Optical connector

摘要

An optical connector electrically connects a surface-implemented type optical element held at a position separated by a predetermined distance from a wiring substrate and a wiring pattern of the wiring substrate. A surface-implemented type optical element is held at a height position apart from the bottom of the connector housing by a predetermined distance within an element-storing depression of the connector housing. The back of the element-storing depression has an opening that is closed by a lid portion. A lead frame is provided in the lid portion. A connecting portion on one end of the lead frame is in contact with an electrode portion of the optical element within the element-storing depression. A soldering portion on an other end of the lead frame is exposed to the outside of the connector housing to be soldered to a wiring pattern of a wiring substrate. A lock-associating portion with a lock piece is integrally provided on the bottom surface side of the connector housing. The lock piece is supported at a position separated from the bottom surface side of the connector housing by a distance equal to the thickness of a wiring substrate. By sliding an optical connector on the wiring substrate, the lock piece is abutted to the lower surface side of the wiring substrate to prevent lifting the connector housing from the wiring substrate. The optical element is held in the element-storing depression of the connector housing to be optically connected to an optical fiber held by the optical connector of the other party. The optical element is surface-mounted on an implementation-extending portion of the wiring substrate, and is inserted from the back side opening to be laid in the element-storing depression.