Patent · US Expired

Method of optically coupling an uptapered single-mode optical fiber to optoelectronic components

US5018820A · kind A · utility

12Cited by
4References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 21, 1990
Grant dateMay 28, 1991
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 21, 2010

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02B6/423
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method of optically coupling an optoelectronic device having a photoactive element to an uptapered single-mode optical fiber which connects said optoelectronic device to an external device includes securing a graded index lens to a substrate carrier within a housing at a distance calculated to provide a known magnification of a light beam emanating from said element, and further includes mechanically positioning and actively aligning the fiber to said magnified light beam to achieve optimal optical coupling to said optoelectronic device. The location of a plurality of reference marks and surfaces are determined such that the photoactive element, the lens and the uptapered end of the single-mode optical fiber may be positioned with respect to these references for precise optical coupling using an active alignment for final adjustments. The reference surfaces include a pedestal for the laser and a plurality of stops for the lens integrally formed with the substrate. The method also includes mechanically positioning the uptapered fiber within a fiber tube which is removably secured to a flange. The precisely calculated alignment based on the spacing of said photoactive element, the …

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.