# US 2025/0093584 A1 · Lens component, optical multiplexing/demultiplexing module, and method for manufacturing optical multiplexing/demultiplexing module

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- Number: US 2025/0093584 A1
- Document ID: US20250093584A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 18/576,154
- Filed: 2022-07-20
- Published: 2025-03-20
- Earliest claimed: 2021-07-26
- Assignees: Sumitomo Electric Optifrontier Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Sumitomo Electric Optifrontier Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Kenta MUKOJIMA; Hitoshi HATAYAMA; Masahiro SHIBATA
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20250093584A1

## CPC

- G02B 6/2938: {for multiplexing or demultiplexing, i.e. combining or separating wavelengths, e.g. 1xN, NxM}
- G02B 6/4215: {the intermediate optical elements being wavelength selective optical elements, e.g. variable wavelength optical modules or wavelength lockers (G02B6/4246 takes precedence)}
- G02B 3/0087: {with index gradient}
- G02B 5/04: Prisms
- G02B 6/327: {with angled interfaces to reduce reflections}
- 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 27/0905: {Dividing and/or superposing multiple light beams}
- G02B 27/0972: {Prisms (prisms per se G02B5/04)}
- G02B 3/0075: {characterized by non-optical structures, e.g. having integrated holding or alignment means}
- G02B 6/29367: {Zigzag path within a transparent optical block, e.g. filter deposited on an etalon, glass plate, wedge acting as a stable spacer}
- G02B 27/0916: {Adapting the beam shape of a semiconductor light source such as a laser diode or an LED, e.g. for efficiently coupling into optical fibers (coupling into light guides using intermediate optical elements G02B6/4204; details of lighting devices in general F21V)}
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS

## Abstract

A lens component includes a prism including a first surface, a second surface obliquely facing the first surface, a third surface extending in a direction that intersects with the first surface, and a first side surface and a second side surface connecting the first surface and the second surface to each other and facing each other, and a plurality of GRIN lenses arranged in the prism. Each of the plurality of GRIN lenses includes a first end that is exposed at the first surface. The lens component is configured such that light that is input to the first end of each of the plurality of GRIN lenses is reflected by the second surface and is emitted from the third surface. The first side surface and the second side surface of the prism have a curved surface shape.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A lens component comprising:
a prism including a first surface, a second surface obliquely facing the first surface, a third surface extending in a direction that intersects with the first surface and obliquely facing the second surface, and a first side surface and a second side surface connecting the first surface and the second surface to each other and facing each other; and
a plurality of GRIN lenses arranged in the prism such that each lens extends from the first surface toward the second surface,
wherein each of the plurality of GRIN lenses has a first end that is exposed at the first surface,
wherein the lens component is configured such that light input to the first end of each of the plurality of GRIN lenses is reflected by the second surface and is emitted from the third surface, or light input from the third surface and reflected by the second surface or light input to the second surface is emitted from the first end of each of the plurality of GRIN lenses, and
wherein the first side surface and the second side surface of the prism include a curved surface shape.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The lens component according to claim 1, wherein the first side surface and the second side surface include the same radius of curvature.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The lens component according to claim 2, wherein a center of a circular arc that defines the first side surface and a center of a circular arc that defines the second side surface coincide with each other, and the centers are located in the prism or in any one GRIN lens of the plurality of GRIN lenses.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The lens component according to o claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of GRIN lenses includes a second end that is exposed at the second surface.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The lens component according to claim 1, wherein a radius of curvature of each of the first side surface and the second side surface is 0.2 mm or more and 5.0 mm or less.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The lens component according to claim 1, wherein a diameter of each of the plurality of GRIN lenses is 0.1 mm or more and 0.6 mm or less.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The lens component according to claim 1, wherein the shortest distance between the outermost GRIN lens of the plurality of GRIN lenses and the first side surface is 0.0 mm or more and 5.0 mm or less.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

An optical multiplexing/demultiplexing module comprising:
a collimator configured to receive or output wavelength multiplexed light including a plurality of wavelength components;
an optical multiplexing/demultiplexing device optically coupled to the collimator and configured to demultiplex the wavelength multiplexed light into light with different wavelength components or to multiplex light with different wavelength components into the wavelength multiplexed light; and
the lens component according to claim 1, which is optically coupled to the optical multiplexing/demultiplexing device.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The optical multiplexing/demultiplexing module according to claim 8, further comprising an alignment structure configured to support the lens component and align the plurality of GRIN lenses,
wherein the alignment structure includes a curved surface portion corresponding to a curved surface of the first side surface and the second side surface of the lens component.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The optical multiplexing/demultiplexing module according to claim 9,
wherein the curved surface portion of the alignment structure has a circular shape with one part cut off, and a radius of the circular shape is 0.2 mm or more and 5.0 mm or less.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The optical multiplexing/demultiplexing module according to claim 9,
wherein the curved surface portion of the alignment structure includes a support area that comes into contact with and supports the first side surface and the second side surface of the lens component when the alignment structure supports the lens component, and a non-contact area that does not come into contact with the lens component when the alignment structure supports the lens component.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The optical multiplexing/demultiplexing module according to claim 8, further comprising a plurality of light receiving elements corresponding to each of the plurality of GRIN lenses,
wherein each of the plurality of light receiving elements is disposed to face the third surface, and receives the light that is condensed by each of the plurality of GRIN lenses and is reflected by the second surface.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The optical multiplexing/demultiplexing module according to claim 8, further comprising a plurality of light emitting elements corresponding to each of the plurality of GRIN lenses,
wherein each of the plurality of light emitting elements is disposed to face the second surface or the third surface, and allows light to be input to the second surface or the third surface and the light to be emitted from each of the plurality of GRIN lenses.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

A method for manufacturing an optical multiplexing/demultiplexing module, comprising:
preparing a collimator, an optical multiplexing/demultiplexing device, the lens component according to claim 1, an alignment structure including a lens accommodating portion that includes a curved surface portion corresponding to a curved surface of the first side surface and the second side surface of the lens component, and a base;
arranging the collimator and the optical multiplexing/demultiplexing device on the base;
accommodating the lens component in the lens accommodating portion of the alignment structure such that the first side surface and the second side surface of the lens component are located in the lens accommodating portion; and
performing alignment in optical coupling of the lens component with the optical multiplexing/demultiplexing device by rotating the lens component in the lens accommodating portion.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method for manufacturing the optical multiplexing/demultiplexing module according to claim 14, wherein the alignment structure is provided in a part of the base.