Patent ID: 8750659

Claim:
An optical module, comprising: an optical system having an optical path in a space thereof; an electro-optical device optically connected to a first input/output port as one of an input port and an output port of the optical system; an optical waveguide having flexibility; a housing comprising an optical interface for optical connection to an outside, for housing the optical system, the electro-optical device, and the optical waveguide; a substrate mounted on and fixed to an inner side of the housing; and an external optical fiber optically connected to the optical interface outside the housing, wherein the optical waveguide comprises: a first connection portion optically connected to the optical interface in the housing; and a second connection portion optically connected to a second input/output port as another one of the input port and the output port of the optical system, wherein the optical waveguide is bent in the housing, wherein a first optical axis passing between the optical interface and the first connection portion is displaced from a second optical axis passing between the second input/output port and the second connection portion, wherein the optical system is mounted on the substrate, wherein the second connection portion of the optical waveguide is mounted on and fixed to the substrate, and wherein the optical waveguide comprises an optical fiber having a larger refractive index difference between a core and a cladding than the external optical fiber, and is bent at a bend radius smaller than a minimum bend radius of the external optical fiber.