JPH10307229A - Optical switch module structure - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely conduct the sealing of a connecting section of an optical ribbon fiber and a quartz optical waveguide substrate and the fixing of the optical ribbon fiber with a smaller number of parts. SOLUTION: An optical switch module is provided with a base 10 that stores a ceramic multilayered substrate 1 to which a quartz optical waveguide substrate 2 is fixed and a case 11 which covers the base 10. Optical ribbon fibers 4a and 4b are put into between the base 10 and the case 11 and fixed. Moreover, a sealing outer case is fixed to connecting parts of the optical ribbon fibers 4a and 4b and the quartz optical waveguide substrate 2, a low viscosity resin 6 is injected into the connecting parts and the sealing of the connecting parts is conducted.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to optical switching, and more particularly to the structure of an optical switch module in an optical switching device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an optical switch module, a quartz optical waveguide substrate on which an optical waveguide is formed is fixed on an electric circuit board on which electric components are mounted, and an optical ribbon fiber is connected to the quartz optical waveguide substrate. By driving the electric components of the electric circuit board, the state of the optical waveguide of the silica-based optical waveguide substrate is switched, and the optical waveguide operates as a switch.

Here, the optical ribbon fiber is fixed to the quartz optical waveguide substrate with an ultraviolet curing adhesive. In order to supplement the adhesive fixing strength, a fixture is provided on the printed circuit board, and the optical ribbon fiber is fixed by the fixture. Is fixed at a position away from the connecting portion.

[0004]

As described above, since a fixture is required to supplement the adhesive fixing strength of the optical ribbon fiber connecting portion, the number of components is increased, and the fixture must be protruded from the substrate. Therefore, it was difficult to reduce the size. In addition, the optical ribbon fiber and the silica-based optical waveguide substrate are fixed with an ultraviolet curing adhesive, but the sealing at this connection cannot be said to be perfect, and long-term reliability, especially in long-term use. The reliability against humidity could not be secured.

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided a quartz optical waveguide substrate on which an optical waveguide is formed, and a circuit for driving the quartz optical waveguide substrate. An optical switch module structure comprising: an electric circuit board on which the quartz-based optical waveguide substrate is mounted; and an optical ribbon fiber connected to the quartz-based optical waveguide substrate, wherein the electric circuit board on which the quartz-based optical waveguide substrate is mounted A base provided with a concave portion for accommodating the same, and a case to cover the upper surface of the base, wherein the optical ribbon fiber is sandwiched and fixed between the base and the case, and the optical ribbon fiber is passed through the inside. A cylindrical sealing outer cover fixed to a connection portion between the optical ribbon fiber and the silica-based optical waveguide substrate; and the optical ribbon fiber injected into the sealing outer cover. Connection of the silica-based optical waveguide substrate in which and a resin for sealing a.

[0006]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a first embodiment of an optical switch module structure according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a structural view of a main part of the optical switch module according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2A is a plan view, and FIG. 2B is a front view.
In the figure, 1 is a ceramic multilayer substrate, 2 is a quartz optical waveguide substrate fixed on the ceramic multilayer substrate 1,
This quartz optical waveguide substrate 2 is bonded and fixed to the ceramic substrate 1 with a low stress adhesive 3.

Reference numerals 4a and 4b denote optical ribbon fibers fixed to the ends of the quartz optical waveguide substrate 2 in accordance with the position of an optical waveguide (not shown). Here, in the present embodiment,
The input section is the optical ribbon fiber 4a side, and the optical ribbon fiber 4
The b side is an output unit. The optical ribbon fiber 4
a, 4b, the ceramic multilayer substrate 1
Are provided with U-shaped notches.

[0010] Reference numeral 5 denotes a sealed outer case that covers the connection between the optical ribbon fibers 4a and 4b and the quartz optical waveguide substrate 2.
Reference numeral 6 denotes a low-viscosity resin injected into the sealing outer case. On the ceramic multilayer substrate 1, a driving electric component 7, a voltage adjusting electric component 8, and an external connection electric connector 9 are mounted. Reference numeral 10 denotes a base provided with a concave portion for accommodating the ceramic multilayer substrate 1 and the quartz optical waveguide substrate 2. This is a case for protecting the quartz-based optical waveguide substrate 2 by preventing the above, and the base 10 and the case 11 are made of metal. 10a is a groove provided on the base 10, and 11a is a groove provided on the case 11. These grooves 10a and 1
1a is a cutout of a part of the base 10 and the case 11 so that the sealing exterior case 5 enters when the case 11 is put on the base 10.

Reference numeral 10b denotes a protrusion provided at the center of the base 10. The ceramic multilayer substrate 1 has the same low stress as that used when the quartz optical waveguide substrate 2 is bonded and fixed to the ceramic multilayer substrate 1. It is adhesively fixed on the protrusion 10b via the adhesive 3. Steps 10c are provided at the four corners of the inner wall surface of the base 10, and the ceramic multilayer substrate 1 is positioned in the base 10 together with the protrusions 10b.

Reference numeral 13 denotes a square window provided in the case 11. When the ceramic multilayer substrate 1 is fixed in the base 10 and the case 11 is covered, the external connection electrical connector 9 is exposed from the square window 13. It has become. Numeral 14 denotes screws for fixing the case 11 to the base 10 at four corners.

When it is necessary to provide the heat radiation fins, the heat radiation fins may be adhered and fixed to the back surface of the base 10 or the heat radiation fins may be provided integrally with the base 10 made of metal. An outline of a manufacturing process of the optical switch module according to the first embodiment having the above configuration will be described. A ceramic multilayer substrate on which a driving electric component 7, a voltage adjusting electric component 8, and an external connection electric connector 9 are mounted. 1, a quartz-based optical waveguide substrate 2 is bonded and fixed with a low-stress adhesive 3 and wire bonding is performed between the ceramic multilayer substrate 1 side and the quartz-based optical waveguide substrate 2 with a wire 15. The optical ribbon fibers 4a and 4b are fixed at predetermined positions at the ends of the substrate 2 with an ultraviolet curing adhesive.

After fixing the optical ribbon fibers 4a, 4b to the end of the silica-based optical waveguide substrate 2, the optical ribbon fibers 4a, 4b
a and 4b are covered with a sealing outer case 5 and the sealing outer case 5 is adhered to the end of the quartz optical waveguide substrate 2, and then a low-viscosity resin 6 is placed in the sealing outer case 5. Inject the optical ribbon fibers 4a, 4b and the silica-based optical waveguide substrate 2
Is sealed. Here, by using the sealed outer case 5, the low-viscosity resin 6 can be surely transferred to the optical ribbon fiber 4.
a, 4b can be injected into the connection portion between the silica-based optical waveguide substrate 2 and
In addition, by using a silicon-based resin as the low-viscosity resin 6, flexibility is maintained even after curing, thereby reducing the occurrence of stress.

After the sealing is completed, it is bonded and fixed to the projection 10b of the base 10 via the low stress adhesive 3.
Then, by covering the case 11 on the base 10, the ceramic multilayer substrate 1 and the quartz-based optical waveguide substrate 2 are fixed in a state where the optical ribbon fibers 4a and 4b covered with the sealing sheath 5 are sandwiched and fixed between the grooves 10a and 10b. Case 11
Then, the case 11 is fixed to the base 10 with the screws 14.

When driving the optical switch module of the first embodiment having the above-described configuration, the voltage and control signals are transmitted to the external through the external connection electrical connector 9 exposed from the square window 13 of the case 11. And the optical switch module operates. The optical signal is input from an optical connector (not shown) attached to the optical ribbon fiber 4a on the input side, and after passing through an optical waveguide (not shown) formed inside the quartz optical waveguide substrate 2 in the optical switch module, the optical signal on the output side is output. The light is output from an optical connector (not shown) attached to the optical ribbon fiber 4b via the optical ribbon fiber 4b.

Since the basic operation principle of the quartz optical waveguide substrate is well known in the art, the description in the present invention is omitted. As described above, in the optical switch module structure according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the connection between the silica-based optical waveguide substrate and the optical ribbon fiber is covered with the sealed outer case, and the low-viscosity resin is poured into the case. The provision of the sealing structure has the effect of improving long-term reliability against environmental changes during use of the optical switch module, in particular, environmental changes due to humidity.

Further, since sufficient sealing can be obtained at the connection portion between the optical ribbon fiber and the silica-based optical waveguide substrate, there is no need to provide a sealing structure between the base and the case, and the structure can be simplified, and Furthermore, if a sealing structure such as interposing a resin between the base and the case is provided, the sealing ability is further strengthened. Furthermore, the optical ribbon fiber is fixed by being sandwiched between the base and the case, but this fixing part is integrated with the base and the case that protect the silica-based optical waveguide substrate, reducing the number of components. It is possible to reduce the size of the optical ribbon fiber since there is no need to project the fixture for the optical ribbon fiber.

Further, since the optical ribbon fiber is fixed by the groove, the fixing in the vertical and horizontal directions can be reliably performed with a simple structure. FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing a second embodiment of the optical switch module structure of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 21 denotes a quartz-based optical waveguide substrate; 22a and 22b denote optical ribbon fibers; Fixed.

Reference numeral 24 denotes a concave base substrate, and 24a denotes a projection provided at the center of the concave portion of the base substrate 24. The quartz optical waveguide substrate 21 is formed of the base substrate 24.
Is bonded and fixed on the projection 24a via a low-stress adhesive 25. Here, the base substrate 24 is formed of, for example, a ceramic multilayer substrate. As described above, by adopting the multilayer substrate structure, the protrusion 24a and the edge 24 along the outer periphery are formed.
It is possible to easily form a concave substrate provided with b.
Although not shown, an electric circuit is mounted on the base substrate 24 by driving electric parts and the like.

Reference numeral 26 denotes a cap which covers the base substrate 24 and protects the quartz optical waveguide substrate 21. An edge 26a is formed along the outer periphery of the base substrate 24 so as to project along the edge 24b of the base substrate 24. Here, the cap 26 may be formed of a ceramic material having a linear expansion coefficient equal to or close to that of the base substrate 24. This makes it possible to reduce the occurrence of stress.

Reference numeral 27 denotes a thermosetting simple sealing for fixing the cap 26 to the base substrate 24 by interposing between the upper end surface of the edge portion 24b of the base substrate 24 and the lower end surface of the edge portion 26a of the cap 26. Resin. Here, the optical ribbon fibers 22a and 22b are separated from the base substrate 24 by a gap 2.
6. The optical ribbon fiber 2
A portion where 2a and 22b are exposed to the outside has a structure sealed with the thermosetting simple sealing resin 27.

When it is necessary to provide heat radiation fins, the heat radiation fins may be bonded and fixed to the back surface of the base substrate 24. The outline of the manufacturing process of the optical switch module according to the second embodiment having the above configuration will be described. The quartz-based optical waveguide substrate 21 is placed on a projection 24a of a base substrate 24 on which predetermined electric components are mounted, with a low stress. After fixing with a resin 25 and wire bonding, the optical ribbon fibers 22a and 22b are attached to the end of the quartz-based optical waveguide substrate 21 with an ultraviolet-curing adhesive 2.
3. Adhesively fix. When the optical ribbon fibers 22a and 22b are fixed to the silica-based optical waveguide substrate 21, the optical ribbon fibers 22a and 22b pass through the upper end surface of the edge 24b of the base substrate 24 and exit to the outside. At this time, this edge 24
A thermosetting type simple sealing resin 27 is applied to the upper end surface of b in advance. Next, the thermosetting type simple sealing resin 27 is applied to the edge 2.
The cap 26 applied to the lower end surface of the base substrate 24
And finally the thermosetting resin 27 is hardened. As a result, the space between the base substrate 24 and the cap 26 is sealed, and the portion where the optical ribbon fibers 22a and 22b exit from the space between the base substrate 24 and the cap 26 is also removed from the thermosetting simple sealing resin 27. Sealed.

When the optical switch module according to the second embodiment having the above configuration is driven, a voltage, a control signal, and the like are supplied from the outside, and the optical switch module operates, and the optical ribbon fiber 22a is connected to the input side. Assuming that the optical ribbon fiber 22b is on the output side, an optical signal is input from an optical connector (not shown) attached to the optical ribbon fiber 22a on the input side, and is not shown formed inside the quartz optical waveguide substrate 21 in the optical switch module. After passing through the optical waveguide, the light is output from an optical connector (not shown) attached to the optical ribbon fiber 22b via the optical ribbon fiber 22b on the output side.

As described above, in the optical switch module structure according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the quartz optical waveguide substrate is covered with the base substrate and the cap, and the optical ribbon fiber is connected between the base substrate and the cap. Because the sealing resin is interposed between the base substrate and the cap, the connecting portion between the optical ribbon fiber and the silica-based optical waveguide substrate is formed by the sealing resin. Since the optical switch module is sealed to the outside, there is an effect that the long-term reliability that withstands environmental changes when the optical switch module is used, particularly, environmental changes due to humidity is improved.

Further, the optical ribbon fiber is sandwiched between the base substrate and the cap, and is fixed with the sealing resin. The fixing portion is composed of the base substrate on which the electric circuit is mounted and the quartz optical waveguide. Since it is integrally formed with the cap for protecting the waveguide substrate, there is an effect that the number of components can be reduced, and further, since there is no need to protrude the fixing member of the optical ribbon fiber, the size can be reduced.

Here, in the configuration of the second embodiment, the base substrate may be divided into a substrate portion and a base portion. Although the above-described present invention has been described as an example applied to an optical switching device, it can also be applied to an optical transmission component evaluation device by implementing several optical switch modules and a drive circuit unit of the present invention. It is.

[0026]

As described above, according to the present invention, the connecting portion between the quartz optical waveguide substrate and the optical ribbon fiber is covered with the sealing outer case, and the sealing structure in which the low-viscosity resin is poured therein is provided. , Environmental change when using optical switch module,
In particular, there is an effect of improving long-term reliability that can withstand environmental changes due to humidity.

The optical ribbon fiber is fixed by being sandwiched between the base and the case. Since the fixing portion is integrally formed with the base and the case for protecting the quartz-based optical waveguide substrate, the component parts are formed. The effect is that the number can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an optical switch module structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a main part configuration diagram of the optical switch module according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing a second embodiment of the optical switch module structure of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ceramic multilayer substrate 2 Quartz optical waveguide substrate 4a, 4b Optical ribbon fiber 5 Sealing exterior case 6 Low viscosity resin 10 Base 10a Groove part 11 Case 11a Groove part

Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Toshiyuki Kawashima 1-7-12 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Jiro Utsunomiya 1-7-112 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo Oki Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Inside the company (72) Inventor Toshimi Kominato 3-192-2 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Masayasu Yamaguchi 3-192-2 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Inside (72) Inventor Kenichi Yukimatsu 3-19-2 Nishi Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Masayuki Okuno 1-15-1-5 Kichijoji Honcho, Musashino City, Tokyo N Within TTI Electronics Technology Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Akio Sugita 1-14-5 Kichijoji Honmachi, Musashino City, Tokyo Inside NTT Electronics Technology Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Tetsuo Miya 1-14, Kichijoji Honcho, Musashino City, Tokyo No.5 Enutite Electronics Technology Co., Ltd. in

Claims (4)

[Claims] A quartz optical waveguide substrate on which an optical waveguide is formed; an electric circuit substrate on which a circuit for driving the quartz optical waveguide substrate is formed; and an electric circuit board on which the quartz optical waveguide substrate is mounted; In an optical switch module structure including an optical ribbon fiber connected to a silica-based optical waveguide substrate, a base provided with a recess for accommodating an electric circuit board on which the silica-based optical waveguide substrate is mounted; An optical switch module structure, comprising: a case, wherein an optical ribbon fiber is sandwiched and fixed between the base and the case. 2. The optical switch module structure according to claim 1, wherein the optical ribbon fiber is passed through the inside, and a sealing outer cover fixed to a connection portion between the optical ribbon fiber and the silica-based optical waveguide substrate; An optical switch module structure comprising: a resin that is injected into a sealing exterior cover and seals a connection portion between the optical ribbon fiber and a silica-based optical waveguide substrate. 3. The optical switch module structure according to claim 1, wherein a resin is interposed between the base and the case, and the resin fixes the optical ribbon fiber and seals a portion where the optical ribbon fiber comes out. An optical switch module structure characterized by performing. 4. The optical switch module structure according to claim 3, wherein the base is formed integrally with an electric circuit board.