Optical device, optical processing device, and method of producing the optical device

Abstract

An optical processing device includes a semiconductor optical device, and an optical device provided on the semiconductor optical device. The optical device includes one or more optical fibers and a holder having a supporting block, a reflecting plate, and an intermediate layer. The supporting block has first to third end surfaces at one end. The first end surface extends from a bottom surface of the holder to claddings of the optical fibers. The second end surface extends along an axis intersecting the first end surface. The third end surface is oblique with respect to the axis at an angle greater than zero degrees and less than 90 degrees. The optical fibers have facets exposed at the third end surface. The intermediate layer embeds roughness in the exposed facets. It has a refractive index comparable to that of the claddings of the optical fibers.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . The optical processing device according to  claim 7 , wherein
 the supporting block has a through hole that extends from the one end to the other end,   the reflecting plate has a side surface, and   the side surface of the reflecting plate is arranged between an outermost fiber of the one or more optical fibers and the through hole in the third end surface.   
     
     
         3 . The optical processing device according to  claim 7 , wherein the reflecting plate includes one of a metal film and a dielectric multilayer, or both the metal film and the dielectric multilayer. 
     
     
         4 . The optical processing device according to  claim 7 , wherein
 the one or more optical fibers are arranged along a plane parallel with the first axis,   the holder has a first area located between the claddings of the one or more optical fibers in the second end surface, and   the facets of the one or more optical fibers are arrayed along a connecting edge which the second end surface and the third end surface share.   
     
     
         5 . The optical processing device according to  claim 7 , wherein the one or more optical fibers include a first portion and a second portion, the first portion extending the holder, and the second portion extending outward from the supporting block at the other end of the holder. 
     
     
         6 . The optical precessing device according to  claim 7 , wherein
 each of the one or more optical fibers extends from the one end to the other end within the holder.   
     
     
         7 . An optical processing device comprising:
 a semiconductor optical device including an optical coupling element and an optical processing element, the optical processing element being connected to the optical coupling element, and   an optical device provided on the semiconductor optical device, the optical device comprising:
 one or more optical fibers each including a core and a cladding surrounding the core; and 
 a holder, the holder including: 
 a supporting block having one end including a first end surface, a second end surface, and a third end surfaces, an other end, and a supporting portion supporting the one or more optical fibers; 
 a reflecting plate provided on the third end surface, the reflecting plate having a reflective surface; and 
 an intermediate layer including an optical resin provided between the third end surface and the reflecting plate, wherein 
 the supporting portion extends in a direction of a first an axis from the one end to the other end, 
 the first end surface extends from a bottom surface of the holder to claddings of the one or more optical fibers along a first reference plane that intersects the axis, 
 the second end surface and a lateral surface of the reflecting plate extend along a second reference plane in which lies the axis, 
 the third end surface extends along a third reference plane that is oblique with respect to the axis at an angle greater than zero degrees and less than 90 degrees, 
 the claddings of the one or more optical fibers are disposed at the second end surface, 
 the optical fibers have respective facets exposed in the third end surface, the intermediate layer fills a gap between the facets of the one or more optical fibers and the reflective surface of the reflecting plate to thereby embed roughness of the facets exposed at the third end surface, and 
 the intermediate layer has a refractive index comparable to a refractive index of the claddings of the one or more optical fibers, and 
   wherein the optical coupling element is coupled to one of the one or more optical fibers of the optical device through the second end surface.   
     
     
         8 . The optical processing device according to  claim 7 , further comprising a resin body provided between the second end surface of the optical device and the optical coupling element of the semiconductor optical device,
 wherein the resin body is optically transparent in a wavelength of light to be processed by the optical processing device.   
     
     
         9 . A method of producing an optical processing device comprising:
 a semiconductor optical device including an optical coupling element and an optical processing element, the optical processing element being connected to the optical coupling element; and   an optical device provided on the semiconductor optical device, the optical device including:
 an optical fiber part including a core and a cladding surrounding the core; and 
 a holder including: a supporting block having one end, an other end, and a supporting portion supporting the optical fiber part, the one end including a first end surface, a second end surface, and a third end surface; a reflecting plate provided on the third end surface: and an intermediate layer including an optical resin provided between the third end surface and the reflecting plate, wherein 
   the supporting portion extends in a direction of an axis from the one end to the other end,   the first end surface of the one end extends from a bottom surface of the holder to the cladding of the optical fiber part along a first reference plane that intersects the axis,   the second end surface of the one end and a lateral surface of the reflecting plate extend along second reference plane that lies in the direction of the axis,   the third end surface of the one end extends along a third reference plane that is oblique with respect to the axis at an angle greater than zero degrees and less than 90 degrees,   the cladding of the optical fiber part is positioned in the second end surface,   the optical fiber part has a facet exposed in the third end surface,   the optical coupling element is coupled to the optical fiber part of the optical device through the second end surface,   the intermediate layer fills a gap between the facet of the optical fiber part and the reflective surface of the reflecting plate to thereby embed roughness of the facet exposed at the third end surface, and   the intermediate layer has a refractive index comparable to a refractive index of the cladding of the optical fiber part, the method comprising the steps of:   forming a first body part including a supporting member having one end and an other end for supporting the optical fiber part, the optical fiber part extending in the direction of the axis from the one end to the other end of the supporting member;   after forming the first body part, machining the one end of the supporting member and the optical fiber part to form a machined surface in the first body part;   after forming the machined surface, forming a second body part including the supporting member, a reflecting member provided on the machined surface, and an optical resin body provided between the machined surface and the reflecting member; and   after forming the second body part, processing the reflecting member, the optical resin body, the supporting member, and the optical fiber part to form a third body part including a first surface and a second surface, the first surface extending along the first reference plane, and the second surface extending along the second reference plane, wherein   the first surface of the third body part reaches from a bottom surface of the supporting member to the cladding of the optical fiber part,   the second surface of the third body part includes a lateral surface of the reflecting member, a surface of the supporting member, and a surface of the cladding of the optical fiber part,   in the step of forming the machined surface, the machined surface extends along the third reference plane, and   in the optical device, the third body part provides the supporting block, the supporting member provides the supporting portion of the supporting block, the reflecting member provides the reflecting plate, the optical resin body provides the intermediate layer, the first surface of the third body part provides the first surface of the one end of the supporting block, the second surface of the third body part provides the second end surface of the one end of the supporting block, the lateral surface of the reflecting member provides the lateral surface of the reflecting plate, and the machined surface provides the third end surface of the one end.   
     
     
         10 . The optical device according to  claim 7 , wherein the intermediate layer reduces light reflection and/or light scattering caused by the roughness of the facet.