Abstract:
An optical communication apparatus includes a substrate having a through hole; an optical element which includes a light terminal for receiving or sending light and is mounted on a surface of the substrate so that the light terminal faces an opening of the through hole; a light guide member which includes a first lens facing the light terminal of the optical element, a surrounding portion which surrounds a periphery of the first lens on a side of the opening of the through hole, and a guide portion which is provided inside the through hole and guides the light between the opening and another opening of the through hole; and a light waveguide which is arranged on a side of another surface of the substrate and includes a light guide optically connected to the light guide member on a side of the another opening of the through hole.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This patent application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority of Japanese Patent Application No. 2013-036449 filed on Feb. 26, 2013 the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to an optical communication apparatus. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    An exemplary Integrated Circuit (IC) chip mounting substrate disclosed in Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2006-091753 is formed by laminating a conductor circuit and an interlayer resin insulating layer on both sides of a substrate, mounting an optical element, and providing a light path for transmitting a light signal. In this exemplary Integrated Circuit (IC) chip mounting substrate, an optical element sealing layer is provided around and contacts an outer periphery of the optical element. 
         [0006]    In a case where a sealing resin exists around an optical element, optical characteristics may be affected to degrade reliability. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optical communication apparatus including a substrate having a through hole; an optical element which includes a light terminal for receiving or sending light and is mounted on a surface of the substrate so that the light terminal faces an opening of the through hole; a light guide member which includes a first lens facing the light terminal of the optical element, a surrounding portion which surrounds a periphery of the first lens on a side of the opening of the through hole, and a guide portion which is provided inside the through hole and guides the light between the opening of the through hole and another opening of the through hole; and a light waveguide which is arranged on a side of another surface of the substrate and includes a light guide optically connected to the light guide member on a side of the another opening of the through hole. 
         [0008]    Additional objects and advantages of the embodiments are set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary optical communication apparatus; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2A  is a cross-sectional view of an optical communication apparatus  100  of a first embodiment; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2B  is a cross-sectional view of the optical communication apparatus  100  of the first embodiment; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2C  is a perspective view of a lens of the first embodiment; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3A  is a cross-sectional view of an optical communication apparatus  200  of a second embodiment; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3B  is a cross-sectional view of the optical communication apparatus  200  of the second embodiment; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3C  is a perspective view of a lens of the second embodiment; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3D  is a perspective view of the lens of the second embodiment; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4A  is a cross-sectional view of an optical communication apparatus  300  of a third embodiment; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4B  is a cross-sectional view of the optical communication apparatus  300  of the third embodiment; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4C  is a perspective view of a lens of the third embodiment; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5A  is a cross-sectional view of an optical communication apparatus  400  of a fourth embodiment; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5B  is a cross-sectional view of the optical communication apparatus  400  of the fourth embodiment; 
           [0022]      FIG. 5C  is a perspective view of a lens of the fourth embodiment; 
           [0023]      FIG. 5D  is a perspective view of the lens of the fourth embodiment; 
           [0024]      FIG. 6A  is a cross-sectional view of an optical communication apparatus  500  of a fifth embodiment; 
           [0025]      FIG. 6B  is a cross-sectional view of the optical communication apparatus  500  of the fifth embodiment; 
           [0026]      FIG. 6C  is a perspective view of a lens of the fifth embodiment; 
           [0027]      FIG. 6D  is a perspective view of the lens of the fifth embodiment; 
           [0028]      FIG. 7A  is a cross-sectional view of an optical communication apparatus  600  of a sixth embodiment; 
           [0029]      FIG. 7B  is a cross-sectional view of the optical communication apparatus  600  of the sixth embodiment; 
           [0030]      FIG. 7C  is a perspective view of a lens of the sixth embodiment; 
           [0031]      FIG. 7D  is a perspective view of the lens of the sixth embodiment; 
           [0032]      FIG. 8A  is a cross-sectional view of an optical communication apparatus  700  of a seventh embodiment; 
           [0033]      FIG. 8B  is a cross-sectional view of the optical communication apparatus  700  of the seventh embodiment; and 
           [0034]      FIG. 8C  is a perspective view of a lens of the seventh embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0035]    A description is given below, with reference to  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 8C  of embodiments of the present invention. 
         [0036]    Where the same reference symbols are attached to the same parts, repeated description of the parts is omitted. 
         [0037]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , an exemplary optical communication apparatus is described. 
         [0038]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary optical communication apparatus. 
         [0039]    The exemplary optical communication apparatus  50  includes a substrate  10 , an optical element  20 , a light waveguide  30 , and a lens  40 . 
         [0040]    The substrate  10  is provided with an optical element  20  and functions as a reinforcing layer for reinforcing the light waveguide  30 . The substrate  10  may be, for example, a flexible circuit board (FPC). The FPC is, for example, a resin substrate made of polyimide or the like. 
         [0041]    A wiring  12  for supplying electric power to the optical element  20  or for transmitting an electric signal or the like is formed on the upper surface of the substrate  10 . 
         [0042]    The substrate  10  has a through hole  11  which penetrates through the substrate  10  in the thickness direction of the substrate  10 . A light terminal  21  of the optical element  20  is provided on the upper side of the through hole  11 . The lens  40  is positioned on the lower side of the through hole  11 . A light path, which is indicated by an arrow, is formed between the light terminal  21  and the lens  40 . 
         [0043]    The optical element  20  is, for example, a laser element of emitting light, a photodiode of receiving light and converting the light to an electrical signal, or an element of emitting or receiving light. The optical element  20  is mounted on one surface (i.e., the upper surface in  FIG. 1 ) of the substrate  10  by a bump  22  and a sealing resin  23  using flip chip mounting. 
         [0044]    By the flip chip mounting of the optical element  20  onto the substrate  10 , the bump  22  joined to a terminal of the optical element  20  is electrically connected to the wiring  12  of the substrate  10  using ultrasonic bonding or the like. Since the optical element  20  is firmly joined to the substrate  10  using the bump  22  and the optical element  20  generates heat, stress is caused in a connecting portion between the optical element  20  and the substrate  10  by expansion caused by the generated heat or the like. A part of plating formed on the surface of the wiring  12  is molten and a plating layer  22 A is formed between the bump  22  and the wiring  12  of the substrate  10 . 
         [0045]    An electronic part  20 A may be mounted on the substrate  10  in addition to the optical element  20 . 
         [0046]    The light waveguide  30  is shaped like a sheet and includes a light guide and a mirror  32 . The light guide  31  transmits light like an optical fiber including a core layer having a high refractive index and a cladding layer having a low refractive index. The mirror  32  is formed by providing a groove having a cross-sectional shape of a triangle in the light waveguide  30 . 
         [0047]    As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the light waveguide  30  has a surface formed at an angle of 45 degrees relative to the light guide  31  so that the light transmitted through and inside the light guide  31  undergoes total reflection and is turned by 90 degrees so as to be transmitted to the lens  40 . 
         [0048]    The light waveguide  30  is bonded onto the surface of the substrate  10 . 
         [0049]    The lens  40  includes a seat portion  41  and a lens portion  42  formed in the center of the seat portion  41 . Because the lens  40  is positioned at the lower end of the through hole  11 , the light path between the lens  40  and the light terminal  20  of the optical element  20  is formed by the through hole  11  and a gap between the optical element  20  and the substrate  10 . 
         [0050]    In a process of manufacturing the exemplary optical communication apparatus  50 , when the optical element  20  undergoes the flip chip mounting, the sealing resin  23  may flow from an upper end side into the through hole  11 . 
         [0051]    This is because there exists no member restricting an inflow of the sealing resin  23  on the upper end side of the through hole  11 . 
         [0052]    As such, if the sealing resin  23  flows into the through hole  11 , the light path between the light terminal  21  of the optical element  20  and the lens  40  may be interrupted by the sealing resin  23 . When the light path between the light terminal  21  and the lens  40  is interrupted, a bad influence may occur in optical communications between the optical element  20  and the light waveguide  30  to degrade reliability of the optical communication apparatus  50 . 
         [0053]    There may be a case where a highly accurate alignment accuracy is required in mounting the optical element  20 . In this case, a highly accurate mounter is used. However, if a bonding process of bonding the sealing resin  23  when the optical element  20  is mounted is cumbersome, the finishing may be unstable and reliability of products may be degraded. 
         [0054]    Hereinafter, an optical communication apparatus of an embodiment of the present invention is described. 
       First Embodiment 
       [0055]      FIGS. 2A-2C  illustrate an optical communication apparatus  100  of a first embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the same reference symbols are attached to structural elements similar to those of the exemplary optical communication apparatus  50 , and description of those structural elements is omitted. 
         [0056]    As illustrated in  FIG. 2A , the optical communication apparatus  100  of the first embodiment includes a substrate  10 , an optical element  20 , a light waveguide  30 , and a lens  110 . 
         [0057]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 2B and 2C , the lens  110  includes a lens portion  111 , a surrounding portion  112 , and a guide portion  113 . The lens  110  is an example of a light guide. 
         [0058]    The lens portion  111 , the surrounding portion  112 , and the guide portion  113  are made of a resin such as polyimide and are integrally formed. The lens  110  is inserted into the through hole  11  and bonded to the through hole  11 . 
         [0059]    The lens portion  111  is formed at one end of the guide portion  113  (the upper end in  FIG. 2 ) and is surrounded by the surrounding portion  112 . 
         [0060]    Referring to  FIG. 2C , the surrounding portion  112  is formed to surround the periphery of the lens portion  111 . The surrounding portion  112  outwardly extends relative to the lens portion  111  and the guide portion  113  in the plan view of the surrounding portion  112 , and is a wall shaped like a rectangle around the lens portion  111  in the plan view of the surrounding portion  112 . 
         [0061]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the height of the surrounding portion  112  is set so that the upper end of the surrounding portion  112  does not contact the lower surface of the optical element  20  under a state where the lens  110  is mounted on the substrate  10 . 
         [0062]    The guide portion  113  is a cylindrical member formed with the lens portion  111  and the surrounding portion  112  at one end of the guide portion  113 . The diameter of the guide portion  113  is matched with the diameter of the cylindrical through hole formed in the substrate  10 . The guide portion  113  is fit into and attached to the through hole  11 . 
         [0063]    The guide portion  113  in inserted into the through hole  11  of the substrate  10 . The position of the lower end of the guide portion  113  is aligned with the position of the mirror  32  of the light waveguide  30 , and the light path is formed between the lens portion  111  and the light guide  31 . Further, the length of the guide portion  113  is set so that the surface of the lower end of the guide portion  113  is the same as the lower surface of the substrate  10 . 
         [0064]    Within the optical communication apparatus  100  of the first embodiment, when the optical element  20  is mounted on the substrate  10  using flip chip mounting, the surrounding portion  112  interrupts the sealing resin  23 . Therefore, it is possible to prevent the sealing resin  23  from flowing into the through hole  11  unlike the exemplary optical communication apparatus  50 . 
         [0065]    Therefore, within the first embodiment, the light path between the optical element  20  and the light waveguide  30  is prevented from being interrupted by the sealing resin  23 , and the optical communication apparatus  100  having high reliability can be provided. 
         [0066]    Further, the lens  110  may be integrally formed with the substrate  10 . When the lens  110  and the substrate  10  are integrally formed, the lens  110  and the substrate  10  are made by a transparent resin such as polyimide. In this case where the lens  110  and the substrate  10  are integrally formed, processes of aligning the lens  110 , coating a bond, hardening the bond, and separating a separator for attaching the lens  110  can be omitted. 
       Second Embodiment 
       [0067]      FIGS. 3A-3D  illustrate an optical communication apparatus  200  of a second embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the same reference symbols are attached to structural elements similar to those of the optical communication apparatus  100  of the first embodiment, and description of those structural elements is omitted. 
         [0068]    As illustrated in  FIG. 3A , the optical communication apparatus  200  includes the substrate  10 , the optical element  20 , the light waveguide  30 , and a lens  210 . In the optical communication apparatus  200  of the second embodiment, the lens  110  of the optical communication apparatus  100  of the first embodiment is replaced by the lens  210 . 
         [0069]    Referring to  FIGS. 3B ,  3 C, and  3 D, the lens  210  includes a lens portion  211 , a surrounding portion  212 , a guide portion  213 , and a lens portion  214 . The lens portion  211  and the surrounding portion  212  are similar to the lens portion  111  and the surrounding portion  112  of the first embodiment. 
         [0070]    The guide portion  213  has the lens portion  214  at the lower end. In the guide portion  213 , the lens portion  211  similar to the lens portion  111  is provided at the upper end of the guide portion  213  similar to the guide portion  113  of the first embodiment. The surface of the lens portion  214  may be on the same plane as that of the lower surface of the substrate  10  or inward offset relative to the lower surface of the substrate  10  as illustrated in  FIGS. 3A and 3B . 
         [0071]    In the optical communication apparatus  200  of the second embodiment, a light path including the lens  210  having the lens portion  214  is formed between the optical element  20  and the light waveguide  30 . 
         [0072]    In the optical communication apparatus  200  of the second embodiment, the surrounding portion  212  interrupts the sealing resin  23  when the optical element  20  is mounted on the substrate  10  using flip chip mounting. Therefore, unlike the exemplary optical communication apparatus  50 , it is possible to prevent the sealing resin  23  from flowing into the through hole  11 . 
         [0073]    Therefore, within the second embodiment, the light path between the optical element  20  and the light waveguide  30  is prevented from being interrupted by the sealing resin  23 , and the optical communication apparatus  200  having high reliability can be provided. 
       Third Embodiment 
       [0074]      FIGS. 4A-4C  illustrate an optical communication apparatus  300  of a third embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the same reference symbols are attached to structural elements similar to those of the optical communication apparatus  100  of the first embodiment, and description of those structural elements is omitted. 
         [0075]    As illustrated in  FIG. 4A , the optical communication apparatus  300  includes the substrate  10 , the optical element  20 , the light waveguide  30 , and a lens  310 . In the optical communication apparatus  300 , the lens  110  of the first embodiment is replaced by the lens  310 . 
         [0076]    Referring to  FIGS. 4B and 4C , the lens  310  includes a lens portion  311 , a surrounding portion  312 , and a guide portion  313 . The lens portion  311  is similar to the lens portion  111  of the first embodiment. 
         [0077]    The size of the surrounding portion  312  of the lens  310  of the third embodiment has the same size of the guide portion  313  in its plan view. The surrounding portion  312  has a shape as if the outer peripheral portion of the cylindrical guide portion  313  is extended around the lens portion  311 . Said differently, the surrounding portion  312  has a cylindrical wall surrounding the periphery of the lens portion  311 . The height of the surrounding portion  312  is similar to the height of the surrounding portion  112  of the first embodiment. 
         [0078]    In the optical communication apparatus  300  of the third embodiment, a light path including the lens  310  is formed between the optical element  20  and the light waveguide  30 . 
         [0079]    In the optical communication apparatus  300  of the third embodiment, the surrounding portion  312  interrupts the sealing resin  23  when the optical element  20  is mounted on the substrate  10  using flip chip mounting. Therefore, unlike the exemplary optical communication apparatus  50 , it is possible to prevent the sealing resin  23  from flowing into the through hole  11 . 
         [0080]    Therefore, within the third embodiment, the light path between the optical element  20  and the light waveguide  30  is prevented from being interrupted by the sealing resin  23 , and the optical communication apparatus  300  having high reliability can be provided. 
       Fourth Embodiment 
       [0081]      FIGS. 5A-5D  illustrate an optical communication apparatus  400  of a fourth embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the same reference symbols are attached to structural elements similar to those of the optical communication apparatus  300  of the third embodiment, and description of those structural elements is omitted. 
         [0082]    As illustrated in  FIG. 5A , the optical communication apparatus  400  includes the substrate  10 , the optical element  20 , the light waveguide  30 , and a lens  410 . In the optical communication apparatus  400 , the lens  310  of the third embodiment is replaced by the lens  410 . 
         [0083]    Referring to  FIGS. 5B ,  5 C, and  5 D, the lens  410  includes a lens portion  411 , a surrounding portion  412 , a guide portion  413 , and a lens portion  414 . The lens portion  411 , the surrounding portion  412 , and the guide portion  413  are similar to the lens portion  311 , the surrounding portion  312 , and the guide portion  313  of the third embodiment. 
         [0084]    The lens  410  of the fourth embodiment of the fourth embodiment is formed by providing a lens portion  414  similar to the lens portion  311  on the lower end of the guide portion of the lens  410  and further providing a surrounding portion  415  around the lens portion  414 . 
         [0085]    In this lens  410 , the lens portion  411  and the surrounding portion  412  on the upper end side has the same shapes as the lens portion  414  and the surrounding portion  415  on the lower side. Said differently, one end (upper end) and the other end (lower end) along the center axis of a cylindrical shape of the lens  410  are symmetrical. 
         [0086]    Therefore, it is possible to install the lens  410  into the through hole  11  without considering the upper and lower ends of the lens  410 . 
         [0087]    In the optical communication apparatus  400  of the fourth embodiment, a light path including the lens  410  is formed between the optical element  20  and the light waveguide  30 . 
         [0088]    In the optical communication apparatus  400  of the fourth embodiment, the surrounding portion  412  interrupts the sealing resin  23  when the optical element  20  is mounted on the substrate  10  using flip chip mounting. Therefore, unlike the exemplary optical communication apparatus  50 , it is possible to prevent the sealing resin  23  from flowing into the through hole  11 . 
         [0089]    Further, even in a case where the lens  410  is installed into the through hole  11  of the substrate  10  after turning the lens  410  upside down, the surrounding portion  415  interrupts the sealing resin  23  thereby preventing the sealing resin  23  flow flowing into the through hole  11 . 
         [0090]    Therefore, within the fourth embodiment, the light path between the optical element  20  and the light waveguide  30  is prevented from being interrupted by the sealing resin  23 , and the optical communication apparatus  400  having high reliability can be provided. 
         [0091]    Further, the lens  410  has a symmetric shape in the upper and lower sides, the lens can be installed into the through hole  11  of the substrate  10  with very easy handling. 
       Fifth Embodiment 
       [0092]      FIGS. 6A-6D  illustrate an optical communication apparatus  500  of a fifth embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the same reference symbols are attached to structural elements similar to those of the optical communication apparatus  400  of the fourth embodiment, and description of those structural elements is omitted. 
         [0093]    As illustrated in  FIG. 6A , the optical communication apparatus  500  includes the substrate  10 , the optical element  20 , the light waveguide  30 , a lens  410 , and a plate  550 . In the optical communication apparatus  500 , the plate is added to and provided between the substrate  10  and the light waveguide  30  of the optical communication apparatus  400 . 
         [0094]    The plate  550  is made of a resin or a metal and has a through hole  551 . The diameter of the through hole  551  is equal to the diameter of the through hole  11  in the substrate  10 . 
         [0095]    The plate  550  is provided between the substrate  10  and the light waveguide  30  and is bonded to the substrate  10  and the light waveguide  30 . 
         [0096]    Within the fifth embodiment, the lens  410  is extended in the direction of the center axis by adding the plate  550 . Further, within the fifth embodiment, the surrounding portion  415  is attached to and fit into the through hole  551  of the plate  550 . 
         [0097]    Therefore, in the optical communication apparatus  500  of the fifth embodiment, the substrate  10 , the light waveguide  30 , and the lens  410  can be further stably retained. 
         [0098]    When the optical communication apparatus  500  of the fifth embodiment is assembled, the lens  410  may be attached to and fit into the through hole  551  of the plate  550  as illustrated in  FIG. 6C . With this, it is easy to assemble the optical communication apparatus  500 . 
         [0099]    In the optical communication apparatus  500  of the fifth embodiment, the surrounding portion  412  interrupts the sealing resin  23  when the optical element  20  is mounted on the substrate  10  using flip chip mounting in a manner similar to the optical communication apparatus of the fourth embodiment. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the sealing resin  23  from flowing into the through hole  11 . 
         [0100]    Therefore, within the fifth embodiment, the light path between the optical element  20  and the light waveguide  30  is prevented from being interrupted by the sealing resin  23 , and the optical communication apparatus  500  having high reliability can be provided. 
         [0101]    Further, the substrate  10 , the light waveguide  30 , and the lens  410  can be retained in a further stable state, and it is possible to assembly the optical communication apparatus  500 . 
       Sixth Embodiment 
       [0102]      FIGS. 7A-7D  illustrate an optical communication apparatus  600  of a sixth embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the same reference symbols are attached to structural elements similar to those of the optical communication apparatus  500  of the fifth embodiment, and description of those structural elements is omitted. 
         [0103]    As illustrated in  FIG. 7A , the optical communication apparatus  600  includes the substrate  10 , the optical element  20 , the light waveguide  30 , and a lens  610 . In the optical communication apparatus  600 , the lens  410  of the fifth embodiment is replaced by the lens  610 . 
         [0104]    Referring to  FIGS. 7A-7D , the lens  610  includes a lens portion  611 , a surrounding portion  612 , a guide portion  613 , a lens portion  614 , and a seat portion  615 . 
         [0105]    The lens portion  611 , the surrounding portion  612 , the guide portion  613 , and the lens portion  614  correspond to the lens portion  511 , the surrounding portion  512 , the guide portion  513 , and the lens portion  514 . Within the sixth embodiment, the surrounding portion  612  and the guide portion  613  are shaped like a rectangular. 
         [0106]    Further, the seat portion  615  is formed such that the plate  550  and the surrounding portion  415  of the fifth embodiment are integrally formed. 
         [0107]    Further, the guide portion  613  is shaped like a quadratic prism, and therefore the through hole  11  of the substrate  10  is changed so as to be shaped like a quadratic prism. 
         [0108]    As described, by providing the seat portion  615 , in a manner similar to a case where the plate  550  of the fifth embodiment is used, it is possible to provide a further stable structure between the substrate  10  and the light waveguide  30 . 
         [0109]    Further, these shapes like the quadratic prism of the guide portion  613  and the through hole  11  of the substrate  10  facilitates a more stable installation of the lens  610  in the substrate. 
         [0110]    Therefore, in a manner similar to the other embodiments, it is possible to prevent the sealing resin  23  from flowing into the through hole  11  because the surrounding portion  612  of the lens  610  interrupts the sealing resin  23 . 
         [0111]    Although the shapes of the guide portion  513  and the through hole  11  of the substrate  10  are like the quadratic prism in the above, the shape of the guide portion  613  and the through hole  11  of the substrate  10  may be a polygon such as a triangle, a pentagon, or a hexagon. 
       Seventh Embodiment 
       [0112]      FIGS. 8A-8C  illustrate an optical communication apparatus  700  of a seventh embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the same reference symbols are attached to structural elements similar to those of the optical communication apparatus  100  of the first embodiment, and description of those structural elements is omitted. 
         [0113]    As illustrated in  FIG. 8A , the optical communication apparatus  700  includes the substrate  10 , the optical element  20 , the light waveguide  30 , and a lens  710 . In the optical communication apparatus  700  of the seventh embodiment, the lens  110  of the optical communication apparatus of the first embodiment is replaced by the lens  710 . 
         [0114]    Referring to  FIGS. 8B and 8C , the lens  710  includes a lens portion  711 , a surrounding portion  712 , and a guide portion  713 . 
         [0115]    The lens  710  is structured such that the lens portion  111  of the lens  110  of the first embodiment is offset so as to be accommodated inside the through hole  11  of the substrate  10 . 
         [0116]    In the optical communication apparatus  700  of the seventh embodiment, a light path including the lens  710  is formed between the optical element  20  and the light waveguide  30 . 
         [0117]    In the optical communication apparatus  700  of the seventh embodiment, the surrounding portion  712  interrupts the sealing resin  23  when the optical element  20  is mounted on the substrate  10  using flip chip mounting. Therefore, unlike the exemplary optical communication apparatus  50 , it is possible to prevent the sealing resin  23  from flowing into the through hole  11 . 
         [0118]    Therefore, within the seventh embodiment, the light path between the optical element  20  and the light waveguide  30  is prevented from being interrupted by the sealing resin  23 , and the optical communication apparatus  700  having high reliability can be provided. 
         [0119]    As described above, the optical communication apparatus according to the embodiments of the present invention may provide a high reliability. 
         [0120]    All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the embodiments and the concepts contributed by the inventor to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions, nor does the organization of such examples in the specification relate to a showing of superiority or inferiority of the embodiments. Although the optical communication apparatus has been described in detail, it should be understood that the various changes, substitutions, and alterations could be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.