Optical module

An optical module includes a circuit board, a lens assembly, a first lens array and a second lens array. The circuit board includes a first driving chip, a first photoelectric chip, a second photoelectric chip and a second driving chip. The lens assembly houses the first photoelectric chip and the second photoelectric chip and includes an upper surface having a first groove and a second groove. The first lens array and the second lens array are on a side surface of the second groove. A bottom surface of the first groove includes a reflecting surface. The first photoelectric chip and the second photoelectric chip are configured such that light coming from or to the first photoelectric chip, or from or to second photoelectric chip, is reflected by the reflecting surface and passes through the first lens array or the second lens array.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to communication technology, and in particular to an optical module.

BACKGROUND

An Active Optical Cable (AOC) is a communication cable for photoelectric conversion by means of external energy during communication. Generally, AOC's include an optical fiber and optical modules located on both ends of the optical fiber. The photoelectric conversion can be realized by connecting the optical fiber and the optical modules.

SUMMARY

An aspect of this description is related to an optical module. The optical module comprises a circuit board. The circuit board comprises a first driving chip, a first photoelectric chip, a second photoelectric chip and a second driving chip in order along a first direction. The optical module also comprises a lens assembly housing the first photoelectric chip and the second photoelectric chip. The lens assembly comprises an upper surface having a first groove and a second groove. The optical module further comprises a first lens array and a second lens array arranged in a top-down direction on a side surface of the second groove. A bottom surface of the first groove comprises a reflecting surface. The first photoelectric chip is configured such that light coming from or to the first photoelectric chip is reflected by the reflecting surface and passes through the first lens array. The second photoelectric chip is configured such that light coming from or to the second photoelectric chip is reflected by the reflecting surface and passes through the second lens array.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

An optical module is a component for realizing photoelectric conversion in an AOC. That is, a transmitter converts electrical signals into optical signals and transmits the optical signals via optical fibers. A receiver converts optical signals received into electrical signals.

FIG. 1is a schematic diagram of an optical module, in accordance with one or more embodiments. Generally, the optical module includes an upper housing100, a lower housing200, as well as a circuit board300, one or more chips400, a lens assembly500, and an optical fiber bracket600which are located in a chamber formed by the upper housing100and the lower housing200.

The one or more chips400are over a surface of the circuit board300. The lens assembly500is over the one or more chips400. The chip400transmits/receives light by way of the lens assembly500. One side of the lens assembly500comprises the optical fiber bracket600. The optical fiber bracket600is configured to connect an optical fiber with the lens assembly500to establish an optical connection between the lens assembly500and the optical fiber.

An optical module with the above structure is suitable for connecting a single row of optical fibers. With the increase of optical fiber transmission rate, the number of optical fibers needed for transmission is continuously increased. To receive more optical fibers and realize photoelectric conversion, it is necessary to leave more space for the lens assembly and the optical fiber bracket, resulting in larger optical modules. However, larger optical modules are not desirable for integrated packaging, and may increase the manufacturing cost of the optical modules.

The present disclosure provides an optical module aimed to decrease the volume of the optical module and reduce the manufacturing cost of the optical module while realizing multi-channel transmission.

In some embodiments, the optical module includes: a first driving chip, a first photoelectric chip, a second photoelectric chip and a second driving chip which are arranged in order on a circuit board along a first direction, and a lens assembly housing the first photoelectric chip and the second photoelectric chip. A first groove and a second groove are provided on an upper surface of the lens assembly. A bottom surface of the first groove forms a reflecting surface, and a side surface of the second groove close to the first groove is provided with a first lens array and a second lens array which are arranged in order from the top of the side surface.

Light emitted from the two photoelectric chips is reflected at different positions of the reflecting surface and then enters the first lens array and the second lens array, respectively. Since the side surface of the second groove is provided with the first lens array and the second lens array, light transmission channels are increased, the volume of the optical module is decreased, and the manufacturing cost of the optical module is reduced. In some embodiments, the first photoelectric chip and the second photoelectric chip are adjacently arranged, the light coming from or to the first photoelectric chip gets reflected by the reflecting surface and passes through the first lens array, and the light coming from or to the second photoelectric chip gets reflected by the reflecting surface and passes through the second lens array. The reflecting surface can, therefore, reflect two beams of light at the same time, resulting in two optical paths along the top-down direction, thereby increasing light transmission channels and realizing simultaneous multi-channel transmission.

FIG. 2andFIG. 3are discussed below.FIG. 2is a schematic diagram of an optical module in accordance with one or more embodiments.FIG. 3is a schematic diagram of a cross section of an optical module in accordance with one or more embodiments.

In some embodiments, as shown inFIG. 2and inFIG. 3, the optical module includes an upper housing100and a lower housing200. The upper housing100and the lower housing200are combined to form a hollow chamber. A circuit board1, a first driving chip2, a first photoelectric chip3, a second photoelectric chip4, a second driving chip5, a lens assembly6and an optical fiber bracket7are encapsulated in the chamber formed by the upper housing100and the lower housing200, thereby forming a whole optical module.

The circuit board1is placed at the bottom of the lower housing200. The circuit board1is provided with the first driving chip2, the first photoelectric chip3, the second photoelectric chip4and the second driving chip5sequentially along a same direction of the circuit board1, for example, along a length direction or a width direction of the circuit board1. In some embodiments, since the circuit board1is sequentially provided with the first driving chip2, the first photoelectric chip3, the second photoelectric chip4and the second driving chip5, the first driving chip2is configured to drive the first photoelectric chip3and the second driving chip5is configured to drive the second photoelectric chip4, thereby facilitating driving the photoelectric chips by the corresponding driving chips.

The lens assembly6houses the first photoelectric chip3and the second photoelectric chip4, and is configured to reflect the light coming from or to the first photoelectric chip3and the second photoelectric chip4. An upper surface of the lens assembly6is provided with a first groove8and a second groove9. To reduce the volume of the lens assembly6, the first groove8and the second groove9are adjacently arranged. A bottom surface of the first groove8forms a reflecting surface10. A first lens array11and a second lens array12are provided on a side surface of the second groove9, where the side surface is close to the first groove8. The first lens array11and the second lens array12are arranged on the side surface of the second groove9along a direction from top to bottom, where the direction from top to bottom refers to a height direction of the lens assembly6.

The reflecting surface10formed by the bottom surface of the first groove8is configured to reflect the light from or to the first photoelectric chip3and the second photoelectric chip4. Therefore, to facilitate the position arrangement of the first lens array11and the second lens array12, and reduce the volume of the lens assembly6, an inclined angle of the reflecting surface10may be set to 45±5°. By adjusting the inclined angle of the reflecting surface10, the positions of the first photoelectric chip3and the second photoelectric chip4together with the positions of the first lens array11and the second lens array12, the reflecting surface10is able to reflect the light emitted from the first photoelectric chip3and the second photoelectric chip4or the light received by the first photoelectric chip3and the second photoelectric chip4.

In some embodiments, the first lens array11and the second lens array12comprise convex lenses. Thus, the first lens array11and the second lens array12both have functions of converging light and converting the light into parallel beams. In some embodiments, the first lens array11and the second lens array12may each include at least eight convex lenses. In some embodiments, the quantity of convex lenses included in the first lens array11and the second lens array12are the same such that simultaneous transmission of multiple light rays can be realized. Further, to facilitate arranging the first lens array11and the second lens array12on the side surface of the second groove9at the same time and to facilitate incidence of the light reflected by the reflecting surface10into the first lens array11and the second lens array12respectively, the first lens array11and the second lens array12may be arranged in parallel and are both parallel to the bottom surface of the second groove9.

In some embodiments, while the first driving chip2is driving the first photoelectric chip3, the light emitted from the first photoelectric chip3is reflected into the first lens array11by the reflecting surface10, or, the light passing through the first lens array11is reflected into the first photoelectric chip3by the reflecting surface10, thereby realizing the photoelectric conversion during transmission and reception process.

Similarly, while the second driving chip5is driving the second photoelectric chip4, the light emitted by the second photoelectric chip4is reflected by the reflecting surface10and then guided into the second lens array12, or, the light passing through the second lens array12is reflected by the reflecting surface10and then guided into the second photoelectric chip4, thereby realizing the photoelectric conversion during transmission and reception process.

In some embodiments, by arranging two lens arrays, i.e., the first lens array11and the second lens array12on the side surface of the second groove9along the top-down direction, light transmission channels are increased, the volume of the optical module are decreased, and the manufacturing cost of the optical module is able to be reduced. In addition, since the first photoelectric chip3and the second photoelectric chip4are adjacently arranged, the light coming from or to the first photoelectric chip3passes through the reflecting surface10and the first lens array11, and the light coming from or to the second photoelectric chip4passes through the reflecting surface10and the second lens array12. Thus, the reflecting surface10is able to reflect two beams of light at the same time and two optical paths are formed along the top-down direction, thereby achieving more than one light transmission channel and light transmission in multiple channels at the same time.

In some embodiments, the first driving chip2and the second driving chip5are both transmission driving chips13or reception driving chips14. Accordingly, the first photoelectric chip3and the second photoelectric chip4are both photoelectric transmitting chips15or photoelectric receiving chips16. The transmission driving chips13are configured to drive the photoelectric transmitting chips15, and the reception driving chips14are configured to drive the photoelectric receiving chips16.

FIG. 4is a schematic diagram illustrating a first positional relationship of driving chips and photoelectric chips, in accordance with one or more embodiments. As shown inFIG. 4, the first driving chip2and the second driving chip5are both transmission driving chips13, and the first photoelectric chip3and the second photoelectric chip4are both photoelectric transmitting chips15. While an optical module is in operation, two transmission driving chips13control two corresponding photoelectric transmitting chips15to radiate light. The light is reflected by the reflecting surface10and then irradiated into a corresponding one of the first lens array11or the second lens array12. In this case, the optical module is for light transmission only.

FIG. 5is a schematic diagram illustrating a second positional relationship of driving chips and photoelectric chips, in accordance with one or more embodiments. As shown inFIG. 5, the first driving chip2and the second driving chip5are both reception driving chips14, and the first photoelectric chip3and the second photoelectric chip4are both photoelectric receiving chips16. While the optical module is in operation, light passing through the first lens array11and the second lens array12is reflected by the reflecting surface10and then irradiated into two corresponding photoelectric receiving chips16. The two reception driving chips14control two corresponding photoelectric receiving chips16to receive the light. In this case, the optical module is for light reception only.

FIG. 6is a schematic diagram illustrating a third positional relationship of driving chips and photoelectric chips, in accordance with one or more embodiments. As shown inFIG. 6, the first driving chip2is a transmission driving chip13, the first photoelectric chip3is a photoelectric transmitting chip15, the second photoelectric chip4is a photoelectric receiving chip16, and the second driving chip5is a reception driving chip14. While the optical module is operating, the transmission driving chip13controls the photoelectric transmitting chip15to radiate light. The radiated light is reflected by the reflecting surface10and then irradiated into the first lens array11. Meanwhile, the light passing through the second lens array12is reflected by the reflecting surface10and then irradiated into the photoelectric receiving chip16. The reception driving chip14controls the photoelectric receiving chip16to receive the light. In this case, the optical module is able to realize the transmission and reception of light at the same time.

FIG. 7is a schematic diagram illustrating a fourth position relationship of driving chips and photoelectric chips, in accordance with one or more embodiments. As shown inFIG. 7, the first driving chip2is a reception driving chip14, the first photoelectric chip3is a photoelectric receiving chip16, the second photoelectric chip4is a photoelectric transmitting chip15, and the second driving chip5is a transmission driving chip13. While the optical module is operating, the light passing through the first lens array11is reflected by the reflecting surface10and then irradiated into the photoelectric receiving chip16. The reception driving chip14controls the photoelectric receiving chip16to receive the light. Meanwhile, the transmission driving chip13controls the photoelectric transmitting chip15to radiate light. The radiated light is reflected by the reflecting surface10and then irradiated into the second lens array12. In this case, the optical module is able to realize the transmission and reception of light at the same time.

FIG. 8is a bottom view of a lens assembly inFIG. 3, in accordance with one or more embodiments. In some embodiments, the circuit board1is also sequentially provided with a third driving chip17, a third photoelectric chip18, a fourth photoelectric chip19and a fourth driving chip20along a length direction of the circuit board1. The lens assembly6also covers above the third photoelectric chip18and the fourth photoelectric chip19, as shown inFIG. 8. In some embodiments, the third driving chip17is configured to drive the third photoelectric chip18, and the fourth driving chip20is configured to drive the fourth photoelectric chip19.

Similar to the operation process of the first driving chip2, the first photoelectric chip3, the second photoelectric chip4and the second driving chip5, while the third driving chip17is driving the third photoelectric chip18, light radiated by the third photoelectric chip18is reflected by the reflecting surface10and then irradiated into the first lens array11; or light passing through the first lens array11is reflected by the reflecting surface10and then irradiated into the third photoelectric chip18. While the fourth driving chip20is driving the fourth photoelectric chip19to operate, light emitted by the fourth photoelectric chip19is reflected by the reflecting surface10and then irradiated into the second lens array12; or light passing through the second lens array12is reflected by the reflecting surface10and then irradiated into the fourth photoelectric chip19.

In some embodiments, the arrangement of the third driving chip17, the third photoelectric chip18, the fourth photoelectric chip19and the fourth driving chip20is able to further increase light transmission channels, thereby realizing simultaneous multi-channel transmission of light.

In some embodiments, the third driving chip17and the fourth driving chip20may both be the transmission driving chips13or the reception driving chips14. Correspondingly, the third photoelectric chip18and the fourth photoelectric chip19may both be the photoelectric transmitting chips15or the photoelectric receiving chips16.

When the first driving chip2and the second driving chip5are the transmission driving chip13or the reception driving chip14, respectively, and the first photoelectric chip3and the second photoelectric chip4correspondingly are photoelectric transmitting chip15or photoelectric receiving chip16, respectively, there are four position relationships for the driving chips and the photoelectric chips in an optical module and different combinations of light transmission and reception may be achieved.

When the optical module further includes the third driving chip17, the third photoelectric chip18, the fourth photoelectric chip19and the fourth driving chip20, there are more combinations of the position relationships of the driving chips and the photoelectric chips in the optical module, resulting in different combinations of light transmission and reception. For example, when the first driving chip2, the second driving chip5and the third driving chip17are transmission driving chips13, the first photoelectric chip3, the second photoelectric chip4and the third photoelectric chip18are photoelectric transmitting chips15, the fourth driving chip20is a reception driving chip14and the fourth photoelectric chip19is an photoelectric receiving chip16, the optical module is able to realize transmission of three light paths and reception of one light path. Other combinations of the first driving chip2, the first photoelectric chip3, the second photoelectric chip4, the second driving chip5, the third driving chip17, the third photoelectric chip18, the fourth photoelectric chip19and the fourth driving chip20are possible, but will not be described herein for brevity.

FIGS. 9 and 10are discussed below.FIG. 9is a schematic diagram of a third lens array and a fourth lens array, in accordance with one or more embodiments.FIG. 10is a schematic diagram illustrating an optical path of an optical module, in accordance with one or more embodiments.

In some embodiments, as shown inFIG. 9andFIG. 10, a lower surface of the lens assembly6is provided with a third groove21, and a bottom surface of the third groove21is provided with a third lens array22and a fourth lens array23. Since the lens assembly6is above the first photoelectric chip3and the second photoelectric chip4, the third lens array22and the fourth lens array23may be placed above the first photoelectric chip3and the second photoelectric chip4. In some embodiments, the third lens array22is placed above the first photoelectric chip3, and the fourth lens array23is placed above the second photoelectric chip4.

The light from the first photoelectric chip3becomes parallel light after passing through the third lens array22, and the parallel light is reflected by the reflecting surface10into the first lens array11; or the light passing through the first lens array11is reflected by the reflecting surface10into the third lens array22and further into the first photoelectric chip3, thereby realizing the photoelectric conversion in the transmitting process and the receiving process.

The light from the second photoelectric chip4becomes parallel light after passing through the fourth lens array23, and the parallel light is reflected by the reflecting surface10into the second lens array12; or the light passing through the second lens array12is reflected by the reflecting surface10into the fourth lens array23and further into the second photoelectric chip4, thereby realizing the photoelectric conversion in the transmitting process and the receiving process.

In some embodiments, the lower surface of the lens assembly6is also provided with a fourth groove24, and the depth of the fourth groove24is different from that of the third groove21. In this manner, there is a depth difference between the third groove21and the fourth groove24, resulting in a depth step. In some embodiments, as shown inFIG. 9, the fourth groove24is only arranged on a portion of the lower surface of the lens assembly6along its width direction, and a portion of convex lenses in the third lens array22and the fourth lens array23are positioned on the bottom surface of the fourth groove24. The depth step formed by the third groove21and the fourth groove24in the depth direction is advantageous in reducing manufacturing materials of the lens assembly6and cutting the manufacturing cost of the lens assembly6. In some embodiments, in order to facilitate arranging photoelectric chips in the grooves, the third photoelectric chip18and the fourth photoelectric chip19are provided in the third groove21, and the first photoelectric chip3and the second photoelectric chip4is provided in the fourth groove24. In some embodiments, the third photoelectric chip18and the fourth photoelectric chip19in the third groove21are both photoelectric transmitting chips15, and the first photoelectric chip3and the second photoelectric chip4in the fourth groove24are both photoelectric receiving chips16.

In some embodiments, the first lens array11and the second lens array12both include at least eight convex lenses, respectively. Therefore, to enable the light passing through the third lens array22and the fourth lens array23to irradiate into different convex lenses of the first lens array11and the second lens array12, respectively, the third lens array22and the fourth lens array23are made to include the same quantity of convex lenses as a corresponding one of the first lens array11or the second lens array12. The light passing through the convex lenses of the third lens array22and the fourth lens array23is reflected by the reflecting surface10into different convex lenses of the first lens array11and the second lens array12, respectively.

In some embodiments, the second groove9is also provided with an optical fiber bracket7for supporting optical fibers. Two optical fiber arrays25in the form of a row are provided in the optical fiber bracket7. Each optical fiber array25includes a plurality of optical fibers, and the number of optical fibers in each optical fiber array in a row may be at least the number of convex lenses in the first lens array11or the second lens array12.

As shown inFIG. 10, the first lens array11and the second lens array12correspond to one optical fiber array in a row25, respectively. The first lens array11corresponds to the optical fiber array in a lower row, and the second lens array12corresponds to the optical fiber array in an upper row. In order to make it easy to irradiate light entering the first lens array11and the second lens array12into corresponding optical fiber arrays25, the first lens array11is located in the same plane as one optical fiber array, and the second lens array12is located in the same plane as the other optical fiber array.

In some embodiments, to make the optical fiber bracket7in the second groove9steady, two positioning mechanisms26are provided on both sides of the first lens array11or the second lens array12, such as positioning columns, and two positioning holes (not shown) are provided on a side surface of the optical fiber bracket7which is close to the first lens array11or the second lens array12. The optical fiber bracket7is fixed by inserting the positioning columns26into the positioning holes of the optical fiber bracket7. In some embodiments, to make the optical fiber bracket7steadily placed in the second groove9, fixing holes are provided on both sides of the first lens array11or the second lens array12on the side surface of the second groove9, and fixing holes are provided on the side surface of optical fiber bracket7close to the first lens array11or the second lens array12as well. Thus, the optical fiber bracket7is fixed by inserting both ends of two guiding pins into the fixing holes on the side surface of the second groove9and the fixing holes on the side surface of the optical fiber bracket7.

As shown inFIG. 10, the first driving chip2and the second driving chip5drive the first photoelectric chip3and the second photoelectric chip4to emit light. The light emitted by the first photoelectric chip3becomes parallel light after passing through the third lens array22, and the light emitted by the second photoelectric chip4becomes parallel light after passing through the fourth lens array23. Two beams of parallel light go to different positions of the reflecting surface10, and are then reflected by the reflecting surface10to become parallel light in a direction different from that of the above parallel light. The two beams of parallel light along the different direction enter the first lens array11and the second lens array12, respectively, are converged by the first lens array11and the second lens array12, and then irradiated into optical fibers in two rows of optical fibers25. A process that light received by the first photoelectric chip3or the second photoelectric chip4passing through the optical fiber array25, the first lens array11or the second lens array12, the reflecting surface10and the third lens array22or the fourth lens array23is similar to the above process except that the light path is in opposite direction.

The light emitted by the first photoelectric chip3and the second photoelectric chip4passes through the third lens array22and the fourth lens array23, respectively, gets reflected by the reflecting surface10, and irradiates into the first lens array11and the second lens array12, respectively. The third lens array22, the fourth lens array23, the first lens array11and the second lens array12include at least eight convex lenses, respectively. Therefore, the simultaneous multi-channel transmission of light is realized in one light transmission process. Further, since the first lens array11and the second lens array12are arranged on the side surface of the second groove9at the same time, and the third lens array22and the fourth lens array23are arranged at the bottom of the third groove21at the same time, the optical module in some embodiments makes it possible to decrease the volume of the optical module while realizing the simultaneous multi-channel transmission and reducing the manufacturing cost of the optical module.