Ultra-small multi-channel optical module with optical wavelength distribution

An ultra-small multi-channel optical module according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a base board, a glass substrate, a heat sink, optical elements, parallel light lenses, a first rectangular reflector, a glass cover, a second rectangular reflector, horizontal reflectors, and a light collecting lens.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application Nos. 10-2018-0142231 and 10-2019-0025374, filed on Nov. 19, 2018 and Mar. 5, 2019, the disclosure of which are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) multi-channel optical communication module, and more particularly, to an ultra-small multi-channel optical module with optical wavelength distribution using an optical filter.

2. Discussion of Related Art

In a case of a wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) optical communication module, since a plurality of light beams having different wavelengths are used, elements or a method is required to distribute optical wavelengths in channels. Generally, the optical wavelengths are distributed using an arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) or optical filters.

In a case in which the optical wavelengths are distributed using the optical filter, an optical property of the optical filter, which transmits or reflects a light beam having a specific wavelength, is used.

In a case of a multi-channel optical module using optical filters, elements or components are disposed while maintaining predetermined distances between channels. Multi-wavelength light beams collected on one path are distributed according to each wavelength by the optical filters to reach a receiver, or when multi-channel light beams are generated by a transmitter, a predetermined gap should be maintained between channels.

An interval between the channels in the receiver or transmitter relates to incident angles of light beams on the optical filter and moving distances of the light beams.

Korea Patent Publication No. 10-2011-0125426 (Published Date, Nov. 21, 2011) is a document related to the present invention, and a technology related to an optical module package structure for two-way communication is disclosed in the related document.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to providing an ultra-small multi-channel optical module with optical wavelength distribution using an optical filter.

Technical objectives to be solved through the present invention are not limited to the above-described technical objective, and other objectives which are not described above may be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following descriptions.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ultra-small multi-channel optical module with optical wavelength distribution including a plurality of optical elements configured to emit light having different wavelengths; parallel light lenses configured to convert the light emitted by the optical elements into parallel light; a first rectangular reflector configured to reflect the parallel light, which are converted by the parallel light lenses, in a vertical direction; a second rectangular reflector which is disposed above the first rectangular reflector with a gap therebetween, reflects the parallel light, which are reflected by the first rectangular reflector, in a horizontal direction, and reflects parallel light, which are collinearly received, in the vertical direction; horizontal reflectors disposed to be collinear with the second rectangular reflector with a gap therebetween and configured to reflect the parallel light, which are reflected by the second rectangular reflector, in the horizontal direction; optical filters which are disposed between the first rectangular reflector and the second rectangular reflector, transmit the parallel light which move from the first rectangular reflector toward the second rectangular reflector, and reflect the parallel light, which move from the second rectangular reflector toward the first rectangular reflector, back toward the second rectangular reflector; and a light collecting lens configured to receive a plurality of light beams, which are emitted by the optical elements, from the horizontal reflector.

The first rectangular reflector may have a form inclined upward at an angle of 45°.

The second rectangular reflector may have a form inclined downward at an angle of 45° so that the parallel light received from thereunder is reflected in the horizontal direction and the parallel light collinearly received is reflected downward in the vertical direction.

The horizontal reflectors may be disposed to face the plurality of optical elements, and the number of the horizontal reflectors may be the same as that of the optical elements.

The horizontal reflectors may be fixed to face the plurality of optical elements and to be coplanar therewith.

The parallel light lenses may be disposed between the optical elements and the first rectangular reflector to be collinear therewith and to have a predetermined gap therebetween, and the number of the parallel light lenses may be the same as that of the optical elements.

Here, the ultra-small multi-channel optical module with optical wavelength distribution may further include a base board having a hollow form having a mounting hole passing through the base board, a glass substrate disposed on the base board; a heat sink seated inside the mounting hole of the base board and disposed under the optical elements, the parallel light lenses, and the first rectangular reflector, and a glass cover having a form which covers the glass substrate and on which the second rectangular reflector, the horizontal reflectors, and the light collecting lens are disposed.

The base board may include an optical element driver connected to the optical elements.

The base board may include an optical element driver connected to the optical elements, and the optical elements and the optical element driver may be connected through lead wires.

The glass substrate may include a through glass via (TGV) therein for electrical connection with an external device.

Wire-bonded lead wires may be provided in the TGV, and the lead wires may be electrically connected to the optical elements.

A contact surface of the glass cover in contact with the glass substrate may be sealed by solder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Advantages and features of the present invention and methods of achieving the same will be clearly understood with reference to the following embodiments and the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments to be disclosed below and may be implemented in various different forms. The embodiments are provided in order to fully explain the present invention and fully explain the scope of the present invention for those skilled in the art. The scope of the present invention is only defined by the appended claims. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular forms include the plural forms. The term “comprise” or “comprising” used herein specifies some stated components, steps, operations and/or elements, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other components, steps, operations and/or elements.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to accompanying drawings in detail.

FIG. 1is a view illustrating an ultra-small multi-channel optical module according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Referring toFIG. 1, an ultra-small multi-channel optical module10includes a base board100, a glass substrate110, a heat sink120, optical elements130, parallel light lenses140, a first rectangular reflector150, a glass cover200, a second rectangular reflector210, horizontal reflectors220, and a light collecting lens240.

The base board100has a hollow form having a mounting hole passing through the base board100. The base board100forms a basic panel at a lower end portion of the ultra-small multi-channel optical module10.

The base board100may include an optical element driver20connected to the optical elements130. Here, lead wires30are wire-bonded and installed between the optical elements130and the optical element driver20.

The glass substrate110is disposed on the base board100. The glass substrate110includes a through glass via (TGV) therein for electrical connection with an external device. The lead wires30capable of being electrically connected to the external device are installed in the TGV.

The heat sink120is seated inside a mounting hole of the base board100. The heat sink120serves to reduce heat therearound. Generally, since elements and components related to light generate a great deal of heat, the heat sink120is necessarily required to maintain the performance of the elements and components.

The optical elements130are disposed on the heat sink120. The plurality of optical elements130are disposed on the heat sink120to emit light having different wavelengths.

The parallel light lenses140are disposed on the heat sink120to convert light emitted by the optical elements130into parallel light.

The first rectangular reflector150is disposed on the heat sink120to reflect the parallel light converted by the parallel light lenses140in a vertical direction.

The glass cover200covers the glass substrate110to form a sealed structure.

The second rectangular reflector210is disposed on the glass cover200. Here, the second rectangular reflector210is disposed above the first rectangular reflector150with a gap therebetween.

The horizontal reflectors220are fixed on the glass cover200. Since the horizontal reflectors220are fixed on a flat surface of the glass cover200, a degree of freedom required for optical alignment can be reduced.

The light collecting lens240is disposed on the glass cover200and receives a plurality of light beams, which are emitted by the optical elements130, from the horizontal reflector220. Here, the light collecting lens240emits the received light to the outside.

FIG. 2is a view illustrating an operational relationship of the ultra-small multi-channel optical module according to one embodiment of the present invention, andFIG. 3is a cross-sectional view illustrating the ultra-small multi-channel optical module according to one embodiment of the present invention;

Referring toFIGS. 2 and 3, since the ultra-small multi-channel optical module10may form a moving path of light1in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction due to a structural difference of an optical device, a space required for distributing optical wavelengths may be reduced. Accordingly, the optical module can be miniaturized.

Hereinafter, operational relationships between components of the ultra-small multi-channel optical module10according to the present invention will be described in detail.

The parallel light lenses140convert the light emitted by the optical elements130into parallel light. The parallel light lenses140are disposed between the optical elements130and the first rectangular reflector150to be collinear therewith and to have predetermined gaps therebetween.

Here, the number of the parallel light lenses140may be the same as that of the optical elements130.

The first rectangular reflector150reflects the parallel light, which are converted by the parallel light lenses140, in the vertical direction. Here, the first rectangular reflector150has a form inclined upward at an angle of 45°.

The second rectangular reflector210is disposed above the first rectangular reflector150with a gap therebetween.

Here, the second rectangular reflector210reflects the parallel light, which are reflected by the first rectangular reflector150, in the horizontal direction, and reflects the parallel light, which are collinearly received, in the vertical direction.

The second rectangular reflector210may have a form which is inclined downward at an angle of 45° so that the parallel light received from thereunder is reflected in the horizontal direction and the parallel light collinearly received is reflected downward in the vertical direction.

The horizontal reflectors220are disposed to be collinear with the second rectangular reflector210with gaps therebetween. The horizontal reflectors220reflect the parallel light, which are reflected by the second rectangular reflector210, in the horizontal direction.

The horizontal reflectors220are disposed to face the plurality of optical elements130, and the number of the horizontal reflectors220is the same as that of the optical elements130. The horizontal reflectors220may be fixed to be coplanar therewith so as to face the plurality of optical elements130.

Optical filters230are disposed between the first rectangular reflector150and the second rectangular reflector210. The optical filters230transmit the parallel light moving from the first rectangular reflector150toward the second rectangular reflector210.

In addition, the optical filters230reflect the parallel light, which move from the second rectangular reflector210toward the first rectangular reflector150, back toward the second rectangular reflector210.

The light collecting lens240receives a plurality of light beams, which are emitted by the optical elements130, from the horizontal reflector220. The light collecting lens240is a lens for collecting the light at one point, and the light collecting lens240not only serves to collect light but also improves a resolution of an image or refracts light according to an objective or usage.

Meanwhile, referring to the cross-sectional view ofFIG. 3, the base board100has the hollow form having the mounting hole passing through the base board100. The base board100includes the optical element driver20connected to the optical elements130.

The optical elements130and the optical element driver20are connected through the wire-bonded lead wires30.

The heat sink120is seated and fixed inside the mounting hole of the base board100. The glass cover200has a form which covers and seals the glass substrate110.

That is, a contact surface of the glass cover200in contact with the glass substrate110is sealed by solder201.

The glass substrate110includes the TGVs therein for connection with an external device. The lead wires30are provided inside the TGVs (not shown). The lead wires30may be electrically connected to the optical elements130.

FIG. 4is a view for describing a moving path of light in the ultra-small multi-channel optical module according to one embodiment of the present invention, andFIG. 5is a schematic view for describing the moving path of the light in the ultra-small multi-channel optical module according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Referring toFIGS. 4 and 5, a path through which light moves is shown in detail.

First, the optical elements130emit light beams1having different wavelengths λ1, λ2, λ3, and λ4. Here, the optical elements130include a first optical element131for the wavelength λ1, a second optical element132for the wavelength λ2, a third optical element133for the wavelength λ3, and a fourth optical element134for the wavelength λ4.

When the first, second, third, and fourth optical elements131,132,133, and134emit the light beams, the emitted light beams pass through the parallel light lenses140. Here, the parallel light lenses140include a first parallel light lens141, a second parallel light lens142, a third parallel light lens143, and a fourth parallel light lens144.

The light beams emitted from the first, second, third, and fourth optical elements131,132,133, and134respectively pass through the first, second, third, and fourth parallel light lenses141,142,143, and144. Here, the first, second, third, and fourth parallel light lenses141,142,143, and144convert the received light beams into parallel light to emit the light to the first rectangular reflector150.

The parallel light passing through the first parallel light lens141is reflected by the first rectangular reflector150in the vertical direction. The parallel light reflected as described above is reflected by the second rectangular reflector210in the horizontal direction. The light beam having the wavelength21reflected by the second rectangular reflector210is reflected by a first horizontal reflector221in the horizontal direction and moves back toward the second rectangular reflector210.

Here, the light beam having the wavelength21moving toward the second rectangular reflector210is reflected downward in the vertical direction. Here, the optical filters230are disposed between the second rectangular reflector210and the first rectangular reflector150.

The optical filters230include a first optical filter231formed at a position corresponding to the second optical element132, a second optical filter232formed at a position corresponding to the third optical element133, and a third optical filter233formed at a position corresponding to the fourth optical element134.

The light beam having the wavelength2\1, which is reflected downward by the second rectangular reflector210, meets the first optical filter231and is reflected upward back thereby. Here the reflected light beam having the wavelength λ1is reflected back by the second rectangular reflector210toward the second horizontal reflector222.

Here, the light beam having the wavelength22emitted by the second optical element132passes through the first optical filter231, meets the light beam having the wavelength λ1, and moves through a path which is the same as that of the light beam having the wavelength λ1.

Ultimately, the optical filters230are disposed between the first rectangular reflector150and the second rectangular reflector210to transmit the parallel light moving from the first rectangular reflector150toward the second rectangular reflector210.

In addition, the optical filters230reflect the parallel light, which move from the second rectangular reflector210toward the first rectangular reflector150, back toward the second rectangular reflector210.

The above-described process is shown in Table 1 below, and the light beams having the wavelengths λ1, λ2, λ3, and λ4reach the light collecting lens240through reflection and transmission.

TABLE 1Optical Property of Optical Filter according to each WavelengthOptical Filter 2Optical Filter 3Optical Filter 4λ1ReflectionReflectionReflectionλ2TransmissionReflectionReflectionλ3TransmissionReflectionλ4Transmission

As described above, in the present invention, since a moving path of light extends in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction, a space required for optical wavelength distribution elements or optical wavelength distribution is reduced, and thus an optical module can be miniaturized.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and may be variously modified and formed within a range in which the technical spirit of the present invention allows.