Optical communication module

摘要

An optical communication module includes an optical element array, a supporting member on which the optical element array is placed, an optical member for optically coupling the optical element array and a plurality of optical fibers together, a plurality of grooves provided in the supporting member or the optical member, and a plurality of protrusions provided on the optical member or the supporting member in correspondence with the grooves respectively. The grooves and the protrusions are mated together. The grooves are provided as being widened toward their openings. The grooves and the protrusions are each provided so that a location in a width direction at which no relative locational misalignment occurs therebetween lies on a line through the center of the optical element array. The grooves and the protrusions are each provided on at least two or more different lines through the center of the optical element array.

主权项

1. An optical communication module, comprising:
an optical element array comprising light emitting or receiving elements arranged in an array; a supporting member on which the optical element array is placed; a plurality of optical fibers optically connected to the optical element array; an optical member for optically coupling the optical element array and the optical fibers together; a plurality of grooves provided in the supporting member or the optical member; and a plurality of protrusions provided on the optical member or the supporting member in correspondence with the grooves respectively, wherein the grooves and the protrusions are mated together to thereby place the optical member on the supporting member and to position the optical member relative to the optical element array, wherein the grooves are provided as being widened toward their openings, or the protrusions are provided as being widened toward their base ends, to allow interference of the grooves and the protrusions at a time of expansion or contraction of the optical member to vary a distance between the supporting member and the optical member, wherein the grooves and the protrusions are each provided in such a manner that a location in a width direction thereof in which no relative locational misalignment occurs between the grooves and the protrusions at the time of expansion or contraction of the optical member lies on a line through a center of the optical element array in a plan view, wherein the grooves and the protrusions are each provided on at least two or more different lines through the center of the optical element array in a plan view, and wherein the grooves or the protrusions are provided in a V shape in cross section in the width direction thereof, and the V shape grooves or the V shape protrusions are provided in such a manner that their respective center location directions in the width direction thereof lie on the at least two or more different lines, respectively, through the center of the optical element array in the plan view.