Optical waveguides – With disengagable mechanical connector – Optical fiber to a nonfiber optical device connector
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-14
2001-04-24
Ngo, Hung N. (Department: 2874)
Optical waveguides
With disengagable mechanical connector
Optical fiber to a nonfiber optical device connector
C385S088000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06220767
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to optical waveguide telecommunications devices utilized in optical telecommunications systems, and particularly to semiconductor laser optical waveguide devices and methods for making such devices.
2. Technical Background
The present invention relates generally to optical waveguide telecommunications devices, semiconductor lasers, and particularly to semiconductor laser optical waveguide telecommunications modules utilized in optical waveguide telecommunications systems and methods of making such semiconductor laser optical waveguide telecommunications modules. Semiconductor lasers are utilized in optical waveguide telecommunications systems to produce photons. Semiconductor laser optical waveguide telecommunications modules can include pump lasers that pump optical waveguide amplifiers and transmitter lasers that transmit modulated optical signals.
Optical signals generated by transmitter lasers are normally transmitted through optical fibers and the optical signals tend to weaken as they travel along the optical fibers. Optical amplifiers which utilize semiconductor lasers provide an economic means of amplifying such weakened optical signals while maintaining the optical nature of the signal. Erbium doped optical fiber amplifiers have become the dominant means of amplifying optical signals in the 1550 nm optical telecommunications window. Such erbium doped optical fiber amplifiers are normally pumped with 980 nm and/or 1480 nm semiconductor pump lasers. With such an amplifier-pump system, electrical energy applied to the 980 nm (1480 nm) semiconductor pump laser produces 980 nm (1480 nm) photons which are coupled through an optical fiber pigtail into the erbium doped optical fiber. The 980 nm and/or 1480 nm pump light excites/energizes the erbium ions in the erbium doped optical fiber so that optical telecommunications signals such as wavelengths centered about 1550 nm are amplified by the excited/energized erbium ions. The optical pumping of optical amplifiers with semiconductor produced photons has become the standard in the optical telecommunications industry, but the ever growing high output requirements of semiconductor pump lasers poses problems for the making of reliable semiconductor lasers modules. It appears that the commercially available maximum reliable output power of 980 nm semiconductor laser pumps may plateau in the 300 mW output power range while the input pump power requirements of optical amplifiers will continue to climb.
Semiconductor lasers have faced reliability problems with the most prevalent being catastrophic optical facet damage of the semiconductor laser. Total failure of semiconductor lasers have been found when the catastrophic optical facet damage level of laser falls below the operating power output of the laser. Additionally in the past it has been found that dark-line defects and facet corrosion have limited the useful life of semiconductor lasers. Many narrow strip emitter lasers failed before 5,000 hours of operation when operated above a high output power of 100 mW. Special attention to the semiconductor laser itself and protective coatings on the semiconductor laser facets (passivation layers) have resulted in some improvement in the reliability of semiconductor lasers. The making of highly reliable high output semiconductor lasers optical waveguide telecommunications modules requires such special attention not only to the semiconductor laser itself but also the other components of the module and how they interact before and during operation of the laser. Such special attention should include the gas, if any, that is incorporated inside the module.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One aspect of the present invention is a method of making a semiconductor laser optical waveguide telecommunications module which includes providing a semiconductor laser, a housing, and an O
2
-free oxidizing atmosphere, such that the oxidizing atmosphere is in contact with the semiconductor laser and contained by the housing.
In another aspect, the invention includes a semiconductor laser optical waveguide telecommunications module that includes a semiconductor laser, housing enclosing the semiconductor laser and an O
2
-free oxidizing atmosphere in contact with the semiconductor laser and contained by the housing.
In another aspect, the invention includes a method of making a semiconductor laser optical waveguide telecommunications module that includes providing a semiconductor laser, a housing, a sealing atmosphere, and a solid oxidant, and sealing the semiconductor laser, the sealing atmosphere, and the solid oxidant within the housing.
In another aspect, the invention includes a semiconductor laser optical waveguide telecommunications module that includes a semiconductor laser, a solid oxidant, a sealing atmosphere in contact with the semiconductor laser and the solid oxidant, and a housing containing the sealing atmosphere, the semiconductor laser, and the solid oxidant.
In preferred embodiments the inventive module is an optical waveguide telecommunications module that includes an optical waveguide fiber within the housing.
The present invention results in a number of advantages compared to prior art methods and devices. The present invention provides economic and convenient methods of making semiconductor laser optical waveguide telecommunications modules while avoiding complications and problems faced with other methods of making semiconductor laser optical waveguide telecommunications devises. For example the present invention allows for a high power pump laser that does not require the inclusion of O
2
gas in the packaging of the pump laser. The invention includes a semiconductor laser optical waveguide telecommunications module which has a semiconductor laser enclosed in a housing with an O
2
-free oxidizing atmosphere, such that the oxidizing atmosphere is in contact with the laser and contained by the housing; and the method of making such.
The invention includes a method of making telecommunications module by providing a housing, providing an oxidizing atmosphere which includes a nitrogen oxide and enclosing the laser and the atmosphere within the housing.
The invention includes such a telecommunications module with a semiconductor laser, a housing which encloses the laser, and an oxidizing atmosphere which includes nitrogen oxide and is in contact with the laser and contained in the housing.
The invention includes a method of making telecommunications module by providing a housing, providing an oxidizing atmosphere which includes ozone and enclosing the laser and the atmosphere in the housing.
The invention includes such a telecommunications module with a semiconductor laser, a housing, and an oxidizing atmosphere which includes ozone and is in contact with the laser and contained by the housing.
The invention includes a method of making telecommunications module by providing an oxidizing atmosphere which includes hydrogen peroxide and enclosing the laser and the atmosphere within the housing.
The invention includes such a telecommunications module with a semiconductor laser, a housing, and an oxidizing atmosphere which includes hydrogen peroxide and is in contact with the laser and contained by the housing.
Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which follows, and in part will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from that description or recognized by practicing the invention as described herein, including the detailed description which follows, the claims, as well as the appended drawings.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are merely exemplary of the invention, and are intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and character of the invention as it is claimed. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and consti
Agon Juliana
Corning Incorporated
Murphy Edward F.
Ngo Hung N.
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