Optical waveguides – With optical coupler – With alignment device
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-27
2001-01-30
Healy, Brian (Department: 2874)
Optical waveguides
With optical coupler
With alignment device
C385S049000, C385S090000, C385S088000, C385S089000, C385S014000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06181856
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method of aligning optical waveguide arrays. Such a method comprises monitoring the total optical power coupled from the optical waveguides of a first array into the optical waveguides of a second array. The invention is especially suited for aligning, coupling and connecting an integrated optical waveguide circuit component to an array of optical fibers held in an optical fiber array holder.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Integrated optical waveguide circuit devices, such as planar waveguides, lightwave optical circuits, and optical devices on planar glass and semiconductor substrates are becoming increasingly important in multi-wavelength transmissions systems, fiber-to-the-home, and optical telecommunications systems.
To function, a light guiding waveguide region in the optical device must be interconnected or pigtailed with a light guiding waveguide region in an optical fiber or another optical device. The interconnection requires low loss, typically less than 0.2 db per connection, environmental reliability against heat and humidity, and cost effectiveness. Achieving a low loss connection requires extremely high precision alignment of the light guiding waveguide regions.
One way to align the waveguide region in planar optical devices with the light guiding region in an optical fiber is by active alignment, wherein the waveguide regions are butted together, the alignment is monitored with an optical monitoring tool, and the abutting waveguide regions are then secured together.
Another approach is passive alignment, which involves aligning the waveguide regions by mechanical means. For example, a planar optical device may be aligned with an array of fibers or another planar device by using a pair of MT type connector devices, fabricated by forming V-grooves on a silicon wafer which support a planar waveguide surrounded by a plastic molded MT type connector plug. The V-grooves are precisely located on the wafer, and the V-grooves support guide pins. The guide pins are positioned to be received by guide holes on an oppositely disposed MT-type connector plug which contains an array of optical fibers. Connection of the two plug ends passively aligns the planar waveguide and the array of fibers. Such prior methods do not provide an economic means to precisely align arrays of optical waveguides with optimized optical coupling.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a method of aligning and connecting a first array of optical waveguides to a second corresponding array of optical waveguides and an apparatus for coupling such waveguide arrays that substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.
Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the apparatus, process, and compositions particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the drawings.
To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described, the invention comprises a method of connecting an integrated optical waveguide circuit component to an optical fiber array, which includes the steps of providing an integrated optical waveguide circuit component having an array of N wave guide ports, providing an optical fiber array having an array of N optical fibers, and positioning the optical fiber array adjacent to the circuit component so that photons emitted from waveguide ports are coupled into the respective individual corresponding optical fiber coupling ends of the optical fiber array. The method further includes positioning the optical distal fiber terminal ends of the N optical fibers of the optical fiber array adjacent to the input of an optical power collection and concentrating member which collects the photons that exit the distal terminal ends and concentrates the photons on an optical power sensor and sensing the value representative of the total optical power of the photons concentrated on the optical power sensor that have been emitted from the waveguide ports and coupled into the respective individual corresponding optical fiber coupling ends and exited from the distal terminal ends of the optical fibers. The method further includes adjusting the relevant position of the optical fiber array to the circuit component so that the sensed value representative of the total optical power of the photons is maximized and securing this position of the optical fiber array to the circuit component when the sensed value representative of the total optical power is at a maximum.
In another aspect, the invention includes an apparatus for coupling an integrated optical waveguide circuit component with a multiple fiber fiber array to provide an optimized optical power coupling between the circuit component and a coupling end of the fiber array with the fiber array terminating with a terminal end distal from the coupling end. The apparatus includes an autoalignment system for controlling and adjusting the relevant position of the coupling end of the fiber array to that of the circuit component, and an integrating sphere positioned proximate the autoalignment system. The integrating sphere includes at least one input port and an optical power sensor that is connected to an input of the autoalignment system wherein the terminal end of the fiber array is inputted into the input port of the integrating sphere such that light emitted from a circuit component received by the autoalignment system is coupled into the fiber array at the fiber coupling end and emitted from the fiber array terminal end and into the integrating sphere and the total optical power emitted from the fiber array terminal ends is sensed by the optical power sensor which inputs the sensed total optical power into the input of the autoalignment system, and the autoalignment system repeatedly adjusts the relevant position of the coupling end of the fiber array to that of the circuit component to obtain the maximum total optical power sensed by the optical power sensor.
In an additional aspect, the invention comprises a method of aligning a plurality of first optical fiber ends of an optical fiber array held in an optical fiber array holder with a plurality of optical waveguide interface ports of an integrated optical waveguide circuit component. The method includes abutting the first optical fiber ends to the optical waveguide interface ports and connecting an energy source to the integrated optical waveguide circuit so that light is emitted from the interface ports into the first optical fiber ends abutting the optical waveguide interface ports. The optical fiber array includes a plurality of optical fibers which terminate with a plurality of terminal distal second ends that are distal from the first ends. The method further includes inserting the terminal distal second ends into an integrating sphere so that the light emitted from the plurality of terminal distal second ends is collected and spatially integrated and sensing the total optical power of the collected and spatially integrated light emitted from the plurality of terminal distal second ends inserted into the integrating sphere. The method further includes adjusting the relative physical relationship of the plurality of optical waveguide interface ports to the first optical fiber ends abutting the optical waveguide interface ports in order to maximize the sensed total optical power of the collected and spatially integrated light emitted from the plurality of terminal distal second ends inserted into the integrating sphere.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claim
Alden Philip G.
Corning Incorporated
Healy Brian
LandOfFree
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