KR100617743B1 - Optical fiber connection block and optical module using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

An optical module comprising a substrate according to the present invention comprises a plurality of waveguides, one or more grooves penetrating perpendicularly to an upper surface of the substrate, and one or more planar optical waveguides sequentially stacked from the substrate, and one or more photoelectrics. PCBs positioned on the planar optical waveguide so that each of the photoelectric conversion elements are directed toward the corresponding groove, the body, and both ends thereof are exposed to one side and the top of the body. And embedded optical fibers, one or more optical connection blocks inserted in each of the grooves of the planar optical waveguide device such that both ends face the waveguide and the PCB.

Optical Junction Blocks, Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs), Optical Modules

Description

Optical connection block and optical module using same {OPTICAL FIBER CONNECTION BLOCK AND OPTICAL MODULE USING THE SAME}             

1 is a view for showing the structure of an optical connection block according to the prior art,

2 is a view for schematically explaining a configuration of an optical system in which optical modules according to the prior art are connected by an optical fiber;

3 is a perspective view of an optical connection block according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

4 is a view of an optical module including an optical connection block according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

5 is a cross-sectional view for illustrating a structure of the planar optical waveguide shown in FIG. 4;

6 is a view of an optical module including an optical connection block as a third embodiment of the present invention;

7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a structure of an optical fiber block shown in FIG. 6;

8 is a view of an optical module including an optical connection block according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

9 is a cross-sectional view for illustrating a structure of the planar optical waveguide shown in FIG. 8;

10 is a view of an optical module including an optical connection block as a fifth embodiment of the present invention;

11 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a structure of an optical fiber block shown in FIG. 10;

12 is a view of an optical module including an optical connection block as a sixth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view for illustrating the optical connection blocks shown in FIG. 12, respectively. FIG.

14 is a view of an optical module including an optical connection block as a seventh embodiment of the present invention;

The present invention relates to an optical module, and more particularly, to an optical module including a printed circuit board in which a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements are integrated.

A general printed circuit board has a structure in which copper wires are stacked in a plastic board made of a material such as epoxy resin, polyimide resin, or phenol resin, integrating elements for communication on the printed circuit board and copper A communication network connected by a line is not suitable as a high speed long distance communication network. That is, a communication network connected by copper wiring is not easy to transmit data of several tens of centimeters or more due to high loss rate and noise generation.

By constructing an optical communication network in which the copper line as described above is replaced with an optical fiber line, construction of a high speed long distance communication network is facilitated.

The optical communication network described above uses an optical signal as a medium for data transmission, and requires an optical module including photoelectric conversion elements for generating the optical signal from an electrical signal and receiving the optical signal and outputting the optical signal as an electrical signal. do.

The optical module includes a planar optical waveguide device made of a waveguide for inputting and outputting an optical signal, and a printed circuit board adhered to the planar optical waveguide device.

The printed circuit board is integrated with photoelectric conversion elements for generating the optical signal, detecting the signal, and converting the same into an electrical signal. The photoelectric conversion element uses a surface divergent light source or a surface light receiving photodetector. . That is, the optical module requires an element for optically connecting the printed circuit board and the planar optical waveguide element.

1 is a view showing the structure of an optical connection block according to the prior art. Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional optical access block 100 includes a block 120, a plurality of optical fibers 110 mounted in the block 120 and transmitting and receiving optical signals, and a block 120 of the block 120. And a reflective layer 121 formed on one end processed to have a predetermined angle.

The block 120 is a support means for supporting the optical fibers 110, and a plurality of V-grooves (not shown) for fixing each of the optical fibers 110 are formed and the V- Each of the optical fibers 110 is seated in a groove. One end of the block 120 is processed to have a predetermined angle.

The optical connection block 100 is an element for optically connecting a printed circuit board (not shown) formed on a planar optical waveguide (not shown) and the planar optical waveguide, and one end of the block 120 is preset. The planar optical waveguide is connected to the printed circuit board by forming the reflective layer 121 on one surface processed at an angle and inclined.

The planar optical waveguide may be a planar lightwave circuit (PLC) including a plurality of waveguides manufactured by a semiconductor process or an optical fiber block including a plurality of optical fibers. The printed circuit board integrates active photoelectric conversion elements for converting an optical signal into an electrical signal and converting the electrical signal into an optical signal.

2 is a view for schematically explaining a configuration of an optical system in which optical modules according to the prior art are connected by an optical fiber. Referring to FIG. 2, the optical system 200 includes an optical fiber for connecting the first optical module 220, the second optical module 230, and the first and first optical modules 220 and 230. 210).

Each of the first and second optical modules 220 and 230 includes planar optical waveguides 221 and 231 and printed circuit boards 222 and 232 positioned on the planar optical waveguides 221 and 231. Each of the printed circuit boards 222 and 232 includes photoelectric conversion elements for converting an optical signal into an electrical signal or converting the electrical signal into an optical signal.

The optical fiber 210 serves to connect each of the first and second optical modules 220 and 230.

However, there is a problem that conventional optical connection blocks are not easy to manufacture. That is, it is not easy to process a cross section to be inclined at a predetermined angle at a conventional end, and the path of the optical signal is changed as the angle of the processed cross section is changed, resulting in noise and intensity loss. cause.

In addition, a structure in which each optical module is integrated with an optical fiber or the like has a problem in that the application of a miniaturized optical module or an optical communication system is limited due to a large volume.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an optical module that is easy to align and manufacture the optical axis.

An optical module comprising a substrate according to the present invention,

An optical module comprising a substrate,

A plurality of waveguides and one or more planar optical waveguides composed of one or more grooves and sequentially stacked from the substrate;

One or more photoelectric conversion elements integrated therein, the PCBs positioned on the planar optical waveguide such that each of the photoelectric conversion elements faces a corresponding groove;

A body and optical fibers embedded in the body such that both ends thereof are exposed to one side and an upper surface of the body, each end of which is inserted into each of the grooves of the planar optical waveguide device so that both ends face the waveguide and the PCB. One or more optical connection blocks.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description of the present invention, if it is determined that the detailed description of the related known function or configuration may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

3 is a perspective view of an optical connection block according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 3, the optical connection block 300 according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a body 320 and a plurality of optical fibers 310 embedded in the body 320.

The body 320 may form a single body having a rectangular hexagonal shape using a plastic material such as an epoxy resin, a polyamide resin, a phenol resin, a wax, or a material such as glass, ceramic, or metal. In addition, the body 320 is polished on one side and the top surface of which both ends of the optical fiber 310 are exposed to a smooth surface, so that scattering due to diffuse reflection of the optical signals inputted and output, and the noise thereof are caused. And occurrence of intensity loss can be suppressed.

The optical fibers 310 are embedded in the body 320 so that both ends thereof are exposed to one side and the upper surface of the body 320, the optical fibers 310 may be a silica or plastic optical fiber. In addition, both ends of the optical fibers 310 are exposed to adjacent surfaces of the body. That is, the optical fibers 310 are bent at a predetermined curvature, and both ends of the optical fibers 310 are exposed to adjacent sections of the body, thereby converting a path of the optical signal input and output in a vertical direction. That is, when both ends of the optical fibers 310 are polished on one side and the upper surface of the body 320 exposed, the coupling loss is reduced when the positions of both ends of the optical fibers 310 are aligned correctly. Can be lowered below 1㏈. In addition, when the radius of curvature of the optical fibers 310 are bent to have a radius of 1 mm or more, a bending loss of a general multi mode optical fiber becomes less than -3 dB. Therefore, the coupling loss in the case of constructing the optical communication system using the optical module including the optical connection block can be kept at -8 dB or less in the sum of the receiving and transmitting sides.

The detection limit of a typical optical communication system is -16 dBm, and the light output of the light transmitting side is about 1 dBm. As a result, an optical communication system including an optical connection block having a loss of -8 dBm can easily maintain a reception limit of -16 dBm.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of an optical module including an optical connection block according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A 'illustrating the structure of the planar optical waveguide shown in FIG. Referring to FIG. 4, an optical module 400 according to a second embodiment of the present invention may include a substrate 401, a planar optical waveguide 410 formed on the substrate 401, and one or more printed circuit boards. 430a and 430b and a plurality of optical connection blocks 430a and 430b.

Referring to FIG. 5, the planar optical waveguide 410 may be generated by a semiconductor process or the like on the substrate 401, and includes a plurality of waveguides 412 and a plurality of grooves 410a and 410b. The planar optical waveguide 410 is a structure in which a lower clad 411, a core (not shown), an upper clad 413, and the like are sequentially stacked on the substrate 401, and the lower clad on the substrate 401. 411 and the core layer are sequentially stacked, and then the core layer is formed through a process such as etching to form a plurality of waveguides 412 on the lower clad 411 on which the waveguides 412 are formed. The upper cladding 413 is grown on the planar optical waveguide 410.

The PCBs include first and second PCBs 430a and 430b and each of the first and second PCBs 430a and 430b is integrated with one or more photoelectric conversion elements 432a and 432b. The first and second PCBs 430a and 430b are positioned on the planar optical waveguide 410 so that each of the photoelectric conversion elements 432a and 432b faces the bottom surface of the grooves 410a and 410b. The photoelectric conversion elements 432a and 432b may use a surface emitting light source or a surface light receiving photodetector.

The optical connection blocks 420a and 430b may include a first optical connection block 420a corresponding to the first PCB 430a and a second optical connection block 420b corresponding to the second PCB 430b. It is possible to use one or more of them depending on the need.

Each of the first and second optical connection blocks 420a and 420b has a body 422a and 422b, and both ends thereof are exposed to one side and an upper surface of the body 422a and 422b. Optical fibers 421a and 421b embedded in 422b, and each of the ends of each of the optical fibers 421a and 421b faces the waveguides 412 and the PCB 430a and 430b. It is inserted into each of the grooves 410a and 410b of the waveguide 410.

The first and second optical connection blocks 420a and 420b have a structure similar to that of the first embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 3. That is, the optical fibers of the optical connection module according to the second embodiment of the present invention are arranged in a line so as to face the waveguides of the planar optical waveguide. Hereinafter, the detailed description of the first and optical connection blocks 420a and 420b according to the second embodiment of the present invention shall apply mutatis mutandis to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a view of an optical module including an optical connection block as a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A 'to show the structure of the optical fiber block shown in FIG. Referring to FIG. 6, an optical module according to a third embodiment of the present invention may include a substrate 501, an optical fiber block 510 formed on the substrate 501, and one or more printed circuit boards (530a, 530b). ) And a plurality of optical connection blocks 520a and 520b. The substrate 501 has a plurality of V-grooves formed on an upper surface thereof.

Referring to FIG. 7, the optical fiber block 510 may include a plurality of first optical fibers 511 seated in each of the V-grooves on the substrate 501, and the first optical fibers 511 may be formed. And an upper block 512 to cover the seated substrate 501. A plurality of V-grooves (not shown) are formed in the upper block 512 to stably fix the first optical fibers 511.

The configuration of the optical module 600 according to the third embodiment of the present invention is the same as that of the optical module of the second embodiment of the present invention. Therefore, the description duplicated in the second embodiment of the third embodiment of the present invention will be omitted.

FIG. 8 is a diagram of an optical module including an optical connection block according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A 'of the planar optical waveguide shown in FIG. Referring to FIG. 8, an optical module 600 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention may include a substrate 601 and one or more planar optical waveguides 610a and 610b sequentially stacked on the substrate 601. At least one printed circuit board (630a, 630b, 630c, 630d) and a plurality of optical connection blocks (620a, 620b, 620c, 620d).

9, the planar optical waveguides 610a and 610b are formed on the substrate 601 by the first planar optical waveguide 610a and the first planar optical waveguide 610a which are sequentially formed by a semiconductor process or the like. And a second planar optical waveguide 610b formed thereon. In addition, the first and second planar optical waveguides 610a and 610b include a plurality of waveguides 611a and 611b and one or more grooves 614, 615, 616, and 617.

The first planar optical waveguide 610a is a structure in which a first clad 611a, a core, a second clad 612a, and the like are sequentially stacked on the substrate 601, and the plurality of waveguides are etched by etching the core. 611a is formed. In addition, the second planar optical waveguide 610b again stacks a core layer on the second clad 612a of the first planar optical waveguide, and etches the core layer to form a plurality of waveguides 611b. . Thereafter, the second planar waveguide 610b has an advantage of minimizing volume and improving processing capacity by forming a third clad 612b on the waveguides 611b. Hereinafter, descriptions of parts overlapping with other embodiments of the present invention will be omitted.

FIG. 10 is a view of an optical module including an optical connection block as a fifth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A 'illustrating the structure of the optical fiber block shown in FIG. Referring to FIG. 10, an optical module 700 according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention may include a substrate 701, one or more optical fiber blocks 710a and 710b sequentially stacked from the substrate 701, and one; One or more optical connection blocks inserted into each of the PCBs 730a, 730b, 730c, and 730d integrated with the photoelectric conversion elements, and the grooves 713, 714, 715, and 716 formed in the optical fiber blocks 710a and 710b, respectively. Ones 720a, 720b, 720c, and 720d.

Referring to FIG. 11, a plurality of V-grooves is formed on an upper surface of the substrate 701. The optical fiber blocks 710a and 710b are used to fix the first optical fibers 711a in a row and the first optical fibers 711a in a row, which are seated in a V-groove of the substrate 701. ) And a first optical fiber block 710a formed of an intermediate block 712a and the like, and a second optical fiber block 710b positioned on the first optical fiber block 710a. The intermediate block 712a may support the first optical fibers 711a and 711b in one or two rows by forming a lower surface covering the substrate 701 and a plurality of V-grooves in each of the upper surface.

The second optical fiber block 710b includes two rows of first optical fibers 711b seated in a V groove of the intermediate block 712a and an upper block 712b covering the intermediate block 712a. A plurality of V grooves (not shown) are formed on the lower surface of the upper block 712b in contact with the intermediate block 712a to stably fix the first optical fibers 711b in two rows.

Each of the first to fourth optical connection blocks 720a, 720b, 720c, and 720d may be seated in corresponding grooves 713, 714, 715, and 716 of the first and second optical fiber blocks 710a and 710b. The PCBs 730a, 730b, 730c, and 730d are optically connected to the first optical fibers 711a and 711b in the corresponding row. The first to fourth optical connection blocks 720a, 720b, 720c, and 720d have a structure corresponding to the optical connection blocks shown in the first to fourth embodiments of the present invention. Hereinafter, description of portions overlapping with other embodiments of the present invention will be omitted.

FIG. 12 is a view showing an optical module including an optical connection block as a sixth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 13 is a perspective view for showing the optical connection blocks shown in FIG. 12, respectively. Referring to FIG. 12, an optical module 800 according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention may include a substrate 801 and one or more planar optical waveguides 810a and 810b sequentially stacked on the substrate 801. And at least one printed circuit board (PCB) 830a, 830b, 830c, and 830d, and a plurality of optical connection blocks 820a and 820b.

In the optical module 800 according to the sixth embodiment, the planar optical waveguides 810a and 810b and the PCBs 830a and 830b have the same structure as the fourth embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 8. In the following description of the sixth embodiment of the present invention, the descriptions of the planar optical waveguides 830a and 830b and the PCBs 830a and 830b will be omitted.

Referring to FIG. 13, the optical connection blocks 820a and 820b support the optical fibers 821 corresponding to the waveguides 811a and 811b and the optical fibers 821-2 and 821-2. For a body 822. The optical fibers 821-1 and 821-2 may include one row of optical fibers 821-1a and 821-1b corresponding to the waveguides 811a of the first planar optical waveguide 810a, and the second plane. It consists of two rows of optical fibers 821-2a and 821-2b corresponding to the waveguides 811b of the optical waveguide 810b. The optical fibers 821-1 and 821-2 of the first and second rows are bent at a predetermined curvature so that each end of each of the optical fibers 821-2 and 821-2 is opposed to the waveguide and the PCB.

The body 822 may be a plastic material such as epoxy resin, polyamide resin, phenol resin, wax, or the like, which is coated around the plurality of optical fibers 821-1 and 821-2 arranged in two rows, or glass, ceramic, or metal. The material of is hardened in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped to form a single body. In addition, the body 822 is polished to have a smooth surface on one side and an upper surface of the body to which the optical fiber is exposed, thereby causing scattering due to diffuse reflection of optical signals inputted and output, and noise generated therefrom. Intensity loss can be suppressed.

14 is a view of an optical module including an optical connection block as a seventh embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 14, an optical module according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention may include a substrate 901, one or more optical fiber blocks 910a and 910b sequentially stacked on the substrate, and one or more printed circuits (PCBs). boards 930a and 930b and a plurality of optical connection blocks 920a and 920b.

The optical fiber blocks include first and second optical fiber blocks sequentially disposed on the substrate, each of the first and second optical fiber blocks includes first optical fibers for inputting and outputting an optical signal, and the first optical fiber. Middle and top blocks for securing them. The configuration and structure of the first and second optical fibers have the same structure as that disclosed in the fifth embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG.

The optical connection blocks 920a and 920b may include a plurality of second optical fibers 921-1a, 921-1b, 921-2a, and 921-2b, which correspond one-to-one to the first optical fibers 911a. Body 922a, 922b for fixing the second optical fibers (921-1a, 921-1b, 921-2a, 921-2b). The optical connection blocks 920a and 920b are inserted into and seated in each of the one or more grooves 913 and 914 formed in the optical fiber blocks 910a and 910b, so that the PCBs 930a and 930b and the first optical fiber ( 911a and 911b are connected. In addition, the second optical fibers 921-1a, 921-1b, 921-2a, and 921-2b are arranged in two rows so as to correspond to each of the first and second optical fiber blocks 910a and 910b.

The structures of the optical connection blocks 920a and 920b according to the seventh embodiment have the same structure as the optical connection block shown in FIG. 13 of the sixth embodiment of the present invention. The description of the optical connection block of the seventh embodiment applies mutatis mutandis to the optical connection block of the sixth embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted below.

The PCBs 930a and 930b are integrated with photoelectric conversion elements 932a, 933a, 932b, and 933b for converting an optical signal into an electrical signal and converting the electrical signal into an optical signal, and the optical connection block 920a. The light receiving surface or the light emitting surface of each of the photoelectric conversion elements 932a, 933a, 932b, and 933b is disposed on the second optical fiber block 910b so as to face one end of the first and second ends 920b.

The optical connection block including the optical fiber swept at a predetermined angle according to the present invention is easy to align and manufacture the optical axis. That is, since the end face of the optical fiber is processed at 90 degrees, an additional process such as cutting one end face at an angle of 45 degrees and depositing a mirror or the like like a conventional optical connection block is unnecessary.

Claims (16)

delete delete delete delete delete An optical module comprising a substrate, A plurality of waveguides and one or more planar optical waveguides composed of one or more grooves and sequentially stacked from the substrate; One or more photoelectric conversion elements integrated therein, the PCBs positioned on the planar optical waveguide such that each of the photoelectric conversion elements faces a corresponding groove; A body and optical fibers embedded in the body such that both ends thereof are exposed to one side and an upper surface of the body, each end of which is inserted into each of the grooves of the planar optical waveguide device such that both ends face the waveguide and the PCB. An optical module comprising one or more optical connection blocks. The method of claim 6, The photoelectric conversion element includes a surface emitting light source, And the printed circuit board is positioned on the planar optical waveguide so that the light emitting surface of the surface emitting light source faces the groove. The method of claim 6, The photoelectric conversion device includes a surface light-receiving photodetecting device, And the printed circuit board is positioned on the planar optical waveguide so that the light receiving surface of the surface light-receiving photodetector faces the groove. The method of claim 6, The optical module of claim 1, wherein the body of the optical connection module is formed in the same shape as the groove to be seated in the groove. delete The method of claim 6, And the optical fibers of the optical connection module are arranged in a line so as to face the waveguides of the planar optical waveguide. The method of claim 6, And the optical fibers of the optical connection module are arranged in a plurality of rows so as to face each of the waveguides of the planar optical waveguides stacked from the substrate. An optical module comprising a substrate, A plurality of first optical fibers and one or more optical fiber blocks composed of one or more grooves and sequentially stacked from the substrate; One or more photoelectric conversion elements integrated with PCBs positioned on the optical fiber block such that each of the photoelectric conversion elements faces a corresponding groove; A body and second optical fibers embedded in the body such that both ends thereof are exposed to one side and an upper surface of the body, each end of each of the grooves of the optical fiber block facing both the first optical fiber and the PCB. An optical module comprising one or more optical connection blocks inserted therein. The method of claim 13, wherein the optical fiber block, And an upper block seated on the substrate on which the first optical fibers are taken to fix the first optical fibers seated in each of the plurality of V-grooves formed on the substrate. The method of claim 13, And the second optical fibers of the optical connection module are arranged in a line so as to face the first optical fibers of the optical fiber block. The method of claim 13, And the second optical fibers are arranged in a plurality of rows to face each of the first optical fibers of the optical fiber blocks stacked from the substrate.

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