Optical waveguides – With disengagable mechanical connector – Optical fiber to a nonfiber optical device connector
Reexamination Certificate
2003-01-14
2004-08-10
Kim, Ellen E. (Department: 2874)
Optical waveguides
With disengagable mechanical connector
Optical fiber to a nonfiber optical device connector
C385S088000, C385S091000, C385S078000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06773171
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
This disclosure relates generally to optoelectronics and, more particularly, to optoelectronic housings and methods of assembling optoelectronic packages.
BACKGROUND
It is known to hermetically seal an optoelectronic module within a metal housing to create an optoelectronic package which may be used, for example, in an optical communication system. Typically, an optoelectronic module includes a semiconductor laser diode mounted on a substrate, one or more lenses to focus the laser light generated by the laser, and one or more optical fibers to carry the focused laser light out of the package. The optical fiber(s) typically include a glass core for carrying the light which is protected by a coating of polymer. The polymer coating is stripped and the core or a section of the core is metallized (i.e., surrounded by solderable metal) to facilitate soldering the fiber in a desired location.
An example prior art housing
10
for an optoelectronic module is shown in FIG.
1
. The housing
10
includes a body or can
12
which defines a chamber that is dimensioned to receive an optoelectronic module
14
. In the example of
FIG. 1
, the housing
10
is adapted to receive a module having one optical fiber. To this end, the body
12
of the housing includes a fixed feedthrough
18
. The feedthrough
18
is brazed to the metal can
12
such that it cannot be removed. In other words, the body
12
is constructed with the fixed feedthrough,
18
before the optoelectronic module
14
is placed in the chamber. An optoelectronic module
14
assembled outside the housing
10
is then inserted into the housing
10
by threading the optical fibers mounted to the module
14
through the fixed feedthrough
18
from within the chamber.
Another example prior art optoelectronic package
22
is shown in FIG.
2
. The prior art package
22
of
FIG. 2
includes a housing
24
which, like the housing
10
of
FIG. 1
is adapted for use with an optoelectronic module
25
. However, the module
22
is designed for use with two optical fibers
26
,
28
which extend in opposite directions from one another.
To secure the fibers
26
,
28
to the optoelectronic module
25
, the outer polymer coating of a section of each of the fibers
26
,
28
is stripped away and metallization is applied in the required section of the fiber. The metallized layer is then soldered to secure the fiber
26
,
28
to the desired location of the optoelectronic module
25
. While the metallized layer renders an optical fiber
26
,
28
solderable, a metallized area of an optical fiber
26
,
28
has reduced flexibility relative to the non-metallized, polymer coated portions of the fiber. As a result, the metallized areas of the optical fibers
26
,
28
are more breakable than the non-metallized, polymer coated areas.
Because it is necessary to solder the optical fibers
26
,
28
to or adjacent the optoelectronic module
25
, the areas of the fibers
26
,
28
adjacent the module
25
must be metallized. Since the area of the fiber that is stripped and metallized is much more fragile and susceptible to breakage under bend stresses, the housing
24
of
FIG. 2
is extended. As a result, the assembled module
25
can be placed into the housing
24
and the fibers
26
,
28
can be threaded through respective ones of first and second fixed feedthroughs
30
,
32
(which are brazed on opposite ends of the housing
24
) without severely bending the fibers. For example, fiber
26
may be threaded into its feedthrough
32
. The module
25
may then be placed at the far end of the enclosure adjacent the enclosure wall. Then, the fiber
28
can be threaded into its feedthrough
30
. Once the fibers
26
,
28
are threaded, the module
25
must be centered within the enclosure to position the metallizations within their respective feedthroughs
30
,
32
for final fiber sealing. The extended housing
24
ensures that sufficient distance exists between the ends of the fibers
26
,
28
secured to the module
25
and the respective feedthroughs
30
,
32
to eliminate the need to sharply bend the fibers
26
,
28
when threading them through the feedthroughs
30
,
32
thereby minimizing the bending of the fibers
26
,
28
during assembly and, thus, reducing the risk of breakage.
As mentioned above, in addition to its extended length, the prior art housing
24
includes two fixed feedthroughs
30
,
32
. As shown in
FIG. 2
, each of the feedthroughs
30
,
32
is a cylindrical structure having an end brazed to the body of the housing
24
, and a central channel for receiving an optical fiber
26
,
28
. Each feedthrough
30
,
32
also includes a solder holder
36
for receiving solder to hermetically seal the fiber to the housing
24
. Each feedthrough
30
,
32
also includes an epoxy holder
38
to receive epoxy to secure a furcation tube within the end of the feedthrough. The furcation tubes serve to protect their corresponding fibers
26
,
28
against damage.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4186994 (1980-02-01), Denkin et al.
patent: 4330171 (1982-05-01), Malsot et al.
patent: 4482201 (1984-11-01), Dousset
patent: 4756592 (1988-07-01), Sasayama et al.
patent: 4787695 (1988-11-01), Laor
patent: 4907852 (1990-03-01), Noba et al.
patent: 5222170 (1993-06-01), Bargar et al.
patent: 5301250 (1994-04-01), Cheng
patent: 5519799 (1996-05-01), Murakami et al.
patent: 5745624 (1998-04-01), Chan et al.
patent: 6394665 (2002-05-01), Hayashi
Four photographs of prior art optoelectronic module housing. No date.
Grossman & Flight LLC
Kim Ellen E.
LandOfFree
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