JPH07104149A - Optical receptacle integrated module - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To shorten the time for assembly, to facilitate assembly and to impart sufficient strength to a housing by adopting the constitution to divide the housing to a housing body and a housing cap. CONSTITUTION:The housing is composed of the housing body 13 and the housing cap 14. The housing body 13 is constructed by recessing its inside in order to hold and fix an optical module type unit 11 and a circuit board 12 therein. The part near the front end part of the housing body 13 is formed to a cylindrical shape and a receptacle part 18 where an optical connector is attachable and detachable is arranged therein. Tongue pieces 34 combined with respective slits 28 project below the housing cap 14 shown above the housing body 13 and the lower parts of the respective tongue pieces 34 are provided with hooks 35 fittable respectively into the slit recessed parts 29 of the housing body 13.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical module having a light emitting element and a light receiving element for transmitting and receiving laser light, and more particularly to an optical receptacle integrated type module having a receptacle part to which an optical connector can be attached and detached.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As optical communication has become widespread, for example, as pointed out in Japanese Patent Publication No. 62-59478, there is a demand for lowering the cost of optical devices used therein and simplifying their assembly. Is increasing. As an optical module including a light emitting element and a light receiving element for transmitting and receiving a laser beam, an optical receptacle type optical module having a receptacle part to which an optical connector can be attached / detached has conventionally existed. Such a conventional optical receptacle type optical module is assembled by separately assembling the receptacle part and fixing it to the housing of the optical module by means such as screwing. Also,
In the low-cost type, the receptacle part is formed integrally with the housing of the optical module, and
By dividing the entire housing into two parts, components such as optical elements and boards are fixed inside the housing.

FIG. 11 shows a state before assembly of a conventional optical receptacle type optical module in which the latter housing is divided into two parts. The housing of this optical receptacle type optical module is composed of a housing main body 51 and a housing lid 52 shown above. Parts such as the optical element 53 and the circuit board 54 are arranged in the housing body 51. An optical connector (not shown) has a housing main body 51, and after fixing these parts, two screws 56 are used to cover the housing lid 5.
2 was fixed to the housing main body 51, and an optical connector (not shown) was fitted to the receptacle portion 57 integrated by this.

FIG. 12 is a half cross-sectional view of the conventional optical receptacle type optical module in which the housing lid is fixed to the housing body with a screw and only one side is cut along a plane horizontal to the central axis. In this optical receptacle type optical module, the optical element 53 is arranged so that the optical axes thereof are parallel to each other.
Are arranged. That is, the optical element 53 is also provided in the lower half of the figure.
Is not shown because it is hidden by the housing lid 52.

FIG. 13 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a fitted state of the optical connector after the optical receptacle type optical module is assembled in this manner. Optical connector 6
The first plug 62 is fitted in the receptacle 57.

[0006]

The conventional optical receptacle type optical module shown in FIGS. 11 to 13 has a low manufacturing cost, but as shown in FIG. 11, the housing of the receptacle part 57 is vertically arranged. It is divided. Therefore, when the optical connector 61 is repeatedly attached and detached, an opening occurs at the divided portion of the housing main body 51 and the housing lid 52, and the housing 64 (see FIG.
There was a case where rattling occurred during 1). As a result, it becomes difficult to reliably and stably fix the plug 62 of the optical connector 61, and the connection characteristics due to attachment and detachment may vary among optical modules. Further, due to this, it is difficult to provide high reliability as an optical module.

Further, in the housing structure shown in FIGS. 11 to 13, since the receptacle portion 57 is cantilevered in the vertical direction, it is necessary to use a material having durability against bending strength. Therefore, there is a problem that the material is limited. Furthermore, in the conventional optical receptacle type optical module shown in these figures, the housing main body 51 and the housing lid 52 are fixed by using the components such as the screws 56, so that the number of components is large and the management thereof is complicated. It was Further, since it is necessary to assemble using these minute parts, there is a problem that it is difficult to assemble in a short time.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an optical-receptacle integrated type module having a simple structure in which the receptacle portion has high strength.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided (a) an optical module type unit composed of a light emitting element and a light receiving element, and (b) an optical connector plug having a front end portion for engaging with the optical connector unit. The center of the optical module type unit is provided with a cylindrical receptacle part that is accommodated in a partially inserted form, and a concave portion that is integrally formed with the receptacle part and that holds the optical module type unit and a circuit board electrically connected to the optical module type unit. A housing body composed of a holding portion whose upper portion is cut along a plane parallel to a plane passing through the axis, and (c) a housing having a shape for covering the holding portion of the housing body and fitted with the holding portion. An optical receptacle integrated module is provided with a lid.

That is, according to the first aspect of the invention, the housing for accommodating the optical module type unit is composed of the housing body and the housing lid, and by fitting them, the assembly is simplified, while the optical connector is provided. The receptacle portion into which the plug is inserted is formed in a cylindrical shape on the housing body side so that rattling does not occur at this portion.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the optical module type unit includes a light emitting element fixed to an alignment sleeve capable of holding the ferrule of the optical connector on the central axis, and a unit including a light receiving element having the same structure. It is configured to be housed in the housing main body so that these optical axes are parallel to each other.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the housing main body and the housing lid are provided with recesses inside which the optical module type unit can be fixed by a fitting mechanism.

[0013]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to examples.

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of an optical receptacle integrated module according to an embodiment of the present invention before assembly. The housing of this optical receptacle integrated type module is composed of a housing main body 13 and a housing lid 14 shown on the upper part thereof. The housing body 13 has a hollow structure for holding and fixing the optical module type unit 11 and the circuit board 12 therein. Here, the optical module type unit 11 includes an optical element 17 including a light emitting element such as an LED (light emitting diode) or an LD (laser diode) fixed to the alignment sleeve 16 or a light receiving element such as a PIN-PD (photodiode). It consists of The housing body is made of PBT (polybutylene terephthalate) or PP.
It is formed by molding of an engineering plastic such as S (polyphenyl sulfide) or die casting of a metal such as aluminum. Housing lid 1
4 may be made of a material having elasticity, and can be made of, for example, the same molding material as that of the housing body 13 such as an engineering plastic, or a metal cut product having a spring property.

The vicinity of the front end of the housing body 13 has a cylindrical shape, and a receptacle portion 18 to which an optical connector (not shown) can be attached / detached is arranged therein. For this reason, an opening 19 through which the optical connector can be inserted and removed is provided at the front end of the tubular portion of the receptacle portion 18, and the tip end of the optical module type unit 11 is inserted at the rear end of the tubular portion. A possible opening 21 is provided. Further, inside the receptacle portion 18, a band-shaped small protrusion 22 is arranged at a position closer to the right side than the opening portion 21 in the drawing. The small protrusion 22 is for holding the plug fitting spring 23 in the front end direction. A flange fixing recess 26 for fixing the flange 25 formed at the rear stage of the alignment sleeve 16 by fitting is provided in a portion of the housing body 13 located at the rear of the receptacle portion 18.

The housing body 13 is adapted to be fitted with the housing lid 14 during assembly. For this,
The side surface of the housing body 13 is provided with two slits 28 on one side in a direction perpendicular to the axis, and a total of four slits 28 on both sides. In addition, slit recesses 29, which are recessed in a band shape with respect to the slits 28, are provided in the lower portions thereof. The terminal 3 of the optical module type unit 11
1 is connected to the circuit board 12 by means such as soldering. The insertion groove 32 is a groove provided for inserting the flange 25 into the housing body 13.

On the other hand, at the bottom of the housing lid 14 shown above the housing body 13 in FIG.
The tongue piece 34 combined with 8 projects. Hooks 35 that can be fitted into the slit recesses 29 of the housing body 13 are provided below the tongues 34. In addition, the flange 25 on the housing lid 14
A flange fixing concave portion 36 is provided in a portion corresponding to, and a strip-shaped small projection 37 corresponding to the small projection 22 is provided slightly on the tip side thereof.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the housing main body and the housing lid taken along the line AA (see FIG. 1) perpendicular to the central axis before assembly. As can be seen from this figure, the slit 28 has a tongue piece 34.
Is formed in a taper shape that narrows in the direction from the lower part to the upper part for easy insertion. Therefore, the housing lid 14 can be fitted into the housing body 13 from above, and at this time, the hooks 35 can be fixed by being hooked in the slit concave portions 29 respectively provided. .

FIG. 3 corresponds to FIG. 1 and shows a state in which the housing lid is fitted in the housing body. In the assembled state shown in FIG. 3, the flange 25 is fitted into the flange fixing recess 36 when the housing lid 14 is fitted into the housing body 13, and is also fixed from above. In addition, the plug fitting spring 23 is also fixed from above by the strip-shaped small projection 37 formed on the housing lid 14.

FIG. 4 is a half cross-sectional view in which only one side of the housing lid fitted to the housing body is cut along a plane horizontal to the central axis. As shown in FIG. 2, in the optical receptacle integrated module of this embodiment, two optical module type units 11 are arranged so that their optical axes are parallel to each other. That is, the optical module type unit is also arranged in the lower half of the figure, but it is hidden by the housing lid 14 and is not shown.

Next, the assembly of such an optical receptacle integrated type module will be described. First, the terminal 31 (see FIG.
The optical element 17, which is connected to the circuit board 12 by a connecting means such as solder, is fixed to the alignment sleeve 16 by YAG welding, for example, by adjusting the optical axis. In this way, the optical module type unit 11 is formed. Then, the plug fitting spring 23 is put on the outer peripheral portion of the alignment sleeve 16. Then, this is fixed to the housing body 13.

FIG. 5 shows the first stage of the operation of fixing the optical module type unit in which the outer circumference of the aligning sleeve is covered with the plug fitting spring to the housing body.
As shown in this figure, the optical module type unit 11 is obliquely inserted from the opening 21 on the rear end side of the receptacle 18.

FIG. 6 shows the second stage of the operation of fixing the optical module type unit to the housing body. From the state shown in FIG. 5, the flange 25 located at the rear of the alignment sleeve 16 is inserted into the housing main body 13 through the insertion groove 32, and the flange 25 is moved forward (in the direction of the arrow) as shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 shows a third stage of the operation of fixing the optical module type unit to the housing body. As shown in this figure, the central axis of the optical module type unit 11 is moved parallel to the central axis of the cylindrical portion of the housing body 13, and then the flange 25 is fitted into the flange fixing recess 26. At this time, the plug fitting spring 23 is abutted against the band-shaped small projection 22 to fix the same.

Next, the circuit board 12 is fixed to the housing body 13 as shown in FIG.
Is fitted from above the housing body 13. At this time,
The hook 35 of the tongue 34 hooks in the slit recess 29 as already described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3. In this state, the flange 25 is fitted into the flange fixing recess 36, and is fixed from above. Also, the plug fitting spring 2
3 is also fixed from above by the small projection 37.

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a fitted state of the optical connector after the optical receptacle integrated module is assembled in this manner. The alignment sleeve 16 fixes the ferrule 41 in this embodiment with its end face abutting on the central axis, and the plug fitting spring 23 holds and fixes the plug 43 of the optical connector 42 by pressing it from the left and right.
In this way, the optical connector 42 is fitted.

FIG. 9 shows a half sectional view of one side after the optical connector is fitted, which is cut along a horizontal plane with the central axis. This FIG. 9 corresponds to FIG. 4 described above. Two optical connectors are fitted to respective positions of the optical receptacle integrated module with their central axes parallel to each other.

Modification

FIG. 10 shows a state before assembling of the optical receptacle integrated module according to the modification of the present invention. The same parts as those in the previous embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be appropriately omitted. In this variation,
The housing lid 14A is fitted to the housing body 13A having only one optical element 17 fixed.

As described above, the optical-receptacle-integrated module of the present invention does not need to accommodate a total of two optical elements for transmission and reception as one as in the previous embodiment, but is accommodated in the module. The number of optical elements may be three or more, or may be only one as in this modification.

[0031]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the housing is divided into the housing body and the housing lid, not only the module unit can be easily housed in the housing, but also the assembling time is reduced. Can be shortened and the assembling can be facilitated. Also, not only was the receptacle part not separated but integrated, but it was also integrated with the rest of the housing body, so the housing can have sufficient strength, even for materials with relatively weak strength. Since it can be used, the range of choice of materials can be expanded, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

Further, in the present invention, it is difficult to apply a force that spreads in the vertical direction to the lid of the housing by attaching and detaching the optical connector.
Therefore, it is not necessary to fix the housing lid to the housing more firmly than necessary, and it is possible to fix it by fitting without using screws or adhesives for assembly, reducing the assembly time and Not only can it be further simplified, but it is easy to automate the assembly. Further, by utilizing the fitting structure, there is an effect that the width of the optical receptacle integrated module can be reduced and the size thereof can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing an optical receptacle integrated module before assembly in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the housing main body and the housing lid are cut in a direction perpendicular to the central axis in the AA direction before assembling the housing main body in the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a state in which the housing lid is fitted to the housing body in the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a half cross-sectional view in which only one side is cut along a plane horizontal to the central axis when the housing lid is fitted to the housing body in the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a main part showing a first step of fixing an optical module type unit in which a plug fitting spring is covered on an outer peripheral portion of an alignment sleeve to a housing body.

6 is a longitudinal sectional view of an essential part showing a second stage of the operation of fixing the optical module type unit shown in FIG. 5 to a housing body.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of an essential part showing the third stage of the operation of fixing the optical module type unit shown in FIG. 5 to the housing body.

FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a fitted state of the optical connector after the optical receptacle integrated type module is assembled in the present embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a half cross-sectional view showing a state in which one side after fitting the optical connector is cut along a plane horizontal to the central axis in the present embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a state before assembly of an optical receptacle integrated module according to a modified example of the invention.

FIG. 11 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a state before assembly of a conventional optical receptacle type optical module.

FIG. 12 is a half cross-sectional view of the optical receptacle type optical module shown in FIG. 11 taken along a plane horizontal to the central axis on one side only when the housing lid is fitted to the housing body.

13 is a vertical sectional view showing a fitted state of the optical connector after the conventional optical receptacle type optical module shown in FIG. 11 is assembled.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Optical Module Unit 13 Housing Body 14 Housing Lid 16 Alignment Sleeve 17 Optical Element 18 Receptacle Part 22 Small Protrusion 23 Plug Fitting Spring 25 Flange 26 Flange Fixing Recess 28 Slit 29 Slit Recess 32 Insertion Groove 34 Tongue 35 Hook

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An optical module type unit composed of a light emitting element and a light receiving element, a cylindrical receptacle part for accommodating an optical connector plug with its tip end partly inserted, and this receptacle part. A holding portion that is integrally formed and that has a concave portion that holds the optical module type unit and a circuit board electrically connected to the optical module type unit, and that has its upper portion cut along a plane parallel to a plane passing through the central axis of the optical module type unit. An optical-receptacle-integrated module, comprising: a housing main body composed of: and a housing lid having a shape that covers the holding portion of the housing main body and fitted with the holding portion. 2. The optical module type unit includes a unit including a light emitting element fixed to an alignment sleeve capable of holding a ferrule of an optical connector on a central axis and a unit including a light receiving element having the same configuration, and the housing. 2. The optical receptacle integrated module according to claim 1, wherein the main body is provided with the receptacle portion and the concave portion separately corresponding to each other such that the optical axes of these units are parallel to each other. 3. The optical receptacle integrated type according to claim 1, wherein the housing main body and the housing lid are provided with recesses inside which the optical module type unit can be fixed by a fitting mechanism. module.