Patent · US Expired

Method for compensating stress induced in an optical component

US6218641A · kind A · utility

1Cited by
12References
25Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 22, 1998
Grant dateApr 17, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 22, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02B6/4271
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

The present invention is a method for compensating for stress induced in optical components used to couple light egressing from the housing of optical modules employing, for example, a distributed optical isolator. It has been discovered that this induced stress may be counteracted by transmitting a balancing or compensating force so as to produce a counter-stress in the optical component. Preferably, the method uses pairs of circumferential laser welds judiciously formed a distance form the holder housing the optical component so as s to control the magnitude and direction of the applied compensating force and, hence, the counter-stress transmitted to the optical component. During welding, the effects of the induced stress are monitored and based upon any changes therein, pairs of laser welds are formed around the circumferential surface of the housing of the optical component until the induced stress is substantially reduced or eliminated.

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