accommodated and held (see FIGS. 3 to 4).

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the bottom portion 5 of the end portion mounting hole 4 of the holder 2 extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis CL of the holder 2, and the side surfaces of the end portion mounting hole 4 and the holder 2. A light transmitting body accommodation groove 6 is formed to communicate with the external environment on the side. The light transmitting member accommodation groove 6 is a bottomed groove that opens on the side surface side of the holder 2 and extends from the side surface side of the holder 2 to a position beyond the end attachment hole 4. The light transmitting member accommodation groove 6 is formed in a certain shape from the opening 7 on the side surface side to the groove bottom 8 (see FIGS. 1 to 5). As this fixed shape, a shallow groove having a depth of about 10 μm is further provided in the light transmitting body receiving groove 6 on the photoelectric conversion element package 15 side of the light transmitting body receiving groove 6 and the shallow groove is filled with an adhesive or the like. If possible, the light transmitting body 10 can be stably fixed.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the light transmitting body 10 is accommodated in the light transmitting body receiving groove 6 of the holder 2 formed in this way, and the light transmitting body 10 and the external environment are blocked. Thus, the sealing and fixing means 11 is accommodated. Here, the light transmitting body 10 is, for example, a plate-like body made of glass, the planar shape is a quadrangular shape (see FIGS. 3B and 5), and FIG. The shape seen from the C direction is formed in a rectangular shape (see FIG. 3A). The sealing and fixing means 11 is in close contact with the opening-side end surface of the light transmitting body 10 and the inner wall surface of the light transmitting body accommodation groove 6, and is an optical adhesive that transmits light (for example, UV curable). The adhesive is solidified, and closes the opening 7 side of the light transmitting member receiving groove 6 and is fixed in the light transmitting member receiving groove 6 with the light transmitting member 10 pressed against the groove bottom 8. ing. The sealing and fixing means 11 may be a rubber plug or a plastic plug that elastically adheres to the inner wall surface of the light transmitting member receiving groove 6, and the light transmitting member is placed at a predetermined position of the light transmitting member receiving groove 6 by these rubber or plastic. 10 may be fixed and the opening 7 side of the light transmitting member accommodating groove 6 may be sealed. Further, the light transmitting body 10 can be a plate-like body formed of a material harder than the ferrule 3 or the optical fiber. Further, the shape of the light transmitting member accommodation groove 6 is not limited to a rectangular shape so as to conform to the shape of the light transmitting member 10, and can be formed in a predetermined shape such as a circular shape.

  The sealing and fixing means 11 brings the light transmitting body 10 into contact with the groove bottom portion 8 of the light transmitting body accommodation groove 6 and the light transmitting body 10 on the inner wall surface 13 on the aspherical lens 12 side of the light transmission body accommodation groove 6. It is preferable that the light transmitting body accommodation groove 6 is mounted in a state of being in close contact. Further, when the sealing and fixing means 11 is formed of a light transmissive resin adhesive, the light transmissive resin adhesive is filled in the gap between the light transmissive body 10 and the light transmissive body accommodation groove 6, and the light transmissive body 10. The air layer should not be formed between the holder 2 and the holder 2. If comprised in this way, the lens side end surface 14 of the ferrule 3 and an optical fiber, the light transmission body 10, the light transmission body 10, and the inner wall surface 13 by the side of the aspherical lens 12 will closely_contact | adhere, without interposing an air layer (FIG. 4).

  On the other end side in the direction along the axis CL of the holder 2 (the right end side in FIG. 1A and FIG. 2), a photoelectric conversion element package (a package containing a semiconductor light emitting element or a semiconductor light receiving element as a photoelectric element). A photoelectric element mounting portion 16 for accommodating and holding 15 is formed (see FIG. 6). The photoelectric element mounting portion 16 has a bottomed photoelectric conversion element package mounting hole 20 formed along the axis CL direction from the right end surface 17 of the holder 2 (toward the left end surface 18 side of the holder 2). Yes. The photoelectric conversion element package mounting hole 20 has the shape shown in FIG. 7 as viewed from the right side (B direction) of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 6, a recess 21 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the photoelectric conversion element package mounting hole 20 on the right end surface 17 side along the axis CL as a ratio from the right end surface 17 (a / b) = 0. .25 to 0.5 range. A plurality of the recesses 21 are formed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the inner peripheral surface of the photoelectric conversion element package mounting hole 20. The concave portion 21 can favorably fix the holder 2 and the photoelectric conversion element package 5. The recess 21 formed on the right end surface 17 side of the inner peripheral surface of the photoelectric conversion element package mounting hole 20 can function as an adhesion portion when the photoelectric conversion element package 15 is adhered. Moreover, the recessed part 21 may be used as a part which temporarily fixes the photoelectric conversion element package 15 with an ultraviolet curing adhesive, and may adhere and fix the photoelectric conversion element package 15 with a thermosetting adhesive.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, the photoelectric element mounting portion 16 is formed with two through holes 24 that connect the internal space 22 and the external space 23 of the photoelectric conversion element package mounting hole 20. The positional relationship between the concave portion 21 and the through hole 24 in the axis CL direction is such that the through hole 24 is closer to the hole bottom 26 side than the top portion 25a of the cap 25 of the photoelectric conversion element package 15 with respect to the concave portion 21 formed on the right end surface 17 side. When formed, the through hole 24 can be prevented from being blocked when the photoelectric conversion element package 15 is attached to the optical module 1. In addition, the positional relationship in the circumferential direction of the photoelectric conversion element package mounting hole 20 between the through hole 24 and the recess 21 is preferably formed as a pair of the through holes 24 so as to face each other between the recesses 21 and 21. A plurality of the through holes 24 can be formed radially with respect to the axis CL.

  The through-hole 24 is formed in a sealing member (for example, an adhesive agent) after the adhesive that adheres the photoelectric conversion element package 15 to the photoelectric conversion element package mounting hole 20 is solidified and the gas generated from the adhesive is completely discharged. , Plugs or lids formed of a resin such as rubber) 27 (see FIG. 3B). The through hole 24 may be used so as to prevent the photoelectric element mounting portion 16 from being filled with gas.

  In the holder 2, the aspherical lens 12 protruding toward the photoelectric conversion element package 15 accommodated in the photoelectric element mounting portion 16 is integrally formed on the wall 28 located between the photoelectric element mounting portion 16 and the end portion mounting hole 4. (See FIGS. 2, 4 and 6). The aspherical lens 12 is formed so that its optical axis coincides with the axis CL of the holder 2 (the center of the end mounting hole 4 and the center of the photoelectric conversion element package mounting hole 20). ).

図６に示すように、光電変換素子パッケージ１５は、略円筒状のキャップ２５の内部に収容した図示しない半導体発光素子（例えば、半導体レーザ等）から光を発光するか、又は図示しない半導体受光素子（フォトダイオード等）で光を受光するようになっている。そして、この光電変換素子パッケージ１５のリード３０が突出するキャップ端面２５ｂ側には、キャップ２５の外周に突出する略円環状の鍔部３１が一体形成されている。この光電変換素子パッケージ１５は、予め接着剤が塗布された光電変換素子パッケージ取付穴２０に嵌合された状態において、光電変換素子パッケージ取付穴２０に対して図示しない調芯機によって光ファイバ（フェルール３）と光電変換素子パッケージ１５の位置決めが行われる。

As shown in FIG. 6, the photoelectric conversion element package 15 emits light from a semiconductor light emitting element (not shown) (for example, a semiconductor laser) accommodated in a substantially cylindrical cap 25, or a semiconductor light receiving element (not shown). Light is received by a (photodiode or the like). Further, a substantially annular flange portion 31 protruding to the outer periphery of the cap 25 is integrally formed on the cap end surface 25b side from which the lead 30 of the photoelectric conversion element package 15 protrudes. When the photoelectric conversion element package 15 is fitted in the photoelectric conversion element package mounting hole 20 to which an adhesive has been applied in advance, the photoelectric conversion element package 15 is optical fiber (ferrule) with respect to the photoelectric conversion element package mounting hole 20 by an aligner (not shown). 3) and the photoelectric conversion element package 15 are positioned.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent the deviation between the axis CL of the photoelectric conversion element package 15 and the axis of the photoelectric conversion element package mounting hole 20, and hold the photoelectric conversion element package 15 in the holder 2 with high accuracy. Therefore, the shift of the axial center position between the ferrule 3 and the photoelectric conversion element package 15 is suppressed, and the fluctuation of the optical coupling efficiency can be suppressed.

  In the operation of adhering and fixing the photoelectric conversion element package 15 to the photoelectric element mounting portion 16, gas is generated in the process of curing the adhesive, and the gas passes through the through holes 24 formed in the photoelectric element mounting portion 16. It passes through and is discharged from the internal space 22 of the photoelectric element mounting portion 16 to the external space 23 (see FIG. 6). As a result, the gas generated from the adhesive does not fill the internal space 22 between the aspherical lens 12 and the photoelectric conversion element package 15, and the gas in the internal space 22 (gas generated from the adhesive). It is possible to prevent the change in the refractive index of the light caused by the above, and the optical coupling efficiency between the ferrule 3 and the photoelectric conversion element package 15 is not impaired. In addition, poor curing of the adhesive due to the generated gas can be prevented.

  Then, when the adhesive is completely cured and the bonding operation between the photoelectric conversion element package 15 and the photoelectric element mounting portion 16 is finished, the through hole 24 of the photoelectric element mounting portion 16 becomes a sealing member such as an adhesive, a rubber plug, or a lid. 27, dust or the like floating in the external space 23 of the holder 2 can be prevented from entering the internal space 22 of the photoelectric element mounting portion 16, and the photoelectric conversion element package 15 is formed by moisture in the air. Corrosion can also be prevented (see FIG. 6). Note that, unlike the plastic holder 2, the cap 25 is made of a metal having a smaller amount of thermal deformation than plastic.

  As described above, according to the optical module 1 of the present embodiment, the aspherical lens 12, the light transmitting body 10, and the optical fiber (ferrule 3) can be disposed in close contact with each other. 3) Since there is no air layer between them and the light transmitting body 10 against which the optical fiber (ferrule 3) is abutted is not easily damaged, the light on the opposing surface of the light transmitting body 10 and the optical fiber (ferrule 3) Can be suppressed, and a decrease in optical coupling efficiency due to the rough surface of the light transmitting body 10 can be prevented. As a result, according to the optical module 1 of the present embodiment, the optical coupling efficiency between the optical fiber and the photoelectric conversion element package 15 is improved, and efficient optical communication becomes possible.

  Further, according to the optical module 1 of the present embodiment, since the aspherical lens 12 is formed integrally with the holder 2, it is not necessary to align the optical axis of the aspherical lens 12 and the axis CL of the holder 2. 1 is facilitated, and the productivity of the optical module 1 is improved.

  Moreover, according to this embodiment, since the aspherical lens 12 is formed integrally with the holder 2, the number of parts can be reduced, and the productivity is improved as described above. The product price of the optical module 1 can be reduced.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, since the aspheric lens 12 is formed integrally with the holder 2, there is no possibility of dust entering between the aspheric lens 12 and the photoelectric conversion element package 15, and optical communication is performed. It can be done reliably. However, if a mode in which a separate lens is bonded and fixed to the holder is adopted, dust may enter between the lens and the photoelectric conversion element package through a gap in a portion where uneven adhesion occurs.

  The optical module 1 shown in FIG. 6 is accommodated in a housing 32 as an optical module 1 for light emission or an optical module 1 for light reception, for example, as shown in FIG. The optical connector 33 is configured by being soldered to the electric substrate that is not to be soldered.

(Second Embodiment)
In the present embodiment, a modification of the light transmitting body 10 in the first embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, components that are substantially the same as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and descriptions that overlap with those in the first embodiment are omitted.

  The light transmitting body 10 in the present embodiment is configured to eliminate the portion where the optical fiber at the end of the ferrule 3 and the light transmitting body 10 are in contact with each other and to contact the end of the ferrule 3. A structure having a shape having a plurality of convex portions and / or concave portions having a fine pitch of submicron order or less on the bottom surface of the concave portion provided in a portion of the light transmitting body 10 that does not contact the optical fiber. Place. As a specific shape of the convex portion, for example, a conical shape can be used. If the wavelength of the light used by the LED is 650 nm, this conical shape can be formed as a glass or resin material with a height of 300 to 350 nm, a bottom width of 274 nm, and a material. This structure has an effect of reducing reflection loss at the interface with air with respect to incident light from the optical fiber or outgoing light to the optical fiber.

  The top of the convex portion of the microstructure is formed so as not to contact the end of the optical fiber of the ferrule 3 that is in contact with the light transmitting body 10. That is, it is preferable to form a fine structure having a height lower than the height of the inner side surface of the recessed hole in the recessed portion on the bottom surface of the recessed portion. Moreover, in order to prevent the opening edge part of the hollow part of a hollow part from contacting with the ferrule 3 and being damaged, the smooth curved part is formed through the corner over the whole circumferential direction of an opening edge part. Good.

  The bottom of the hollow portion of the light transmitting body 10 has a size that substantially includes or exceeds the optical path between the optical fiber and the lens, and effectively reduces light reflection loss at the boundary between the air and the fine structure. Good. Further, the bottom surface shape can be a circular shape, a quadrangular shape or the like, and it is easy to form a structure having a fine pitch on the bottom of the recessed hole, and the end surface of the ferrule 3 when contacting the ferrule 3 It is preferable that the optical fiber is not damaged. Further, according to this microstructure, the angle dependency on the used light is excellent as compared with the antireflection film by vacuum deposition or the like.

  In this embodiment, the light transmitting body 10 having a structure is mounted in the light transmitting body accommodating groove 6, so that even if air is interposed between the optical fiber and the light transmitting body 10, the optical fiber and the photoelectric Reduction of the reflection loss of the optical coupling efficiency with the conversion element can be made equivalent to that in the first embodiment. Moreover, the light transmissive body 10 can be easily replaced by making the light transmissive body 10 removable from the optical module 1.

  Further, in the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the resin optical module 1 provided with the light transmissive housing groove 6 can be manufactured by integral molding using an injection mold, and is excellent in mass productivity and inexpensive. Can provide a stable optical module product.

  The present invention is not limited to the first and second embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made as necessary. For example, the right end surface 17 of the photoelectric conversion element package mounting hole 20 of the optical module 1 may be fixed to the substrate on which the photoelectric conversion element is mounted with an adhesive to make a connection between the optical transmission line and the photoelectric conversion element. The light transmitting body 10 is not limited to glass, but a material having a refractive index value between the refractive index of the core of the optical fiber and the refractive index of the optical module 1 in which the lens and the holder are integrally formed, or By using a light transmitting member made of a material having a refractive index value with a small difference between the refractive index of the optical fiber and the refractive index of the lens, the optical fiber and the optical module 1 can be prevented from being damaged, and reflection loss can be reduced. .

  A plurality of the recesses 21 in the first embodiment may be formed in consideration of the amount of adhesive in fixing between the photoelectric element mounting portion 16 and the photoelectric conversion element package 15. The cap 25 of the photoelectric conversion element package 15 is not limited to a metal one but may be a resin one.

  Furthermore, neither the recess 21 nor the through hole 24 in the first embodiment is formed, or the through hole 24 in the first embodiment is not formed, and the photoelectric conversion element package 15 and the holder 2 are bonded and fixed. Also good.

It is a figure which shows the holder of the optical module which concerns on 1st Embodiment to which this invention is applied, FIG. 1 (a) is a front view, FIG.1 (b) is a side view. It is sectional drawing cut | disconnected and shown along the AA line of FIG. Fig.3 (a) is a figure which shows the state which mounted | wore the holder of FIG. 1 (a) with the ferrule. FIG. 3B is a side view of FIG. It is sectional drawing cut | disconnected and shown along the DD line | wire of FIG. It is sectional drawing cut | disconnected and shown along the EE line | wire of FIG. It is sectional drawing of the optical module which concerns on 1st Embodiment to which this invention is applied, and is sectional drawing which shows the state which mounted | wore the photoelectric conversion element package with the holder shown cut along the FF line of FIG. FIG. 4 is a right side view of FIG. It is a figure which shows simply the optical connector which uses the optical module of this invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the optical module which shows a 1st prior art example.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Optical module, 2 ... Holder, 3 ... Ferrule (end part of optical fiber as an optical transmission path), 6 ... Light transmission body accommodation groove, 7 ... Opening part, 10 ... Light transmission body, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Seal fixing means, 12 ... Aspherical lens (lens), 15 ... Photoelectric conversion element package, 16 ... Photoelectric element mounting part, 21 ... Recessed part, 22 ... Internal space, 23 ... External space 24 …… Through hole, 27 …… Sealing member, 32 …… Housing, 33 …… Connector, CL …… Axis

Claims (4)

A photoelectric element having a light-emitting element and / or a light-receiving element fitted in the photoelectric element mounting part on the other end side in the axial direction of the holder is fitted into an end mounting hole on one end side in the axial direction of the holder. An optical module that engages, arranges a lens between the end mounting hole of the holder and the photoelectric element mounting section, and optically couples the optical transmission path and the photoelectric element via the lens. In
The holder extends from the opening on the side surface of the holder to a position beyond the end mounting hole so as to communicate the end mounting hole of the holder with the external environment on the side surface of the holder. A light-transmitting body accommodation groove that is a bottomed groove is formed,
The light transmitting body accommodation groove is formed from an opening on the side surface of the holder so that a light transmitting body, which is a plate-like body having a quadrangular planar shape, can be received at a position between the light transmission path and the lens. A shallow groove for filling an adhesive is formed in a portion on the photoelectric element side in the light transmitting body accommodation groove formed in a certain shape up to the groove bottom,
The light transmitting body is
-It is accommodated in the light transmitting member accommodating groove of the holder, the tip of the end of the optical transmission path is abutted, and the inner wall surface of the light transmitting member accommodating groove on the lens side The adhesive is pressed against the bottom of the groove by a sealing and fixing means that closes and closes the opening on the side of the holder, and is adhesively fixed in the light transmitting body accommodation groove with an adhesive filled in the shallow groove. And
A material having a refractive index value between the refractive index of the optical transmission path and the refractive index of the lens, or a refractive index value having a small difference between the refractive index of the optical transmission path and the refractive index of the lens The material is formed of glass or a material harder than the optical transmission path,
An optical module characterized by that. A plurality of recesses are formed along the circumferential direction at the opening end of the inner peripheral surface of the photoelectric element mounting portion,
Fill the gap between the inner peripheral surface of the photoelectric element mounting portion and the photoelectric element with an adhesive,
Adhering and fixing the photoelectric element mounting portion and the photoelectric element;
The optical module according to claim 1. The internal space of the photoelectric element mounting part and the external space of the photoelectric element mounting part are communicated in the radial direction of the photoelectric element mounting part, and the gas generated from the adhesive generated inside the photoelectric element mounting part is A through hole for guiding to the external space of the element mounting portion;
A sealing member that closes the through hole;
The optical module according to claim 2 , further comprising:   An optical connector comprising: the optical module according to claim 1; and a housing that accommodates and holds the optical module.

Images