JPS6318164B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the structure of a receptacle containing an optical semiconductor used in a communication device using an optical fiber as a transmission path.

Optical fiber communication systems that use optical fibers as transmission paths are increasingly being applied to various communication fields. Among the various optical devices that make up the optical fiber communication system, the receptacle that houses the optical semiconductor of the light source or photodetector is an important device that makes up the optical fiber communication system, and its economic efficiency and performance are being pursued. .

Conventional receptacles with built-in optical semiconductors are made by finely adjusting their mutual positions using a lens etc. to optimize the coupling loss between the optical fiber attached to the standard optical connector plug and the optical semiconductor. It is known that an optical semiconductor is fixed to a receptacle using the following method.

However, this method has drawbacks such as the time it takes for the adhesive to harden, resulting in poor manufacturing efficiency, and since adhesive is used, there are problems with long-term reliability such as adhesive strength. .

The present invention improves on this point by using a laser welding method, allowing the optical semiconductor to be firmly fixed in a receptacle in a short period of time, and having a built-in optical semiconductor that is inexpensive and highly reliable. The purpose is to provide a receptacle.

The present invention includes a metal cylindrical housing,
The optical semiconductor receptacle has a structure in which a tip of an optical fiber is inserted and connected to one end of the housing, and a semiconductor optically coupled to the optical fiber is connected to the other end of the housing. The outer periphery of the end portion is formed into a cylindrical shape, and a metal welding ring is fitted internally and slidably into the cylindrical portion, and a metal welding ring to which the semiconductor is attached and whose surface abuts one end of the welding ring. The holder is characterized by a structure in which the cylindrical outer periphery of the housing and the welding ring and one end of the welding ring and the surface of the holder are welded and connected.

In order to optimize the coupling loss between an optical semiconductor that becomes a light source or a photodetector and a standard optical fiber, the optical fiber attached to an optical connector plug is fitted into a receptacle, and the optical fiber is fixed to the receptacle in advance. The position of the optical semiconductor element is adjusted so that the optical semiconductor is in the optimal position with respect to the lens, and the adjusted optical semiconductor and the receptacle part that fixes the lens are laser welded together using a welding ring. , a robust receptacle can be obtained in a short time.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the main structure of an embodiment of a receptacle with a built-in optical semiconductor according to the present invention. A lens 1 is fixed in advance inside a metal cylindrical housing 2. A welding ring 3 is slidably fitted into the cylindrical outer peripheral portion of one end of the housing 2. The end of this welding ring 3 is formed flat, and a metal disc-shaped holder 5 with a semiconductor 4 fixed in advance at its center is prepared so as to come into contact with this. An optical fiber 7 is inserted into the other end of the housing 2, with a ferrule 8 over its tip. A thread is formed on the outer periphery of the other end of the housing 2, and a metal connecting nut 9 which is screwed into this thread and tightens the ferrule 8 is fastened.

Next, a method for assembling and adjusting an optical semiconductor receptacle having such a structure will be explained.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a method for assembling and adjusting an optical semiconductor receptacle according to the present invention. The other end of the optical fiber 7 is connected to the light source 6 . The ferrule 8 is fastened to the housing 2 with a connecting nut 9. After this, the housing 2 is fixed to the fixture 10. Further, the holder 5 is attached to an adjustment jig 11 configured to be able to move slightly in the optical fiber optical axis direction Z and in two directions XY orthogonal to this optical axis. At this time, the welding ring 3 is moved toward the optical fiber of the housing 2 so as not to hit the holder 5. In addition, optical semiconductor 4
An ammeter 12 is connected to both ends of the .

In this state, the light source 6 is driven, and the adjustment jig 11 is moved in the Move the holder 5 slightly in the direction
Adjust the position. Once adjusted, weld ring 3
Slide it to the right side of the figure and secure it.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a method of fixing the weld ring 3. When the adjustment is completed, the welding ring 3 is moved toward the optical semiconductor 4 and abuts against the holder 5. In this state, as shown in the figure, the housing 2 and the welding ring 3, as well as the welding ring 3 and the holder 5, are each firmly welded over the entire circumference using laser beams α and β. Laser beams α and β are used for welding.
may be moved around the optical axis of the optical fiber 7, or the positions of the laser beams α and β may be fixed and the fixing jig 10 and adjustment jig 11 may be rotated together around the optical axis of the optical fiber. It's okay.

It is preferable that the housing 2, welding ring 3, and holder 5 be made of the same metal with excellent weldability. Examples include stainless steel and brass.

In the above embodiment, an optical receptacle using a lens was described in order to improve the coupling efficiency between an optical fiber and an optical semiconductor, but an optical receptacle that does not use a lens can be similarly implemented.

As explained above, according to the present invention, an optical semiconductor whose position is adjusted to a position with the highest optical coupling efficiency with respect to an optical fiber is fixed in a receptacle using a laser welding method. Therefore, it is possible to securely fix an optical semiconductor to a receptacle in an extremely short time and at low cost.
This has effects such as being able to improve the reliability of the optical semiconductor receptacle.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the structure of one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the assembly and adjustment method of the above embodiment. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the fixing method of the above embodiment. 1... Lens, 2... Housing, 3... Welding ring, 4... Optical semiconductor, 5... Holder, 6...
Adjustment light source, 7... Optical fiber, 8... Ferrule, 9... Connection nut, 10... Fixing jig, 11
...Adjustment jig, 12...Ammeter.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A cylindrical housing made of metal, into which the tip of an optical fiber is inserted and connected to one end of the housing, and a semiconductor optically coupled to the optical fiber at the other end of the housing. In the optical semiconductor receptacle having a structure to be connected, the outer periphery of the other end of the housing is formed in a cylindrical shape, and a metal welding ring 3 is fitted into the cylindrical portion in a slidable manner; a metal holder 5 to which the semiconductor is attached and whose surface abuts one end of the welding ring; An optical semiconductor receptacle characterized by a structure in which the parts are welded and connected.