Optical Receiver Module with Shifted Light-Receiving Element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical receiver modules face challenges in reducing reflected return light entering the optical fiber due to manufacturing tolerances, leading to decreased assembly yield and light-receiving efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The optical receiver module design includes a light-receiving element positioned off the optical axis, with its edges aligned differently from the orthogonal direction to the incident light, and a support member that inclines the light-receiving surface towards the optical axis, ensuring that any manufacturing angle tolerance causes the reflected light to be directed away from the optical fiber.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the light-receiving element is positioned on the optical axis with orthogonal edges, then the manufacturing process is simple, but manufacturing tolerances cause reflected return light to enter the optical fiber
Solution Approach 1:
The light-receiving element is positioned asymmetrically relative to the optical axis, with its center offset by a predetermined distance. Additionally, the edges of the light-receiving element are oriented at specific angles (e.g., 45 degrees) relative to the optical axis rather than being orthogonal to it. This asymmetric configuration ensures that reflected light is directed away from the optical fiber even when manufacturing tolerances exist.
Solution Approach 2:
The design proactively counteracts the potential harmful effect of reflected return light by pre-positioning the light-receiving element off-axis and angling its edges. This preliminary anti-action is built into the design before manufacturing, so that even with tolerance variations, the reflected light is systematically directed away from the optical fiber rather than allowing the tolerance to create the problem first.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the light-receiving element is shifted from the optical axis, then reflected return light is reduced, but light-receiving efficiency decreases due to larger incident angle
Solution Approach 1:
The invention optimizes specific parameters including the offset distance from the optical axis and the edge angles of the light-receiving element. By carefully selecting these parameters (e.g., offset distance, 45-degree edge angles), the design achieves a balance where reflected light is sufficiently redirected away from the optical fiber while the incident light angle remains within acceptable ranges for efficient light reception.
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 effectively suppresses the increase in reflected return light entering the optical fiber while maintaining light-receiving efficiency, ensuring a reduced return loss and improved assembly yield.
Implementation Method 1
the light-receiving element converts an optical signal corresponding to the light into an electrical signal
Implementation Method 2
Light entered through the optical fiber is entered into the light-receiving element via the lens
Implementation Method 3
the incident light entered into the light-receiving element is reflected by a light-receiving surface
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an optical receiver module capable of suppressing an increase, which is caused by tolerance of angle occurring at a time of manufacturing, in an amount of reflected return light that enters into an optical fiber while ensuring light-receiving efficiency. The light-receiving element (10) is arranged so that directions of the lines, which extend along the edges contained in a surface of the light-receiving element (10) on a side of the light-receiving-element support member (11), and which intersect with the region surrounded by a straight line corresponding to the incident direction of the light, a straight line corresponding to a direction of the optical axis of the optical fiber (3), and a supporting surface of the light-receiving-element support member (11) for supporting the light-receiving element (10), correspond to the directions different from the directions orthogonal to the incident direction of the light.