Optical module

Abstract

An optical module that is easy to manufacture and may arrange and position an optical element mounting substrate and a package with high precision is provided. A substrate side positioning groove portion is formed in an optical element mounting surface of the optical element mounting substrate on which an optical element is mounted, and a package side positioning groove portion is formed in the package on which the optical element mounting substrate is arranged. The optical element mounting substrate and the package are overlapped with each other with the substrate side positioning groove portion and the package side positioning groove portion facing each other. An optical fiber that is a positioning member is inserted between the positioning groove portions. Thus, the optical element mounting substrate and the package are positioned to each other. The respective positioning groove portions on the substrate side and on the package side may readily be formed with high precision. Also, the optical fiber may be manufactured with high precision. Thus, it is possible to position the optical element mounting substrate and the package with very high precision.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An optical module having an optical element mounting substrate on which an optical element is mounted and a package, made of resin and on which said optical element mounting substrate is arranged, further comprising: 
 a substrate side positioning groove portion formed in a substrate surface of said optical element mounting substrate;    a package side position groove portion formed in said package, the package side positioning groove portion facing the substrate side positioning groove portion by arranging said optical element mounting substrate to face said package; and    a positioning member inserted between the package side positioning groove portion and the substrate side positioning groove portion which face each other.    
     
     
         2 . An optical module according to    claim 1   , wherein at least one of the substrate side positioning groove portion and the package side positioning groove portion is a groove having a substantially V-shape in cross section.  
     
     
         3 . An optical module according to    claim 1   , wherein at least one of the substrate side positioning groove portion and the package side positioning groove portion is a groove having a substantially arcuate shape in cross section.  
     
     
         4 . An optical module according to    claim 1   , wherein at least one of the substrate side positioning groove portion and the package side positioning groove portion has a shape engages with said positioning member with almost no gap.  
     
     
         5 . An optical module according to    claim 1   , wherein said positioning member is a columnar member.  
     
     
         6 . An optical module according to    claim 1   , wherein a linear expansion coefficient of said positioning member is 1×10 −6 /K or less.  
     
     
         7 . An optical module according to    claim 2   , wherein said positioning member is an optical fiber.  
     
     
         8 . An optical module according to    claim 3   , wherein said positioning member is an optical fiber.  
     
     
         9 . An optical module according to    claim 4   , wherein said positioning member is an optical fiber.  
     
     
         10 . An optical module according to    claim 7   , wherein the substrate side positioning groove portion is formed on each side of said optical element.  
     
     
         11 . An optical module according to    claim 8   , wherein the substrate side positioning groove portion is formed on each side of said optical element.  
     
     
         12 . An optical module according to    claim 9   , wherein the package side positioning groove portion is formed on each side of said optical element.  
     
     
         13 . An optical module according to    claim 11   , wherein a length of a part of said positioning member clamped between said optical element mounting substrate and said package is one third or more of the full length of the substrate side positioning groove portion.  
     
     
         14 . An optical module according to    claim 13   , wherein said package has a base portion in which the package side positioning groove portion is formed, and a side wall which is formed in an upright condition at an end face of said base portion, and wherein a hole for insertion of said positioning member is formed so as to be continuous with the package side positioning groove portion.  
     
     
         15 . An optical module according to    claim 3   , wherein an optical fiber to be optically coupled to said optical element is mounted on said package, and said optical fiber and said positioning member are arranged such that they are substantially in parallel with each other along their longitudinal direction and the centers thereof are substantially in the same flat plane.  
     
     
         16 . An optical module according to    claim 7   , wherein an optical fiber to be optically coupled to said optical element is mounted on said package, and said optical fiber and said positioning member are arranged such that they are substantially in parallel with each other along their longitudinal direction and the centers thereof are substantially in the same flat plane.  
     
     
         17 . An optical module according to    claim 14   , wherein an optical fiber to be optically coupled to said optical element is mounted on said package, and said optical fiber and said positioning member are arranged such that they are substantially in parallel with each other along their longitudinal direction and the centers thereof are substantially in the same flat plane.  
     
     
         18 . An optical module according to    claim 1   , further comprising an optical fiber to be optically coupled to said optical element, wherein said optical fiber is optically coupled directly to said optical element.  
     
     
         19 . An optical module according to    claim 11   , further comprising an optical fiber to be optically coupled to said optical element, wherein said optical fiber is optically coupled directly to said optical element.  
     
     
         20 . An optical module according to    claim 17   , further comprising an optical fiber to be optically coupled to said optical element, wherein said optical fiber is optically coupled directly to said optical element.