JP5328532B2 - Optical connector - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical connector, and in particular, holds an optical waveguide such as an optical fiber and is disposed to face an optical element of an optical element component provided with the optical element, and optically couples the optical waveguide and the optical element. The present invention relates to an optical connector.

  In recent years, with the expansion of transmission capacity, optical communication networks have attracted attention, and optical fiber communication networks are rapidly developing. The role played by optical connectors in optical fiber communication networks is extremely important, and various optical connectors have been developed.

In addition, with the rapid development of multimedia, high-density wiring is becoming an indispensable item in information processing apparatuses such as large-capacity switches and massively parallel computers, and research on optical interconnection technology is being conducted extensively.

  As an optical connector for inputting and outputting signal light between an optical fiber and an optical element of an optical module provided on the circuit board, an optical fiber guided in parallel with the circuit board surface and an optical element of the optical module There are optical connectors that input and output signal light between them.

  In such an optical connector, since the optical axis direction of the optical element is substantially perpendicular to the optical axis direction of the optical fiber guided in parallel with the circuit board surface, the optical axis direction of the optical fiber is set to the optical element of the optical module. Need to turn to the side. For this purpose, an optical path changing surface for directing the optical axis direction of the optical fiber toward the optical element is formed inside the optical connector, and optical path conversion of the signal light emitted from the optical fiber is performed.

  Patent Document 1 holds the tip of an optical fiber in order to provide an optical coupling component that allows light from an optical fiber drawn parallel to the substrate surface to enter a light receiving element attached to the substrate surface so as to face the upper surface. A transparent plastic material, and a concave mirror for changing the light emitted from the tip of the optical fiber attached in the attachment hole by 90 degrees and condensing the light to enter the light receiving element on the substrate. Are integrally formed.

JP 2001-51162 A

  By the way, in the optical connector described above, the optical path changing surface for changing the optical axis direction of an optical fiber or the like is generally integrally formed with the connector body using a synthetic resin. The molding die that integrally molds the connector body with the optical path changing surface is a molding die that combines many mold parts that require high precision in order to accurately form the angle and position of the minute optical path changing surface. Is used.

  Here, in the above-described molding die, the die structure becomes complicated, so that the lead time for die production becomes long, and the die production cost may increase. Further, in the resin molding using the above-described molding die, since the die structure is complicated, it takes a lot of time to assemble each die part, and the productivity of the optical connector may be lowered. As described above, when an optical connector is manufactured by integrally forming a connector main body having an optical path changing surface, the manufacturing cost of the optical connector may increase.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an optical connector with reduced manufacturing costs.

An optical connector according to the present invention is an optical connector that holds an optical waveguide, is disposed to face the optical element of an optical element component provided with the optical element, and optically couples between the optical waveguide and the optical element A connector main body formed of a synthetic resin, provided on an end surface of the connector main body, the optical waveguide insertion port for inserting the optical waveguide, and provided in the connector main body, communicating with the optical waveguide insertion port And an optical waveguide insertion path through which the optical waveguide is inserted, and an optical waveguide insertion path that communicates with the optical element in the connector body, and passes between the upper surface of the connector body and the lower surface of the connector body. Including a formed window portion and a fitting groove provided on the upper surface of the connector main body and communicating with the window portion , formed separately from the connector main body , fitted into the fitting groove, and the light guide Waveguide or light An optical path changing body for changing the optical axis direction of the optical element, and the optical path changing body is inserted and arranged in the window portion, and is formed to be inclined on an extension in the optical axis direction of the optical waveguide or the optical element. An optical path changing unit having an optical path changing surface that optically couples between the optical waveguide and the optical element by changing the optical axis direction by reflection of signal light; and the optical path changing unit attached to the connector body. see containing and a light path changing unit support member for supporting the optical path changing unit support member has a groove bottom surface that abuts the abutting surfaces of the fitting groove on said optical path changing unit side, the optical path changing unit The contact surface of the support member and the groove bottom surface of the fitting groove are restriction surfaces that restrict the position of the optical path changing surface on the extension in the optical axis direction of the optical waveguide with respect to the penetration direction of the window portion. The optical element component is configured such that the connector body is positioned on the optical element component. The connector body has a guide hole into which the guide pin of the optical element component is inserted or a guide pin to be inserted into the guide hole of the optical element component, and the optical path change The portion support member has a guide hole for positioning the optical path changing body in the connector main body through the guide pin of the optical element component or the guide pin of the connector main body, and the optical path changing portion is formed of a right triangular prism The right-angled portion of the right-angled triangular prism is positioned on the upper surface side of the connector body, and the inclined surface of the right-angled triangular prism is positioned on an extension in the optical axis direction of the optical waveguide or the optical element, and the optical path change The surface is formed by providing a reflecting mirror on the inclined surface, and has a concave mirror surface for collecting the signal light .

An optical connector according to the present invention is an optical connector that holds an optical waveguide, is disposed to face the optical element of an optical element component provided with the optical element, and optically couples between the optical waveguide and the optical element A connector main body formed of a synthetic resin, provided on an end surface of the connector main body, the optical waveguide insertion port for inserting the optical waveguide, and provided in the connector main body, communicating with the optical waveguide insertion port And an optical waveguide insertion path through which the optical waveguide is inserted, and an optical waveguide insertion path that communicates with the optical element in the connector body, and passes between the upper surface of the connector body and the lower surface of the connector body. Including a formed window portion and a fitting groove provided on the upper surface of the connector main body and communicating with the window portion, formed separately from the connector main body, fitted into the fitting groove, and the light guide Waveguide or light An optical path changing body for changing the optical axis direction of the optical element, and the optical path changing body is inserted and arranged in the window portion, and is formed to be inclined on an extension in the optical axis direction of the optical waveguide or the optical element. An optical path changing unit having an optical path changing surface that optically couples between the optical waveguide and the optical element by changing the optical axis direction by reflection of signal light; and the optical path changing unit attached to the connector body. An optical path changing portion supporting member that supports the optical path changing portion, and the optical path changing portion supporting member has a contact surface that comes into contact with the groove bottom surface of the fitting groove on the optical path changing portion side. The contact surface of the member and the groove bottom surface of the fitting groove are restriction surfaces that restrict the position of the optical path changing surface on the extension in the optical axis direction of the optical waveguide with respect to the penetration direction of the window portion, The optical element component places the connector body on the optical element component. The connector body has a guide hole into which the guide pin of the optical element component is inserted or a guide pin to be inserted into the guide hole of the optical element component, and the optical path change The part support member has a guide hole for positioning the optical path changing body in the connector main body through the guide pin of the optical element component or the guide pin of the connector main body, and the optical path changing body is formed of an optical resin. The optical path changing portion is formed of a right triangular prism, the right angle portion of the right triangular prism is positioned on the lower surface side of the connector body, the vertical surface of the right triangular prism is abutted against the tip of the optical waveguide, An inclined surface of the right triangular prism is disposed on an extension of the optical waveguide or the optical element in the optical axis direction, the optical path changing surface is formed by the inclined surface, and collects the signal light. A light collecting lens is provided, and the optical axis direction of the optical waveguide or the optical element is changed by internal reflection of the signal light .

  In the optical connector according to the present invention, the optical path changing portion supporting member is formed on the light incident / exit surface on which the signal light is incident or emitted and arranged in a concavo-convex pattern with a period smaller than the signal wavelength of the signal light. It is preferable that an uneven surface is provided.

  In the optical connector according to the present invention, the optical waveguide is preferably an optical fiber or a planar optical waveguide.

  According to the optical connector having the above configuration, the mold structure of the molding die is further simplified and simplified by molding the optical path changing surface and the connector body separately, so that the manufacturing cost of the optical connector is reduced. Reduced.

In embodiment of this invention, it is a perspective view which shows the structure of an optical connector. In embodiment of this invention, it is sectional drawing of the optical fiber insertion direction in an optical connector. In embodiment of this invention, it is a perspective view which shows the state which attached the optical connector to the optical module. In embodiment of this invention, it is sectional drawing of the optical fiber insertion direction which shows the state which attached the optical connector to the optical module. In embodiment of this invention, it is sectional drawing of the optical fiber insertion direction in the optical connector which has the optical path change surface in which the concave mirror surface was formed. In other embodiment of this invention, it is a perspective view which shows the structure of an optical connector. In other embodiment of this invention, it is sectional drawing of the optical fiber insertion direction in an optical connector. In other embodiment of this invention, it is a perspective view which shows the state which attached the optical connector to the optical module. In other embodiment of this invention, it is sectional drawing which shows the state which attached the optical connector to the optical module. In other embodiment of this invention, it is sectional drawing of the insertion direction of the optical fiber in the optical connector which has a condensing lens in the optical path change surface. In other embodiment of this invention, it is sectional drawing which shows the optical path change body which provided the condensing lens in the optical path change surface and the light entrance / exit surface of signal light.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the optical connector 10. The optical connector 10 is an optical waveguide, for example, holds an optical fiber 12 and is attached to the connector main body 14 separately from the connector main body 14 disposed to face the optical element of the optical module. And an optical path changing body 15 that changes the optical axis direction of the optical element. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the optical connector 10 in the optical fiber insertion direction, and FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view showing a state before the optical path changing body 15 is attached to the connector main body 14, and FIG. These are sectional drawings which show the state which attached the optical path change body 15 to the connector main body 14. FIG.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state where the optical connector 10 is attached to the optical module 16. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view in the optical fiber insertion direction showing a state where the optical connector 10 is attached to the optical module 16. The optical connector 10 is attached to face the optical element 18 of the optical module 16 disposed on the circuit board 17 and optically couples between the optical fiber 12 and the optical element 18. The optical module 16 has a function as an optical element component provided with the optical element 18. The optical element 18 is composed of a light emitting element or a light receiving element, and has a function as an optical input / output end of the optical module 16. As the light emitting element, a surface emitting element type laser diode (VCSEL: Vertical Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser) or the like is used. Further, a photodiode (PD: Photo Diode) or the like is used as the light receiving element.

  For the optical fiber 12, for example, an all-quartz multimode optical fiber, a single mode optical fiber, or the like can be used. As the form of the optical fiber 12, for example, a single-core optical fiber, an optical fiber tape (ribbon), or the like is used. A planar optical waveguide may be used as the optical waveguide. As the planar optical waveguide, for example, a polymer-based or quartz-based planar optical waveguide can be used. For example, a planar optical waveguide made of polyimide resin is used as the polymer-based planar optical waveguide. In the following, the optical waveguide held by the connector main body 14 will be described as the optical fiber 12. However, the optical waveguide is not limited to the optical fiber 12 and may be a planar optical waveguide.

  The connector main body 14 is formed into, for example, a wide, substantially square shape and has a function of holding the optical fiber 12. The connector body 14 is formed by transfer molding using a thermosetting resin such as an epoxy resin, or by molding such as injection molding using a thermoplastic resin such as polyphenylene sulfide resin (PPS) or liquid crystal polymer (LCP). The The optical fiber 12 is fixed to the connector body 14 with an adhesive or the like.

  The optical connector 10 is provided on the end surface of the connector main body 14, and is provided with an optical fiber insertion port 19 for inserting the optical fiber 12. The optical connector 10 communicates with the optical fiber insertion port 19 and is inserted into the optical fiber 12. A fiber insertion passage 20; a window portion 22 provided in the connector main body 14; communicated with the optical fiber insertion passage 20; and formed between the connector main body upper surface 27 and the connector main body lower surface 28; Yes.

  The optical fiber insertion port 19 is provided on the rear end face of the connector main body 14 and has a function as an optical waveguide insertion port for inserting the optical fiber 12 into the connector main body 14. The optical fiber insertion port 19 is provided, for example, in the approximate center of the rear end face of the connector main body 14 and is formed in a size that allows the optical fiber 12 to be inserted. For example, when a multi-core optical fiber tape is used for the optical fiber 12, the optical fiber insertion port 19 is formed in a wide and substantially rectangular shape.

  The optical fiber insertion path 20 is provided in communication with the optical fiber insertion port 19 and has a function as an optical waveguide insertion path through which the optical fiber 12 is inserted. The optical fiber insertion path 20 communicates with the optical fiber insertion port 19, communicates with the first insertion path 24 through which the coated optical fiber 12 is inserted, and the first insertion path 24. And a second insertion passage 26 through which the distal end portion is inserted. The second insertion passage 26 is formed narrower than the first insertion passage 24.

  The window portion 22 is formed so as to penetrate between the connector main body upper surface 27 and the connector main body lower surface 28 so as to oppose the optical element 18 to the connector main body 14, and is substantially orthogonal to the insertion direction of the optical fiber 12. It is formed in a hollow shape. The window 22 is formed, for example, with a substantially rectangular cross section in a direction substantially orthogonal to the penetrating direction. The inner peripheral surface of the window 22 is provided with at least one optical fiber hole 29 provided to communicate with the second insertion path 26 of the optical fiber insertion path 20 and exposing the end of the bare fiber from which the coating has been removed. The For example, the optical fiber holes 29 are provided at a plurality of locations along a direction substantially perpendicular to the insertion direction of the optical fiber 12, and the plurality of optical fiber holes 29 are arranged in one row. The optical fiber hole 29 is formed by, for example, a round hole. When a planar optical waveguide is used as the optical waveguide, a rectangular hole is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the window portion 22 to expose the tip end portion of the planar optical waveguide in the window portion 22.

  The connector body 14 is preferably provided with a fitting groove 30 on the connector body upper surface 27 that communicates with the window portion 22 and is fitted with the optical path changing body 15. The fitting groove 30 is formed, for example, from one connector body side surface to the other connector body side surface along a direction substantially orthogonal to the insertion direction of the optical fiber 12 and includes a groove bottom surface 31 and a groove side surface 32. Is done. The groove bottom surface 31 of the fitting groove 30 is provided with an optical path changing portion insertion port 33 for inserting an optical path changing portion of the optical path changing body 15 described later into the window portion 22.

  The groove bottom surface 31 of the fitting groove 30 is preferably provided with at least one guide hole 35 through which a guide pin 34 for positioning the connector main body 14 to the optical module 16 is inserted. For example, by attaching the connector main body 14 through the guide hole 35 to the guide pin 34 provided protruding from the optical module 16, the window portion 22 of the connector main body 14 is positioned to oppose the optical element 18 of the optical module 16 with high accuracy. it can. For example, a pair of guide holes 35 are provided on both sides of the optical path changing portion insertion port 33. A guide hole for positioning the connector body 14 may be provided in the optical module 16, and a guide pin inserted into the guide hole of the optical module 16 may be provided in the connector body 14.

  The optical connector 10 is formed separately from the connector main body 14 and includes an optical path changing body 15 that optically couples the optical fiber 12 and the optical element 18 by changing the optical axis direction of the optical fiber 12 or the optical element 18. I have.

  The optical path changing body 15 is inserted and arranged in the window portion 22, is formed to be inclined on the extension of the optical axis direction of the optical fiber 12 or the optical element 18, and changes the optical axis direction by reflection of the signal light. An optical path changing unit 42 having an optical path changing surface 40 for optically coupling between the fiber 12 and the optical element 18; and an optical path changing unit support member 44 attached to the connector body 14 and supporting the optical path changing unit 42. ing.

  The optical path changing unit 42 is preferably formed of, for example, a right triangular prism and a right isosceles triangular prism. The optical path changing portion 42 is inserted into the window portion 22 from the optical path changing portion insertion port 33 of the connector main body 14, the right angle portion of the right triangular prism is positioned on the connector main body upper surface 27 side, and the inclined surface of the right triangular prism is the optical fiber hole 29 or Opposite to the optical element 18, the optical fiber 12 or the optical element 18 is disposed on an extension in the optical axis direction.

  Since the optical path changing unit 42 is inserted into the window portion 22 from the optical path changing unit insertion port 33, the length of the right triangular prism is shorter than the length of the optical path changing unit insertion port 33 in the longitudinal direction. The width is formed smaller than the width of the optical path changing portion insertion port 33. Further, the optical path changing part 42 is preferably formed so that the height of the right triangular prism is smaller than the length of the window part 22 in the penetrating direction in order to suppress the protrusion from the window part 22.

  The optical path changing surface 40 is formed of, for example, a reflecting mirror formed by metal vapor deposition on an inclined surface of a right triangular prism, and has a function of reflecting signal light emitted from the optical fiber 12 or the optical element 18. The optical path changing surface 40 is preferably arranged so as to be inclined by approximately 45 degrees with respect to the optical axis direction of the optical fiber 12 or the optical element 18. Thus, when the optical connector 10 is installed in the optical module 16, the signal light emitted from the tip of the optical fiber 12 is positioned above the optical element 18 and faces the light emitting surface or the light receiving surface of the optical element 18. The optical element 18 can be bent by approximately 90 degrees and incident on the optical element 18. The signal light emitted from the optical element 18 can be bent by approximately 90 degrees and incident on the optical fiber 12. Note that the inclination angle of the optical path changing surface 40 is preferably about 45 degrees with respect to the optical axis direction of the optical fiber 12 or the optical element 18, but is not necessarily limited to about 45 degrees. The optical path changing surface 40 can be reflected so that the signal light emitted from the tip of the optical fiber 12 enters the optical element 18, and the signal light emitted from the optical element 18 enters the optical fiber 12. It is formed at an inclination angle that allows reflection.

  The optical path changing surface 40 preferably has a concave mirror surface for collecting the signal light emitted from the optical fiber 12 or the optical element 18. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view in the optical fiber insertion direction of the optical connector 10 having the optical path changing surface 40 in which the concave mirror surface 46 is formed. The concave mirror surface 46 is formed on an extension of the optical fiber 12 or the optical element 18 in the optical axis direction, condenses the signal light emitted from the optical fiber 12 so that the optical element 18 is correctly focused, and the optical element 18. The signal light can be condensed so that the signal light emitted from the optical fiber 12 is correctly focused on the tip of the optical fiber 12. Since the diffusion of the signal light can be suppressed by condensing the signal light, the optical coupling efficiency between the optical fiber 12 and the optical element 18 can be improved. The concave mirror surface 46 is formed by an aspherical surface such as a spherical surface or a parabolic surface (parabolic surface), for example. When a multi-fiber ribbon is used for the optical fiber 12, it is preferable that the concave mirror surface 46 is provided on the optical path changing surface 40 for each optical fiber core wire. The concave mirror surface 46 is formed, for example, by providing at least one minute convex curved surface on the molding surface for molding the optical path changing surface 40 of the mold. Since the optical path changing body 15 is molded separately from the connector main body 14, a molding die having such a minute convex curved surface can be manufactured easily and accurately.

  Returning again from FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, the optical path changing portion support member 44 is attached to the connector main body 14 and has a function of supporting the optical path changing portion 42. The optical path changing portion support member 44 is formed in a sheet shape, for example, and is fitted to the connector main body 14 by being fitted into the fitting groove 30 of the connector main body upper surface 27. By fitting the optical path changing portion support member 44 in the fitting groove 30 and attaching it, the optical path changing body 15 can be attached more stably by the connector main body 14.

  The optical path changing portion support member 44 is preferably formed with a thickness substantially the same as the depth of the groove side surface 32 or a thickness smaller than the depth of the groove side surface 32 in order to suppress protrusion from the connector main body upper surface 27. Further, the optical path changing portion support member 44 may be formed with a length substantially the same as the length in the longitudinal direction of the fitting groove 30 or a length shorter than the length in the longitudinal direction in order to suppress protrusion from the side surface of the connector main body. preferable.

  The optical path changing unit support member 44 has a contact surface that contacts the groove bottom surface 31 of the fitting groove 30 on the optical path changing unit 42 side, and the optical path changing unit support member 44 is fitted into the fitting groove 30. When the contact surface of the optical path changing portion support member 44 and the groove bottom surface 31 of the fitting groove 30 are brought into contact with each other, the position of the optical path changing surface 40 with respect to the penetration direction of the window portion 22 is regulated. Thus, the contact surface of the optical path changing portion support member 44 and the groove bottom surface 31 of the fitting groove 30 extend the optical path changing surface 40 in the optical axis direction of the optical fiber 12 with respect to the penetration direction of the window portion 22. It has a function as a regulating surface for regulating the position on the top.

  The optical path changing portion support member 44 is preferably attached so as to cover all the optical path changing portion insertion ports 33 provided in the groove bottom surface 31 in order to prevent dust and the like from entering the window portion 22. Of course, when the optical connector 10 is used in a clean environment or the like, the optical path changing unit support member 44 is attached so as to cover a part of the optical path changing unit insertion port 33 instead of all of the optical path changing unit insertion port 33. May be.

  The optical path changing portion support member 44 preferably has at least one guide hole 48 for positioning the optical path changing body 15 in the connector main body 14 through the guide pin 34 described above. The guide hole 48 is formed at a position where it can be inserted into the guide pin 34 inserted into the guide hole 35 of the connector body 14. When a pair of guide holes 35 are formed in the connector main body 14, a pair of guide holes 48 are formed in the optical path changing portion support member 44. Since the optical path changing body 15 is positioned by inserting the guide hole 48 through the guide pin 34 and attached to the connector body 14, the optical path changing surface 40 can be easily positioned with respect to the optical axis direction of the optical fiber 12 or the optical element 18 with accuracy. Can be done well. When the connector main body 14 is provided with guide pins to be inserted into the guide holes of the optical module 16, the optical path changing body 15 is positioned by inserting the guide pins of the connector main body 14 into the guide holes 48. Attached to the connector body 14.

  The optical path changing portion support member 44 is preferably formed with a width smaller than the groove width of the fitting groove 30. When the optical path changing body 15 is attached to the connector main body 14 through the guide hole 48 in the guide pin 34, the optical path changing surface 40 can be accurately positioned because it is possible to prevent galling between the optical path changing portion support member 44 and the fitting groove 30. Can be done well.

  The optical path changing body 15 is molded by a general molding method of synthetic resin. As the synthetic resin for molding the optical path changing body 15, the same synthetic resin as the synthetic resin for molding the connector body 14 may be used, or a different synthetic resin may be used. The optical path changing unit 42 and the optical path changing unit support member 44 are preferably molded integrally, but may be molded as a separate body and then joined with an adhesive or the like.

  Next, the operation of the optical connector 10 will be described.

  The optical connector 10 is attached to face the optical element 18 of the optical module 16 disposed on the circuit board 17 and optically couples between the optical fiber 12 and the optical element 18. First, the connector body 14 is positioned on the optical module 16 by inserting the guide hole 35 through the guide pin 34 provided on the optical module 16. The connector body 14 is guided by the guide pins 34 and attached so that the window portion 22 faces the optical element 18 of the optical module 16.

  The optical path changing body 15 is attached to the connector main body 14 with the optical path changing portion 42 inserted into the window portion 22 and the optical path changing portion support member 44 fitted into the fitting groove 30. Further, by inserting the guide hole 48 of the optical path changing unit support member 44 into the guide pin 34, the optical path changing surface 40 is positioned on the extension of the optical fiber 12 or the optical element 18 in the optical axis direction.

  When the optical element 18 is a light receiving element, the signal light emitted from the tip of the optical fiber 12 is bent by approximately 90 degrees by reflection at the optical path changing surface 40 and is incident on the optical element 18 of the optical module 16. When the optical element 18 is a light emitting element, the signal light emitted from the optical element 18 of the optical module 16 is bent by approximately 90 degrees by reflection at the optical path changing surface 40 and is incident on the tip of the optical fiber 12. The In this way, the optical connector 10 can optically couple between the optical fiber 12 and the optical element 18 of the optical module 16.

  Next, another optical connector will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same element and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the optical connector 60. The optical connector 60 is an optical waveguide, for example, holds the optical fiber 12 and is attached to the connector main body 62 separately from the connector main body 62 disposed opposite to the optical element of the optical module. And an optical path changing body 64 that changes the optical axis direction of the optical element. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the optical connector 60 in the optical fiber insertion direction, and FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional view showing a state before the optical path changing body 64 is attached to the connector main body 62. FIG. These are sectional drawings which show the state which attached the optical path change body 64 to the connector main body 62. FIG.

  FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a state in which the optical connector 60 is attached to the optical module 16. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the optical connector 60 is attached to the optical module 16. The optical connector 60 is attached to face the optical element 18 of the optical module 16 disposed on the circuit board 17 and optically couples between the optical fiber 12 and the optical element 18. As described above, the optical waveguide held by the connector main body 62 will be described as the optical fiber 12. However, the optical waveguide may be a planar optical waveguide and is not limited to the optical fiber 12.

  The optical connector 60 is disposed to face the optical element 18 and includes a connector main body 62 formed of a synthetic resin such as an epoxy resin. The optical connector 60 is provided on the rear end surface of the connector main body 62 to insert the optical fiber 12. An optical fiber insertion passage 20 that is provided in the port 19 and the connector main body 62 and communicates with the optical fiber insertion port 19 and through which the optical fiber 12 is inserted; and an optical fiber insertion passage 20 that is provided in the connector main body 62 and communicates with the optical fiber insertion passage 20; And a window portion 22 formed so as to penetrate between the connector main body upper surface 66 and the connector main body lower surface 68 in a direction substantially orthogonal to the insertion direction of the fiber 12. As described above, the optical fiber insertion path 20 includes the first insertion path 24 and the second insertion path 26. Further, at least one optical fiber hole 29 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the window portion 22 so as to communicate with the second insertion passage 26 and expose the end of the bare fiber. When a planar optical waveguide is used as the optical waveguide, a rectangular hole is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the window portion 22 to expose the tip end portion of the planar optical waveguide in the window portion 22.

  The connector main body 62 is preferably provided with a fitting groove 30 that communicates with the window portion 22 and is fitted with the optical path changing body 64 fitted to the lower surface 68 of the connector main body. The fitting groove 30 is formed, for example, from one connector body side surface to the other connector body side surface along a direction substantially orthogonal to the insertion direction of the optical fiber 12. The groove bottom surface 31 of the fitting groove 30 is provided with an optical path changing portion insertion port 33 for inserting an optical path changing portion of an optical path changing body 64 described later into the window portion 22. The groove bottom surface 31 of the fitting groove 30 is preferably provided with an optical module 16 to which the connector body 62 is attached and a guide hole 35 that is positioned through the at least one guide pin 34. For example, a pair of guide holes 35 are provided on both sides of the optical path changing portion insertion port 33. A guide hole for positioning the connector main body 62 may be provided in the optical module 16, and a guide pin inserted into the guide hole of the optical module 16 may be provided in the connector main body 62.

  The optical connector 60 is formed separately from the connector body 62 using an optical resin, and an optical path for optically coupling between the optical fiber 12 and the optical element 18 by changing the optical axis direction of the optical fiber 12 or the optical element 18. A change body 64 is provided. The optical path changing body 64 is disposed by being inserted into the window portion 22, is formed to be inclined on the extension of the optical fiber 12 or the optical element 18 in the optical axis direction, and changes the optical axis direction by internal reflection of signal light. An optical path changing unit 72 having an optical path changing surface 70 for optically coupling between the optical fiber 12 and the optical element 18; and an optical path changing unit support member 74 attached to the connector main body 62 and supporting the optical path changing unit 72. doing.

  The optical path changing body 64 is made of an optical resin such as a transparent resin, and can transmit signal light into the optical path changing section 72 and the optical path changing section support member 74. The optical path changing body 64 is preferably formed of an optical resin that efficiently transmits light having a signal wavelength to be used (for example, 850 nm, 1310 nm, 1550 nm, etc.). As the optical resin, PC (polycarbonate resin), PEI (polyetherimide resin), PPA (polyphthalamide resin), or the like can be used. The optical path changing unit 72 and the optical path changing unit support member 74 are preferably molded integrally.

  The optical path changing unit 72 is preferably formed in, for example, a prism shape of a right triangular prism, and is formed of a right isosceles triangular prism. The optical path changing portion 72 is inserted into the window portion 22 from the optical path changing portion insertion port 33 of the connector main body 62, the right angle portion of the right triangular prism is positioned on the connector main body lower surface 68 side, and the vertical surface 76 of the right triangular prism is connected to the optical fiber 12. The inclined surface of the right triangular prism is positioned so as to abut against the tip, and is positioned on the extension of the optical fiber 12 or the optical element 18 in the optical axis direction. The reason why the vertical surface 76 of the right triangular prism is abutted against the tip of the optical fiber 12 is to suppress the reflection by the air layer and make it non-reflective.

  Since the optical path changing unit 72 is inserted into the window portion 22 from the optical path changing unit insertion port 33, the length of the right triangular prism is shorter than the length of the optical path changing unit insertion port 33 in the longitudinal direction. The width is formed smaller than the width of the optical path changing portion insertion port 33. The optical path changing portion 72 is preferably formed such that the height of the optical path changing portion 72 is smaller than the length of the window portion 22 in the penetrating direction in order to suppress protrusion from the window portion 22.

  The optical path changing surface 70 is formed of an inclined surface of a right triangular prism and has a function of changing the optical axis direction of the optical fiber 12 or the optical element 18 by internal reflection of signal light. Here, the internal reflection means that light incident on the transparent body is reflected on the boundary surface with the outside (boundary surface with air or the like) without passing through the transparent body. The optical path changing surface 70 is preferably arranged so as to be inclined by approximately 45 degrees with respect to the optical axis direction of the optical fiber 12 or the optical element 18. Accordingly, when the optical connector 60 is installed in the optical module 16, the optical connector 60 is positioned above the optical element 18 of the optical module 16 so as to face the light emitting surface or the light receiving surface of the optical element 18, and emitted from the tip of the optical fiber 12. The reflected signal light is bent to approximately 90 degrees by internal reflection and is incident on the optical element 18, and the signal light emitted from the optical element 18 is bent to approximately 90 degrees by internal reflection and is incident on the tip of the optical fiber 12. Can be made. The tilt angle of the optical path changing surface 70 is preferably approximately 45 degrees with respect to the optical axis direction of the optical fiber 12 or the optical element 18, but is not necessarily limited to approximately 45 degrees. The optical path changing surface 70 can be reflected so that the signal light emitted from the tip of the optical fiber 12 enters the optical element 18, and the reflection such that the signal light emitted from the optical element 18 enters the optical fiber 12. Is formed at an inclination angle that is possible.

  The optical path changing surface 70 preferably has a condensing lens that condenses the signal light emitted from the optical fiber 12 or the optical element 18. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the optical connector 60 having the condensing lens 78 on the optical path changing surface 70 in the optical fiber insertion direction. The condensing lens 78 is formed by, for example, a convex lens that protrudes from the optical path changing surface 70. The condensing lens 78 is formed on an extension of the optical fiber 12 or the optical element 18 in the optical axis direction, condenses the signal light emitted from the optical fiber 12 so that the optical element 18 is correctly focused, and the optical element The signal light emitted from 18 has a function of condensing the signal light so that the optical fiber 12 is correctly focused. Since the diffusion of the signal light can be suppressed by condensing the signal light with the condensing lens 78, the optical coupling efficiency between the optical fiber 12 and the optical element 18 can be further improved. The condensing lens 78 is preferably formed integrally with the optical path changing surface 70. The convex surface of the condensing lens 78 is formed of an aspherical surface such as a spherical surface or a parabolic surface (parabolic surface), for example. When a multi-core optical fiber tape is used for the optical fiber 12, it is preferable that a condensing lens 78 is provided on the optical path changing surface 70 for each optical fiber core wire. The condenser lens 78 is molded, for example, by providing at least one minute concave curved surface on the molding surface for molding the optical path changing surface 70 of the mold. Since the optical path changing body 64 is molded separately from the connector main body 62, a molding die having such a minute concave curved surface can be easily manufactured with high accuracy.

  The condensing lens 78 may be provided not only on the optical path changing surface 70 of the optical path changing body 64 but also on the light incident / exiting surface of the signal light. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing an optical path changing body 64 in which a condensing lens 78 is provided on the optical path changing surface 70 and the light incident / exiting surface for signal light. The condensing lens 78 is formed by the vertical surface 76 of the optical path changing unit 72 where the signal light is incident from the optical fiber 12 to the optical path changing unit 72 or the signal light internally reflected by the optical path changing surface 70 is emitted to the optical fiber 12. The signal light is incident on the light incident / exit surface or the optical element 18 of the optical module 16 to the optical path changing unit support member 74, or the signal light internally reflected by the optical path changing surface 70 is emitted to the optical element 18 of the optical module 16. It may be provided on the light incident / exit surface 80 of the optical path changing portion support member 74 to be provided. The condensing lens 78 is preferably provided on at least one of the optical path changing surface 70, the vertical surface 76 of the optical path changing unit 72, and the light incident / exiting surface 80 of the optical path changing unit support member 74.

  6 to 9 again, the optical path changing portion support member 74 is formed on the light incident / exit surface 80 on which the signal light is incident or emitted and arranged in an uneven shape with a period smaller than the signal wavelength of the signal light. It is preferable that an uneven portion is provided. Reflection of the signal light on the light incident / exit surface 80 is formed on the light incident / exit surface 80 of the optical path changing portion support member 74 by forming fine uneven portions arranged in an uneven shape with a period smaller than the signal wavelength of the signal light. Can be made non-reflective.

  The fine uneven portion can be formed, for example, by providing a molding surface for forming the fine uneven portion on the mold surface of the molding die for forming the optical path changing body 64. The molding surface for molding the fine irregularities is formed, for example, by providing metal nanoparticles on the mold surface. By molding the optical resin using a molding die having a molding surface for molding the fine uneven portion, the fine uneven portion can be formed by transfer. Since the optical path changing body 64 is molded separately from the connector main body 62, a molding surface for molding the fine irregularities on the molding die of the optical path changing body 64 can be easily and accurately formed. Further, the fine uneven portion may be directly formed on the light incident / exit surface using an electron beam lithography method. According to the electron beam lithography method, the light incident / exit surface can be processed with a nanometer size.

  The reflection of the signal light at the light incident / exit surface 80 may be prevented by providing an antireflection film on the light incident / exit surface 80 of the optical path changing unit support member 74. The antireflection film is formed by, for example, applying a dielectric material to the light incident / exiting surface 80, vacuum deposition, or sputtering. Further, by providing a light attenuating film on the light incident / exit surface 80, the light intensity of the signal light may be reduced to protect the eyes. The light attenuation film is formed, for example, by sputtering a metal material or the like.

  The optical path changing portion support member 74 is formed, for example, in a sheet shape, and is fitted into the fitting groove 30 on the connector main body lower surface 68 and attached. The optical path changing portion support member 74 is preferably attached so as to cover all the optical path changing portion insertion ports 33 provided on the groove bottom surface 31 of the fitting groove 30. The optical path changing portion support member 74 is preferably formed with a width smaller than the groove width of the fitting groove 30. The optical path changing portion support member 74 has a contact surface that comes into contact with the groove bottom surface 31 of the fitting groove 30. When the optical path changing portion support member 74 is fitted into the fitting groove 30, the optical path changing portion support is supported. By bringing the contact surface of the member 74 into contact with the groove bottom surface 31 of the fitting groove 30, the position of the optical path changing surface 70 with respect to the penetration direction of the window portion 22 is regulated.

  The optical path changing portion support member 74 has at least one guide hole 48 for inserting the guide pin 34 and positioning the optical path changing body 64 in the connector main body 62. The guide hole 48 is formed at a position where it can be inserted into the guide pin 34 inserted into the guide hole 35 of the connector main body 62. When a pair of guide holes 35 are formed in the connector main body 62, a pair of guide holes 48 are formed in the optical path changing portion support member 74. When the connector body 62 is provided with guide pins that are inserted into the guide holes of the optical module 16, the optical path changing body 64 is positioned by inserting the guide pins of the connector body 62 into the guide holes 48. It is attached to the connector main body 62.

  Next, the operation of the optical connector 60 will be described.

  The optical connector 60 is attached to face the optical element 18 of the optical module 16 disposed on the circuit board 17 and optically couples between the optical fiber 12 and the optical element 18. First, the connector main body 62 is positioned in the optical module 16 by inserting the guide hole 35 through the guide pin 34 provided in the optical module 16. The connector main body 62 is guided by the guide pins 34 and attached so that the window portion 22 is located facing the optical element 18 of the optical module 16.

  The optical path changing body 64 is attached to the connector main body 14 with the optical path changing section 72 inserted into the window section 22 and the optical path changing section support member 74 fitted into the fitting groove 30. Further, by inserting the guide pin 34 through the guide hole 48 of the optical path changing portion support member 74, the vertical surface 76 of the optical path changing portion 72 is positioned so as to contact the tip of the optical fiber 12, and the optical path changing surface 70 It is positioned on the extension of the optical axis direction of the fiber 12 or the optical element 18.

  When the optical element 18 is a light receiving element, the signal light emitted from the tip of the optical fiber 12 is incident on the vertical surface 76 of the optical path changing unit 72 and bent at approximately 90 degrees by internal reflection at the optical path changing surface 70. Then, the light enters the optical element 18 of the optical module 16. When the optical element 18 is a light-emitting element, the signal light emitted from the optical element 18 of the optical module 16 is bent at approximately 90 degrees by internal reflection on the optical path changing surface 70 and is perpendicular to the optical path changing unit 72. The light exits from the surface 76 and enters the tip of the optical fiber 12. In this way, the optical connector 60 optically couples the optical fiber 12 and the optical element of the optical module. The opening 82 of the window portion 22 formed on the connector main body upper surface 66 side is preferably covered with a lid or the like in order to prevent dust or the like from entering the window portion 22 and contaminating the optical path changing surface 70. .

  As mentioned above, according to the optical connector of the said structure, since the connector main body and the optical path change body are formed separately, a connector main body and an optical path change body can be shape | molded by a separate shaping die. Therefore, there is no need to use a molding die having a complicated structure for integrally molding an optical connector having an optical path changing surface, which is a minute and precise optical component, and a molding die having a simplified and simplified structure is used. Can be molded. Therefore, it is possible to shorten the lead time for mold manufacture and to suppress the mold manufacturing cost. Further, since the connector main body and the optical path changing body are manufactured separately, it is not necessary to mold the resin with a molding die having a complicated structure. Therefore, the moldability of the connector main body or the optical path changing body is improved, and a highly accurate connector main body or optical path changing body can be easily manufactured. From these things, the manufacturing cost of an optical connector can be held down.

  According to the optical connector having the above configuration, since the connector main body and the optical path changing body are configured separately, when performing a design change such as an optical path changing surface, only a molding die for molding the optical path changing body is used. Just make a new one. For example, even when changing the tilt angle on the optical path changing surface, changing the size or curvature of the concave mirror surface or the condensing lens, changing the arrangement of the concave mirror surface or the condensing lens due to the change in the pitch or arrangement of the optical fiber, etc. It is only necessary to newly manufacture a molding die for molding the changed body. Therefore, the manufacturing cost of the optical connector can be suppressed.

  According to the above configuration, the connector main body has at least one guide hole that is positioned in the optical module through the guide pin, and the optical path changing unit support member passes through the guide pin and connects the optical path changing body to the connector. At least one guide hole is positioned in the body. Accordingly, it is possible to easily position the optical path changing surface with respect to the optical axis direction of the optical fiber or the optical element.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10, 60 Optical connector 12 Optical fiber 14, 62 Connector main body 15, 64 Optical path change body 16 Optical module 17 Circuit board 18 Optical element 19 Optical fiber insertion port 20 Optical fiber insertion path 22 Window part 24 1st insertion path 26 2nd insertion Passage 27, 66 Upper surface of connector main body 28, 68 Lower surface of connector main body 29 Optical fiber hole 30 Fitting groove 31 Groove bottom surface 32 Side surface of groove 33 Optical path changing portion insertion port 34 Guide pin 35, 48 Guide hole 40, 70 Optical path changing surface 42, 72 Optical path changing portion 44, 74 Optical path changing portion supporting member 46 Concave mirror surface 76 Vertical surface 78 Condensing lens 80 Light incident / exit surface 82 Opening

Claims (4)

An optical connector that holds an optical waveguide and is disposed opposite to the optical element of an optical element component provided with an optical element, and optically couples between the optical waveguide and the optical element,
Provided with a connector body made of synthetic resin
An optical waveguide insertion port provided on an end surface of the connector body, into which the optical waveguide is inserted;
An optical waveguide insertion path that is provided in the connector body, communicates with the optical waveguide insertion port, and inserts the optical waveguide;
A window portion formed so as to penetrate between the connector main body upper surface and the connector main body lower surface, communicating with the optical waveguide insertion path so as to face the optical element in the connector main body,
A fitting groove provided on the upper surface of the connector body and communicating with the window;
Including
It is formed separately from the connector body, is fitted in the fitting groove, and comprises an optical path changing body that changes the optical axis direction of the optical waveguide or the optical element,
The optical path changing body is:
The optical waveguide and the light are inserted and arranged in the window portion, are formed to be inclined on an extension of the optical waveguide or the optical element in the optical axis direction, and the optical axis direction is changed by reflection of signal light. An optical path changing unit having an optical path changing surface that optically couples between the elements;
An optical path changing unit supporting member attached to the connector body and supporting the optical path changing unit;
Only including,
The optical path changing unit support member has a contact surface that contacts the groove bottom surface of the fitting groove on the optical path changing unit side, and the contact surface of the optical path changing unit support member and the fitting groove The groove bottom surface is a regulating surface that regulates the position of the optical path changing surface on the extension in the optical axis direction of the optical waveguide with respect to the penetrating direction of the window portion,
The optical element component has a guide pin or a guide hole for positioning the connector body on the optical element component,
The connector main body has a guide hole into which a guide pin of the optical element component is inserted or a guide pin to be inserted into a guide hole of the optical element component;
The optical path changing portion support member has a guide hole for positioning the optical path changing body in the connector body by inserting a guide pin of the optical element component or a guide pin of the connector body,
The optical path changing portion is formed of a right triangular prism, a right angle portion of the right triangular prism is positioned on an upper surface side of the connector body, and an inclined surface of the right triangular prism is an extension of the optical waveguide or the optical element in the optical axis direction. Located in the
The optical connector is characterized in that the optical path changing surface is formed by providing a reflecting mirror on the inclined surface and has a concave mirror surface for condensing the signal light . An optical connector that holds an optical waveguide and is disposed opposite to the optical element of an optical element component provided with an optical element, and optically couples between the optical waveguide and the optical element,
Provided with a connector body made of synthetic resin
An optical waveguide insertion port provided on an end surface of the connector body, into which the optical waveguide is inserted;
An optical waveguide insertion path that is provided in the connector body, communicates with the optical waveguide insertion port, and inserts the optical waveguide;
A window portion formed so as to penetrate between the connector main body upper surface and the connector main body lower surface, communicating with the optical waveguide insertion path so as to face the optical element in the connector main body,
A fitting groove provided on the upper surface of the connector body and communicating with the window;
Including
It is formed separately from the connector body, is fitted in the fitting groove, and comprises an optical path changing body that changes the optical axis direction of the optical waveguide or the optical element,
The optical path changing body is:
The optical waveguide and the light are inserted and arranged in the window portion, are formed to be inclined on an extension of the optical waveguide or the optical element in the optical axis direction, and the optical axis direction is changed by reflection of signal light. An optical path changing unit having an optical path changing surface that optically couples between the elements;
An optical path changing unit supporting member attached to the connector body and supporting the optical path changing unit;
Including
The optical path changing unit support member has a contact surface that contacts the groove bottom surface of the fitting groove on the optical path changing unit side, and the contact surface of the optical path changing unit support member and the fitting groove The groove bottom surface is a regulating surface that regulates the position of the optical path changing surface on the extension in the optical axis direction of the optical waveguide with respect to the penetrating direction of the window portion,
The optical element component has a guide pin or a guide hole for positioning the connector body on the optical element component,
The connector main body has a guide hole into which a guide pin of the optical element component is inserted or a guide pin to be inserted into a guide hole of the optical element component;
The optical path changing portion support member has a guide hole for positioning the optical path changing body in the connector body by inserting a guide pin of the optical element component or a guide pin of the connector body,
The optical path changing body is formed of an optical resin,
The optical path changing portion is formed of a right triangular prism, and a right angle portion of the right triangular prism is positioned on a lower surface side of the connector body, a vertical surface of the right triangular prism is abutted against a tip of the optical waveguide, and the right angle An inclined surface of a triangular prism is disposed on an extension of the optical waveguide or the optical element in the optical axis direction,
The optical path changing surface is formed of the inclined surface, has a condensing lens for condensing the signal light, and changes the optical axis direction of the optical waveguide or the optical element by internal reflection of the signal light. A featured optical connector. The optical connector according to claim 2 ,
The optical path changing portion supporting member is provided with an uneven surface formed by being arranged in an uneven shape with a period smaller than the signal wavelength of the signal light on a light incident / exit surface on which the signal light is incident or emitted. And optical connector. The optical connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3 ,
The optical connector is an optical fiber or a planar optical waveguide.

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