Optical Module With Translucent Ferrule Mirror
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional Mach-Zehnder modulators with optical waveguides and fibers extending in different directions face challenges in coupling due to complex positional adjustments and increased device size, leading to light loss and miniaturization limitations.
Innovation Solution
An optical module with a substrate-based optical waveguide and an optical fiber assembly featuring a translucent ferrule with a mirror portion that reflects light from the optical fiber in a direction different from the waveguide's travel direction, collecting it through a joint surface, reducing the need for additional space and facilitating easy coupling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If light emitted from an optical fiber is reflected by an inclined surface of a substrate and enters an optical waveguide, then the device size is reduced, but the coupling between the optical fiber and optical waveguide becomes difficult due to complex position adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
A translucent member is introduced as an intermediary component between the optical fiber and the substrate. This translucent member includes a mirror portion that reflects light from the optical fiber toward the optical waveguide, and a joint surface that joins to the substrate. The intermediary simplifies the coupling process by providing a fixed reference surface while maintaining the space-saving benefits of the inclined surface configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling function is divided into separate components: the optical fiber, the translucent member with mirror portion, and the substrate with optical waveguide. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies the overall coupling process by distributing the functional requirements across multiple elements rather than requiring precise alignment between just two components.
2Ease of operation
If an inclined surface is not formed on the substrate and a reflection member is arranged apart from the substrate, then position adjustment is omitted, but light loss occurs due to the longer optical path
Solution Approach 1:
The translucent member acts as an intermediary that joins directly to the substrate via a joint surface, maintaining a compact optical path. The mirror portion on the translucent member reflects light while keeping the optical path length minimal, thus avoiding significant light loss while still simplifying the coupling process.
Solution Approach 2:
The mirror portion is positioned on the translucent member in a configuration that optimizes the optical path geometry. By utilizing the three-dimensional space efficiently and positioning the reflection surface at an optimal location on the translucent member, the optical path length is minimized while still achieving easy coupling.
3Loss of energy
If a condenser lens is arranged between the reflection member and the optical waveguide to suppress light loss, then light collection is improved, but the device size increases due to additional space requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The light collection function is extracted from a separate condenser lens component and integrated into the mirror portion of the translucent member. By forming the mirror portion with an appropriate curvature or surface profile, the light collection capability is built into the reflection surface itself, eliminating the need for an additional condenser lens and reducing device size.
Solution Approach 2:
The reflection function and light collection function are merged into a single component - the mirror portion of the translucent member. This integration allows the component to perform both functions simultaneously without requiring separate elements, thus maintaining compact device dimensions while suppressing light loss.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration allows for efficient coupling of optical waveguides and fibers with different orientations, minimizing light loss and enabling miniaturization of the device while maintaining effective light transmission.
Implementation Method 1
a mirror portion that reflects light emitted from the distal end of the optical fiber in a direction different from a traveling direction of the light
Implementation Method 2
collects the reflected light into the end of the optical waveguide through the joint surface
Implementation Method 3
a translucent member including a joint surface joined to an end surface of the substrate at an end of the optical waveguide
Data Source
AI summary
An optical module includes a substrate on which an optical waveguide is formed, and an optical fiber assembly. The optical fiber assembly includes an optical fiber, a translucent member, and a mirror portion. The translucent member includes a joint surface joined to an end surface of the substrate at an end of the optical waveguide, and is attached to a distal end of the optical fiber. The mirror portion is formed on the translucent member, reflects light emitted from the distal end of the optical fiber in a direction different from a traveling direction of the light, and collects the reflected light into the end of the optical waveguide through the joint surface.