JPH10178215A - Fixing structure for optical circuit component - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a fixing structure whose production costs can be reduced by a method wherein a semiconductor light-emitting element, a semiconductor light-receiving element and optical components such as a lens, an optical filter and the like are arranged coaxially so as to be coupled optically and integrated. SOLUTION: An LD module is constituted of an LD unit 10 which is constituted of an LD package 2 with a built-in LD chip 2a, of an LD holder 3 comprising the LD package 2 and of an LD-package fixation member 1 used to fix the LD package 2 and the LD holder 3. In addition, the LD module is constituted of a lens unit 11 in which a lens 4 and a ferrule 4 used to hold and fix an optical fiber 7 on the central axis are integrated by a lens holder 5. Then, the LD unit 10 and the lens unit 11 are adjusted axially in such a way that a laser beam radiated from the LD chip 2a is condensed at the end part of the optical fiber 7 by using the lens 4, and a bonding part is YAG-welded and fixed. Thereby, a fixing structure is manufactured. The LD-package fixation member 1 has a cylindrical shape, and it is force-fitted to the inside of the LD holder.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fixing structure of an optical circuit component for fixing an optical circuit component such as a light source and a light receiving device for optical communication, and more particularly, to a light source for maintaining a positional relationship between a light emitting component and a light receiving component at low cost. The present invention relates to a circuit component fixing structure.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An optical semiconductor device module that optically couples and integrates an optical fiber end and an optical semiconductor device in an optical circuit device including a semiconductor light emitting device or a semiconductor light receiving device, an optical fiber, a lens, and the like. It is widely used in the optical communication field as a fixing structure for optical circuit components.

A structure of a first conventional optical circuit component fixing structure is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-173604. The fixing structure of the optical circuit component includes an exterior member provided with at least one spherical lens and a thin cylindrical portion having an inner diameter that does not block the optical path of the light beam, and supports the inner diameter and the spherical lens that do not block the optical path of the light beam. The press-fit ring has an annular press-fit ring having a pressure receiving surface, and the ball lens can be fixed only by press-fitting the press-fit ring. That is, in such an optical circuit component fixing structure, a thin cylindrical portion in the hollow portion of the exterior member is provided for fixing the spherical lens, and the spherical lens is press-fitted and fixed between the end surface of the thin cylindrical portion and the press-fit ring. .

To fix the ball lens, the ball lens is engaged with the thin cylindrical portion in the hollow portion of the exterior member, and then the ball lens is fixed between the thin cylindrical portion and the press-fit ring by press-fitting the press-fit ring. It is done by doing. At this time, the press-fit of the press-fit ring is adjusted so that the thin cylindrical portion is deformed within the elastic limit by the pressing by the ball lens. The welding point at the peripheral edge of the sleeve and the spacer is made of a thin wall, and is set so as to have a lower elastic modulus than other portions. After YAG welding, the strain generated when the welding point is cooled is absorbed within the elastic limit of the thin-walled welding point, thereby preventing the occurrence of thermal cracking.

A conventional second optical circuit component fixing structure is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-167706. In this optical circuit component fixing structure, annular protrusions are provided on the side surfaces of the joints between the spacer fixed to the heat sink for mounting the laser diode element and the cylindrical lens fixing member fixing the lens that converts the laser beam into a parallel light beam. The joint between the spacer and the lens fixing member is abutted to fix the side surface of the projection by laser welding. That is, after adjusting the LD element unit constituted by the laser diode (LD) element, the heat sink, and the spacer and the lens fixing member so that the optical axes of the LD element and the lens coincide with each other, the welding point of the peripheral edge of the sleeve and the spacer is adjusted. Are fixed by YAG welding.

[0006]

In the above-mentioned first fixing structure of the optical circuit component, the hollow cylindrical portion of the exterior member is elastically deformed so that the cylindrical portion expands with the pressing pressure of the ball lens of the press-fit ring. , Its elastic deformation range is very small. Therefore, when trying to assemble the press-fit ring by controlling the press-fitting, there is a variation in the accuracy of the outer diameter of the press-fit ring and the accuracy of the inner diameter of the exterior member. As a result, it is extremely difficult to set the press-fit so that the press-fitting of the press-fitting ring is completed within the elastic deformation range of the thick-walled cylindrical portion that locks the ball lens. In addition, the method of controlling by the press-fitting amount is effective only for a component having an extremely high external dimensional accuracy such as a submicron, such as a ball lens, and has an external dimension of about ± 0.1 mm, such as an LD package. Application to parts with low accuracy is not possible.

The fixing structure of the second optical circuit component is Y
This is a structure for improving the reliability of the fixed part by AG laser welding, and there is no disclosure of manufacturing cost reduction using a mechanical fixing method such as press fitting or caulking.

An object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive optical circuit component fixing structure in which a semiconductor light emitting element or a semiconductor light receiving element, a lens and an optical fiber are coaxially arranged, optically coupled and integrated. It is in.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an optical circuit component fixing structure which can fix a semiconductor light-emitting element or a semiconductor light-receiving element to an exterior component without loosening and can advantageously reduce manufacturing costs. .

[0010]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an optical circuit component fixing structure according to the present invention comprises an elastically deformable portion having a spring function on a fixing member for mechanically fixing a semiconductor light emitting element or a semiconductor light receiving element. The semiconductor light emitting element or the semiconductor light receiving element is sandwiched and fixed between the fixing member having the above and the exterior component.

The fixing member has an outer diameter set so that the fixing member can be press-fitted to the exterior component, and the fixing member is provided with a collar, and a press-fit between the exterior component and the fixing member is provided. At the time of the engagement, it functions as a positioning stopper, and secures an elastic state when the elastically deforming portion locks the semiconductor light emitting element or the semiconductor light receiving element. Further, the collar is provided at one end of the fixing member, and a slit is formed in the fixing member in a direction perpendicular to a central axis to reduce an elastic coefficient of the formed meat portion.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, an embodiment of a fixing structure for an optical circuit component according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an example in which the present invention is applied to a laser diode (LD) module, and FIG. 2 is a structural perspective view of an LD package fixing member.

The LD module to which this embodiment is applied is as follows:
An LD unit 10 including an LD package 2 containing an LD chip 2a, an LD holder 3 containing the LD package 2, and an LD package fixing member 1 fixing the LD package 2 and the LD holder 3; a lens 4; A lens unit 11 in which a ferrule 6 for holding and fixing the fiber 7 on the central axis is integrated with a lens holder 5, and the laser beam emitted from the LD chip 2 a is collected by the lens 4 at the end of the optical fiber 7. L to be lighted
The axis is adjusted between the D unit 10 and the lens unit 11, and the joint is manufactured by YAG welding and fixing.

The LD package fixing member 1, which is a main component in the present invention, has a cylindrical shape as shown in FIG.
It is inserted into the LD holder 3 and press-fitted. A protrusion 1c is formed at one end of the LD package fixing member 1 which abuts against the end face of the LD package 2. Also, L
The cylindrical portion of the D package fixing member 1 is slit 1a in a direction perpendicular to the central axis to form a book fill portion 1b.

Further, an LD of the LD package fixing member 1 is provided at an end opposite to the protrusion 1c of the LD package fixing member 1.
A flange 1d and a cylindrical portion 1e having an outer diameter set to be press-fittable with the LD holder 3 so as to have a stopper function when press-fitting the holder 3 are formed.

Here, the thin portion 1b formed by the slit 1a has a lower elastic modulus than other portions, and therefore has a spring characteristic within the elastic limit range. Therefore, the LD of the LD holder 3 is inserted from the rear end of the LD package 2 inserted to the inner step of the cylindrical LD holder 8.
By setting the distance to the package insertion side end to be smaller than the distance from the protrusion 1c of the LD fixing member 1 to the end of the collar 1d in contact with the LD holder 3, the LD package 2 is formed.
Is fixed between the LD holder 3 and the LD fixing member 1 for a long period without any looseness or gap.

The LD package fixing member 1 and L
If the end of the D holder 8 is fixed by YAG welding, the reliability is further improved.

As described above, a laser diode (LD)
Applying a mechanical fixing method such as press-fitting or caulking to the method of fixing parts with low outer diameter accuracy of about ± 0.1 mm, such as packages, to reduce the manufacturing cost and fix it with conventional screws High reliability compared to

[0019]

As described above, according to the structure for fixing an optical circuit component of the present invention, optical components such as a semiconductor light emitting element and a semiconductor light receiving element, such as a lens and an optical fiber, are arranged coaxially. It is inexpensive to be combined with the optical component, so that these optical components are not loosened and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a laser diode (LD) module.

FIG. 2 is a structural perspective view of an LD package fixing member shown in FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 LD package fixing member 1a Slit 1b Thin part 1c Projection 1d Collar 2 LD chip 3 LD holder 4 Lens 5 Lens holder 6 Ferrule 7 Optical fiber 8 LD fixing screw 9 LD holder 10 LD unit 11 Lens unit

Claims (4)

[Claims] A semiconductor light emitting element or a semiconductor light receiving element is sandwiched between a fixing member having an elastically deformable portion having a spring function on a fixing member for mechanically fixing the semiconductor light emitting element or the semiconductor light receiving element and an exterior component. An optical circuit component fixing structure characterized by being fixed. 2. The optical circuit component fixing structure according to claim 1, wherein the fixing member has an outer diameter set so as to be press-fittable with the exterior component. 3. The fixing member is provided with a collar, which functions as a positioning stopper when the exterior component and the fixing member are press-fitted to each other, and the elastic deformation portion connects the semiconductor light emitting element or the semiconductor light receiving element. 2. The fixing structure for an optical circuit component according to claim 1, wherein an elastic state is secured when stopping. 4. The fixing device according to claim 3, wherein the collar is provided at one end of the fixing member, and the fixing member is formed with a slit in a direction perpendicular to a central axis to reduce an elastic coefficient of the formed thin portion. 3. The fixing structure for an optical circuit component according to claim 1.