Optical path change member and holding member body

• US 8,641,296 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2010
• Issued: 02/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujikura Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujikura Limited
• Inventors: Nishimura, Akito
• Primary Examiner(s): Sanghavi, Hemang
• Application Number:
  US12/878,565
• Publication Number:
  US 20110064358A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,244 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 385/92
• 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 optical axes of light input and output ends on a circuit board, the optical-fiber insertion holes respectively each having a bottom, wherein front ends of respective optical fibers reach the bottom of respective optical-fiber insertion holes, 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 facing the light input and output ends,

wherein the bottoms of the optical-fiber insertion holes are displaced from each other in an insertion direction of the optical fibers in accordance with an incline of the reflective inner surface as approaching the circuit 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 2,

wherein second lenses are provided between the reflective inner surface and the light input and output ends, and at least two lenses are provided on an optical path between the respective optical fiber and corresponding light input and output ends.

4. 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.

5. The optical path change member according to claim 1, wherein the holding member body and the light input and output ends are positioned by fitting of a positioning convex portion provided at a first side into a positioning concave portion provided at a second side.

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

wherein, the positioning convex portion is a positioning pin and the positioning concave portion is a fitting hole.

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 the light input and output ends and is integrally molded with the holding member body.

8. The optical path change member according to claim 1, wherein

the reflective inner surface inclines so as to protrude in an insertion direction of the optical fibers as approaching the circuit board.

9. 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, such that optical axes of the optical fibers are inclined with respect to optical axes of input light and output ends on a circuit board, the optical-fiber insertion holes respective each having a bottom, wherein front ends of respective optical fibers reach the bottom of respective optical-fiber insertion holes; 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 the light input and output ends,

wherein the bottoms of the optical-fiber insertion holes are displaced from each other in an insertion direction of the optical fibers in accordance with an incline of the reflective inner surface as approaching the circuit board.

10. The holding member body according to claim 9,

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.

11. The holding member body for an optical path change member according to claim 9,

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

12. The holding member body according to claim 9, wherein second lenses are provided between the reflective inner 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 ends.

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

wherein the holding member body further comprises a positioning convex portion which protrudes therefrom.

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

wherein the positioning pin protrudes from the surface of the holding member body configured to face the light input and output ends and is integrally molded with the holding member body.

15. The holding member according to claim 9, wherein

the reflective inner surface inclines so as to protrude in an insertion direction of the optical fibers as approaching the circuit board.