Patent ID: 8876415
Filing Date: 2014-11-04
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
1. An optical communication module, comprising: an optical element array comprising light emitting or receiving elements arranged in an array; a supporting member on which the optical element array is placed; a plurality of optical fibers optically connected to the optical element array; an optical member for optically coupling the optical element array and the optical fibers together; a plurality of grooves provided in the supporting member or the optical member; and a plurality of protrusions provided on the optical member or the supporting member in correspondence with the grooves respectively, wherein the grooves and the protrusions are mated together to thereby place the optical member on the supporting member and to position the optical member relative to the optical element array, wherein the grooves are provided as being widened toward their openings, or the protrusions are provided as being widened toward their base ends, to allow interference of the grooves and the protrusions at a time of expansion or contraction of the optical member to vary a distance between the supporting member and the optical member, wherein the grooves and the protrusions are each provided in such a manner that a location in a width direction thereof in which no relative locational misalignment occurs between the grooves and the protrusions at the time of expansion or contraction of the optical member lies on a line through a center of the optical element array in a plan view, wherein the grooves and the protrusions are each provided on at least two or more different lines through the center of the optical element array in a plan view, and wherein the grooves or the protrusions are provided in a V shape in cross section in the width direction thereof, and the V shape grooves or the V shape protrusions are provided in such a manner that their respective center location directions in the width direction thereof lie on the at least two or more different lines, respectively, through the center of the optical element array in the plan view.