Optical coupling and alignment device
AssigneeFitel Technologies, Inc.
InventorsMichikazu Kosuge, Hirokazu Tamura
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An optical device, such as optical coupling devices, optical switches, optical isolators, optical attenuators, laser diodes, photo diodes are provided having a substrate with a groove in order to locate a optical fiber. A lens, such as a graded index lens, is secured to the end of the optical fiber, with the lens located outside the groove, thereby avoiding difficulties with axial alignment of the lens caused by the interface of the optical fiber to the lens. In one implementation, the groove in the prototype is a V-groove, thereby providing stable positioning of the optical fiber within the groove.
Claims39
A device, comprising:
- a substrate having a groove;
- an optical fiber, located in said groove;
- and
- a lens mounted to an end of said optical fiber, such that said lens is located out of said groove and is held in position by said fiber.
An optical coupling device, comprising:
- a first substrate having a first groove;
- a first optical fiber, located in said first groove;
- a first lens mounted, at a first end, to an end of said first optical fiber, such that said first lens is located out of said first groove and is held in position by said first fiber;
- a second substrate having a second groove;
- a second optical fiber, located in said second groove;
- and
- a second lens mounted, at a first end, to an end of said second optical fiber, such that said second lens is located out of said second groove and is held in position by said second fiber;
- wherein a second end of said first lens faces a second end of said second lens.
A laser device, comprising:
- a substrate having a groove;
- an optical fiber, located in said groove;
- a lens mounted, at a first end, to an end of said optical fiber, such that said lens is located out of said groove and is held in position by said fiber;
- and
- a laser coupled to said substrate, facing a second end of said lens, and located to direct light into said fiber.
A photodetector device, comprising:
- a substrate having a groove;
- an optical fiber, located in said groove;
- a lens mounted, at a first end, to an end of said optical fiber, such that said lens is located out of said groove and is held in position by said fiber;
- and
- a photodetector coupled to said substrate, facing a second end of said lens, and located to detect light in said fiber.
An optical switch, comprising:
- a substrate having a first groove;
- a first optical fiber, located in said first groove;
- a first lens mounted, at a first end, to an end of said first optical fiber, such that said first lens is located out of said first groove and is held in position by said first fiber;
- and
- a first mirror, coupled to said substrate and selectively located to obliquely face said first lens to be adapted to selectively redirect light traveling from said first lens.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.