JPH11202158A - Optical element - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the optical element which has high quality and a wide use field and is easily mounted and assembled and also inexpensive. SOLUTION: This optical element consists of an optical signal processing component 1 which has an optical waveguide element 8, an optical input/output component for inputting and outputting light to and from the optical signal processing component 1, and a container 4 wherein the optical signal processing component 1 and optical input/output components are fitted and fixed. In this case, the container 4 has a part where the optical signal processing component 1 is fitted and a groove 5 wherein the optical input/output component is fixed, the optical signal processing component 1 has a projection part 7 which is fitted in the groove of the container 3, and the projection part 7 constitutes the end part of the core part of the optical waveguide element; when the optical signal processing component 1 and input/output component are fitted in the container 4, the optical axes of the optical input/output component and optical signal processing component 1 are aligned with each other.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical element, and more particularly, to general optics and micro optics.
The present invention relates to an optical element that can be used for various optical integrated circuits or optical wiring boards used in the fields of optical communication and optical information processing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Optical elements used in the field of optical information processing and optical communication have been studied in recent years with the aim of integration, miniaturization, high performance, and low cost. Has been actively studied at the research stage to satisfy the above. In fact, a silica-based optical waveguide device that satisfies this purpose to some extent has been put to practical use in a part of the optical communication field (Masao Kawauchi: NTT R & D vol.43).
No. 11, p. 101 (1994)). However, the application field of the optical element formed in a waveguide type is limited at present because, in particular, mounting and assembling require a great deal of labor and time, and a complicated dedicated device is required. In other words, the optical element requires a high level of skill in assembling in view of the above points, and therefore, unlike the handling of electrical related parts that are widely used in ordinary households, optical elements that can be easily handled at home are nowadays. However, there is nothing.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and its object is to reduce the cost of an optical element and to reduce the mounting area, which is one of the obstacles to the expansion of the field of use. An object of the present invention is to simplify assembly and reduce costs.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an optical signal processing component having an optical waveguide element, an optical input / output component for inputting / outputting light to / from the optical signal processing component, and the optical signal processing component. An optical element comprising a container into which an optical input / output component is fitted and fixed, the container having a portion into which an optical signal processing component is inserted, and a groove for fixing the optical input / output component, Component has a convex portion that fits into the groove of the container, the convex portion constitutes an end of the core portion of the optical waveguide element, and the optical signal processing component and the optical input / output component are formed in the container. The optical axis of the optical input / output component coincides with the optical axis of the optical signal processing component when fitted.

[0005] Here, the optical waveguide device can be composed of a polymer optical waveguide obtained by polymerizing a reactive oligomer.

Further, the reactive oligomer can be an epoxy-based reactive oligomer represented by the following general formula (1).

[0007]

Embedded image

The optical signal processing component may further include a light receiving or light emitting element selected from the group consisting of a laser diode (LD), a light emitting diode (LED), and a light receiving diode (PD).

The optical signal processing component having the optical waveguide element is formed by forming a layer of a photosensitive substance comprising a reactive oligomer and a photopolymerization initiator, and forming a layer on the photosensitive material layer through a mask having a core pattern of the optical waveguide. Alternatively, a core pattern latent image of an optical waveguide is formed in this layer by directly irradiating light,
Thereafter, a core pattern is formed by removing a non-irradiated portion with a solvent using a solvent, and then formed into a shape having a fitting portion that fits into a container while forming a clad portion so as to cover the core, thereby forming an optical waveguide element. And can be produced.

[0010] The container may be formed into a fitting portion of the container by stamping a pre-processed optical signal processing component into a concavo-convex shape by a stamp method, or by irradiating light through a mask. The fitting portion can be formed by photolithographic processing.

[0011]

1 and 2 show an example of the structure of an optical element according to the present invention. 1A shows an optical signal processing component 1, FIGS. 1B and 1D show optical fibers 2 and 3, and FIG.
(C) is a diagram showing the appearance of a container for fixing the optical signal processing component 1 and the optical fibers 2 and 3. In the container 4 to be fixed, a groove 5 and a fiber fixing groove 6 are formed so that the optical axes of the optical signal processing component 1 and the optical fibers 2 and 3 are aligned.

FIG. 2 (a) shows how the optical signal processing component 1 (with the waveguide facing downward), the optical fibers 2, 3 and the container 4 to be fixed are assembled. FIG. The optical signal processing component 1 is formed so as to fit with the container 4 to be fixed, and has a convex portion 7 that fits with the fiber fixing groove 6. The optical signal processing component 1 has an optical waveguide element 8, and the convex portion 7 forms a part of the optical waveguide element. The optical waveguide device of the present invention shown in FIG. 2A is usually composed of a core and a clad.

In the present invention, the core is preferably formed of a polymer material obtained by polymerizing a reactive oligomer, and in particular, is formed by polymerizing an epoxy-based reactive oligomer represented by the following general formula (1). It is preferably formed of a polymer material.

[0014]

Embedded image

The polymerization is carried out by reacting the reactive groups contained in the reactive oligomer with light. It is desirable to add a photopolymerization initiator in order to cause the reaction to occur efficiently and sufficiently. As the photopolymerization initiator, those generally used as a photopolymerization initiator can be used, and carbonyl compounds such as diphenyltriketone benzoin, benzoin methyl ether, benzophenone, acetophenone, and diacetyl, and peroxides such as benzoyl peroxide. And azo compounds such as azobisisobutyronitrile.

In the present invention, the optical signal processing component is manufactured, for example, as follows. First, a layer of a photosensitive material having a reactive oligomer is formed on a substrate, and a latent image of the core pattern of the optical waveguide is formed by passing the layer through a first mask having a core pattern of the optical waveguide or by directly irradiating light. Form. Next, the unirradiated portion of the light is removed with a solvent to form a core of the optical waveguide. After that, a cladding material or the like is applied on the core or the like, and then light is irradiated through the second mask to form a projection fitting into the fiber groove and the cladding, thereby producing an optical signal processing component. . An important point in the present invention is a method of forming a projection fitted into a fiber groove in an optical signal processing component.

The optical signal processing components can be individually manufactured one by one. Alternatively, a plurality of optical signal processing components can be manufactured integrally and then cut out individually.

The optical signal processing component of the present invention may further include a light receiving or light emitting element in addition to the optical waveguide element. Here, the light receiving or light emitting element includes a light emitting element such as a laser diode (LD), a light emitting diode (LED), and a light receiving diode (PD), and a light receiving element.

In the present invention, the container to be fixed may be formed into a fitting portion by transferring the optical signal processing component, which has been previously processed into an uneven shape, by a stamping method, or irradiating light through a mask. The fitting portion may be formed by photolithographic processing.

Example 1 A Y-branch optical waveguide device (length 50 mm, width 10 m) was prepared using an epoxy-based reactive oligomer represented by the following formula (2).
m) was prepared as follows.

[0021]

Embedded image

Where n is an integer.

A specific description will be given with reference to FIGS. A platform 11 having an epoxy resin layer 13 formed on a substrate as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B is prepared. Here, FIG. 3A is a plan view of the platform 11, and FIG. 3B is a front view. A liquid reservoir 10 having a depth of 200 μm, a width of 10 mm, and a length of 55 mm is provided in the epoxy resin portion 13.
Is formed, and the thickness of the epoxy resin layer below the reservoir is 15 μm. The refractive index of this epoxy resin was 1.52 at a wavelength of 0.85 μm. Next, after injecting a liquid epoxy-based reactive oligomer into the reservoir 10 of the platform 11, UV light 15 was irradiated through the mask 14 having the optical waveguide pattern of FIG. 4 (FIG. 5). FIG.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view from the left side when the mask of FIG. 4 is mounted on a platform and cut at the position of AA ′. However, the irradiation amount at this time was 2000 mJ / cm ² . When the platform after light irradiation was developed with an organic solvent, the liquid epoxy-based reactive oligomer was cured only in the light irradiation part (core pattern of the optical waveguide of the mask 14),
The core ridge pattern 16 shown in FIG. 6 was formed. The refractive index of the core ridge pattern 16 after curing has a wavelength of 0.85 μm.
m was 1.535. Thereafter, an epoxy resin adjusted so that the refractive index after photocuring becomes 1.52 at a wavelength of 0.85 μm is applied so as to cover the core ridge pattern 16, and then a mask 17 having the pattern shown in FIG. UV light is irradiated through the core ridge pattern 16 so as to cover an end (length 5 mm) of the core ridge pattern 16.
A μm convex portion 18 and a flat plate portion 18 ′ were formed (FIG. 8).
An optical signal processing component having a Y-branch optical waveguide element was cut out to a length of 50 mm using a dicing saw.
FIG. 9 shows a plan view of this optical signal processing component. FIG. 8
10 is a cross-sectional view as viewed from the left when cut along BB 'in FIG. This Y-branch optical waveguide device has a core ridge pattern 16 as a core and a portion made of epoxy resin as a clad. That is, a multimode Y-branch optical waveguide 19 (200 μm in depth and 200 μm in width) having a core made of a UV-cured epoxy resin having a refractive index of 1.535 and a clad made of an epoxy resin having a refractive index of 1.52 is produced. (Fig. 9). When the insertion loss of the obtained optical waveguide was measured, it was 0.1 dB / c at a wavelength of 0.85 μm.
m or less, 0.5 dB / cm or less at 1.3 μm, wavelength 1.
It was 1.0 dB / cm or less at 55 μm.

After the epoxy-based reactive oligomer was injected into the container 4 shown in FIG. 1C, the core ridge 1 shown in FIG.
6 is inserted into the container 4 and irradiated with UV to transfer the groove shape or the like of the container by a stamp method, whereby a component similar to the above-described optical signal processing component can be manufactured.

Example 2 A Y-branch optical waveguide device 20 shown in FIG. 10 manufactured in Example 1 is prepared as an optical signal processing component. This optical waveguide device includes a core part 21, a clad part 22, a substrate 23, and a convex part 24. The core has a width of 200 μm and a height of 20
0 μm. As an optical input / output component, a polymer clad optical fiber 25 having a core of 200 μm and an outer diameter of 230 μm shown in FIG. 12 is prepared.

Next, a container 26 for fixing the Y-branch optical waveguide element 20 and the optical fiber 25 is prepared. However, container 2
6 has a fiber fixing groove 27 and has a shape as shown in FIG. The polymer clad optical fiber 25 is disposed in the fiber fixing groove 27 in the container 26, and the convex portion 24 of the Y-branch optical waveguide element 20 is pressed and fixed while being aligned with the fiber fixing groove 27 (FIG. 12). FIG. 13 shows the appearance of the optical element after fixing. When the insertion loss of the obtained optical element was measured, the excess loss was 0.8 at a wavelength of 0.85 μm.
It was about dB. The branch ratio was 1: 1.

Embodiment 3 As an optical signal processing component, a 3 × component shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 is used.
A 3 star coupler 30 is prepared. This optical signal processing component is manufactured in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the core pattern of the Y-branch optical waveguide shown in FIGS. 4 and 7 is changed to a core pattern of a 3 × 3 star coupler. However, this star coupler has a core part 31 and a clad part 3
2, a substrate 33 and a convex portion 34. The core has a width of 200
μm and a height of 200 μm, and the slab waveguide portion 35 of the core portion 31 has a length of 30 mm. Further, a polymer clad optical fiber 36 having a core of 200 μm and an outer diameter of 230 μm is prepared as an optical input / output component.

A container 37 to be fixed is prepared. However, the container 37 to be fixed is the same as the container 26 of the second embodiment, and has a fiber fixing groove 38 as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 16, the convex portion 34 of the optical signal processing component 30 and the optical fiber 36 are fitted to the container 37, and the container 37 is pressed and fixed so that the convex portion 34 fits into the fiber fixing groove 38 of the container 37. FIG. 17 shows the appearance of the fixed and assembled optical element. When the insertion loss of the obtained optical element was measured, the excess loss at a wavelength of 0.85 μm was 1.
The branch ratio at the output side was about 5 dB and the output side was 1: 1: 1.

Embodiment 4 A multiplexer / demultiplexer 40 shown in FIG. 18 is prepared as an optical signal processing component. This multiplexer / demultiplexer 40 is obtained by providing a filter 45 as shown in FIG. 18 on the Y-branch optical waveguide device manufactured in Example 1, and includes a core part 41, a clad part 42, a substrate 43, a convex part 44, and a filter. It consists of 45. The core has a width of 200 μm and a height of 200 μm, and the filter 45 can separate the wavelengths of 1.3 μm and 0.85 μm at a predetermined angle of 15 °. Further, a polymer clad optical fiber 46 having a core of 200 μm and an outer diameter of 230 μm is prepared as an optical input / output component.

A container 47 to be fixed is prepared. However, the container 47 to be fixed is the same as the container 26 in the second embodiment, and has a fiber fixing groove 48. This container 47
The optical fiber 46 and the multiplexer / demultiplexer 40 are
The convex portion 44 is aligned as shown in FIG. 19, and is pressed and fixed to produce an optical element. FIG. 20 shows the appearance of the obtained optical element. When the insertion loss of the obtained optical element was measured, the excess loss was about 0.5 dB at a wavelength of 0.85 μm. The isolation with 1.3 μm on the output side was about 30 dB.

Embodiments 5 to 8 The same procedures as in Embodiment 2 were carried out except that the Y-branch optical waveguide element 20 manufactured in Embodiment 1 was replaced by an optical waveguide element as shown in Table 1 as an optical signal processing component. Thus, an optical element was manufactured. The optical characteristics of the obtained optical element were examined. The results are summarized in Table 1.

[0032]

[Table 1]

Examples 9 to 11 Optical elements of Y-branch optical waveguide devices were produced in the same manner as in Example 2 except that the optical fibers shown in Table 2 were used as the optical input / output components. The optical characteristics of the obtained optical element were examined. Table 2 summarizes the results.

[0034]

[Table 2]

When the optical fiber and the optical signal processing component are fitted into a container for fixing the optical fiber and the optical signal processing component, the shape of the fiber fixing groove and the convex portion serving for positioning is only a rectangular shape in the above embodiment. As described above, the same effect can be obtained with a V-shaped groove or the like.

[0036]

As described above, the optical element of the present invention can be freely removed and replaced from the container in which the optical signal processing component and the optical input / output component are fixed, and can be positioned so that the optical axes coincide. Since the possible shapes are provided and the components fit tightly, the optical element can be easily assembled. The optical element according to the present invention can be provided with high quality and free optical wiring and optical functions, and can be easily handled. Therefore, the present invention can be applied to various optical waveguides, optical integrated circuits, optical wiring boards, and the like used in the fields of general optics and micro optics, and in the fields of optical communication and optical information processing. Expansion was able to be planned.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing components constituting an optical element of the present invention, and FIG. 1 (a) is an external view of an optical signal processing component;
(B) and (d) are external views of an optical fiber, and (c) is an external view of a fixed container.

FIG. 2 (a) is a schematic view showing a state in which each component is incorporated to produce an optical element of the present invention, and FIG. 2 (b) is a schematic view of an optical element of the present invention incorporating a Y-branch optical waveguide element. is there.

FIG. 3 (a) is a plan view of a platform,
(B) is a front view of the platform.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a mask having a waveguide pattern.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing a state in which light is irradiated on a platform with a mask applied.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the platform after light irradiation.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a mask for forming a projection.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a Y-branch optical waveguide.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a Y-branch optical waveguide.

FIG. 10 is a schematic view of an optical signal processing component.

FIG. 11 is a schematic view of a container to be fixed.

FIG. 12 is a schematic view showing a state in which each part is assembled.

FIG. 13 is a schematic view of an optical element.

FIG. 14 is a schematic view of an optical signal processing component.

FIG. 15 is a plan view of a mask having a waveguide pattern.

FIG. 16 is a schematic view showing a state in which each part is assembled.

FIG. 17 is a schematic view of an optical element.

FIG. 18 is a schematic view of an optical signal processing component.

FIG. 19 is a schematic view of a container to be fixed.

FIG. 20 is a schematic view of an optical element.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Optical signal processing component 2, 3 Optical fiber 4 Container for fixing 5 Groove 6 Fiber fixing groove 7 Convex part 8 Optical waveguide element 10 Reservoir 11 Platform 12 Substrate 13 Epoxy resin part 14 Mask having optical waveguide core pattern 15 Ultraviolet ray Reference Signs List 16 core ridge pattern 17 mask for forming convex portion 18, 18 'clad 19 multi-mode Y-branch optical waveguide device 20 Y-branch optical waveguide device 21 core portion 22 clad portion 23 substrate 24 convex portion 25 polymer clad optical fiber 26 fixed Container 27 Fiber fixing groove 30 3 × 3 star coupler 31 Core part 32 Cladding part 33 Substrate 34 Convex part 35 Slab waveguide part 36 Polymer clad optical fiber 37 Container to be fixed 38 Fiber fixing groove 40 Multiplexer / demultiplexer 41 Core part 42 Crack Portion 43 for fixing the substrate 44 protrusion 45 filter 46 polymer clad optical fiber 47 container 48 fiber fixing groove

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification symbol FI H01S 3/18 H01L 31/02 C (72) Inventor Makoto Hikita 3-19-2 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Stocks In company

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An optical signal processing component having an optical waveguide element, an optical input / output component for inputting / outputting light to / from the optical signal processing component, and the optical signal processing component and the optical input / output component are fitted. An optical element comprising a container fixed in the container, the container having a portion for fitting an optical signal processing component, and a groove for fixing the optical input / output component, wherein the optical signal processing component is a groove of the container. And the convex portion constitutes an end of the core portion of the optical waveguide element, and when the optical signal processing component and the optical input / output component are fitted into the container, the optical input / output An optical element, wherein the optical axis of the component and the optical signal processing component coincide. 2. The optical element according to claim 1, wherein the optical waveguide element comprises a polymer optical waveguide obtained by polymerizing a reactive oligomer. 3. The optical element according to claim 2, wherein the reactive oligomer is an epoxy-based reactive oligomer represented by the general formula (1). Embedded image 4. The optical signal processing component further includes a light receiving or light emitting element selected from the group consisting of a laser diode (LD), a light emitting diode (LED), and a light receiving diode (PD). 4. The optical element according to any one of 1 to 3. 5. An optical signal processing component having an optical waveguide element, wherein a layer of a photosensitive material comprising a reactive oligomer and a photopolymerization initiator is formed, and a layer having a core pattern of the optical waveguide is formed on the layer. Forming a core pattern latent image of the optical waveguide in the layer by directly or directly irradiating light, and then forming a core pattern by removing a non-irradiated portion with a solvent using a solvent, and then covering the core. The optical device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the optical waveguide device is manufactured by forming a shape having a fitting portion to be fitted into the container while forming a clad portion. element. 6. The method according to claim 6, wherein the container is formed in advance into a concave and convex shape of an optical signal processing component by a stamping process to form a fitting portion of the container or irradiate light through a mask. The optical element according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the fitting portion is formed by photolithographic processing according to (1).