Optical component for optical communication

Abstract

Provided is an optical component for optical communication which is capable of suitably accepting a request to reduce a size, resisting a thermal expansion coefficient difference between constituent elements, and adjusting incident and exit modes relative to an end of an optical fiber to thereby constantly attain optical characteristics which correspond to the request. The optical component includes a fiber holding member (3) holding an optical fiber (2), and a lens (4) which is located on an optical path extending from an end of the optical fiber (2) and attached to the fiber holding member (3). A flat portion (4a) formed in a rear end of the lens (4) is bonded to be fixed to a flat portion (6a) of an end of the fiber holding member (3) such that the flat portion (4a) of the lens (4) is opposed to the end of the optical fiber (2). A gap is provided between the flat portion (4a) of the lens (4) and the end (2a) of the optical fiber (2).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross sectional side view showing a schematic structure of an optical component for optical communication according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross sectional side view showing a schematic structure of an optical component for optical communication according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross sectional side view showing a schematic structure of an optical component for optical communication according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross sectional side view showing a schematic structure of an optical component for optical communication according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; and

FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C are longitudinal cross sectional side views showing schematic structures of conventional optical components for optical communication.

Claims

1. An optical component for optical communication, comprising: a fiber holding member having a flat portion formed in an end thereof, for holding an optical fiber; anda lens which is located on an optical path extending from an end of the optical fiber and attached to the fiber holding member, having a flat portion formed in a rear end of the lens,wherein the flat portion of the lens is bonded to be fixed to the flat portion of the fiber holding member such that the flat portion of the lens is opposed to the end of the optical fiber, and the flat portion of the lens and the end of the optical fiber are separated from each other with a gap provided therebetween.

2. An optical component for optical communication according to claim 1, wherein the optical component for optical communication comprises an optical collimator for converting light which is outputted from the optical fiber and spread out into parallel light through the lens or for focusing parallel light on the optical fiber through the lens.

3. An optical component for optical communication according to claim 1, wherein the optical fiber comprises in the end thereof an oblique surface tilted relative to an optical axis.

4. An optical component for optical communication according to claim 2, wherein a minimum value of a beam diameter of the parallel light is equal to or smaller than 200 μm.

5. An optical component for optical communication according to claim 1, wherein: the fiber holding member comprises: a first holding member including an inner hole, for holding the optical fiber in the inner hole; anda second holding member which is fitted to an outer circumference side of the first holding member and includes a flat portion formed in an end of the second holding member; andthe flat portion formed in the rear end of the lens is bonded to be fixed to the flat portion formed in the end of the second holding member such that the flat portion of the lens is opposed to an end of the first holding member.

6. An optical component for optical communication according to claim 5, wherein: the first holding member comprises in the end thereof an oblique surface tilted relative to an optical axis; andthe oblique surface is formed to be identical to the oblique surface formed in the end of the optical fiber.

7. An optical component for optical communication according to claim 1, wherein the lens comprises an end surface which includes a convex curved surface.

8. An optical component for optical communication according to claim 7, wherein the convex curved surface of the lens comprises a spherical surface.

9. An optical component for optical communication according to claim 1, wherein the lens comprises a spherical lens which is partially processed.

10. An optical component for optical communication according to claim 9, wherein the flat portion of the lens is separated from an end vertex of a spherical portion thereof at a distance L which is equal to or longer than a length of a radius R of the spherical lens.

11. An optical component for optical communication according to claim 1, wherein the flat portion of the lens has at least a light transmitting surface subjected to antireflective coating.

12. An optical component for optical communication according to claim 1, wherein the lens comprises an end surface having at least a light transmitting surface subjected to antireflective coating.

13. An optical component for optical communication according to claim 1, wherein the lens comprises a glass material whose refractive index is equal to or larger than 1.7.

14. An optical component for optical communication according to claim 1, further comprising a coating tube fitted to an outer circumference side of the fiber holding member and an outer circumference side of the lens therealong, wherein the fiber holding member has an outer diameter substantially equal to an outer diameter of the lens.

15. An optical component for optical communication according to claim 2, wherein the optical fiber comprises in the end thereof an oblique surface tilted relative to an optical axis.

16. An optical component for optical communication according to claim 3, wherein a minimum value of a beam diameter of the parallel light is equal to or smaller than 200 μm.

17. An optical component for optical communication according to claim 15, wherein a minimum value of a beam diameter of the parallel light is equal to or smaller than 200 μm.

18. An optical component for optical communication according to claim 2, wherein: the fiber holding member comprises: a first holding member including an inner hole, for holding the optical fiber in the inner hole; anda second holding member which is fitted to an outer circumference side of the first holding member and includes a flat portion formed in an end of the second holding member; andthe flat portion formed in the rear end of the lens is bonded to be fixed to the flat portion formed in the end of the second holding member such that the flat portion of the lens is opposed to an end of the first holding member.

19. An optical component for optical communication according to claim 3, wherein: the fiber holding member comprises: a first holding member including an inner hole, for holding the optical fiber in the inner hole; anda second holding member which is fitted to an outer circumference side of the first holding member and includes a flat portion formed in an end of the second holding member; andthe flat portion formed in the rear end of the lens is bonded to be fixed to the flat portion formed in the end of the second holding member such that the flat portion of the lens is opposed to an end of the first holding member.

20. An optical component for optical communication according to claim 15, wherein: the fiber holding member comprises: a first holding member including an inner hole, for holding the optical fiber in the inner hole; anda second holding member which is fitted to an outer circumference side of the first holding member and includes a flat portion formed in an end of the second holding member; andthe flat portion formed in the rear end of the lens is bonded to be fixed to the flat portion formed in the end of the second holding member such that the flat portion of the lens is opposed to an end of the first holding member.