US5475783A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical module, method of manufacturing the same, and sleeve
Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd
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Filing: 1994-09-29
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Granted: 1995-12-12
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Expires: 2014-09-29
Abstract
Abstract An optical module comprises a plastic package constituted by a package main body and a cover, sleeves formed integrally with the package main body, a circuit board held in the package main body, light-activated elements fixed at predetermined positions of the circuit board, three projections formed integrally with an inner surface of the package main body and brought into contact with a periphery of the circuit board to position the circuit board, springs formed integrally with an inner surface of the package to press the periphery of the circuit board against the projections. Since the sleeve and the package main body are integrally formed by plastic molding, the number of components is reduced, thereby simplifying the assembling steps.
Inventors
- 👤 Hiromi Kurashima
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 18:13
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04B; H04B10/00; G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/42; G02B6/4201; G02B6/4246; G02B6/4219; G02B6/4236; G02B6/4245; G02B6/4256; G02B6/4257; G02B6/4292; G02B6/36; G02B6/38; G02B6/3807; G02B6/3873; G02B6/3874; G02B6/4204
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
156 words
An optical module comprising: a plastic package for receiving and holding a connector plug connected to an optical fiber, said package including a package main body and a cover for closing an open portion of said package main body; a sleeve formed integrally with said package main body by plastic molding to receive an end portion of said optical fiber when said connector plug is held in said package main body; a circuit board held in said open portion of said package main body; a light-activated element fixed at a predetermined position of said circuit board; three projections formed integrally with an inner surface of said package main body and brought into contact with a periphery of said circuit board to position said circuit board; spring means formed integrally with an inner surface of said package to press said periphery of said circuit board against said projections; and a condenser lens coaxially arranged in said sleeve.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
156 words
An optical module comprising: a plastic package for receiving and holding a connector plug connected to an optical fiber, said package including a package main body and a cover for closing an open portion of said package main body; a sleeve formed integrally with said package main body by plastic molding to receive an end portion of said optical fiber when said connector plug is held in said package main body; a circuit board held in said open portion of said package main body; a light-activated element fixed at a predetermined position of said circuit board; three projections formed integrally with an inner surface of said package main body and brought into contact with a periphery of said circuit board to position said circuit board; spring means formed integrally with an inner surface of said package to press said periphery of said circuit board against said projections; and a condenser lens coaxially arranged in said sleeve.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
A module according to claim 1, wherein said circuit board is substantially rectangular, one of said projections is in contact with a first side of said circuit board, and remaining two of said projections are in contact with a second side of said circuit board, said second side being adjacent to said first side.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
62 words
A module according to claim 2, wherein said package main body is a box of a substantial rectangular prism shape, said one of said projections is formed on an inner surface of one side plate of said package main body, and said remaining two of said projections are formed on an inner surface of an upper plate of said package main body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A module according to claim 1, wherein said spring means comprises a plurality of springs for pressing said circuit board against said projections.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
123 words
A module according to claim 1, wherein, when said circuit board is substantially rectangular, one of said projections is in contact with a first side of said circuit board, and remaining two of said projections are in contact with a second side of said circuit board, said second side being adjacent to said first side, said spring means comprises a spring formed integrally with an inner surface of the other side plate to press said circuit board against said one of said projections, which is provided on said one side plate, and a spring formed integrally with said inner surfaces of said side plates to press said circuit board against said remaining two of said projections, which are provided on said upper plate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A module according to claim 1, wherein said cover is mounted from a rear surface side of said circuit board arranged in said package main body.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A module according to claim 1, wherein said cover is mounted from a lower side of said circuit board arranged in said package main body.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
119 words
A module according to claim 7, wherein, when said circuit board is substantially rectangular, one of said projections is in contact with a first side of said circuit board, and remaining two of said projections are in contact with a second side of said circuit board, said second side being adjacent to said first side, said spring means comprises by a spring formed integrally with an inner surface of the other side plate to press said circuit board against said one of said projections, which is provided on said one side plate, and a spring formed integrally with said cover to press said circuit board against said remaining two of said projections, which are provided on said upper plate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
A module according to claim 1, wherein a transparent lid is fixed to said circuit board to cover an electronic circuit and said light-activated element on said circuit board, and said spring means causes a pressing force to act on said circuit board through said transparent lid.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A module according to claim 1, wherein said optical module is a transmission module having a light-emitting element as said light-activated element.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A module according to claim 1, wherein said optical module is a reception module having a light-receiving element as said light-activated element.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
A module according to claim 1, wherein said optical module is a transmission/reception module having a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element as said light-activated element.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
A module according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of grooves are formed in an inner surface of said sleeve to extend in a longitudinal direction and circumferentially spaced to each other.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
232 words
A method of manufacturing an optical module comprising a plastic package for receiving and holding a connector plug connected to an optical fiber, said package including a package main body and a cover for closing an open portion of said package main body, a sleeve formed integrally with said package main body to receive an end portion of said optical fiber when said connector plug is held in said package main body, a circuit board held in said open portion of said package main body, a light-activated element fixed at a predetermined position of said circuit board, three projections formed integrally with an inner surface of said package main body and brought into contact with a periphery of said circuit board to position said circuit board, and spring means formed integrally with an inner surface of said package to press said periphery of said circuit board against said projections, comprising the steps of: providing a board supporting table having three positioning pins mounted on a surface in substantially the same arrangement as that of said three projections; resting said circuit board on said surface of said board supporting table; pressing said circuit board such that said periphery of said circuit board is brought into contact with all said pins; defining contact points of said pins as reference points; and fixing said light-activated element at position predetermined with respect to said reference points.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
232 words
A method of manufacturing an optical module comprising a plastic package for receiving and holding a connector plug connected to an optical fiber, said package including a package main body and a cover for closing an open portion of said package main body, a sleeve formed integrally with said package main body to receive an end portion of said optical fiber when said connector plug is held in said package main body, a circuit board held in said open portion of said package main body, a light-activated element fixed at a predetermined position of said circuit board, three projections formed integrally with an inner surface of said package main body and brought into contact with a periphery of said circuit board to position said circuit board, and spring means formed integrally with an inner surface of said package to press said periphery of said circuit board against said projections, comprising the steps of: providing a board supporting table having three positioning pins mounted on a surface in substantially the same arrangement as that of said three projections; resting said circuit board on said surface of said board supporting table; pressing said circuit board such that said periphery of said circuit board is brought into contact with all said pins; defining contact points of said pins as reference points; and fixing said light-activated element at position predetermined with respect to said reference points.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method according to claim 14, wherein said circuit board is substantially rectangular, one of said pins is in contact with a first side of said circuit board, and remaining two of said pins are in contact with a second side of said circuit board, said second side being adjacent to said first side.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 14, wherein said light-activated element is a light-emitting element.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 14, wherein said light-activated element is a light-receiving element.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-12-11 | 1999-06-12 | 1999-12-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-12-11 | 2003-06-12 | 2003-12-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-12-11 | 2007-06-12 | 2007-12-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |