Packaged optical device
AssigneeBritish Telecommunications public limited company
InventorsJohn Vincent Collins, Roger Alyn Payne, Adrian Richard Thurlow, Ian Francis Lealman, Philip John Fiddyment
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An optical device package includes an optical device held in optically coupled relationship with an optical fibre by a ceramic ferrule. The optical device is mounted on a heatsink, the heatsink being mounted on the ferrule. The optical device is accurately mounted in relation to the rim of the ferrule such that insertion of the optical fibre into the ferrule brings the optical fibre into optically coupled relationship with the optical device without the need for active alignment techniques. The optical device, in use, is encapsulated in silicon sealant to seal the device form the effects of humidity.
Claims23
An optical device package comprising:
- an optical device,
- a first support member supporting the optical device,
- a second support member having a bore and an optical fibre received in said bore,
- the second support member carrying the first support member such that the optical device and the optical fibre are in optically coupled relationship, and
- an encapsulant applied to the optical device to seal the optical device from the surrounding environment.
An optical device package comprising:
- an optical device,
- an optical fibre optically coupled to said optical device,
- means to support the optical fibre and the optical device, and
- an encapsulant material applied directly onto the optical device to seal the optical device from the surrounding environment.
An optical device package comprising:
- a ferrule,
- an optical fibre received in the bore for the ferrule,
- a support member supported against the rim of the ferrule at one end thereof,
- an optical device carried by said support member in optically coupled relationship with said optical fibre, and
- an encapsulant material applied directly onto said optical device to seal the optical device from the surrounding environment.
A method of packaging an optical device, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) mounting an optical fibre on or in an optical fibre supporting member;
- b) positioning the optical device in optical alignment with the optical fibre and securing the device and the fibre in optically coupled relationship;
- and
- c) applying an encapsulant material directly onto the device to form a substantially air-tight seal.
A packaged optical device comprising:
- an optical device and optical fibre supported in an optically coupled relationship by at least one separately formed support member;
- and
- an encapsulant material adhered directly around and to at least otherwise exposed portions of the optical device to seal it hermetically from ambient environmental conditions.
A method for making a packaged optical device, said method comprising:
- positioning and affixing an optical device and optical fibre in an optically coupled relationship on a separately formed support member;
- embedding otherwise exposed portions of the optical device within a directly adhered encapsulant material to seal it hermetically from ambient environmental conditions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.