Optical component, method for connecting the same, and optical module having the optical component

Abstract

There are provided a substantially cylindrical optical component, a method for connecting the same, and an optical module having the optical component, whereby adequate gripping force can be exerted during positioning or fixing, and the position in the azimuthal angle about the cylinder axis can be easily aligned. The optical component comprises a substantially cylindrical elongated member, an outer peripheral portion of which includes a cylindrical portion and a side plane portion that has a flat surface, the flat surface being parallel to a central axis to the elongated member. The optical module is composed of a planar light circuit device connected to a rod lens or capillary. With the method for connecting the optical component, the optical component of the present invention is positioned using the side plane portion as a reference, and is connected to another optical component.

1 . An optical component, comprising: 
 a substantially cylindrical elongated member, an outer peripheral portion of which includes a cylindrical portion and a side plane portion that has a flat surface, the flat surface being parallel to a central axis to the elongated member.    
   
   
       2 . The optical component according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 said elongated member comprising a rod lens.    
   
   
       3 . The optical component according to  claim 2 , wherein 
 the rod lens comprises an end face portion having a flat surface tilted with respect to the central axis of the elongated member.    
   
   
       4 . The optical component according to  claim 2 , 
 said optical component further comprising an optical fiber having one end fixed to one end face of the rod lens.    
   
   
       5 . The optical component according to  claim 1 , 
 said elongated member comprising a lens and a lens holder.    
   
   
       6 . The optical component according to  claim 1 , 
 said elongated member comprising a capillary having one or more holes for insertion of an optical fiber parallel to the central axis of the elongated member.    
   
   
       7 . The optical component according to  claim 6 , wherein 
 the capillary has a plurality of holes.    
   
   
       8 . The optical component according to  claim 6 , wherein 
 the capillary comprises an end face portion having a flat surface tilted with respect to the central axis of the elongated member.    
   
   
       9 . The optical component according to  claim 6 , 
 said optical component further comprising an optical fiber fixed at one end portion in the one or more holes.    
   
   
       10 . The optical component according to  claim 9 , wherein 
 the optical fiber is a polarization-maintaining fiber.    
   
   
       11 . An optical module, comprising: 
 the optical component according to  claim 1 .    
   
   
       12 . An optical module according to  claim 11 , wherein 
 said elongated member comprising a rod lens and said optical component further comprising an optical fiber having one end fixed to one end face of the rod lens and a planar light circuit device connected to the other end face of the rod lens.    
   
   
       13 . An optical module according to  claim 11 , wherein 
 said elongated member comprising a capillary having one or more holes for insertion of an optical fiber parallel to the central axis of the elongated member and said optical component further comprising an optical fiber fixed at one end portion in the one or more holes and a planar light circuit device connected to the capillary.    
   
   
       14 . A method for connecting an optical component, comprising: 
 positioning the optical component according to  claim 1  using the side plane portion as a reference; and    forming a connection to another optical component.