Production of optical module assembly

An apparatus for producing an optical module assembly in which an optical module is coupled optically to an optical fiber, comprising:

• a holder of said optical module, said optical module including a lens;
• an illuminating device that illuminates said optical module through said lens when said optical module is held by said holder;
• an imaging device acquiring an image of said optical module through said lens when said optical module is held by said holder;
• a triaxial stage carrying said illuminating device and said imaging device in a manner movable in three different directions;
• and
• an image processor obtaining a position of said optical fiber at which said optical fiber aligns optically to said optical module in accordance with said image acquired by said imaging device through said lens.

An apparatus for producing an optical module assembly, said optical module assembly including an optical device, a lens and an optical fiber connector adapted for connection to an optical fiber;

• said apparatus comprising:
• a turn-table;
• a first assembling unit provided at a first location adjacent to said turn-table, said first assembling unit mounting a lens on an optical device with an optical coupling to said optical device;
• a second assembling unit provided at a second location adjacent to said turn-table and spaced from said first location, said second assembling unit mounting an optical fiber connector to a lens mounted on an optical device;
• a first component holder provided on said turn-table at a first angular position that corresponds to said first assembling unit when said turn-table is in a first angular state;
• a second component holder provided on said turn-table at a second angular position offset from said first angular position in a first angular direction;
• a third component holder provided on said turn-table at a third angular position offset from said second angular position in said first angular direction;
• a fourth component holder provided on said turn-table at a fourth angular position offset from said third angular position in said first angular direction,
• said third angular position being set so as to correspond to said second assembling unit when said turn-table is in said first angular state;
• said second and said fourth angular positions being set to correspond respectively to said first and second assembling units when said turn-table is in a second angular state;
• each of said first through fourth component holders being capable of holding any of said optical device, said lens and said optical fiber connector;
• said first assembling unit picking up a lens from one of said first through fourth component holders which is located at a position corresponding to said first assembling unit, said first assembling unit further mounting said lens onto an optical device held in another component holder with optical alignment so that said another component holder is located at the position corresponding to said first assembling unit;
• said second assembling unit picking an optical fiber connector from one of said first through fourth component holders located at a position corresponding to said second assembling unit, said second assembling unit further mounting said optical fiber connector to a lens mounted on a corresponding optical device in other component holder with optical alignment so that said other component holder is located at the position corresponding to said second assembling unit.

An apparatus for producing an optical module assembly, said optical module assembly including an optical device and a lens, said apparatus comprising:

• a holder base for rotatably holding an optical device;
• a first layer stage provided on said holder base;
• a second layer stage provided on said first layer stage so as to be movable in a first direction with respect to said first layer stage;
• a first drive mechanism for driving said second layer stage with respect to said first layer stage in said first direction;
• a third layer stage provided on said second layer stage so as to be movable in a second, different direction;
• a second drive mechanism for driving said third layer stage with respect to said second layer stage in said second direction;
• a z-stage provided on said third layer stage so as to be movable in a vertical direction substantially perpendicular to said first and second directions, said z-stage carrying a lens holding mechanism for holding a lens;
• a z-drive mechanism for driving said z-stage on said third layer stage in said vertical direction;
• and
• a welding mechanism for welding said optical device and said lens with each other;
• said first through third layer stages being provided with first through third openings respectively, said first through third openings allowing intrusion of said lens holding mechanism thereinto;
• said z-stage having an opening for allowing intrusion of an imaging device thereinto, said imaging device detecting an optical alignment between said optical device and said lens;
• said first layer stage carrying thereon a plurality of first guide mechanisms, said first guide mechanisms are provided between said first and second layer stages and guide said second layer stage in said first direction with respect to said first layer stage;
• said second layer stage carrying thereon a plurality of second guide mechanisms, said second guide mechanisms are provided between said second layer stage and said third layer stage and guide said third layer stage in said second direction with respect to said second layer stage.