Modified transistor outline (to)-can assembly for use in optical communications and a method

A modified transistor outline (TO)-can assembly comprising:

• a header having at least an upper surface and a lower surface;
• an optical subassembly (OSA) disposed on the upper surface of the header, the OSA including at least an optoelectronic device;
• a cap having at least an upper surface, a lower surface, an inner surface, and an outer surface, the inner and outer surfaces of the cap defining a side wall of the cap, a portion of the lower surface of the cap being mechanically coupled to a portion of the upper surface of the header;
• a window having at least an upper surface and a lower surface, the upper surface of the window being mechanically coupled to the inner surface of the cap about a peripheral portion of the window, the window being transparent to an operational wavelength of the optoelectronic device;
• a collar having at least an upper surface, a lower surface, an inner surface, and an outer surface, the inner and outer surfaces of the collar defining a side wall of the collar, wherein a portion of the lower surface of the collar is mechanically coupled to a portion of the upper surface of the cap;
• and
• a receptacle having at least a top surface, a bottom surface and an outer wall, a portion of the outer wall of the receptacle being mechanically coupled to a portion of the inner surface of the collar, wherein the bottom surface of the receptacle has a groove formed in it having a length-wise axis, the groove being adapted to receive a portion of an optical fiber that is passed though an opening formed in the outer wall of the receptacle, and wherein the portion of the optical fiber has an optical axis that is parallel to the length-wise axis of the groove, the length-wise axis of the groove being at a non-zero degree angle, α, to a Z-axis of a Cartesian coordinate system defined by an X-axis, a Y-axis and a Z-axis, and wherein the top and bottom surfaces of the receptacle are generally parallel to an X-Y plane defined by the X and Y axes.