Parallel transmission module for transmitting a plurality of optical signals in parallel and method for manufacturing the same

Claim 1

A parallel transmission module which transmits a plurality of optical signals in parallel said parallel transmission module comprising: a module body comprising first and second optical transmission systems for transmitting said optical signals separately, each of said systems having first and second opposite end faces; an optical fiber array having first and second ends and being arranged such that said first end of said optical fiber array is provided at said first end face of said first optical transmission system and integrally fixed to said module, said optical fiber array comprising a plurality of optical fibers for optically coupling with at least one of said optical transmission systems; and guiding means for positioning an optical connector to optically couple with an optical coupling end face located at said second end of said optical fiber array, wherein said optical fiber array comprises: a first plate having a plurality of positioning grooves for positioning said optical fibers; a second plate for pressing each of said optical fibers in said positioning grooves; support plates provided at both sides in a cross direction of said first plate, said support plates having a shorter length in the cross direction than said first plate; and a flange member contacting one end face of each of said support plates, said flange member being arranged at peripheries of said first and second plates, and wherein said optical fibers, said first and second plates and said flange member are integrally fixed in a hermetic manner with an air-tight sealing agent.

Claim 20

A method of manufacturing a parallel transmission module comprising: a first step of positioning optical fibers having first and second end faces in respective positioning grooves formed in a first plate, and providing a second plate to maintain said optical fibers in said positioning grooves, said first and second plates each having first and second end faces; a second step of arranging a flange member at peripheries of said first and second plates; a third step of soaking said first end faces of said first and second plates, where said first end faces of said optical fibers are arranged, to fix said flange member at said peripheries of said first and second plates; a fourth step of filling an air-tight solder at least into a gap between said first and second plates from said first end faces to said second end faces and integrally fixing and hermetically sealing said optical fibers, said first and second plates and said flange member together with said solder, said fourth step being conducted prior to, simultaneous with, or subsequent to said third step; a fifth step of polishing said end faces of said first and second plates to make said end faces of said optical fibers specular, whereby an optical fiber array is formed; and a sixth step of fixing one of said end faces of said optical fiber array at an optical coupling end face of a module body, said module body comprising a plurality of optical transmission systems, such that said optical fibers of said optical fiber array are optically coupled individually with said optical transmission systems in said module body.

Claim 21

A method of manufacturing a parallel transmission module comprising: a first step of positioning optical fibers having first and second end faces in respective positioning grooves formed in a first plate, and providing a second plate to maintain said optical fibers in said positioning grooves, said first and second plates each having first and second end faces; a second step of arranging a flange member at peripheries of said first and second plates; a third step of soaking said first end faces of said first and second plates, where said first end faces of said optical fibers are arranged, to fix said flange member at said peripheries of said first and second plates; a fourth step of filling an air-tight solder at least into a gap between said first and second plates from said first end faces to said second end faces and integrally fixing and hermetically sealing said optical fibers, said first and second plates and said flange member together with said solder, said fourth step being conducted prior to, simultaneous with, or subsequent to said third step; a fifth step of polishing said end faces of said first and second plates to make said end faces of said optical fibers specular, whereby an optical fiber array is formed; and a sixth step of fixing one of said end faces of said optical fiber array at an optical coupling end face of a module body, said module body comprising a plurality of optical transmission systems, such that said optical fibers of said optical fiber array are optically coupled individually with said optical transmission systems in said module body.