Passive pigtail attachment apparatus and method for planar lightwave circuits
AssigneeLightwave Microsystems Corporation
InventorRobert Cole
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus and methods are disclosed for pigtailing optical integrated circuits, wherein optical integrated circuits (OICs) comprise a shelf upon which optical fibers are located, which provides for passive vertical alignment of fiber arrays with OIC waveguides. A cover plate with channels therein is further provided by which passive alignment in five or six alignment axes can be achieved. Also disclosed are methods for attaching fiber arrays to OICs and for manufacturing OICs.
Claims28
A planar lightwave circuit, comprising:
- a base extending longitudinally between front and rear ends, laterally between first and second sides, and vertically between a top and a bottom;
- at least one waveguide extending longitudinally through at least a portion of the base and having an end facing the front end through a generally vertical wall in the base;
- and
- a shelf with a planar top surface extending longitudinally from the generally vertical wall toward the front end, wherein the top surface of the shelf is located vertically below the at least one waveguide.
A pigtail attachment apparatus for an optical integrated circuit having a base and at least one waveguide extending longitudinally through at least a portion of the base and having an end facing longitudinally outwardly from a generally vertical wall toward a front end of the base, the pigtail attachment comprising:
- a shelf with a generally planar top surface extending longitudinally from the wall toward the front end, wherein the top surface of the shelf is located vertically below the at least one waveguide;
- and
- a cover plate having a bottom side comprising at least one downwardly facing channel operable to receivingly engage an optical fiber between the channel and the top surface of the shelf, and to laterally align the optical fiber with the at least one waveguide.
A method of attaching an optical fiber array to an optical integrated circuit having at least one waveguide with an end facing longitudinally outwardly from a generally vertical wall, the method comprising:
- providing a shelf in a base of the optical integrated circuit, wherein the shelf comprises a planar top surface extending longitudinally from the wall, wherein the top surface of the shelf is located vertically below the at least one waveguide;
- providing a cover plate having a bottom side with at least one downwardly facing channel;
- engaging an optical fiber between the at least one downwardly facing channel and the top surface of the shelf;
- and
- securing the cover plate to the base.
A method of manufacturing an optical integrated circuit, comprising:
- fabricating a base extending longitudinally between front and rear ends, laterally between first and second sides, and vertically between a top and a bottom;
- providing at least one waveguide in the base extending longitudinally through at least a portion of the base and having an end longitudinally facing the front end from a generally vertical wall in the base;
- and
- providing a shelf in the base with a planar top surface extending longitudinally from the wall toward the front end, wherein the top surface of the shelf is located vertically below the at least one waveguide.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.