Optical component integrally formed of transparent rectangular solid portion and lens, and optical module using the same

An optical module comprising:

• a light source;
• and
• an optical component configured to collimate or condense a light beam emitted from the light source,
• wherein the optical component includes
• a transparent rectangular solid portion having a height-to-width ratio greater than 1 in a plane perpendicular to an optical axis of the transparent rectangular solid portion, and
• a lens provided only on a light exit side of the transparent rectangular solid portion, said lens not being provided on the light incident side of the transparent rectangular solid portion,
• wherein the transparent rectangular solid portion and the lens integrally form a lens body having a first surface which includes a flat contact surface,
• wherein a perpendicular line drawn from a center of mass of the lens body to the flat contact surface is coincident with or close to a line segment connecting a center of the flat contact surface and the center of mass of the lens body in a predetermined range,
• wherein the lens body includes a first projecting part protruding continuously from the first surface in an optical axis direction, wherein the first projecting part comprises a curved surface continuing from the flat contact surface, a vertical surface continuing from the curved surface, and an inclined surface continuing from the vertical surface toward the lens,
• wherein the transparent rectangular solid portion has the first projecting part protruding in an optical axis direction continuously from the first surface, and a second projecting part protruding in the optical axis direction continuously from a second surface of the lens body opposite to the first surface,
• wherein the lens is provided between the first projecting part and the second protecting part,
• wherein the second projecting part comprises a second curved surface continuing from a second contact surface that is included in the second surface, a second vertical surface continuing from the second curved surface, and a second inclined surface continuing from the second vertical surface toward the lens, and
• wherein the first projecting part and the second projecting part are connected at the light incident side through a flat surface.