Optical coupler and method of making optical coupler

Details Optical coupler and method of making optical coupler Optical coupler and method of making optical coupler

1990-10-31

1991-12-10

Sikes, William L.

Optical waveguides

With optical coupler

With alignment device

385 38, G02B 626, G02B 642

Patent

active

050712136

ABSTRACT:
An optical coupler for coupling light between an end of a fiber-optic cable and the optical port of an electro-optic device, and an improved method for making the coupler. A silicon substrate is etched to form a groove dimensioned to hold the fiber-optic cable, with the end of the fiber-optic cable adjacent to the terminating surface of the groove. Alignment means are then formed on the working surface, and used to secure positioning means to the substrate at a predetermined position. The positioning means includes a positioning surface oriented to abut a reference surface of the electro-optic device. The electro-optic device is then mounted on the working surface, with its reference surface abutting the positioning surface. The alignment means is formed so that the optical port is positioned to efficiently couple light between the end of the fiber-optic cable and the optical port, via reflection off the terminating surface. The positioning means may include a pair of positioning surfaces, for two-dimensional positioning. The alignment means may comprise a plate formed on the working surface, or a recess formed in the working surface.

REFERENCES:
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patent: 4945400 (1990-07-01), Blonder et al.
patent: 4981334 (1991-01-01), Sniadower
"Anisotropic Etching of Silicon," Kenneth E. Bean, Transactions on Electron Devices, vol. ED-25, No. 10, Oct. 1978, pp. 1185-1193.
"Self-Aligned Flat-Pack Fibre-Photodiode Coupling," B. Hillerich and A. Geyer, Electronics Letters, Jul. 21, 1988, vol. 24, No. 15, pp. 918-919.
"Single-Mode Fiber WDM Unit for Duplex Subscriber Link Using a Substrate with Embossed Alignment Grooves," B. Hillerich, M. Rode and H. Gottsmann, Journal of Lightwave Technology, vol. 7, No. 11, Nov. 1989, pp. 1654-1660.

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