Miniaturized parallel optical transmitter and receiver module

• US 20030091301A1
• Filed: 10/30/2002
• Published: 05/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Photonage Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Photonage Incorporated
• Inventors: Lee, Hyung Jae, Son, Yung-Sung, Jin, Yong-Sung
• Granted Patent: US 6,821,027 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/89
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4201 Packages, e.g. shape, construction, internal or external details
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4203 Optical features
• 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 6/4249 comprising arrays of active devices and fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4261 Packages with mounting structures to be pluggable or detachable, e.g. having latches or rails
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4277 Protection against electromagnetic interference [EMI], e.g. shielding means shielding of electric apparatus H05K9/00, of instruments G12B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4281 the printed circuit boards being flexible in general H05K1/147
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4283 with electrical insulation means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4284 of optical modules with disconnectable electrical connectors latching arms for electrical connectors H01R13/627

Abstract

The present invention relates to a module for parallel transmission and reception of an optical signals, and particularly a miniaturized module with a fixed optical coupler and a detachable electric connector is disclosed. A miniaturized optical signal transmission module according to the present invention comprises an electrical connector for coupling electric signals to a circuit board; an array of optical devices coupled to metal leads, the array of optical devices converting between optical signals and the electric signals; an optical fiber array block fixedly and optically coupled to the array of optical devices for transmitting the optical signals, wherein the metal leads are detachably coupled to the electrical connector part. The optical module can be miniaturized so that the entire system can be miniaturized. Accordingly, many advantages according to the miniaturization of the entire system can be obtained.

Claims

1. An optical transmission module, comprising:

an electrical connector for coupling electric signals to the optical transmission module; and

an optical device module detachably connectable to the electrical connector part and capable of making electrical connection with the electrical connector part so that the electrical signals are coupled to an array of optical devices mounted within the optical device module.

wherein an optical fiber array block having an array of optical fibers is fixedly mounted in a groove within the optical device module so that each optical fiber of the array of optical fibers is coupled to one optical device of the optical device module.

2. The module of claim 1, wherein the array of optical devices includes light emission devices.

3. The module of claim 2, wherein the light emission devices includes vertical cavity surface emitting laser diodes.

4. The module of claim 2, wherein the light emission devices includes edge-emitting laser diodes.

5. The module of claim 1, wherein the array of optical devices includes photodiodes.

6. The module of claim 1, wherein the optical fiber array and the optical fiber array block have a slant-processed face, the face of the optical fiber array being placed on the optical device array to optically couple light between the optical device array and the optical fiber array.

7. The module of claim 6, wherein the slant-processed face of the optical fiber array block is a 45-degree mirrored surface.

8. The module of claim 1, wherein an optical adhesive is filled and cured on a portion at which a conductive wire extending from a metal lead coupleable to the electrical connector and the light emitting device array are bonded, and on a portion at which the light emitting device array and the optical fiber array are coupled.

9. The module of claim 1, further comprising:

a metal plate on which the array of optical devices is mounted; and

a module cover for covering the module base, wherein the light emitting device array is fixedly and optically coupled with the optical fiber array block.

10. The as claimed of claim 1, further including an optical connector optically coupling the array of optical fibers to a second array of optical fibers.

11. The module of claim 1, wherein the electrical connector part includes a slot-type connector.

12. The module of claim 1, wherein the optical device module includes an elastomeric connector.

20. The optical signal reception module as claimed in claim 10, wherein the electrical connector part includes a slot-type connector.

13. An optical module, comprising:

a slot-type electrical connector part mounted on a circuit board and electrically coupling electrical signals to the circuit board;

an array of optical devices coupled to metal leads in an optical device module, the metal leads being detachably couplable to the slot-type electrical connector part, the array of optical devices converting between the electrical signals and optical signals;

an optical fiber array block having a 45 degree slant-processed face, the face being placed on the optical device array to couple the optical signals to an array of optical fibers, the optical fiber array block mounted within a built-in groove of the optical device module;

a metal plate in which the optical device array is built, the metal plate being mounted within the optical device module; and

a module cover for covering the optical device module.

14. An optical module, comprising:

an optical fiber array block for transmitting an optical signal;

optical device fixedly and optically connected with the optical fiber array block and for converting between an optical signal transmitted by the optical fiber array block and an electrical signal;

an electrical connector detachable coupled to the light-receiving device, and for coupling the electrical signal a circuit board.

15. The module of claim 14, wherein the optical fiber array has a 45 degree slant-processed face, the face of the optical fiber array being placed on the light-receiving device array to optically couple the light-receiving device array and the optical fiber array.

16. The module of claim 14, wherein an optical adhesive is filled and cured on a portion at which conductive wire extended from metal leads to the optical device array are bonded, and on a portion at which the light-receiving device array and the optical fiber array are coupled.

17. The optical signal reception module as claimed in claim 14, further comprising:

a metal plate in which the optical device array is built;

a module base having a built-in groove in which the optical fiber array block is built; and

a module cover for covering the module base, wherein the light-receiving device array is fixedly and optically connected with the optical fiber array block.

18. The optical signal reception module as claimed in claim 14, wherein an optical connector is additionally provided at an outer end of the optical fiber array block, so that an optical fiber array inside the block is optically connected to an optical fiber array outside the block.

19. The optical signal reception module as claimed in claim 14, wherein the optical device is coupled to an elastromeric connector.