Optical Transmission Module With Stacked Substrates And Differential Terminal Lengths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical transmission modules face complexity in structure and difficulty in achieving size reduction and acceleration while maintaining optical coupling, as seen in PTL 1, which complicates the optical axis adjustment unit.
Innovation Solution
The optical transmission module incorporates laminated substrates partially exposed within a housing, with external and internal terminals strategically positioned to connect high-frequency and low-frequency circuits, optimizing terminal lengths for reduced impedance and increased thermal resistance, thereby simplifying the structure and enabling size reduction and acceleration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an optical axis adjustment unit is provided to ensure optical coupling between optical components, then optical coupling is maintained, but the structure becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the optical axis adjustment function from a separate adjustment unit and integrates it into the substrate structure itself. The substrate includes built-in adjustment features that allow optical axis alignment without requiring an additional independent adjustment mechanism, thereby maintaining optical coupling while simplifying the overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple functions into unified components. The substrate serves both as a mechanical support structure and as an optical axis adjustment mechanism. By merging the support function and adjustment function into a single integrated substrate structure, the number of separate components is reduced while maintaining the necessary optical coupling capability.
2Ease of manufacture
If the optical module structure is simplified for easier manufacturing, then manufacturing ease is improved, but achieving size reduction and acceleration becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a nested arrangement where multiple functional components are integrated within a compact hierarchical structure. The substrates are stacked in layers with each layer containing specific functional elements, allowing efficient use of vertical space. This nested configuration enables size reduction while maintaining manufacturability through standardized layering processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional planar layout to a three-dimensional stacked configuration. By arranging substrates and components in multiple layers along the vertical dimension, the optical module achieves compact size reduction in the horizontal plane while maintaining all necessary functional connections through vertical interlayer routing.
3Reliability
If terminal lengths are optimized for high-frequency circuits, then signal transmission stability is improved, but thermal management becomes more challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different terminal length configurations tailored to specific circuit requirements. High-frequency circuit terminals are optimized with shorter lengths to minimize impedance and improve signal integrity, while low-frequency circuit terminals can have longer lengths without compromising performance. This localized optimization allows each terminal type to be tuned for its specific functional requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the terminal structure into different groups based on their functional requirements. Terminals are divided into high-frequency groups and low-frequency groups, with each group having optimized characteristics for its specific application. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each terminal group without compromising the other, balancing signal transmission quality with thermal management considerations.
Data Source
AI summary
The optical transmission module provided is designed to be simpler, smaller, and faster. It consists of a housing that holds one or more stacked substrates, partially exposed. Inside the housing, there is a light emitter that generates optical signals and an optical functional element that processes the transmission signal for driving the light emitter. Multiple terminals extend from the inside to the outside of the housing on the substrates. The terminals are divided into two groups: the first group connects to electrodes of a high-frequency circuit in the optical functional element, and the second group connects to electrodes of a low-frequency circuit. The length between the upper surfaces of the first group terminals and the high-frequency circuit electrodes is shorter than the length between the upper surfaces of the second group terminals and the low-frequency circuit electrodes, in the direction perpendicular to the substrates' major surface.