Optical transmission module for achieving an optimum optical connection and useful for high density mounting

Claim 2

An assembling method of an optical transmission module or an optical module having steps of: providing an optical component package having an optical component, a receptacle at one end or one side of said optical module adjacent said optical component package having an upwardly facing open area and a plug connected to an optical fiber; and detachably connecting said plug to said receptacle by insertion of said plug in a downwardly extending insertion direction through said upwardly facing open area to seat said plug within said receptacle for optically coupling said optical fiber to said optical component.

Claim 3

The assembling method of an optical transmission module or an optical module of claim 1 , wherein said plug has a housing having an outer periphery of a predetermined shape and said upwardly facing open area of said receptacle has a configuration that matches said predetermined shape of said plug housing.

Claim 4

The assembling method of an optical transmission module or an optical module of claim 2 , wherein said predetermined shape of said outer periphery of said plug housing is cross-shaped.

Claim 5

The assembling method of an optical transmission module or an optical module of claim 1 , wherein said optical fiber extends in a direction transverse to said insertion direction of said plug and wherein said plug has a mechanism that moves said optical fiber toward and away from a position in which said optical fiber is coupled with said optical component.

Claim 6

The assembling method of an optical transmission module or an optical module of claim 4 , further including said plug having a first ferrule connected to the optical fiber, said optical component package having a second ferrule, said plug having a spring for urging said first ferrule in contact with said second ferrule when said plug is seated within said receptacle, wherein said mechanism has a knob to manipulate movement of said first ferrule away from said second ferrule during insertion and removal of said plug to prevent contact between said first and second ferrules.

Claim 7

An assembling method of an optical transmission module or an optical module having steps of: providing (1) an optical component package having an optical component mounted on a substrate within said optical component package, (2) a receptacle at one end or one side of said optical module having an open top area, a bottom wall and opposed side walls, and (3) a plug connected to an optical fiber that is detachably to be connected to said receptacle; and connecting said plug to the optical fiber that is detachably connected to said receptacle by insertion of said plug in a direction extending downwardly through said open top area from above said receptacle; and an optical coupling from said optical fiber to said optical component passing through said plug and said receptacle in a direction of lightwave propagation that is transverse to said insertion direction.

Claim 8

An assembling method of an optical transmission module or an optical module having steps of: providing (1) an optical component package having an optical component mounted on a substrate within said optical component package, (2) a receptacle at one end or one side of said optical module having an open top area, a bottom wall and opposed side walls, and (3) a plug connected to an optical fiber that is detachably to be connected to said receptacle; and connecting said plug to the optical fiber that is detachably connected to said receptacle by insertion of said plug in a direction extending downwardly through said open top area from above said receptacle; and an optical coupling from said optical fiber to said optical component passing through said plug and said receptacle in a direction of lightwave propagation that is transverse to said insertion direction.

Claim 9

The assembling method of an optical transmission module or an optical module of claim 6 , wherein one of said two side walls is adjacent said optical component package and another of said two side walls is opposed to said side wall.

Claim 10

The assembling method of an optical transmission module or an optical module of claim 6 , wherein said bottom wall of said receptacle fixes a height of said plug with respect to said receptacle for aligning said optical coupling.

Claim 11

An assembling method of an optical connector having steps of: providing a first optical fiber, an optical module having a second optical fiber connected to an optical component, a receptacle at one end or one side of said module for connecting said first optical fiber to said optical module through said one end or one side, said receptacle having an upwardly facing open area, and a plug having a housing in which a ferrule is connected to said first optical fiber; and connecting said plug detachably to said receptacle by insertion of said plug in a downwardly extending insertion direction through said upwardly facing open area to seat said plug within said receptacle for optically coupling said first optical fiber to said optical component through said second optical fiber.

Claim 12

An assembling method of an optical connector having steps of: providing a first optical fiber, an optical module having a second optical fiber connected to an optical component, a receptacle at one end or one side of said module for connecting said first optical fiber to said optical module through said one end or one side, said receptacle having an upwardly facing open area, and a plug having a housing in which a ferrule is connected to said first optical fiber; and connecting said plug detachably to said receptacle by insertion of said plug in a downwardly extending insertion direction through said upwardly facing open area to seat said plug within said receptacle for optically coupling said first optical fiber to said optical component through said second optical fiber.

Claim 13

The assembling method of an optical connector of claim 9 , wherein said plug has a mechanism including a sleeve that moves with said ferrule and said first optical fiber toward and away from a first position in which said first optical fiber is coupled with said optical component.

Claim 14

The assembling method of an optical connector of claim 10 , wherein said mechanism has a knob to manipulate the movement of said sleeve with said ferrule and said first optical fiber away from said first position during insertion and removal of said plug.

Claim 15

The assembling method of an optical connector of claim 11 , wherein said mechanism further includes a spring for biasing said first optical fiber toward said position and a knob guidance groove formed in said housing of said plug for guiding and holding said knob in a second position away from said first position during insertion and removal of said plug.

Claim 16

An assembling method of an optical transmission device having steps of: providing (1) a plug having a housing structure including within said housing: a knob, a first ferrule, a sleeve, a spring and a knob guidance groove, (2) a first optical fiber connected to said first ferrule, said sleeve and said knob being fixed to said first ferrule and said spring being positioned between said housing and said knob for biasing said first ferrule toward a first position, (3) an optical package having a substrate, a second ferrule mounted on said substrate, an optical component mounted on said substrate and a second optical fiber connected to said ferrule and mounted on said substrate, and (4) a receptacle adjacent a side or end of said package, said package having an opening through which said second ferrule is exposed for connection to said first ferrule in said first position, said receptacle having an upwardly facing open area; connecting said plug detachably to said receptacle by insertion of said plug in a downwardly extending insertion direction through said upwardly facing open area to seat said plug within said receptacle; and moving said first ferrule to and holding in a second position with said knob traveling in said knob guidance groove against the bias of said spring for insertion of said plug, and then returning to said first position for optically coupling said first and second ferrules.

Claim 17

An assembling method of an optical transmission device having steps of: providing (1) a plug having a housing structure including within said housing: a knob, a first ferrule, a sleeve, a spring and a knob guidance groove, (2) a first optical fiber connected to said first ferrule, said sleeve and said knob being fixed to said first ferrule and said spring being positioned between said housing and said knob for biasing said first ferrule toward a first position, (3) an optical package having a substrate, a second ferrule mounted on said substrate, an optical component mounted on said substrate and a second optical fiber connected to said ferrule and mounted on said substrate, and (4) a receptacle adjacent a side or end of said package, said package having an opening through which said second ferrule is exposed for connection to said first ferrule in said first position, said receptacle having an upwardly facing open area; connecting said plug detachably to said receptacle by insertion of said plug in a downwardly extending insertion direction through said upwardly facing open area to seat said plug within said receptacle; and moving said first ferrule to and holding in a second position with said knob traveling in said knob guidance groove against the bias of said spring for insertion of said plug, and then returning to said first position for optically coupling said first and second ferrules.

Claim 18

The assembling method of an optical transmission device of claim 13 , wherein said first and second optical fibers and said optical component are aligned in a lightwave propagation direction on said substrate of said package that is transverse to said direction of insertion of said plug.

Claim 19

The assembling method of an optical transmission device of claim 14 , wherein said knob moves said optical fiber, said sleeve and said first ferrule together in the lightwave propagation direction.

Claim 20

The assembling method of an optical transmission device of claim 13 , wherein said plug housing has an outer periphery of a predetermined shape and said upwardly facing open area of said receptacle has a configuration that matches said predetermined shape of said plug housing.

Claim 21

The assembling method of an optical transmission device of claim 16 , wherein said predetermined shape of said outer periphery of said plug housing is cross-shaped.