Optical fiber array

Claim 2

An optical fiber array having an optical coupling end face to be optically coupled to another optical line, one ends of a plurality of optical fibers being arrayed in said optical coupling end face, said optical fiber array comprising: a first plate comprising a plurality of positioning grooves for positioning said optical fibers exposing from one end of a ribbon part of said optical fibers; and a second plate for pressing each said optical fiber provided in each said positioning groove of said first plate into said positioning groove; a boundary portion between said ribbon part and said optical fibers being fixed between said first plate and said second plate by heat resistant adhesive; said optical fibers from said boundary portion to a front end being fixed between said first plate and said second plate by solder in an airtightness state.

Claim 3

An optical fiber array according to Claim 1, wherein said optical fiber array comprises a sleeve put at peripheries of said first plate and said second plate holding said optical fibers; and said sleeve is fixed at the peripheries of said first plate and said second plate by solder in the airtightness state.

Claim 4

An optical fiber array according to Claim 2, wherein said sleeve comprises a through window at a part corresponding to a boundary portion between said heat resistant adhesive and said solder.

Claim 5

An optical fiber array according to Claim 2, wherein one end face of said sleeve is formed on the same plane as said optical coupling end face.

Claim 6

An optical fiber array according to Claim 2, wherein said optical coupling end face protrudes from one end face of said sleeve.

Claim 7

An optical fiber array according to Claim 2, wherein said first plate and said second plate for holding said optical fibers, are provided apart from each other; and said solder is filled between said first plate and said second plate.

Claim 8

An optical fiber array according to Claim 2, wherein said sleeve comprises an opening at a part facing said second plate; and said second plate is pressed toward said first plate through said opening.

Claim 9

An optical fiber array according to Claim 2, wherein said solder is Pb-Sn alloy; and said solder comprises one kind of additive agent selected from the group consisting of Zn, Sb, Al, Ti, Si, and Cu.

Claim 10

An optical fiber array according to Claim 2, wherein said optical fibers are carbon coated fibers.

Claim 11

An optical fiber array according to Claim 2, wherein said sleeve is made of Ni-Fe amber alloy.

Claim 12

An optical fiber array according to Claim 2, wherein said first plate and said second plate are bonded together by anode coupling.

Claim 13

An optical fiber array according to Claim 2, wherein said optical fibers arrayed in said optical coupling end face have a mold field diameter partially enlarged in the vicinity of said optical coupling end face.

Claim 14

An optical fiber array according to Claim 12, wherein said mode field diameter is enlarged by concentrating residual stress in a core region to lower a refractive index of said core region; and said mode field diameter is enlarged 20% or above as compared with a case of said residual stress being removed.

Claim 17

A method of manufacturing an optical fiber array according to Claim 14, wherein in said fourth step, ultrasonic oscillation is used to inject said solder from the ends of said first and second plates.

Claim 18

A parallel transmission module transmitting a plurality of optical signals in parallel, said parallel transmission module comprising: a module body comprising a plurality of optical transmission systems for transmitting said optical signals separately; an optical fiber array provided at one ends of said optical transmission systems provided in said module body, fixed at said module body, comprising a plurality of optical fibers for optically coupling with said optical transmission systems individually; and guiding means for guiding another optical connector to couple with an optical coupling end face of said optical fiber array; said optical coupling end face being located at the opposite side of the end face optically coupled with said optical transmission systems.

Claim 19

A parallel transmission module transmitting a plurality of optical signals in parallel, said parallel transmission module comprising: a module body comprising a plurality of optical transmission systems for transmitting said optical signals separately; an optical fiber array provided at one ends of said optical transmission systems provided in said module body, fixed at said module body, comprising a plurality of optical fibers for optically coupling with said optical transmission systems individually; and guiding means for guiding another optical connector to couple with an optical coupling end face of said optical fiber array; said optical coupling end face being located at the opposite side of the end face optically coupled with said optical transmission systems.

Claim 20

A parallel transmission module according to Claim 16, wherein each of said optical transmission systems is optically coupled individually with optical fibers in said optical fiber array, and comprises one of an optical device for emitting light or an optical device for receiving light, and a circuit device provided corresponding to said optical device; and said optical transmission systems are provided in said module body into an array.

Claim 21

A parallel transmission module according to Claim 16, wherein said module body comprises a light emitting device array including a plurality of light emitting devices arrayed, and a light receiving device array including a plurality of light receiving devices arrayed, provided adjacent to said light emitting device array; wherein each said optical transmission system comprises one of said light emitting device constituting said light emitting device array and said light receiving device constituting said light receiving device array; and wherein said optical transmission system is optically coupled with each optical fiber in said optical fiber array.

Claim 22

A parallel transmission module according to Claim 16, wherein said module body comprises a waveguide substrate; and said optical transmission systems are a plurality of optical waveguides formed on said waveguide substrate.

Claim 23

A parallel transmission module according to Claim 16, wherein said guiding means is a guide pin for positioning said another optical connector to be coupled with said optical coupling end face of said optical fiber array.

Claim 24

A parallel transmission module according to Claim 20 further comprising a housing for holding said another optical connector to be coupled.

Claim 25

A parallel transmission module according to Claim 16, wherein said guiding means is a guide groove for receiving a guide pin provided at said another optical connector to be coupled with said optical coupling end face of said optical fiber array.

Claim 26

A parallel transmission module according to Claim 22 further comprising a housing for holding said another optical connector to be coupled.

Claim 27

A parallel transmission module according to Claim 20, wherein said optical fiber array comprises: a first plate comprising a plurality of positioning grooves for positioning said optical fibers; a second plate for pressing each said optical fiber provided in each said positioning groove on said first plate into said positioning grooves; support plates provided at both sides in a cross direction of said first plate so as to protrude from both sides to support said guide pin, having a short length as compared with said first plate; and a flange member touching one end face of said support plate, put at the peripheries of said first and second plates holding said optical fibers.

Claim 28

A parallel transmission module according to Claim 24, wherein said optical fibers, said first and second plates for holding said optical fibers, and said flange member are fixed together with fixing agent.

Claim 29

A parallel transmission module according to Claim 25, convex portions projecting from said first plate in a height direction are formed along with adjoining regions between said first plate and said support plates at both sides of said first plate, and said convex portions prevent said fixing agent filled in said first plate from flowing out into said support plates.

Claim 30

A parallel transmission module according to Claim 24 further comprising a clamp member for holding and elastically pressing said guide pin against said support plate.

Claim 31

A parallel transmission module according to Claim 24, wherein an optical coupling end face on said another optical connector side of said optical fiber array protrudes from a position of the end face of said support plate in a longitudinal direction of said first and second plates.

Claim 32

A parallel transmission module according to Claim 24, wherein said optical coupling end face on said module body side of said optical fiber array protrudes from a position of the end face of said flange in a longitudinal direction of said first and second plates.

Claim 33

A parallel transmission module according to Claim 25, wherein said fixing agent is solder; and said optical fibers are fixed between said first and second plates in an airtightness state by said solder.

Claim 34

A parallel transmission module according to Claim 30, wherein said solder is Pb-Sn alloy; and said solder comprises one kind of additive agent selected from the group consisting of Zn, Sb, Al, Ti, Si, and Cu.

Claim 35

A parallel transmission module according to Claim 31, wherein said optical fibers are carbon coated fibers.

Claim 36

A parallel transmission module according to Claim 25 further comprising a sleeve put at the peripheries of said first and second plates for holding said optical fibers.

Claim 37

A parallel transmission module according to Claim 33, wherein said sleeve is made of Ni-Fe amber alloy.

Claim 38

A parallel transmission module according to Claim 24, wherein said first plate and said second plate are bonded together by anode coupling.

Claim 39

A parallel transmission module according to Claim 16, wherein said optical fibers arrayed in said optical coupling end face have a mold field diameter partially enlarged in the vicinity of said optical coupling end face.

Claim 40

A parallel transmission module according to Claim 36, wherein said mode field diameter is enlarged by concentrating residual stress in a core region to lower a refractive index of said core region; and said mode field diameter is enlarged 20% or above as compared with a case of said residual stress being removed.

Claim 43

A method of manufacturing a parallel transmission module according to Claim 38, wherein in said fourth step, ultrasonic oscillation is used to fill said solder in said first and second plates from one end to the other end.

Claim 44

Housing structure coupling and releasing the coupling of optical modules; said housing structure comprising: a first housing comprising a distal wall at one end, an opening at the other end, and said opening having a first protrusion part protruding toward inside of said opening; a second housing for receiving and holding one of optical modules, provided in said first housing so as to be slidable, comprising a second protrusion part for engaging with said first protrusion part, the slide being limited by said distal wall of said first housing and said first protrusion part; and a third housing for holding the other optical module, comprising holding parts for holding said second housing when the other optical modules are coupled; said second housing further comprising a step for engaging with said holding parts of said third housing; said third housing further comprising a contact part for touching said second housing when said third housing and said first housing are confronted, said contact part being provided at one end of said third housing; in a case of coupling said optical modules, said third housing being pushed into said first and second housings, whereby said second housing is pressed by said contact part of said third housing and said second protrusion part of said second housing is displaced across said first protrusion part, in result, the slide limitation of said second housing being released, and said second and third housings being coupled together through said holding parts; in a case of releasing the coupling of said optical modules, said third housing being separated from said first and second housings, whereby said holding parts engage with said step of said second housing, and said second housing is displaced together with the separation of said third housing, and said second protrusion part of said second housing returns at an initial position thereof over said first protrusion part of said first housing, in result, the slide of said second housing being limited, and said holding parts of said third housing being displaced across said step of said second housing, and said first and second housings being separated from said third housing.

Claim 45

Housing structure coupling and releasing the coupling of optical modules; said housing structure comprising: a first housing comprising a distal wall at one end, an opening at the other end, and said opening having a first protrusion part protruding toward inside of said opening; a second housing for receiving and holding one of optical modules, provided in said first housing so as to be slidable, comprising a second protrusion part for engaging with said first protrusion part, the slide being limited by said distal wall of said first housing and said first protrusion part; and a third housing for holding the other optical module, comprising holding parts for holding said second housing when the other optical modules are coupled; said second housing further comprising a step for engaging with said holding parts of said third housing; said third housing further comprising a contact part for touching said second housing when said third housing and said first housing are confronted, said contact part being provided at one end of said third housing; in a case of coupling said optical modules, said third housing being pushed into said first and second housings, whereby said second housing is pressed by said contact part of said third housing and said second protrusion part of said second housing is displaced across said first protrusion part, in result, the slide limitation of said second housing being released, and said second and third housings being coupled together through said holding parts; in a case of releasing the coupling of said optical modules, said third housing being separated from said first and second housings, whereby said holding parts engage with said step of said second housing, and said second housing is displaced together with the separation of said third housing, and said second protrusion part of said second housing returns at an initial position thereof over said first protrusion part of said first housing, in result, the slide of said second housing being limited, and said holding parts of said third housing being displaced across said step of said second housing, and said first and second housings being separated from said third housing.

Claim 46

Housing structure according to Claim 40, wherein said first housing is fixed at a diaphragm for separating an apparatus to be connected with said optical module into an internal part and an external part.

Claim 47

Housing structure according to Claim 40, said optical module held by said third housing comprises a first module including a light emitting device array, and a second module including a light receiving device array.

Claim 48

Housing structure according to Claim 42, wherein said third housing is fixed at one end of a substrate including fixed circuit devices for controlling said light emitting device array and said light receiving device array.

Claim 49

Housing structure according to Claim 42, wherein said third housing comprises a radiating fin.

Claim 50

Housing structure according to Claim 42, wherein said third housing comprises a shielding plate for shielding light emitted from said light emitting device array to said coupling end face; and in a case of coupling said other optical module held in said first and second housings, said shielding plate is pressed by said other optical module to be displaced out of the optical path.

Claim 51

Housing structure according to Claim 40, wherein a concave region and a convex region engaging each other are formed at a predetermined position of said first housing and said third housing; and said optical modules are coupled and released each other when said optical modules are guided into said concave region and said convex region engaging each other.