Optical transceiver and optical connector

• US 7,534,052 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2004
• Issued: 05/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujikura Limited, NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: Fujikura Limited, NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Nishimura, Akito, Shimizu, Takanori, Hayashi, Yukio, Fujiwara, Kunihiko, Kurata, Kazuhiko, Hatakeyama, Ichiro, Nozawa, Tetsuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Pak; Sung H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Petkovsek; Daniel
• Application Number:
  US10/554,513
• Publication Number:
  US 20060210225A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,845 Days
• Field of Search: 385/49, 385/88, 385 90- 92, 398/139
• US Class Current: 385/88
• 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 6/4249 comprising arrays of active devices and fibres
• 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 transceiver 10 includes an optical device 16 which is provided upon a substrate 11, an optical connector 14 which is connected to an optical fiber 15a, and a connector holder 13 for optically connecting together the optical device and the optical connector 14. The connector holder 13 includes an engagement means 13c which holds the optical connector 14. The engagement means 13c holds the optical connector 14 when the optical connector 14 is pressed in towards the substrate. The optical connector 14 supports the optical fiber 15a so that the optical axis of the optical fiber 15a subtends a fixed angle with respect to the optical axis of the optical device 16. And the optical connector 14 includes a mirror 14g for optically connecting between the optical device 16 and the optical fiber 15a.

Claims

1. An optical transceiver, comprising:

an optical device which is provided upon a substrate;

an optical connector which is connected to an optical fiber; and

a connector holder, which is permanently affixed to said substrate, for optically connecting together said optical device and said optical connector so that they may be attached to one another and detached from one another;

wherein;

said connector holder comprises an engagement means which holds said optical connector in a position in which said optical device and said optical fiber are optically connected together;

said engagement means comprises a construction which, when said optical connector is pressed in from above said substrate towards an upper surface of said substrate upon which said connector holder is permanently affixed, and along a direction orthogonal to a plane defined by said upper surface of said substrate and orthogonal to an optical axis of the optical fiber, holds said optical connector while biasing it towards said upper surface of said substrate;

in the state in which said optical connector is held by said connector holder, said optical connector supports said optical fiber so that the optical axis of said optical fiber presents a fixed angle with respect to the optical axis of a light emitting surface and/or a light receiving surface of said optical device; and

said optical connector comprises a mirror which forms an optical path which optically connects between said optical device and said optical fiber.

2. The optical transceiver of claim 1, wherein said engagement means comprises a structure which, when said optical connector is pushed in in the direction along the optical axis of said light emitting surface and/or light receiving surface of said optical device, holds said optical connector while biasing it towards said substrate.

5. The optical transceiver as claimed in claim 1 or 3, wherein said engagement means comprises a plurality of pressing pieces which are provided to said connector holder and which can be elastically deformed, and, by said optical connector being pressed in between said plurality of pressing pieces, said plurality of pressing pieces press in said optical connector towards said substrate from two or more directions.

6. The optical transceiver as claimed in claim 5, wherein said pressing pieces comprise:

projecting portions for pressing which hold said optical connector by sandwiching it between themselves and said substrate; and

guiding slant surfaces which, when said optical connector is pressed into the space between said plurality of pressing pieces, deform elastically in a direction to extend said space, so that said optical connector is pressed in between said projecting portions for pressing and said substrate.

3. An optical transceiver, comprising:

an optical device which is provided upon a substrate;

an optical connector which is connected to an optical fiber;

a connector holder, which is permanently affixed to said substrate, for optically connecting together said optical device and said optical connector so that they may be attached to one another and detached from one another; and

a position determination means which comprises an engagement portion and an engagement reception portion to be fitted with said engagement portion, and by which said optical device and said optical connector are relatively positioned, in the position in which said optical device and said optical fiber are optically connected;

wherein;

said optical connector is pressed in from above said substrate towards an upper surface of said substrate upon which said connector holder is permanently affixed, and along a direction orthogonal to a plane defined by said upper surface of said substrate and orthogonal to an optical axis of the optical fiber, and then held by said connector holder;

in the state in which said optical connector is held by said connector holder, said optical connector supports said optical fiber so that the optical axis of said optical fiber presents a fixed angle with respect to the optical axis of a light emitting surface and/or a light receiving surface of said optical device; and

said optical connector comprises a mirror which forms an optical path which optically connects between said optical device and said optical fiber.

4. The optical transceiver as claimed in claim 3, wherein said connector holder comprises an engagement means which holds said optical connector by said optical connector being pushed in towards said substrate.