Optical waveguides – With optical coupler – Particular coupling structure
Reexamination Certificate
2001-07-31
2004-08-10
Prasad, Chandrika (Department: 2839)
Optical waveguides
With optical coupler
Particular coupling structure
Reexamination Certificate
active
06775441
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical waveguide connecting structure, an optical element mounting structure and an optical fiber mounting structure. More particularly, the present invention relates to an optical waveguide connecting structure, an optical element mounting structure, and an optical fiber mounting structure, in which core layers are connected to each other to make an optical coupling by using a plurality of optical waveguide films each having the core layer covered with a clad layer on the periphery thereof, the core layer functioning as an optical waveguide.
The present application claims priority of Japanese Patent Application No.2000-232479 filed on Jul. 31, 2000, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
2. Description of the Related Art
Optical communications technology using light as a transmission medium of information is widely used. To implement the optical communications technology, an optical module is used in which optical elements such as a light emitting element and a light receiving element are mounted on an optoelectronic substrate and the optical elements are connected to each other via an optical waveguide, thus making an optical coupling. In the optical module, optical signals need to be transmitted through the optical waveguide without being attenuated. Moreover, when assembling the optical module, it is necessary to prepare an optical waveguide connecting structure, in which the optical waveguide is formed on the optoelectronic substrate in advance and to mount the optical elements by using this optical waveguide connecting structure.
FIG. 25
is a plan view schematically showing a constitution of the optical element mounting structure, in which optical elements are mounted by using a conventional optical waveguide connecting structure. In the optical element mounting structure, as shown in
FIG. 25
, a plurality of optical elements
102
are mounted on a base substrate (optoelectronic substrate)
101
composed of a printed circuit board or the like, and the plurality of optical elements
102
are connected to each other via optical fibers
103
functioning as the optical waveguide. A light distributor
104
may be connected at a halfway position of the optical fibers
103
if required, and optical signals are distributed through each of optical fibers
103
.
In the conventional optical element mounting structure described above, since at least one or more optical fibers
103
are required for every optical element
102
, a considerable number of optical fibers
103
are needed in total. Therefore, in the optical element mounting structure which requires a large number of optical elements
102
, the optical fibers
103
are arranged on the base substrate
101
complicatedly.
As described above, in the conventional optical waveguide connecting structure and the optical element mounting structure, arrangement of the optical fibers functioning as the optical waveguide for making the optical coupling between the optical elements becomes complicated, which causes a problem in that it is difficult to stably fix the optical waveguide.
Specifically, in the optical element mounting structure using the conventional optical waveguide connecting structure, as shown in
FIG. 25
, when many optical fibers
103
functioning as the optical waveguide are required, the optical fibers
103
are apt to be loosely fixed. Accordingly, if an external force is applied thereto by contacting with an obstacle or the like, the optical fiber
103
is vibrated, and thus the optical fiber
103
tends to be damaged easily. Therefore, reliability of the optical element mounting structure is lowered. If the optical fiber is fixed firmly to the base substrate in advance in order to correct such defects, positioning of the optical fiber and the optical element becomes complicated, and thus attachment operation of the optical element takes a lot of time and labor.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide an optical waveguide connecting structure, an optical element mounting structure, and an optical fiber mounting structure capable of easily making connection among optical waveguides with high accuracy.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optical waveguide connecting structure in which core layers are connected to make an optical coupling therebetween by using a plurality of optical waveguide films each having the core layers covered with a clad layer on the periphery thereof, the core layers functioning as an optical waveguide, including:
a first optical waveguide provided with a first core layer, in which a first section slightly slants relative to an optical path direction of the first core layer is set to form a small angle of approximately 5° or less with the optical path direction and the first core layer is exposed in the first section; and
a second optical waveguide provided with a second core layer, in which the second core layer is exposed at one end portion thereof in a section forming an angle of approximately 5° or less with the optical path direction,
wherein the first section and the second section are opposed and connected to each other while setting both of the first core layer and the second core layer at approximately a same height from a common reference surface.
In the foregoing first aspect, a preferable mode is one wherein at least one of the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide is formed of an optical waveguide film
Also, a preferable mode is one wherein each of the first section of the first optical waveguide and the second section of the second optical waveguide is formed of a section vertical to a surface of the first optical waveguide.
Also, a preferable mode is one wherein each of the first section of the first optical waveguide and the second section of the second optical waveguide is formed of a slant surface relative to the vertical direction to a surface of the first optical waveguide.
Also, a preferable mode is one wherein the second optical waveguide includes a mirror surface, which is formed of a third section cut obliquely relative to a thickness direction, at an other end portion at an opposite side of the one end portion of the second core layer.
Also, a preferable mode is one wherein the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide are formed on a base substrate.
Also, a preferable mode is one wherein the first optical waveguide is formed on a base substrate, the second optical waveguide is formed on a reference plate, and the core layer of the second optical waveguide is aligned with the core layer of the first optical waveguide at a same height from the reference plate as the reference surface by abutting the first optical waveguide to the reference plate.
Also, a preferable mode is one wherein the first optical waveguide is cut to expose a side surface of the first core layer in a section along the optical path direction from the one end portion to the other end portion.
Also, a preferable mode is one wherein the optical waveguide connecting structure further includes:
a third optical waveguide having a third core layer formed thereon and a mirror surface formed on the third core layer by cutting the third core layer obliquely relative to a thickness direction at an other end portion, the third core layer being partially exposed at a position opposed to an exposed surface of the first core layer in a side surface of the one end portion, being extended having a specified angle relative to an exposed surface of the first core layer from the exposed portion to a halfway portion, and being extended in parallel to the exposed surface of the first core layer from the halfway portion to the other end portion,
wherein the first core layer and the third core layer are connected at approximately a same height position while maintaining a relation that a mirror surface of the third core layer and the mirror surface of the second core layer are arranged to be o
Kikuchi Hideo
Shima Toshiyuki
NEC Toppan Circuit Solutions, lnc.
Prasad Chandrika
Sughrue & Mion, PLLC
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