TWI588552B - Optical transceiver subassembly and manufacturing method thereof - Google Patents

Description

Optical transceiver sub-assembly and manufacturing method thereof

The present invention relates to an optical communication component and a method of fabricating the same, and more particularly to an optical transceiver subassembly and a method of fabricating the same.

Fiber optics is now widely used as the primary transmission tool for network systems in many countries around the world. Since the optical fiber is transmitted by total reflection of light, the optical fiber has characteristics of high speed transmission and low transmission loss. When an optical fiber is used as a transmission medium for a network system, the optical fiber has characteristics of wide frequency, high capacity, and high speed. In the current situation of increasing information transmission and users requiring faster network requirements, the amount of data transmitted by optical fibers has gradually become insufficient. In order to cope with the problem of insufficient data transmission, in addition to improving the fiber transmission speed, the reception and transmission at both ends of the fiber are also very important. Among them, important components include optical receivers, optical transmitters, and optical transceivers.

However, in practice, due to the rapid advancement of optical transceiver technology, the traditional architecture has been unable to meet the design and manufacturing needs. Therefore, how to simplify the structure of the optical transceiver sub-assembly and improve the assembly efficiency of the optical transceiver sub-assembly is one of the problems that the researcher should solve.

The present invention provides an optical transceiver sub-assembly to simplify the structure of the optical transceiver sub-assembly and improve the assembly efficiency of the optical transceiver sub-assembly.

The optical transceiver sub-assembly disclosed in the present invention comprises an optical connection module, a light detection module, a light source module and an optical waveguide module. The optical connection module is configured to connect to the external device, and includes a first connection port and a second connection port, and the first connection port transmits the first optical signal of the external device. Furthermore, the optical waveguide mode The group includes a first light guiding area and a second light guiding area, and the optical waveguide module has a light entering part, a light emitting part and a transmitting part. The first light guiding region is optically coupled to the first connecting port via the transmitting portion, and the second light guiding region is optically coupled to the second connecting port via the transmitting portion. The light detecting module is optically coupled to the first light guiding region via the light emitting portion for detecting the first light signal passing through the first light guiding region. In addition, the light source module is optically coupled to the second light guiding region via the light incident portion for transmitting a second light signal to the second port through the second light guiding region, and the second port transmits the second light signal to the second port. External device.

According to the optical transceiver module disclosed in the above invention, the optical waveguide component is used to replace the plurality of optical fibers as the optical channel in the optical transceiver sub-assembly, which not only makes the input end spacing and the output end spacing of the optical channel easier to convert. The structure of the optical transceiver sub-assembly and the assembly process of the optical transceiver sub-assembly are also simplified.

The above description of the present invention and the following description of the embodiments are intended to illustrate and explain the principles of the invention, and to provide a further explanation of the scope of the invention.

1, 3, 4, 6, 7‧‧‧ optical transceiver sub-components

10, 30, 40, 50, 60‧‧‧ substrates

12, 42, 62, 72‧‧‧ optical connection modules

14,34,44,64‧‧‧Light detection module

16, 46, 66‧‧‧ Light source module

18, 28, 38, 48, 68‧‧‧ optical waveguide modules

120, 620‧‧‧ First connection埠

122, 622‧‧‧Second connection埠

180, 280‧‧‧ first light guiding area

182, 282‧‧‧second light guiding area

184, 284, 484‧‧‧ into the Department of Light

186, 286, 386‧‧‧Lighting Department

188, 288, 688‧‧‧Transportation Department

2800, 2820‧‧‧ light channel

28000, 28002, 28200, 28202‧‧‧ input/output

340‧‧‧Light detection components

342‧‧‧ lens unit

3420‧‧‧Injection end

3422‧‧‧reflecting surface

3424‧‧‧Outlet

3426‧‧‧ Positioning Department

381, 383‧‧‧ surface

41‧‧‧Optical isolator

43‧‧‧ Current and voltage converter

460‧‧‧Lighting elements

462‧‧‧Control unit

510, 512‧‧‧ magnetic body

514‧‧‧Faraday rotor

6200, 6220‧‧‧ fiber

622‧‧‧Stainless glass

75‧‧‧shell

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural view of an optical transceiver sub-assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic structural view of an optical waveguide module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a side view of an optical transceiver sub-assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic structural diagram of an optical transceiver sub-assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a structural view showing an optical isolator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic structural diagram of an optical transceiver sub-assembly according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic structural diagram of an optical transceiver sub-assembly according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 8 is a flow chart showing a method of manufacturing an optical transceiver sub-assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Please refer to FIG. 1 , which is a schematic structural diagram of an optical transceiver sub-assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1 , the optical transceiver sub-assembly 1 includes an optical connection module 12 , a photo detection module 14 , a light source module 16 , and an optical waveguide module 18 . The optical connection module 12 is used to connect an external device, including the first The port 120 and the second port 122 transmit the first optical signal of the external device. The optical waveguide module 18 has an optical waveguide component made of a tantalum oxide or tantalum wafer. In practice, a semiconductor process can be performed on the yttrium oxide or tantalum wafer substrate to produce a first light guiding region 180 and a second light guiding region 182. The optical waveguide module 18 has a light incident portion 184, a light exit portion 186, and a transfer portion 188. The first light guiding region 180 is optically coupled to the first connecting port 120 via the transmitting portion 188 , and the second light guiding region 182 is optically coupled to the second connecting port 122 via the transmitting portion 188 . In addition, the light detecting module 14 is optically coupled to the first light guiding region 180 via the light emitting portion 186 for detecting the first light signal passing through the first light guiding region 180. In addition, the light source module 16 is optically coupled to the second light guiding region 182 via the light incident portion 184 . The light source module 16 transmits the second optical signal to the second port 122 via the second light guiding region 182, and the second port 122 transmits the second optical signal to the external device.

In an embodiment, the optical transceiver sub-assembly 1 further includes a substrate 10. The material of the substrate 10 may be a material having an insulating and/or heat dissipating effect, such as aluminum nitride, tantalum or other ceramic materials. Therefore, the optical waveguide module 18, the light detecting module 14 and the light source module 16 can be respectively disposed on the substrate 10. However, the present embodiment is not limited thereto, and those skilled in the art can also use other suitable fixed designs to set the optical waveguide module 18, the light detecting module 14 and the light source module 16 according to actual needs. .

Please refer to FIG. 2, which is a schematic structural view of an optical waveguide module according to an embodiment of the present invention. The first light guiding region 280 in the optical waveguide module 28 includes at least one first optical channel 2800. Each of the first optical channels 2800 includes a first input end 28000 and a first output end 28002. The first input end 28000 is optically coupled to the transmission unit 288 to receive the first optical signal. The first output end 28002 is optically coupled to the light exiting portion 286 to transmit the first optical signal transmitted through the first optical channel 2800 to the light detecting module. Furthermore, the second light guiding region 282 includes at least one second optical channel 2820, and each of the second optical channels 2820 includes a second input end 28200 and a second output end 28202. The second input end 28200 is optically coupled to the light incident portion 284 to receive the second optical signal. The second output end 28202 is optically coupled to the transmission portion 288 for transmitting the second optical signal transmitted through the second optical channel 2820 to the optical connection module.

Wherein the adjacent second input ends 28200 are spaced apart by a first distance, adjacent The second output 2828 is spaced apart by a second distance. In practice, the first distance may not be equal to the second distance. For example, the first distance is usually 1 mm due to the size of the light source module. The second distance is set to 250 μm in conjunction with the optical connection module. In this example, the first distance is 1 mm and is much larger than the second distance. However, through the optical channel design of the optical waveguide component, the extremely different spacing between the two ends can be easily converted. In addition, the adjacent first input ends 28000 are separated by a third distance, and the adjacent first output ends 28002 are separated by a fourth distance. In practice, the third distance may not be equal to the fourth distance. For example, the optical waveguide component can easily adjust the characteristics of the spacing between the input end of the optical channel and the spacing of the output end, so that the conversion between the input end spacing and the output end spacing is easier, so that the optical connection module, the light detecting module, and the light source module are The composition between the two is more flexible. In addition, it is more difficult to avoid the limitation of the fiber spacing or the fiber distortion problem when the optical fiber is used as the optical channel to achieve the proper spacing configuration.

Please refer to FIG. 3, which is a side view of an optical transceiver sub-assembly according to an embodiment of the invention. Figure. The optical transceiver sub-assembly 3 includes an optical connection module (not shown), a light detection module 34, a light source module (not shown), and an optical waveguide module 38. The light detecting module 34 includes a light detecting component 340 and a lens unit 342. The lens unit 342 is disposed above the light detecting element 340 and adjacent to the light exiting portion 386 . The lens unit 342 includes an incident end 3420, a reflective surface 3422, and an exit end 3424. The incident end 3420 is aligned with the light exiting portion 386, and the exit end 3424 is aligned with the photodetecting element 340. The reflective surface 3422 is configured to rotate the first optical signal entering from the incident end 3420 toward the exit end 3424. In practice, since the vertical distance between the light exit portion 386 and the lower surface 381 of the optical waveguide module 38 during manufacturing is generally difficult to control, the light exit portion 386 is perpendicular to the upper surface 383 of the optical waveguide module 38. The distance can then be precisely controlled to match the position of the incident end 3420 in the lens unit 342. Therefore, the upper surface 383 can be used as a reference plane for positioning, and the positioning portion 3426 of the lens unit 342 is disposed on the upper surface 383 to align the incident end 3420 with the light exit portion 386. In an embodiment, the optical transceiver sub-assembly 3 may further include a substrate 30 and the photodetecting element 340 is disposed on the substrate 30. However, the embodiment is not limited thereto.

Please refer to FIG. 4 for explaining an optical transceiver sub-assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention. Schematic diagram of the structure. As shown in FIG. 4, the optical transceiver sub-assembly 4 includes an optical connection module 42, a light detection module 44, a light source module 46, and an optical waveguide module 48. The coupling relationship and operation principle are shown in FIG. The embodiments are the same and will not be described again here. Different from the first embodiment, the optical transceiver sub-assembly 4 further includes an optical isolator 41 disposed between the light source module 46 and the light incident portion 484 and optically coupled to the light source module 46 and the light incident portion 484, respectively. The optical isolator 41 is configured to control the second optical signal so that the traveling direction is a single direction (ie, the light source module 46 is directed to the optical waveguide module 48) to prevent the second optical signal from being reflected back to the light source module 46. Luminous performance. In an embodiment, the optical transceiver sub-assembly 4 further includes a substrate 40, and the optical isolator 41, the optical detection module 44, the light source module 46, and the optical waveguide module 48 are disposed on the substrate 40, but the embodiment does not This is limited to this. Please refer to FIG. 5, which is a structural diagram of an optical isolator according to an embodiment of the present invention. The optical isolator includes a first magnetic body 510, a second magnetic body 512, and a Faraday 514. The Faraday 514 is disposed between the first magnetic body 510 and the second magnetic body 512. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the second magnetic body 512 end of the optical isolator may be disposed on the substrate 50, and the first magnetic body 510, the second magnetic body 512, and the Faraday rotator 514 may be arranged up and down to Save the lateral space occupied by optical isolators. In another example, the first magnetic body 510, the second magnetic body 512, and the Faraday rotator 514 may be disposed on the substrate 50 in a lateral direction. In addition, in another example, the Faraday rotator 514 may be disposed in the middle of the circular magnetic body, and the optical isolator may be disposed on the substrate 50.

Referring to FIG. 4, in another embodiment, the optical transceiver sub-assembly 4 may further include Current to voltage converter 43. The current-to-voltage converter 43 is electrically connected to the light detecting module 44 for converting the current signal generated by the light detecting module 44 into a voltage signal. In addition, the current-to-voltage converter 43 can be disposed on the substrate 40, but the embodiment is not limited thereto. In practice, the light source module 46 can include a light emitting element 460 and a control unit 462. The control unit 462 can include a photodetector and a control circuit. The control unit 462 is electrically connected to the light-emitting element 460 through a control circuit, and is optically coupled to the light-emitting element 460 through the light detector. Since the light-emitting element 460 emits light in the direction of entering the light-emitting portion 484, it also emits light in the other direction (i.e., in the direction toward the control unit 462), and the light-emitting luminances in both directions have a certain relationship. Therefore, the light-emitting luminance of the light-emitting element 460 can be detected by the light detector of the control unit 462 to infer the light-emitting luminance of the light-emitting element 460 toward the light-emitting portion 484. The control unit 462 determines whether to use the control circuit to adjust the transmit power of the light-emitting element 460 according to the inferred light-emitting brightness, thereby achieving the purpose of automatic power control.

Please refer to FIG. 6 , which is a structure of an optical transceiver sub-assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention. schematic diagram. As shown in FIG. 6, the optical transceiver sub-assembly 6 includes an optical connection module 62, a light detection module 64, a light source module 66, and an optical waveguide module 68. In practice, the optical transceiver subassembly 6 may further include a substrate 60. The coupling relationship and the operation principle are the same as those in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, and details are not described herein again. In addition, the first port 620 includes at least one first fiber 6200, and the second port 622 includes at least one second fiber 6220. The first fiber 6200 and the second fiber 6220 are optically coupled to the transmission portion 688 to serve as The transmission medium of the optical signal between the optical waveguide module 68 and the optical connection module 62. Furthermore, the first optical fiber 6200 and the second optical fiber 6220 are sandwiched by a glass piece 622.

Please refer to FIG. 7 , which is a structure of an optical transceiver sub-assembly according to still another embodiment of the present invention. schematic diagram. As shown in FIG. 7, the optical transceiver sub-assembly 7 includes an optical connection module 72, a light detection module (not shown), a light source module (not shown), and an optical waveguide module (not shown). The coupling relationship and the operation principle are the same as those in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, and details are not described herein again. In addition to this, the optical transceiver subassembly 7 further includes a housing 75. The optical connection module 72 is connected to the housing 75, and at least partially exposes the housing 75. The light detecting module, the light source module and the optical waveguide module are disposed in the housing 75.

In order to explain the flow of the optical transceiver sub-assembly manufacturing method according to an embodiment of the present invention, please Referring to Figures 1 and 8, Figure 8 is a flow chart of the present embodiment. As shown in Fig. 8, the optical transceiver subassembly manufacturing method includes the following steps. First, in step S80, the optical waveguide module 18 is fixed to the substrate 10. The optical waveguide module 18 includes a first light guiding area 180 and a second light guiding area 182. The optical waveguide module 18 has a light incident portion 184 , a light exit portion 186 , and a transmission portion 188 . The transmission portion 188 is optically coupled to the optical connection module 12 . Next, in step S81, the light detecting module 14 is aligned with the light exiting portion 186. Next, in step S82, the light detecting module 14 is fixed. In step S83, the light source module 16 is aligned into the light portion 184. Then, in step S84, the light source module 16 is fixed to the substrate 10. In the above-mentioned fixed-related step, the colloid may be first set at a fixed position or a component to be fixed, and then the colloid is cured by light, and the component is fixed by curing of the colloid. Furthermore, the light used to cure the colloid can be, but is not limited to, ultraviolet light.

In an embodiment, please refer to FIG. 3 and FIG. 8 together. Light detection module 34 package The light detecting component 340 and the lens unit 342 include an incident end 3420, an exit end 3424, and a positioning portion 3426. Step S81 includes the following steps. First, the photodetecting element 340 is fixed to the substrate 30. Next, the positioning portion 3426 of the lens unit 342 is disposed on the upper surface 383 of the optical waveguide module 38. Next, the incident end 3420 is aligned with the light exiting portion 386. Then, the exit end 3424 is aligned with the light detecting element 340. Further, step S82 includes the step of fixing the positioning portion 3426 of the lens unit 342 to the upper surface 383 of the optical waveguide module 38. In another embodiment, the method for manufacturing the optical transceiver sub-assembly further includes fixing the current-voltage converter 43 to the substrate 40 and electrically connecting to the light detecting module 44. Referring to FIG. 4 and FIG. A step of. In another embodiment, the optical transceiver sub-assembly manufacturing method further includes the optical isolator 41 being fixed on the substrate 40 between the light source module 46 and the light incident portion 484, and optically coupled to the light source module 46 and the light entering the light. Step 484. In still another embodiment, referring to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 together, the optical transceiver sub-assembly manufacturing method further includes the step of combining the optical connection module 72 and the substrate with the housing 75. The substrate is fixed in the housing 75, and at least a portion of the optical connection module 72 is exposed to the housing 75.

For example, optical transceiver sub-components can be applied to parallel single-mode four-way (Parallel Single Mode 4 lane, PSM4) technology, but not limited to the technology applied to parallel single-mode four-way. Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 for the operation of the parallel single-mode four-channel optical transceiver sub-assembly. First, regarding the optical signal receiving, the optical connection module 12 can receive the first optical signal of the parallel single mode four channels from the external device, wherein the first optical signal is a single mode four-way optical signal. Then, the optical connection module 12 transmits the first optical signal of the single mode to the optical detection module 14 through the four first optical channels 2800 of the first light guiding area 280. Then, the light detecting module 14 generates a corresponding electrical signal according to the first optical signal for subsequent processing. As for the part of the optical signal transmission, the light source module 16 converts the electrical signal into a corresponding parallel single mode four-way second optical signal. The second optical signal is transmitted to the optical connection module 12 through the four second optical channels 2820 of the second light guiding area 282 to send the second optical signal to the external device.

In summary, the optical waveguide component is used to replace a plurality of optical fibers as an optical transceiver group. The optical channel in the device not only makes the input channel spacing and the output terminal pitch conversion of the optical channel easier, but also simplifies the structure of the optical transceiver sub-assembly and the assembly process of the optical transceiver sub-assembly. In addition, by special design The lens unit uses the upper surface of the optical waveguide module as a reference plane for positioning, thereby improving the accuracy of positioning and improving the assembly efficiency of the optical transceiver sub-assembly. Furthermore, by arranging the magnetic body of the optical isolator and the Faraday rotator in the above manner, the lateral space occupied by the optical isolator can be saved, thereby providing the possibility of downsizing the product.

Although the embodiments of the present invention are disclosed above, it is not intended to limit the present invention, and those skilled in the art, regardless of the spirit and scope of the present invention, the shapes, configurations, and features described in the scope of the present application. And the number of modifications may be made, and the scope of patent protection of the present invention shall be determined by the scope of the patent application attached to the specification.

1‧‧‧Light Transceiver Subassembly

10‧‧‧Substrate

12‧‧‧ optical connection module

14‧‧‧Light detection module

16‧‧‧Light source module

18‧‧‧ Optical waveguide module

120‧‧‧First connection埠

122‧‧‧Second connection

180‧‧‧First light guiding area

182‧‧‧Second light guiding area

184‧‧‧Into the Department of Light

186‧‧‧Lighting Department

188‧‧‧Transportation Department

Claims (14)

An optical transceiver sub-assembly includes: an optical connection module for connecting an external device, comprising a first connection port and a second connection port, the first connection port transmitting a first optical signal of the external device; An optical waveguide module includes a first light guiding region and a second light guiding region, and the optical waveguide module has a light entering portion, a light emitting portion and a transmitting portion, and the first light guiding region is transmitted through the light guiding portion The light is coupled to the first port, and the second light guiding region is optically coupled to the second port via the transmitting portion; a light detecting module is optically coupled to the first light guiding region via the light emitting portion, The light detecting module includes the first light signal passing through the first light guiding region, the light detecting module includes a light detecting component and a lens unit, and the lens unit is disposed on the light detecting component Upper and adjacent to the light exiting portion, the lens unit includes an incident end, a reflecting surface and an emitting end, the incident end is aligned with the light exiting portion, and the emitting end is aligned with the light detecting component, and the reflective surface is used for Rotating the first optical signal entering from the incident end toward the exit end, The detecting component is configured to detect the first optical signal emitted from the emitting end, the lens unit further includes a positioning portion disposed on an upper surface of the optical waveguide module; and a light source module The light incident portion is optically coupled to the second light guide region, and the light source module transmits a second light signal to the second port through the second light guide region, and the second port transmits the second light signal To the external device. The optical transceiver sub-assembly of claim 1, further comprising a substrate, wherein the optical waveguide module, the optical detection module, and the light source module are respectively disposed on the substrate. The optical transceiver sub-assembly of claim 1, wherein the first light guiding area comprises at least one first optical channel, each of the first optical channels comprising a first input end and a first output end, the first The input end is optically coupled to the transmitting portion, the first output end is optically coupled to the light exiting portion, the second light guiding region includes at least one second optical channel, and each of the second optical channels includes a second input end And a second output end, the second input end is optically coupled to the light incident portion, and the second output end is optically coupled to the transfer portion. The optical transceiver sub-assembly of claim 3, wherein the adjacent second input ends are separated by a first distance, and the adjacent second output ends are separated by a second distance, the first distance is not Equal to the second distance. The optical transceiver sub-assembly of claim 2, further comprising an optical isolator disposed on the substrate between the light source module and the light incident portion, and optically coupled to the light source module and the light incident The optical isolator includes a first magnetic body, a second magnetic body and a Faraday rotator. The Faraday rotator is disposed between the first magnetic body and the second magnetic body, and the second magnetic body is located The Faraday rotor is between the substrate and the substrate. The optical transceiver sub-assembly of claim 1 further includes a current-voltage converter electrically coupled to the optical detection module for converting a current signal generated by the optical detection module into a voltage signal . The optical transceiver secondary component of claim 1, wherein the light source module comprises a light emitting component and a control The illuminating unit emits the second optical signal. The control unit is electrically connected and optically coupled to the illuminating element for controlling a transmitting power of the illuminating element according to a illuminating brightness of the illuminating element. The optical transceiver sub-assembly of claim 1, wherein the first port includes at least one first fiber, and the second port comprises at least one second fiber, the at least one first fiber, and the at least one second fiber The optical coupling is coupled to the transmission portion. The optical transceiver module of claim 1, further comprising a housing, wherein the optical connection module is coupled to the housing, and at least partially exposes the housing, the light detecting module, the light source The module and the optical waveguide module are disposed in the housing. An optical transceiver subassembly manufacturing method includes: fixing an optical waveguide module on a substrate, the optical waveguide module includes a first light guiding region and a second light guiding region, and the optical waveguide module has an input a light emitting portion, a light emitting portion and a transmitting portion, the transmitting portion is optically coupled to a first connecting port and a second connecting port of an optical connecting module; and a light detecting module is aligned with the light emitting portion, The light detecting module includes a light detecting component and a lens unit; the light detecting module is fixed; and the light source module is aligned with the light incident portion, comprising: fixing the light detecting component on the substrate; a positioning portion of the lens unit is disposed on an upper surface of the optical waveguide module; an incident end of the lens unit is aligned with the light exit portion; Aligning an exit end of the lens unit with the light detecting element; and fixing the light source module on the substrate. The optical transceiver module manufacturing method of claim 10, wherein the step of fixing the light detecting module comprises: fixing the positioning portion to the upper surface of the optical waveguide module. The optical transceiver sub-assembly manufacturing method of claim 10, further comprising: fixing a current-voltage converter on the substrate, and electrically connecting to the light detecting module. The optical transceiver module manufacturing method of claim 10, further comprising: fixing an optical isolator on the substrate between the light source module and the light incident portion, and optically coupling the light source module to the light source module Light department. The optical transceiver module manufacturing method of claim 10, further comprising combining the optical connection module and the substrate with a casing, wherein the substrate is fixed in the casing, and the optical connection module is at least a part The housing is exposed.