Optical transmission terminal device

• US 5,960,141 A
• Filed: 03/13/1998
• Issued: 09/28/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Tanaka, Kazuhiro, Miura, Kazunori, Nakagawa, Goji, Sasaki, Seimi, Yamazaki, Youske
• Primary Examiner(s): Ullah, Akm E.
• Application Number:
  US09/042,002
• Time in Patent Office: 564 Days
• Field of Search: 385/49, 385/14, 385/83, 385/88, 385/89, 385/91, 385/92, 385/46, 385/42, 385/47, 385/122, 385/147, 359/173, 359/161, 359/179, 359/341
• US Class Current: 385/88
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/30 for use between fibre and thin-film device
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/421 the intermediate optical component consisting of a short length of fibre, e.g. fibre stub
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4228 Passive alignment, i.e. without a detection of the degree of coupling or the position of the elements G02B6/4234 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4239 Adhesive bonding; Encapsulation with polymer material
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4243 Mounting of the optical light guide into a groove mounting optical light guides into a groove in general G02B6/3636
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4248 Feed-through connections for the hermetical passage of fibres through a package wall see provisionally also G02B6/4428
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4253 by embedding housing components in an adhesive or a polymer material G02B6/4212 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/426 mounting, engaging or coupling of the package to a board, a frame or a panel
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4265 of the Butterfly or dual inline package [DIP] type
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4269 with heat sinks or radiation fins
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4272 with mounting substrates of high thermal conductivity
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/428 containing printed circuit boards [PCB]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4292 the light guide being disconnectable from the opto-electronic element, e.g. mutually self aligning arrangements

Abstract

An optical transmission terminal device including a printed wiring board and an optical module mounted on the printed wiring board. The optical module includes an optical component mounting substrate, a photoelectric converter mounted on the substrate, a first optical fiber having one end optically coupled to the photoelectric converter, and a ferrule mounted on the substrate so as to partially project from the substrate. The other end portion of the first optical fiber is inserted and fixed in the ferrule. A wiring pattern formed on the printed wiring board and a feed electrode formed on the substrate are connected together by wire bonding. An optically coupled portion between the photoelectric converter and the first optical fiber and a connected portion between the wiring pattern and the feed electrode are commonly covered with a transparent resin. The optical transmission terminal device further includes an optical fiber connector housing mounted on the optical module for allowing connection of the first optical fiber to a second optical fiber.

Claims

1. An optical transmission terminal device comprising:

a printed wiring board;

an optical module mounted on said printed wiring board, said optical module having an optical component mounting substrate, a photoelectric converter mounted on said substrate, a first optical fiber having one end optically coupled to said photoelectric converter, a ferrule mounted on said substrate so as to partially project from said substrate, the other end portion of said first optical fiber being inserted and fixed in said ferrule, and feed electrodes formed on said substrate and connected to said photoelectric converter;

means for connecting said printed wiring board and said feed electrodes;

a transparent resin for commonly covering said connecting means and an optically coupled portion between said photoelectric converter and said first optical fiber; and

an optical fiber connector housing mounted on said optical module so as to surround said ferrule, for allowing connection of said first optical fiber to a second optical fiber.

2. An optical transmission terminal device according to claim 1, wherein:

said substrate has a first groove for receiving said ferrule and a second groove for receiving said first optical fiber, said first and second grooves being continuous to each other; and

said optical module further has a cover fixed to said substrate for holding said ferrule received in said first groove and said first optical fiber received in said second groove.

3. An optical transmission terminal device comprising:

a printed wiring board;

an optical module mounted on said printed wiring board, said optical module having an optical component mounting substrate, a photoelectric converter mounted on said substrate, a first optical fiber having one end optically coupled to said photoelectric converter, a ferrule mounted on said substrate so as to partially project from said substrate, the other end portion of said first optical fiber being inserted and fixed in said ferrule, and feed electrodes formed on said substrate and connected to said photoelectric converter;

means for connecting said printed wiring board and said feed electrodes;

a first resin having transparency for covering an optically coupled portion between said photoelectric converter and said first optical fiber;

a second resin for covering at least said connecting means; and

an optical fiber connector housing mounted on said optical module so as to surround said ferrule, for allowing connection of said first optical fiber to a second optical fiber.

4. An optical transmission terminal device according to claim 3, wherein:

said substrate has a first groove for receiving said ferrule and a second groove for receiving said first optical fiber, said first and second grooves being continuous to each other; and

said optical module further has a cover fixed to said substrate for holding said ferrule received in said first groove and said first optical fiber received in said second groove.

5. An optical transmission terminal device comprising:

a printed wiring board;

an optical module mounted on said printed wiring board, said optical module having an optical component mounting substrate, a photoelectric converter mounted on said substrate, a first optical fiber having one end optically coupled to said photoelectric converter, a ferrule mounted on said substrate so as to partially project from said substrate, the other end portion of said first optical fiber being inserted and fixed in said ferrule, feed electrodes formed on said substrate and connected to said photoelectric converter, and a cover fixed to said substrate for hermetically sealing said photoelectric converter and said first optical fiber;

means for connecting said printed wiring board and said feed electrodes;

an optical fiber connector housing fixed to said printed wiring board so as to surround said optical module, for allowing connection of said first optical fiber to a second optical fiber, said optical fiber connector housing having an opening at a portion corresponding to said connecting means; and

a resin for filling said opening so as to cover said connecting means.

6. An optical transmission terminal device according to claim 5, wherein said optical fiber connector housing has a plurality of projections, and said printed wiring board has a plurality of holes, said projections being inserted into said holes, said optical fiber connector housing being fixed to said printed wiring board by said resin molded in said opening.

7. An optical transmission terminal device comprising:

a casing having an end wall formed with an opening and having an open top;

an optical module fixed in said casing, said optical module having an optical component mounting substrate, a photoelectric converter mounted on said substrate, a first optical fiber having one end optically coupled to said photoelectric converter, a ferrule mounted on said substrate so as to partially project from said opening of said casing, the other end portion of said first optical fiber being inserted and fixed in said ferrule, and feed electrodes formed on said substrate and connected to said photoelectric converter;

a transparent resin for filling said casing; and

an optical fiber connector housing mounted on said casing so as to close said opening, for allowing connection of said first optical fiber to a second optical fiber.

8. An optical transmission terminal device according to claim 7, wherein said optical fiber connector housing comprises a body and a pair of connector holding members pivotably mounted to said body, said connector holding members being engageable with an optical fiber connector connected to said second optical fiber.

9. An optical transmission terminal device according to claim 7, wherein said casing further has a plurality of lead terminals, said optical transmission terminal device further comprising a printed wiring board in which said lead terminals are inserted and fixed.

10. An optical transmission terminal device comprising:

a casing having an end wall formed with an opening and having an open top;

an optical module fixed in said casing, said optical module having an optical component mounting substrate, a photoelectric converter mounted on said substrate, a first optical fiber having one end optically coupled to said photoelectric converter, a ferrule mounted on said substrate so as to partially project from said opening of said casing, the other end portion of said first optical fiber being inserted and fixed in said ferrule, feed electrodes formed on said substrate and connected to said photoelectric converter, and a cover fixed to said substrate so as to seal said photoelectric converter and said first optical fiber;

an optical fiber connector housing mounted on said casing so as to close said opening, for allowing connection of said first optical fiber to a second optical fiber; and

a resin for filling said casing.

11. An optical transmission terminal device according to claim 10, wherein said optical fiber connector housing comprises a body and a pair of connector holding members pivotably mounted to said body, said connector holding members being engageable with an optical fiber connector connected to said second optical fiber.

12. An optical transmission terminal device according to claim 10, wherein said casing further has a plurality of lead terminals, said optical transmission terminal device further comprising a printed wiring board in which said lead terminals are inserted and fixed.

13. An optical transmission terminal device according to claim 10, further comprising a radiation fin mounted on said casing.

14. An optical transmission terminal device comprising:

a printed wiring board;

an optical module mounted on said printed wiring board, said optical module having an optical component mounting substrate having an optical waveguide, a photoelectric converter mounted on said substrate so as to be optically coupled to one end of said optical waveguide, a first optical fiber having one end optically coupled to the other end of said optical waveguide, a ferrule mounted on said substrate so as to partially project from said substrate, the other end portion of said first optical fiber being inserted and fixed in said ferrule, and feed electrodes formed on said substrate and connected to said photoelectric converter;

means for connecting said printed wiring board and said feed electrodes;

a transparent resin for covering an optically coupled portion between said photoelectric converter and said optical waveguide and an optically coupled portion between said optical waveguide and said first optical fiber; and

an optical fiber connector housing mounted on said optical module so as to surround said ferrule, for allowing connection of said first optical fiber to a second optical fiber.

15. An optical transmission terminal device according to claim 14, further comprising an electrical component mounted on said printed wiring board, and a resin for commonly covering said connecting means and said electrical component.

16. An optical transmission terminal device comprising:

a printed wiring board;

an optical module mounted on said printed wiring board, said optical module having a silicon substrate having a slot, a photoelectric converter mounted on said substrate, a ferrule held within said slot so as to extend substantially parallel to said substrate, said ferrule having one end portion projecting from said substrate, a first optical fiber inserted and fixed in said ferrule and having one end optically coupled to said photoelectric converter, feed electrodes formed on said substrate and connected to said photoelectric converter, and a cover fixed to said substrate for holding said ferrule;

means for connecting said printed wiring board and said feed electrodes;

a transparent resin for covering at least an optically coupled portion between said photoelectric converter and said first optical fiber; and

an optical fiber connector housing mounted on said optical module so as to surround said ferrule, for allowing connection of said first optical fiber to a second optical fiber.

17. An optical transmission terminal device according to claim 16, wherein:

said substrate has a thickness slightly larger than a depth of contact between said ferrule and said slot; and

said slot comprises upper and lower joined grooves simultaneously formed by anisotropically etching upper and lower surfaces of a silicon substrate, said slot having a slant end surface opposed to the other end of said ferrule, said slant end surface being gradually deviated from the other end of said ferrule from said upper surface toward said lower surface.

18. An optical transmission terminal device according to claim 16, wherein:

said substrate has a thickness slightly larger than twice a depth of contact between said ferrule and said slot; and

said slot comprises upper and lower joined grooves simultaneously formed by anisotropically etching upper and lower surfaces of a silicon substrate, said slot having a flat end surface opposed to the other end of said ferrule in parallel to each other, said flat end surface being formed by cutting.

19. An optical transmission terminal device according to claim 16, wherein:

said substrate has a thickness sufficiently larger than twice a depth of contact between said ferrule and said slot; and

said slot comprises upper and lower joined grooves formed by an anisotropic etching process comprising a first step of anisotropically etching a lower surface of a silicon substrate and a second step of simultaneously anisotropically etching upper and lower surfaces of said silicon substrate, said slot having a flat end surface opposed to the other end of said ferrule in parallel to each other, said flat end surface being formed by cutting.

20. An optical transmission terminal device comprising:

a printed wiring board;

an optical module mounted on said printed wiring board, said optical module having an optical component mounting substrate having an optical waveguide, a photoelectric converter mounted on said substrate so as to be optically coupled to said optical waveguide, a ferrule, a first optical fiber inserted and fixed in said ferrule, a first holding member for holding one end portion of said ferrule, a second holding member for sandwiching said one end portion of said ferrule in cooperation with said first holding member, means for fixing said first and second holding members so that said first optical fiber is optically coupled to said optical waveguide, and feed electrodes formed on said substrate and connected to said photoelectric converter;

means for connecting said printed wiring board and said feed electrode; and

a transparent resin for covering an optically coupled portion between said photoelectric converter and said optical waveguide and an optically coupled portion between said first optical fiber and said optical waveguide.

21. An optical module comprising:

an optical component mounting substrate having an optical waveguide and a first marker;

a photoelectric converter mounted on said optical component mounting substrate so as to be optically coupled to one end of said optical waveguide;

a first holding substrate having a first groove, an adhesive retention groove, and a second marker;

a second holding substrate having a second groove;

a ferrule partially received in said first and second grooves; and

an optical fiber inserted and fixed in said ferrule;

said optical component mounting substrate, said first holding substrate, and said second holding substrate being fixed together by an adhesive so that said optical fiber is optically coupled to the other end of said optical waveguide.

22. An optical module according to claim 21, wherein said first marker and said second marker are aligned with each other to position said optical component mounting substrate with respect to said first holding substrate.