Tunable laser module and optical module
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202521917818.X
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-09-05
- Publication Date
- 2026-08-21
- Estimated Expiration
- 2035-09-05
AI Technical Summary
[0003]集成可调谐激光器组件的工作条件要求很严格,通常需要气密封装在封装壳体内,再通过壳体外的电路板组件调控激光器来调谐输出波长等,常用技术中,可调谐激光器与电路板组件连接的可靠性存在不足,而如果为了提高连接的可靠性,多零件的加固措施又使得可调谐激光器组件的体积偏大,且不便于组装及返工
[0019] Compared with commonly used technologies, this application has the following advantages: the tunable laser and circuit board assembly are fixed on the same base, and the tunable laser is pressed onto the base by a positioning component. The positioning component and the base are aligned by a first limiting structure and a second limiting structure, and then detachably connected by a first fastener, which enables quick alignment and disassembly, facilitating assembly and rework. The simplified structure also makes the tunable laser module smaller in size. Moreover, the limiting structure can prevent the positioning component from rotating relative to the base, ensuring that the positioning component can reliably press the tunable laser onto the base, thereby improving the reliability of the tunable laser module and the convenience of installation and maintenance.
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Figure CN224669228U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This application relates to the field of optical communication technology, and in particular to a tunable laser module and optical module. Background Technology
[0002] With the rapid development of optical communication technology, integrated tunable laser assemblies (ITLAs) have become an important light source device, widely used in fiber optic communication, fiber optic sensing, and other fields. ITLAs can adjust the wavelength and power of the output light according to requirements, providing greater flexibility and performance.
[0003] Integrated tunable laser components have stringent operating requirements, typically needing to be hermetically sealed within a housing. The output wavelength is then tuned via a circuit board assembly outside the housing. Commonly used technologies suffer from insufficient reliability in the connection between the tunable laser and the circuit board assembly. While strengthening the connection with multiple components can improve reliability, this results in a bulky tunable laser component that is difficult to assemble and rework. In other words, commonly used tunable laser component structures cannot simultaneously achieve miniaturization, reliability, and ease of assembly. Summary of the Invention
[0004] The purpose of this application is to provide a tunable laser module and optical module that is smaller in size, has higher reliability, and is easy to assemble and rework.
[0005] To achieve the above-mentioned utility model objectives, one embodiment of this application provides a tunable laser module, including a circuit board assembly, a tunable laser, and a fixing assembly; The tunable laser includes a housing and a laser assembly, the laser assembly being encapsulated within the housing; the circuit board assembly is electrically connected to the tunable laser to control its operation. The fixing component includes a base, a positioning element, and a first fastener; the base includes a first mounting portion, a second mounting portion, and a first connecting portion, the first connecting portion and the second mounting portion being connected to the first mounting portion; the tunable laser is placed in the first mounting portion, the positioning element is detachably fixed to the first connecting portion by the first fastener, and the circuit board is fixed to the second mounting portion; The positioning element is located on the side of the tunable laser away from the first mounting part. The positioning element cooperates with the base to clamp the encapsulation housing, thereby fixing the tunable laser to the first mounting part. The first connecting part is provided with a first limiting structure, and the positioning member is provided with a second limiting structure. The first limiting structure and the second limiting structure cooperate with each other to restrict the rotation of the positioning member.
[0006] As a further improvement of this application, one of the first limiting structure and the second limiting structure is a protrusion and the other is a groove, with the protrusion embedded in the groove.
[0007] As a further improvement of this application, the first connecting portion is provided with the groove, the positioning member is provided with the protrusion, and the groove and the protrusion are opposite to each other.
[0008] As a further improvement of this application, the positioning member includes a pressure plate and a second connecting portion. The pressure plate presses against the tunable laser. The second connecting portion is disposed opposite to the first connecting portion. The second connecting portion is provided with the groove, and the first connecting portion is provided with the protrusion. The groove and the protrusion are opposite to each other.
[0009] As a further improvement of this application, the protrusion protrudes from the upper surface of the first connecting portion toward the second connecting portion, and the groove is recessed inward from the lower surface of the second connecting portion.
[0010] As a further improvement of this application, the first connecting portion protrudes from one side of the surface of the first mounting portion toward the positioning member, and the second connecting portion protrudes from one side of the surface of the pressure plate toward the first connecting portion.
[0011] As a further improvement of this application, the first connecting part is provided with a connecting hole, and the second connecting part is provided with a through hole. The through hole penetrates the upper and lower surfaces of the second connecting part, and the first fastener passes through the through hole and is detachably connected to the connecting hole. The groove connects the through hole and the outer wall of the second connecting part, and the protrusion on the first connecting part is provided with a relief groove on the side facing the through hole to avoid the first fastener.
[0012] As a further improvement to this application, the number of the first fasteners is one.
[0013] As a further improvement of this application, the tunable laser further includes a plurality of pins, which are disposed on the side of the package housing facing the circuit board assembly. One end of the plurality of pins is electrically connected to the laser assembly inside the package housing; the other end of the plurality of pins is soldered to the circuit board assembly for electrical connection with the circuit board assembly. The first mounting portion has a first upper surface, the second mounting portion has a second upper surface, the second upper surface is higher than the first upper surface, the encapsulation housing is placed on the first upper surface, and the circuit board assembly is placed on the second upper surface.
[0014] As a further improvement of this application, an optical interface is provided on one side of the packaging housing, and the optical interface is configured to connect to an optical fiber connector to transmit the optical signal output by the laser assembly; the optical interface and the pin are respectively located on different sides of the packaging housing, and the first connecting part of the base is located on the side of the packaging housing away from the optical interface or away from the pin.
[0015] As a further improvement of this application, the size of the second mounting portion is smaller than the size of the circuit board assembly, the circuit board assembly is partially stacked on the second mounting portion, and the fixing component further includes a plurality of second fasteners, the circuit board assembly being detachably fixed to the second mounting portion by the second fasteners.
[0016] As a further improvement of this application, the tunable laser module further includes a buffer layer disposed between the tunable laser and the positioning member.
[0017] As a further improvement of this application, the tunable laser module further includes a thermally conductive layer disposed between the packaging housing and the base.
[0018] To achieve one of the above-mentioned objectives of the utility model, one embodiment of this application provides an optical module, characterized in that it includes the above-mentioned tunable laser module.
[0019] Compared with commonly used technologies, this application has the following advantages: the tunable laser and circuit board assembly are fixed on the same base, and the tunable laser is pressed onto the base by a positioning component. The positioning component and the base are aligned by a first limiting structure and a second limiting structure, and then detachably connected by a first fastener, which enables quick alignment and disassembly, facilitating assembly and rework. The simplified structure also makes the tunable laser module smaller in size. Moreover, the limiting structure can prevent the positioning component from rotating relative to the base, ensuring that the positioning component can reliably press the tunable laser onto the base, thereby improving the reliability of the tunable laser module and the convenience of installation and maintenance. Attached Figure Description
[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a tunable laser according to an embodiment of this application from one viewpoint; Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the tunable laser from another perspective; Figure 3 This is an exploded view of a tunable laser according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view of a tunable laser according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 5 This is an exploded view of a tunable laser removing an optoelectronic component according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a base according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a positioning element according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the structure in which the base and the positioning member are connected by a first connector according to an embodiment of this application; Among them, 100 is a tunable laser module; 10 is a tunable laser; 11 is a package housing; 111 is a fourth sidewall; 12 is a laser assembly; 13 is an optical interface; 14 is a pin; 20 is a circuit board assembly; 30 is a fixing assembly; 31 is a base; 311 is a first mounting part; 3110 is a first upper surface; 312 is a first connecting part; 3120 is a second sidewall; 3121 is a first limiting structure; and 3121a is a protrusion. 31211, Third sidewall; 31212, Clearance groove; 3122, Connecting hole; 313, Second mounting part; 3130, Second upper surface; 32, Positioning element; 321, Second limiting structure; 321a, Groove; 322, Pressure plate; 323, Second connecting part; 3231, First sidewall; 324, Through hole; 33, First fastener; 40, Second fastener; 50, Buffer layer; 60, Thermal conductive layer; 70, Fiber optic connector. Detailed Implementation
[0021] The present application will now be described in detail with reference to the specific embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. However, these embodiments do not limit the present application, and any structural, methodological, or functional modifications made by those skilled in the art based on these embodiments are included within the scope of protection of this application.
[0022] It should be understood that terms such as “above,” “over,” “below,” and “under” used herein to indicate spatial relative position are for illustrative purposes to describe the relationship of one unit or feature relative to another unit or feature as shown in the accompanying drawings. The terms “spatial relative position” may be intended to include different orientations of the equipment in use or operation other than those shown in the figures.
[0023] One embodiment of this application provides a tunable laser module with a more stable and reliable structure, and which is convenient for assembly and rework.
[0024] The tunable laser module 100 in this embodiment includes a circuit board assembly 20, a tunable laser 10, and a fixing assembly 30. Figure 1 and Figure 2 Both diagrams show structural schematics of the tunable laser module 100. Figure 3 An exploded view of the tunable laser module 100 is shown. The tunable laser 10 is an integrated tunable laser assembly (ITLA), comprising a housing 11 and an externally tunable laser assembly 12. The laser assembly 12 is encapsulated within the housing 11 and is used to generate wavelength-tunable optical signals. The tunable laser can adjust the wavelength and power of the output light according to the input control electrical signal, meeting the high flexibility requirements of applications such as optical communication and fiber optic sensing.
[0025] The enclosure 11 is typically designed in a cuboid shape for easy installation and fixation. For example... Figure 2 and 3 As shown, the package housing 11 has multiple pins 14 on the side facing the circuit board assembly 20. One end of each pin 14 is electrically connected to the laser assembly 12 inside the package housing 11; the other end of each pin 14 is soldered to the circuit board assembly 20 for electrical connection. The sidewall of the package housing 11 is typically provided with conductive terminals connecting the inside and outside of the package housing 11, and the pins 14 are electrically connected to the laser assembly 12 inside the package housing 11 through the conductive terminals.
[0026] The circuit board assembly 20 is electrically connected to the tunable laser 10 to control the operation of the tunable laser. The circuit board assembly 20 typically includes a circuit board, as well as drive circuitry and control chips disposed on the circuit board. Pins 14 are typically soldered to and electrically connected to the circuit board assembly 20, thereby fixing the circuit board assembly 20 relative to the tunable laser 10 and ensuring the reliability of the electrical connection.
[0027] The fixing component 30 is used to stably fix the tunable laser 10 to the circuit board assembly 20, and for heat dissipation. For example... Figures 1-3 As shown, in this embodiment, the fixing component 30 includes a base 31, a positioning member 32, and a first fastener 33. The base 31 is the structural foundation of the tunable laser module 100 and is made of a high-strength, high-thermal-conductivity material (such as metal) to provide stable support and heat dissipation.
[0028] In this embodiment, the base 31 includes a first mounting portion 311, a second mounting portion 313, and a first connecting portion 312. The first mounting portion 311 is used to support the tunable laser 10. The second mounting portion 313 is connected to the first mounting portion 311 and is used to fix the circuit board assembly 20. The first connecting portion 312 is connected to the first mounting portion 311, and a first limiting structure 3121 is provided on the first connecting portion 312. That is, the tunable laser 10 is placed on the first mounting portion 311, and the circuit board assembly 20 is fixed on the second mounting portion 313.
[0029] The positioning member 32 is located on the side of the tunable laser 10 away from the first mounting portion 311. The first fastener 33 is used to detachably fix the positioning member 32 to the first connecting portion 312 of the base 31, so that the positioning member 32 cooperates with the base 31 to clamp the encapsulation housing 11, thereby fixing the tunable laser 10 to the first mounting portion 311.
[0030] In this embodiment, the positioning member 32 is provided with a second limiting structure 321. The second limiting structure 321 cooperates with the first limiting structure 3121 of the first connecting part 312, thereby effectively limiting the rotation of the positioning member 32 relative to the base 31, and ensuring that the positioning member 32 can be quickly aligned with the base 31 during installation, and remain stable during long-term use, avoiding rotational deviation caused by external force, vibration or long-term stress.
[0031] To clearly illustrate the position and orientation described in this embodiment, in this embodiment, the positioning element 32 is defined as being located above the base 31. The base 31 and the positioning element 32 clamp the encapsulation housing 11 from the vertical direction, respectively. The vertical direction can also be referenced. Figure 2 The arrow in the image indicates the direction.
[0032] In this embodiment, the encapsulation housing 11 is configured in the shape of a cuboid. The length direction of the cuboid can be parallel to the left-right direction, the width direction is the front-back direction, and the height direction is the up-down direction. For example... Figures 1-4 As shown, an optical interface 13 is provided at the left end of the package housing 11, the circuit board assembly 20 is located behind the package housing 11, and pins 14 are located on the rear side of the package housing 11. The optical interface 13 is configured to connect to the fiber optic connector 70 to transmit the optical signal output by the laser assembly 12. In this embodiment, the optical interface 13 and pins 14 are respectively located on different sides of the package housing 11, and the first connecting portion 312 of the base 31 is located on the side of the package housing 11 opposite to the optical interface 13 or opposite to the pins 14.
[0033] The assembly process of the tunable laser module 100 is as follows: After soldering and fixing the pins 14 of the tunable laser to the circuit board assembly 20, the tunable laser 10 and the circuit board assembly 20 are placed together on the base 31, so that the tunable laser 10 is located on the first mounting part 311 and the circuit board assembly 20 is located on the second mounting part 313. Then, the positioning member 32 is pressed onto the tunable laser 10, and the second limiting structure 321 cooperates with the first limiting structure 3121 to quickly guide the positioning member 32 to be positioned with the first connecting part 312. Then, the positioning member 32 and the first connecting part 312 are fixed together by the first fastener 33.
[0034] The entire assembly process utilizes the guiding function of the first limiting structure 3121 and the second limiting structure 321, and the fixing method of the first fastener 33, significantly reducing installation difficulty and time costs. During disassembly, simply removing the first fastener 33 loosens the positioning component 32, facilitating rework or maintenance.
[0035] The above-described structure and assembly process demonstrate the following technical advantages of this application: In this embodiment, the tunable laser 10 and the circuit board assembly 20 are fixed to the same base 31. The positioning member 32 presses the package housing 11 of the tunable laser 10 onto the first mounting portion 311 of the base 31 via the pressure plate 322. The clamping force applied by the first fastener 33 ensures the stability of the package housing 11 in the vertical direction, avoiding displacement or tilting caused by external forces or vibrations, effectively protecting the solder pins 14 from the risk of bending or breakage, and significantly improving the mechanical reliability and long service life of the tunable laser module 100.
[0036] In this embodiment, there is only one first fastener 33. That is, using the fixing component of this application, only a single fastener is needed to fix the positioning member 32 and the first connecting part 312, such as a single screw, and the tunable laser 10 is fixed by one first fastener 33.
[0037] The single first fastener 33, in conjunction with the first limiting structure 3121 and the second limiting structure 321, not only restricts the rotation of the positioning component 32, but also provides precise guidance during installation, enabling the positioning component 32 to quickly align with the base 31. For the integrated and miniaturized tunable laser module 100, compared to the fixing method of multiple bolts, the single first fastener 33 can occupy as little space as possible, which is conducive to the rational use of space and thus achieves miniaturized packaging.
[0038] On the other hand, the design of a single first fastener 33 simplifies the assembly and disassembly process, requiring only a simple screwing to fix or loosen it, greatly facilitating production assembly and rework maintenance. Compared to traditional multi-screw or adhesive fixing solutions, this design reduces installation steps and time, significantly lowering operational complexity and time costs, and improving production efficiency.
[0039] By integrating the tunable laser 10 and the circuit board assembly 20 onto the same base 31 and securing them with the first fastener 33, the number of parts and the space occupied by the fixing assembly 30 are reduced.
[0040] Meanwhile, this embodiment also avoids the problem of rotation of the positioning member 32 by interlocking the first limiting structure 3121 and the second limiting structure 321. Therefore, only one connection hole 3122, through hole 324 and first fastener 33 are required to meet the connection needs.
[0041] The single connecting hole 3122, through hole 324, and first fastener 33 utilize a minimal number of parts, reducing manufacturing costs, optimizing space utilization, and meeting the miniaturization requirements of ITLA. Furthermore, the use of only one first fastener 33 for fixation reduces installation steps, significantly improving production efficiency and facilitating maintenance and rework. The combination of a single bolt and a limiting structure also provides sufficient clamping force to ensure that the positioning element 32 reliably presses against the tunable laser 10, maintaining the stability of the tunable laser module 100.
[0042] In this embodiment, the first limiting structure 3121 and the second limiting structure 321 are respectively a protrusion 3121a and a groove 321a. The cooperation between the first limiting structure 3121 and the second limiting structure 321 is the cooperation between the protrusion 3121a and the groove 321a, that is, the protrusion 3121a is embedded in the groove 321a to form a snap-fit cooperation.
[0043] Specifically, in this embodiment, as follows: Figure 3 , 4 As shown in Figure 5, the first limiting structure 3121 on the first connecting part 312 is designed as a protrusion 3121a, which protrudes upward from the upper surface of the first connecting part 312. The second limiting structure 321 is designed as a groove 321a, which is recessed inward from the side of the positioning member 32, and its shape perfectly matches the protrusion 3121a.
[0044] For example, the protrusion 3121a can be a rectangle or other polygon, and the groove 321a can be a shape corresponding to the rectangle or other polygon. The protrusion 3121a cannot rotate within the groove 321a. The mating of the protrusion 3121a and the groove 321a allows the positioning member 32 to be directly installed in place, achieving rapid alignment. Furthermore, it prevents the positioning member 32 from rotating relative to the base 31, ensuring that the positioning member 32 is stably pressed against the encapsulation housing 11 of the tunable laser 10. Additionally, the height of the groove 321a in the vertical direction is not less than the height of the protrusion 3121a, so as to completely accommodate the protrusion 3121a.
[0045] In other feasible implementations, the first limiting structure 3121 can be set as a groove 321a, and the second limiting structure 321 can be set as a protrusion 3121a that cooperates with it. For example, the first connecting part 312 is provided with a groove 321a, and the positioning member 32 is provided with a protrusion 3121a. The groove 321a is opposite to the protrusion 3121a, which can also achieve the purpose of limiting rotation and quick alignment.
[0046] Returning to this embodiment, during assembly, the positioning member 32 is placed above the tunable laser 10, aligning the groove 321a with the protrusion 3121a. As the positioning member 32 presses downwards, the protrusion 3121a gradually embeds into the groove 321a until it is fully engaged. The contact surfaces of the protrusion 3121a and the groove 321a fit tightly together, forming a stable engagement. This engagement restricts the rotational freedom of the positioning member 32 in the horizontal plane (a plane perpendicular to the vertical direction), preventing the positioning member 32 from rotating relative to the base 31.
[0047] In this embodiment, the positioning member 32 includes a pressure plate 322 and a second connecting part 323. The pressure plate 322 presses against the tunable laser 10. The second connecting part 323 is disposed opposite to the first connecting part 312. The second limiting structure 321 is configured as a groove 321a located on the second connecting part 323. The first limiting structure 3121 is configured as a protrusion 3121a. The protrusion 3121a protrudes from the upper surface of the first connecting part 312 toward the second connecting part 323. The groove 321a is recessed inward from the lower surface of the second connecting part 323.
[0048] like Figure 5 As shown, the first connecting portion 312 protrudes from one side of the surface of the first mounting portion 311 toward the positioning member 32, and the second connecting portion 323 protrudes from one side of the surface of the pressure plate 322 toward the first connecting portion 312.
[0049] The pressure plate 322 and the second connecting part 323 can be integrally formed. The pressure plate 322 is a flat plate structure that extends along the length direction (i.e., the left-right direction) of the tunable laser 10 and covers part of the upper surface of the tunable laser 10. The bottom surface of the pressure plate 322 is parallel to the upper surface of the encapsulation housing 11 of the tunable laser 10 to ensure maximum contact area and apply uniform clamping force.
[0050] The second connecting portion 323 extends downward from one end of the pressure plate 322, and the bottom surface of the second connecting portion 323 is disposed opposite to the first connecting portion 312 of the base 31. The second connecting portion 323 is provided with a groove 321a, which serves as a second limiting structure 321.
[0051] like Figure 7 As shown, the second connecting portion 323 includes a first sidewall 3231, from which a groove 321a is formed by a partial indentation; the first connecting portion 312 has a second sidewall 3120; and the protrusion 3121a has a third sidewall 31211, as shown. Figure 8 As shown, the planes containing the first sidewall 3231, the second sidewall 3120, and the third sidewall 31211 are all located on the first plane, making the overall fixing structure more compact and avoiding the positioning component 32 from occupying unnecessary space.
[0052] Additionally, the encapsulation housing 11 includes a fourth sidewall 111 at the end away from the optical interface 13, the fourth sidewall 111 being disposed opposite to the first plane.
[0053] The first plane ensures that the positioning element 32 and the base 31 form a unified lateral support surface during installation. The multi-point surface contact support effectively prevents the tunable laser 10 from rotating or shifting on the horizontal plane, thus enhancing the mechanical stability of the tunable laser module 100.
[0054] like Figure 3-6 As shown, the first connecting part 312 is provided with a connecting hole 3122, and the second connecting part 323 is provided with a through hole 324. The through hole 324 penetrates the upper and lower surfaces of the second connecting part 323. The first fastener 33 passes through the through hole 324 and is detachably connected to the connecting hole 3122. The positioning member 32 and the first connecting part 312 are fixedly connected by the first fastener 33.
[0055] The groove 321a connects the through hole 324 and the outer wall of the second connecting part 323. The protrusion 3121a on the first connecting part 312 has a clearance groove 31212 on the side facing the through hole 324 to avoid interference with the first fastener 33. In this embodiment, the groove 321a communicates with the through hole 324, resulting in a compact structure, saving space, and reducing the size of the positioning member 32. Simultaneously, the protrusion 3121a has a clearance groove 31212 to avoid interference with the first fastener 33.
[0056] Accordingly, in this embodiment, the number of connecting holes 3122 and through holes 324 is also set to one. Specifically, in this embodiment, the connecting hole 3122 is a threaded hole, located on the upper surface of the first connecting portion 312, extending in the vertical direction. The through hole 324 is aligned with the connecting hole 3122, and its size allows the first fastener 33 to pass through. In this embodiment, the first fastener 33 is a bolt, for example... Figure 3 As shown, the first fastener 33 is a countersunk bolt, and the through hole 324 includes a countersunk groove to accommodate the bolt head, ensuring a flat surface after fixing. The first fastener 33 passes through the through hole 324 and is screwed into the connecting hole 3122, detachably fixing the positioning member 32 to the base 31 and pressing the tunable laser 10.
[0057] During assembly, the first fastener 33 passes through the through hole 324 and is screwed into the connecting hole 3122 to secure the positioning component 32. During disassembly, the positioning component 32 can be easily removed by unscrewing the first fastener 33.
[0058] In some embodiments, the fixing component 30 further includes a plurality of second fasteners 40, through which the circuit board assembly 20 is detachably fixed to the second mounting portion 313.
[0059] The second mounting part 313 is provided with a plurality of threaded holes. The second fastener 40 can be configured as a bolt. The plurality of second fasteners 40 pass through the corresponding holes on the circuit board assembly 20 and are screwed into the threaded holes to detachably fix the circuit board assembly 20.
[0060] The first fastener 33 and the second fastener 40 are both connected to the base 31 along the same connection direction.
[0061] The first fastener 33 is used to fix the positioning component 32 and is screwed into the first connecting part 312 of the base 31 in the vertical direction. The second fastener 40 is installed in the same vertical direction as the first fastener 33. The unified installation direction simplifies the assembly and disassembly process and improves production efficiency.
[0062] The size of the second mounting portion 313 is smaller than that of the circuit board assembly 20, and the circuit board assembly 20 is partially stacked on the second mounting portion 313. In the projection in the connection direction, that is, in the projection in the vertical direction, the second mounting portion 313 and the circuit board assembly 20 partially overlap, and a portion of the circuit board assembly 20 covers the second mounting portion 313, reducing the horizontal space occupied and meeting the miniaturization requirements of ITLA.
[0063] In some embodiments, the first mounting portion 311 has a first upper surface 3110, and the second mounting portion 313 has a second upper surface 3130, which is higher than the first upper surface 3110. The encapsulation housing 11 is placed on the first upper surface 3110, and the circuit board assembly 20 is placed on the second upper surface 3130. The first mounting portion 311 and the second mounting portion 313 are set at different heights to adapt to the relative height of the circuit board assembly 20 and the tunable laser 10, raising the circuit board assembly 20 so that it can be soldered above the pins 14 of the tunable laser, making the structure of the entire tunable laser module 100 more compact. In addition, the base 31 corresponding to the first mounting portion 311 is thinner, which also helps to dissipate heat from the tunable laser 10.
[0064] In some embodiments, the tunable laser module 100 further includes a buffer layer 50 disposed between the tunable laser 10 and the positioning member 32.
[0065] The buffer layer 50, made of a flexible material such as silicone or a rubber pad, is placed between the upper surface of the encapsulation housing 11 of the tunable laser 10 and the bottom surface of the pressure plate 322 of the positioning member 32. Figure 3-5 As shown, the buffer layer 50 extends along the length of the tunable laser 10, has a uniform thickness, and covers the main contact area.
[0066] When the positioning element 32 is pressed, the buffer layer 50 undergoes slight deformation under pressure, filling the tiny gaps between the contact surfaces. Upon disassembly, the buffer layer 50 returns to its original shape, allowing for reuse.
[0067] Due to factors such as surface roughness, production precision, and assembly tolerances during assembly, the tunable laser 10 may experience problems such as excessively tight clamping or loose clamping in some areas during the clamping process of the positioning component 32. The design of the buffer layer 50 can absorb the assembly tolerances generated during the installation of the tunable laser 10, increase the fault tolerance of the installation process, improve the reliability of the assembly, and avoid the problem of needing excessive force to clamp the positioning component 32 tightly.
[0068] In some embodiments, the tunable laser module 100 further includes a heat-conducting layer 60 disposed between the encapsulation housing 11 and the base 31 to dissipate heat from the tunable laser 10.
[0069] The thermally conductive layer 60, made of a highly thermally conductive material such as a phase change material or thermally conductive silicone, is placed between the bottom surface of the encapsulation housing 11 of the tunable laser 10 and the first upper surface 3110 of the first mounting portion 311 of the base 31. The thermally conductive layer 60 extends along the length of the encapsulation housing 11 and has a moderate thickness to ensure good thermal conductivity. During installation, the thermally conductive layer 60 is slightly compressed to fill the gaps between the contact surfaces, conducting heat to the base 31 and reducing the operating temperature.
[0070] In addition, this embodiment also provides an optical module, which includes the tunable laser module 100 described above.
[0071] Compared with the prior art, this embodiment has the following beneficial effects: The tunable laser 10 and the circuit board assembly 20 are fixed to the same base 31, and the tunable laser 10 is pressed onto the base 31 by the positioning member 32. The positioning member 32 and the base 31 are aligned by the cooperation of the first limiting structure 3121 and the second limiting structure 321, and are detachably connected by the first fastener 33. This allows for quick alignment and disassembly, facilitating assembly and rework. The simplified structure also makes the tunable laser module 100 smaller. Moreover, the limiting structure prevents the positioning member 32 from rotating relative to the base 31, ensuring that the positioning member 32 can reliably press the tunable laser 10 onto the base 31, thereby improving the reliability of the tunable laser module 100 and the convenience of installation and maintenance.
[0072] It should be understood that although this specification describes embodiments, not every embodiment contains only one independent technical solution. This way of describing the specification is only for clarity. Those skilled in the art should regard the specification as a whole. The technical solutions in each embodiment can also be appropriately combined to form other embodiments that can be understood by those skilled in the art.
[0073] The detailed descriptions listed above are merely specific descriptions of feasible implementation methods of this application and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this application. All equivalent implementation methods or modifications made without departing from the spirit of the art of this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application.
Claims
1. A tunable laser module, comprising a circuit board assembly, a tunable laser, and a fixing assembly, characterized in that, The tunable laser includes a housing and a laser assembly, the laser assembly being encapsulated within the housing; the circuit board assembly is electrically connected to the tunable laser to control its operation. The fixing component includes a base, a positioning element, and a first fastener; the base includes a first mounting portion, a second mounting portion, and a first connecting portion, the first connecting portion and the second mounting portion being connected to the first mounting portion; the tunable laser is placed in the first mounting portion, the positioning element is detachably fixed to the first connecting portion by the first fastener, and the circuit board is fixed to the second mounting portion; The positioning element is located on the side of the tunable laser away from the first mounting part. The positioning element cooperates with the base to clamp the encapsulation housing, thereby fixing the tunable laser to the first mounting part. The first connecting part is provided with a first limiting structure, and the positioning member is provided with a second limiting structure. The first limiting structure and the second limiting structure cooperate with each other to restrict the rotation of the positioning member.
2. The tunable laser module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first limiting structure and the second limiting structure are respectively a protrusion and a groove, with the protrusion embedded in the groove.
3. The tunable laser module according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first connecting portion is provided with the groove, and the positioning member is provided with the protrusion, with the groove and the protrusion facing each other.
4. The tunable laser module according to claim 2, characterized in that, The positioning component includes a pressure plate and a second connecting part. The pressure plate presses against the tunable laser. The second connecting part is disposed opposite to the first connecting part. The second connecting part is provided with the groove, and the first connecting part is provided with the protrusion. The groove and the protrusion are opposite to each other.
5. The tunable laser module according to claim 4, characterized in that, The protrusion extends from the upper surface of the first connecting part toward the second connecting part, and the groove is recessed inward from the lower surface of the second connecting part.
6. The tunable laser module according to claim 5, characterized in that, The first connecting portion protrudes from one side of the surface of the first mounting portion toward the positioning member, and the second connecting portion protrudes from one side of the surface of the pressure plate toward the first connecting portion.
7. The tunable laser module according to claim 6, characterized in that, The first connecting part is provided with a connecting hole, and the second connecting part is provided with a through hole. The through hole penetrates the upper and lower surfaces of the second connecting part, and the first fastener passes through the through hole and is detachably connected to the connecting hole. The groove connects the through hole and the outer wall of the second connecting part, and the protrusion on the first connecting part is provided with a relief groove on the side facing the through hole to avoid the first fastener.
8. The tunable laser module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The number of the first fastener is one.
9. The tunable laser module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The tunable laser also includes a plurality of pins, which are located on the side of the package housing facing the circuit board assembly. One end of the plurality of pins is electrically connected to the laser assembly inside the package housing, and the other end of the plurality of pins is soldered to the circuit board assembly for electrical connection with the circuit board assembly. The first mounting portion has a first upper surface, the second mounting portion has a second upper surface, the second upper surface is higher than the first upper surface, the encapsulation housing is placed on the first upper surface, and the circuit board assembly is placed on the second upper surface.
10. The tunable laser module according to claim 9, characterized in that, An optical interface is provided on one side of the encapsulation housing, and the optical interface is configured to connect to an optical fiber connector to transmit the optical signal output by the laser assembly; The optical interface and the pins are respectively located on different sides of the package housing, and the first connecting part of the base is located on the side of the package housing away from the optical interface or away from the pins.
11. The tunable laser module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second mounting portion is smaller than the size of the circuit board assembly, and the circuit board assembly is partially stacked on the second mounting portion. The fixing component also includes a plurality of second fasteners, and the circuit board assembly is detachably fixed to the second mounting portion by the second fasteners.
12. The tunable laser module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The tunable laser module further includes a buffer layer, which is disposed between the tunable laser and the positioning element.
13. The tunable laser module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The tunable laser module also includes a thermally conductive layer disposed between the packaging housing and the base.
14. An optical module, characterized in that, Includes the tunable laser module as described in any one of claims 1-13.