Optical module, method for manufacturing optical module and optical communication apparatus
View Patent ↗An optical module for an optical device and an optical fiber is constituted by a pre-molded plastic package. In forming the plastic package, the main flowing direction of the molding resin is substantially parallel with the optical axis of the optical fiber. The optical module is formed by molding the resin by injection using pressure and then solidifying the resin. When the plastic package is formed by comprehensive molding, the flowing direction of the resin is parallel with the optical axis direction of the optical fiber to be installed in the optical module. As a result, for comprehensive molding, the molding pressure applied to the optical fiber is reduced. By using the resin case that is formed, the resulting package exhibits high rigidity and low thermal expansion properties in connection with the flowing direction of the resin, thus reducing the external stress and thermal stress applied to the optical fiber.
1. An optical module comprising:
a resin case type plastic package having a base and a cap,
a lead frame formed integrally with said base,
a die pad extended from said lead frame,
a cavity formed mainly by said base and said cap,
a substrate mounted on said die pad,
optical devices mounted on said substrate, wherein a V groove is provided in said base, the base having a first U groove, a second U groove and a projection, and the projection is formed between said cavity and the second U groove, and the first U groove is provided in the projection,
an optical fiber having a bare fiber portion and a jacket covering portion covering the bare fiber portion; the bare fiber portion being fixed to the V groove and the first U groove; the jacket covering portion being fixed to the second U groove,
wherein each depth of the first and second U grooves is formed so that the height of fiber increases from extreme end thereof at the V groove portion to the U Groove, and
said optical fiber is fixed so that said optical fiber has flexure at the portion between the V groove and the second U groove, and
said optical devices and the extreme end of said optical fiber are encapsulated with transparent silicon resin gel.
2. An optical module according to claim 1 , wherein a refractive index of said transparent silicon resin gel matches that of said optical fiber.
3. An optical module according to claim 1 , wherein said optical device, the end of said optical fiber optically coupled to said optical device, and said substrate are placed inside said resin case type plastic package.
4. An optical module according to claim 1 , wherein said resin case type plastic package is formed by transfer molding.
5. An optical module according to claim 1 , wherein said Substrate is a silicon substrate.