# US 12,761,429 B2 · Optical module and optical connector cable > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,761,429 B2 - Document ID: US12761429B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/579,963 - Filed: 2022-07-05 - Published: 2024-10-10 - Granted: 2026-10-13 - Earliest claimed: 2021-08-05 - Assignees: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. - Applicants: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. - Inventors: Kensaku Shimada; Takeshi Inoue; Takuya Ishida; Tatsuhiko Naito - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12761429B2 ## CPC - G02B 6/4239: {Adhesive bonding; Encapsulation with polymer material} - G02B 6/322: {and having centering means being part of the lens for the self-positioning of the lightguide at the focal point, e.g. holes, wells, indents, nibs} - 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 6/425: {Optical features (semiconductor laser arrays H01S5/40; hybrid LED arrays H10W90/00)} - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract An optical module includes a substrate, an optical element, and a lens module. The optical element is mounted on the substrate. The lens module includes an outer surface and an inner surface facing each other and a lens provided on the inner surface so as to be optically coupled to the optical element and optically couples an optical fiber with the optical element through the lens. The lens module is mounted on the substrate such that the inner surface faces the substrate and is attached to the substrate with an adhesive introduced into a gap between the inner surface and the substrate. The optical module is provided with an inflow prevention structure that prevents inflow of the adhesive to an optical axis of the lens between the substrate and the lens module and between the lens and the adhesive. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An optical module comprising: a substrate; an optical element mounted on the substrate; and a lens module including an outer surface and an inner surface facing each other and a lens provided on the inner surface so as to be optically coupled to the optical element, the lens module optically coupling an optical fiber with the optical element through the lens, wherein the lens module is mounted on the substrate such that the inner surface faces the substrate and is attached to the substrate with an adhesive introduced into a gap between the inner surface and the substrate, and an inflow prevention structure that prevents inflow of the adhesive to an optical axis of the lens is provided between the substrate and the lens module and between the lens and the adhesive, wherein a cavity recessed from a first surface of the substrate toward a second surface of the substrate so as to have a bottom portion is formed in the substrate, and at least a part of the lens module is accommodated in the cavity, the cavity includes a first cavity having a first bottom portion and a second cavity having a second bottom portion, a distance between the second bottom portion and the second surface is smaller than a distance between the first bottom portion and the second surface, and the lens is accommodated in the second cavity. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The optical module according to claim 1, wherein the inflow prevention structure includes a groove or a recessed portion provided on a surface of the substrate facing the lens module and close to a region facing the lens. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The optical module according to claim 1, wherein the inflow prevention structure includes a wall provided on the inner surface of the lens module and between the lens and the adhesive. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The optical module according to claim 3, wherein the wall abuts the substrate when the lens module is attached to the substrate with the adhesive. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The optical module according to claim 3, wherein the wall extends in a width direction intersecting a longitudinal direction in a surface direction of the lens module. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The optical module according to claim 1, wherein the inflow prevention structure includes a guide groove provided on the inner surface of the lens module and between the lens and the adhesive. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The optical module according to claim 6, wherein the guide groove extends in a width direction intersecting a longitudinal direction in a surface direction of the lens module. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The optical module according to claim 1, wherein a width of the gap between the substrate and the inner surface of the lens module is equal to or less than 1 mm, and the adhesive is introduced into the gap. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The optical module according to claim 1, wherein the inflow prevention structure is provided in a region within 5 mm from the optical axis of the lens in a surface direction orthogonal to the optical axis. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The optical module according to claim 1, wherein the inflow prevention structure includes a first inflow prevention structure and a second inflow prevention structure, and the first inflow prevention structure is disposed on one side of the lens, and the second inflow prevention structure is disposed on the other side of the lens. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The optical module according to claim 1, wherein the inflow prevention structure is accommodated in the second cavity. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The optical module according to claim 1, wherein the lens module includes a mirror converting a propagation direction of light such that light emitted from the optical fiber mounted on the outer surface is incident on the optical element or light emitted from the optical element is incident on the optical fiber mounted on the outer surface. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) An optical connector cable comprising: the optical module according to claim 1; and an optical fiber cable having at least one optical fiber, wherein the optical fiber cable is attached to the optical module such that the optical fiber is optically coupled to the optical element through the lens. ### Claim 14 An optical module comprising: a substrate; a plurality of optical elements mounted on the substrate; and a plurality of lens modules each having an outer surface and an inner surface facing each other and a lens provided on the inner surface, the plurality of lens modules optically coupling optical fibers and the plurality of optical elements through each lens, respectively, wherein each of the plurality of lens modules is mounted on the substrate such that the inner surface faces the substrate and is attached to the substrate with an adhesive introduced into a gap between the inner surface and the substrate, and an inflow prevention structure that prevents inflow of the adhesive to an optical axis of the lens is provided between the substrate and each of the plurality of lens modules and between the lens and the adhesive, wherein a plurality of cavities, each of which is recessed from a first surface of the substrate toward a second surface of the substrate so as to have a bottom portion, are formed in the substrate, and at least a part of each of the plurality of lens modules is accommodated in a corresponding one of the plurality of cavities, each of the plurality of cavities includes a first cavity having a first bottom portion and a second cavity having a second bottom portion, a distance between the second bottom portion and the second surface is smaller than a distance between the first bottom portion and the second surface, and the lens of each of the plurality of lens modules is accommodated in the second cavity of the corresponding one of the plurality of cavities.