JPH10111438A - Optical transmitter-receiver device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical transmitter-receiver device capable of being made small in size. SOLUTION: This device has a first member 20 arranging a first optical fiber F1 and a second optical fiber F2 for passing an optical signal through them, a light emitting element 40 and a light receiving element 43 and a second member 21; provided with optical path changing means 30, 33 of optical signals, changing the optical path of an optical signal PS1 sent through the first fiber F1 under the condition that the first member 20 is inserted and introducing the signal to the light receiving element 43, and, changing the optical path of an optical signal PS2 generated by the light emitting element 40 and introducing the signal to the second fiber F2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical transmission / reception apparatus for transmitting / receiving an optical signal by connecting a computer or other equipment using an optical fiber as a signal transmission medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An optical transmission / reception device used between devices such as a computer can be used, for example, for exchanging signals between a computer and a digital video camera. This type of optical transceiver has a structure as shown in FIG. In FIG. 8, a plug 1 is fitted into a socket 2. The plug 1 has two optical fibers 3, 4
The light emitting element 5 and the light receiving element 6 are provided on the inner bottom surfaces 2a, 2a of the socket 2 side by side on the same plane. With the plug 1 fitted in the socket 2,
The light emitting element 5 faces the tip of one optical fiber 3, and the light receiving effective range of the light receiving element 6 faces the tip of the other optical fiber 4.

[0003]

However, this type of optical transceiver has the following problems. On the inner bottom surfaces 2a, 2a of the socket 2, a light emitting element 5 and a light receiving element 6 are arranged side by side. Moreover, a shielding part 7 for preventing light interference is formed between the light emitting element 5 and the light receiving element 6.
Accordingly, the distance L1 between the centers of the light emitting element 5 and the light receiving element 6 is as large as about 10 mm, and accordingly, the distance between the centers of the optical fibers 3 and 4 is equivalent to L1. A large one having a width W1 of about 20 mm has to be adopted. The outer diameter L2 of the socket 2 is about 22 mm.

On the other hand, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 3-28810 employs a total reflection mirror in an optical coupling system of an optical data link. This total reflection mirror is a light emitting element LE
Light emitted from a D (light emitting diode) chip is bent by a total reflection mirror and guided to a corresponding optical fiber. FIG. 8 shows such a total reflection mirror MR.
FIG. 9 shows an example applied to the conventional socket 2 of FIG.
Each of the light emitting element 5 and the light receiving element 6 has a total reflection mirror MR.
Are arranged correspondingly, and the optical signal of the light emitting element 5 is reflected by the total reflection mirror MR and guided to the optical fiber 3,
The optical signal passing through another optical fiber is reflected by the total reflection mirror MR and is incident on the light receiving element 6. However, even if this configuration is adopted, the center distance L1 between the light emitting element 5 and the light receiving element 6
8 is the same as FIG. 8, the distance between the centers of the optical fibers 3 and 4 also corresponds to L1, and the width W1 of the plug 1 cannot be reduced.
Since the outer diameter dimension L2 of the socket 2 cannot be reduced, the size cannot be reduced. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and to provide an optical transmitting and receiving device that can be downsized.

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided a light emitting element, a light receiving element, and a first member having a first optical fiber and a second optical fiber for transmitting an optical signal.
An optical signal for changing the optical path of an optical signal transmitted through the first fiber in a state where the first member is fitted and guiding the optical signal to the light receiving element, and changing the optical path of the optical signal generated by the light emitting element and guiding the optical signal to the second fiber. The light emitting element and the light receiving element are achieved by an optical transmitting and receiving device arranged on different surfaces of the second member.
The first member has a first optical fiber and a second optical fiber for transmitting an optical signal. The second member includes a light emitting element, a light receiving element, and an optical path changing unit for an optical signal.

According to the present invention, the light emitting element and the light receiving element are the second element.
The optical path changing means is disposed on a different surface of the member,
The optical path of the optical signal sent through the fiber is changed and guided to the light receiving element, and the optical path of the optical signal generated by the light emitting element is changed and guided to the second fiber. Since the light emitting element and the light receiving element are arranged on different surfaces of the second member, and the optical path changing means changes the optical path of the optical signal, the arrangement interval between the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber in the first member is reduced. be able to. Accordingly, the size of the first member can be reduced, and the size of the second member in which the first member is fitted can be reduced.

[0007]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the embodiments described below are preferred specific examples of the present invention,
Although various technically preferable limits are given, the scope of the present invention is not limited to these modes unless otherwise specified in the following description.

Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 shows an example of a system including an optical transceiver 10 according to the present invention. This system uses a computer 11
An optical transceiver 10 is used to exchange signals such as video signals and audio signals between the digital video camera 12 and the digital video camera 12. The computer 11 includes a monitor 13, a main body 14, a keyboard 15, and the like. The main body 14 can transmit and receive optical signals to and from the video camera 12 using the optical transmitting and receiving devices 10, 10 and the optical fibers F1, F2. It is connected.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the appearance of the optical transceiver 10 of the present invention. The optical transmitting / receiving device 10 includes a plug 20
And a socket 21. The plug 20 is a male connector, and the socket 21 is a female connector.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing in detail the structure of the optical transceiver 10 shown in FIG. The optical transmitting / receiving device 10 includes the plug 20 and the socket 21 as described above. The plug 20 can be removably fitted into the fitting hole 23 of the socket 21. Hole 2 for fitting
3 is as shown in FIG.
4 and the hook 24 is provided in the hole 2 of the socket 21.
5 so that the plug 20 does not easily come off the socket 21.

First, the structure of the plug 20 will be described.
The plug 20 holds two optical fibers F1 and F2 in parallel as shown in FIGS. These optical fibers F1 and F2 are held by the ferrule 26 with respect to the plug 20. For example, plastic optical fibers can be used as the optical fibers F1 and F2, and the center distance L4 is set to, for example, 5 mm. The optical fiber F1 converts the transmitted optical signal PS1 into:
The light is guided to the reflection mirror 30 which is an optical path changing unit. Therefore, the distal end portion 31 of the optical fiber F1 faces the reflection mirror 30 at an angle of 45 °.
Similarly, the optical fiber F2 passes the optical signal PS2 supplied from the light emitting element 40 via the reflection mirror 33 which is an optical path changing unit. Therefore, the distal end portion 36 of the optical fiber F2 is also positioned facing the reflection mirror 33 at an angle of 45 °. In this plug 20, since the center distance L4 between the optical fibers F1 and F2 can be set to 5 mm, the outer diameter D of the plug 20 can be set to about 10 mm, for example.

Next, the socket 21 will be described. The socket 21 corresponds to a second member, and the plug 20 corresponds to a first member. The socket 21 can hold the plug 20 by fitting it into the fitting hole 23 as shown in FIG. On the inner bottom of the socket 21, the reflection mirrors 30, 33, which are the above-described optical path changing means, and the light emitting element 40 and the light receiving element 43 are provided. Specifically, the reflection mirror 30
Is that the tip 31 of the optical fiber F1 of the plug 20 is at 45 °
Is fixed to the inner bottom surface 50 facing at an angle of. Similarly, the reflection mirror 33 has an inner bottom surface 5 such that the distal end 36 of the optical fiber F2 faces at an angle of 45 °.
It is fixed to 3. Between the reflection mirrors 30 and 33,
An intermediate portion 45 for preventing light interference is provided. The reflection mirrors 30 and 33 are fixed to the inner bottom surfaces 50 and 53 via the intermediate portion 45 by bonding or the like. The reflection mirrors 30 and 33 have an isosceles triangle shape when viewed in cross section.

Characteristically, the light receiving element 43 and the light emitting element 40
Are different inner surfaces 60 of the socket 21 as the second member,
63 respectively. That is, the light receiving element 43 is fixed to the inner side surface 60 so that its longitudinal direction is parallel to the optical fiber F1. Similarly, the light emitting element 40 is also fixed by bonding or the like so that its longitudinal direction is parallel to the optical fiber F2. By doing so, the center interval E between the light emitting element 40 and the light receiving element 43 can be set to, for example, 16 mm. That is, the short side 43a of the light receiving element 43 and the short side 40a of the light emitting element 40 can be arranged in the width direction of the socket 21, that is, in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the optical fibers F1 and F2. The above-mentioned center interval E is 16
mm. The reason why the light receiving element 43 and the light emitting element 40 can be positioned in parallel with the longitudinal direction of the optical fibers F1 and F2 is that the reflection mirrors 30 and 33, which are optical path changing means, are connected to the optical fibers F1 and F2 and the light receiving element 43. This is because it is interposed between the light emitting elements 40.

That is, the optical signal PS1 sent by the optical fiber F1 is reflected by the reflection mirror 43, preferably 90 degrees, and guided to the light receiving element 43. Conversely, the light emitting element 40
Is reflected by the reflection mirror 33, preferably by 90 °, and sent to the other party via the optical fiber F2. By adopting such a method, the center distance L4 between the optical fibers F1 and F2 can be set to be as small as about 5 mm as described above, so that the width D of the plug 20 can be set to be small, and as a result, the socket 21 itself can be made small. . Thus, the overall size of the optical transceiver 10 can be reduced. The optical fiber F
1 and F2 are covered with a covering portion 68, and the distal end portions 31 and 36 of the optical fibers F1 and F2 are finished to be flat by polishing or the like.

As a material of the plug 20, a conductive plastic for preventing static electricity, for example, a polycarbonate resin containing carbon fiber can be adopted. In addition, as a material of the socket 21, a conductive plastic for preventing static electricity, for example, a polycarbonate resin containing carbon fiber can be used. The reflection mirrors 30 and 33 are obtained by forming a reflection film by vacuum-depositing aluminum or the like on a glass substrate. A light emitting diode can be used as the light emitting element 40, and a photodiode can be used as the light receiving element 43. The light receiving element 43 has an effective range 43b regarding light reception.

Embodiment 2 Next, FIG. 4 shows another embodiment 2 of the optical transmitting / receiving apparatus of the present invention. Embodiment 2 of FIG. 4 is substantially similar to the embodiment of FIG. 3, but differs in a mirror block 80 as an optical path changing means. This mirror block 80
Is an integral type unlike the reflection mirrors 30 and 33 in FIG. The mirror block 80 is obtained by forming two reflection surfaces 81 and 83 on a slope portion of a glass substrate. By thus being integrated, the number of parts is reduced, and optical precision is easily obtained. The other points of the embodiment of FIG. 4 are the same as those of the embodiment of FIG.

Third Embodiment Next, FIGS. 5 and 6 show a third embodiment of the optical transceiver according to the present invention. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the optical signals PS1 and PS2 are substantially equal to NA.
(Aperture angle) is about 0.3, but if it is left as it is, it is conceivable that the effective light receiving range 43b of the light receiving element 43 will be widened. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. A condenser lens 90 as a condenser optical system is provided between 43 and the mirror block 80. By providing this condenser lens 90, the optical signal PS1 sent from the optical fiber F1 can be reflected by the reflection mirror 81.
The light signal PS1 can be reliably received by the effective light receiving area 43b of the light receiving element 43 because the light can be collected by the light collecting lens 90 even if the light is reflected by the light collecting element 90. That is, the light receiving element 43
Of the optical signal PS1 incident on the optical disk can be prevented from being reduced, and optical optimization can be performed. Similarly, the light emitting element 4
The optical signal PS2 emitted by the light source 0 is condensed by the condensing lens 93, is reflected by the reflection mirror 83 of the mirror block 80, and can enter the distal end portion 36 of the optical fiber F2. Also in this case, it is possible to eliminate the decrease in the amount of light that the optical signal PS2 enters the distal end portion 36, and to perform optical optimization.

3 to 6, the optical signals PS1, P
The angle for changing the optical path in S2 is preferably 90 degrees.
By arranging a condensing optical system such as a condensing lens between the optical fiber, the optical path changing means, the light receiving element or the light emitting element as described above, the utilization efficiency of the optical signal can be maximized. In other words, by incorporating a refractive optical system such as a condenser lens in the socket 20 in addition to a reflective optical system such as an optical path changing unit, the aperture angle of the optical fiber and the NA (opening angle) of the light emitting element and the light receiving element can be reduced. And the light use efficiency can be maximized.

Embodiment 4 FIG. 7 shows another embodiment 4 of the present invention.
An optical signal PS2 output from the light emitting element 40 such as a laser diode is converted into a cylindrical (cylindrical) lens 71.
By passing through, the elliptical light distribution pattern 100 of the laser diode can be focused on the circular light distribution pattern 110. In other words, by using a cylindrical lens for the refractive optical system, the elliptical light distribution pattern of the laser diode can be shaped into a circular light distribution pattern, and an optical signal can be efficiently taken into the tip of the optical fiber. . Even if a reflective optical system, an aspherical lens, or the like is used instead of the cylindrical lens, the elliptical light distribution pattern can be changed to a circular light distribution pattern. That is, the light distribution pattern is reflected in the direction of the u-shaped cross section of the u-shaped reflecting mirror in accordance with the wider direction.
Another problem is that an aspheric lens having a different radius of curvature in the horizontal direction is used.

As described above, in the embodiment of the present invention, the light receiving element and the light emitting element are arranged on different surfaces in the socket 21, particularly preferably on the opposing surfaces, and the light path changing means is used. By changing the optical path of the optical signals PS1 and PS2, the optical signals are transmitted and received using the optical fibers F1 and F2.
1, the center interval of F2 can be set small. That is, since the optical fibers F1 and F2 can be disposed as close to the plug 20 as possible, the external dimensions of the plug can be reduced. Since the outer diameter of the plug can be reduced, the outer dimensions of the socket can be further reduced.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. In the above-described embodiment, a light emitting diode or a laser diode is used as the light emitting element. The optical transmitting and receiving apparatus of the present invention is not limited to the exchange of optical signals between a computer and a digital video camera as shown in FIG. 1, but can be applied to the exchange of optical signals between other devices.

[0022]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By reducing the arrangement interval (center interval) between the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber, the size of the optical transceiver can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a system showing an example in which an optical transceiver of the present invention is mounted.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of the external appearance of the optical transceiver.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a cross-sectional structure of the optical transceiver shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the optical transceiver of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the optical transceiver of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a conventional optical transceiver.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing another example of a conventional optical transceiver.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Optical transmission / reception apparatus, 20 ... Plug (1st member), 21 ... Socket (2nd member), 30, 33
..Reflection mirror (optical path changing means), 40 ... light emitting element, 43 ... light receiving element, F1 ... first optical fiber,
F2: second optical fiber

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A first member for arranging a first optical fiber and a second optical fiber for passing an optical signal, a light emitting element and a light receiving element, and sent through the first fiber in a state where the first member is fitted. An optical signal path changing means for changing an optical path of an incoming optical signal to a light receiving element and changing an optical path of an optical signal generated by the light emitting element to guide the optical signal to a second fiber. The light transmitting / receiving device, wherein the light emitting element and the light receiving element are arranged on different surfaces of the second member. 2. The optical transceiver according to claim 1, wherein the different surfaces of the second member are opposing surfaces formed on an inner surface of the second member. 3. An optical path changing means for an optical signal changes an optical path of an optical signal transmitted through the first fiber in a right angle direction and guides the optical signal to a light receiving element, and transfers an optical signal generated by the light emitting element in an orthogonal direction. The optical transceiver according to claim 1, wherein the optical transceiver is changed and guided to the second fiber. 4. The optical transmitting and receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the optical path changing means is made of one member.