JPS6029927B2 - cable connector - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a cable connector for connecting an optical fiber cable and a semiconductor element.

[Prior art and its problems]

When connecting highly sensitive fiber optic cables to semiconductor devices, special care must be taken to minimize loss of light transmitted between the semiconductor device and the fiber optic cable.

For example, if there is an angular misalignment between the cable CA and the semiconductor element DE, as shown in diagram IA, losses of the transmitted beam will occur. Transmission losses also occur when the optical fiber cable CA is axially misaligned with respect to the semiconductor element DE, as shown in FIG. IB. Further, when the refractive indexes of the constituent materials are different, Fresnel loss occurs due to reflection when light passes from one material to another. Thus, as the light beam is transmitted from the semiconductor element DE to the fiber optic cable CA, it will pass through the epoxy on the semiconductor element and through air before entering the fiber cable CA. For example, when GaAsP is used as the semiconductor element DE, the above Fresnel loss is T=4/{20(mountain/n,)+(n,/n
2)} ...'Calculated in 1).

T in this formula represents the transmittance of a medium having a refractive index and n2. The refractive index n of the Ga ship P is 3.0, n' of the transparent epoxy is 1.5, and n of the optical fiber cable CA is 1.5.
It is. Therefore, the transmission loss in this typical case is '1' above.
}According to the formula, approximately 1. reaches B. In addition to Fresnel losses, the axial separation of the cable from the semiconductor element DE itself results in some loss when the light beam passes through a different medium (see Figure IC).

The optical fiber cable according to the prior art is constructed integrally with a semiconductor element, as shown in FIG. 2A.

This combination of semiconductor element and cable is generally referred to as a "big tail" structure, and is fixed to the stereotactic layer after being inserted into the body. This method provides proper alignment and minimal Fresnel losses. As with all "big tail" structures, the main drawback of the above method is that it becomes vulnerable when delicate cables protrude from equally delicate semiconductor elements. This requires special handling and severely limits mechanical design flexibility. In addition, in Fig. 2A, A is the ferrule, and A2 is the emitter/
Detector, A3 is CROFONI04 manufactured by DuPont.
It is 0. Another prior art "big tail" type device is shown in FIGS. 2B and 2C. fundamentally,
The fiber optic cable B, adjoins the semiconductor element and this bond is bonded to the epoxy material B2 and the body unit. Here, B2 represents transparent epoxy and B3 represents black epoxy. In this way Fresnel losses can be minimized. However, unless tight adjustments are made to obtain proper alignment, mechanical misalignment that occurs during the epoxy bonding operation will result in Fresnel losses. In addition, in Fig. 2C, C is a connector, C3 is a fiber,
LED indicates a light emitting diode. Other adjunct technologies have similar "big tail" structures, with semiconductor devices connected to cables.

However, the disadvantage of this method is that it requires a three-step polishing operation and a two-step preparation for the connection in order to insert the cable into the kit. Another typical method in the prior art to overcome transmission loss problems is the use of screw-type mechanical connectors to connect, or couple, cables to semiconductor devices. This representative connector is shown in Figures 2D, 2E, and 2F, respectively. Here, D shown in FIG. 2D is a cable connector, D2 is an optical fiber cable, D3 is a lens, D4 is a connector, and D5 is a semiconductor package. In FIG. 2E, E is a fiber cable, E2 is a cable connector, E3 is a bushing, E4 is a "big tail" type semiconductor, and E5 is a semiconductor element. Further, F in FIG. 2F is a fiber cable, F2 is a cable connector, F3 is a connector mount, F4 is a fiber, and F5 is a semiconductor element. Each of the methods illustrated here has its own drawbacks. That is, since the cable must be screwed into the connector, it is difficult to connect the cable, especially when the area of the semiconductor element to be connected to the cable is limited. Additionally, the cable may become partially separated from the connector due to excessive axial tension, and it is difficult to easily detect this partial separation and the optical transmission loss caused by this separation.
In other words, the cause of the deterioration will remain for a long time until it is discovered and corrected. [Object of the Invention] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an optical fiber cable connector that minimizes optical transmission loss and is easy to maintain and attach/detach.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Many of the problems encountered in methods of coupling semiconductor devices to fiber optic cables are overcome by apparatus in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

That is, a housing is obtained that aligns the semiconductor elements in the axial direction (with a minimum amount of separation) of the optical fiber cable. According to one embodiment of the invention, the fiber optic cable inserted into the pupil body is fixed by a spring-like grip force. Therefore, the cable can be easily inserted and separated by applying a predetermined force. Once the cable is fixed in the stereotaxic position within the bulge, the cable is automatically aligned;
And losses due to misalignment are minimized. Since the connector according to the invention does not use any screw-type mechanical connectors, there is no need to operate screw-driving tools, thus minimizing the size of the device. Also, since it does not have a "big tail" structure, no special handling is required. Furthermore, the vulnerability of the "big tail" structure or the risk of failure of the connector structure can be eliminated. Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail using the drawings. [Embodiment of the Invention] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the entire cable connector according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 3.

In both figures, a sealing body 2 made of a resinous acetal mold has a semiconductor element 16 therein and a groove 4 into which an optical fiber cable 6 is inserted. This semiconductor element 1
6 is further formed with a groove 4 into which the optical fiber cable 6 is inserted. The groove 4 of this land body 2 is connected to the cable 6
When inserted into this structure, it is automatically aligned in the wisteria direction. This automatic alignment is performed by the semiconductor elements 16
This is achieved by providing a conical hole 8 (see FIG. 4) which is made to receive a corresponding conical protrusion 10 of the fiber optic cable. This conical protrusion 10 is connected to a protective sleeve 12 attached to the cable end.
It can be provided inside. The cable 6 is fixed to the stereotaxic layer by a hybridization 14 adjacent to the groove 4.

It should be noted that said mating part 14 comprises two jaws 31, 33 and applies a spring-like gripping force to the cable 6 either directly or via the protective sleeve 12 of said cable. Further, the crossing section 14 connects the optical fiber cable 6 to the semiconductor element 1.
6, so even if the semiconductor element 16
are accurately aligned even if they are not firmly fixed to the cliff body 2. Here, if the protrusion 18 is formed on the protective sleeve 12, the spring-like grip force applied in the radial direction to the cable sleeve will be applied to the corresponding lotus body 2.
Since the force is converted into an axial force by the raised portion 26 (see FIG. 4), a force that directly contacts the semiconductor element 16 is applied to the cable 6. Since the cable is fixed by the above-mentioned grip force, the cable 6 is attached to the weight body 2.
It can be easily separated and removed. In the embodiments described above, since the weight body 2 is a compact structure, usually only slightly larger than the internal semiconductor element 16, electrical components such as printed wiring can be connected by using the electrical leads 20 of the semiconductor element itself. It can be soldered to the board.

A cavity 22 is protruded from the shell 2 to perform this soldering. Now, when inserting the cable 6 into the ridge 2, first insert the conical protrusion 10 into the groove 4, and then insert the mating part 1.
Slightly spread the jaws 31 and 33 of 4. If a further annular ridge 18 is to be accommodated, the jaws are further widened to accommodate this ridge 18 in the inclined ridge 26 in the annular gap 37. A spring-like grip force is thus applied around the cable 6 or sleeve 12. As a result, semiconductor element 1
The conical convex portion 10 of the cable 6 abuts against the conical hole 8 and the gate portion 24 of the cable 6, and the semiconductor element 16 and the cable are arranged. The cable 6 is reliably housed within the body 2 by the spring-like gripping force of the jaws 31 and 33. In order to maximize optical transmission in the cable connector according to the invention, the semiconductor element 16 has a lens 39 in the conical recess 24.
It is also possible to provide

Here, when the lens is used, the transmitted light beam passes through the semiconductor element 1.
6 to the optical fiber cable 6 and vice versa. Brief description of the drawings Figures IA to IC
The figure is a diagram explaining the state of the transmission light beam when the optical fiber cable CA and the semiconductor element DE are in misaligned or separated positions, and Figures 2A to 2F show various connection devices according to the prior art. This is a diagram.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the entire cable connector according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line A--A. 2: Critical condition, 6: Optical fiber cable, 16:
semiconductor element.

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Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A connector that connects a semiconductor element and an optical fiber cable having an annular protuberance to face each other, and includes the following (a) to (a).
(e) Including the casing consisting of (a) a cavity for storing a semiconductor element; (b) a pair of first and second jaws extending from the cavity and facing each other; and (c) a groove formed by the jaws. (d) means for receiving the optical fiber cable and axially arranging the optical fiber cable and the semiconductor element; ,
means for mating a raised part of the optical fiber cable with the inclined raised part; (e) means for arranging the optical fiber cable to face the semiconductor element and generating an axial spring-like gripping force by mating both the raised parts;