Optical waveguides – With disengagable mechanical connector – Optical fiber to a nonfiber optical device connector
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-19
2001-08-28
Ngo, Hung N. (Department: 2874)
Optical waveguides
With disengagable mechanical connector
Optical fiber to a nonfiber optical device connector
Reexamination Certificate
active
06280102
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical module product.
2. Related Background Art
An optical module comprises a package, a semiconductor optical device, and a ferrule. The package includes the semiconductor optical device therewithin. The semiconductor optical device is optically coupled to one end face of an optical fiber. A part of the optical fiber is inserted into a ferrule, and the one end portion thereof is exposed at an end portion of the ferrule. A plurality of lead terminals are drawn out of a side face of the package.
This optical module is mounted to a printed circuit board or the like by soldering. Since a flux or the like is used when soldering, the soldered optical module is washed after the soldering so as to eliminate the flux residues, contamination, and the like.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Having studied the prior art, the inventor has found the following problems.
In the above-mentioned optical module, one end face of the optical fiber is exposed at the end portion of the ferrule in washing after the soldering. As a consequence, contamination and the like may attach to this end face of the optical fiber. The conventional optical module has been problematic in that cleaning is required for keeping the end face of the optical fiber from being soiled.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical module product, which can prevent the optical fiber end face exposed at an end portion of the ferrule from contamination when the optical module is mounted to a mounting member.
The optical module product in accordance with the present invention comprises an optical module and a sealing cap. The optical module comprises a ferrule, an optical device, and a package. The ferrule covers the side face of an optical fiber and has first and second end portions thereof. The optical device is optically coupled with the optical fiber. The package has a surface from which the ferrule projects in a state where the second end portion of the ferrule is directed outward, and encapsulates the optical device. The sealing cap comprises a sealing portion. The sealing portion has a ferrule insertion hole for accommodating the ferrule, the hole includes a contacting portion for coming into close contact with the side face of the ferrule so as to seal the second end portion of the ferrule. The ferrule projected from the package is accommodated in the ferrule insertion hole of the sealing cap, and the contacting portion comes into close contact with the ferrule, whereby a part of the ferrule including the second end portion is sealed. One end face of the optical fiber is exposed at thus projected end portion of the ferrule. As a consequence, the end portion of the ferrule including the optical fiber end face is tightly sealed within the ferrule insertion hole. The optical fiber end face exposed at the ferrule end portion can be prevented from being soiled in cleaning.
In the optical module product in accordance with the present invention, the package can have a lead terminal electrically connected to the optical device. The sealing cap can have a support portion, and a connection portion for connecting the sealing portion to the support portion.
If the support portion and the connection portion are provided so as not to cover the surface of the package equipped with the lead terminal, then it becomes easier to check the connection of the lead terminal to its corresponding electrode on the mounting member when arranging the optical module on the mounting member such that the lead terminal meets the electrode.
In the optical module product in accordance with the present invention, at least one of the support portion and connection portion can have a suction area enabling vacuum suction on a surface thereof.
When the sealing cap is provided with a suction area enabling vacuum suction on its surface, then it becomes easier to transport the optical module. The suction surface is realized by flattening the surface of at least one of the support portion and connection portion.
When a securing portion is provided opposite to the sealing portion, the sealing cap can surround the optical module with the support portion, connection portion, and securing portion. As a consequence, the sealing cap can reliably attach to the optical module. When transporting the optical module product, the optical module can be prevented from dropping out of the sealing cap. Also, the sealing cap would not cover the mounting surface of the optical module facing the mounting member. Therefore, the sealing cap would not become an obstacle when the optical module is arranged on the mounting member.
In the optical module product in accordance with the present invention, the sealing portion comprises a tubular portion having first and second end portions and extending in a predetermined direction, and a bottom face portion provided at the first end portion of the tubular portion. The ferrule insertion hole includes a space defined by the tubular portion and the bottom face portion. Such a simple structure enables the sealing cap to attain a lighter weight.
In the optical module product in accordance with the present invention, the package has a pair of surfaces extending along the direction in which the ferrule projects, while holding the ferrule therebetween. Each of the pair of surfaces has a protrusion. The sealing cap also has a pair of arms and a pair of engagement portions. The pair of engagement portions have engagement projections engaging with their corresponding protrusions formed on the pair of surfaces of the package. The pair of arms extend from the sealing portion along the pair of surfaces of the optical module assembly so as to reach the pair of engagement portions, respectively.
As the engagement portions of the sealing cap engage with the pair of protrusions of the optical module assembly respectively, the sealing cap can be prevented from dropping out of the optical module. The sealing can also be removed from the optical module. As a consequence, the optical module can be mounted on the mounting member and then can be removed from the optical module.
The sealing cap explained above is subjected to a heat treatment together with the optical module when the optical module is mounted. Therefore, the sealing cap preferably has such a heat-resistant characteristic that it can endure the temperature of heat treatment applied thereto in mounting.
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patent: 5737467 (1998-04-01), Kato et al.
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patent: 9-152527 (1997-06-01), None
McDermott & Will & Emery
Ngo Hung N.
Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd.
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