# US 10,120,146 B2 · Opto-electric hybrid module

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- Number: US 10,120,146 B2
- Document ID: US10120146B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/784,384
- Filed: 2014-03-07
- Published: 2016-03-10
- Granted: 2018-11-06
- Earliest claimed: 2013-04-18
- Assignees: Nitto Denko Corporation
- Applicants: Nitto Denko Corporation
- Inventors: Yuichi Tsujita; Naoki Shibata; Naoyuki Tanaka; Shotaro Masuda
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10120146B2

## CPC

- G02B 6/423: {using guiding surfaces for the alignment}
- G02B 6/4214: {the intermediate optical element having redirecting reflective means, e.g. mirrors, prisms for deflecting the radiation from horizontal to down- or upward direction toward a device (G02B6/4246 takes precedence)}
- G02B 6/428: {containing printed circuit boards [PCB]}
- G02B 6/4283: {with electrical insulation means}
- G02B 6/4293: {hybrid electrical and optical connections for transmitting electrical and optical signals}
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS

## Abstract

There is provided an opto-electric hybrid module in which an optical element of an optical element unit and a core of an optical waveguide of an opto-electric hybrid unit are aligned with each other simply and precisely. This opto-electric hybrid module includes: a connector including an optical element; and an opto-electric hybrid unit including an electric circuit board and an optical waveguide which are stacked together. The connector includes aligning protrusions positioned and formed in a predetermined position with respect to the optical element. The opto-electric hybrid unit 2 includes recesses for fitting engagement with the aligning protrusion, the recesses being positioned and formed in a predetermined position with respect to an end surface of a core of the optical waveguide.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An opto-electric hybrid module comprising:
an optical element unit including an optical element;
an opto-electric hybrid unit including an electric circuit board having electrical interconnect lines and an optical waveguide which are stacked together; and
a board,
wherein the optical element unit and the opto-electric hybrid unit are coupled together so as to be capable of light propagation,
wherein the optical element unit is electrically connected with the board,
wherein the optical element unit includes a connector body including an insertion recess for receiving one end portion of the opto-electric hybrid unit, the optical element mounted on the insertion recess, an electrical interconnect line embedded in a bottom, a ceiling and a side wall of the insertion recess, and an aligning protrusion in the insertion recess positioned and formed in a predetermined position with respect to the optical element,
wherein the opto-electric hybrid unit includes a recess positioned and formed in a predetermined position on an outer peripheral side surface thereof with respect to an end surface of a core for an optical path of the optical waveguide,
wherein, on an upper surface of the opto-electric hybrid unit, a recess positioning interconnect line is formed along the recess, the recess positioning interconnect line is made of a same material as the electrical interconnect lines and is formed on a same layer as the electrical interconnect lines,
wherein the optical element unit and the opto-electric hybrid unit are coupled together, with the protrusion of the optical element unit and the recess of the opto-electric hybrid unit in fitting engagement with each other, whereby the optical element and the core for an optical path are aligned with each other so as to be capable of light propagation,
wherein the electrical interconnect line of the connector body is embedded from the bottom thereof through an interior of the side wall thereof to the ceiling thereof, and
wherein the board is electrically connected with the opto-electric hybrid unit through the electrical interconnect line of the connector body.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The opto-electric hybrid module according to claim 1,
wherein the electric circuit board includes an insulative sheet, and
wherein the insulative sheet protrudes toward the inside of the recess.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The opto-electric hybrid module according to claim 1,
wherein the optical waveguide further includes a dummy core,
wherein the dummy core is not used as an optical path, and
wherein the dummy core is formed along the inner peripheral surface of the recess.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The opto-electric hybrid module according to claim 3,
wherein the optical waveguide includes a cladding layer, and
wherein the cladding layer is formed along the inner peripheral surface of the recess.