Module for optical fiber communication

• US 5,533,159 A
• Filed: 01/10/1995
• Issued: 07/02/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kikuchi, Kimihiro, Okochi, Ken
• Primary Examiner(s): Healy, Brian
• Application Number:
  US08/370,993
• Time in Patent Office: 539 Days
• Field of Search: 385/36, 385/76, 385/77, 385/78, 385/88, 385/92, 385/93, 385/94, 385/33, 385/34
• US Class Current: 385/93
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4207 with optical elements reducing the sensitivity to optical feedback anti-reflection devices specially adapted for lasers, see H01S3/0064

Abstract

A module for optical communication, adapted to prevent light from being reflected on the end surface of an optical fiber when a ferrule is inserted therein, and to increase the precision with which the positioning of an end surface of the optical fiber is performed. In the module, the circumference of an anti-reflection transparent film is held in a groove of a stopper member and is pressed against the inner circumference of an elastic sleeve. When the ferrule is inserted in the sleeve, the film adheres to the end surfaces of the optical fiber and the ferrule closely and securely. Thus, no air layer is formed between the film and the end surface of the optical fiber. Laser light is not reflected on the end surface of the optical fiber. The end surface of the ferrule adheres closely to a positioning face of the stopper member, though the film intervenes therebetween. The position of the ferrule is determined so that an image point, at which an image is formed from laser light, is coincident with the end surface of the optical fiber. Thereby, the precision with which light is input to the optical fiber, can be always increased.

Claims

1. A module for optical communication, comprising:

a sleeve in which a ferrule holding an optical fiber is inserted;

a converging lens placed on an extension line of a center axis of the inserted ferrule;

a light emitting or receiving device;

an anti-reflection transparent film provided in the sleeve, a part of the film being adapted to bend so as to adhere closely to an end surface of the optical fiber and a surrounding end surface of the ferrule; and

a stopper member adapted to adhere closely to the end surface of the ferrule through the transparent film, said stopper member being capable of positioning the ferrule relative to the converging lens at a position where an image point, at which an image is formed from laser light having passed through the converging lens, is nearly coincident with the end surface of the optical fiber.

2. The module for optical communication according to claim 1, wherein a groove is formed on an outer circumference of the stopper member and a bent circumferential part of the transparent film is held in the groove.

3. The module for optical communication according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of projections being separated by notches and extending radially from the center of the transparent film are formed in the circumferential part, and the plurality of projections are held in the groove.

4. The module for optical communication according to claim 1, wherein a slit portion is formed in the sleeve and extends in the longitudinal direction thereof, wherein a part of the sleeve is welded and fixed to an outer circumference of the stopper member, wherein the part of the sleeve and an end part of the slit portion are placed on an end surface of the sleeve symmetrically in position with respect to the center of the end surface of the sleeve.

5. The module for optical communication according to claim 1 wherein said stopper member is capable of positioning the ferrule relative to the converging lens at a position where the image point is exactly coincident with the end surface of the optical fiber.