Integrated fiber optic bulkhead receptacle

Details Integrated fiber optic bulkhead receptacle Integrated fiber optic bulkhead receptacle

1999-05-19

2001-10-02

Henry, Jon (Department: 2872)

Optical waveguides

With disengagable mechanical connector

Optical fiber to a nonfiber optical device connector

C385S092000, C385S093000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06296400

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a packaging assembly for a photonic device and, more particularly, to a packaging assembly for a photonic device that includes a fiber bulkhead connector mounted to the assembly housing, and a fibered ferrule hermetically sealed to the assembly housing and extending into the connector.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Certain photonic devices having small active areas, such as photodetectors, laser diodes and optical modulators, are sometimes mounted within a cavity of a housing as part of a device packaging assembly. For high frequency applications (>1 GHz), a detachable connector is needed for single mode or polarization maintaining fiber at 1310/1550 nm wavelengths to a hermetic package. An optical fiber is coupled to the photonic device to transmit optical signals applied to or generated by the device through the housing. The end of the optical fiber proximate the photonic device typically includes a fiber lens for efficient optical coupling between the photonic device and the fiber to reduce optical losses. The fiber extends through the housing and is attached to a specialized connector adaptor, such as an FIS connector adaptor. The end of the fiber positioned within the connector adaptor is typically a bare fiber that is polished. The connector adaptor can be attached to a connector in a threaded or snap-fit engagement that aligns the polished end of the fiber with another fiber to connect the photonic device to an optical system.
The known packaging assemblies for a photonic device generally include a length of fiber extending from the housing that is attached to the connector adaptor. This length of fiber is referred to in the art as a fiber pigtail. Typically, this fiber pigtail is >1 foot in length. The fiber pigtail is a weak link in the packaging of the photonic device because it has a tendency to be easily damaged or broken. When the fiber pigtail breaks or becomes defective, the entire packaging assembly, including the photonic device, becomes useless and must be replaced. Therefore, the fiber pigtail is a source of increased cost and unreliability for the optical system.
The lensed end of the fiber must be optically aligned with the photonic device. Sometimes the photonic device must support single mode or polarization maintaining, single mode fibers. In these types of applications, it is typically necessary to align the fiber to the photonic device within the housing with sub-micron to a few microns in accuracy.
What is needed is a packaging assembly for a photonic device that eliminates the fiber pigtail and still makes a suitably optical connection outside of the packaging assembly. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide such a packaging assembly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a packaging assembly for a photonic device is disclosed that employs a bulkhead connector that eliminates the fiber pigtail in the prior art. The photonic device is mounted within a cavity of a housing and is optically aligned with a lensed end of an optical fiber. The fiber extends into and is soldered to a cylindrical ferrule. The fibered ferrule is positioned within an opening through the housing so that it extends outside of the housing. The ferrule is soldered (or welded) to the housing to hermetically seal the opening. The bulkhead connector is mounted to the housing so that the fibered ferrule extends partially into a bore extending through the connector. An optical connector is attached to the bulkhead connector so that a fibered ferrule extending from the optical connector is inserted in the bore and aligns with the fibered ferrule from the housing.
Additional objects, advantages, and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


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Soon Jang, “Packaging of photonic devices using laser welding,” Oct. 1995, pp. 138-149, SPIE, vol. 2610.
Advertisement of an optoelectric package utilizing a detachable connector, Laser & Optics Magazine, Feb. 15, 1998, p. 15, Coherent Semiconductor Group.

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