Module assembly for fiber optic isolator
AssigneeADC Telecommunications, Inc.
InventorsAlan Blair, Thomas J. Schmitt, James Kochendorfer, Craig Robilliard, John C. Holman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An isolator unit includes a mount for mounting three isolator components, resulting in a smaller package. The isolator components are attached to the mount using a technique that reduces the possibility that the orientations of the components change with a change in temperature. Consequently, the operational characteristics of the isolator have a reduced temperature dependence.
Claims32
An optical isolator device for use in a predetermined temperature range, comprising:
- an isolator arrangement of at least a first birefringent crystal, a non-reciprocal element and a second birefringent crystal,
- a mount having a first mounting surface provided with a first protruding contact region;
- at least one of the first birefringent crystal, the non-reciprocal element and the second birefringent crystal having a second mounting surface contacting the protruding contact region;
- and
- adhesive attachingly disposed between portions of the first and second mounting surfaces not in mutual contact.
An optical system, comprising:
- an optical transmitter producing output light;
- an optical receiver receiving at least a portion of the output light;
- and
- an optical fiber link coupling between the optical transmitter and the optical receiver, the optical fiber link including a fiber isolator device having
- an isolator arrangement of at least a first birefringent crystal, a non-reciprocal element and a second birefringent crystal forming an isolator unit,
- a mount having a first mounting surface provided with a first protruding contact region;
- at least one of the first birefringent crystal, the non-reciprocal element and the second birefringent crystal having a second mounting surface contacting the protruding contact region;
- and
- adhesive attachingly disposed between portions of the first and second mounting surfaces not in mutual contact.
A method of mounting optical elements to a mount in an optical isolator for use in a predetermined temperature range, the mount having a first protruding contact region on a mounting surface, and the isolator having an isolator arrangement that includes at least a first birefringent crystal, a non-reciprocal element and a second birefringent crystal, the method comprising:
- providing adhesive between at least one of the first birefringent crystal, the non-reciprocal element and the second birefringent crystal;
- pressing the at least one of the first birefringent crystal, the non-reciprocal element and the second birefringent crystal into contact with the first protruding contact region thereby substantially expelling the adhesive from between the at least one of the first birefringent crystal, the non-reciprocal element and the second birefringent crystal and the first protruding contact region;
- and
- curing the adhesive at a temperature exceeding the predetermined temperature range.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.