Temperature controlled optical coupling structure

Abstract

A temperature controlled optical coupling device of the present invention includes an optical coupling substrate (2) carrying metal electrodes (1) on its rear. An electrode substrate (6) carries metal electrodes (3) on its front. A plurality of thermoelectric elements (4) are also carried on the front of the electrode substrate (6) and connected to leads (5). A light emitting element or similar optical element (8) and an optical fiber (7) are mounted on the substrate (2) with their optical axes aligned with each other. Also mounted on the substrate (2) is a thermistor (9) for temperature measurement. The thermoelectric elements (4) are directly connected to the metal electrodes (1) and are connected in series by the metal electrodes (1) and metal electrodes (3). When a voltage is applied between leads (5), a current flows through the thermoelectric elements (4). As a result, the substrate (2) is selectively heated or cooled due to the Peltier effect, controlling the temperature of the thermoelectric elements (4). The structure is small size and low cost and needs a minimum of power for temperature control.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.