JPH10206681A - Optical waveguide module - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical waveguide module with the small number of part items and easily assembled by fixing each part using resins capable of absorbing a difference in a linear expansion efficient among each part. SOLUTION: An optical waveguide element 11 by aligning and fixing an optical fiber 10 is housed in a vessel-shaped package 12. The optical fiber 10 is fixed to both end parts 12a and 12b of the vessel-shaped package 12 by a first resin 13. The optical waveguide element 11 and an optical fiber 10a in the vessel-shaped package 12 are fixed in the vessel-shaped package 12 so as to be covered with a second resin 14. The resins 13 and 14 are resins capable of absorbing a difference in a linear expansion coefficient among the optical fiber 10, optical waveguide element 11 and vessel-shaped package 12. An opening surface of the second resin 14 is sealed by a third resin 15. The third resin 15 is a resin capable of absorbing a difference in a linear expansion coefficient between the second resin 14 and the vessel-shaped package 12.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical waveguide module in which an optical fiber and an optical waveguide element housed in a package are connected.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There is an optical waveguide module as a passive component for branching, coupling or multiplexing / demultiplexing an optical signal propagating in an optical fiber as an optical communication line. The optical waveguide module has an optical waveguide element on which a planar optical circuit is formed, an optical fiber connected to the optical waveguide element for inputting / outputting an optical signal, and a package containing the optical waveguide element. .

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a conventional example of an optical waveguide module.

An optical waveguide element 2 having an optical fiber 1 aligned and fixed is fixed in a cylindrical package 4 via an element fixing part 3 to form an optical waveguide module. The optical fiber 1 is fixed to a fiber retaining component 5, and has a shape in which the optical waveguide element 2 and the optical fiber 1 are surrounded by the cylindrical package 4 and the fiber retaining component 5.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing another conventional optical waveguide module.

An optical waveguide element 2 having an optical fiber 1 aligned and fixed is fixed to a split type package component (lower side in the figure) 6 with a resin 7, and the optical fiber 1 is fixed to a fiber retaining component 5, and a split type package component (The upper side in the drawing) sealed at 8 to form a cylindrical optical waveguide module. The optical fiber 1 and the optical waveguide element 2 have a shape surrounded by a split package component 6, a fiber retaining component 5 and a split package component 8.

[0007]

However, in the conventional optical waveguide module shown in FIG. 2, the optical fiber 1 is connected to the optical waveguide element 2, and the optical waveguide element 2 is fixed to the cylindrical package 4. It is necessary to pass the fiber 1 and the optical waveguide element 2 through the cylindrical package 4 and the fiber stopper 5. Further, when the optical waveguide element 2 is fixed in the cylindrical package 4 via the element fixing component 3 with an adhesive or the like, the optical waveguide element 2 must be temporarily fixed at a position where the optical waveguide element 2 is to be fixed. Therefore, a special jig is required for fixing. Further, in order to firmly fix the optical waveguide element 2 in the cylindrical package 4, when manufacturing the optical waveguide element 2 and the cylindrical package 4, a material having a close linear expansion coefficient must be selected.

The optical waveguide module shown in FIG. 3 has a larger number of parts than the optical waveguide module shown in FIG. 2, so that the number of assembly steps is large and the cost is high.

It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems and to provide an optical waveguide module which has a small number of parts and is easy to assemble.

[0010]

According to the present invention, there is provided an optical waveguide module in which an optical fiber is connected to an optical waveguide element housed in a package, wherein the optical fiber is aligned and fixed. And a first resin capable of fixing an optical fiber to an end of the tank-type package and absorbing a difference in linear expansion coefficient between the tank-type package, the optical fiber, and the optical waveguide element; and an optical waveguide element. And a second resin capable of absorbing the difference between the linear expansion coefficients of the tank type package, the optical waveguide element and the optical fiber, and fixing the second resin to cover the optical fiber in the tank type package with the optical fiber in the tank type package. It is provided with a second resin and a third resin capable of absorbing a difference in linear expansion coefficient of the tank-type package while sealing an open surface of the resin.

In the present invention, in addition to the above structure, the first resin is preferably harder than the second resin, and the third resin is preferably harder than the first resin.

According to the present invention, since the package is formed in a tank shape, it becomes easy to accommodate the optical waveguide element in which the optical fiber is aligned and fixed. The step of sealing one split package component with the other split package component can be omitted. Since the first resin can absorb the difference between the linear expansion coefficients of the optical fiber and the optical waveguide element, the tensile stress generated during the expansion and contraction caused by the temperature change is not easily transmitted to the connection between the optical fiber and the tank type package. Since the second resin can absorb the difference between the linear expansion coefficients of the tank type package, the optical waveguide element, and the optical fiber, the tensile stress generated during the expansion and contraction caused by the temperature change is transmitted to the connection between the optical fiber and the optical waveguide element. Hateful. Since the third resin can absorb the difference in the linear expansion coefficient between the second resin and the tank-type package, the tensile stress generated during the expansion and contraction caused by the temperature change is transmitted to the connection between the tank-type package and the second resin. Hateful.

Also, the first resin is harder than the second resin,
When the third resin is harder than the first resin, the inside of the optical waveguide module is soft and the outside is hard, so that the optical waveguide element and the optical fiber in the tank-type package are protected from external force such as impact and scratch, and handled. The performance is improved.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

An optical waveguide element 11 in which an optical fiber 10 is aligned and fixed is accommodated in a tank type package 12, and the optical fiber 10 is fixed to both ends 12 a and 12 b of the tank type package 12 with a first resin 13. Have been. First resin 1
3 is a resin capable of absorbing a difference in linear expansion coefficient between the optical fiber 10, the optical waveguide element 11, and the tank type package 12,
A material that can securely adhere and fix the optical fiber 10 to the tank type package 12, for example, a silicone resin is preferable.

Optical waveguide element 11 and tank type package 12
The optical fiber 10a in the
Is fixed so as to be covered with the resin 14. Second resin 1
Reference numeral 4 denotes a resin (for example, a silicone-based resin) capable of absorbing a difference in linear expansion coefficient between the optical fiber 10, the optical waveguide element 11, and the tank package 12.

An open surface (upper side in the figure) of the second resin 14 is sealed with a third resin 15. The third resin 15 is
It is a resin capable of absorbing a difference in linear expansion coefficient between the second resin 14 and the tank type package 12. Since the third resin 15 is protected from external force and is easy to handle (a very soft resin has a sticky surface and is poor in handleability), the first resin 15
It is preferable to use a resin harder than the third or second resin 14, for example, a selenium-based resin.

The degree of sealing with the third resin 15 is preferably adjusted by adjusting the material and amount thereof according to the use conditions of the optical waveguide module and the joining conditions between the optical fiber 10 and the optical waveguide element 11. As the first resin 13 and the second resin 14, a silicone-based resin that easily absorbs a difference in linear expansion coefficient and has high stability was used. The filling amount of the resins 13, 14, 15 can be controlled using a resin dispenser or the like.

An optical waveguide module is composed of the tank type package 12, the optical fiber 10, the optical waveguide element 11, the first resin 13, the second resin 14, and the third resin 15.

In the optical waveguide module shown in FIG. 1, since the package is formed in a tank shape, it is easy to accommodate the optical waveguide element 11 in which the optical fiber 10 is aligned and fixed. Detent parts 5
(FIGS. 2 and 3) and the step of sealing the split package component 6 with the split package component 8 can be omitted (FIG. 3). Since the first resin 13, the second resin 14, and the third resin 15 can absorb the difference between the linear expansion coefficients of the optical fiber 10, the optical waveguide element 11, and the tank-type package 12, the expansion and contraction caused by the temperature change Is hardly transmitted to the connection portion of the optical fiber 10, the optical waveguide element 11, and the tank type package 12.

[0022]

In summary, according to the present invention, the following excellent effects are exhibited.

An optical waveguide element having an optical fiber aligned and fixed is accommodated in a tank-type package, and an optical fiber is fixed to an end of the tank-type package with a first resin. An optical waveguide module that has a small number of parts and is easy to assemble by fixing the fiber and the tank in a tank-type package so as to cover it with the second resin, and sealing the open surface of the second resin with the third resin. Can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a conventional example of an optical waveguide module.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing another conventional example of an optical waveguide module.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Optical fiber 11 Optical waveguide element 12 Tank type package 13 1st resin 14 2nd resin 15 3rd resin

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An optical waveguide module in which an optical fiber and an optical waveguide element housed in a package are connected.
A tank-type package accommodating an optical waveguide element in which an optical fiber is aligned and fixed; and a linear expansion coefficient of the tank-type package, the optical fiber, and the optical waveguide element while fixing the optical fiber at an end of the tank-type package. The first resin capable of absorbing the difference between the first resin and the optical waveguide element and the optical fiber in the tank type package are fixed so as to cover the inside of the tank type package, and the tank type package, the optical waveguide element, and A second type capable of absorbing a difference in linear expansion coefficient of an optical fiber
And a third resin that seals an open surface of the second resin and can absorb a difference in linear expansion coefficient between the second resin and the tank-type package. Optical waveguide module. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first resin is harder than said second resin, and said third resin is harder than said first resin.
3. The optical waveguide module according to claim 1.