Optical communication device and laminated optical communication module

Abstract

It is an object of the invention to supply an optical communication device and an optical communication module that are provided with a substrate, a vertical waveguide that is formed in the substrate and that is for transmitting light in a thickness direction of the substrate, a horizontal waveguide that is formed in the substrate and that is for transmitting light in a planar direction of the substrate, and a light bending portion for optically coupling the vertical waveguide and the horizontal waveguide. The substrate is a laminated body including a first substrate in whose surface a groove is formed and in which a reflective mirror is disposed on at least one end of the groove, and a second substrate layered to the surface of the first substrate in which the groove is formed and in which a through hole located in opposition to the portion of the groove in which the reflective mirror is disposed is formed. The horizontal waveguide includes a cavity formed by the groove and a reflective film that covers the wall surfaces of the cavity, and transmits light through its cavity. The vertical waveguide include a cavity formed by the through hole and a reflective film that covers the wall surfaces of the cavity, and transmits light through its cavity. The light bending portion includes the reflective mirror, and due to reflection at the surface of the reflective mirror, the light transmission direction is changed from the thickness direction to the planar direction of the substrate or from the planar direction to the thickness direction of the substrate.

1 . An optical communication device, comprising a substrate and a waveguide formed inside the substrate, wherein at least one end of the waveguide can be optically coupled to an outside light path; 
 wherein the waveguide includes a cavity formed inside the substrate and a reflective film covering the wall surfaces of the cavity, and light is transmitted within the cavity.    
   
   
       2 . The optical communication device according to  claim 1 , wherein the substrate is a laminated body including a first substrate in whose surface a groove is formed and a second substrate layered to the surface of the first substrate in which the groove is formed, and 
 wherein the cavity of the waveguide is formed by the groove.    
   
   
       3 . The optical communication device according to  claim 1 , wherein the waveguide has a light bending portion for changing the direction in which light is transmitted, and in the light bending portion, the wall surface of the cavity of the waveguide is sloped with respect to the direction in which light is transmitted.  
   
   
       4 . The optical communication device according to  claim 1 , further comprising an optical circuit element that is optically coupled to an end of the waveguide, 
 wherein the end of the optical waveguide can be optically coupled to the outside light path via the optical circuit element.    
   
   
       5 . The optical communication device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a photoelectric conversion element that is optically coupled to an end of the waveguide, and electrical wiring formed at the surface of the substrate; 
 wherein the photoelectric conversion element can be electrically connected to an outside electrical circuit via the electrical wiring.    
   
   
       6 . The optical communication device according to  claim 1 , wherein a light-transmitting medium is filled into the cavity.  
   
   
       7 . The optical communication device according to  claim 6 , wherein the light-transmitting medium is a light curable resin.  
   
   
       8 . The optical communication device according to  claim 1 , wherein the reflective film is made of a metallic film.  
   
   
       9 . The optical communication device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a support body in which a groove for mounting an optic fiber is formed, 
 wherein the support body is disposed so that an end of the groove and an end of the waveguide are in opposition to one another, and when an optic fiber is mounted in the groove, the waveguide is optically coupled to the optic fiber.    
   
   
       10 . The optical communication device according to  claim 9 , wherein a metallic film is formed on the wall surfaces of the groove for mounting an optic fiber of the support body.  
   
   
       11 . The optical communication device according to  claim 9 , further comprising a coupling lens mounted on the support body in such a manner that it is positioned between the end of the groove and the end of waveguide, 
 wherein when an optic fiber is mounted in the groove, the end of the waveguide is optically coupled to the optic fiber via the coupling lens.    
   
   
       12 . The optical communication device according to  claim 11 , wherein a first metallic film is formed on the portion of the support body in which the coupling lens is arranged, a second metallic film is formed on lateral surfaces of the coupling lens, and these metallic films are metallically bonded to one another.