Optical module

• US 20040208459A1
• Filed: 01/20/2004
• Published: 10/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Inventors: Mizue, Toshio, Oki, Kazushige
• Granted Patent: US 7,008,119 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/92
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3825 with an intermediate part, e.g. adapter, receptacle, linking two plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3897 Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards G02B6/44528 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4292 the light guide being disconnectable from the opto-electronic element, e.g. mutually self aligning arrangements

Abstract

This invention provides an optical module that enables to reduce an optical coupling loss when an external force is applied to an optical connector mating with the optical module. The present optical module comprises an optical sub-assembly and an optical receptacle having a cavity for receiving the optical connector and a space for receiving the optical sub-assembly. The optical sub-assembly provides a flange in its outer surface and the head portion thereof passes through the partition wall between the cavity and the space. Between the flange of the optical sub-assembly and the partition wall of the optical receptacle provides an O-ring, whereby the head portion of the optical sub-assembly enables to displace in the cavity and automatically recovers its original position.

Claims

1. An optical module mating with an optical connector that includes an optical fiber, comprising:

an optical sub-assembly having a head portion, said optical sub-assembly including an optical semiconductor device therein;

an optical receptacle having a cavity for receiving said optical connector and a space for receiving said optical sub-assembly; and

an elastic member disposed between said optical receptacle and said optical sub-assembly,

wherein said elastic member enables said head portion of said optical sub-assembly to displace within said cavity.

2. The optical module according to claim 1,

wherein said receptacle includes a groove in an inner wall surface thereof, said groove having a front surface and a rear surface, and said optical sub-assembly includes a flange in an outer surface thereof, and

wherein said flange and said elastic member is disposed within said groove such that said elastic member is sandwiched between said flange and said front surface of said groove.

3. The optical module according to claim 2, further comprises a bracket disposed between said flange and said rear surface of said groove,

wherein said bracket aligns said optical sub-assembly with said optical receptacle.

4. The optical module according to claim 3, wherein said elastic member is an O-ring.

5. The optical module according to claim 3, wherein said elastic member comprises a ring portion and a plurality of limb portions extending from said ring portion to an inside thereof and warping from said ring portion, said plurality of limb portions being in contact with said front surface of said groove and said ring portion being in contact with said flange.

6. The optical module according to claim 1,

wherein said receptacle further includes a groove in an inner wall surface thereof and said optical sub-assembly further includes a groove in an outer surface thereof, said groove of said optical sub-assembly having a front groove surface and a rear groove surface, and

said optical module further includes a bracket disposed in said groove of said optical receptacle, said bracket being in contact with said front groove surface of said optical sub-assembly and said elastic member being disposed between said rear groove surface of said optical sub-assembly and said bracket.

7. The optical module according to claim 6, wherein said elastic member is an O-ring.

8. The optical module according to claim 1, further includes a partition wall for dividing said cavity from said space, and said optical sub-assembly further includes a flange in an outer surface thereof,

wherein said head portion protrudes to said cavity by passing through said partitioning wall, and said elastic member is disposed between said partition wall and said flange.

9. The optical module according to claim 1,

wherein said optical sub-assembly further includes an sleeve and a coupling fiber optically coupled to said optical semiconductor device,

wherein said optical connector includes a ferrule securing said optical fiber therein, and

wherein said optical fiber secured in said optical connector is physically in contact with said coupling fiber when said ferrule of said optical connector mates with said sleeve of said optical sub-assembly.