JP4089611B2 - Optical module - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical module including an optical fiber group suitable for an optical communication device or the like.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a method for manufacturing an extremely small microlens having a lens diameter of 125 μm, which is the same as an optical fiber diameter, using a photolithographic and etching technique used in a semiconductor manufacturing process with silicon as a substrate (the following patent document). 1). In addition, a lens array having a configuration in which a plurality of such microlenses are arranged in an array and connected therebetween can be manufactured (see Patent Document 2 and FIG. 3 below). An optical module can be configured by using a plurality of the microlenses arranged in parallel or the lens array in combination with, for example, an optical fiber group including a plurality of optical fibers arranged in parallel. In such an optical module, the lens interval can be set to a very narrow pitch of about 250 μm as an example. Therefore, such an optical module can be remarkably reduced in size compared to a configuration in which a plurality of single-core modules are integrated.

JP 2002-323603 A JP 2002-328204 A

  In the optical module as described above, the group of optical fibers to be combined is also configured with a narrow pitch, but in this case, the following problems occur. When mounting a narrow pitch optical fiber group, it is necessary to align and fix the tip of each optical fiber with high precision in the optical axis direction, but this is difficult. When the optical fiber group is composed of individual optical fibers, a method of fixing after positioning in the optical axis direction one by one is considered. However, in this method, since the pitch of the optical fiber is as small as about 250 μm, the fixing adhesive wraps around the adjacent optical fiber, causing a problem. In addition, the following inconvenience also occurs in the case of an optical fiber ribbon composed of optical fibers in which optical fiber groups are fixed and integrated at a narrow pitch. When mounting an optical fiber ribbon, the tip of each optical fiber is cleaved and cut. However, when cut, the tips become uneven, and it is very difficult to suppress the positional accuracy of the tips of a plurality of optical fibers in the range of several to 10 μm. As described above, regardless of whether the optical fiber group is composed of individual optical fibers or optical fiber ribbons, it is not possible to fix the tip of each optical fiber in the optical fiber group with high accuracy in the optical axis direction. Have difficulty. As a result, in an optical module having a group of optical fibers with a narrow pitch, there has been a problem that the optical output between channels configured for each optical fiber varies.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved optical module in which a narrow pitch optical fiber group is aligned with high accuracy in the optical axis direction. Is to provide.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, according to one aspect of the present invention, a groove group provided in alignment on a support substrate; an optical fiber group including optical fibers disposed in each groove of the groove group; And a positioning member that positions the optical fiber in the direction of the optical axis by abutting the tip of the optical fiber. According to such a configuration, the optical fiber can be positioned in the optical axis direction with high accuracy even in a narrow pitch optical fiber group by contacting the tip of the optical fiber with the positioning member.

  In that case, you may comprise further providing the optical element group which consists of a some optical element, and the lens element which has a lens part which optically couples an optical element and an optical fiber.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, a groove group arranged in alignment on the support substrate; an optical fiber group composed of optical fibers disposed in each groove of the groove group; An optical module is provided comprising: a front end of the optical fiber abutting on the surface of the optical fiber to position the optical fiber in the optical axis direction; and a positioning member having a lens portion formed on the other surface. Is done. According to this configuration, the positioning member can have both a positioning function in the optical axis direction of the optical fiber and a lens function. Since there is no need to provide another lens element, the number of parts can be reduced, and the mounting process and cost can be reduced.

  In the optical module configured as described above, it is preferable that the abutting surface of the optically coupled optical fiber and the optical element are disposed at optically conjugate positions. Here, optically conjugate means that there is a relationship between an object and an image in the optical system. Therefore, the light emitted from the optical element is collected on the abutting surface of the optical fiber to be optically coupled. As a result, highly efficient optical coupling can be realized. For example, a light emitting element such as a laser diode or a light receiving element such as a photodiode can be used as the optical element.

  At this time, it is preferable that the position of the optical fiber contact surface and the position of the optical element are determined in consideration of the refractive index of the positioning member. By considering the refractive index, the optical path length can be substantially taken into account, and more efficient optical coupling can be realized.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, the first groove group provided in alignment on the support substrate; and provided in alignment on the support substrate so as to face the first groove group at a predetermined distance from each other. A second optical fiber disposed in each groove of the second groove group; a second optical fiber disposed in each groove of the second groove group; a second optical fiber disposed in each groove of the second groove group; A first positioning member disposed in the groove of the first groove group and positioned in the optical axis direction of the optical fiber by contacting the tip of the optical fiber of the first optical fiber group; A second positioning member disposed in the groove of the second groove group and positioned in the optical axis direction of the optical fiber by contacting the tip of the optical fiber of the second optical fiber group. An optical module is provided. According to such a configuration, the optical fiber can be positioned in the optical axis direction with high accuracy even in a narrow pitch optical fiber group by contacting the tip of the optical fiber with the positioning member. Further, if these two optical fiber groups are optically coupled, optical coupling between the optical fiber groups positioned and arranged with high accuracy can be realized.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, the first groove group provided in alignment on the support substrate; and provided in alignment on the support substrate so as to face the first groove group at a predetermined distance from each other. A second optical fiber disposed in each groove of the second groove group; a second optical fiber disposed in each groove of the second groove group; a second optical fiber disposed in each groove of the second groove group; 2 optical fiber groups; disposed in the grooves of the first groove group, the tip of the optical fiber of the first optical fiber group is abutted on one surface to position the optical fiber, and on the other surface Is positioned in the groove of the second groove group, and the tip of the optical fiber of the second optical fiber group is abutted against one surface to position the optical fiber. And a second positioning member having a lens portion formed on the other surface. Yuru is provided. According to such a configuration, the optical fiber can be positioned in the optical axis direction with high accuracy even in a narrow pitch optical fiber group by contacting the tip of the optical fiber with the positioning member. Further, if these two optical fiber groups are optically coupled, optical coupling between the optical fiber groups positioned and arranged with high accuracy can be realized. Further, the positioning member can have both a positioning function in the optical axis direction of the optical fiber and a lens function.

  In the optical module having the first positioning member and the second positioning member, an optical functional element is arranged in the optical path between the first positioning member and the second positioning member. It may be configured. Examples of the optical functional element include an isolator, a deflector, a wave plate, and a filter.

  The optical module having the above configuration further includes a pressing member that presses the optical fiber group against the groove group, and is the height from the upper surface of the support substrate to the upper end of the positioning member higher than the height from the upper surface of the support substrate to the upper end of the pressing member? Or it is preferable to comprise so that it may be substantially the same. According to such a configuration, by providing the pressing member, the optical fiber can be prevented from floating and moving, and can be reliably mounted at a desired position. Usually, the optical fiber is placed in the groove and then fixed with an adhesive. By setting the heights of the positioning member and the pressing member in this way, it is possible to prevent the adhesive from flowing out by the positioning member.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an optical module in which a narrow-pitch optical fiber group is aligned with high accuracy in the optical axis direction.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the present specification and drawings, components having substantially the same functional configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

  An optical module according to a typical aspect of the present invention includes a groove group, an optical fiber group, and a positioning member. The groove group is composed of a plurality of grooves provided on the support substrate so as to be aligned in one direction. The optical fiber group is composed of optical fibers arranged in each groove of the groove group, and is arranged so as to be aligned and aligned in one direction like the groove group. The positioning member is disposed so that a part of the positioning member is positioned in the groove of the groove group, and has a contact portion with which the tip of the optical fiber is contacted. By placing the optical fiber in contact with the contact portion, the optical fiber is positioned with high accuracy in the optical axis direction.

  The configuration of the optical module according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a plan view of an optical module 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The optical module 100 includes a substrate 109 on which a plurality of V grooves 110 are formed, a plurality of optical fibers 120, a fiber stopper 130, a lens array 140, and a light source array 150.

  The substrate 109 is a support substrate made of, for example, a silicon crystal substrate. From one end of the upper surface of the substrate 109 to the middle, eight V-grooves 110 are arranged with a predetermined pitch and formed with high accuracy, and these constitute a V-groove group. The V groove 110 has a V-shaped cross section. By mounting the surface-mounted member on the V-shaped groove 110, positioning in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis becomes possible. In the present embodiment, the V-groove 110 has a dimension capable of mounting an optical fiber having a diameter of 125 μm, and the pitch of the V-groove group is 250 μm.

  The optical fiber 120 is disposed in each V-groove 110, and the eight optical fibers 120 arranged in this way constitute an optical fiber group. The pitch of the optical fiber group is the same as the pitch of the V-groove group. In the present embodiment, a single mode fiber having a diameter of 125 μm is used as the optical fiber 120.

  The fiber stopper 130 is a positioning member that positions the optical fiber 120 in the optical axis direction by contacting the tip of the optical fiber 120. An example of the fiber stopper 130 is shown in FIG. FIG. 2 shows a partial perspective view of the fiber stopper 130. The fiber stopper 130 shown in FIG. 2 mainly has a plurality of overhang portions 132 arranged in the V-groove 110 and a substantially rectangular parallelepiped-shaped handling portion 134 connecting the plurality of overhang portions 132. The overhang portion 132 has a substantially bowl shape, and is provided in a row at the same pitch as the V groove group so as to overhang from the lower portion of the handling portion 134. The upper surface of the handling part 134 is flat so that the fiber stopper 130 can be easily handled. When the fiber stopper 130 is viewed from the front, a plurality of substantially semicircles are joined to the lower side of the horizontally long rectangle at a predetermined pitch.

  The outer diameter of the substantially hook-shaped protruding portion 132 is configured to be equal to the outer diameter of the optical fiber 120. With this configuration, the fiber stopper 130 can be mounted on the substrate 109 by disposing the protruding portion 132 in the V groove 110 in the same manner as the optical fiber 120 is disposed in the V groove 110. A dotted line in FIG. 2 shows a part of the outer shape of the V groove 110 when the fiber stopper 130 is arranged in the V groove 110.

  The substantially bowl-shaped end surface of the overhanging portion 132 and the surface of the handling portion 134 following the end surface are surfaces on which the tip of the optical fiber 120 is abutted to position the optical fiber 120 in the optical axis direction. Hereinafter, the surface on which the optical fiber contacts is referred to as an optical fiber contact surface. It is not always necessary that the entire front end surface of the optical fiber is in contact with the fiber stopper 130, and it is only necessary that the core portion that is the optical path is in contact with the fiber stopper 130. Therefore, the shape of the fiber stopper 130 is not limited to that shown in FIG. 2, and other shapes are possible.

  The fiber stopper 130 is made of, for example, a silicon crystal substrate as a material, and a large amount of etching is performed by using a photolithographic etching technique used in semiconductor technology and a pattern having a shape corresponding to the fiber stopper 130 as a photomask pattern. It can be manufactured with high accuracy and at low cost.

  As will be described later, the optical fiber is positioned and then fixed with an adhesive. This adhesive also slightly wraps around the optical fiber contact surface. Therefore, in order to improve the light efficiency, an antireflection film that takes into consideration the difference between the refractive index of the material of the fiber stopper 130 and the refractive index of the adhesive is formed on the optical fiber contact surface of the fiber stopper 130. Is preferred. Further, it is preferable to form an antireflection film in consideration of the difference between the refractive index of the material of the fiber stopper 130 and the refractive index of air on the surface opposite to the optical fiber contact surface of the fiber stopper 130.

  The lens array 140 is a lens element having a configuration similar to that shown in FIG. 3 of the aforementioned Patent Document 2 and having a configuration in which a plurality of lens portions 142 formed in a row on the substrate surface are integrated. The lens array 140 has the same outer shape as the fiber stopper 130 shown in FIG. 2, and a lens portion 142 is formed on one surface. The surface and position where the lens portion 142 of the lens array 140 is formed substantially correspond to the surface and position where the tip of the optical fiber 120 of the fiber stopper 130 contacts. In the present embodiment, the lens portion 142 has a circular shape, is provided on a surface facing the light source array 150, and is composed of a diffractive optical element. Further, since the lens array 140 has the same shape as the protruding portion 132 of the fiber stopper 130, the lens array 140 can be mounted on the substrate 109 with high accuracy by arranging this portion in the V groove 110.

  The lens array 140 having such a structure is made of, for example, a silicon crystal substrate, a lens portion 142 is formed using a predetermined pattern using a photolithographic etching technique used in semiconductor technology, and then the lens array 140 is formed on the lens array 140. By performing etching using a pattern having a corresponding shape as a photomask pattern, it can be manufactured in large quantities with high accuracy and at low cost.

  The light source array 150 is an optical element group in which a plurality of laser diodes (hereinafter referred to as LDs) 152 as light emitting elements are aligned and integrated at the same pitch as the V groove group.

  As shown in FIG. 1, on a substrate 109, an optical fiber 120, a fiber stopper 130, a lens array 140, and a light source array 150 are arranged in this order in the optical axis direction. In the present embodiment, the number of the V-groove 110, the optical fiber 120, the protruding portion 132 of the fiber stopper 130, the lens portion 142 of the lens array 140, and the LD 152 are all eight, and these are configured at the same pitch. . Each optical fiber 120 is optically coupled to each LD 152 by each lens unit 142. More specifically, in the optical module 100 having the above-described configuration, each divergent light emitted from each LD 152 of the light source array 150 is collected by each lens portion 142 of the lens array 140 and passes through the fiber stopper 130, and then each light. The light enters the fiber 120. As described above, the optical module 100 as a whole has eight optically coupled sets, that is, eight channels.

  The positioning and mounting of the optical fiber group consisting of the optical fibers 120 is performed as follows. First, the fiber stopper 130 is arranged so that each overhanging portion 132 of the fiber stopper 130 abuts on each V groove 110 of the V groove group. At this time, the positioning in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis is performed by the protruding portion 132 being in contact with the V-groove. Positioning in the optical axis direction can be performed with high accuracy using an image recognition technique using a marker or the like. When the fiber stopper 130 is mounted at an appropriate position, the fiber stopper 130 is fixed to the substrate 109 with an adhesive.

  Thereafter, the tips of all optical fibers 120 are brought into contact with the fiber stopper 130 to perform positioning in the optical axis direction, and are fixed to the substrate 109 with an adhesive. As the adhesive, for example, a UV (ultraviolet) curable resin type can be used. At that time, in order to prevent the optical fiber from floating or moving, it is preferable to use a pressing member that presses the optical fiber group against the groove group. The principal part side view at the time of using a pressing member for FIG. 3 is shown. The pressing member 126 is disposed on the optical fiber group and presses the optical fiber group downward in a lump. Here, the height from the upper surface of the substrate 109 to the upper end of the fiber stopper 130 is preferably higher than or substantially the same as the height from the upper surface of the substrate 109 to the upper end of the pressing member 126. With such a configuration, it is possible to prevent the adhesive from flowing out beyond the fiber stopper 130. Although the pressing member 126 is also applied to the embodiments described later, the illustration of the pressing member 126 is omitted in the drawings other than FIG. 3 in order to clarify the configuration of the optical module.

  The arrangement position of the fiber stopper 130 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b). 4 (a) and 4 (b) partially enlarge the periphery of one LD 152 and one lens unit 142 for the sake of explanation. As shown in FIG. 4A, the light beam emitted from the LD 152 is condensed at the condensing point I by the lens unit 142. Considering the imaging optical system by the lens unit 142, the LD 152 has an object point and the condensing point I has an image point relationship. That is, the position of the LD 152 and the position of the focusing point I are optically conjugate positions. Actually, the light emission point of the LD 152 is an object point, but since the size of the LD 152 is very small, the description will be given here with the LD 152 as the object point. For highly efficient coupling, the tip of the optical fiber 120, that is, the optical fiber contact surface of the fiber stopper 130 may be disposed at the condensing point I. FIG. 4A shows the case where the lens array 140 to the condensing point I is air, and the distance from the LD to the lens unit is L1, the distance from the optical fiber side surface of the lens array 140 to the condensing point I. Is L2.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4B, it is considered that the fiber stopper 130 is arranged so that the optical fiber contact surface of the fiber stopper 130 comes to the condensing point. Since the refractive index of the fiber stopper 130 is different from the refractive index of air, the distance from the optical fiber side surface of the lens array 140 to the condensing point (optical fiber contact surface) in the state of FIG. Don't be. It is necessary to consider the refractive index of the fiber stopper 130 and, in effect, the optical path length. As a result, if the distance L2 ′ from the lens array 140 to the fiber stopper 130 takes the value of the following formula (1), the condensing point is located on the optical fiber contact surface of the fiber stopper 130, and high-efficiency optical coupling is achieved. realizable. Here, the thickness of the fiber stopper 130 is T, and the refractive index is n.
L2 '= L2-T / n (1)
The above-described consideration regarding the arrangement of the fiber stopper 130 is similarly applied to the other embodiments described below.

  In the optical module of the present embodiment, a common fiber stopper 130 is provided for the optical fiber group, and the tip of each optical fiber is disposed so as to abut against the fiber stopper 130 and fixed. As a result, it is possible to obtain an effect that the tips of a plurality of optical fibers arranged in parallel at a narrow pitch can be positioned and fixed in the optical axis direction with an accuracy of several microns. Further, since the optical fiber group is fixed together using the pressing member 126, the optical fiber group can be mounted and fixed with high accuracy. According to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide an optical module in which high-precision mounting is achieved with downsizing.

  Next, an optical module according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a plan view of an optical module 200 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The optical module 200 is an optical fiber-to-optical fiber optical coupling. The optical function element is centered on both sides of the optical module, and a V-groove group and light similar to the optical module 100 of the first embodiment are provided on both sides. A fiber group, a fiber stopper, and a lens array are provided. A part of the description of the same configuration as that of the first embodiment will be omitted. The optical module 200 includes a substrate 209 formed with a plurality of V grooves, a plurality of optical fibers, fiber stoppers 230 and 231, lens arrays 240 and 241, and an optical functional element 260.

  The substrate 209 is made of, for example, a silicon crystal substrate. An optical functional element 260 is arranged at the center of the substrate 209, and eight V grooves 210 are arranged on one side, and eight V grooves 211 are arranged on the other side with a predetermined pitch and are formed with high accuracy. Each of these constitutes a V-groove group. V-grooves 210 and 211 are used for positioning and mounting a surface-mounted member and have a V-shaped cross section. In the present embodiment, the V-grooves 210 and 211 have dimensions capable of mounting an optical fiber having a diameter of 125 μm, and the pitch of the V-groove group is 250 μm.

  The optical fiber 220 is arranged in each V-groove 210, and the eight optical fibers 220 arranged in this way constitute an optical fiber group. Further, the optical fibers 221 are disposed in the respective V grooves 211, and the eight optical fibers 221 arranged in this way constitute an optical fiber group. In the present embodiment, single-mode fibers having a diameter of 125 μm are used for the optical fibers 220 and 221, and the pitch of both optical fiber groups is 250 μm.

  The fiber stoppers 230 and 231 have the same configuration as the fiber stopper 130 shown in FIG. The fiber stopper 230 is a positioning member that positions the optical fiber 220 in the optical axis direction by contacting the tip of the optical fiber 220. The fiber stopper 231 is a positioning member that positions the optical fiber 221 in the optical axis direction by contacting the tip of the optical fiber 221. The fiber stoppers 230 and 231 are disposed in the V grooves 210 and 211, respectively, and fixed with an adhesive.

  It is preferable to form an antireflection film in consideration of the refractive index difference between the material of the fiber stopper and the adhesive on the optical fiber contact surfaces of the fiber stoppers 230 and 231. It is preferable to form an antireflection film in consideration of the difference in refractive index between the fiber stopper material and air on the surface of the fiber stoppers 230 and 231 opposite to the optical fiber contact surface.

  The lens arrays 240 and 241 have the same configuration as the lens array 140, but differ only in the optical performance of the lens unit. The lens portions 242 and 243 of the lens arrays 240 and 241 are designed to make the light beam from the optical fiber into parallel light. The lens arrays 240 and 241 are disposed in the V grooves 210 and 211, respectively.

  The optical functional element 260 is, for example, an element such as an isolator, a deflector, a wave plate, and a filter.

  As shown in FIG. 5, an optical fiber 220, a fiber stopper 230, a lens array 240, an optical functional element 260, a lens array 241, a fiber stopper 231 and an optical fiber 221 are arranged in this order on a substrate 209. Each optical fiber 220 is optically coupled to each optical fiber 241 by each lens portion included in the lens arrays 240 and 241. As a whole, eight optically coupled sets, that is, eight channels are formed. In the optical module 200 configured as described above, for example, each divergent light emitted from each optical fiber 220 is converted into parallel light by each lens unit of the lens array 240 via the fiber stopper 230, and then the optical functional element 260 is used. The light is transmitted, converted into convergent light by each lens portion of the lens array 240, passes through the fiber stopper 231, and then enters each optical fiber 221.

  According to the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, it is possible to obtain an effect that the tips of a plurality of optical fibers arranged in parallel at a narrow pitch can be positioned and fixed with an accuracy of several microns in the optical axis direction. Further, in this embodiment, miniaturization and high-precision mounting are achieved, and an optical module in which an optical fiber and an optical fiber are optically coupled can be provided.

  Next, an optical module according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a plan view of an optical module 300 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The optical module 300 has a fiber stopper 330 having a configuration in which these are integrated instead of the fiber stopper 130 and the lens array 140 in the optical module 100 of the first embodiment. Since this is the only difference between the present embodiment and the first embodiment, the following description will be made with a focus on this difference, and the description of the same configuration as that of the first embodiment will be omitted. .

  The fiber stopper 330 has an outer shape in which the fiber stopper 130 shown in FIG. 2 is thickened in the optical axis direction. One surface of the fiber stopper 330 is a surface that, like the fiber stopper 130, abuts the tip of the optical fiber and positions the optical fiber in the optical axis direction. A lens portion 342 similar to the lens portion 142 of the lens array 140 is formed on the other surface of the fiber stopper 330. The fiber stopper 330 is disposed in the V groove 110 and is fixed with an adhesive.

  It is preferable to form an antireflection film in consideration of the difference in refractive index between the material of the fiber stopper and the adhesive on the optical fiber contact surface of the fiber stopper 330. An antireflection film is preferably formed on the surface of the fiber stopper 330 on which the lens portion is formed in consideration of the difference in refractive index between the material of the fiber stopper and air.

  In the optical module 300 configured as described above, each divergent light emitted from each LD 152 of the light source array 150 is converted into convergent light by each lens portion 342 of the fiber stopper 330 so that the optical fiber contact surface becomes a condensing point. After traveling through the fiber stopper 130, it enters each optical fiber 120.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the tips of a plurality of optical fibers arranged in parallel at a narrow pitch can be positioned and fixed with accuracy of several microns in the optical axis direction. Therefore, it is possible to provide an optical module that achieves high-precision mounting. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, by integrating the fiber stopper and the lens array, the number of components can be reduced as compared with the first embodiment, and the component mounting process can also be reduced.

  Next, an optical module according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a plan view of an optical module 400 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the optical module 400 of the present embodiment, a fiber stopper 430 having a configuration in which these are integrated instead of the fiber stopper 230 and the lens array 240 of the optical module 200 of the second embodiment is used. Instead of the fiber stopper 231 and the lens array 241 of the optical module 200, a fiber stopper 431 having a configuration in which these are integrated is used. Since this is the only difference between the present embodiment and the second embodiment, the following description will be made with a focus on this difference, and a duplicate description of the same configuration as the second embodiment will be omitted. .

  The fiber stoppers 430 and 431 have an outer shape in which the fiber stopper 130 shown in FIG. 2 is thickened in the optical axis direction. One surface of the fiber stopper 430 is a surface on which the tip of the optical fiber 220 is abutted to position the optical fiber in the optical axis direction. A lens portion 442 similar to the lens portion of the lens array 240 is formed on the other surface of the fiber stopper 430. One surface of the fiber stopper 431 is a surface on which the tip of the optical fiber 221 is abutted to position the optical fiber in the optical axis direction. A lens portion 443 similar to the lens portion of the lens array 241 is formed on the other surface of the fiber stopper 431. That is, the fiber stoppers 430 and 431 have the same configuration as the fiber stopper 330 of the third embodiment. The fiber stoppers 430 and 431 are disposed in the V grooves 210 and 211, respectively, and fixed with an adhesive.

  It is preferable to form an antireflection film in consideration of the difference in refractive index between the material of the fiber stopper and the adhesive on the optical fiber contact surfaces of the fiber stoppers 430 and 431. It is preferable to form an antireflection film in consideration of the difference in refractive index between the fiber stopper material and air on the surface of the fiber stoppers 430 and 431 opposite to the optical fiber contact surface.

  In the optical module 400 having the above configuration, for example, each divergent light emitted from each optical fiber 220 travels through the fiber stopper 430 and then converted into parallel light by each lens unit 442, and then the optical function element 260 is changed. The light is transmitted, converted into convergent light by each lens portion 443 of the fiber stopper 431 so that the optical fiber contact surface becomes a condensing point, travels through the fiber stopper 431, and then enters each optical fiber 221.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, as in the second embodiment, the tips of a plurality of optical fibers arranged in parallel at a narrow pitch can be positioned and fixed with accuracy of several microns in the optical axis direction. High-precision mounting is achieved, and an optical module in which an optical fiber and an optical fiber are optically coupled can be provided. Furthermore, in this embodiment, by integrating the fiber stopper and the lens array, the number of parts can be reduced and the mounting process of the parts can be reduced as compared with the second embodiment.

  Next, a comparative example will be described with reference to FIGS. FIGS. 8 and 9 are plan views of optical modules 80 and 90 having a configuration in which no fiber stopper is used, respectively. The optical module 80 has a configuration in which the fiber stopper 130 is removed from the optical module 100 shown in FIG. The optical module 90 has a configuration in which the fiber stoppers 230 and 231 are removed from the optical module 200 shown in FIG. However, in the optical modules 80 and 90, the distance between the members is slightly different from that of the optical modules 100 and 200 because the condensing point is disposed at the tip of the optical fiber. In the optical modules 80 and 90, as in the optical modules 100 and 200, individual optical fibers are arranged in a V-groove at a narrow pitch. In the optical modules 80 and 90, since there is no member that contacts the tip of the optical fiber, it is difficult to position and fix the tip of the optical fiber with high accuracy.

  As mentioned above, although preferred embodiment of this invention was described referring an accompanying drawing, it cannot be overemphasized that this invention is not limited to the example which concerns. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made within the scope of the claims, and these are naturally within the technical scope of the present invention. Understood.

  In the first and third embodiments, the case where a light emitting element is used as an optical element has been described. However, a light receiving element such as a photodiode is used instead of a light emitting element, and a light receiving element array is used instead of a light source array. An optical module may be configured. The shapes of the fiber stopper and the lens array are not limited to those described above. For example, the semicircular shape of the protruding portion of the fiber stopper may be an inverted triangle shape or a trapezoidal shape. The number of V-grooves, optical fibers, fiber stopper overhangs, lens array lens portions, and LDs is not limited to that described above, and any number can be selected. Also, these numbers do not necessarily have to be the same. The pitch of the V-groove group or the like is not limited to that described above, and can be arbitrarily set according to the outer diameter size of the optical fiber.

  The present invention is applicable to an optical module or the like used for an optical communication device.

1 is a plan view of an optical module according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a fragmentary perspective view of the fiber stopper concerning the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a principal part side view of the optical module concerning the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the arrangement position of the fiber stopper concerning the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view of the optical module concerning the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view of the optical module concerning the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view of the optical module concerning the 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view of the optical module of a comparative example. It is a top view of the optical module of a comparative example.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Optical module 109 Board | substrate 110 V groove | channel 120 Optical fiber 126 Press member 130 Fiber stopper 132 Overhang part 134 Handling part 140 Lens array 142 Lens part 150 Light source array 152 LD

Claims (8)

A support substrate having a surface and having a group of grooves arranged on the surface side;
A group of optical elements comprising a plurality of optical elements disposed on the surface;
An optical fiber group comprising optical fibers disposed in each groove of the groove group;
A plurality of first overhanging portions and a first handling portion connecting the plurality of first overhanging portions, wherein the plurality of first overhanging portions are respectively disposed in the grooves of the groove group, and the light A positioning member for positioning the optical fiber in the optical axis direction by contacting the tip of the fiber;
A second handle for connecting a plurality of lens portions, a plurality of second projecting portions, and the plurality of second projecting portions for optically coupling the optical elements of the optical element group and the optical fibers of the optical fiber group, respectively. A lens element arranged between each of the optical element group and the positioning member, wherein the plurality of second projecting parts are respectively disposed in the grooves of the groove group;
An optical module comprising:   The optical module according to claim 1, wherein the abutting surface of the optical fiber optically coupled to the optical element is disposed at an optically conjugate position.   The optical module according to claim 2, wherein the position of the surface on which the optical fiber abuts and the position of the optical element are determined in consideration of the refractive index of the positioning member.   The optical module according to claim 1, wherein the optical element is a light emitting element.   The optical module according to claim 1, wherein the optical element is a light receiving element.   A pressing member that presses the optical fiber group against the groove group, and a height from the upper surface of the support substrate to the upper end of the positioning member is higher than a height from the upper surface of the support substrate to the upper end of the pressing member. The optical module according to any one of claims 1 to 5. A support substrate having a surface, a first groove group, and a second groove group provided so as to face the first groove group at a predetermined distance away from each other; ;
An optical functional element disposed between the first groove group and the second groove group on the surface side of the support substrate;
A first optical fiber group comprising optical fibers disposed in each groove of the first groove group;
A second optical fiber group comprising optical fibers disposed in each groove of the second groove group;
A plurality of first overhanging portions and a first handling portion connecting the plurality of first overhanging portions, wherein the plurality of first overhanging portions are respectively disposed in the respective grooves of the first groove group; , A first positioning member for positioning the optical fiber in the optical axis direction by abutting the tip of the optical fiber of the first optical fiber group;
A plurality of second overhanging portions and a second handling portion for connecting the plurality of second overhanging portions, wherein the plurality of second overhanging portions are respectively disposed in the grooves of the second groove group. , A second positioning member for positioning the optical fiber in the optical axis direction by contacting the tip of the optical fiber of the second optical fiber group;
A plurality of first lens parts, a plurality of third projecting parts, and a plurality of third projecting parts for optically coupling the optical functional element and the optical fibers of the first optical fiber group, respectively. And a plurality of third projecting portions disposed in the grooves of the first groove group, and disposed between the optical functional element and the first positioning member. Lens elements of
A plurality of second lens portions, a plurality of fourth projecting portions, and a plurality of fourth projecting portions for optically coupling the optical functional element and the optical fibers of the second optical fiber group, respectively. A plurality of fourth overhanging portions arranged in each groove of the second groove group, and arranged between the optical functional element and the second positioning member. Lens elements of
An optical module comprising:   A pressing member that presses the groove group in which the optical fiber group is disposed is further provided, and a height from the upper surface of the supporting substrate to the upper end of the positioning member is higher than a height from the upper surface of the supporting substrate to the upper end of the pressing member. The optical module according to claim 7.

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