Optical Waveguide Board Positioning Cores for Precise Connector Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical connector modules face challenges in achieving precise alignment and positioning of optical connectors relative to optical waveguide boards, leading to inaccuracies in optical coupling.
Innovation Solution
The optical connector module includes an optical waveguide board with positioning cores protruding beyond the core, stacked on a cladding, and an optical connector with engagement features that align with these cores, ensuring accurate positioning through a manufacturing process that differentiates the exposure and heat treatment of the positioning core and core.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a positioning core protruding beyond the core is used, then positioning precision is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the waveguide structure into functional segments: the optical core and the positioning core. The positioning core is formed as a separate protruding structure that extends beyond the core, allowing independent positioning functionality. This segmentation enables the positioning target portion to engage with the positioning core without interfering with the optical core, thereby achieving precise positioning while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through differentiated processing steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning core acts as an intermediary element between the optical core and the positioning target portion. It provides a dedicated engagement interface that mediates the positioning function, allowing the connector to be accurately positioned relative to the waveguide board without directly involving the optical core. This intermediary structure simplifies the manufacturing process by separating positioning requirements from optical requirements.
2Manufacturing precision
If different exposure and heat treatment processes are applied to positioning core and core, then positioning accuracy is improved, but manufacturing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning core is formed with predetermined exposure and heat treatment conditions during the manufacturing process, before final assembly. By pre-establishing the protruding structure with appropriate dimensional characteristics through controlled exposure and heat treatment, the positioning accuracy is ensured in advance, eliminating the need for post-assembly adjustments and reducing overall manufacturing time despite the additional process steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes parameter changes in the exposure and heat treatment processes to differentiate the positioning core from the optical core. By adjusting exposure time, energy density, or heat treatment temperature and duration, the positioning core achieves the desired protruding dimensions and material properties. These parameter optimizations allow precise positioning while minimizing the time penalty of differentiated processing.
Data Source
AI summary
An optical connector module (1) according to the present disclosure includes an optical waveguide board (10) and an optical connector (20) attached to the optical waveguide board (10). The optical connector (20) includes a positioning target portion (23) that engages with the optical waveguide board (10), and the optical connector (20) is positioned relative to the optical waveguide board (10) in a state in which the positioning target portion (23) is engaged with the optical waveguide board (10). The optical waveguide board (10) includes an optical waveguide (12) including a first cladding (122a) and a core (121) stacked on the first cladding (122a), the first cladding being stacked on a substrate (11) in a stacking direction perpendicular to the substrate (11), and a positioning core (14) that is stacked on the first cladding (122a) by using a material the same as a material of the core (121) and that engages with the positioning target portion (23). The positioning core (14) protrudes further than the core (121) toward a side opposite to the substrate (11) in the stacking direction.