# US 10,502,909 B2 · Pluggable optical module and optical communication system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,502,909 B2 - Document ID: US10502909B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/736,626 - Filed: 2016-04-07 - Published: 2018-05-31 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2015-06-15 - Assignees: NEC Corporation - Applicants: NEC Corporation - Inventors: Yuuji Minota - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10502909B2 ## CPC - G02B 6/4246: {Bidirectionally operating package structures} - G02B 6/255: Splicing of light guides, e.g. by fusion or bonding - G02B 6/42: Coupling light guides with opto-electronic elements - G02B 6/423: {using guiding surfaces for the alignment} - G02B 6/4249: {comprising arrays of active devices and fibres} - G02B 6/4278: {related to pluggable or demountable opto-electronic or electronic elements} - G02B 6/428: {containing printed circuit boards [PCB]} - G02B 6/4292: {the light guide being disconnectable from the opto-electronic element, e.g. mutually self aligning arrangements} - G02B 6/4293: {hybrid electrical and optical connections for transmitting electrical and optical signals} - G02B 6/4454: {with splices} - G02B 6/4457: {Bobbins; Reels} - G02B 6/46: Processes or apparatus adapted for installing {or repairing} optical fibres or optical cables (installation of cables containing electric conductors and optical fibres H02G) - H04B 10/40: Transceivers - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - H04B: TRANSMISSION ## Abstract An object is, in a pluggable optical module, to compactly house an optical fiber used for connecting optical components in a housing in which a plurality of optical components are mounted. The pluggable optical module includes: a plurality of optical components, a printed circuit board; one or more optical fibers; and optical fiber housing means. All or a part of the plurality of optical components are mounted on the printed circuit board. One or more optical fibers connect between the plurality of optical components. The optical fiber housing means includes a guide that is disposed on a plate-like member and can wind the one or more optical fibers, and mounted to be stacked with the printed circuit board on which the optical components are mounted and all or a part of optical components other than the optical components mounted on the printed circuit board. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A pluggable optical module comprising: a plurality of optical components including a pluggable electric connector being capable of connecting with an optical communication apparatus, a pluggable optical receptor being capable of connecting with outer optical fibers, an optical output module outputting a first optical signal and a local oscillation light, and an optical reception module receiving a second optical signal interfering with the local oscillation light; a printed circuit board with which the optical reception module is connected; a first optical fiber connecting between the optical output module and the pluggable optical receptor; a second optical fiber connecting between the optical output module and the optical reception module; a third optical fiber connecting between the optical reception module and the pluggable optical receptor; and an optical fiber housing unit comprising a guide configured to wind the first to third optical fibers, the optical fiber housing unit being mounted to be stacked with the printed circuit board and the optical output module. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The pluggable optical module according to claim 1, wherein the optical fiber housing unit is mounted to interpose between a first printed circuit board and a second printed circuit board. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The pluggable optical module according to claim 1, wherein the pluggable electric connector is configured to communicate a modulation signal, a communication data signal, and a control signal with the optical communication apparatus, the optical output module outputs the first optical signal modulated in response to the modulation signal, the optical reception module outputs the communication data signal converted from the received second optical signal, the outer optical fibers comprise a transmission optical fiber and a reception optical fiber, the pluggable optical receptor is configured to output the first optical signal to the transmission optical fiber and can forward the second optical signal from the reception optical fiber to the optical reception module, the first optical signal propagates through the first optical fiber, the local oscillation light propagates through the second optical fiber, the second optical signal propagates through the third optical fiber, and extra lengths of the first to third optical fibers are wound and housed by the guides. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The pluggable optical module according to claim 3, wherein both of the optical output module and the optical reception module are mounted on the printed circuit board. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The pluggable optical module according to claim 4, wherein the optical fiber housing unit is mounted in such a manner that a surface of the optical fiber housing unit on which the first to third optical fibers are housed faces a side opposite to a part or all of the optical output module, the optical reception module, and the printed circuit board that are stacked. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The pluggable optical module according to claim 4, wherein the optical fiber housing unit comprises: a plate; and at least two guides formed on the plate, and each of the first to third optical fibers is wound and housed in any of a first path circling one of the two guides, a second path circling to surround the two guides, and a third path circling each of the two guides, in a combination of two of the first to third paths, or in a combination of three of the first to third paths. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The pluggable optical module according to claim 6, wherein a part or all of the first to third optical fibers include a splice, and the optical fiber housing unit further comprises a splice housing that is formed on the plate and configured to house and fix the splice. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The pluggable optical module according to claim 6, wherein the optical fiber housing unit comprises first to third guides formed on the plate and configured to respectively wind and house the first to third optical fibers. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The pluggable optical module according to claim 6, wherein the optical fiber housing unit comprises fourth to seventh guides, and each of the first to third optical fibers is wound and housed by using a path that is a combination of a part or all of the fourth to seventh guides. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The pluggable optical module according to claim 6, wherein the guide includes a projection that projects outward from an outer perimeter of the guide, and the first to third optical fibers pass under the projection of the guide. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The pluggable optical module according to claim 10, wherein the optical fiber housing unit further comprises an opening that is disposed under the projection of the guide, penetrates the plate, and has a width larger than the projection of the guide. ### Claim 12 (depends on 6) The pluggable optical module according to claim 6, wherein the optical fiber housing unit further comprises an outer frame that is disposed on the plate and formed to surround the guide, the outer frame includes a projection that projects to the guides, and the first to third optical fibers pass under the projection of the outer frame. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The pluggable optical module according to claim 12, wherein the optical fiber housing unit further comprises an opening that is disposed under the projection of the outer frame, penetrates the plate, and has a width larger than the projection of the outer frame. ### Claim 14 A pluggable optical communication system comprising: a first optical fiber configured to transmit an optical signal; a pluggable optical module configured in such a manner that the first optical fiber is insertable into and removable from the pluggable optical module, the pluggable optical module outputting the optical signal to the first optical fiber; and an optical communication apparatus configured in such a manner that the pluggable optical module is insertable into and removable from the optical communication apparatus, wherein the pluggable optical module comprises: a plurality of optical components including a pluggable electric connector being capable of connecting with the optical communication apparatus, a pluggable optical receptor being capable of connecting with outer optical fibers, an optical output module outputting a first optical signal and a local oscillation light, and an optical reception module receiving a second optical signal interfering with the local oscillation light; a printed circuit board with which the optical output module is connected; the first optical fiber connecting between the optical output module and the pluggable optical receptor; a second optical fiber connecting between the optical output module and the optical reception module; a third optical fiber connecting between the optical reception module and the pluggable optical receptor; and an optical fiber housing unit comprising a guide and configured to wind the first to third optical fibers, the optical fiber housing unit being mounted to be stacked with the printed circuit board and the optical output module. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The optical communication system according to claim 14, wherein the optical fiber housing unit is mounted to interpose between a first printed circuit board and a second printed circuit board. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The optical communication system according to claim 14, wherein: the pluggable optical module comprising: the pluggable electric connector is configured to communicate a modulation signal, a communication data signal, and a control signal with the optical communication apparatus, the optical output module outputs the first optical signal modulated in response to the modulation signal, the optical reception module outputs the communication data signal converted from the received second optical signal, the outer optical fibers comprise a transmission optical fiber and a reception optical fiber, the pluggable optical receptor is configured to output the first optical signal to the transmission optical fiber and forward the second optical signal from the reception optical fiber to the optical reception module, the first optical signal propagates through the first optical fiber, the local oscillation light propagates through the second optical fiber, the second optical signal propagates through the third optical fiber, extra lengths of the first to third optical fibers are wound and housed by the guides. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The optical communication system according to claim 16, wherein both of optical output module and the optical reception module are mounted on the printed circuit board. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The optical communication system according to claim 17, wherein the optical fiber housing unit is mounted in such a manner that a surface of the optical fiber housing unit on which the first to third optical fibers are housed faces a side opposite to a part or all of the optical output module, the optical reception module, and the printed circuit board that are stacked. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The optical communication system according to claim 16, wherein the optical fiber housing unit comprises: a plate; and at least two guides formed on the plate, and each of the first to third optical fibers is wound and housed in any of a first path circling one of the two guides, a second path circling to surround the two guides, and a third path circling each of the two guides, in a combination of two of the first to third paths, or in a combination of three of the first to third paths. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The optical communication system according to claim 19, wherein a part or all of the first to third optical fibers include a splice, and the optical fiber housing unit further comprises a splice housing that is formed on the plate and configured to house and fix the splice.