Method of manufacturing optical sensor module and optical sensor module obtained thereby
AssigneeNitto Denko Corporation
InventorMasayuki Hodono
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of manufacturing an optical sensor module which eliminates the need for the operation of alignment between a core in an optical waveguide section and an optical element in a substrate section and which achieves improvement in alignment accuracy and reduction in costs, and an optical sensor module obtained thereby. An optical waveguide section W2 including protruding portions 4 for the positioning of a substrate section and groove portions 3b for fitting engagement with the substrate section, and a substrate section E2 including positioning plate portions 5a to be positioned in the protruding portions 4 and fitting plate portions 5b for fitting engagement with the groove portions 3b are individually produced.
Claims6
A method of manufacturing an optical sensor module, comprising the steps of:
- (a) producing an optical waveguide section;
- (b) producing a substrate section;
- and
- (c) coupling the optical waveguide section and the substrate section together,
- the step (a) including the substeps of
- (a-1) forming a linear core for an optical path and positioning member for the positioning of the substrate section at the same time on a surface of an under cladding layer by a photolithographic process using a single photomask, the positioning member being disposed in an appropriate position relative to an end portion of the core, and
- (a-2) forming an over cladding layer for covering the core and fitting portions for fitting engagement with the substrate section at the same time by a die-molding process, the fitting portions being disposed in part of the over cladding layer,
- the step (b) including the substeps of
- (b-1) placing an optical element mounting pad on a substrate,
- (b-2) forming to-be-positioned portions to be positioned in the positioning member and to-be-fitted portions for fitting engagement with the fitting portions at the same time in respective appropriate positions of the substrate relative to the optical element mounting pad, and
- (b-3) mounting an optical element on the optical element mounting pad,
- the step (c) includes the step of
- positioning said to-be-positioned portions of said substrate section by using said positioning member of said optical waveguide section and bringing said to-be-fitted portions of said substrate section into fitting engagement with said fitting portions of said optical waveguide section.
An optical sensor module comprising:
- an optical waveguide section;
- and
- a substrate section with an optical element mounted therein,
- said optical waveguide section and said substrate section being coupled to each other,
- said optical waveguide section including
- an under cladding layer,
- a linear core for an optical path and formed on a surface of the under cladding layer,
- positioning member for the positioning of the substrate section and formed in a portion lying in an appropriate position relative to an end portion of the core,
- an over cladding layer for covering said core, and
- fitting portions for fitting engagement with the substrate section and formed in a predetermined portion of the over cladding layer,
- said substrate section including
- a substrate having to-be-positioned portions to be positioned in the positioning member for the positioning of said substrate section, and to-be-fitted portions for fitting engagement with the fitting portions for fitting engagement with said substrate section,
- an optical element mounting pad placed in a predetermined portion on the substrate, and
- the optical element mounted on the optical element mounting pad,
- the coupling between said optical waveguide section and said substrate section being provided by the positioning of said to-be-positioned portions of said substrate section by using said positioning member of said optical waveguide section, and by the fitting engagement of said to-be-fitted portions of said substrate section with said fitting portions of said optical waveguide section.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.