Method and apparatus for assembly of an optoelectronic device with an optical connector
AssigneeLockheed Martin Corporation
InventorsRobert J. Monson, Richard L. Cellini, Jianhua Yan, Thomas Derco, Charles Kryzak, Brian Leininger
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Abstract
A method of positioning an optoelectronic device, for example a vertical cavity surface emitting laser, onto an optical fiber connector and maintaining that exact alignment while testing the quality of the optical output prior to applying an adhesive to make the interface permanent. The method includes the utilization of a multi-piece fixture which clamps the elements into position, allows for testing, and provides a fixture to maintain position throughout the curing process.
Claims37
A method of assembling an optical device package, the optical device package comprising an optoelectronic device connected to a plurality of optical fibers, the method comprising the steps of:
- aligning an active face of the optoelectronic device with an interface surface of the optical fiber connector;
- maintaining alignment between the active face of the optoelectronic device and the interface surface of the optical fiber connector without the use of adhesives;
- activating the optoelectronic device;
- and
- measuring optical output downstream of the optical fiber connector.
An external alignment system tool for coupling an optoelectronic device to an optical fiber connector and testing the alignment of the coupled optoelectronic device and optical fiber prior to installation into a device package, the tool comprising
- an optical fiber connector clamp comprising a laser activation portion and an optical device portion;
- an optical device clamp, said optical device clamp advanced upon said optical device portion of the optical fiber connector clamp;
- and
- a test clamp, said test clamp advanced upon said laser activation portion of the optical fiber connector clamp.
A method of positioning an optoelectronic device onto an optical fiber connector and maintaining that position while testing the alignment of said optoelectronic device with the optical fiber connector prior to installation within a transceiver package, the optoelectronic device comprised of an optical device, a flexible circuit with an array of laser activation pads and an electrical spacer block, said method comprising the steps of:
- a) clamping the optical fiber connector into a cavity within an optical fiber connector clamp, whereby an interface surface of the optical fiber connector is flush with a proximal face of said optical fiber connector clamp, said optical fiber connector clamp being comprised of a device section and a test section;
- b) aligning an active face of the optoelectronic device with the interface surface of the optical fiber connector;
- c) clamping the optoelectronic device to the optical fiber connector by advancing an optoelectronic device clamp onto the device section of the optical fiber connector clamp;
- d) clamping the electrical spacer block and flexible circuit by advancing a test clamp onto the test section of the optical fiber connector clamp;
- c) testing the relative positioning of the optoelectronic device to the optical fiber connector by activating the optoelectronic device and measuring the output;
- f) removing the optoelectronic device clamp;
- g) applying adhesive to the interface surface of the optical fiber connector after removing the optoelectronic device;
- h) repeating steps b-e;
- i) removing the test clamp and the test portion of the optical fiber connector clamp;
- and
- j) curing said adhesive.
An optoelectronic assembly tool adaptable for mating an optoelectronic device with an optical connector, said optoelectronic device including a flexible electrical conduit which provides electrical communication from an activation pad array disposed at the distal end of the flexible conduit, and said optical connector including an optical cable comprised of a plurality of optical fibers, a first end of which is attached to the optical connector, the opposing ends of which is attached to a test device, said tool comprising:
- means for restraining the optical connector and optical cable;
- means for aligning an output array of the optoelectronic device and an input array of the optical connector;
- means for maintaining the relative position of the optoelectronic device and optical connector after alignment while providing appropriate interface pressure;
- means for restraining the flexible circuit;
- and
- means for testing alignment and performance of the optoelectronic device prior to applying an adhesive to the an interface of the optoelectronic device and the optical connector and after applying said adhesive.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.