OPTICAL PATH CHANGE MEMBER AND HOLDING MEMBER BODY

• US 20110064358A1
• Filed: 09/09/2010
• Published: 03/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujikura Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujikura Limited
• Inventors: NISHIMURA, Akito
• Granted Patent: US 8,641,296 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/33
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4214 the intermediate optical element having redirecting reflective means, e.g. mirrors, prisms for deflecting the radiation from horizontal to down- or upward direction toward a device G02B6/4246 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/425 Optical features semiconductor laser arrays H01S5/40; hybrid LED arrays H01L25/0753; monolithic LED arrays H01L27/153

Abstract

Provided is an optical path change member including a holding member body formed of a transparent material. The holding member body includes: at least two rows of optical-fiber insertion holes which hold optical fibers inserted therein, such that the optical axes of the optical fibers are inclined with respect to an optical axis of the optical device, and a reflective inner surface which totally internally reflects light incident from the optical-fiber insertion holes to a surface of the holding member body configured to face an optical device on a board.

Claims

1. An optical path change member comprising:

a holding member body formed of a transparent material, the holding member body comprising;

at least two rows of optical-fiber insertion holes which hold optical fibers inserted therein, such that the optical axes of the optical fibers are inclined with respect to an optical axis of the optical device, and

a reflective inner surface which totally internally reflects light incident from the optical-fiber insertion holes to a surface of the holding member body configured to face an optical device on a board.

2. The optical path change member according to claim 1,

wherein the holding member body further comprises an array of first lenses formed on the reflective inner surface, wherein each of the first lenses is concave when viewed from an incident direction of light and is aligned with one of the optical-fiber insertion holes.

3. The optical path change member according to claim 1,

wherein positions of the optical-fiber insertion holes in the optical-fiber insertion hole arrays are shifted from each other between adjacent rows.

4. The optical path change member according to claim 2,

wherein second lenses are provided between the reflective surface and the light input and output ends, and at least two lenses are provided on an optical path between the multi-core optical fiber and the light input and output end.

5. The optical path change member according to claim 1, wherein the holding member body further comprises a positioning convex portion which protrudes therefrom.

6. The optical path change member according to claim 5,

wherein, the positioning convex portion is a positioning pin.

7. The optical path change member according to claim 6,

wherein the positioning pin protrudes from the surface of the holding member body configured to face an optical device and is integrally molded with the holding member body.

8. A holding member body for an optical path change member, the holding member body comprising:

at least two rows of optical-fiber insertion holes which hold optical fibers inserted therein, a reflective inner surface which totally internally reflects light incident from the optical-fiber insertion holes to a surface of the holding member body configured to face an optical device on a board.

9. The holding member body according to claim 8,

wherein the holding member body further comprises an array of first lenses formed on the reflective inner surface, wherein each of the first lenses is concave when viewed from an incident direction, of light and is aligned with one of the optical-fiber insertion holes.

10. The holding member body for an optical path change member according to claim 8,

wherein positions of the optical-fiber insertion holes in the optical-fiber insertion hole arrays are shifted from each other between adjacent rows.

11. The holding member body according to claim 8, further comprising a positioning convex portion which protrudes therefrom.

12. The holding member body for an optical path change member according to claim 11,

wherein the positioning convex portion is a positioning pin.

13. The holding member body for an optical path change member according to claim 12,

wherein the positioning pin protrudes from the surface of the holding member body configured to face an optical device and is integrally molded with the holding member body.