Optical transceiver and optical transceiver unit

Abstract

To provide an optical transceiver and an optical transceiver unit capable of integrating a plurality of optical modules compactly, and capable of reducing an occupancy area during mounting of a substrate.SOLUTION: An optical transceiver comprises four or more optical modules, and a housing in which pairs of the optical modules adjacent to each other in a first direction are assembled in a form of multiple arrays in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, where the inside of an end part on a first side of a housing body is partitioned by a first partition wall part and a second partition wall part into a plurality of plug socket parts that detachably hold optical cable plugs that are respectively connected to optical input / output parts of the plurality of optical modules.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an optical transceiver and an optical transceiver unit. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art A conventional optical transceiver incorporating one optical signal transmission module (optical transmission module) and one optical signal reception module (optical reception module) is disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2013-182276 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In recent years, the demand for optical communications has been steadily increasing, and the communication capacity required for a single optical transceiver is rapidly increasing. In response to this, there is a demand for multi-channel optical transceivers with a transmitter and receiver that have multiple channels. However, if an attempt is made to achieve multipolarization using the optical transceiver described in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to arrange multiple optical transceivers in a plane on a board, which increases the area occupied by the board.

[0005] An example of an object of the present invention is to provide an optical transceiver and an optical transceiver unit that can integrate a plurality of optical modules in a compact manner and can reduce the area occupied by the transceiver when mounted on a board. Other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the description of this specification. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One aspect of the present invention is an optical transceiver comprising: a housing comprising four or more optical modules, each having an optical input / output portion; and pairs of the optical modules adjacent in a first direction being arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the housing having a housing body including a pair of body side wall portions opposing each other in the first direction and a body top wall portion and a body bottom wall portion opposing each other in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; a plurality of optical module holding portions formed on the inside of an end of the housing body in a normal direction perpendicular to both the first direction and the second direction, the optical module holding portions holding the plurality of optical modules with the optical input / output portions facing in the normal direction; a first partition wall portion disposed between the pair of body side wall portions; and a second partition wall portion disposed between the body top wall portion and the body bottom wall portion, the housing body being partitioned by the first partition wall portion and the second partition wall portion into a plurality of plug socket portions that detachably hold optical cable plugs that are each connected to the optical input / output portions of the plurality of optical modules.

[0007] Also, one aspect of the present invention includes a main board and an optical transceiver connected to the main board, the optical transceiver including four or more optical modules each having an optical input / output unit, and a housing in which pairs of the optical modules adjacent in a first direction are arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the housing including a housing body including a pair of body side walls opposed to each other in the first direction and a body top wall and a body bottom wall opposed to each other in the second direction, and an end portion of the housing body in a normal direction perpendicular to both the first direction and the second direction. The optical transceiver unit includes a plurality of optical module holding sections formed on the inside in which a plurality of optical modules are held with the optical input / output sections facing the normal direction, a first partition wall section disposed between a pair of the main body side wall sections, and a second partition wall section disposed between the main body top wall section and the main body bottom wall section, and the housing main body is partitioned by the first partition wall section and the second partition wall section into a plurality of plug socket sections that detachably hold optical cable plugs that are each connected to the optical input / output sections of the plurality of optical modules.

[0008] According to the above aspects of the present invention, an optical transceiver and an optical transceiver unit are realized that can integrate a plurality of optical modules into a compact unit and that can reduce the area occupied by the unit when mounted on a board. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is an exploded front perspective view of an optical transceiver according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] 2 is an exploded perspective view of the optical transceiver of FIG. 1 as viewed from the rear side. [Diagram 3] 1 is a top front perspective view of an optical transceiver unit according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing the optical transceiver in an assembled state; [Figure 4] 4 is a top rear perspective view of the optical transceiver unit of FIG. 3 in an assembled state of the optical transceiver. FIG. [Diagram 5] 4 is a bottom front perspective view of the optical transceiver unit of FIG. 3. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the optical module. [Figure 7] 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating the internal structure and assembly form of an optical module. [Figure 8] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which an optical cable plug is attached to one of the plug socket portions in FIG. 3. [Figure 10] 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the periphery of a plug socket portion with an optical cable plug attached thereto; FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an FPC board. [Figure 12] 4 is a front perspective view showing a first modified embodiment of the optical transceiver unit of FIG. 3. FIG. [Figure 13] 4 is a side view showing a second modified embodiment of the optical transceiver unit of FIG. 3. [Figure 14] 4 is a rear perspective view showing a third modified embodiment of the optical transceiver unit of FIG. 3. FIG. [Figure 15]5 is a front perspective view showing a fourth modified embodiment of the optical transceiver unit of FIG. 3. FIG. [Figure 16] 5 is a side view showing a fifth modified example of the optical transceiver unit of FIG. 3. FIG. [Figure 17] 17 is a bottom perspective view of the optical transceiver unit of FIG. 16. [Figure 18] 11 is a front perspective view showing a manner in which a housing is fixed to a panel by a fastening member. FIG. [Figure 19] FIG. 19 is a side view of FIG. [Figure 20] 19 is a front perspective view showing an example in which the fastening members in the configuration of FIG. 18 are replaced with snap-fit ​​claws. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view from the front side of an optical transceiver 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view from the rear side of the optical transceiver 100. In this embodiment, the optical transceiver 100 includes four optical modules 1 and a housing 40 in which the optical modules 1 are assembled. In the figure, pairs of optical modules 1 adjacent to each other in a first direction (Y direction) are assembled in the housing 40 in a form of multiple arrangements in a second direction (Z direction) perpendicular to the first direction. The pairs of optical modules 1 adjacent to each other in the first or second direction are, for example, pairs of an optical transmitting module and an optical receiving module, but are not limited to this. For example, all the optical modules 1 assembled in the housing 40 may be only optical transmitting modules or only optical receiving modules.

[0011] Also, Fig. 3 is a perspective view from the top front side of an optical transceiver unit according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing the optical transceiver in an assembled state, Fig. 4 is a perspective view from the top rear side, and Fig. 5 is a perspective view from the bottom front side. The optical transceiver unit has the above-mentioned optical transceiver 100 and a main board 200 on which the optical transceiver 100 is mounted. One of the main surfaces of the main board 200 is used as a mounting surface MS for components (both main surfaces may be mounting surfaces).

[0012] FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the optical module 1, and FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the internal structure and assembly form of the optical module 1. As shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the optical module 1 includes a module body 1M and an optical input / output unit 4. The module body 1M includes a metal substrate 6, an optical semiconductor element 7, a drive circuit unit 8 for the optical semiconductor element 7, a high-frequency terminal unit 31, a metal cover 9, and a light-transmitting unit 9P. The light-transmitting unit 9P is made of a light-transmitting material such as glass. The optical system including the light-transmitting unit 9P includes a lens. The lens can be configured to also function as the light-transmitting unit 9P, for example, as shown by the dashed line in FIG. 6 (in this case, the light-transmitting unit 9P is replaced with a glass lens 9L). However, the lens can also be a separate lens 9L arranged at a position different from the light-transmitting unit 9P in the optical axis direction, as shown by the dashed line in the figure. In this case, the light-transmitting unit 9P can be configured as a flat glass window.

[0013] The optical semiconductor element 7 and the drive circuit section 8 are mounted on the first main surface MP1 of the metal substrate 6. A plurality of high frequency terminals 31 are provided, and one end of each is electrically connected to the drive circuit section 8. The other end of each high frequency terminal 31 penetrates the metal substrate 6 and extends from the second main surface MP2 of the metal substrate 6, forming a part of the electrical input / output section 33 of the drive circuit section 8. The metal cover 9 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and is joined to the first main surface MP1 of the metal substrate 6 while covering the optical semiconductor element 7 and the drive circuit section 8 in a sealed form. The light passing section 9P is an optical input / output section of the optical semiconductor element 7, and is located on the end face of the metal cover 9 on the side opposite to the side joined to the metal substrate 6. The light input / output section 4 is formed to have a smaller diameter than the metal cover 9, and one end is optically coupled to the light passing section 9P, while the other end extends in a direction away from the light passing section 9P.

[0014] As shown in Fig. 6, the optical input / output unit 4 is configured as an optical transmission segment. Specifically, the optical input / output unit 4 includes an optical fiber core 30 (outer diameter, for example, 125 µm) forming an optical transmission path, and a ceramic ferrule 4F (outer diameter, for example, 1.25 mm) coaxially covering the outer side of the optical fiber core 30. In this embodiment, the ferrule 4F is made of partially stabilized zirconia. A cylindrical metal flange 10 (outer diameter, for example, 2 mm) is integrated with the outer side of the end of the ferrule 4F that is coupled to the metal cover 9 by means of press fitting, crimping, shrink fitting, or the like.

[0015] 7, metal substrate 6, together with radio frequency terminal 31, constitutes a TO header section, and is formed into a disk shape with a diameter of, for example, about 5.6 mm and a thickness of about 1 mm. When the optical module is an optical transmission module, optical semiconductor element 7 is, for example, a vertical cavity surface emitting laser element (VCSEL element), and drive circuit section 8 is a driver IC for the VCSEL element. When the optical module is an optical reception module, optical semiconductor element 7 is, for example, a photodiode, and drive circuit section 8 is an analog IC (for example, a transimpedance amplifier IC) that amplifies the photocurrent of the photodiode while converting it into a voltage.

[0016] When the optical module 1 is configured as an optical transmission module, it is assembled as follows. First, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, with the tip side of the ferrule 4F as the first side and the opposite side as the second side, a metal sleeve 11 is placed on the outside of a metal flange 10 disposed at the second end of the optical input / output unit 4. Next, the optical semiconductor element 7 configured as a VCSEL is caused to emit light.

[0017] Furthermore, the optical input / output unit 4 together with the sleeve 11 is aligned with respect to the metal cover 9 with respect to three axes of a predetermined XYZ orthogonal coordinate system so that the amount of light output from the optical fiber core 30 is maximized. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the X axis can be determined to coincide with the normal direction MA of the main surface of the metal substrate 6, the Y direction can be determined as the first direction, and the Z direction can be determined as the second direction. In this state, as shown in FIG. 6, the first laser weld 23 is formed along the inner peripheral edge of the first side of the metal sleeve 11, thereby joining the metal flange 10 and the metal sleeve 11. Next, the second laser weld 21 is formed to join the metal sleeve 11 to the end face of the first side of the metal cover 9 outside the outer peripheral edge of the light passing portion 9P. In this manner, the optical input / output unit 4 is fixed to the metal cover 9.

[0018] On the other hand, when the optical module 1 is configured as an optical receiving module, the assembly is performed as follows. That is, as shown in Fig. 6, the tip side of the ferrule 4F is the first side and the opposite side is the second side, and a metal sleeve 11 is placed on the outside of a metal flange 10 arranged at the second end of the optical input / output unit 4. Next, laser light is input to the optical input / output unit 4 from the first end via the optical fiber core 30.

[0019] Furthermore, the optical input / output unit 4 is aligned with the sleeve 11 along the three axes X, Y and Z so that the photocurrent of the optical semiconductor element 7 formed by a photodiode is maximized. Next, in the same manner as in the optical transmission module, the first laser weld 23 and the second laser weld 21 are welded in this order to fix the optical input / output unit 4 to the metal cover 9.

[0020] The right diagram of FIG. 7 shows the appearance of the optical module in a state where the assembly is completed. In the embodiment, the optical modules (optical transmission module and optical reception module) are both configured as TO-56 type TO-CAN package type modules. From the second main surface MP2 of the metal substrate 6, the high frequency terminal section 31 and the power supply terminal 32P and the control terminal 32C connected to the drive circuit section 8 protrude. Note that the terminals 32P and 32C are not high frequency terminals. These power supply terminal 32P and the control terminal 32C, together with the high frequency terminal section 31, also constitute the input / output terminal section 33 which is an electrical input / output section of the drive circuit section 8. In the present embodiment, the high frequency terminal section 31 is arranged in a pair in order to transmit a signal of one channel in a differential mode. These terminal sections 31, 32P, 32C and the drive circuit section 8 are wire-bonded by thin metal wires (e.g., gold wires) not shown.

[0021] 1 and 8, the housing 40 has a housing main body 40M, a plurality of optical module holders 14 (see FIG. 5), a first partition wall 40P, and a second partition wall 40S. The housing main body 40M has a pair of body side walls 41 opposed to each other in a first direction, and a body top wall 42 and a body bottom wall 43 opposed to each other in a second direction. As shown in FIG. 8, the plurality of optical module holders 14 are integrally formed on the inside of the end portion on the second side in the normal direction MA of the housing main body 40M. Each optical module 1 is held by each optical module holder 14 such that the normal directions of the main surfaces of the metal substrate 6 are parallel to each other and the optical input / output unit 4 faces the first side in the normal direction.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 8, a first partition wall 40P and a second partition wall 40S are formed on the inside of the end of the first side of the housing body 40M. The first partition wall 40P is disposed parallel to the body side wall 41 at an intermediate position in the first direction between a pair of body side walls 41. The second partition wall 40S is disposed parallel to the body top wall 42 and the body bottom wall 43 between the body top wall 42 and the body bottom wall 43. The housing body 40M is integrally formed as an injection molded body made of resin together with the first partition wall 40P and the second partition wall 40S. The housing body 40M may be made of metal, and in that case, an insulating measure such as an insulating layer (insulating film) must be applied to the joint between the module body 1M and the housing 40. For example, an insulating layer is provided at the joint of the housing body 40M.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 9, the inside of the first end of the housing body 40M is divided into a plurality of plug socket sections 40H by the first partition wall section 40P and the second partition wall section 40S. Each plug socket section 40H detachably holds an optical cable plug 500 to be connected to the optical input / output section 4 of the corresponding optical module 1. That is, the optical transceiver 100 is configured as a receptacle in which the optical cable plug 500 fits inside the plug socket section 40H. As shown in FIG. 10, the optical cable plug 500 is inserted into the optical connection opening 40H of the optical transceiver 100 and fitted therein. As a result, the optical input / output section 4 of the optical module 1 is pressed into contact with the optical input / output section on the optical cable plug 500 side by the axial biasing force of an elastic member (such as a spring) 504 built into the optical cable plug 500 side, and an optically coupled state is formed.

[0024] 10, the plug socket portion 40H is formed with a lock engagement portion 46 for detachably engaging the plug lock portion 502 of the optical cable plug 500. The optical cable plug 500 has a resin plug housing 503, and an unlock operation portion 501 is integrally formed with the plug lock portion 502. The plug lock portion 502 has a front end in the longitudinal direction coupled to the tip side of the plug housing 503, and extends in an inclined manner so as to move away from the plug housing 503 toward the rear end. A lock hole 502S is formed at a longitudinal intermediate position of the plug lock portion 502, into which the lock engagement portion 46 formed on the wall portion 41 of the plug socket portion 40H is fitted.

[0025] In this embodiment, the peripheral portion of a slit formed in the wall portion 41 forms the lock engagement portion 46. On the other hand, the unlocking operation portion 501 is formed in a lever shape, with its rear end in the longitudinal direction being coupled to the rear end side of the plug housing 503 and extending in an inclined manner so as to move away from the plug housing 503 toward its tip. In addition, the tip portion of the unlocking operation portion 501 is positioned so as to be disposed above the rear end portion of the plug lock portion 502 in a non-pressed state.

[0026] When the optical cable plug 500 is inserted into the plug socket 40H, the plug locking portion 502 comes into contact with the lock engaging portion 46 and elastically deforms in a direction approaching the plug housing 503, with the front end portion connected to the plug housing 503 as a fulcrum. Then, when the lock hole 502S reaches the position of the lock engaging portion 46, the lock engaging portion 46 fits into the lock hole 502S, and the plug locking portion 502 elastically returns to its original position. As a result, the optical cable plug 500 and the plug socket 40H are locked.

[0027] In this state, when the unlocking operation portion 501 is pressed, the plug locking portion 502 elastically deforms in a direction approaching the plug housing 503, and the engagement state of the lock engaging portion 46 with the locking hole 502S is released to enter an unlocked state. This allows the optical cable plug 500 to be pulled out of the plug socket portion 40H while the unlocking operation portion 501 is pressed and held.

[0028] 3 and 4, the multiple plug socket portions 40H formed in the housing main body 40M have lock engagement portions 46 formed on both of a pair of main body side wall portions 41. More specifically, the lock engagement portions 46 of the plug socket portions 40H arranged on the left side as you face them are all formed on the left main body side wall portion 41. The lock engagement portions 46 of the plug socket portions 40H arranged on the right side as you face them are all formed on the right main body side wall portion 41.

[0029] The optical transceiver 100 includes an FPC board 16 (FIGS. 1 and 2). As shown in FIG. 11, the FPC board 16 includes a transmission line layer 161, a power line 162P, and a control signal line 162C, which are collectively formed on a common flexible dielectric layer 17. The transmission line layer 161 is individually connected to a plurality of sets of radio frequency terminal units 31 from a plurality of optical modules 1. The power line 162P and the control signal line 162C are respectively connected to the power terminals 32P and the control terminals 32C from the plurality of optical modules 1. As described above, the radio frequency terminal unit 31, the power terminals 32P, and the control terminals 32C are collectively referred to as the input / output terminal unit 33.

[0030] In the FPC board 16, first ends of the transmission line layers 161, 162P, and 162C are individually connected to the input / output terminals 33 of the optical modules. Second ends of the transmission line layers 161, 162P, and 162C are formed as a plurality of connection terminals 19. As shown in Fig. 8, the flexible dielectric layer 17 is made of a polymeric material or the like, and its length is determined so that it extends downward from the bottom wall 43 of the main body in a free state. As shown in Fig. 11, the connection terminals 19 are disposed along the edge of the longitudinal end of the flexible dielectric layer 17, and an input / output plug portion 16T that aggregates the connection terminals 19 is disposed along the edge.

[0031] 8, the housing 40 has mounting legs 40F for mounting the optical transceiver on the mounting surface MS of the main board 200 while forming a gap GP between the bottom surface of the housing 40 and the mounting surface MS. The height of the mounting legs 40F is determined so that the gap GP is larger than the thickness of the FPC board 16.

[0032] 8, the mounting surface MS of the main board 200 is provided with an FPC connector 16C to which an input / output plug 16T of the FPC board 16 is detachably connected. The height of the mounting legs 40F is set so that the gap GP is larger than the height of the FPC connector 16C. The FPC board 16 is pulled out from the gap GP to the outside of the projection area of ​​the housing 40 on the mounting surface MS, and the input / output plug portion 16T is connected to the FPC connector 16C mounted on the mounting surface MS outside the projection area.

[0033] 1 and 2, the housing 40 includes an auxiliary housing 47 that is coupled to a second side in the normal direction of the housing main body 40M. The auxiliary housing 47 includes an auxiliary end wall 47E and a housing coupling portion 48. The auxiliary end wall 47E abuts directly or indirectly via another member against each of the input / output terminals 33 of the multiple optical modules 1 that are arranged at the end of the second side of the housing main body 40M. The housing coupling portion 48 couples to the housing main body 40M with the auxiliary end wall 47E pressed against each of the input / output terminals 33.

[0034] In this embodiment, the auxiliary housing 47 is made of metal, and an insulating cap 49 made of, for example, a polymeric material is included between the auxiliary end wall 47E and the input / output terminal 33. The insulating cap 49 serves to more stably fix the optical module 1 and prevent it from coming off. However, the auxiliary housing 47 can also be made of an insulating material such as a polymeric material, and in this case, the insulating cap 49 may be omitted and the auxiliary end wall 47E may be directly abutted against the input / output terminal 33. Also, when the auxiliary housing 47 is formed as an injection molded body made of a polymeric material, the insulating cap 49 may be provided in order to stabilize the fixation of the optical module 1. In this case, the auxiliary housing 47 and the insulating cap 49 can be integrally formed.

[0035] The auxiliary housing 47 includes an auxiliary top wall 47T disposed over the main body top wall 42 of the housing main body 40M, and a pair of auxiliary side walls 47S disposed over the pair of main body side walls 41 of the housing main body 40M. The auxiliary top wall 47T and the pair of auxiliary side walls 47S are integrated with corresponding edges of the auxiliary end wall 47E. In addition, an auxiliary bottom wall 47B is integrally formed with each bottom edge of the pair of auxiliary side walls 47S of the auxiliary housing 47. The auxiliary bottom wall 47B is disposed over the bottom surface of the housing main body 40M.

[0036] The housing main body 40M has housing main body side engagement parts 50 formed on the main body top wall part 42 and the pair of main body side walls 41. The auxiliary top wall part 47T of the auxiliary housing 47 has housing joint parts 48 formed on the pair of main body side walls 41. The engagement between the housing main body side engagement parts 50 and the housing joint parts 48 prevents relative movement between the housing main body 40M and the auxiliary housing 47 in the normal direction.

[0037] 1 and 2, the housing joint portion 48 is an engagement hole formed through the wall of the auxiliary housing 47, and the housing main body side engagement portion 50 is an engagement claw formed on the corresponding wall of the housing main body 40M. However, the specific configuration of the housing joint portion 48 and the housing main body side engagement portion 50 is not limited to this.

[0038] The above-mentioned mounting legs 40F are disposed on the auxiliary housing 47. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the mounting legs 40F are integrally formed on the bottom edges of the pair of auxiliary side walls 47S of the auxiliary housing 47, respectively.

[0039] The lock engagement portion 46 is formed at the end of the first side in the normal direction with respect to the main body side wall portion 41. Each auxiliary side wall portion 47S of the auxiliary housing 47 is arranged to overlap a portion located on the second side in the normal direction of the lock engagement portion 46 of the main body side wall portion 41. Each auxiliary bottom wall portion 47B has an extension portion 47J that extends beyond the edge of the first side in the normal direction of the auxiliary side wall portion 47S and covers the main body bottom wall portion 43. The mounting legs 40F are also integrally formed with each extension portion 47J. In this embodiment, the mounting legs 40F formed on the extension portion 47J are formed as cut-and-raised portions. As shown in FIG. 5, the mounting legs 40F are inserted and fixed into the mounting through holes 201 formed in the main board 200.

[0040] According to the auxiliary housing 47 having this configuration, the auxiliary top wall 47T, the pair of auxiliary side walls 47S, and the auxiliary bottom walls 47B are shaped to surround and cover the housing 40. This increases the joining strength between the auxiliary housing 47 and the housing 40, making it difficult for the auxiliary housing 47 and the housing 40 to come loose when, for example, inserting or removing a plug into or from the plug socket 40H. Furthermore, this effect is further enhanced by forming the housing joining parts 48 on each of the auxiliary top wall 47T and the pair of main body side walls 41 of the auxiliary housing 47.

[0041] Furthermore, by forming the mounting legs 40F on the pair of main body side walls 41 and on each extension 47J of the auxiliary bottom wall 47B, in addition to the connection points to the main board 200 by the mounting legs 40F of the main body side walls 41, connection points are also formed on the bottom front side of the housing 40. This improves the connection strength of the optical transceiver 100 to the main board 200, and makes it less likely that the optical transceiver 100 will come loose from the main board 200 and rattle, even if the cable and the plug are pulled upward together when inserting or removing a plug into or from the plug socket 40H.

[0042] According to the above-mentioned configuration of the optical transceiver 100, the lock engagement portion 46 for engaging the plug lock portion 502 of the optical cable plug 500 is formed on both of the pair of body side walls 41 for the multiple plug socket portions 40H. In other words, the lock engagement portion 46 is laid out so that the sides of the plug socket portions 40H adjacent to each other in the first direction where the unlock operation portion 501 and the plug lock portion 502 do not protrude are back-to-back. This allows for significant space saving compared to the conventional multi-channel layout in which the unlock operation portion 501 of the optical cable plug 500 faces upward and multiple optical transceivers are arranged in a plane on a board. As a result, it is possible to significantly reduce the center pitch of multiple attached optical cable plugs, which in turn allows for the miniaturization, high reliability, and high yield of multi-core optical transceivers to be realized at low cost.

[0043] In addition, the length of the flexible dielectric layer 17 of the FPC board 16 having the input / output plug portion 16T can be determined so that it extends downward below the main body bottom wall portion 43 of the housing 40 in a free state. This increases the degree of freedom in the layout of the FPC connector to which the FPC board 16 is connected in the optical communication device in which the optical transceiver 1 is incorporated, making it possible to easily respond to a variety of design requirements.

[0044] 8, the FPC board 16 can be configured to be pulled out from the gap GP to the outside of the projection area of ​​the housing 40 on the mounting surface MS, and the input / output plug portion 16T can be connected to an FPC connector 16C mounted on the mounting surface MS outside the projection area. This makes it easy to arrange the FPC connector 16C close to the optical transceiver 1 on the main board 200, further promoting space saving.

[0045] Also, an auxiliary housing 47 having an auxiliary end wall portion 47E and a housing coupling portion 48 can be provided. This allows the housing 40 to more reliably receive the axial biasing force of the elastic member (such as a spring) 504 built into the optical cable plug 500 side shown in FIG. 10. This makes it possible to more reliably form an optically coupled state with the optical input / output portion on the optical cable plug 500 side. This effect is more remarkable when the auxiliary housing 47 is made of metal.

[0046] Furthermore, by configuring the auxiliary housing 47 to include an auxiliary top wall 47T and a pair of auxiliary side walls 47S, and forming housing body side engagement parts 50 on the housing body 40M for each of them, it is possible to increase the fixing force of the auxiliary housing 47 to the housing body 40M. This effect is further remarkable when the auxiliary bottom wall parts 47B are integrated with the bottom edges of the pair of body side walls 41 of the auxiliary housing 47.

[0047] Various modified embodiments of the present invention will be described below. Note that components common to the above embodiments will be given the same reference numerals and detailed description will be omitted. 12, pairs of optical modules 1 adjacent to each other in the first direction are assembled in the housing 40 of the optical transceiver 100 in a form arranged in three or more rows (three rows in FIG. 12) in the second direction perpendicular to the first direction. In this case, a plurality of second partition walls 40S (two in FIG. 12) are provided.

[0048] 13, a gap GP larger than the thickness of the FPC connector 16C to which the input / output plug portion 16T is connected is formed between the bottom surface of the housing 40 of the optical transceiver 100 and the mounting surface MS. The FPC connector 16C is accommodated in the gap GP on the mounting surface MS of the main board 200, and the input / output plug portion 16T is connected to the FPC connector 16C with the FPC board 16 bent toward the inside of the gap GP. With this configuration, the housing 40 and the FPC connector 16C can be arranged to overlap in a plan view, thereby achieving further space saving.

[0049] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 14, the lower end 40Q of the mounting leg 40F of the auxiliary housing 47 of the optical transceiver 100 is bent inward and soldered to the metal pad 203 of the main board 200 in a surface mounting configuration.

[0050] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 15, the optical transceiver 100 is provided with a protruding portion 40G that protrudes laterally from the bottom of the housing 40, and the housing 40 is fastened to the main board 200 at the protruding portion 40G by a fastening member 40B. Specifically, the fastening member 40B is a bolt that penetrates the main board 200 and screws into a female threaded hole formed in the protruding portion 40G. Note that a through hole may be formed in the protruding portion 40G, and fastening may be performed by screwing a nut into the bolt leg that protrudes in a through-hole form. The protruding portion 40G is formed in the housing main body 40M, and the auxiliary housing 47 is fixed to the main board 200 by the mounting leg 40F in the same manner as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 7.

[0051] 16 and 17 show an example in which the mounting legs 40F of the housing 40 of the optical transceiver 100 are fixed to the mounting through holes 201, 201' of the main board 200 in a manner other than press-fitting. Specifically, the lower ends of the pair of mounting legs 40F of the auxiliary housing 47 are provided with locking claws 40J protruding in the same lateral direction. The lower ends of the pair of mounting legs 40F on the housing main body 40M side are provided with snap-fit ​​claws 40K protruding in opposite lateral directions. During assembly, the mounting legs 40F of the auxiliary housing 47 are first inserted into the mounting through hole 201', and the locking claws 40J are hooked and locked on the opening periphery of the mounting through hole 201' on the main surface opposite to the mounting surface MS of the main board 200. Next, the snap-fit ​​claws 40K of the mounting legs 40F of the housing main body 40M are elastically deformed and pressed into the mounting through hole 201. Then, the snap-fit ​​claw 40K is fitted into the opening periphery of the mounting through-hole 201 in a manner that allows it to return elastically to its original position on the main surface opposite to the mounting surface MS of the main board 200. Note that the locking claw 40J may be formed on the mounting leg 40F of the housing main body 40M, and the snap-fit ​​claw 40K may be formed on the mounting leg 40F of the auxiliary housing 47.

[0052] 18 and 19, the optical transceiver 100 is provided with a protruding portion 40G on the outer peripheral surface (main body side wall 41, main body top wall 42, or main body bottom wall 43) of the housing main body 40M. The housing 40 is fastened to the device panel 300 at the protruding portion 40G by fastening members 40B. The fastening members 40B are specifically bolts that penetrate the device panel 300 and screw into female threaded holes formed in the protruding portions 40G. Specifically, the housing main body 40M is fastened to the sides of each main body side wall 41 by a pair of fastening members 40B. In this case, the pair of fastening members 40B may be disposed on each side of the main body top wall 42 and the main body bottom wall 43, as shown by the dashed lines in the figures. In addition, as shown by the dotted line, they may be arranged diagonally to the side of the intersection position between the main body top wall portion 42 and the main body side wall portion 41, and to the side of the intersection position between the main body bottom wall portion 43 and the main body side wall portion 41.

[0053] In this embodiment, the length of the flexible dielectric layer 17 of the FPC board 16 having the input / output plug portion 16T can be determined so as to extend downward from the bottom wall 43 of the main body of the housing 40 in a free state. This increases the degree of freedom in the layout of the main board (and the FPC connector 16C mounted thereon) to which the FPC board 16 is connected in the optical communication device in which the optical transceiver 1 is incorporated, as shown in FIG. 19. This makes it possible to easily respond to various design requirements. FIG. 19 shows an embodiment in which the main board 400 is vertically arranged below the auxiliary housing 47 (solid lines). In addition, an embodiment in which the main board 400A is horizontally arranged below the rear of the auxiliary housing 47 (dash-dotted lines) and an embodiment in which the main board 400B is arranged opposite the auxiliary end wall 47E of the auxiliary housing 47 (dashed lines) are also shown.

[0054] The embodiment shown in FIG. 20 shows an example in which the fastening member 40B of the embodiment shown in FIG.

[0055] Although the embodiment and modified examples of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings, these are merely examples of the present invention, and various configurations other than those described above can also be adopted.

[0056] According to the present specification, there are provided an optical transceiver and an optical transceiver unit having the following aspects. (Aspect 1) Aspect 1 is an optical transceiver comprising: a housing comprising four or more optical modules, each having an optical input / output portion; and pairs of the optical modules adjacent in a first direction being arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the housing having a housing body including a pair of body side wall portions opposing each other in the first direction and a body top wall portion and a body bottom wall portion opposing each other in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; a plurality of optical module holding portions formed on the inside of an end portion of the housing body in a normal direction perpendicular to both the first direction and the second direction, the optical module holding portions holding the plurality of optical modules with the optical input / output portions facing in the normal direction; a first partition wall portion disposed between the pair of body side wall portions; and a second partition wall portion disposed between the body top wall portion and the body bottom wall portion, the housing body being partitioned by the first partition wall portion and the second partition wall portion into a plurality of plug socket portions that detachably hold optical cable plugs that are respectively connected to the optical input / output portions of the plurality of optical modules.

[0057] According to the first aspect, a plurality of optical modules can be integrated into a compact body, and the area occupied by the optical modules when mounted on a substrate can be reduced.

[0058] (Aspect 2) In aspect 2, a lock engagement portion for detachably engaging the plug lock portion provided together with the unlocking operation portion of the optical cable plug is formed on both of the pair of main body side walls.

[0059] According to aspect 2, it is possible to achieve significant space saving compared to the conventional multi-channel layout in which the unlocking operation part of the optical cable plug faces upward and multiple optical transceivers are arranged in a plane on a board. As a result, it is possible to significantly reduce the center-to-center pitch of multiple attached optical cable plugs, and in turn, it is possible to realize miniaturization, high reliability, and high yield of multi-core optical transceivers at low cost.

[0060] (Aspect 3) A third aspect includes an FPC board having a plurality of transmission line layers collectively formed on a common flexible dielectric layer, a first end of each of the transmission line layers being individually connected to each of the input / output terminal portions of the plurality of optical modules assembled to the housing body, and the FPC board having a plurality of connection terminals forming second ends of each of the transmission line layers, the flexible dielectric layer having a length extending downward from a bottom wall portion of the body in a free state, and an input / output plug portion disposed along an edge of a longitudinal end of the flexible dielectric layer and consolidating the plurality of connection terminals.

[0061] According to the third aspect, in an optical communications device incorporating an optical transceiver, the degree of freedom in the layout of the FPC connector to which the FPC board is connected increases, making it possible to easily accommodate a variety of design requirements.

[0062] (Aspect 4) In aspect 4, the housing has mounting legs for mounting the optical transceiver on a mounting surface of a main board while forming a gap between a bottom surface of the housing and the mounting surface, and the mounting legs define the gap larger than the thickness of the FPC board.

[0063] According to the fourth aspect, the FPC board can be pulled out from the gap between the bottom surface of the housing and the mounting surface of the main board to the outside of the projection area of ​​the housing on the mounting surface, and the input / output plug part can be connected to the FPC connector outside the projection area. This makes it easy to arrange the FPC connector close to the optical transceiver on the main board, further promoting space saving.

[0064] (Aspect 5) In a fifth aspect, the housing has an auxiliary housing coupled to the housing main body in the normal direction, The auxiliary housing includes an auxiliary end wall portion that abuts each of the input / output terminal portions of the multiple optical modules directly or indirectly via other members, and a housing joining portion that joins the auxiliary end wall portion to the housing main body while pressing it against each of the input / output terminal portions.

[0065] According to the fifth aspect, the housing can more reliably receive the axial biasing force of the elastic member built into the optical cable plug, and the optically coupled state with the optical input / output portion on the optical cable plug side can be more reliably formed.

[0066] (Aspect 6) In a sixth aspect, the auxiliary housing is made of metal and includes an insulating cap between the auxiliary end wall portion and the input / output terminal portion.

[0067] According to the sixth aspect, the effect of the fifth aspect becomes more pronounced.

[0068] (Aspect 7) In a seventh aspect, the auxiliary housing includes an auxiliary top wall portion arranged to be overlapped on the main body top wall portion of the housing main body, and a pair of auxiliary side wall portions arranged to be overlapped on the pair of main body side wall portions of the housing main body, the auxiliary top wall portion and the pair of auxiliary side wall portions being integrated with corresponding edges of the auxiliary end wall portion, the housing main body has housing main body side engaging portions formed on the main body top wall portion and the pair of main body side wall portions, and the auxiliary housing has housing coupling portions formed on the auxiliary top wall portion and the pair of auxiliary top wall portions, and relative movement between the housing main body and the auxiliary housing in the normal direction is prevented by engagement between the housing main body side engaging portions and the housing coupling portions.

[0069] According to the seventh aspect, the fixing force of the auxiliary housing to the main housing can be increased.

[0070] (Aspect 8) In an eighth aspect, an auxiliary bottom wall portion is integrally formed on each bottom edge of the pair of auxiliary side walls of the auxiliary housing, and the auxiliary bottom wall portion is disposed so as to overlap the bottom surface of the housing main body.

[0071] According to the eighth aspect, the auxiliary top wall, the pair of main body side walls, and the auxiliary bottom wall are shaped to surround and cover the housing, further increasing the bonding strength between the auxiliary housing and the housing.

[0072] (Aspect 9) In a ninth aspect, the auxiliary bottom wall has an extension portion that extends beyond a first side edge in the normal direction of the auxiliary side wall portion and covers the main body bottom wall portion, and the mounting leg portion is also integrally formed with the extension portion.

[0073] According to the ninth aspect, the mounting legs are also formed on the extensions of the auxiliary bottom wall, so that in addition to the connection points to the main board by the mounting legs of the main body side walls, connection points are also formed on the bottom front side of the housing, which further improves the connection strength of the optical transceiver to the main board.

[0074] (Aspect 10) A tenth aspect of the present invention comprises a main board and an optical transceiver connected to the main board, the optical transceiver having four or more optical modules each having an optical input / output portion, and a housing in which pairs of the optical modules adjacent in a first direction are arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the housing including a housing body including a pair of body side walls opposed to each other in the first direction and a body top wall and a body bottom wall opposed to each other in the second direction, and a housing body having a pair of side walls opposed to each other in the first direction and a pair of side walls opposed to each other in the second direction, the housing body including a pair of side walls opposed to each other in the first direction and a pair of side walls opposed to each other in the second direction, the pair of side walls opposed to each other in the first direction and a pair of side walls opposed to each other in the second direction, the pair of side walls opposed to each other in the first direction and a pair of side walls opposed to each other in the second direction, the pair of side walls opposed to each other in the second direction and a pair of side walls opposed to each other in the second direction and a pair of side walls opposed to each other in the first direction and a pair of side walls opposed to each other in the second direction, the pair of side walls opposed to each other in the first direction and a pair of side walls opposed to each other in the second ... first direction and a pair of side walls opposed to each other in the second direction and the optical transceiver unit includes a plurality of optical module holding sections in which a plurality of the optical modules are held with the optical input / output sections facing the normal direction, a first partition wall section disposed between a pair of the main body side wall sections, and a second partition wall section disposed between the main body top wall section and the main body bottom wall section, wherein the housing main body is partitioned by the first partition wall section and the second partition wall section into a plurality of plug socket sections that detachably hold optical cable plugs that are each connected to the optical input / output sections of the plurality of the optical modules.

[0075] According to the tenth aspect, an optical transceiver unit can be realized that can integrate a plurality of optical modules into a compact unit and can reduce the area occupied by the unit when mounted on a board.

[0076] (Aspect 11) In aspect 11, a lock engagement portion for removably engaging the plug lock portion provided together with the unlocking operation portion of the optical cable plug is formed on both of the pair of main body side wall portions, and the multiple plug socket portions are provided together with the lock release operation portion of the optical cable plug.

[0077] According to aspect 11, it is possible to achieve significant space saving compared to the conventional multi-channel layout in which the unlocking operation part of the optical cable plug faces upward and multiple optical transceivers are arranged in a plane on a board. As a result, it is possible to significantly reduce the center-to-center pitch of multiple attached optical cable plugs, thereby realizing miniaturization, high reliability, and high yield of multi-core optical transceivers at low cost.

[0078] (Aspect 12) In a twelfth aspect, the optical transceiver includes mounting legs for mounting the housing to the mounting surface of the main board. [Explanation of symbols]

[0079] 1 Optical module 1M module body 4 Optical input / output section 6 Metal Substrate 7. Optical semiconductor elements 8 Drive circuit section 9 Metal Cover 9P Light transmitting part 10 Metal flange 14 Optical module holder 16 FPC board 161 Transmission Line Layer 16T Input / Output Plug Section 17 Flexible dielectric layer 19 Connection terminal 33 Input / output terminal section 40 Case 40F Mounting leg 40H Plug socket part 40M Main unit 40P First compartment wall 40S Second compartment wall 41 Main body side wall 42 Main body top wall 43 Bottom wall of main body 47 Auxiliary housing 47S Auxiliary side wall section 47T Auxiliary top wall 47E Auxiliary end wall 48 Housing joint 49 Insulating Cap 50 Housing body side engagement portion 100 Optical Transceiver 200 Main Board 500 Optical cable plug 501 Unlock operation unit 502 Plug lock part GP Gap MS mounting surface MA normal direction MP1 first major surface MP2 second major surface

Claims

1. Four or more optical modules each having an optical input / output unit; a housing in which the pair of optical modules adjacent to each other in a first direction are arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; The housing includes: A pair of main body side walls facing each other in the first direction; a main body top wall portion and a main body bottom wall portion opposed to each other in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; A housing body including: a plurality of optical module holders formed on an inner side of an end portion of the housing body in a normal direction perpendicular to both the first direction and the second direction, the optical input / output units facing the normal direction and holding the plurality of optical modules; A first partition wall portion disposed between the pair of main body side walls; a second partition wall portion disposed between the main body top wall portion and the main body bottom wall portion, An optical transceiver in which the housing body is partitioned by the first partition wall portion and the second partition wall portion into a plurality of plug socket portions that detachably hold optical cable plugs that are each connected to the optical input / output portions of a plurality of the optical modules.

2. 2. The optical transceiver of claim 1, wherein the plurality of plug socket portions have a lock engagement portion formed on both of the pair of main body side wall portions, which detachably engages a plug lock portion provided together with an unlocking operation portion of the optical cable plug.

3. The FPC board has a plurality of transmission line layers formed collectively on a common flexible dielectric layer; 2. The optical transceiver of claim 1, wherein a first end of each of the transmission line layers is individually connected to each of the input / output terminal portions of the optical modules assembled in the housing body, and the FPC board has a plurality of connection terminals forming second ends of each of the transmission line layers, the flexible dielectric layer having a length extending downward from a bottom wall portion of the body in a free state, and an input / output plug portion disposed along an edge of a longitudinal end of the flexible dielectric layer and consolidating the plurality of connection terminals.

4. 4. The optical transceiver of claim 3, wherein the housing has mounting legs for mounting the optical transceiver on a mounting surface of a main board while forming a gap between a bottom surface of the housing and the mounting surface, and the mounting legs define the gap larger than the thickness of the FPC board.

5. the housing has an auxiliary housing coupled to the housing main body in the normal direction, 2. The optical transceiver of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary housing includes an auxiliary end wall portion that directly contacts each of the input / output terminal portions of the plurality of optical modules or indirectly contacts each of the input / output terminal portions via another member, and a housing joining portion that joins the auxiliary end wall portion to the housing main body while pressing the auxiliary end wall portion against each of the input / output terminal portions.

6. 6. The optical transceiver according to claim 5, wherein the auxiliary housing is made of metal and includes an insulating cap between the auxiliary end wall and the input / output terminal portion.

7. the auxiliary housing includes an auxiliary top wall portion disposed over the main body top wall portion of the housing main body, and a pair of auxiliary side wall portions disposed over the pair of main body side wall portions of the housing main body, the auxiliary top wall portion and the pair of auxiliary side wall portions being integrated with corresponding edges of the auxiliary end wall portion; The housing body has housing body side engagement portions formed on the body top wall portion and the pair of body side walls, The auxiliary housing has the housing coupling portions formed on the auxiliary top wall portion and the pair of auxiliary top walls, 7. The optical transceiver according to claim 5, wherein the engagement between the housing body side engaging portion and the housing joining portion prevents relative movement between the housing body and the auxiliary housing in the normal direction.

8. 8. The optical transceiver according to claim 7, wherein an auxiliary bottom wall portion is integrally formed on each bottom edge of the pair of auxiliary side walls of the auxiliary housing, and the auxiliary bottom wall portion is disposed so as to overlap the bottom surface of the housing body.

9. 9. The optical transceiver of claim 8, wherein the auxiliary bottom wall has an extension portion extending beyond a first side edge in a normal direction of the auxiliary side wall portion and covering the main body bottom wall portion, and the mounting leg portion is also integrally formed with the extension portion.

10. A main board; an optical transceiver connected to the main board; The optical transceiver includes: Four or more optical modules each having an optical input / output unit; a housing in which the pair of optical modules adjacent to each other in a first direction are arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; The housing includes: A pair of main body side walls facing each other in the first direction; a main body top wall portion and a main body bottom wall portion opposed to each other in the second direction; A housing body including: a plurality of optical module holders formed on an inner side of an end portion of the housing body in a normal direction perpendicular to both the first direction and the second direction, the optical input / output units facing the normal direction and holding the plurality of optical modules; A first partition wall portion disposed between the pair of main body side walls; a second partition wall disposed between the body top wall and the body bottom wall, An optical transceiver unit in which the housing body is partitioned by the first partition wall portion and the second partition wall portion into a plurality of plug socket portions that detachably hold optical cable plugs that are each connected to the optical input / output portions of a plurality of the optical modules.

11. The optical transceiver unit of claim 10, wherein the plurality of plug socket portions have a lock engagement portion formed on both of the pair of main body side wall portions, which detachably engages a plug lock portion provided together with an unlocking operation portion of the optical cable plug.

12. 12. The optical transceiver unit according to claim 10, further comprising mounting legs for mounting the housing to the mounting surface of the main board.

Images