A contact device

Abstract: The present invention relates to a contact device intended for obtaining optical connection between an opto-component (1) and an optical fibre (2). The contact device includes a first contact-­ part (3) in which the opto-component is fixedly mounted, and a second contact-part (4) in which the optical fibre is fixedly mounted. The contact-parts (3, 4) present mutually opposing openings (8, 15) which extend respectively from the opto-component (1) and the fibre (2), and the contact-parts are secured together in a manner to obtain the best light-transmission properties. According to the invention, the contact-parts (3, 4) have mutual­ ly abutting and mutually complementary spherical surfaces (9, 19), which enable the contact-parts to be rotated relative to one another about their centre axes and also to be angled in relation to one another. The openings (8, 15) disect spherical segments in the abutment surfaces (5) of the contact-parts.

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an opto-electronic transmitting or receiving device comprising an opto-electronic component, a first contact-part in which the opto-electronic component is fixedly mounted, an optical fibre disposed in a sleeve, and a second contact-part in which the optical fibre in its sleeve is fixedly mounted, said contact-parts being secured together in a position in which optimum optical coupling between the opto-electronic component and the optical fibre is obtained. BACKGROUND ART Through JP-A-61 240 209 is known an opto-electronic transmitting or receiving device for improving the coupling efficiency between an opto-electronic component and an optical fibre disposed in a ferrule. The device comprises a first contact-part in which the opto-electronic component is mounted, and a second contact-part in which the optical fibre in its ferrule is mounted. The contact-parts present mutually abutting and mutually complementary part-spherical surfaces which function to enable the contact-parts to be rotated relative to one another around their centre axes and also to enable the contact-parts to be angled in relation to one another. Openings in the form of spherical segments are cut from the abutment surfaces of the contact-parts, and a lens included in the opto-electronic component is arranged on the central axis of the segment-shaped opening of the first contact-part, while the end of the optical fibre lies on the central axis of the segment-shaped opening of the second contact-part. This known opto-electronic transmitting or receiving device has one drawback in that the contact-parts can be angularly displaced freely relative to one another along the spherical abutment surfaces. Thus, as there is no limitation of the angular displacement it is difficult to obtain correct alignment between the contact-parts when securing the parts together. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to avoid the drawbacks associated with known opto-electronic transmitting or receiving devices, by providing a device in which the angular displacement of the contact-parts in relation to one another is limited. This object is achieved by giving the opto-electronic transmitting or receiving device the characterizing features as set out in the following Claims. The advantage with a device having these features is that it is more easy to obtain optimum optical coupling between the opto-electronic component and the optical fibre when the contact-parts are displaced angularly relative to one another. Further advantages afforded by a device configured in accordance with the present invention will be evident from the following description of preferred embodiments, made with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a sectional view of a preferred embodiment of an inventive opto-electronic transmitting or receiving device. Figure 2 illustrates schematically the manner in which the device shown in Figure 1 can be aligned. Figure 3 illustrates an alternative embodiment of an inventive opto-electronic transmitting or receiving device. BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Figure 1 is a sectional view of an opto-electronic transmitting or receiving device configured in accordance with the invention. The device is intended to provide an optical coupling between an opto-electronic component 1 and an optical fibre 2 in a manner to obtain the best possible light-transmission properties. The opto-electronic component 1, which may be an optical transmitter, such as a laser diode, or an optical receiver, such as a PIN-diode, is fixedly mounted to a first contact-part 3, and the optical fibre 2 is fixedly mounted to a second contact-part 4. In order to enable optimum light-transmission properties to be obtained, the contact-parts 3 and 4 can be adjusted in relation to one another along a common abutment surface 5, as explained in more detail herebelow. The opto-electronic component 1 is inserted in a bore 6 and rests against a shoulder surface 7 on the first contact-part 3. An opening 8 extends from the opto-electronic component, through the contact-part 3 and up to the abutment surface 5. The abutment surface 5 has the form of a convex, spherical surface and the opening 8 being in the form of a spherical segment cut from said surface and the remaining, actual abutment surface on the contact-part 3 constitutes a part-spherical zone 9. The shoulder surface on the contact-part 3 is spaced from the abutment surface 5, such that a lens 10 included in the opto-electronic component 1 will lie on the centre point of the spherical surface. This opto-transmitting or opto-receiving unit is referenced 11 in the drawing while the connecting pins belonging thereto are referenced 12. The opto-electronic component 1 is fixedly mounted in the contact-part 3 in some suitable manner, for example by means of an adhesive. The sheathing 13 of the optical fibre 2 has been removed from the outermost or distal end of said fibre and this bare fibre-end is inserted into a sleeve 14 and clamped securely therein, for instance, and the sleeve is, in turn, inserted into a bore or opening 15 provided in the second contact-part 4. The optical fibre 2 is inserted into the sleeve 14 so as to abut an end-wall 16 in the sleeve. A hole 17 is provided in the end-wall, opposite the core 18 of the optical fibre. The bore 15 extends through the contact-part 4 and opens into the abutment surface 5, which consists in a concave, part-spherical surface complementary to the convex part-spherical surface on the contact part 3. The opening 15 being in the form of a part-spherical segment cut from this surface, whereby the remaining, actual abutment surface on the contact-part 4 constitutes a part-spherical zone 19. In accordance with the invention, the sleeve 14, and thus also the optical fibre 2, is fixedly mounted in the contact-part 4 in some suitable manner, for instance, by means of an adhesive, such that the sleeve will project slightly beyond the abutment surface 5 and into the opening 8 in the contact-part 3, where the contact-parts 3 and 4 are secured together. Because of manufacturing faults and other faults, it is difficult to align the opto-electronic component 1 and the optical fibre 2 precisely along the respective centre axes of the contact-parts 3 and 4 and to fix said opto-electronic component and said optical fibre precisely in the centre of said axis. In order to obtain optimum light-transmission properties in spite of this difficulty, the contact-parts can be displaced relative to one another along the common abutment surface 5, as illustrated schematically in Figure 2. This Figure illustrates how the contact-parts 3 and 4 can be angled relative to one another, this angular displacement according to the invention being limited by projection of the sleeve 14 provided in the contact-part 4 into the opening 8 in the contact-part 3. In addition to the illustrated angular displacement, the contact-parts 3 and 4 can also be rotated relative to one another about their respective centre axis. Because of these adjustment possibilities, the contact-parts can be mutually adjusted so as to achieve the best possible light-transmission properties. Subsequent to adjusting the position of the contact-parts, said parts are secured to one another by gluing, welding or in some other appropriate manner. Figure 3 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the inventive contact device. In this embodiment, the first contact-part 3, which contains the opto-electronic component 1, is configured with a concave, spherical abutment surface 5 which is formed by a part-spherical zone 9, whereas the second contact-part 4, which contains the optical fibre 2, is configured with a convex, part-spherical abutment surface 5, formed by a part-spherical zone 19. The remainder of this embodiment of the inventive device coincides with the embodiment above described with reference to Figure 1 and possesses the same possibilities of adjusting the positions of the contact-parts 3 and 4 in relation to one another, as illustrated schematically in Figure 2. Similar to the earlier embodiment, angular displacement is restricted by projection of the sleeve 14 into the opening 8. In order to enable the opto-electronic transmitting or receiving device to be mounted securely in the equipment for which it is intended, one or possibly both contact- parts 3 or 4 are provided with an attachment flange 20 and/or a screw threaded part 21, as illustrated schematically in the Figures. The illustrated embodiments of these fastener devices, however, shall merely be seen as an example and it will be understood that the invention is not restricted to precisely the illustrated fastener embodiments. It will be understood that the invention is not restricted to the described and illustrated embodiments thereof and that modifications can be made within the scope of the following Claims.

Claims: An opto-electronic transmitting or receiving device comprising an opto-electronic component (1), a first contact-part (3) in which the opto-electronic component (1) is fixedly mounted, an optical fibre (2) disposed in a sleeve (14), and a second contact-part (4) in which the optical fibre (2) in its sleeve (14) is fixedly mounted, said contact-parts (3,4) presenting mutually opposing openings (8,15) which extend respectively from the opto-electronic component (1) and the fibre (2), and said contact-parts (3,4) being secured together in a position in which optimum optical coupling between the opto-electronic component (1) and the optical fibre (2) is obtained, said contact-parts (3,4) having mutually abutting and mutually complementary part-spherical surfaces (9,19) which function to enable the contact-parts to be rotated relative to one another around their centre axes and also to enable the contact-parts to be angled in relation to one another, said openings (8,15) being in the form of spherical segments cut from the abutment surfaces (5) of the contact-parts (3,4), a lens (10) included in the opto-electronic component (1) being arranged on the central axis of the segment-shaped opening (8) of the first contact-part (3) and the end of the optical fibre (2) lying on the central axis of the segment-shaped opening (15) of the second contact-part (4), characterized in that the sleeve (14) projects beyond the imaginary outer surface of the segment-shaped opening (15). An opto-electronic transmitting or receiving device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the first contact-part (3) has a convex spherical abutment surface (5) and the second contact part (4) has a concave spherical abutment surface (5), and in that the lens (10) is arranged on the centre point of the spherical surface (9) of the first contact-part (3).

Inventors: GANEV TSVIATKO STEFANOV, GANEV, TSVIATKO STEFANOV
Applicants: ERICSSON TELEFON AB L M, TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET L M ERICSSON
Application year: 1990
Main classification: G02B6
IPC codes: G02B6, H01L31