# US 2013/0155642 A1 · Modified transistor outline (to)-can assembly for use in optical communications and a method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0155642 A1 - Document ID: US20130155642A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/329,380 - Filed: 2011-12-19 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-19 - Assignees: Avago Technologies Fiber IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. - Inventors: Laurence R. McColloch - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130155642A1 ## CPC - G02B 6/4263: {of the transisitor outline [TO] can type} - G02B 6/4214: {the intermediate optical element having redirecting reflective means, e.g. mirrors, prisms for deflecting the radiation from horizontal to down- or upward direction toward a device (G02B6/4246 takes precedence)} - G02B 6/4246: {Bidirectionally operating package structures} - G02B 6/4295: {coupling with semiconductor devices activated by light through the light guide, e.g. thyristors, phototransistors} - G02B 6/4296: {coupling with sources of high radiant energy, e.g. high power lasers, high temperature light sources} - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract A modified TO-can assembly is provided that has greater versatility with respect to spatial constraints than known TO-can assemblies and that is suitable for use in a wider range of applications than known TO-can assemblies. The modified TO-can assembly has a receptacle that has been modified to receive an optical fiber through its side instead of through its end. Within the TO-can assembly, the optical path is folded in order to couple the light between the optoelectronic component of the TOSA or ROSA and the end of the optical fiber. The combination of these features provides the modified TO-can assembly with a compact profile that makes it more versatile with respect to spatial constraints and therefore suitable for use in a wider range of applications. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A modified transistor-outline (TO)-can assembly having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a side wall, the top and bottom surfaces being generally parallel to an X-Y plane of an X, Y, Z Cartesian coordinate system defined by an X-axis, a Y-axis and a Z-axis, the modified TO-can assembly having a central axis that is generally coaxial with the Z-axis, the modified TO-can assembly having an opening formed in the side wall of the modified TO-can assembly for receiving a portion of an optical fiber in the modified TO-can assembly at a non-zero degree angle, α, relative to the Z-axis. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The modified TO-can assembly of claim 1, wherein a ranges from approximately 70° to approximately 110° relative to the Z-axis. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The modified TO-can assembly of claim 2, wherein a is approximately 90°. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The modified TO-can assembly of claim 3, further comprising: at least one reflector that folds an optical pathway within the modified TO-can assembly by the angle α. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The modified TO-can assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a header having at least an upper surface and a lower surface, the lower surface of the header corresponding to the lower surface of the modified TO-can assembly; 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, the top surface of the receptacle corresponding to the top surface of the modified TO-can assembly, wherein the portion of the optical fiber that is received through the side wall of the modified TO-can assembly is affixed to the bottom surface of the receptacle. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The modified TO-can assembly of claim 5, wherein the portion of the optical fiber received through the side wall of the modified TO-can assembly passes through an opening formed in the side wall of the receptacle and through an opening formed in the side wall of the collar, wherein a combination of the opening formed in the side wall of the receptacle and the opening formed in the side wall of the collar comprises said opening formed in the side wall of the modified TO-can assembly. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The modified TO-can assembly of claim 5, wherein the bottom surface of the receptacle has a groove formed in it having a length-wise axis, and wherein the portion of the optical fiber that is affixed to the bottom surface of the receptacle is disposed within the groove such that the optical axis of the portion of the optical fiber is parallel to the length-wise axis of the groove. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The modified TO-can assembly of claim 7, wherein a ranges from approximately 70° to approximately 110° relative to the Z-axis. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The modified TO-can assembly of claim 8, wherein a is approximately 90°. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) The modified TO-can assembly of claim 5, further comprising: at a first reflector that folds an optical pathway within the modified TO-can assembly by the angle α. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The modified TO-can assembly of claim 10, wherein the bottom surface of the receptacle has a recess formed therein adjacent an end of the groove, and wherein the first reflector is disposed in the receptacle opposite the end of the groove. ### Claim 12 (depends on 5) The modified TO-can assembly of claim 5, wherein the optoelectronic device is a laser diode. ### Claim 13 (depends on 5) The modified TO-can assembly of claim 5, wherein the optoelectronic device is a photodiode. ### Claim 14 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. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The modified TO-can assembly of claim 14, wherein a ranges from approximately 70° to approximately 110° relative to the Z-axis. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The modified TO-can assembly of claim 15, wherein a is approximately 90°. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The modified TO-can assembly of claim 14, further comprising: at a first reflector that folds an optical pathway within the modified TO-can assembly by the angle α. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The modified TO-can assembly of claim 17, wherein the bottom surface of the receptacle has a recess formed therein adjacent an end of the groove, and wherein the first reflector is disposed in the receptacle opposite the end of the groove. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The modified TO-can assembly of claim 14, wherein the optoelectronic device is a laser diode. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The modified TO-can assembly of claim 14, wherein the optoelectronic device is a photodiode.