OPTICAL COMMUNICATION MODULE AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME

• US 20110069968A1
• Filed: 09/15/2010
• Published: 03/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Tanaka, Hiromasa
• Application Number:
  US12/882,679
• Publication Number:
  US 20110069968A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 398/140
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/141 using dichroic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/29362 Serial cascade of filters or filtering operations, e.g. for a large number of channels
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/2938 for multiplexing or demultiplexing, i.e. combining or separating wavelengths, e.g. 1xN, NxM
• 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: H01S 5/005 Optical components external to the laser cavity, specially adapted therefor, e.g. for homogenisation or merging of the beams or for manipulating laser pulses, e.g. pulse shaping H01S5/026, H01S5/18388 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/4012 Beam combining, e.g. by the use of fibres, gratings, polarisers, prisms
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/4025 Array arrangements, e.g. constituted by discrete laser diodes or laser bar H01S5/42 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/4031 Edge-emitting structures
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/4087 emitting more than one wavelength
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

An optical communication module includes an array semiconductor laser which emits light beams of plural wavelengths, an array lens which brings each of the light beams emitted from the array semiconductor laser to parallel light, and an array mirror which includes mirrors corresponding to the number of wavelengths and is provided at positions on which the light beams emitted from the array lens are incidentable, the respective mirrors selectively reflecting the light beams emitted from the array semiconductor laser.

Claims

1. An optical communication module comprising:

an array semiconductor laser which emits light beams of plural wavelengths;

an array lens which brings each of the light beams emitted from the array semiconductor laser to parallel light; and

an array mirror which includes mirrors corresponding to the number of wavelengths and is provided at positions on which the light beams emitted from the array lens are incidentable, the respective mirrors selectively reflecting the light beams emitted from the array semiconductor laser.

2. The optical communication module according to claim 1,

wherein the array semiconductor laser includes a plurality of laser elements which emit light beams of wavelengths different from one another respectively,

wherein the array lens includes a plurality of collimate lenses provided corresponding to the laser elements respectively, and

wherein intervals at which the collimate lenses are arranged, are respectively the same as intervals at which the laser elements are arranged.

3. The optical communication module according to claim 1,

wherein the mirrors of the array mirror are provided corresponding to the laser elements respectively, and

wherein intervals at which the mirrors are arranged are respectively the same as the intervals at which the laser elements are arranged.

4. The optical communication module according to claim 1, wherein the mirrors of the array mirror are provided in such a manner that the light beams reflected by the mirrors of the array mirror are brought into one light bundle.

5. The optical communication module according to claim 1, wherein the array semiconductor laser, the array lens, the array mirror, and a lens for gathering the plural light beams emitted from the array mirror are held in a package made of a metal.

6. A method for manufacturing an optical communication module, comprising:

forming an array semiconductor laser which emits light beams of plural wavelengths, on a substrate;

forming an array lens which brings each of the light beams emitted from the array semiconductor laser to parallel light on the substrate; and

forming an array mirror which includes mirrors corresponding to the number of wavelengths and in which the respective mirrors selectively reflect the light beams emitted from the array semiconductor laser, at positions on which the light beams emitted from the array lens on the substrate are incidentable.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising:

forming a plurality of laser elements respectively emitting light beams of wavelengths different from one another in a wafer and thereafter separating the laser elements from one another;

mounting the laser elements on the substrate;

forming a plurality of collimate lenses respectively provided corresponding to the laser elements as the array lens;

mounting the collimate lenses on the substrate at positions on which the light beams emitted from the laser elements are incidentable; and

setting intervals at which the collimate lenses are arranged, to be identical to intervals at which the laser elements are arranged.

8. The method according to claim 6, further comprising

setting intervals at which the mirrors of the array mirror are arranged, to be identical to the intervals at which the laser elements are arranged.

9. The method according to claim 6, further comprising:

holding the array semiconductor laser, the array lens, the array mirror, and a lens for gathering the plural light beams emitted from the array mirror in a package made of a metal.