Method of aligning and packaging an optoelectronic component with a single-mode optical fiber array

US5024504A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• GTE Laboratories Incorporated · US

Inventors

• Robert A. Boudreau · Hampton, US
• William C. Rideout · Townsend, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 20, 1989
• Grant date: Jun 18, 1991
• Expiry date: Nov 20, 2009

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G02B6/425
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A method for optically coupling multiple single-mode optical fibers to a single packaged optoelectronic array device uses a single graded index lens to magnify the images of the active semi-conductor elements and to expand the spacing between their light beams. These separated magnified light beams then coupled to an associated array of uptapered optical fibers. Simultaneous alignment is possible because the location of the semiconductor array beams can be known with high precision relative to the central beam in the array. A lens with known magnification is first positioned relative to the central beam. Alignment to this central beam automatically aligns other optical fibers held collectively in a fixture engineered with the geometry set by the known magnification of the lens. The coupling of single-mode optical fiber to two-dimensional semiconductor surface arrays utilizes the projected and magnified beams of the array which replicate the precise placement of the array elements. A mandrel supports the uptapered optical fibers. Simultaneous alignment of the optical fiber array is performed by first aligning the center fiber, and then rotating the mandrel until the outside fibers c…