Device for connecting an optical fiber and a photodetector and method for positioning the latter
OwnerJean-Paul Meryinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A base member formed as a right dehedron has first and second surfaces on which are respectively secured a plate bearing a photodetector and a platelet bearing an optical fiber end. The position of the fiber endface with respect to a photosensitive surface of the photodetector is checked using an optical magnifier means to observe a spot of a white light beam emitted by the fiber end onto the photosensitive surface. The spot must be concentric with the outline of the photosensitive surface.
Claims21
A device for connecting an end of an optical fiber to a photodetector, said fiber end having an endface opposite an active surface of said photodetector, said device comprising a first flat means for bearing said fiber end, a base member shaped as a right dihedron having first and second mutually orthogonal surfaces, said first bearing means being secured on said first dihedron surface and said photodetector being secured on said second dihedron surface, and second flat means secured to said second dihedron surface for bearing said photodetector.
A device for connecting an end of an optical fiber to an opto-electronic device, said fiber end having an endface opposite an active surface of said opto-electronic device, said device comprising a first flat support member bearing said fiber end, a second flat support member bearing said opto-electronic device, and a base member shaped as a right dihedron having first and second surfaces, said first and second support members being secured on said first and second dihedron surfaces respectively, and said active surface and said fiber endface being parallel to said second dihedron surface.
A method of positioning an end of an optical fiber secured on a first flat support member with respect to photosensitive means secured on a second flat support member by a base member shaped as a right dihedron having first and second orthogonal surfaces, said method comprising the following steps:
- (a) securing said second support member to said second dihedron surface whereby a center of a photosensitive surface of said photosensitive means is at a height above said first dihedron surface equal to or substantially greater than a predetermined distance between an axis of said fiber end and a face of said first support member applied against said first dihedron surface;
- (b) aiming the optical axis of an optical magnifying means towards said center of said photosensitive means;
- (c) supplying a white light beam to said fiber so it is emitted by an endface of said fiber end;
- (d) moving said first support member in three directions by means of a micromanipulator to position said fiber endface to within a few hundredths of a millimeter of said photosensitive surface and orientate said fiber endface to an ideal location such that a spot formed by said white light beam on said photosensitive surface and observed through said optical magnifying means is concentric with said photosensitive surface;
- and
- (e) securing said first support member at said ideal location to said first dihedron surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.