JPS629746Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] The present invention relates to a coupling structure between an optical fiber cable and an optical semiconductor component.

To convert between optical and electrical signals, a light receiving or emitting element of an optical semiconductor component must be coupled to an optical fiber, and a coupling structure similar to an optical fiber connector is required for attachment, detachment, and replacement.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a conventional coupling structure between an optical fiber cable and an optical semiconductor component. The figure shows the posture before connection, and the left side shows the holding structure for the optical fiber cable. The optical fiber cable 1 is fixed in the holder 2, and the optical fiber 3 is fixed in the axial hole 2a of the holder 2, and is polished to be smooth and flush with the end surface 2b of the holder 2. There is. The combination body 4 on the right side of the figure has a through hole 4a that fits into the holding body 2.
is provided, so that the opposing optical semiconductor component 5
The axis of the holding body 2 can be made to coincide with the axis of the holding body 2. The holder 2 is fixed by connecting the screw of the bag nut 6 with the screw 4b of the coupling body 4. The optical semiconductor component 5 has its outer surface pressed onto the through-hole end surface 4c of the combination body 4 and is fixed with a screw 8 via a spacing ring 7.

In the above-described structure, efficient conversion can be achieved by bringing the end surface 2b of the optical fiber-side holder 2 and the light-receiving or emitting surface of the optical semiconductor component 5 as close as possible, so this gap is designed to be minimal. On the other hand, the surface of the optical semiconductor component is provided with a transparent plate 9 made of sapphire with a thickness of about 0.1 mm in order to protect the internal elements and provide light transmission. There are circumstances in which it cannot be made sufficiently small due to constraints from structural factors. Since the holder 2 is close to the transparent plate 9, if there is a dimensional error due to the combination of the holder 2 and the combined body 4, or if foreign matter adheres to the transparent plate 9, the thin transparent plate 9 may break due to the combination. , destroyed. In particular, since the joint cannot be seen from the outside, damage may go unnoticed. This invention is a measure to prevent the aforementioned accident. That is, the holder 2 that fixes the optical fiber cable 1 and the combination body 4 that houses the optical semiconductor component 5 are mechanically connected to each other so that they can be detached and replaced, so that light can be transmitted between the optical fiber and the optical semiconductor component or the light emitting element. In the structure in which the bonding is performed, the holder 2 is fitted into the through hole 4a of the bonding body 4.
The end surface 2b of the protective ring 10 has the same surface as the tip surface of the optical fiber 3 fixed to the axial center hole 2a, and the end surface 2b of the protective ring 10 fitted in the end surface 4c of the through-hole recess of the combined body 4 The optical semiconductor component coupling structure is characterized in that it is optically coupled to the light receiving or emitting element of the optical semiconductor component 5 through the small hole 10a and the light transmitting plate 9 that protects the light receiving or emitting element 11. Semiconductor components can be completely protected.

Examples according to the present invention will be described in detail below. Note that the same reference numerals in the figures from FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 indicate the same parts.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the connection of optical semiconductor components equipped with a protection ring according to the present invention. The protective ring 10 is disk-shaped and has approximately the same diameter as the outer diameter A of the optical semiconductor component 5, and is fitted into the end surface 4c of the through hole recess of the combined body 4, into which the optical semiconductor component 5 is inserted.
It is pressed and fixed with a screw 8 through a spacing ring 7 behind it.

The protective ring 10 has a small hole 10a in its center, which does not interfere with the light projected from the optical fiber, and the diameter of the small hole 10a is significantly smaller than the outer diameter B of the holder 2.

When the holder 2 is inserted into the through hole 4a of the combined body 4, the end surface of the flange portion 2c comes into contact with the end surface 4d of the combined body. In this case, the design dimensions are determined so that the end surface 2b of the holder 2 does not protrude beyond the through hole 4a. Therefore, the designed upper end surface 2b does not come into contact with the protective ring 10 in the drawing. However, the minute gap e formed between the end surface 2b and the protective ring 10 changes due to geometric dimensional errors between the holder 2 and the combined body 4, and may become extremely narrow. It is also affected by shape errors, deformations, etc.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing shape errors of the holding body and the combined body. As an example, the flange portion 2c of the holding body 2
The gap e is narrowed when the end face of the end face and the end face 4d of the combined body 4 have an error γ in the perpendicularity to their respective axes. In addition, if minute protrusions, foreign matter, etc. are overlapped, it may protrude slightly from the through hole 4a.

In the present invention, the pressure due to the protrusion of the holder 2 is not directly applied to the sapphire transparent plate 9 of the optical semiconductor component 5, but the protection ring 10 supports the pressure.

If the above-mentioned case occurs, it is assumed that the protective ring 10 is manufactured integrally with the combined body 4, but it becomes extremely difficult to precisely finish the through hole 4a.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing details of section C in FIG. 2. In the embodiment, the thickness of the protective ring 10 is approximately
Since it is 0.2 mm, the end face of the optical fiber will naturally be distanced from the light receiving or light emitting element 11 of the optical semiconductor component 5 by this distance. However, this coupling loss can be avoided by making the effective surface of the light-receiving or light-emitting element fall within the radiation angle θ at the end face of the optical fiber. In the example, θ was approximately 30°, and an appropriate thickness of the protective ring 10 was obtained. Note that the spacing ring 7 and screw 8 in FIG. 1 function satisfactorily even when a protective ring 10 is inserted. The area around the hole 10a in the center of the protective ring 10 and both sides are finished to be smooth, and care is taken not to damage the end face of the optical fiber and the transparent plate 9 of the optical semiconductor component 5. There is. Although 18-8 stainless steel is used as the material for the protective ring 10 in the embodiment, there is no particular restriction on the use of other metals or non-metallic materials.

As described above, according to the present invention, the transparent plate of the optical semiconductor component is prevented from being damaged, no skill is required for this connection, and the characteristics are guaranteed and the reliability is improved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a sectional view showing a conventional coupling structure between an optical fiber cable and a light receiving or emitting element, Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing a coupling of an optical semiconductor component equipped with a protective ring according to the present invention, and Fig. 3 is a holding structure. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing shape errors of the body and the combined body, and FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing details of the light receiving or emitting part of FIG. 2. In the figure, 1 is an optical fiber cable, 2 is a holder, 3 is an optical fiber, 4 is a combination body, 5 is an optical semiconductor component, 9 is a transparent plate, 10 is a protection ring, and 11 is a light receiving or light emitting element.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] The holder 2 that fixes the optical fiber cable 1 and the coupling body 4 that accommodates the optical semiconductor component 5 are mechanically coupled so as to be detachable and replaceable, thereby optically coupling the optical fiber and the light-receiving or light-emitting element of the optical semiconductor component. In the structure in which this is carried out, the end surface 2b of the holder 2 fitted into the through hole 4a of the coupling body 4 has the same surface as the tip surface of the optical fiber 3 fixed to the axial center hole 2a,
And this end surface 2b is the end surface 4 of the through hole recess of the combined body 4.
An optical semiconductor component coupling structure characterized in that the optical semiconductor component 5 is optically coupled to the light receiving or light emitting element of the optical semiconductor component 5 through the small hole 10a of the protective ring 10 fitted in the protective ring 10 and the light transmitting plate 9. .