US 6,456,766 B1Granted

Optoelectronic packaging

AssigneeCornell Research Foundation, Inc.

InventorsKevin A. Shaw, James S. Sutherland

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

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Abstract

Packaging of micromechanical and microelectromechanical devices is carried out by mechanical couplers for connecting pairs or arrays of optical fibers in end-to-end alignment. In another embodiment, a coupler interconnects one or more optical components on a substrate. The electrical components may be active elements such as light sources or light sensors, while the optical components may be waveguides. The fibers are secured in a coupler block, and a substrate carrying the light detector or light source is mounted on or in the block and is secured in alignment with the fibers. The fibers are removably secured within the block by spring fingers. The coupler block may include electrical circuitry connectable to the sensors or light sources on the substrate mounted on the block through wire bonding techniques.

Claims56

Dependent claims

An optical coupler comprising:

a coupler block including a body portion having a top surface and first and second end surfaces;
at least one fiber guide extending through said body portion beneath said top surface and between said end surfaces, said fiber guide comprising:
first and second spaced walls defining a trench having a narrow width and extending across said top surface and into said body portion, said trench walls being flared apart from each other at at least one of said first and second end surfaces;
a guide cavity within said body portion beneath and in communication with said trench, said cavity having a minimum dimension equal to or slightly greater than the diameter of an optical fiber to be received by said coupler, said guide cavity dimension being greater than the width of said trench, said cavity flaring outwardly at at least one of said first and second end surfaces to facilitate insertion of an optical fiber into the cavity;
and means for transferring light carried by an optical fiber in said guide cavity to an optical element.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/494,944Filed 1 Feb 2000
Granted: 24 Sep 2002
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification22 codes

G02B 6/3636
Characterised by the cross-sectional shape of the mechanical coupling means: the mechanical coupling means being grooves
G02B 6/30
Optical coupling means: for use between fibre and thin-film device
G02B 6/305
For use between fibre and thin-film device: and having an integrated mode-size expanding section, e.g. tapered waveguide
G02B 6/3803
Permanent connections, i.e. wherein fibres are kept aligned by mechanical means: adjustment or alignment devices for alignment prior to splicing