JPH05281441A - Laser diode module - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a laser diode module which emits no laser beam to an outside unless an optical connector plug is connected to an optical receptacle part. CONSTITUTION:When the optical connector plug is not coupled, a lens holder 10 is pressed against the step part of a main body part 1 by a spring 12. At this position, the coupling conditions at projection opening 10 are satisfied and light power emitted from the optical receptacle to the outside is very small. Once the optical connector plug which is not shown in the figure is connected, the lens holder 10 is pressed by the tip part of the ferrule of the optical connector plug to move back and the light emission part of a laser diode 6 is image- formed on the end surface of an optical fiber from the projection opening 11, so that the output light is made incident on the optical fiber.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a laser diode module used in fields such as optical communication, measurement, optical information processing and laser processing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 4 is a sectional view of an optical receptacle portion of a conventional laser diode module. In the figure, 1 is a main body part, 2 is a sleeve, 3 is a ferrule fitting hole, 4 is a fastening part, 5 is a laser diode, 6 is a stem, 7 is a lead,
8 is a cap, 9 is a coupling lens, 10 is a lens holder,
Reference numeral 11 is an emission port. A fastening portion 4 with the optical connector plug is provided on the outer side of the front end of the main body 1, and a sleeve 2 is provided on the inner side. The inner surface of the sleeve 2 forms a ferrule fitting hole 3, and an optical connector plug (not shown)
The ferrule of the optical connector plug is fitted into the ferrule fitting hole 3 when it is fastened to the fastening portion 4 of the main body 1. The laser diode 5 is attached to the stem 6 and electrically connected to the lead 7. A cap 8 for protecting the laser diode 5 is attached to the stem 6. The coupling lens 9 is attached to the lens holder 10 and is incorporated in the main body 1 together with the stem 6. The emission port 11 is provided in the main body 1 and is opened toward the end face of the optical fiber of the ferrule (not shown) fitted in the ferrule fitting hole 3. Therefore, when the optical connector plug is fastened to the optical receptacle,
The emitted light from the laser diode 5 is converged by the coupling lens 9 and is incident on the optical fiber arranged at the center of the ferrule of the optical connector plug.

By the way, in the parts and devices that emit laser light, it is usual to consider that the human body is not directly irradiated with the laser light from the viewpoint of safety. However, even if safety measures are taken, it is difficult to completely prevent exposure due to the carelessness of the user. However, from the viewpoint of safety, it is necessary to take safer measures for components and devices that emit laser light.

In the above laser diode module, a safety device is provided so that the laser diode does not operate when the optical connector plug is not fastened to the optical receptacle portion. However, if the optical connector plug is accidentally pulled out during use, or if an abnormality occurs in the safety device, the laser light emitted from the laser diode 5 is not attenuated and goes out of the laser diode module. There is a problem of being emitted.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and it is attenuated even when the laser diode is operating in a state where the optical connector plug is not inserted into the optical receptacle portion. It is an object of the present invention to realize a laser diode module in which dangerous laser light is not emitted to the outside only by emitting the laser light to the outside.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an optical receptacle type laser diode module for coupling an optical output to an optical fiber through an optical lens, in association with the insertion of an optical connector plug. It is characterized by changing the positional relationship of.

[0007]

According to the present invention, in the optical receptacle type laser diode module in which the optical output is coupled to the optical fiber through the optical lens, the positional relationship between the optical lens and the laser diode is linked with the insertion of the optical connector plug. By changing the condition, the coupling condition between the laser diode, the coupling lens, and the end face of the optical fiber is satisfied with the optical connector plug inserted, and the output light of the laser diode is coupled to the optical fiber, and the optical connector plug is not inserted. In this state, the laser light emitted to the outside can be attenuated by preventing the coupling condition from being satisfied.

[0008]

1 is a sectional view of an optical receptacle portion in an embodiment of a laser diode module of the present invention. In the figure, the portions corresponding to those in FIG. 12 is a spring. In this embodiment, the lens holder 10 is provided so as to be movable in the axial direction, and the emission port 11 is formed in the lens holder 10. Exit port 11
The diameter of may be approximately the same as the diameter of the optical fiber. The lens holder 10 is adapted to fit in the sleeve 2,
Align the end face of the optical fiber with the exit port. As shown in FIG. 2, the stem 6 having the laser diode 5 attached thereto efficiently outputs light from the laser diode 5 when the lens holder 10 is retracted and hits the cap 8, as shown in FIG. It is fixed to the main body 1 so as to be coupled to the fiber 14. Lens holder 10
Is pressed against the stepped portion of the main body 1 by the spring 12, as shown in FIG.
A predetermined gap d is formed between the laser diode 5 and the laser diode 5, and the distance between the coupling lens 9 and the laser diode 5 is larger than that in the case of FIG. The coupling condition between the fiber end faces does not hold.

When an optical connector plug (not shown) is inserted into such an optical receptacle, the lens holder 10 is pushed by the tip of the ferrule of the optical connector plug and the lens holder 10 is retracted. In the fastened state, the lens holder 10 is positioned using the cap 8 as a stopper. In this state, as described in FIG. 2, the coupling condition is satisfied, the light emitting portion of the laser diode 5 forms an image on the end face of the optical fiber 14, and the output light of the laser diode 10 is reflected by the optical fiber 14. Be combined.

On the other hand, when the optical connector plug is not fastened, the lens holder 10 is pressed against the stepped portion of the main body 1 by the spring 12 so as to be separated from the laser diode 5. At this position, as described in FIG. 3, the laser diode 5, the coupling lens 9,
Since the coupling condition between the end faces of the optical fiber is not established, the output light of the laser diode 5 is focused on the inside of the emission port 10, and therefore, from the emission port 10 to the ferrule fitting hole 3.
The optical power radiated to the outside of the optical receptacle via the optical axis is sufficiently small.

In the above-described embodiment, the lens holder is moved backward to move the optical lens by the tip of the ferrule, but the movement of the optical lens is not limited to this, and the optical connector plug is not limited to this. An appropriate interlocking mechanism may be used depending on the fastening. Further, the movement is not limited to the movement of the optical lens, and the laser diode may be moved. It goes without saying that both the optical lens and the laser diode may be moved.

[0012]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, when the optical connector plug is not inserted, the image forming condition is not satisfied, so that the laser light emitted to the outside of the laser diode module is not emitted. Since it is possible to surely attenuate the radiation, there is an effect that the radiation exposure due to the carelessness of the user can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an optical receptacle portion in an embodiment of a laser diode module of the present invention.

[Figure 2]

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an operating state of the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an optical receptacle portion of a conventional laser diode module.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Main Body 2 Sleeve 3 Ferrule Fitting Hole 4 Fastening Part 5 Laser Diode 6 Stem 7 Lead 8 Cap 9 Coupling Lens 10 Lens Holder 11 Outlet 12 Spring 13 Ferrule 14 Optical Fiber

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In an optical receptacle type laser diode module for coupling an optical output to an optical fiber via an optical lens, the positional relationship between the optical lens and the laser diode is changed in association with insertion of an optical connector plug. Characteristic laser diode module.