Method of attaching optical fiber in alignment with a light source in an optical module
AssigneePrinceton Lightwave, Inc.
InventorsZbigniew Janosik, Robert Wallace Roff
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of aligning an optical fiber to a light source (e.g., a laser diode) in an optical assembly includes inserting a weld clip over a ferrule holding the optical fiber so that there is no gap between the ferrule and the weld clip, initially aligning the optical fiber to the laser diode, fixedly attaching the weld clip to a platform, realigning the optical fiber to the laser diode, and fixedly attaching the weld clip to the ferrule.
Claims23
A method of fabricating an optical module including a laser diode producing light, an optical fiber having an input aperture aligned to receive the light, a ferrule fit around an exterior of the optical fiber, and a platform, the method comprising:
- providing a weld clip having a pair of substantially parallel vertical walls, each of the vertical walls being connected to a corresponding base wall to form an angle of less than 90 degrees with respect to the corresponding base wall;
- inserting the weld clip over the ferrule such that the ferrule contacts an inner surface of each vertical wall of the weld clip;
- grasping the ferrule;
- moving the optical fiber to initially align the input aperture of the optical fiber to the laser diode to substantially optimize coupling of light from the laser diode into the input aperture;
- attaching the base walls of the weld clip to the platform such that the vertical walls of the weld clip are drawn away from the ferrule to produce a gap between the ferrule and the vertical walls of the weld clip;
- realigning the optical fiber to the laser diode to substantially optimize coupling of light into the input aperture;
- and
- attaching the weld clip to the ferrule.
The method of fabricating an optical module including a light source producing light, an optical fiber having an input aperture aligned to receive the light, a ferrule fit around an exterior of the optical fiber, and a platform, the method comprising:
- providing a welding clip with vertical walls each of which is connected to a corresponding base wall;
- inserting a weld clip over the ferrule so that the ferrule contacts the weld clip;
- initially aligning the optical fiber to the light source to substantially optimize coupling of the light into the input aperture of the optical fiber;
- attaching the weld clip to the platform such that the vertical walls of the weld clip are drawn away from the ferrule to produce a gap between the ferrule and the vertical walls of the weld clip;
- realigning the optical fiber to the light source to substantially optimize coupling of the light into the input aperture of the optical fiber;
- and
- attaching the weld clip to the ferrule.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.