Optical component mounting apparatus

#1. Field of the Invention

#Embodiments of the invention generally relate to optical communication subsystems. More specifically, embodiments of the invention relate to optical interconnection devices used in optical communication subsystems.

#2. Description of the Related Art

#So that the manner in which the above recited features of the invention are obtained may be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to the embodiments thereof, which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of the invention, and are therefore, not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments without departing from the true scope thereof.

#FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of an optical component mounting apparatus.

#FIG. 2 illustrates an end view of the optical output side of the exemplary optical component mounting apparatus of FIG. 1.

#Embodiments of the invention generally provide an optical component mounting apparatus adapted hold an optical component therein. FIGS. 1-3 illustrate a perspective view, an end view, and a sectional view, respectively, of one embodiment of an optical interconnect device 100. The optical interconnect device 100 includes an outer body 105 having a bore 107 longitudinally formed therethrough. The outer body 105 may be formed of a high tensile elastic and/or semi-elastic metal material, such as CTE, stainless steel, and other materials adapted to provide stable support for optical components held therein, for example. The outer body 105 may further include one or more annularly shaped flexible sidewalls 111 adjacent an insertion aperture 119 (i.e., the end where an optical component is inserted), which is optically coupled to the bore 107. The outer body 105 may also include an interior annular sidewall 112 defining an interior annular cavity 117, which generally has a diameter greater than that of the insertion aperture 119 and a slightly smaller diameter than the optical components to be held therein prior to their insertion. The insertion aperture 119 may be disposed generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis 115 of the bore 107. The annular cavity 117 may be adapted to hold one or more optical components therein in about axial alignment with the longitudinal axis 115 to form an optical path therethrough.

#As illustrated in FIG. 3, the optical component mounting device 100 also generally includes a lid member 109 detachably disposed on the insertion aperture 119, wherein the lid member 109 may be formed from optically clear materials such as glass to prevent contamination from entering the annular cavity 117. Alternatively, lid member 109 may be a generally solid disk shaped member having a bore formed in a central portion thereof, wherein the bore is positioned in axial alignment with the longitudinal bore 107 to allow an optical signal to travel therethrough. Regardless of the specific configuration, lid 109 is generally configured to be attached to the insertion aperture 119 of the optical interconnect device 100. The attachment process may include a press operation, a snap in operation, and epoxy operation, or other operation suitable for attaching a lid to an optical component.

#As illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, the body 105 may include an outer interconnecting surface 123 adapted to engage a mating connector (not shown). In one aspect of the invention, the interconnecting surface 123 may include an interlocking connection, such as a threaded surface, which may be engaged by another threaded surface to secure the mounting device 100 in another component. Alternatively, the interconnecting surface 123 may be an interference fit type connection adapted to frictionally couple the optical interconnect device 100 to another component.