JPH06102437A - Optical coupling member and multi-cannel array module with the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an optical coupling member capable of improving remarkably efficiency in an optical coupling work and optical coupling efficiency (quality). CONSTITUTION:This member is an optical coupling member 17 coupling optically corresponding optical parts attached to both flanks and plural waveguides 25 forming optical transmission paths are formed on the optical coupling member 17 in a fan-out system so that relative interval is widened properly from one side surface to the other side surface. An optical fiber array 15 is arranged on one flank side of the optical coupling member 17, and plural optical element arrays 21 are arranged properly on the other flank side of the optical coupling member 17, and the optical fiber and the optical element corresponding each other are coupled optically through respective waveguides 25 of the optical coupling member 17 and a multi-channel array module is constituted.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical connecting member and a multi-channel array module using the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the case of optically coupling corresponding optical components, in particular, when a plurality of optical components are scattered in an in-plane direction perpendicular to the optical coupling direction on one side, the other side is appropriately divided. It is conceivable that each of them is configured to perform optical coupling.

[0003]

However, in view of the efficiency and efficiency of the optical coupling work and the optical coupling efficiency, there is a problem how to construct a plurality of optical transmission lines for optically coupling them. Become. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to make it possible to perform optical coupling easily, easily and quickly and to improve the optical coupling efficiency considerably.

[0004]

In order to solve the above problems, an optical connecting member according to the present invention is an optical connecting member for optically connecting corresponding optical components attached to both side surfaces thereof. A structural feature is that a plurality of waveguides forming an optical transmission line are formed on the member in a fan-out type in which mutual distances are appropriately widened from one side surface to the other side surface.

In the multi-channel array module according to the present invention, the optical fiber array is arranged on the one side surface side of the optical coupling member, and the plurality of optical element arrays are arranged on the other side surface side of the optical coupling member as appropriate. A structural feature is that the corresponding optical fiber and the optical element are optically connected via each waveguide of the optical connecting member. Preferably, the optical fiber array is configured to have a groove-shaped aligning member that regularly aligns the ends of the optical fiber array in a line, and a lens array that is interposed between the other side surface of the optical coupling member and the optical element array. .

[0006]

Operation The optical connecting member on one side and the optical connecting member on the other side have, for example, an optical connecting member even if a plurality of optical parts are scattered in an in-plane direction perpendicular to the optical coupling direction on one side thereof. Good optical coupling can be achieved via the above-mentioned fan-out type waveguide. Similarly, the optical fiber array on one side of the optical coupling member and the plurality of optical element arrays on the other side can be optically coupled well through the waveguide.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 are views showing an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to these drawings, one end (left side) of the upper surface of the block 11 which is formed by connecting L-shaped members back to back is provided with upper and lower groove-shaped aligning members 13 each having a plurality of V-grooves. The optical fibers (not shown) are regularly arranged in a line, and the narrowed and fixed tape fibers 15 are arranged. The groove-shaped aligning member 13 (tape fiber 15) has an end face at the center of the upper surface of the block 11. One side surface of the optical coupling member 17 disposed in the portion is closely attached and fixed.

A plurality (three in the illustrated embodiment) of monolithic lens arrays 19 are closely attached and fixed to the opposite side of the optical connecting member 17 at a predetermined pitch. In the embodiment, the LD array 21 having four channels is closely attached and fixed together with the carrier 22. On the upper surface of the optical coupling member 17, those regularly aligned at a predetermined pitch on the tape fiber side (groove-shaped alignment member side) are evenly divided into a predetermined number (three in the illustrated embodiment), and each is gradually and collectively. The waveguide 25 is formed in a fan-out type (or a dispersion pattern type) that spreads.

Each of the waveguides 25 is optically coupled to the corresponding end face of the optical fiber on one side surface of the optical coupling member 17, and on the opposite side surface of the optical coupling member 17, a lens (not shown) of the corresponding monolithic lens array 19 is formed. The parts (and further each element part of the LD array) are optically coupled.
These optical couplings cause the LD array 21 to emit light, and the optical output is read by an optical power meter (not shown) connected to the rear end side (free end side) of the tape fiber 15,
Positioning between the tape fiber 15 (groove-shaped aligning member 13), the optical coupling member 17, the monolithic lens array 19, and the LD array 21 so that it becomes maximum.
It can be obtained relatively easily by making adjustments.

In this embodiment having the above construction,
Since the optical fibers are configured to be optically coupled by using the optical coupling member 17 having the waveguide pattern fanned out so that the ones collected according to the number of channels gradually expand, the tape fiber 15 and a large number of optical element chips (specifically, Enables optical coupling with, for example, an LD array 21 of about 4 channels easily, conveniently, and rapidly, which can dramatically improve so-called multi-channel (several tens to several hundreds of channels) modularization. it can.

Further, since the lens (monolithic lens array 19) is attached to the LD array 21 side of the optical coupling member, the optical coupling member 17 (optical waveguide 25) and the LD array 21 are attached.
The optical coupling efficiency with can be improved considerably. Further, the end portion of the tape fiber 15 is provided with upper and lower groove-shaped aligning members
Since the optical fibers are tightly attached and fixed so that they are regularly arranged in a line, the optical coupling work can be easily performed.

Incidentally, as shown in FIG. 3, the monolithic lens array 29 is made into a long-sized integrated body, so that rationalization of optical coupling work and cost reduction can be further promoted. Also,
It goes without saying that the optical element is not limited to the LD array and can be configured using a light receiving element (PD array).

[0013]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the optical components are optically coupled by using the optical coupling member having the fan-out type waveguide, the work efficiency and efficiency can be improved. The optical coupling efficiency (quality) can be significantly improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an optical connecting member according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 13 ... Groove-shaped aligning member 15 ... Tape fiber 17 ... Optical connecting member 19 ... Monolithic lens array 21 ... LD array 25 ... Waveguide

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An optical connecting member (17) for optically connecting corresponding optical components attached to both side surfaces thereof, wherein a mutual spacing is provided on the optical connecting member (17) from one side surface to the other side surface. The optical coupling member is characterized in that a plurality of waveguides (25) forming an optical transmission line are formed in a fanout type so as to appropriately spread. 2. An optical fiber array (15) is arranged on the one side surface side of the optical coupling member (17) according to claim 1, and a plurality of optical elements are arranged on the other side surface side of the optical coupling member (17). A multi-channel array module, in which an array (21) is appropriately arranged, and a corresponding optical fiber and an optical element are optically connected via each waveguide (25) of an optical connecting member (17). 3. A groove-shaped aligning member (13) for regularly aligning the ends of the optical fiber array (15) in a line, the other side surface of the optical coupling member (17) and the optical element array (21).
The multi-channel array module according to claim 2, further comprising a lens array (19) interposed between and.