Achieving improved radial alignment in an optical package

US4747657A · kind A · utility

Assignees

• American Telephone and Telegraph, Co. · US
• AT&T Technologies Incorporated · US

Inventors

• Ghazi M. Chaoui · Macungie, US
• Charles R. Fegley · Laureldale, US
• Jan Lipson · Cupertino, US
• Ralph Salvatore Moyer · Shillington, US
• Thomas Stanley Stakelon · Allentown, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 15, 1987
• Grant date: May 31, 1988
• Expiry date: Jun 15, 2007

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S359/90
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A method of achieving radial (x,y) alignment between an active device subassembly and an optical fiber subassembly of an optical package is disclosed. The method relies on the use of mating sections with essentially identical outer diameters. The subassemblies are brought into contact and are first joined at the two points where the edges of the piece parts coincide (flush points). It has been determined that by continuing the attachment process at symmetric locations about one of the flush points, minimal disturbance of throughput efficiency will be maintained. The optical throughput is continually monitored to determined at which particular flush point the attachment process should proceed. In particular, as soon as the throughput efficiency drops below a predetermined value, the attachment process is rotated to continue at the opposite flush point.