Optical waveguides – With optical coupler – Particular coupling structure
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-07
2001-01-16
Ullah, Akm E. (Department: 2874)
Optical waveguides
With optical coupler
Particular coupling structure
Reexamination Certificate
active
06175675
ABSTRACT:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY
This application makes reference to, incorporates the same herein, and claims all benefits accruing under 35 U.S.C. §119 from my application APPARATUS FOR ALIGNING AND METHOD OF BONDING OPTICAL WAVEGUIDE DEVICE TO OPTICAL FIBER BLOCK filed with the Korean Industrial Property Office on Sep. 14, 1998 and there duly assigned Serial No. 37766/1998.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method of aligning an optical waveguide device with an optical fiber block, and more particularly, to an apparatus for aligning an optical waveguide device with an optical fiber block using internal and external bending waveguides included in the optical waveguide device, and a method of bonding the optical waveguide device to the optical fiber block.
2. Description of the Related Art
An optical device and an optical fiber must be aligned and bonded to each other in order for an optical waveguide device chip to be used in an optical network.
An earlier apparatus for aligning an optical waveguide device with optical fiber blocks includes an input optical fiber block on which an optical fiber is mounted, an optical waveguide device having an input optical waveguide and an output optical waveguide, and an output optical fiber block on which optical fibers are mounted. In the alignment and bonding according to such a configuration, first, light is incident upon the optical fiber on the input optical fiber block, and the optical fiber is aligned with the input waveguide of the optical waveguide device. Then; the output waveguide of the optical waveguide device is aligned with the optical fibers on the output optical fiber block, such that light is guided. The intensity of light output through the two outermost ports in the optical fibers is detected. The positions of the input and output optical fiber blocks and the optical waveguide device are finely adjusted in order to detect the maximum intensity of the output light. After the positions are determined, the input and output optical fiber blocks and the optical waveguide device are bonded to one another by the epoxy.
However, an optical waveguide device such as an optical wavelength multiplexer has wavelength characteristics, such that an optimal position satisfying both the fine-tuned alignment and wavelength characteristics must be determined to align and bond such an optical waveguide device to optical fiber blocks.
Since this optical waveguide device can have different wavelength characteristics for each manufactured chip, accurate wavelength characteristics must be recognized before alignment and bonding are performed. Accordingly, many complicated apparatuses, such as a plurality of optical sources, are required.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for aligning an optical waveguide device with optical fiber blocks, by which alignment not considering the wavelength of signal light is accomplished not using function waveguides for transmitting signal light but rather using internal and external bending waveguides included in the optical waveguide device, and a method of bonding the optical waveguide device to the optical fiber block.
Accordingly, to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an apparatus for aligning an optical waveguide device having functional waveguides for transmitting signal light and internal and external waveguides located on the periphery of the functional waveguides, with optical fiber blocks, the apparatus including: an optical source; a first optical fiber block having a plurality of first functional optical fibers each connected to one ends of each of the functional waveguides, and a plurality of first alignment optical fibers each aligned with one end of each of the internal and external waveguides for transmitting light generated by the optical source; a second optical fiber block having a plurality of second functional optical fibers each connected to the other end of each of the functional waveguides, and a plurality of second alignment optical fibers each aligned with the other end of each of the internal and external waveguides; a measuring portion for measuring the intensity of light output from the second alignment optical fibers; and a controller for receiving an intensity of light from the measuring unit and finely adjusting the alignment of the first optical fiber block with the optical waveguide device and the optical waveguide device with the second optical fiber block in order to maximize the received intensity of light.
To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a method of bonding an optical waveguide device having functional waveguides for transmitting signal light and internal and external waveguides located on the periphery of the functional waveguides to optical fiber blocks, the method comprising the steps of:
dividing input light and transmitting divided light to first alignment optical fibers;
aligning each of the first alignment optical fibers with one end of each of the internal and external waveguides on the optical waveguide device;
finely adjusting the alignment of the other end of each of the internal and external waveguides with each of second alignment optical fibers so that an intensity of light to be output from the second alignment optical fibers becomes maximum; and
bonding each first optical fiber for transmitting signal light to one end of each of the functional waveguides, and each second optical fiber for transmitting signal light output from the other end of each of the functional waveguides, to the other end of each of the functional waveguides.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5544268 (1996-08-01), Deacon et al.
patent: 5559915 (1996-09-01), Deveau
patent: 5581642 (1996-12-01), Deacon et al.
patent: 5630004 (1997-05-01), Bischel
patent: 5664032 (1997-09-01), Yuhara et al.
patent: 5677973 (1997-10-01), Deacon et al.
patent: 5748825 (1998-05-01), Rockwell
Kim Hyoun-soo
Lee Yeong-Gyu
Song Hyung-seung
Bushnell , Esq. Robert E.
Samsung Electronics Co,. Ltd.
Ullah Akm E.
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