Optical waveguides – With disengagable mechanical connector – Optical fiber to a nonfiber optical device connector
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-08
2001-12-04
Ngo, Hung N. (Department: 2874)
Optical waveguides
With disengagable mechanical connector
Optical fiber to a nonfiber optical device connector
C385S090000, C385S091000, C385S147000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06325551
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
COPYRIGHT AUTHORIZATION
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by any one of the patent disclosure, as it appears in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to coupling apparatus designed to align and join together the component parts of an optoelectronic package or module.
2. Description of the Related Art
The new technologies of high-speed communications utilize optoelectronic (OE) devices. Currently, the telecommunications network serving the United States and the rest of the world is evolving from analog to digital transmission with ever increasing bandwidth requirements. Increased bandwidth is realized by replacing copper cable on large trunks and subscriber distribution plants with fiber optic cable. Fiber optic cable is capable of carrying much more information than copper and with lower attenuation.
All the OE devices on the receive and transmit sides must be fabricated with a high degree of accuracy, and in large numbers. Assembly of the fiber optic filament to the devices requires that the device and fiber be coupled mechanically and optically. Typically this involves sub-micrometer accuracy, performed manually by skilled technicians working with microscopes and high-precision manipulators. Once each OE device is assembled it must be tested electrically to verify its performance. Then the device is typically assembled onto a printed circuit board for connection to other electronic and optical signal processing components.
What is needed is high-speed, low-cost, high-precision equipment for the manufacture of OE devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An automatic fiber pigtailing machine (AFPM) is disclosed. The AFPM provides precise coupling between a fiber pigtail and an optoelectronic (OE) device based on the fidelity of signal transfer across a junction between the fiber and OE device. The AFPM uses a positioning system with a high frequency closed loop optical feedback of a modulated signal to/from the device under assembly (DUA). Local/global maximums in the fidelity of the modulated signal are correlated with relative orientations/aligmnent/positions of the various components of the DUA to determine the preferred orientation/alignment/positions between the various components for the completed assembly. In an embodiment of the invention the fiber optic extends from a first surface of a generally rectangular package; and the electrical interface to the OE device is defined on a surface orthogonal to the first surface. This geometry is compatible with usage on PC boards where side mounting reduces the overall form factor for the PC board since the fiber optic is parallel with the plane of the board.
In an embodiment of the invention an apparatus for coupling an optical fiber with an optical device is disclosed. The apparatus includes: a modulator, a demodulator, an evaluator and at least one moveable stage. The modulator couples to one of the optical fiber and the optical device to transmit a modulated signal including data. The demodulator couples to the other of the optical fiber and the optical device to receive the modulated signal and demodulate the data. The evaluator couples to the modulator and demodulator. The evaluator evaluates the fidelity of the data received and transmitted at a plurality of positions of the optical fiber and the optical device and selects preferred positions for the optical fiber and the optical device based on the fidelity of the data transfer. The at least one movable stage is responsive to a selection of the preferred positions by the evaluator to position at least one of the optical fiber and the optical device at the preferred positions.
In another embodiment of the invention an apparatus for coupling an optical fiber and ferrule with an optical device is disclosed. The optical device is contained within an interior portion of a package. The package includes on an exterior portion thereof a first electrical interface to the optical device. The apparatus for coupling includes: an x-stage, a y-stage, a z-stage, a test fixture and at least one welder. The x-, y- and z-stages couple to at least one of the optical fiber with a ferrule and the package and position the optical fiber with respect to the optical device. The test fixture includes a second electrical interface for removably forming a high frequency electrical coupling with the first electrical interface to transmit or receive a high frequency signal to or from the optical device. The at least one welder is responsive to a positioning of the optical fiber and the optical device at preferred positions to affix the optical fiber with the optical device.
In an alternate embodiment of the invention an apparatus for coupling an optical fiber and optical device is disclosed. The apparatus includes: means for modulating, means for demodulating, means for evaluating, and means for positioning. The means for modulating modulates data onto one of the optical fiber and the optical device. The means for demodulating demodulates the data at the other of the optical fiber and the optical device. The means for evaluating evaluates the fidelity between modulated and demodulated data at a plurality of positions of the optical fiber and the optical device and selects preferred positions for the optical fiber and the optical device based on the fidelity. The means for positioning positions at least one of the optical fiber and the optical device at the preferred positions responsive to a selection of the preferred positions by said means for evaluating.
In still another embodiment of the invention, an apparatus for coupling an optical fiber with a ferrule at an end thereof with an optical device contained within an interior portion of a package is disclosed. The package includes an exterior portion with a first electrical interface to the optical device. The apparatus for coupling includes: a means for removably forming a high-frequency electrical coupling, a means for positioning, and a means for fastening. The means for removably forming forms a high-frequency electrical coupling with the first electrical interface to transmit and receive a high frequency signal from the optical device. The means for positioning positions the optical fiber and the optical device at preferred positions. The means for means for fastening fastens the optical fiber with the optical device.
In still another embodiment of the invention, a method for assembling an optic fiber to an optoelectronic device within an interior portion of a package is disclosed. The method for assembling comprises the acts of:
evaluating a fidelity of data transfer across the junction of the fiber and optoelectronic device at a plurality of positions of the optical fiber and the optical device to determine a preferred position for the fiber and the optoelectronic device; and fastening the fiber to the package at the preferred position.
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patent:
Marsland Robert
Williamson III Robert S.
Conley Rose & Tayon PC
Kivlin B. Noäl
New Focus Inc.
Ngo Hung N.
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